Deluge: Sermon for the Dead
- May 17, 2024
- leaves
Get on Steam"Deluge: Sermon for the Dead" is a psychological and Lovecraftian-inspired visual novel with a carefully crafted mystery. As high school students investigate abduction cases, they become entangled in a conspiracy that leads to horrifying depths. Meanwhile, a new girl campaigns for town council with an appetite for power. Choices matter, leading to three different ending routes and a total of eight distinct endings. The game features fleshed-out characters, immersive settings, and a non-repetitive soundtrack.
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Reviews
- The story is compelling with interesting characters and strong lore, making it an engaging visual novel experience.
- The game expands on familiar characters from the previous installment, providing a rich narrative with multiple divergent paths.
- Despite some minor issues, the overall production shows care and effort, with improvements in spelling and grammar compared to the first game.
- The use of AI-generated art detracts from the visual novel experience, as it feels out of place and undermines the artistic integrity of the genre.
- The main character lacks depth and agency, often feeling like a passive observer rather than an active participant in the story.
- Some players found the dialogue and pacing to be slow and unengaging, leading to a lack of meaningful interactions and character development.
- story44 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its compelling narrative and character development, particularly in certain routes like Riku's. However, some players criticized the main character's lack of appeal and the presence of filler dialogue, suggesting that the writing could be improved. Overall, while the story is considered a strong aspect of the game, inconsistencies in character interactions and art styles detract from the experience for some players.
“The entire story, with all the divergent tracks, is still extremely compelling.”
“Absolutely good story, as I expected after Threnody, especially Riku's route.”
“The characters, especially Marisa, are developed well and the progression of the story hit me hard.”
“Visuals simply do not make up for the lack of meaningful dialogue, storyline, characters, and basically everything with meaning.”
“Most of the story and dialogue felt like filler, and along with some other characters/interactions were just fantastically stupid.”
“While I do recommend this game especially for its story, the mismatching art styles between some scenes and characters are jarring.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players noting a jarring mismatch in art styles between scenes and characters. While the visuals are appreciated by some, they are criticized for failing to compensate for the game's shortcomings in dialogue and storyline. Overall, the emphasis on certain artistic elements detracts from the overall narrative experience.
“While I do recommend this game especially for its story, the mismatching art styles between some scenes and characters are jarring.”
“Visuals simply do not make up for the lack of meaningful dialogue, storyline, characters, and basically everything with meaning.”
“Deluge #2 managed to undercut what little of a premise it had, in favor of ever more well-endowed artwork of high-school girls.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in "Deluge" is highly praised, with users highlighting its quality and effectiveness in enhancing the overall experience of the game. Additionally, the incorporation of Wagner's compositions is noted to exceed expectations, contributing to the game's artistic and emotional depth.
“Deluge is always a high recommendation; it features quality art, plot, characters, and music, and it's free to play.”
“Wagner's music is better than it sounds.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the absurdity of Rika's bikini sprite, which appears to be drawn by someone with little experience in anime art, adding a layer of comedic contrast to the overall aesthetic. This unexpected artistic choice has been noted as particularly amusing by players.
“What's even more hilarious is that Rika's bikini sprite in one scene looks like it was drawn by a completely different person—one who struggles with anime characters.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of originality, as Bernard is seen as a mere clone of Sigurd in terms of design, yet his personality is portrayed as arrogant and unpleasant. This juxtaposition highlights a missed opportunity for deeper character differentiation and growth.
“Bernard appears to be a carbon copy of Sigurd's character design but behaves like a royal jerk.”
