Developer: Toby Fox
Publisher: Toby Fox
Release dates: September 15, 2015 (PC), July 17, 2016 (Linux), August 15, 2017 (PS4, Playstation Vita)
Available on: Linux, PC, PS4 (reviewed), Playstation Vita
In 2015, Toby Fox released his unique and charming RPG Undertale on the PC to both critical and player acclaim. Now, almost two years later, gamers on the PS4 and Playstation Vita will get to experience his wonderful work. Did the game port well to Sony’s console and handheld? While I can’t personally vouch for the Vita, I can say it made the transition to the PS4 wonderfully. The simple but colorful graphics look terrific, and the game controls well. This is a game that all RPG fans should be playing. It’s one of the most unique and charming entries in the genre.
The game’s story, while simple, is layered. You follow a boy (whom you name) into the underground, where all monsters have fled long ago during a conflict with humans. That conflict has left the monsters a bit bitter, and most would just as soon kill a human as look at one. But along your 10-12 hour journey through this world (more if you really take time to explore), you’ll find that monsters have just as many personalities as people, leading you to meet a wide assortment of colorful characters. There’s Toriel, a mothering goat lady who seeks to aid and protect you, then there is Sans and Papyrus, a pair of skeletons trying to be part of the Royal Guard who provide a lot of the game’s humor. You’ll also encounter a scientist named Alphys, and even a murderous flower named Flowey. Ruling over it all is the king, Asgore Dreemurr.
The underground is divided into four sections, and how you proceed is entirely up to you.
There are three major end runs to Undertale, and achieving each requires you to meet certain conditions. You can of course choose to kill everything in your path (Genocide) or spare everyone (Pacifist). You can even do a mix of the two (Neutral). Each major end run has variations, and it can take a few playthroughs to achieve them all. My first run was a Neutral one, and I’m looking forward to diving back in to try one of the others. The multiple endings more than help you get your money’s worth out of the game, and however you proceed will affect how the underground reacts to you. Your game is saved at save points, spread decently across the world (you’ll always have one placed before a boss battle). As in most games, you’ll earn EXP from encounters as well as gold. There are no skill trees, but you can equip one weapon and one piece of armor. EXP helps you level up, increasing your LOVE (health bar).
And this is where Undertale turns things on its head. You can only get EXP and increase your LOVE through killing, making you adopt a different strategy for a Pacifist run. You’ll always be rewarded with gold, which will help you purchase items from the various vendors you’ll run across. Weapons can vary from a Toy Knife to Ballet Shoes, with armor just as whimsically varied (you’ll start off with a Bandage). Health items are various foodstuffs, with some adding some perks, like increased speed or giving you a stronger attack. The more powerful armor and food items are rather pricey, though there are ways to reduce the price. Be warned that grinding can be a bit of a chore, and at times you may need to backtrack (there is no map that you can use for fast travel). Backtracking can be a bit tedious, as the boy doesn’t move too fast, but there are some areas where travel is made a little easier.
The battle system used by the game is also quite unique. When encountering a monster or a boss, you’ll enter a battle screen. Here you’ll have four choices–Fight, Act, Item, and Mercy. Fight is self explanatory, with a line moving across a ship-like grid. Hitting X at a certain spot will determine the level of damage you inflict. The line may split into multiple lines depending on which weapon you have equipped. Act allows you to check out your foe or talk to them. Some characters will have multiple ways to act with them, from flirting to flexing your muscles. Item allows you to swap out weapons or armor or heal yourself with a food type. Be aware that your inventory space is limited, but there are boxes spread across the underground where you can store your excess. The Mercy option can be used to either flee a battle, should you run out of healing items and your health drops too low (health can be replenished at save points), or you can spare your foe if their health is low enough. Be aware some monsters will require you to spare them a few times, so if your heart is set on not killing, don’t give up.
Monster attacks place your soul (represented as a red heart) in a box, where you’ll need to dodge various bullet-hell style attacks. As long as your heart is red, you can opt to flee. But some will change the color of your heart, restricting that option. Other attacks can be color coded, or you may be frozen and only able to use a shield to block. If your health drops to zero, your heart breaks, and you’re respawned back at your last save point. The final boss battle plays out a hair differently, but I won’t spoil that here, as that really needs to be experienced for the first time by a player. It is quite insane, and again subverts normal RPG tropes. In addition to battles, you’ll encounter your share of puzzles, some of which are very well done and require you at times to search your environment for solutions. The puzzles are nicely varied, and a couple pose a decent challenge.
Undertale is definitely one very unique RPG. Its turn-based combat is different than what you’re used to, and the battles can be quite intense. The puzzles are nicely varied and in some cases pose a nice challenge. What really sets this game apart though is its host of characters. Even the battle fodder monsters have their quirks, and the other characters you’ll come to know are well fleshed out and often quite likeable. The game is just charming from start to finish, with the only real frustrations setting in if you need to grind or backtrack a long way. Save points are plentiful, so even if you fail in battle you’ll never get set back too far. This is a game filled with humor and heart, and one that every RPG fan needs to be playing.
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