Dark Delusion: Deception 3

Deception 3 takes the basic structure of the second installment, Kagero, and adds oodles more options and ways to torment your enemies (the heroine [?] isn't as scantily clad, though). You create traps by adding "emblems" such as lightning, cold, and chaos to core components like falling rocks and arrow slits. Furthermore, each trap can be upgraded by boosting its range or damage or by shortening the length of time it takes to charge up, and also by adding magic rings to add effects such as summoning (foes are drawn to the trap's location, making it ever so much easier to butcher them). There are several different buildings in which you run amok, each boasting its own assortment of rooms, some of which have built-in traps of their own such as electrified walls and pillars that can be knocked over to crush the unwary. Your adversaries include typical fantasy RPG types like thieves, knights, and witches, but Deception 3 is far more dark and grim than a standard game of Dungeons & Dragons. The death cries of your foes conjure up images of voice actors in a recording studio, frothing at the mouth with their eyes ready to pop out of their heads, and the non-linear storyline (with multiple endings, I might add) nicely illustrates that a human being can be a far more sinister, bloodthirsty monster than some lame dragon or werewolf.

The graphics during actual gameplay do a nice job contributing to the morbid atmosphere, but, admittedly, are a little dated by more modern standards. However, the images for the between-chapter menu screens are still mighty cool. Similarly, the music is lacking in variety, but what is there has a superb gothic feel and really enhances the mood of the game. Controls are simple and tight, and the challenge level is, for the most part, fairly low, but not so low that you'll be able to breeze through the game with your eyes closed (especially when you're up against a HellKnight...not only are they bad news with a capital B, they truly do look menacing enough to make you think twice about staying in their vicinity).

Few games give you such a great sense of "completeness." Deception 3 is undoubtedly the best game in the series. Its main story mode sustains its deliciously dark tone from start to finish, and the trap license mode, where you must accomplish tasks such as killing an enemy with a specific trap or racking up a certain number of points within a certain amount of time, adds to the replay value signifiantly. It's a real feast for the senses if your tastes lean towards the dark side.


Good game that will keep you hooked   June 1, 2001
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

I wasn't sure about this game at first since you can only use the D pad. It turned out to be a lot of fun and really kept me intrested. it has 4 diff. endings and even though it is kind of a sad story, it takes a lot of thought and skill. I really liked it.


it's time to get bad   March 26, 2000
 5 out of 11 found this review helpful

this is one of the best games of all times for many reasons such as there are hundreds of traps you can choose as to kill an invader or monsters that will destroy the invaders instantly.you ask why do you need these items to kill people because your bad to the bone and this time the bad team is gonna triumph over all.if you have ever played deception 1 or kagero deception 2 you already knows how the game plays,but if your a first time killer than this is how you play=you get a view as if you were the killers eyeballs and you have to set traps and build on to your castle as well as upgrade your trtaps and monsters to be more lethal and deadlier.trust me this is one game that you gonna get hooked on.DECEPTION AWAITS


Great game, but sluggish story.   March 20, 2000
 2 out of 8 found this review helpful

As far as game play Deception 3 is exceptional with more traps, more places to place them, more interactive environments, and a new "jump to the side move". The graphics even look better, but the story is tedious; now in Japan they get voice actors and a pretty cool movie, but we get subtitles, which diminishes the story greatly. The game is great, but the load time is horrific, and a slow story with subtitles that can't be turned off only makes it worse.


Killer of a game....   March 6, 2000
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

The Tecmo people have put a very interesting twist into there latest game, Deception 3, by allowing you to be the "bad guy". If you are tired of the traditional " conquer the castle" type of game you will love this game. In here you can keep coming up with more and more imaginitive ways to kill off the "invaders" of your castle. An incredible game very much enjoyed by my husband and I, but may not be suitable for small children or squemish people.