First I played the retro-inspired RPG Terrible delusion almost two years ago in the early days of the early access period. I loved what I played in the handful of hours I put into it thanks to the rollback Morrowind-esque world and mechanics, as well as a hint of cosmic horror. But as a person who tends to receive burnt out of titles before they’re even fully released, if I’m playing in early access, I put Terrible delusion and I figured I’d wait until 1.0. Well, that day finally arrived on May 14th, and I’m happy to say that the wait was worth it.
Terrible delusion is a game that will exist mostly in comparison. This is in many ways by design, as the fundamentals of the game are so rooted in the stylistic and mechanical elements of other titles. The game’s deep role-playing mechanics allow for combat, magic, stealth, and more due to its reliance on skills that are drawn from The Elder Scrolls. The slightly disturbing fantasy setting is reminiscent of Morrowind specially. Polygon graphics are inspired by PlayStation 1 in the same way as retro-horror trend f. But his character models feel lifted from Thief: The Dark Project. Terrible delusion expertly weaves these inspirations together into a completely unique garment. It’s a game that’s talked about in comparison that manages to be more than its inspirations.
The star of Terrible delusion is its setting, the Oneir Islands. A floating archipelago under a menacing red sky filled with warring armies and cosmic mysteries. As a captive of one such army, the player is essentially a stand-in in battle and tasked with the mission of taking down a rebellious woman named Vela Kalos. Infiltrating her fortress and killing her is your first objective, which you won’t be able to complete and will send you dozens of hours of questing to complete the job. Once you have your (parole) freedom from your jailers, Terrible delusion lets you into his strange world.
Terrible delusion wants you to get lost But don’t get so lost that you fall off the side of the map, these are floating islands, remember? When the game warns you to watch your step at the beginning of your journey, you, like me, may laugh and think that this will never happen. Then you laugh right off the side of the island. It’s undeniably fun, but it also highlights that the world is actually dangerous if you’re not careful. like Morrowindis Vvardenfell or Elden Ring‘s Lands Between, the joy of the Oneir Islands meets their unique charms naturally throughout your journey. A tavern in the head of a dead god, a castle inhabited by illusions, a traveling college of wizards, all this and more await the inquisitive player. What makes all these discoveries so much more fascinating is that they all have stories to tell—they’re not just decoration. Everything here has depth.
This narrative depth and sense of discovery comes out of the game’s mechanical complexity, which offers so much freedom to the player. As in The Elder Scrolls, players can tailor their protagonist to different play styles. You can focus on combat, magic, stealth or even charm and unlock different ways to solve problems. Instead of fighting your way through, maybe you could just befriend the guards and go straight to the area you want. It all depends on the skills you can unlock with Glimmers of Delusion, the resource that gives the game its name.
Combat remains perhaps the dumbest element of the game, a feeling I had during early access. Here the gameplay lacks depth, and in most encounters I find myself circling enemies and slicing until they die, a surprisingly effective tactic. This makes it simple but not very fun. Sneaking, unlocking and charming your way through encounters is always more engaging.
Tying the leveling into a sense of cosmic horror is a great tonal decision that supports the game’s low-poly horror aesthetic. Visually and mechanically, the game is disturbing in the most fascinating way, perhaps taking further inspiration from Pathological. But Terrible delusion it switches between so many different tones. There’s space horror and fantasy, but also comedy. The game’s humor feels especially well used in conjunction with its mechanics. As in The Elder Scrolls games where mechanical freedom often leads to funny unintended consequences, Terrible delusionFreedom will make absurd scenarios happen regularly. It’s good that the inhabitants of the game also have a sense of humor.
In the already packed few weeks of captivating indie games punch well above their weight, Terrible delusion is another fantastic game to put on your radar. Come for the deep skill system and fascinating world, but stay for the unexpected adventures you’re sure to find yourself in. Just don’t fall off the side.
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