For better or worse, Deltarune is deliberately being developed in Undertale‘s shadow. So far, it’s doing an admirable job following up. I’m not sure if it’ll achieve the iconic highs, cultural impact, or effortless thematic unity, but it’s already got a lot to offer. Chapter 2 is more consistently engaging mechanically than Undertale, and there’s much more of this game on the way. If Undertale achieves the immaculate confidence and unity of Dragon Quest games, then Deltarune swings for the spectacle and multifaceted characterization of Final Fantasy. Perhaps it’s no coincidence how both games’ battle screens reflect those respective series. With that said, Deltarune’s first two chapters feel like a satisfying experience in their own right. Their combined length already exceeds an Undertale run, and with Chapters 3+4 on the horizon, we’ll have access to allegedly more than half of its overall content. That’s a lot of a great game! Unless you’re opposed to playing through a game begging for repeated visits more than once, or cliffhangers negatively affect your well-being, I don’t think there’s a reason to wait to acquaint yourself with this world. Chapter 1 and especially Chapter 2 have set the grounds for what I have no doubt will surpass Undertale mechanically. What remains to be seen is where this story goes.