Review – Dark Deity

Any long-time fan of the Fire Emblem franchise would immediately have their interests piqued seeing footage of  Freedom Games’ latest strategy RPG. From the gorgeous pixel art graphics to the fluid combat animations, it looks like everything to draw you in for an epic journey. Thankfully, that’s exactly what we got.

Content Guide

There was some mild profanity used throughout the game. There are some female characters that show cleavage.

Review

King Varic has some issues. The paranoid king even went so far as to shut down Brookstead, the military academy where our initial team of heroes lived and studied. It doesn’t take long before they’re swept up in a massive adventure with more companions than you can shake a stick at joining them. 

While it’s focused on your team, the narrative is a wide, sweeping tale of a caliber worthy of its inspiration. The voice acting is minimal, but the tale is both well written and told. From humble beginnings, greatness is forged.

If you’ve played a Fire Emblem game, you’ll have a good idea of what you’re in store for. As the story progresses, new folks will join your army. They typically fall into a handful of class archetypes but the game quickly equips you with ways to grow and expand that out. 

Battles take place in a top-down perspective where you can get a handle on the battlefield. The player will take their turns maneuvering their soldiers, attacking, and performing other actions along the way. Many of these actions earn the unit’s experience which can be used to improve their statistics. You can upgrade their gear and give them items for healing and more along the way.

From swordsmen to mages to horseback archers and beyond, the breadth of what’s at your disposal is impressive. Each base archetype has several masterclasses and you’ll want to make sure your squad is diverse so it can handle all sorts of situations.

Dark Deity really is a fantastic homage to its predecessors but it does a fantastic job establishing itself as a franchise that could have the staying power to compete with the big boys.

Dark Deity is gorgeous. I love its bright pixel art style. The combat animations are smooth as glass. The soundtrack is also catchy, keeping you engaged as you fight through the campaign.

Dark Deity is a top-tier strategy RPG. It has a great story, excellent progression mechanics, addictive combat, and beautiful, savory pixel-art animation. If you enjoy games like Fire Emblem, you should absolutely pick it up. It’ll give you a couple dozen hours or more of strategic fun.

Review copy provided by Stride PR

“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” – Ephesians 6:13