I remember being excited for Chapter 1 when its reveal took everyone by surprise. And while I enjoyed it a lot, Chapter 2 blew me away. With some surprising gameplay expansions, great music, more fluid visuals and Toby's best writing yet, it's a huge step up from Chapter 1—and maybe Undertale!
There's some new additions since Chapter 1. Violent players can now increase HP with K.Os, while pacifist players can repeatedly spare enemies to "recruit" them to Ralsei's kingdom, now a hub of sorts between chapters, where new interactions are unlocked with recruits calling you "Boss" (as someone who got into Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain just a while ago, the similarities were funny to see). Both of these add more choice elements to the game compared to Chapter 1.
Story-wise, you get to visit a new cyber-themed Dark World inside Hometown's Librarby. This Cyber World is run by "Queen", a new villain who holds Noelle (a classmate returning from Chapter 1) hostage. However, where the King was a ruthless tyrant defying aesops in Undertale, Queen can be described as a classy, laughing meme generator. No, really—despite what Chapter 1 set us up for with its darker tone, Chapter 2 takes on a lighthearted and comedic bent not unlike Undertale.
On your quest to rescue Noelle and seal the next dark fountain, there's a plethora of new interactions, side paths and intricately-placed dialogue to find. One thing I love is how in-depth the characters get; there are genuine heart-to-hearts between everyone across all the comedy and plot, namely Noelle as we learn more about her and watch her overcome her fears. But everyone, even Berdly (yep, he's relevant too), is colorful and engaging.
The dark elements from Chapter 1 are reduced, with the main exception being bonus boss Spamton; he's one of the few Gaster-linked(?) additions, and he's as funny as he's unsettling. There's also the ending with the twist of Kris making their own dark fountain. But there's not much else; the game doesn't look back after setting off on its wacky tone.
...except for the "Weird" or Snowgrave path, a hidden counterpart to UT's Genocide route. It's triggered by using Noelle's only damaging move, Iceshock, and manipulating her to freeze every enemy to death. You can even make her kill Berdly. The abuse is haunting and many die...yet the game stays the same, with only the order of events being affected when not dropped entirely. Even the last boss is just the bonus boss, only as a 1-on-1. It's darkly brilliant how senselessly depraved the route feels; you get what you came for, but was it worth it?
Chapter 2 feels more like an evolution of Undertale rather than the antithesis Chapter 1 was. There's an element of choices not mattering; one fight requires pacifism, and even the Snowgrave route feels futile despite existing at all. But while it's vague about that, Deltarune Chapter 2 is an awesome game and paves a bright future for what's next.
Chapter 2 Spoiler Review: A Return to Classic Undertale Shenanigans
I remember being excited for Chapter 1 when its reveal took everyone by surprise. And while I enjoyed it a lot, Chapter 2 blew me away. With some surprising gameplay expansions, great music, more fluid visuals and Toby's best writing yet, it's a huge step up from Chapter 1—and maybe Undertale!
There's some new additions since Chapter 1. Violent players can now increase HP with K.Os, while pacifist players can repeatedly spare enemies to "recruit" them to Ralsei's kingdom, now a hub of sorts between chapters, where new interactions are unlocked with recruits calling you "Boss" (as someone who got into Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain just a while ago, the similarities were funny to see). Both of these add more choice elements to the game compared to Chapter 1.
Story-wise, you get to visit a new cyber-themed Dark World inside Hometown's Librarby. This Cyber World is run by "Queen", a new villain who holds Noelle (a classmate returning from Chapter 1) hostage. However, where the King was a ruthless tyrant defying aesops in Undertale, Queen can be described as a classy, laughing meme generator. No, really—despite what Chapter 1 set us up for with its darker tone, Chapter 2 takes on a lighthearted and comedic bent not unlike Undertale.
On your quest to rescue Noelle and seal the next dark fountain, there's a plethora of new interactions, side paths and intricately-placed dialogue to find. One thing I love is how in-depth the characters get; there are genuine heart-to-hearts between everyone across all the comedy and plot, namely Noelle as we learn more about her and watch her overcome her fears. But everyone, even Berdly (yep, he's relevant too), is colorful and engaging.
The dark elements from Chapter 1 are reduced, with the main exception being bonus boss Spamton; he's one of the few Gaster-linked(?) additions, and he's as funny as he's unsettling. There's also the ending with the twist of Kris making their own dark fountain. But there's not much else; the game doesn't look back after setting off on its wacky tone.
...except for the "Weird" or Snowgrave path, a hidden counterpart to UT's Genocide route. It's triggered by using Noelle's only damaging move, Iceshock, and manipulating her to freeze every enemy to death. You can even make her kill Berdly. The abuse is haunting and many die...yet the game stays the same, with only the order of events being affected when not dropped entirely. Even the last boss is just the bonus boss, only as a 1-on-1. It's darkly brilliant how senselessly depraved the route feels; you get what you came for, but was it worth it?
Chapter 2 feels more like an evolution of Undertale rather than the antithesis Chapter 1 was. There's an element of choices not mattering; one fight requires pacifism, and even the Snowgrave route feels futile despite existing at all. But while it's vague about that, Deltarune Chapter 2 is an awesome game and paves a bright future for what's next.