More importantly, for Switch users, was the wait worth it? Is Dark Deity a worthy successor to the name Fire Emblem or is it all hype? The results are a mixture of the two. The game perhaps relies too heavily on the past while innovating in other ways. It is an interesting strategy RPG, to say the least.
6 Best: Classic Fire Emblem Returns
There are strategy games and then there are Fire Emblem games. There is a difference between the overall genre and this classic series. Dark Deity falls more in line with Fire Emblem with many clear nods to this beloved series.
The character sprites are simple as are the maps. However, when in combat, everything gets more detailed. These combat animations can be turned off, just like in Fire Emblem thankfully. Doing so can help speed up battle turns. There is also a bonding system between characters and a weapon wheel. As a strategy RPG, Dark Deity couldn’t be more of an homage if it tried.
5 Worst: No Map Saves
As brutal as the difficulty could be in a majority of the Fire Emblem games before Fire Emblem Awakening, there was always a way to save on a map. In most cases, this interim save would disappear once players loaded back into a map. It wasn’t permanent, but it at least allowed players to quit a mission while saving progress.
Dark Deity does not have this option. Once a map starts, players will have to finish it. They can always put their Switch into sleep mode. That is one of the best features of the console handheld hybrid. However, not every player will want to play in this way.
4 Best: The Class Upgrade System
Most strategy RPGs have class systems that feature upgrades. For example, in Fire Emblem, players can turn their characters from a weaker class into something stronger. This is usually performed with the help of an item. Even a newer strategy RPGs like Triangle Strategy also requires items.
Dark Deity does not require items to essentially evolve their heroes for the most part. There are upgrade Tokens for weapons, but transitioning from one class to another mostly requires leveling up. This changes a bit in the late game progression. However, it is still a more relaxed evolutionary chain than the two previous examples and most strategy RPGs in general.
3 Worst: The Inventory System
Dark Deity might have one of the worst inventory systems in recent RPG history. Characters will obtain items in combat from defeating enemies or from chests. Each character only has a set few slots. This limits the amount of healing items that they can carry into battle, for example.
This is a fine restriction as it balances out the difficulty. However, taking items out of a character’s personal inventory should be easier. Players have to select items and then choose where they want to go between the caravan and another character. It sounds simple, but it is more complicated than it needs to be. This is true of many early games in the Fire Emblem series as well. Some things shouldn’t have been paid homage to in Dark Deity.
2 Best: Difficulty Choices
Players have typical difficulty choices to choose from at the start of the game. They range from easy to hard and are called Mortal, Hero, and Deity. Allowing players to choose a set difficulty in an RPG should always be applauded. However, Dark Deity goes a step beyond.
Players can also fine-tune their experience via a series of sliders. For example, the amount of experience points earned as well as gold can be increased or decreased. The only downside to this flexibility is that it cannot be changed once players start. Still, as an assist feature, it deserves recognition. More games need adjustable sliders like Dark Deity.
1 Worst: Low Production In Odd Ways
Indie RPGS like Dark Deity only have so much budget. Some developers use every inch of their power to match up to the AAA experiences. Dark Deity may look and play like Fire Emblem, but the production value is oddly lowered in some standard aspects. There is technically voice acting while in cutscenes, but only a word or two is voiced. There are never any fully voiced sentences.
As far as audio goes, the music is sleepy as if someone forgot to remove the placeholders. The text is oddly small while not in a cutscene. If the Switch isn’t right at the face, it can be hard to read while in battle or at camp. The loads are frequent and long. One can go on, but the point is Dark Deity could have been so much more. It will not stop players enjoying the experience as it is still a solid strategy RPG.
Dark Deity was released on March 17, 2022 for the Switch. It was released previously in 2021 as a PC exclusive.
More: Beginner Tips For Triangle Strategy
