Dark Deity

I found myself immensely enjoying the time I spent playing Dark Deity. It particularly reminded me of playing some of the more recent Fire Emblem titles like Awakening and Fates, but I arguably found myself becoming more invested in the plot and caring even more for its characters. The gameplay, while somewhat reminiscent of those Fire Emblem titles, also provides some key differences that help greatly emphasize the strategy component of the game’s campaign. To SRPG fans looking for another Fire Emblem-esque experience, I’d wholeheartedly recommend giving Dark Deity a chance. It is a truly enjoyable addition to the genre, and one I’m glad I got the chance to further peruse.

An outstanding homage to Fire Emblem which, in its rich cast of characters and thoughtful tweaks to combat, occasionally surpasses its classic inspiration.

Despite being a very blatant homage to Fire Emblem, Dark Deity consistently new layers to both the combat, the strategy, and the characters themselves to keep things feeling fresh. While I don't think the story is quite up to the same standard as its inspiration, I almost prefer the combat here along with the way classes work. Dark Deity is a must-play for fans of strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem, and I'm confident I'll be coming back to it regularly for a long time.

For SRPG fans clamoring for games of a more “classic” style, this title comes highly recommended, especially with the replayability afforded to it through its custom campaign options. I know for sure I’ll be loading this up on the regular for a long time to come.

Overall, Dark Deity may not have the polish or reach the heights of those classic ’00s Fire Emblem games, but I wouldn’t expect it to — it’s an indie title with a development team of six, but the passion of that team for the genre is apparent throughout the finished product. This is a love letter to classics that’s still accessible enough for those who may want to give the genre a try. And for those of us who miss a TRPG uncluttered by slice-of-life mechanics? It’s a much-welcome addition to the library.

With an excellent story, tight mechanics, and tons of customization available for players, Dark Deity is a game that any SRPG fan should have in their library. It is unfortunate that outdated and over-sexualized depictions of women slightly tarnish such an otherwise beautiful gem.

Dark Deity manages to be a competent and entertaining SRPG by offering a decent narrative fueled by the influences of classic entries of the genre. It utilizes systems that fans love while introducing quality-of-life mechanics to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience. There are many familiar elements about this adventure, but it’s one that I found to be approachable and full of charm.

Dark Deity is a small game that understands its limitations. It delivers thought-provoking battles, if not necessarily the most balanced ones. It gives players a lot of tactical choice, if not in the most informed way. And it cuts clear corners, but it feels like they’re the right corners to cut. Because what’s here is a fun time.

Dark Deity has it's faults, but ultimately it does what it sets to do: Be a wonderful alternative to Fire Emblem on the PC. The devs had their hearts in the right place with this one and it's a great starting point for people who want to tip their toes in the genre.

I had hoped to give a glowing review of Dark Deity. After all, it does quite a bit right, and manages to streamline many things successfully. Unfortunately, it ultimately was held back by the various poor design choices, glitches, and copious similarities to Fire Emblem. While the latter didn’t bother me, I feel the game could have been a bit more original. That said, this is absolutely a game worth playing for any tactical RPG fan, especially once it’s been patched a bit. Here’s hoping the next game from this upstart team is the polished gem I thought Dark Deity could have been.

The game does exactly what it sets out to do, and does so in a competent and engaging way. For fans of Fire Emblem, especially the classic games, Dark Deity has a lot to offer. For new players interested in dipping their toes into strategy roleplaying games, Dark Deity is a good place to start, as long as they are willing to experiment with weapon combos and character placement in the early game.