Deception 3: Dark Delusion

Deceptively simple, in this third installment you set up traps to thwart the bad guys' attempts to kill you. This is one of those rare occasions in an action game where no two people are going to have the same playing style. It's non-linear to a point--restricted, yet free, if that makes sense. As you finish missions you get new trap pieces which you can use to make your own combinations. Don't like the layout of a particular room? Walk to the next one. But the major thing holding this game back are the awkward English sentences. A little bit of polishing and BAM--gripping story. Music is moody and fits the tone of the whole game. Graphics are quite good, especially in spots where the lights go out and come back on (one of the enemies casts a spell for darkness...most annoying thing in the world). The lack of analog control annoyed me a bit at first, but it actually makes more sense to use the digital pad in a game like this--and there's a button you can just press to automatically face your enemies. After you're done with the regular game, there's a trap license mode--very similar to license tests in driving games--and plenty of challenge levels to tackle (and you've gotta be real good to get through them). With every new Deception game it gets more fleshed-out. Let's hope the next one's got multiplayer online play.

This is a very moody game which is only really spoiled by some appalling translation work. They should've changed some of the names too...c'mon--Queen Margarita? Moments that are supposed to be tense end up just being funny and it spoiled it for me. It is a very thorough game though, and you'll find yourself being well and truly sucked in. Pulling off trap combos can be very satisfying...and you'll invest hours in mastering it.

What Deception 3 lacks in dementia it makes up for in addictive gameplay and superb graphics. The actual in-game environments are rich in detail, it's just too bad the trap effects themselves aren't always that impressive. In terms of replay value though, DD definitely packs enough substance. Between the 24 some story levels, and a knuckle-biting expert mode, DD will keep you in front of your PS for days. Be warned, bad janglish ahead.

Deception 3 is a bit of an enigma for me. The story is quite fun, once again providing a great alternative to the typical knight-in-shining-armor RPG story line. On the other hand, the goofy dialogue takes away greatly from that. The replay value here is pretty good...this chapter is amazingly addicting, even though it's lost its edge a bit from the previous two installments. If you liked the first two, you won't be disappointed here...for the most part.