To get new and returning players ready for Deltarune Chapters 1-4, creator Toby Fox created a primer that details the basics of combat, adventuring, and the new “Default State” saves. While the first two categories can be learned by following Chapter 1 and 2’s tutorials, Default State allows you to start from any chapter using a preset save file.
Toby Fox really wants you to spare enemies
Like Undertale before it, Deltarune lets you adopt a peaceful approach if you so choose. By performing a series of ACTs on enemies, you will be given the option to SPARE or PACIFY them. Sparing or pacifying enemies from Chapter 2 onwards recruits them to Castle Town, where they can unlock certain activities for you to engage in. Thankfully, there will be ways to confirm if you’ve recruited all possible enemies before each chapter ends.
On the flip side, using violence increases your party’s HP, Attack, and Magic up to a certain point per chapter. The drawback to this increase in power is that enemies that were defeated violently will not appear in Castle Town, thereby removing the option to engage in their side content. Fox also hints that defeating enemies violently too many times will result in minor changes to cutscenes.
The big difference between Undertale and Deltarune is that some bosses must be defeated with violence in the latter game. Whenever there doesn’t seem to be a way to progress without hitting a boss, Fox urges players to “do so with conviction.” That said, most bosses can be beaten non-violently, with some requiring a non-violent approach to progress. On a side note, Fox reveals that the reason why the “ACT” command is not the default battle command choice (despite its importance) is that he wants players to consciously choose the non-violent approach. The same goes for the associated actions under the “ACT” command that often have strange placements.
Default State lets you start any chapter you want
Given Deltarune’s growing length, Fox wants players to enjoy any chapter from the main menu and for those who adopt a new gaming platform to pick it up and resume where they left off (it seems Deltarune Chapters 1-4 will not feature cross-progression). This is where Default State saves come in.
As with the current version of Deltarune, completing any chapter will create completion data in a save slot. This data is used to carry your progress to the next chapter, which includes any items, money, equipment, and most importantly, the choices you made.
Default State saves allow you to start any chapter from the main menu. These saves recruit specific enemies to Castle Town and start you with no items and money (equipment will be a mix of gear found in the earlier chapters). To incentivize people to play the whole game, not all of the previously encountered enemies will be in Castle Town, and some content will be inaccessible.
While there is no “correct” way to play Deltarune Chapters 1-4, the primer’s emphasis on non-violence suggests that this is how the game is intended to be experienced. Fox is doing his best to ensure everyone has a lighthearted time playing such a long game, so hopefully the introduction of Default State saves, a chapter switch feature, and free succeeding chapters will help justify Deltarune Chapters 1-4’s $24.99 USD cost.
