Tell a Demon Demo

Visual novels are books expressed in video game form, which makes them just as difficult to design and write. However, unlike in a book, the narrative must include the reader somehow, or even let him play an active role in the story. Thus, the challenge becomes that much greater, especially if it’s the writer’s desire to allow the plot to be malleable.

Tell a Demon is an interactive visual novel with fantasy elements and a subtle noir vibe, featuring exquisite artwork and sharp dialog. You have more control over what your characters say and do than in most visual novels, which makes it easier to identify with them and get more intimate with their desires. On the other hand, you are still a spectator most of the time, so it’s not a very demanding experience.

In short, there are three main characters involved in the plot, each one of which has a different back story. Kalevel is a demon that stumbles into a well-guarded secret, Julius is a dead man in search of a way to regain his life, while Tell is a simple girl trying to make it in a city populated by demons. Their fates intertwine over the course of the story, and you have to choose how everyone handles themselves.

The game also features one thing most visual novels forget to include: an introduction that describes the world you are about to interact with, which comes in handy if you are not familiar with the parallel universe created by the author. It is paramount that you understand the dynamics of Asher - the state-city in which the events take place -, otherwise it can be rather tricky to get in tune with the atmosphere.

Given the fact that it was created using Ren‘Py, every popular function is available to you, including the Skip Mode and the possibility to save your progress as often as you want. The artwork is truly fantastic, mainly because it’s so distinct and unique in the genre. When everything else seems to be inspired by manga and anime, it’s a relief to see something else for a change.

All things considered, Tell a Demon is definitely something to keep an eye on in the future. It’s original story and setting are the key selling points, but the artwork and the dialog are also one class above most recent productions. Thus, if you enjoy visual novels and don’t mind steering away from big anime eyes for a while, Tell a Demon is one of the best choices you can make.