OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Every now and then you come across a special game that encompasses intangible qualities that make it magical. Deemo II is one of those games. To say Deemo II is just a rhythm game would not do it justice. In fact, it’s more a narrative journey with rhythm game elements. It’s clear the developer’s primary goal is to tell a story. The cutscenes feel straight out of an animated film. The game is elegantly designed in its overall art direction, gameplay and user interface. The story is the main focus with music, rhythm, exploration and puzzles thrown into the mix. This is a game that will refresh and renew your soul. It’s not just for rhythm game enthusiasts either. In fact, those new to rhythm games may be pleasantly surprised because it’s so different than any other type of game out there. Music has a special power to evoke emotion. You not only play this game, you feel its heart, beauty and imagination.
GAMEPLAY:
This is first and foremost a narrative experience. In fact it can feel like watching an animated film or show that just also happens to include rhythm gameplay. However, the main way to advance the story is through playing songs. Music is wonderfully integrated into the main quest and it’s one of the elements that make the journey so magical. You’ll also experience simple exploration and puzzles along the way. There isn’t too much explanation in the gameplay. Instead you’re free to seek and discover. The elegance of the simplicity in the approach to the game is refreshing. When it does come to the rhythm gameplay don’t feel intimated if you’re new to the genre. Each song offers a variety of challenge settings. On top of that you can calibrate your settings and adjust the chart speed to accommodate for a range of skill levels. As someone who has never played a rhythm game before, I was surprised and intrigued by the music and also the ability to just flow with the music. Not thinking too much or trying to hit all the notes perfectly but rather enjoying the enchanting soundscape and staying present. I was also amazed that I enjoyed some of the more challenging songs. With a variety of difficulty settings for each song, interesting puzzles that you can figure out by experimenting and simple exploration there’s enough here to keep your attention while still keeping an overall chill and relaxed vibe.
STORY:
The story mimics the overall game and art design in a simple and elegant way. The narrative unfolds like a mystery as you uncover more about the world and cast of characters. Rain in this world is dangerous and music has the power to stop it. You follow along the main protagonists (Echo and Deemo) as they seek to help others and find out what happened to the Composer. Parts of the story are also told through songs, cutscenes and simple animations. In addition, you’ll experience bite sized cutscenes one portion at a time. Each section of the story is presented in concise parts that never overstay their welcome or contain filler content. Instead, you can tell each element, as simple as it is, is there for a purpose. This is a masterclass in the art of how to use simplicity in narrative design. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity either. By not overly explaining everything, it allows the audience to infer and imagine creating meaningful moments of discovery as the story unfolds. Overall, there’s an imaginative world here with charming characters that captivates an audience.
ART & CHARACTER DESIGN:
There’s an elegance and grace to the art and characters in Deemo II. It’s very clear that much thought and intention has been placed in creating a piece of art that just happens to also be a game. The main characters and cast are charming and relatable in strange and quirky ways. The voice acting is spot on and really brings the characters to life. One of the greatest challenges for a game is creating a vision that expresses a unique identity. The world of Deemo II stands out and it’s something you’ll remember amongst the sea of anime like games in today’s market. This is the type of creativity, artistic vision and display of unique art design that we need to see more of. It stands out as some of the best in the genre.
MUSIC:
Undoubtedly, the music in this game is evocative. It’s mostly classical and pop tracks with an overall vibe of peace, hope, beauty and triumph. The power of the music can take you away from your current cares and allow you to just sit in the flow of a serene soundscape. Playing this game and the songs has the ability to refresh you in ways that other games and forms of entertainment cannot. Some of the songs here are some of my favourite tracks to just chill out too. In the course of the game you encounter and unlock songs that are part of the main story. You’ll also be able to unlock and/or play other tracks through various in-game systems and through things like events. Overall, there is a large selection of music with some slow and peaceful and others energetic and up-beat. All of the music that is part of the main story quest works to enhance the narrative. Together it’s a strong combination that gives this game personality.
FREE TO PLAY SYSTEM:
Overall, this game can be enjoyed as a completely free to play player. There are various currencies and systems that allow you to unlock new songs. Events also allow you to play tracks that you don’t currently own. As a game that is mostly focused on story and music, I did not feel pressured to unlock new tracks. Even though music encompasses a large part of the game, the real reward is enjoying the story and your progress there is not hindered.
CHALLENGES:
The challenges that do exist in the game are minor and don’t detract from the main focus of the game. Some tracks that you unlock can only be played at a certain difficulty level. This can be both good and bad. Tracks that are of a higher difficulty than I would have initially thought possible are a pleasant challenge to take on and learn. It is surprisingly fun to play songs that are just outside my comfort zone. However, there are also some tracks that are quite challenging even at a lower difficulty setting and once it crosses a certain threshold can feel next to impossible. The upside is that most of the challenging tracks are all optional mostly appearing in side content like events. The other challenge is that if you are completely free to play you may have to repeat certain tracks to progress. Most of the music is enjoyable so it’s not a significant issue but it can get a bit repetitive.
CONCLUSION:
Deemo II is a special game. There’s a magical quality in it’s art design and approach to gameplay combined with an intriguing narrative and powerful integration of music. If you’re looking to be inspired by a world and to renew your soul, Deemo II may hold the key. Those who have never played a rhythm game should definitely try this out and keep an open mind. It can transform your day and renew and refresh your perspective on gaming and life.
IMAGE CREDIT: Deemo II
GAME DETAILS
PLATFORMS: iOS, Android
RELEASE: 2022
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Rayark
GENRE/TAGS: Story focused, rhythm game, exploration, puzzles
TARGET AUDIENCE: Gamers that enjoy a story focused game. Rhythm game experience not necessary.
Looking for more rhythm or music games? Check out Cytus II also developed by Rayark. A full review is lavailable here.
THANKS:
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