Undertale (PC) Review

Adventures in the underground.

 Possibly one of the most revered and beloved games of recent memory, Undertale shook the gaming industry when it was released back in 2015. I even remember being vaguely reluctant to play the game since I felt it was too "overrated". Seeing that I'm currently on a crusade to empty out my backlog of never-ending games, I thought I'd finally take the time to checkout Undertale. The story follows a human child who must journey back to his home on the surface after accidentally falls into the Underground land ruled by monsters. Conceived by developer Toby Fox, Undertale is certainly one of the most refreshing games to come out in a while as at deliver a charming experience with tons of character and humor. Seeing as the hype died down a while ago, it's time to see what Undertale's all about.

 Long ago, Humans and Monsters waged war against each other and after much pressure from the Humans, the Monsters fled to Mount Ebott to live in the lower area of the mountain dubbed the "Underground". A young human child falls by accident into the depths of the Underground and must journey their back to the surface. What makes Undertale's narrative memorable are its unique cast of supporting characters. From the likes of the motherly-figure, Toriel all the way to the maniacal talking flower, Flowey, there's always someone to like. Along the way, you'll be making various moral choices which determines the game's ending. You can choose to be a pacifist and avoid any and all confrontation, which nets you a happy ending, or go for the genocide route and destroy anything in your path, leading to a more somber one. You can also go for the neutral run, which offers you a decent ending, though you'll be compelled to go for the better one. Regardless of which ending you go for, Undertale delivers a compelling experience.

 Undertale's is memorable thanks to a well-written

story and a lovable cast of characters.

 At its core, Undertale is a top-down RPG with a mish-mash of various genres. Enemy encounters are random and core gameplay takes place in first-person fashion, similar to that of Earthbound. You have a list of commands such as attacking head on, using items, interacting with enemies, or flee from battle. Similar to Atlus' long-running Shin Megami Tensei series, you can strike up conversations with monsters, in which you can befriend or spare them. If you manage to piss them off, then they will hit harder. Conversely, if you use non-violent means, they'll be lenient and may show no interest in fighting. Depending on how you play, the ending will change accordingly.

Get on their good side or aggravate them into 

destroying you.

 In battle, your avatar comes in the form of a heart. When enemies attack, you'll have to guide your heart from a flurry of oncoming attacks-- think in bullet hell fashion similar to the Tohou shoot 'em up series. Killing enemies will net you experience, which in return will increase your level, health, and gold-- the standard RPG tropes. You'll be coming across a wide cast of characters while exploring towns and caves, some will sell you goods while others will have their own stories to share. There also shops in which you can buy gear and items for battles and in certain areas receive character-specific side quests by phone. Throughout the game's many levels, you'll be also solving many puzzles coming in your way. While I wish there more side-quests that flesh out the world of the underground, I still managed to get a kick out of the characters' humorous interactions. On my first playthrough, I wanted to try out the game's battle system so I opted for a neutral run, in which I killed a couple of monsters here and there. I wasn't satisfied with the ending that I got, so I went for the best one-- which has you finishing the entire game without killing anyone! Granted, it sounded daunting at first, but it was doable in the end and I wasn't disappointed with the finale.

Prepare for some frequent dodging as enemy

attacks are all over the screen.

 Like most indie games these days, Undertale boasts retro visuals that pays homage to old-school games. I'm a bit divided on the visuals as while colors and animations are great, it doesn't hide the fact that the game can look below average, especially in some areas of the Hotlands zone. Nevertheless, they're serviceable and surprisingly end up blending well with the game's world. Moreover, I found myself liking the game's chiptune-based soundtrack. Tracks such as the nostalgic Shop theme, the techno Core level theme, the silly Temmie village theme, and most importantly, the epic "Megalovania" track were all a joy to listen throughout the adventure. It's even more admirable that Toby Fox himself also composed the game's score while handling much of Undertale's development duties.

The presentation nails the retro feels of old games,

even if it looks bland in some areas.

 Undertale is an excellent 6-7 hour game and is well worth the $15 for the experience you'll be getting. The story may seem basic at first glance, but the extremely unique cast are the driving force behind its charm. The gameplay does a good job of introducing you to its mechanics and gradually hooking you into it. If you don't want to kill anyone, then you don't have to! It's clear that Undertale's presentation is the main highlight, and for good reason as the visuals and soundtrack are to be commended. I kind of regret skipping on Undertale years ago but I thankfully managed to give it ago these past weeks. Honestly there aren't a lot of games in recent years that captures Undertale's sense of atmosphere. Without a doubt among the best indies I've ever played.