The Deer God

The Deer God for PC, XONE and etc. is a original blend of a platform game and RPG that focuses on survival, that moves the subjects of reincarnation and karma. It was developed by a rather obscured studio, Cinopt Studios, in cooperation with more experienced developers from Crescent Moon Games (creators of Ravensword: Shadowlands and its mobile predecessor Ravensword: The Fallen King). The game was partially funded through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign and released on PC a Mac at first. The gathered funds allowed the developers to convert the game to other platforms.

The Plot

We play as a huntsman who died in an accident during the hunt. As a penance for his sins, he is reborn as a deer, a species he once hunted for. Due to the survival nature of the game, there is no particular goal to achieve here. However, there are some things to do in the game. We can grow old, achieve a godlike balance of karma, find all statuettes of knowledge, or survive longer than our friends. Those elements make our life as a deer that much more meaningful.

Mechanics

The Deer God for PC, XONE and etc. takes place in a prodecurally generated world, making each playthrough a unique experience. Gameplay boils down to exploration during which we will have to do various quest, avoid traps, and solve logical puzzles. As we play, we will meet different species of animals, each of them having their own character. We will either interact with them or fight with them (i.e. to win the heart of a doe). We will also encounter hunter who we have to avoid at all costs.

We start as a small fawn who grows older and, as we play, unlock new abilities by, for example, finding the well-hidden statuettes of knowledge that possess the ancestor’s wisdom. Our hero can use many abilities, like the fire shield, ice bomb, sharp hoof, or stabbing horns. To grow faster and recover our strength, we have to eat. Different kinds of food have different impact on our hero.

Our ‘life after death’ was resoled in an interesting way in The Deer God. Generaly, we only have one life, and if we die we have to start from the beginning. However, if we manage to get an heir during the game, we can be reborn as our young fawn right after our death. Karma plays an important role in the reincarnation mechanics. If we were cruel and hurt other animals all the time, we can be, for example, reincarnated as a plant and quickly devoured by a rabbit.

Game Modes

The Deer God for PC, XONE and etc. can be played alone or with another player. In coop, the goal is to survive longer than the other player.

Technical Aspects

The Deer God for PC, XONE and etc. uses Unity 3D engine. The game’s world is 3D but, like in many platform games, we can only move in two directions. Despite the pixelart style, developers implemented some modern solutions like the dynamic lighting or day/night cycle. Game’s OST was composed by Evan Gipson, a composer who worked with Crescent Moon Games on Mines of Mars.

Last updated on 31 August 2015