Ustwo Games·Released Sep 27, 2022·Single player
Desta: The Memories Between is a character-driven rogue-like, featuring an immersive story, strategic turn-based tactics and… a metaphorical ball-game?
With charm and polish and great respect for the player's time and ability, Desta: The Memories Between manages to land a clever and touching concept. The story and voice acting keep the levels ticking by and elevate what could have been a very rote affair. The dodgeball gameplay does let the story do the heavy lifting after about halfway, becoming rather repetitive, but it also provides a realistic touch of conflict and aggression whenever the dialogue leans into super-niceness, and the roguelike strategy plays smoothly enough to be a pleasant delivery mechanism for the tale of Desta unpacking and coming to terms with their emotional conflicts.
In Desta, anxiety dreams take the form of a tactical dodgeball game--and it works.
