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Learn about why Toby Fox patched out a controversial animation of Kris and Noelle in Deltarune Chapter 4’s Weird Route.
Much like its acclaimed predecessor, Deltarune appears to be a simple adventure game with witty dialogue and goofy characters on the surface. However, it hides a much darker and meta storyline within the hidden Weird Route. Also known as the Snowgrave Route, this story path can be triggered in Chapter 2 of Deltarune and focuses on the innocent and lively companion, Noelle.
A particular scene in Chapter 4’s Weird Route sparked conversation and controversy within the fan base regarding its intended meaning. The sequence takes place in a cutscene between Kris and Noelle. It was seemingly misinterpreted by players and caused Toby Fox to alter it in the June 6 hotfix patch. The scene was then altered once more within a few days. This article explores the changed animation, its likely meaning, and how it was misinterpreted. Spoilers ahead.
What Happened in the Original Deltarune Chapter 4 Weird Route Scene?
While on the Weird Route during Chapter 4, Kris struggles for control over his own actions against his soul (represented by a red heart). The soul is controlled by us, the player, and dictates his actions. When Noelle tries to speak with Kris regarding a moment they shared together, he tries to silence her. As Noelle scoots closer to him on the couch, Kris clamps his hand over her mouth. She pulls it aside and asks him who he thinks will hear them.
When the soul responds with “Me,” Noelle is unsettled as she has heard the voice before. When the soul reveals that it can read her thoughts, Noelle becomes terrified. At that moment, the soul forces Kris to move closer to her, Thorn Ring in hand. As he grabs her, the screen fades to black.
A rose appears, and all its petals fall away until nothing is left. This likely means that the player has broken Noelle, destroying her soul and free will. In a later sequence, when Kris thinks of Noelle, a single red dot is all that remains. The dot, possibly a remnant of Noelle’s soul, shakily thanks Kris for thinking of her.
Also Read: Deltarune: Chapter 4 Secret Ending Guide
How Was the Deltarune Chapter 4 Weird Route Scene Changed?
When the screen fades to black, instead of a red flower wilting away, the updated cutscene displays a red dot. The update was made with the June 6 Deltarune Hotfix Patch (PC & Mac) v1.01A. Under the patch notes, it was referenced as: “Small graphical alteration to a certain scene.” Some players seemed to disagree with the change, and soon mods popped up allowing you to add the original animation back into the game.
However, Toby Fox didn’t seem satisfied with the new animation. Instead, in the next patch, he changed the animation once more. This time, a dramatic red crack appears in the darkness. This animation seems to depict Noelle shattering rather than falling apart. It can also be seen as red thorns bursting outward, caused by the Thorn Ring.
Why Was the Chapter 4 Weird Route Scene Changed?
The cutscene was changed by Toby Fox due to many within the Deltarune community reading into an alternate and apparently unintended meaning behind it. As Kris grabbed Noelle and the scene cut to a rose’s petals falling away, it was easy to think of it as Noelle being deflowered. While it was largely interpreted as Noelle losing her innocence rather than sexual assault, Toby apparently did not want to take any risks. Therefore, rather than the suggestive deflowering, the cutscene was updated to show a red dot, and later, a dramatic shattering.
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