Summary

Release Year: 2015
Genres: Adventure, Indie, Role-playing game (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One
Developers: tobyfox
Publishers: 8-4, tobyfox

Undertale: A Journey Through the Underground

Released in 2015, Undertale is an indie role-playing game created by Toby Fox. The game follows the story of a young child who falls into the Underground, a vast and mysterious realm inhabited by monsters. The player controls the child as they navigate the Underground, encountering a variety of monsters and engaging in turn-based combat.

Undertale is unique in that it offers players the choice to fight, spare, or flee from monsters. This choice has a significant impact on the game’s story and ending. If the player chooses to fight, they will enter a traditional turn-based combat system. However, if the player chooses to spare a monster, they will be presented with a series of puzzles or challenges. Solving these puzzles will allow the player to spare the monster and continue on their journey.

In addition to its innovative combat system, Undertale is also known for its charming characters and engaging story. The game’s characters are all unique and well-developed, and the story is full of humor, heart, and suspense.

Gameplay

Undertale’s gameplay is a mix of traditional role-playing elements and unique mechanics. The player controls the child as they explore the Underground, encountering monsters and solving puzzles. The game’s combat system is turn-based, but players can choose to fight, spare, or flee from monsters.

Fighting monsters will earn the player experience points, which can be used to level up the child’s stats. Sparing monsters will allow the player to progress through the game without having to fight. Fleeing from monsters will allow the player to avoid combat altogether.

In addition to combat, the game also features a variety of puzzles and challenges. These puzzles can be solved by using the child’s unique abilities, such as the ability to jump, climb, and interact with objects.

Story

Undertale’s story is full of humor, heart, and suspense. The player follows the child as they journey through the Underground, meeting a variety of monsters and learning about their lives. The game’s story is non-linear, and the player’s choices will have a significant impact on the ending.

There are three main endings to Undertale, depending on the player’s choices. The Pacifist Ending is achieved by sparing all of the monsters in the game. The Neutral Ending is achieved by sparing some of the monsters, but not all of them. The Genocide Ending is achieved by killing all of the monsters in the game.

Characters

Undertale’s characters are all unique and well-developed. The player will meet a variety of monsters, each with their own unique personality and backstory. Some of the most popular characters include:

Frisk: The protagonist of the game, a young child who falls into the Underground.
Flowey: A mysterious flower who serves as the game’s narrator.
Toriel: A motherly goat monster who takes Frisk under her wing.
Sans: A lazy skeleton who is always cracking jokes.
Papyrus: A tall and goofy skeleton who is Sans’s brother.
Undyne: A fish monster who is the leader of the Royal Guard.
Alphys: A shy and nerdy lizard monster who is the Royal Scientist.
Mettaton: A flamboyant robot who is the star of the Underground’s entertainment show.
Asgore: The king of the Underground, a kind and gentle monster who is seeking redemption.

Themes

Undertale explores a variety of themes, including:

The power of choice: The player’s choices have a significant impact on the game’s story and ending.
The importance of compassion: The player can choose to spare monsters rather than fighting them, showing the importance of compassion.
The nature of good and evil: The game explores the complex nature of good and evil, and the choices that people make.

Reception

Undertale was met with critical acclaim upon its release. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, charming characters, and engaging story. Undertale has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year awards from multiple publications.

Legacy

Undertale has had a significant impact on the video game industry. The game’s innovative gameplay and unique storytelling have inspired other developers to create games that are more creative and experimental. Undertale has also helped to popularize indie games, showing that small developers can create games that are just as good as, if not better than, games from large studios.

Conclusion

Undertale is a masterpiece of indie game development. The game’s innovative gameplay, charming characters, and engaging story make it a must-play for fans of role-playing games and video games in general.