Deponia: The Complete Journey
- July 8, 2014
- Daedalic Entertainment
- 37h median play time
Deponia: The Complete Journey is a humorous, point-and-click adventure game set in a weird and wacky world. Players control Rufus, a selfish and reckless guy living on the junk-covered planet Deponia, as he tries to reach the expensive floating cities in the sky. The game is a compilation of the original Deponia, plus its two sequels: Chaos on Deponia and Goodbye Deponia. Join Rufus in his chaotic journey full of quirky characters, creative puzzles, and satirical humor.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and humorous storyline that keeps players engaged.
- The art style and animations are visually appealing and well-crafted.
- The puzzles, while challenging, provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment when solved.
- The main character, Rufus, is often portrayed as an unlikeable and selfish individual, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Some puzzles are overly complicated or illogical, leading to frustration and reliance on walkthroughs.
- The game contains problematic humor that may be offensive to some players, including sexist and racist jokes.
- story1,316 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the Deponia trilogy is a mix of humor, absurdity, and engaging character arcs, primarily following the self-centered protagonist, Rufus, on his quest to escape the trash-filled planet of Deponia for the utopian Elysium. While many players appreciate the witty dialogue and unexpected plot twists, some criticize the convoluted narrative and the protagonist's unlikeable traits, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the trilogy is often praised for its rich storytelling, memorable characters, and the ability to evoke a range of emotions, making it a notable entry in the point-and-click adventure genre.
“Awesome story and epic point and click adventure!”
“Probably the best point n' click game I have ever played, it has a deep story and can provide many hours of entertainment.”
“The story is rich and well paced, the characters have quite a bit of depth to them, each having their own motivation.”
“The story is rampantly absurd, with wacky characters and constant plot twists (the main character is quite detestable, but spends most of his time getting maimed and never getting what he wants, which can be frustrating or funny depending on your outlook).”
“It makes the story so jumbled up that I couldn't retell it if I tried, and at the end, I had no clue what was even happening.”
“The overall ending of the game is apparently very bad (apparently bad enough to ruin the whole story) so I have stopped playing the third chapter before it goes downhill.”
- humor988 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the Deponia series is a mix of dark, absurd, and often politically incorrect comedy, with many players finding it both hilarious and off-putting at times. While some appreciate the clever writing and character interactions, others criticize the humor for being crude or insensitive, particularly towards women and marginalized groups. Overall, the game is noted for its quirky charm and ability to elicit laughter, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its edgy and sometimes repetitive comedic style.
“Depaonia takes you on a catastrophically hilarious journey through this unique but crooked world, and you as a player take care of this one lovable ruffian/genius, Rufus.”
“Firstly, I will state that this game has a beautiful mixture of wit, dark humor, actual regular humor, and even puns in the writing.”
“It's a funny game that had me laughing out loud more than once.”
“It was not funny back in 2012 when the original was released and has only gotten worse with time.”
“I understand it's supposed to be funny, but to me it was anything but.”
“The 'jokes' are not funny, usually aiming for the lowest denominator.”
- music354 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its catchy and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some players found the soundtrack to be repetitive, especially during prolonged gameplay, others highlighted its ability to complement the humor and storytelling effectively. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset to the game, contributing to its charm and engaging atmosphere.
“Second, I would like to state that the music for this game is superb, even the music used for bits that are meant to be comedic are so good that you likely still hum the tunes when you finish this game series.”
“The soundtracks are absolute bangers, voices and sound effects match perfectly.”
“The music that plays in between chapters is entertaining enough to crack up even in the darkest depth of the Sharpel Coast.”
“There's one puzzle that requires you to turn down the music in the settings to progress.”
“The songs are difficult to bear though, and while you can skip them, it also means skipping a bit of cinematics and leaving you feel like you missed something.”
“The music is just the same thing over and over that I had to disable it completely to play the rest of the game.”
- graphics314 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, colorful art style and attention to detail, with many reviewers noting the charming, cartoonish visuals that enhance the overall experience. While the artwork is often described as superb and iconic, some players have encountered minor graphical issues, particularly in cinematics. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's unique atmosphere and storytelling, making it a standout in the point-and-click genre.
“Graphics are lovingly drawn, and there are no corners cut, or obvious places they ran out of money.”
“The art-style is truly iconic; it's some of Daedalic's best work as it blends simplistic character design with intrinsic and highly detailed environments.”
“The graphics are superb and there is a strong 'Monkey Island vibe' on the design and dialogues.”
“The graphics are fine in-game, but when it comes to cinematics, it doesn't look as good and is rather badly animated.”
“During the ending cutscene of the game, the visuals were not rendered, leaving the ending cutscene a black screen with dialogue playing over it.”
“Graphics are pretty and it looks like they spent a lot of time on it, but the puzzles are absolutely nonsensical.”
- gameplay230 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Deponia is a mixed bag, with many praising its engaging puzzles, humor, and art style, while others criticize its reliance on outdated point-and-click mechanics and nonsensical inventory puzzles that can lead to frustration. Players generally find the game enjoyable, with a decent length of around 30-50 hours, but some feel that the gameplay can be tedious and overly reliant on trial and error. Overall, it appeals to fans of the genre, though it may not convert those who are not fond of traditional point-and-click adventure games.
“The mechanics, puzzles, art, and uniqueness are all positives for me.”
“New types of puzzles keep the gameplay fresh throughout the entire journey, and with an overall comedic tone, the game still manages to hit more than a few serious notes along the way.”
“It's incredibly fun to play; the main character is plain awesome, the voice acting is excellent, and the overall gameplay is superb.”
“Nonsensical puzzles, boring gameplay, moronic sense of humor...”
“Now to why I don't recommend this game, it's a point & click adventure game, therefore its gameplay is based on solving puzzles, mini-games and talking to people. It would be very good if the puzzles made sense at least 50% of the time, but they don't. You are forced to waste in a seemingly endless process of trial and error and frustration.”
“The gameplay here is weak due to extremely illogical inventory puzzles that only get worse as you near the end, and thus you essentially have to either spend hours trying every possible combination or read a step-by-step guide.”
- emotional54 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from laughter to discomfort, with many players experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions throughout their journey. While it features heartwarming moments and touching character arcs, some players found certain themes and jokes to be offensive or uncomfortable, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. The game's conclusion, while intended to be impactful, left some feeling disillusioned, undermining the emotional investment built up during gameplay.
“I have never in my life been so engrossed in a game, as attached to its characters, or ridden such an emotional roller coaster.”
“All of this culminates in a finale that's actually rather heartwarming; I'd never have thought that was possible with a speech that literally said 'we are all asses!'”
“You will not be disappointed, the story is very heart touching and emotional, with many unexpected plot twists and surprising comic moments.”
- stability50 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking issues, particularly in the earlier titles. While some glitches are minor and even amusing, many players have experienced significant interruptions to gameplay, including freezes and unresolvable puzzles. Despite ongoing fixes, the overall impression is that the game remains a "buggy mess," detracting from the experience.
“The game is horribly broken and buggy, and you're lucky if you make it an hour in before hitting a game-breaking bug of some kind that has existed for the past six years at least but still isn't fixed.”
“On the downside, there were a couple of places that had game-breaking glitches where if you did certain things out of order, you could not progress the game, so keep several saves.”
“I was disappointed in the fact that these simple coding glitches kept me from playing the rest of the game, so I hope the developers can fix this problem quickly.”
- character development42 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the growth of the main character, Rufus, particularly towards the end, while others feel that his development is insufficient or overshadowed by his annoying traits. The character designs are generally well-received, and the blend of humor and drama adds depth, but some critics argue that the development lacks adequate foreshadowing and that the resolution undermines earlier growth. Overall, while there are standout moments and creative designs, opinions vary on the effectiveness and satisfaction of character arcs throughout the game.
“Character development is a real deal in Deponia in my opinion, at least for the main cast, and Rufus may be a little too much for some people because of his nature, but the change in him really gets to you near the ending. It's a really fun experience if you like dark humor that sometimes crosses the norm-accepted line.”
“Amazing character development, good story, and very nice puzzles.”
“There was a good balance between outright comedy and drama, the twists and turns of the plot keep you guessing right until the end, and there is actually some good character development.”
“Furthermore, the game lacks any character development and the character of the 'troublemaker/clumsy' Rufus quickly begins to annoy more than entertain.”
“Character development in the last 10 minutes of gameplay is not character development.”
“The ending also manages to negate any character development anyone could have had, as all the main characters pretty much have their lives screwed over.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that the effort required yields little reward. Dialogue and puzzle-solving often feel long-winded and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the charm of point-and-click mechanics, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game suffers from excessive grind and pacing issues.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“As an actual game though, by the second installment, it starts to grate, and the net payoff for all that tedious effort is near zero.”
“I kept on going for a couple of hours with the foolish hope that the game would pick up, but eventually had to give up to turn to something less tedious.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique charm, vibrant visuals, and engaging music, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed sceneries and intriguing characters, noting that the light-hearted presentation contrasts with the underlying dark humor. Overall, the atmosphere is described as lively, atmospheric, and visually appealing, making exploration enjoyable despite some complex puzzles.
“Incredible atmosphere and charm.”
“The puzzles are complex and daunting, the atmosphere alluring, the characters intriguing and unique, and the art breathtaking.”
“The three Deponia games are great in so many ways - the music is well made and inspiring, the voice work is well directed and performed, the sceneries are detailed and atmospheric and the story is funny and fairly engaging to begin with.”
“Don't let the game’s cartoonish appearance and light-hearted atmosphere deceive you – it is full of dark humor that at times definitely crosses the line of humor, transforming into something sick and repulsive.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers limited replayability due to its linear structure, despite being an enjoyable trilogy with great voice acting and a fun atmosphere. While achievements provide some incentive to replay, many players feel that the lack of significant replay value is a drawback, particularly for an adventure game.
“A rather fun trilogy with great voice acting and silliness, plus tons of achievements lend it replay value (not something point-and-clickers always have).”
“I do think, however, the game lacks actual replayability.”
“I really enjoyed playing Deponia; it was well worth the investment for a fairly long gameplay. Too bad there are very few reasons for replayability - but you shouldn't expect an adventure game to offer many.”
“No replay value there though as it's linear.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, with virtually no bugs or performance issues reported. Players particularly enjoyed well-executed scenes, such as the choir performance following the successful completion of the organnon anthem.
“Bug & performance issues - virtually none.”