Dark Deity 2 Review
Perfectly Serviceable
It seems like yesterday that the original Dark Deity was shadow dropped during E3 2021 to showcase its indie take on tactical RPGs. But here we are four years later, and Sword & Axe LLC has returned to the world of Terrazael with Dark Deity 2. While the original brought some unique elements and felt like it was trying to capture a new audience, this sequel seems more focused on giving a tight knit and familiar tactical experience. This refined outlook has some benefits as well as drawbacks, with the engaging class system bringing a good amount of customization still, but it feels like a game that is very much playing it safe.
Set twenty years after the Empyrean War, the story focuses on a trio of siblings Gwyn, Arthur, and Riordan as they navigate being fledgling members of the Order led by their father Irving. Irving has been pushing his kids into increasingly difficult politically charged situations, on the continent of Verroa, to navigate while maintaining neutrality. Gwyn is the de facto leader that everyone looks up to, but harbours a lot of self doubt in her abilities, Arthur is the adopted child that adheres to the letter of the law but doesn’t know where they truly belong, and Riordan is the free spirited glue that holds everyone together but doesn’t take much seriously. Alden, all grown up, watches over the trio as a shepherd worrying over how quickly they are leaving the innocence of being children behind. Together they meet up with an eclectic cast of characters as they uncover the sources behind the region’s instability as it is thrown into a new war.
With a lot of the focus on the fledgling group, the game uses some of its early chapters to establish additional characters and open up old wounds before the war really gets underway. This can make things feel slow as it spends the time setting the scene before the true villains make their presence known. Luckily, the characterization of the siblings and some of the characters they meet make for a grand tale. Unfortunately, this dedication isn’t given to the entire cast, but they all have moments of story relevance before being relegated to background characters on the map. The sensation of characters smaller levels of influence in a bigger world allows for moments of interesting introspection on how a war-torn land affects their psyches as well as the citizens around them.
Undead on undead action as this Necromancer brings fallen comrades to bare against this spirit.
The early going includes decisions for players to make about how Gwyn handles some political situations. Beyond story implications that alter the plot in small but tangible ways, they also provide immediate rewards in the form of some equipment and resources and some altered campaign maps. A weapon found during the first choice was equipped all the way through the end game, meaning the decision isn’t just thematic, as the rewards can have long lasting consequences on party composition, making some characters more easily powerful than others depending on the route undertaken.
Players primarily engage in combat through story chapter maps. There are optional challenge maps for rare weapons as well as purchasable training maps if players need additional levelling up. Featuring a large cast of twenty characters, the deployment limit means that favourites are kept and those deemed less useful are tossed to the wayside. However, with the robust class system and randomised attribute gains, there’s a chance that one playthrough’s star is another’s dud. Every character has a tier of four classes they can promote into using an item, with a second tier available at higher levels as long as the promotional items are available. Some characters have overlapping class choices, but there’s enough there to make everyone feel unique, even if some aptitudes make it obvious which class is the best match for that character.
Benji is on to something here, particularly in a war ravaged fantasy world.
Characters in Dark Deity 2 each have a unique skill and gain two new ones for each promotion tier. Many of these abilities are very useful and players can combine support abilities such as healing, buffing, or debuffing with attacks to make for some devastating combos from typically weaker characters. Skills can also be upgraded with particular items that allow for a choice of one of four options. There are two levels of upgrades and they often make abilities cost less, have further range, or add features to the skill that can make each one feel more distinct.
There are still more customization options in Dark Deity 2. There are five weapon types whose usage is only restricted by class, with each weapon having two slots for runes. These runes bestow upgrades and stat boosts to help players tailor each one to what works best with the equipping character. There’s also rings that can be crafted using gems to create a unique piece of equipment that can be utilized by anyone. Gems come from defeating enemies, opening treasure chests, and as a reward from clearing bonding events unlocked as certain partnerships fight closely together. Rings offer upgrades to elements like a character’s base stats or increase their ability range, and some combinations can be game breaking. It can be difficult to aim for specific rings with the hodgepodge of gems collected, but like additional promotion items, stat boosts, skill upgrades, and runes, they can be purchased if players have the funds.
Who wants to bet that enemy soldier is thinking if only they had a shield to block that strike.
Most chapters require players to keep Gwyn standing while accomplishing objectives within a turn limit. Losing other party members is not penalized too much, with the only detriment being a temporary injury that affects their next usage. Penalties often come in the form of lowered attributes or an inability to dodge for a chapter, and are more of a nuisance than anything that truly alters the flow of combat. Playing thoughtfully rarely results in any injuries, because the enemies are often spread out enough that they can be fought with minimal risk if a team is well-rounded.
While the game makes ideal upgrade paths obvious, players aren’t punished too badly for experimentation and it’s hard to make a character fully ineffective. Those looking to adjust the challenge can switch between four different difficulty options as well as utilize a campaign modifier. Some options that can be modified include shuffled player recruitment order as well as enemy placement and their classes. It also adjusts how quickly the player and enemy units can gain stats from levelling up. Things still feel polished enough that even the most randomized of campaigns is still beatable, which still gives it a layer of intriguing replayability beyond just choosing different classes.
Side objectives in many chapter maps net players gold and stat boosting potions. This makes them worth going for, and adds a welcome bit of extra challenge. Adding that extra strategic layer of trying to save citizens and purify shrines during a mission gives players the option to flex their mental fortitude, and helps make maps more memorable.
Sometimes there’s optimism, and then there’s Riordan logic.
Dark Deity 2 features crisp and detailed sprites for the combatants that traverse the battlegrounds. Class changes shift these accordingly, though disappointedly each class has a single base model with only hair style and colour differentiating each party member. Enemies designs are lacking any distinguishing portraits, but what enemies do have over player characters is access to a few weapons that players will never use, making their combat animations differ from those of the party members. Character portraits and backgrounds are well-detailed, though their facial expressions can occasionally clash with the dialogue. The voice acting is well done, with every one having their role performed with a lot of heart behind it. While main story events are voiced, bond discussions are unvoiced, which feels like a missed opportunity due to how alternatively comedic and poignant those conversations can be. The music is capably composed, with a lot of tracks utilizing orchestral instruments to fit the situation well enough.
There are two schools of thought for Dark Deity 2. The game will feel very familiar to tactical RPG fans, and it plays things quite safe. However, there’s poise and polish to everything, and a single playthrough is easily enjoyed through its gameplay options alone. Despite the lack of bells and whistles to make it feel unique, the game deserves reward for how it utilizes its strengths. Dark Deity 2 is like picking up comfort food in that it’s perfectly enjoyable as something easy to digest for tactical fans.
Disclosure: This review is based on a free copy of the game provided by the publisher.
Familiar tactical comfort food
Good class variety
Customization and luck able to result in any unit becoming suitably powerful
Slow start to the story
Lacking its own distinct elements
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