Title: Deliver Us The Moon
Type of Game: Adventure, Sci-Fi Thriller
Developer: KeokeN Interactive
Publisher: Wired Productions
Released: October 10, 2019
Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 5
Level of Maturity: Mature
Reading Time: 7 minutes
Few game titles say as much about their content as Deliver Us The Moon. The developers from the KeokeN Interactive team have thought deeply about the state of our planet and, according to the result, have yet to come to a very positive conclusion. Their title offers a near-future vision in which planet Earth lacks essential resources and is depleted by the insensitive use of these resources. The situation is even so serious that humans are slowly approaching extinction.
Human Error Aftermath
As a result, people are starving or being plagued by unprecedented natural disasters. Mainly, severe sandstorms are typical. 2030 becomes the pivotal year in this dire scenario when a complete collapse occurs, leaving humanity without power and minimal chances of survival. However, man has once again shown himself to be an extremely resilient and adaptable organism capable of facing all kinds of disasters using science and technology. Thus, the WSA organization enters the scene, making it possible to colonize the Moon to extract helium-3.
This offers a solution by sending the energy produced back to Earth. Unfortunately, everything lasts; even for a while, this efficient process is hit by complications. After 22 years, life on the Moon has died down, and supplies have been cut off. Earth is on the verge of extinction. At this point, a former WSA employee enters the scene to investigate what has happened on the Moon and try to restore the power supply.
From Earth to the Void: A Shift in Atmosphere
The initial tutorial and introduction to control principles take place during one of the giant sandstorms on the spaceport. The early minutes make it clear that Deliver Us The Moon is heading in the direction of an adventure game full of exploration, journal reading, and mystery solving. The actual commissioning of the rocket module and subsequent launch is one of the most gripping moments of the entire game. However, the episode on Earth is only a short chapter of the title; the rest of the game takes place in space. Anyone expecting some scared horror experience will be disappointed. Deliver Us The Moon is a pure thriller that tries to build its atmosphere based on a serious theme and, in particular, an empty sense of loneliness.
An Isolated Rescue: The Weight of Solitude
You won’t come across a single survivor throughout the entire game. During the mission, you must make do with radio communication from Earth or replaying footage that sheds light on the facts that occurred on the Moon. The gameplay itself is then one of the problems. You are not on a trip but on a rescue mission. During this, you must operate various devices, find the most suitable routes, repair broken systems, provide oxygen to individual modules, etc. Everything looks quite lovely at first glance. Unfortunately, the developers failed to use several promising mechanisms to the maximum.
Lost Potential in a Vacuum
Thus, many activities are annoying with illogical sequencing or ridiculous results. Moreover, what the player is supposed to do is not always entirely clear. The irritating and outdated time pressure system in the form of lack of oxygen must also add to the big minuses. Thus, nothing is more frustrating than having to solve a logic puzzle in a weightless state in a time limit, which unfortunately isn’t as logical as it should be. The gameplay is not downright disastrous, but let’s say it is somewhat unbalanced. The developers failed to follow through on several promising themes and were left halfway in many ways. On the other hand, Ily appreciates the story’s presentation. It is revealed through on-board diaries or video footage, especially holograms, most of which I don’t even want to believe are optional as they illustrate significant moments and push the player’s experience further. This was also the case, by the way, with Deliver Us Mars, a sequel I’ve already reviewed and recommend watching.
Lunar Landscape: A Cold, Sterile Beauty
The most exciting thing about the whole title, however, is the treatment of the game environment, which, although somewhat sterile and monotonous, especially in the climate of complexes or orbital stations, is most in line with the theme. The most beautiful moments are then shown to the players during the ascent to the lunar surface, which are very emotional and impressive. In short, the Unreal Engine has done a decent job. In addition, the developers have gone the extra mile with the concept of gravitational attraction.
During gameplay, you will experience weightlessness and the different gravity on the Moon. I also appreciate the hilarious and atmospheric soundtrack accompanying the player on this rescue mission. It’s a pity that the soundtrack has been unnecessarily neglected, as much more could have been done here. The game’s downside is the optimization itself, which is relatively good in the case of the reviewed PS5 version. Apart from a few glitches, I didn’t notice anything, so there is nothing to complain about here.
Conclusion
Deliver Us The Moon is a above-average sci-fi adventure game that particularly benefits from an attractive setting and a compelling story that makes players think. The developers brought some interesting ideas, but failed to make the most of them at 100%. The result is still good but not extremely engaging and a bit repetitive gameplay. Even so, the title offers some memorable moments, vistas and delightful feelings that many space fans will appreciate.
Where to Buy Deliver Us The Moon?
Steam (PC): Available for $24.99. You can purchase it directly from Steam.
Xbox Store (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S): Available for $24.99. Check it out on the Xbox Store
PlayStation Store (PS4, PS5): Available for $24.99. You can find it on the PlayStation Store.
Nintendo Shop (Switch): Available for $19.99. Purchase it from the Nintendo Shop.
GOG (PC): Available for $24.99. Purchase it from GOG.
Epic Games Store (PC): Available for $24.99. Purchase it from the Epic Games Store.
Official Page: Visit the official Deliver Us The Moon page for more information.
Subreddit: Join the discussion on the Deliver Us The Moon Subreddit.
