Rarely does a game impress me enough to record an entire playthrough of it just to capture my reaction. Playing through of the Devil was quite a wonderful treat. If you’re interested to see if episode one is worth purchasing, then this review is for you. Don’t worry, there are no spoilers.
If you’ve already played the free prologue, then you should have no trouble deciding if of the Devil – Episode 1 is for you. You can read about my impressions of it here. I wouldn’t recommend playing Episode 1 if you haven’t played the prologue yet since there are a lot of details that you’ll miss if you don’t go through it at least once.
I took my sweet time with of the Devil, carefully digesting the dialogue. And here’s what I think of nth Circle’s release of the Devil Episode 1.
Episode 1 takes place directly after the prologue. You’re once again placed into the shoes of Morgan as she’s tasked to investigate the supposed suicide of a friend of hers. There’s a ton of world-building in this episode as we get to learn more about androids and their place in this universe.
The game still plays like a typical visual novel—with you reading past mountains of dialogue. However nth Circle does a good job of keeping things fresh that you’re never overloaded with too much information that you lose interest. The execution of its pacing and writing makes this episode well worth going through.
The case here is also interesting this time around since the defendant Morgan is in charge of is already dead. Thanks to becoming the ward of her new technical paralegal, Serra, our protagonist finds herself trying to prove that her friend didn’t kill himself. Even if she isn’t quite sure that’s the case. The payoff to how this mystery is solved is quite cathartic.
Episode 1 is pretty long. I’d say about 4-6 hours long for me to complete. There is a lot of dialogue and some background information available. Thankfully they’re delivered to you in an easy-to-swallow state. However, you will be frequently reminded that this is a cyberpunk dystopia with the frequent use of futuristic jargon that you wouldn’t find out of place in this genre.
So what’s different in Episode 1 compared to the prologue? For starters, there are now two separate difficulties. I like that each difficulty reflects Morgan’s personality well depending on how you interpret her. There’s the Perfectionist mode where you can save and load as much as you’d like to get the best possible result, much like the perfectionist in Morgan. However, there’s also the High Roller mode where you’re limited to a single save slot and are punished but rewarded more for decisions. Finishing the game in the latter unlocks a unique reward.
High Roller mode is no joke. The amount of chips deducted from you for each wrong choice can range beyond double digits. It forces you to weigh your decisions carefully. Though considering the nature of the game, I’m guessing this is the intended way to play for the most part.
I would say there are two sections to of the Devil. Much like Ace Attorney, there’s the section where Morgan goes around questioning people and gathering evidence. However, unlike Ace Attorney, you can’t just move between places as you wish. It’s more on the rails here with Morgan moving to another location automatically after you’re done talking with people in one.
After that is the courtroom where you’ll argue your case. Episode 1’s court is full of twists and turns as you’d expect out of this genre. However, it really comes down to calling out the witnesses when they’re lying and challenging the prosecutor. On the surface, it’s actually more simple at least compared to Ace Attorney. You can Call out witnesses during a statement when they’re lying, Raise an objection, or ask the right questions to get a Blackjack. There are no pressing witnesses for more information or examining evidence to reveal a deeper part of it.
As I’ve mentioned of the Devil is gambling-themed which is attributed to Morgan’s personality. So the design of how she fights for her case can be attributed to being in a casino. I love this part of her design as it gives Morgan and the game a more unique and memorable aesthetic.
Don’t worry there are no annoying Danganronpa minigames like the guessing word game or surfing. I am a little bit disappointed at the lack of sound effects or voice lines. I would love to hear Morgan exclaim “Objection!” or something along that line. I wouldn’t say it’s a con but it is an opportunity to make the game more lively should they add it in a future patch.
The biggest compliment I can give to of the Devil is its personality. Almost everything from its design to the character appearances is well crafted. There’s a lot of love put into this game’s creation and I’m loving it.
The characters themselves are executed rather well. Because of how charming Morgan can be, it’s easy to forget what she really is. Her interaction with everyone she meets really brings out how interesting each character is thanks to her killer insight into people. It makes for interesting chemistry between each person we meet.
Despite being a cyberpunk game, it isn’t all serious. There are lighthearted moments that take away the tension of investigating someone’s death. Such as when someone finds out Morgan’s full name.
I wholeheartedly recommend of the Devil Episode 1. It adds a lot more mechanics than the prologue and its writing and pacing are executed well. It’s quite lengthy for a single episode so there’s a lot to dive into. If you’ve played the prologue and liked it, then you’ll absolutely love the first episode.
This review is based on a PC code provided by the developer/publisher.
of the Devil - Episode 1
Almost perfect if not for the nitty-gritty. If it’s quite there but not enough to push the boundaries, it’s still an awesome game.
The Good
- Creative Character Designs
- Interesting and Gripping Mystery
- Great Character Chemistry
