Thoughts on Deltarune Chapter 1 & 2
Feb 21 2025
After seeing all the excitement on social media regarding the release of Deltarune chapter three and four, I decided to finally play the first two chapters so I could play the new ones once they release. I didn't have very high expectations - I knew it'd be good, because it's a Toby Fox game, but I didn't expect it to ever top Undertale. I'm happy to say I was completely wrong. It might be too soon to say this, but I think Deltarune has the potential to go far beyond Undertale.
Since Deltarune is only like one fourth done, I can't really go into much detail, but I do have two major points of praise I want to touch on: the battle system, and the characterization. Both of these have been majorly improved since Undertale.
The battle system in Deltarune has undergone serious revision. It keeps with the basic turn-based bullet hell system that Undertale has, but also gains a lot through the addition of a mana system (TP, tension points) and the party-based combat. The ACT mechanic has been given more depth, with interactions that can both harm and help the player (which I don't think was present in Undertale?) They also added a meter for mercy, so the player can tell how many more interactions they need to defeat the enemy and plan accordingly. The new party based combat system also makes the combat feel more engaging as strategy and balance becomes much more important.
Regarding the writing, characters feel so much more interesting and complex beyond just the funny dialogue. They're written much better. That is really all there is to say on the matter.
The only gripe I have with Deltarune is the same problem I had with Undertale: its excessive edginess. I know that when Kris does his weird pulling-out-heart thing I'm supposed to take it seriously, but when he looks at me with red eyes and an evil smile I can't help but laugh, it just feels so goofy.
Overall Deltarune is amazing so far and I'm beyond excited to play the next two chapters.