Sequestered in the Underground – Undertale
Undertale is a roleplaying game created by video game developer and music composer Toby Fox, who also goes by Radiation. It is about a young human who falls from the surface on which humans reside to the Underground, the land of monsters. To return home, they must travel to the Capital and cross the barrier, solving puzzles and crossing paths with monsters as they go along. Depending on the route the player might take, the interactions with monsters vary from humorous and unforgettable to short-lived and unsatisfying.
There are three different routes the player can take in the game. These are the Pacifist, Genocide, and Neutral routes. In the Neutral route, the player is allowed to battle the final bosses even if they earned a certain amount of EXP, which is gained by attacking monsters. However, if they didn’t hurt a single monster, they will be given the chance to play the Pacifist ending. In the Pacifist route, the player spares all of the enemies. They refuse to FIGHT and instead use the MERCY and TALK options to pass battles. In the Genocide route, the player chooses to destroy every monster, sparing not one soul. It is recommended not to choose the Genocide route on the first play-through, as the player does not get to experience all Undertale has to offer in this specific route.
Undertale is full of many puns and inside jokes. For example, one for the characters in the game is Sans, a comedic skeleton who speaks in the font Comic Sans. His brother Papyrus is also a skeleton and speaks in the font Papyrus. Another character, named Muffet, is a spider. This is a play on the nursery rhyme Little Miss Muffet, in which a girl is scared off by a spider.
Not only does Undertale contain wonderful characters and a rich, player-driven storyline, but it also sports ethereal music that enraptures all of its fans. The music of Snowdin Town, the first civilization the character will pass through, is cheerful and full of hope. The music of Waterfall is soothing and full of determination. The music of Hotlands and The Core seem to be telling the player that they don’t have much longer until the end. Whether the character is traveling, battling normal monsters, or battling bosses and mini-bosses, the music sets the perfect mood. Most Undertale fans, however, believe that the final boss themes are the best songs in the game. It all depends on the listener’s style, of course.
Undertale marks the age of a new type of video game. The player doesn’t just collect coins and items. The player collects friends, or maybe even enemies. The player no longer just fights to get his or her way. The player is given the choice to spare the life of another creature and still succeed. The player no longer gives up when the going gets tough. The player stays determined. Undertale is not simply a game. Undertale is a lesson, and that lesson is currently taking the world by storm. Now the only thing left to do is chose a route and begin a new story. It’s time to name the fallen human.
Image courtesy of Rachel B.
