The Deer God

This game is really fun to play, but it does have many issues. Nothing you would not expect from a Beta version of the game. Once they get this fixed, the game should do rather nicely.

Take simple, Pitfall-like platforming (minus the rope swinging), mix in a hint of Sword & Sworcery's art style, and then you have an overreaching X-meets-Y makeup of The Deer God. I feel like its motivations are far better than half-hearted; creatively and intentionally. But The Deer God keeps asking me to return to a life I find less and less interesting with each reincarnation.

The Deer God may be a great visual experience to unwind with, and it has a spiritual message to match. But when it comes down to the actual gameplay, the game just feels too stiff and uninteresting. Despite an almost enchanting presence, the actual mechanics of The Deer God will do as much as possible to push you away.

The Deer God is a very strange game, and because of that there’s something rather captivating about it. Whilst none of the gameplay systems feel particularly refined, it all comes together to create an experience that feels sinister, drawing you in until you reach its shocking conclusion. Granted, it sends mixed signals when considering its moralistic nature, giving you no other choice but to kill on many occasions, but it doesn’t really matter. If you want to play a unique platformer with survival and puzzle elements you can’t really go wrong with The Deer God, and with multiple endings as we...

With all of this in mind, is The Deer God worth picking up on the Nintendo Switch? It is certainly a well-designed title that does provide enjoyable gameplay. Its tranquil aesthetic and procedurally-generated world make it a relaxing adventure to keep returning to. If you can look beyond the narrative or if you happen to share the game’s perspective, it’s a pretty neat romp and makes for a great portable title.

Control one of nature's most dangerous and menacing creatures in Crescent Moon Games' The Deer God.

I really do feel that there are some great ideas and potential here, though. I enjoyed running around the beautifully serene landscapes as a majestic deer, so if that’s all you really expect from The Deer God, then you’ll likely get some enjoyment out of it. Anyone looking for something more, however, might be left disappointed.

A pretty but boring infinite runner ported from mobile to console continues to be pretty and boring, only at an even deer-er price point.

I stared deep into the eyes of the deer, waiting for it to speak. There was no grass, no trees; just a white void surrounding me and her heavenly grace as she judged me and my actions. But she did not speak. She did not even blink. As the silence dragged on, I grew more desperate, bargaining with her to just make sense of this, please! What should I be feeling? What should I be believing!? Deer God, what lesson do I need to learn? She screamed, for she did not know. I screamed, for I did not know. Perhaps that was the lesson to learn, that there is nothing to know. Don’t buy this game.

I did enjoy this game but the longer I played the more bored I get. Running and jumping from platforms was fun but seeing  the same platforms gets dull. There is a story line to get yourself entertained and if you want to finish the game. But the quests were not challenging as I expected. I had more difficulty in surviving than doing the quests. Which gave me the feeling that the game was more on how long you can survive and how far you can travel as a deer. The Deer God has actual potential to become a good game but it still lacks a lot of things for players who will expect too much.