Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness is a 1996 action role-playing video game developed and published by Tecmo for the PlayStation. As the story progresses, the player character learns he has been the victim of multiple deceptions, and must decide whether to proceed with his plan to revive the Devil or convert to the cause of good.

The Story Behind Tecmo's Deception - Invitation to Darkness

The prince's younger brother, Yurias, blames the king's murder on the player character - thereby effectively framing him and bringing about his imprisonment. Although often referred to simply as "Deception", the game's official title is Tecmo's Deception. The game branches into six endings depending on the player character's actions:

The player character kills them while collecting six magical treasures needed to unseal Satan in fulfillment of his contract. At Astarte's directions, he then captures and kills Idorigo (who then turns on him as he, as well, is seeing 'the power'), proving he is merciless enough to be the castle's master. He is saved by Idorigo, a warrior seeking vengeance on Ardebaran for the murder of his friend.

How Tecmo's Deception - Invitation to Darkness Plays

Each mask emits a different scream to either attract or repel intruders. Killing intruders outright is easier because it does not require the use of capture traps, but capturing them offers more unique rewards. The player may take a captive's soul for Magic Points, kill them for gold, or (after acquiring an artifact later in the game) transform their corpses into necromantic slaves which can be summoned to attack intruders.

If the intruder's HP reaches 0 first, the intruder is captured; if the trap timer reaches 0 first, the intruder breaks free of the trap. Regardless of which method the player uses to dispatch an intruder, they are rewarded with experience points (which level up the player character, making them more resilient to attacks and giving access to new traps) and any items the intruder was carrying. Each time a party of intruders arrive, the player is given access to a 2D map of the castle from which they can place traps by spending Magic Points (a form of currency in the game, as there is no maximum MP) or add rooms by spending gold.

Why Players Still Load It Up

A bolt of lightning seemingly incinerates him, but in fact teleports him to the Castle of the Damned at the will of the demon named Astarte. The game branches into six endings depending on the player character's actions: It was a critical success, with reviewers particularly praising the originality of the game's concept.

The game is the first in the Deception series. Consumed with hatred not only for Yurias and Zamur for framing him, but for the entire people of Zemekia for being 'fickle' and not believing in his innocence, he pleads from the gallows for power to get revenge on the world. He praised the engaging story line, innovative gameplay, eerie and atmospheric sounds, and detailed graphics, concluding it to be an "excellent addition to the RPG market.

Tecmo's Deception - Invitation to Darkness — Frequently Asked Questions