Undertale is a single-player story-rich 2D RPG developed by Indie game developer Toby Fox. In order to progress through the story, the player is tasked with completing objectives, interacting with key NPCs and engaging in combat. There are multiple ways to play the game, providing different outcomes and endings based on the actions of the player. Undertale offers a memorable experience with its captivating story, comedic dialogue and amazing soundtrack. In this article we would be discussing some of the strengths and weaknesses of this game.

Gameplay

The game is centered around exploration

As mentioned before, Undertale is a role-playing game where the player controls and navigates a character across a variety of maps. One downside is Undertale’s take on exploration may occasionally result in backtracking, which is considered to be tedious by some players. However, these moments are few and far between. As you traverse through the underground caves, you would be interacting with Monsters and NPCs, completing tasks and finishing quests in order to progress through the game. Sometimes this may involve puzzle solving. Every puzzle is different, offering unique and fun obstacles for players to overcome. 

Players would also come across other monsters from random encounters and scripted events. This is where player choice comes into play as you are free to either fight and slay the monster, flee the encounter or come up with a non-violent solution which is unique to each monster. These choices can drastically affect the plot of the story. It is entirely possible (and encouraged) to finish the game without killing a single monster/character.

Graphics

Player interacting with some NPCs

Undertale is a pixelated game that utilizes a top-down perspective. It features retro inspired pixel art and attempts to replicate the nostalgic NES 8-bit or 16-bit video game style.

It is important to highlight that although there have been individuals who deem the simplistic visuals to be unappealing, most players find the art style of Undertale to be pretty and aesthetically pleasing.

One of the most charming features of the game is the imaginative and diverse character designs. The character sprites are highly expressive and conveys a wide range of emotions, which complements the story-rich aspect of the game by making the characters feel engaging, interesting and easier to connect with. The appearance of most characters often matches the personality of said character, making them distinct and unique. 

Undertale also masterfully uses color palettes and lighting techniques to make the environments atmospheric and memorable. Areas have unique themes and are designed with great attention to detail, making it fun to explore. Overall, the visuals of the game contribute to the overall charm and appeal of the game, improving the player experience.

Music

Soundtrack available for purchase on Steam

The music in Undertale is one of the best features of the game and enhances the overall storytelling and player immersion. The music is composed by toby fox, the developer of the game.

From cheerful and energetic tracks to melancholic and emotional tunes, Undertale boasts a large collection of diverse music that has the ability to evoke emotion from the player. It triggers feelings of joy, suspense, sadness and excitement which helps the player connect to the characters and the story in a deeply immersive fashion. The music is integrated seamlessly into the gameplay, with certain characters, bosses and even environments having their own signature tracks, giving them unique personalities and adding depth to the overall narrative of the story.  

In certain combat scenarios, the music changes dynamically with the sequence of events that take place, making combat a much more engaging experience. It greatly prevents these encounters from feeling mundane and repetitive. The amazing soundtrack is available for purchase on steam and is a must-buy for those that enjoy the memorable and heartfelt tunes of the game.

Combat

Player dodging knives in a bullet hell mini game

The game is rich with unique encounters and battles for players to experience. Undertale employs a turn-based system with the player and the enemy taking turns to perform actions. Attacking would involve the player making timed button presses, while dodging attacks would require the player to navigate through a bullet hell type mini game. This mini game is different for every enemy, and the pattern of attack usually reflects the enemy’s personality, which prevents combat from being repetitive (An issue that a few individuals criticize the game on) and gives each enemy some personality and flair. Therefore, most battles would require the player to learn and adapt to different attack patterns, which requires some level of skill and patience.

One key factor that makes battles in Undertale stand out from other RPGs is how in the midst of battle, the player is given choices where they can choose to engage the opponent in different ways. For every enemy, there is a special way to conclude the combat encounter without using violence. The game encourages the player to take a pacifist approach when encountering enemies. This choice greatly impacts how the story would progress throughout the game. This is an amazing feature for those who love dynamic story-telling that centers the narrative around player actions.

Characters

Catty and Bratty hyped for the destruction of humanity

Starting from the beginning until the very end of the journey, the player would constantly be crossing paths with quirky and well-written characters. These characters are widely beloved for their compelling backstories, cleverly written dialogue and intricate three-dimensional personalities.

The game loves to subvert character archetypes, presenting complex NPCs with their own flaws, fears and motives. These characters often defy the player’s expectations, challenging the player’s preconceived notions. This makes them feel more real, allowing the player to bond and empathize with them, which synergizes perfectly with the pacifist combat choices that the game provides.

Players are encouraged to get to know these characters and interact with them. The subject of morality is explored deeply, and the game excels at creating dynamic characters who grow and develop, based on the choices made by the player as they progress through the game. 

Mysteries and secrets

Monster and human in front of a castle

The mysteries and secrets hidden in the game have sparked many debates amongst fans regarding the hidden lore in the game. The game rewards exploration, and contains many hidden easter eggs and secret interactions scattered around the underworld, waiting to be discovered by attentive players.

There are hidden locations, items, unique encounters and cryptic messages that serve as vital clues that help fans and theorists uncover the deeper layers of the game’s narrative. Dialogue in Undertale is peppered with hints and foreshadowing, inviting fans to speculate and form theories that would fill the hidden gaps in the lore of the game. These mysteries are so compelling that even years after the game was released, countless discussions and debates were still being started regarding the hidden meanings, symbolism and mysterious backstories of certain characters.

Branching story.

A touching story between humans and monsters

The direction of the game changes depending on the choices that the character makes. What is interesting about this is the fact that certain storylines and events are only triggered when the character makes certain choices. Certain choices even have the potential to change the game entirely, making it unrecognizable from other playthroughs. The choices can lead to 3 different endings in the game, all of which have their own unique dialogue and encounters.

The pacifist ending, which some players consider to be the “true” ending, is only unlocked when the player completes certain key objectives. This ending is said to be the most fulfilling by most fans. By offering multiple endings, players can use the knowledge gained from previous playthroughs to explore hidden paths and uncover deep secrets. For the sake of not revealing spoilers, we will not talk much about the outcomes of these endings. 

The most important thing to know is that each ending is unique and has its own underlying themes. They all highlight the importance of character choice and emphasizes how player actions would have consequences. Undertale explores themes of friendship, love and most importantly, morality and does an excellent job at narrating a deep, thought-provoking story with twists and turns.

Replayability

The starting point

It is impossible to uncover all the secrets of the game with a single run. Players are encouraged to replay the game in order to uncover hidden lore and storylines. When players interact with most NPCs, there may be hidden details and subtle clues in the dialogue that might not be apparent on your first playthrough.

As for the length of each run, unfortunately, one downside is that a proper run which results in the true ending can be completed within 6-10 hours, which for some players is quite short. However, this duration varies greatly depending on the choices and paths taken throughout the game. It would take much longer to uncover all the hidden secrets of the game. Furthermore, there are special boss fights in the game that are challenging enough for players to take hours to finally beat them.

All in all, the game can generally offer around 20-30 hours of playtime, which varies greatly depending on the playstyle.

Community and fanbase

Library location in the game

Undertale has one of the largest fanbases in gaming history. Fans often get together to discuss theories and make wonderful works of art, which includes fan-made games, animations, music, cosplay… etc. There is a common desire amongst fans to expand on the game, adding more to the game via mods, AU stories, animations and much more. There is really no end to what this thriving community has to offer. This even extends to the real world where in some parts of the world there are numerous events and conventions organized by fans in order to celebrate the game and foster an environment where fans can freely express their love for the game.

However, it is worth including that there are differing viewpoints and opinions that exist in the community. Oftentimes heated debates and discussions can arise about various aspects of the game like the story and characters. Unfortunately, there are instances where fans exhibit toxic behaviors, as is common within any community that’s large enough. However, generally speaking, the fanbase is a very accepting and welcoming community. 

Overall fun factor – 96/100

So... what do you think?

Thanks to its captivating story, lovable characters, intriguing secrets and outstanding music, Undertale is a remarkable RPG. Its narrative is full of humor, thought-provoking themes and excellent dialogue. It challenges stereotypes and traditional RPG tropes, giving players a unique gaming experience with a story centered around themes of morality, compassion, friendship and how choices have consequences. The multiple endings and branching storyline enhance the replayability of the game while giving enthusiastic theorists plenty of mysteries to solve and secrets to discover. Although there are some downsides to this game such as repetitive gameplay and poor visuals, these downsides are subjective and not significant enough to be an issue for the casual gamer. 

I would highly recommend trying out this game and seeing what it has to offer.