Deluge: Threnody of Crashing Waves

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 124 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Deluge: Threnody of Crashing Waves Game Cover
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In the not so distant past, the Isle of Abbot underwent a mysterious evacuation event. Delve into the secrets of this unsettling place and elicit the girls' tragic fate. An interactive visual novel with psychological and lovecraftian undertones.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews
story49 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The writing is engaging and fun, especially in the first four chapters, with a mysterious and intriguing storyline that keeps players invested.
  • The art and music are well-crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game, with beautiful backgrounds and a fitting soundtrack.
  • The game offers a unique blend of Lovecraftian themes and character-driven narratives, providing a refreshing take on the visual novel genre.
  • The pacing can be slow, particularly in the first half, which may lead to some players losing interest before the story picks up.
  • The main character often feels passive and lacks agency, making it difficult for players to connect with him or feel invested in his journey.
  • There are several grammatical errors and awkward dialogue choices that detract from the overall experience, making some parts of the game feel less polished.
  • story124 mentions

    The story of "Deluge: Threnody of Crashing Waves" is a complex and intriguing blend of Lovecraftian themes, political intrigue, and character-driven narratives, offering a refreshing departure from typical visual novel tropes. While many players appreciate the depth and atmosphere, some criticize the pacing and character development, noting that certain plot elements feel rushed or incomplete. Overall, the narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, though it may require patience to fully appreciate its intricacies.

    • “The artwork is excellent, the music is perfect especially as it closes in on the end, and the story is excellent.”
    • “Okay, what are the likes? The story is really good; it has a great mystery with nice build-up and some nice side stories, all held together by an interesting cast of characters that help make Abbotsford a really interesting and well fleshed-out place that feels real and alive. It also uses Lovecraftian themes very well while still doing its own thing, which I like.”
    • “What sets 'Deluge' apart is its Lovecraftian undertones, presenting a story that's not just about romance or school life but delving into the realms of cosmic horror and deep-seated mysteries.”
    • “Dreadfully boring story, taking way too long for anything of substance to occur.”
    • “Easily one of the most boring storylines I've read in visual novels.”
    • “As a visual novel, your main focus is telling a story, and there's a lot of flaws here: the introduction was weird and rushed, just throwing things at you and expecting you to stay around, the characters are robots reading from a book, for the majority of the game they lack character, emotion, humanity.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful classical tracks that enhance the storytelling and atmosphere, particularly during key moments. While many players appreciate the overall quality and production values, some note that certain tracks can feel mismatched with specific scenes, leading to occasional awkwardness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, contributing to a compelling and immersive experience.

    • “The music worked with the scenes really well and the sound effects were top notch.”
    • “Regarding the music, the tracks present are beautiful to listen to.”
    • “I especially love how the music adds to the special atmosphere of every location.”
    • “While playing the game, I was turning it off and starting any electronic music radio station.”
    • “Niche game warning, this game is quite appealing for those with interests regarding classical music, English literature, and mystery novels.”
    • “The atmosphere brought by the drawing style and the OST is properly built and adequate to evoke a comfortable, evolving experience while playing the game.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics in the game are praised for their excellent artwork, unique style, and effective use of color, creating an immersive environment that feels authentic. While some users appreciated the anime-inspired character designs, there were mixed feelings about the occasional sexualization of characters. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, complementing the engaging story and aesthetic music.

    • “The graphics are good; it has a good use of color and very good background art that makes Abbotsford feel like a real town. It also feels a little bit anime-ish with its characters, but that’s not a bad thing, mostly because the girls were very cute in that style.”
    • “Came for the visuals, stayed for the story.”
    • “Deluge Threnody of Crashing Waves is a visual novel that is a great game to break the ice. It has great graphics and an awesome story; after each chapter, the game tells you how good your answers were for each character.”
    • “A visual novel with a somewhat unique art style and Lovecraftian theme.”
    • “I didn't care for how the girls were occasionally sexualized in the artwork, since that just seemed to detract from the main story for me.”
    • “Graphics API: OpenGL.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as a standard visual novel format, where players read through scenes and make choices that influence the story's direction. While generally well-received for its simplicity and multiple choice mechanics, some users noted minor complaints regarding certain aspects of the gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is good; it's basically your standard visual novel where you read and go from scene to scene until you are asked something or you have to pick something in order to change the story. It's quite good and simple.”
    • “As for the gameplay, *Deluge: Threnody of Crashing Waves* has multiple choices presented.”
    • “As for the gameplay, I have a couple of minor complaints.”
    • “Now that I've gone over the story and gameplay, I'll move onto my critique.”
    • “As for the gameplay, Deluge: Threnody of Crashing Waves has multiple choices presented.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its engaging art style and soundtrack, which together create a comfortable and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the emotional depth of the story and characters, particularly Rika, enhancing the overall ambiance and making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “The atmosphere brought by the drawing style and the OST is properly built and adequate to evoke a comfortable, evolving experience while playing the game.”
    • “It's really well-made for a free game; both the art and sound/atmosphere look good, so I have nothing to complain about there.”
    • “I especially love how the music adds to the special atmosphere of every location.”
    • “The atmosphere created by the art style and the soundtrack is well-crafted and effectively evokes a comfortable, immersive experience throughout the game.”
    • “I especially love how the music enhances the unique atmosphere of every location.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players finding the story dreadfully boring and lacking resolution, while others appreciate its ability to evoke genuine feelings and provoke difficult choices. The endings vary in impact, with one being described as wholesome yet disconnected, and another as frustrating but intriguing. Overall, the emotional engagement seems to depend on individual player experiences and preferences.

    • “Good story with a mix of interesting elements and made me genuinely emotional at some points. It is also a sign of a good visual novel when I struggle to make the heartbreaking choices in an attempt to explore all the endings.”
    • “None of the endings feels like it gives you a full picture of what is happening or conclusively resolves the story; Mei's ending is probably the most wholesome, though it felt a bit disparate to the story told in the other two endings. However, Ina's ending I found to be the most interesting, though also a bit frustrating.”
    • “Dreadfully boring story, taking way too long for anything of substance to occur.”
    • “Easily one of the most boring storylines I've read in visual novels.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Overall, the character development received mixed feedback; while the character designs were praised, particularly for the character Ina, many users felt that the development was insufficient, leading to a rushed experience when uncovering the backstory. Additionally, there was a desire for more relationship-based endings to enhance the narrative depth.

    • “I really liked the character designs, especially Ina.”
    • “I would have liked more endings based on the relationship status of each character, but overall your team did a good job with the story, graphics, and character design.”
    • “I also do not think there is enough character development beforehand, so when you get thrown into the events of the game and learn about the backstory of the island, it feels a bit rushed.”
    • “I also do not think there is enough character development beforehand, so when you just get thrown into the whole events of the game and learn about the backstory of the island, it feels a bit rushed.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its relatability, with the most believable character being the one intended to be disliked, as he occasionally exhibits genuine human-like traits. This contrast adds an unexpected layer to the comedic elements, making the humor both engaging and thought-provoking.

    • “Funny enough, the most believable character is the one they want you to dislike, because out of all of them, he's the only one that sounds somewhat like a human would (sometimes).”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often exacerbated by complex information being presented in overwhelming info dumps.

    • “The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “The complexity is presented in info dumps that are repetitive and tedious at times.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel monotonous.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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