Gods of the Twilight | Early Access Steam Deck Review
Norse mythology has been a hot topic in gaming over the last few years. More and more players are learning about these iconic legends, but this also means there could be fatigue related to the subject matter. Volutian Design has bypassed this potential issue, though. Their new visual novel Gods of the Twilight seamlessly blends Norse mythology with science fiction to craft a fascinating narrative set in a cyberpunk version of Iceland that gripped me from beginning to (current) end.
Embracing Your Destiny
You start the game by choosing between two unique protagonists: Althea or Farkas. Althea is a young woman who has moved around constantly and has just arrived in New Reykjavik. She doesn’t really know anyone and relies heavily on her family’s butler. Farkas is a rough-and-tumble guy who tries his best to protect his friends and adoptive mother, no matter what happens to him. You’ll end up playing as both, but your selection at the beginning influences whose story you start with and certain choices exclusive to them.
Althea and Farkas are both relatable characters, even if they are connected to certain Norse gods in unknown ways. I genuinely wanted the best for both of them, and tried to select choices that would be the best options for each. Of course, you don’t have to go this route. You can make them rude, indifferent, logical, or compassionate. You create your own unique story.
Choice Is Not an Illusion
Since Gods of the Twilight is a visual novel, you have several ways to shape Althea and Farkas’ respective journeys. As mentioned above, their personalities can be decided through dialogue options, but you can also choose their movements during fights, and there are even circumstances where you can opt to eavesdrop on conversations or mind your business. Of course, romance is also on the table. You are not limited to a specific gender or even to one love interest. Do you want Althea/Farkas to be poly? Go for it! Can’t decide between two people? Flirt with both before choosing. Have your eye on one special person? Shoot your shot! These all have tangible effects on the story, and I appreciated the fact that everything is meaningful.
You’re also free to rewind to the last decision if you don’t care for the outcome you received. This is a small feature that is included, but it’s refreshing not to have to resort to loading a previous save. Another aspect I loved is the R-rated nature of the narrative. The game warns you of this before you even start playing, but this is a selling point to me. The choice to make the story mature lends a more realistic and human aspect to what could have been an outlandish plot. Everything just feels natural. Just don’t go expecting anything more than R-rated material. You’re not getting any super explicit content. I’ve got my eye on you…
The Incoming Apocalypse Sure Is Beautiful
I’d be remiss not to mention the technical and artistic aspects of Gods of the Twilight. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, with even the smallest of details being lovingly highlighted. I adored the character and location designs. The sound design should also be applauded. The foley effects are outstanding, and the voice cast is top-notch. The majority of this visual novel is voice-acted, so having a great cast is of the utmost importance. Volutian Design nailed it. The choice to allow the actors to speak in different accents is a brilliant decision that makes New Reykjavik feel like a true melting pot. In regards to the performances themselves, they’re wonderful. Every character is beautifully voiced, and their emotions are felt with every line spoken. You can hear when they’re devastated, flirting, or full of joy. It feels like listening to conversations between actual humans, which is a huge selling point.
The Final Verdict
Gods of the Twilight seamlessly blends Norse mythology with sci-fi elements to create an epic story set in a cyberpunk version of Iceland. Your choices really matter in this game, and I appreciated being able to rewind and select a different option if I didn’t care for a certain outcome. The characters feel realistic and the voice-acting is exceptional, lending a human touch to a narrative that has some decidedly outlandish elements in it. It’s an absolute delight to hear the wonderful foley effects, and the graphics are gorgeous. This is currently in Early Access, so only the first five chapters and the prologue are available to play at the moment. It took me six hours to complete my tale, but I’m eagerly waiting for more episodes to drop to continue this epic story.
To hear me talk more about Gods of the Twilight, be sure to listen to the November 22, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 57:31 time stamp.
This review is based on an Early Access Steam copy of Gods of the Twilight provided by Uber Strategist for coverage purposes. As of the time of this writing, it is exclusive to this platform.
