Diabolical
- November 5, 2015
- Choice of Games
As a criminal mastermind, choose a lair, rob a bank, hire a minion, and steal the world's largest ball of aluminum foil! Or, destroy the world. FINE.
Reviews
- The game is filled with humor and clever writing, making it an entertaining experience for players who enjoy a lighthearted take on villainy.
- Players have the freedom to choose their villainous style, allowing for a variety of approaches to problem-solving and character development.
- The game offers a unique concept of playing as a supervillain, which is a refreshing change from typical superhero narratives.
- Many choices feel superficial and do not significantly impact the story, leading to a linear experience despite the 'choose your own adventure' format.
- The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and deeper exploration of the world and characters.
- Some players found the humor and campiness to detract from the overall experience, feeling that it undermined the potential for a more serious narrative.
- story62 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a charming yet linear narrative that often feels rushed and lacks depth, leading to a low replay value despite some enjoyable characters and humor. Players appreciate the interactive elements and choices, but many feel that these choices have minimal impact on the overall plot, resulting in a somewhat uninspired experience. While the story can be fun and immersive, it ultimately leaves players wanting more complexity and meaningful consequences for their actions.
“The story it tells is a charming one, and I enjoyed my first playthrough a lot.”
“This is a very fun and immersive story game.”
“The plot was deeper than what was just written, my choices had impact, and there were a lot of choices.”
“The replay value is low and some parts of the story are skimmed through too quickly.”
“Sadly, this game fails to take advantage of that and ultimately we're left with an uninspired story.”
“Your actions don't really affect the story, and it really frustrates me how you are just a pathetic villain the entire time rather than being capable of becoming a true nightmare.”
- humor29 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and originality, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. While some reviews note that the game sometimes prioritizes humor over meaningful choices, many appreciate the campy and irreverent style that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the writing is considered a strong point, contributing to a fun and entertaining narrative filled with both silly and darkly comedic moments.
“Such a fun and funny experience.”
“The writing in this game is phenomenal, with the humor being the strong suit.”
“Diabolical is hilarious and well written and lets you decide what villain you would like to be.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the branching storylines and mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the story too short and lacking in depth, leading to low replay value.
“Diabolical is a text-based game with replayability and branching storylines.”
“It's a fun mechanic and gives replayability to the game since there aren't enough points to cover all locked choices.”
“The replay value is low, and some parts of the story are skimmed through too quickly.”
“It's worth giving a try, but don't expect massive replayability.”
“The story is short in comparison to many of their other works, and it just doesn't have the same replayability value.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features no graphics, relying instead on detailed storytelling and player imagination to convey the experience. This minimalist approach allows for a focus on narrative and choice, engaging players in a unique way.
“No graphics, no mess, no fuss.”
“Yes, even though there are no graphics, your imagination works just as well as the story gets explicitly detailed about the choices you make, what they do, and how it affects you.”
“No graphics, just your imagination.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a text-heavy, Zork-like experience that may not appeal to all players, particularly those seeking more action. However, the mechanics offer a fun and replayable element due to the limited points available for unlocking choices.
“It's a fun mechanic and gives replayability to the game since there aren't enough points to cover all locked choices.”
“Not being a fan of Zork-like games, I didn't take a liking to the all-reading, no-action gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels incredibly slow and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the mechanics to be clunky and unresponsive, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers a variety of story and character development paths that provide enough depth for at least three distinct playthroughs, ensuring a satisfying experience despite not being the longest in the choose-your-own-adventure genre.
“There are enough different story and character development options for at least three playthroughs, which should be sufficient, even though it is not necessarily the longest CYOA game available.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I love how my choices genuinely impact the character development, making each decision feel meaningful and rewarding.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“While there are multiple story paths, the character arcs are predictable and fail to evolve in a satisfying way.”
“The game offers a variety of character options, but they often feel superficial and don't lead to significant changes in the narrative.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a complete absence of music and art in the game, with users noting that there is literally no auditory or visual artistic element present.
“However, you should know that there is no music or art in here - I mean literally nothing at all.”
“The soundtrack is incredibly repetitive and lacks any real variety.”
“The music feels generic and fails to enhance the overall experience of the game.”