Does Your Choices Matter in Deltarune Chapter 2? A Deep Dive
The short answer is: yes, and no. While Deltarune Chapter 2 maintains a consistent ending regardless of your major playthrough choices, that doesn’t mean your actions are inconsequential. They drastically affect the journey, the characters’ relationships, and your understanding of the narrative. The game expertly weaves a tapestry where significant shifts in character dynamics and story beats occur based on player decisions, all while steering towards a predetermined overall conclusion. It’s less about changing the destination and more about fundamentally altering the road you take to get there.
The Illusion of Choice vs. The Impact of Experience
Toby Fox, the creator of Deltarune, has been upfront about the game’s unique approach to player agency. Unlike Undertale, where your choices directly impacted the ending, Deltarune suggests a pre-ordained narrative. This can lead to frustration for players expecting similar branching paths. However, dismissing your choices as irrelevant entirely misses the point.
Snowgrave Route: A Stark Example
The Snowgrave Route, arguably the most talked-about aspect of Chapter 2, provides a prime example. By manipulating Noelle into using increasingly powerful Ice magic, you can lead her down a dark path, culminating in the freezing of several characters, including Berdly. This route has devastating consequences for Noelle’s character arc and your relationship with her, even though it ultimately funnels back into the main storyline. The emotional weight of Snowgrave profoundly changes the player’s experience and understanding of the game world.
Character Interactions and Hidden Details
Beyond the Snowgrave Route, countless smaller choices ripple throughout the game. Whether you choose to fight or spare enemies, how you interact with Susie, Ralsei, Berdly, and other characters all shape the dialogue and the unfolding events. Recruiting certain enemies and collecting specific items unlocks hidden lore and character development. These details enrich the world of Deltarune and add significant value to repeat playthroughs.
The “Meaningful” Choice
Deltarune presents a narrative that prioritizes the “meaningful” choice. The game isn’t concerned with providing numerous drastically different endings but focuses on allowing players to experience the story in their own way, even if the ultimate destination remains constant. It’s an exploration of free will within a predetermined framework, prompting reflection on the nature of choice and consequence.
Theme Resonance
One of the most compelling arguments for the importance of choice, even within fixed-ending narratives, is the ability to resonate thematically with characters. If you’re playing a character who is consistently kind, generous, and forgiving, then the story of Deltarune becomes one of someone who is trying their hardest to bring light to a darkening world, even if they might fail. On the other hand, if you play a cruel, manipulative, and violent character, then the fixed ending could become a tragedy of someone whose flaws are ultimately their undoing.
Understanding Deltarune’s Design Philosophy
Ultimately, the question of choice in Deltarune is inextricably linked to its design philosophy. Toby Fox’s approach aims to deliver a specific story with specific themes. By limiting the branching possibilities, he can carefully craft the experience, delivering a more focused and impactful narrative. It’s a different approach from many games, but it’s an approach that demands a deeper understanding of the relationship between author and audience, the nature of choice, and the meaning behind the story. The GamesLearningSociety.org researches the design philosophy and theory behind game and game-based learning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Deltarune Chapter 2 have different endings?
No. Regardless of your choices throughout the game, the ending of Deltarune Chapter 2 remains consistent. However, the path you take to reach that ending and the characters’ relationships are significantly impacted by your decisions.
2. Do the choices at the start of Deltarune matter?
The initial “vessel” creation is ultimately discarded. However, naming the creator or the vessel after existing characters does yield special dialogue.
3. Does pacifism matter in Deltarune Chapter 2?
Yes, pacifism matters, but not in terms of the overall ending. Choosing to spare enemies alters the party’s stats, triggers unique dialogue, and affects character relationships, specifically the interactions between Kris, Susie, and Ralsei.
4. Does fighting matter in Deltarune Chapter 2?
Yes. Defeating enemies grants stat boosts and affects the game world. Defeating enough enemies will result in them becoming “LOST”, altering the game world.
5. Can you do a Genocide route in Deltarune Chapter 2?
While there isn’t a “Genocide route” in the traditional sense, the Snowgrave Route mimics some aspects of one. By manipulating Noelle, you can force her to use powerful ice magic, leading to the deaths of characters. This, however, doesn’t change the end of the game.
6. Can you go back to Castle Town in Chapter 2?
Yes, Kris and Susie return to Castle Town at the beginning of Chapter 2 after their return from the dark world in the unused classroom.
7. How do I recruit Hacker in Deltarune?
Hacker appears in Castle Town if all three of his Blue Checkmarks were collected during your time exploring the Cyber World.
8. How do I stop Susie from attacking in Deltarune?
You can use the ACT command “warn” to warn enemies of Susie’s attacks, causing her attacks to miss and allowing you to spare the enemies.
9. Can you pacify Berdly in Deltarune?
You can pacify Berdly in the first fight by bringing his HP below 50%. In the second fight, you can pacify him until you trigger the special Snowgrave dialogue option.
10. Why does Kris rip out his soul?
Kris removes his soul to temporarily break free from the player’s control and exert their own will, as hinted by the Queen’s dialogue.
11. What happens if you name your vessel Kris in Deltarune?
If the name is set to “KRIS,” “SUSIE,” or “NOELLE,” the voice says “
12. Can you reason with King in Deltarune?
No, King cannot be reasoned with according to his flavor text. You must either fight him or survive his attacks for 15 turns.
13. What gender is Ralsei in Deltarune Chapter 2?
Ralsei is referred to with male pronouns throughout the game.
14. What did Kris do at the end of Chapter 2?
Kris opens a Dark Fountain using their knife, presumably utilizing their own Determination and willpower.
15. Does killing matter in Deltarune?
Killing does matter in Deltarune for the purposes of stats and character arcs. Enemies flee when defeated and give no XP.