Nov 14, 2015 4 min read

Certain video games have a way of playing with emotions. Some make us laugh. Others make us afraid. Some make us fall in love with the universes they contain, and others make us actually question our decisions and sense of right and wrong.

I’m proud to say that “Undertale,” a humble indie role-playing game, RPG, by developer Toby Fox, does all of this and then some.

What sets this game apart from the rest is its very premise. Whereas most RPGs encourage players to battle endless hordes of enemies for gold and experience, “Undertale” centers on an often-overlooked concept in the genre: mercy.

At the core of the game lies a plot that, at first glance, seems fairly minimalistic. Players find themselves stumbling into an underground civilization populated by monsters, who were sealed away after their defeat in a war against humanity long ago. Only human souls possess the power to shatter the barrier between the monster world and human world. So the protagonist must find a way to escape while simultaneously dealing with the desperate residents of the imprisoned kingdom. While seemingly familiar, this RPG’s story takes countless turns along its course that range from heartbreaking to downright creepy, all of which keep it interesting from start to finish.

Where much of the game’s charm is found, however, is in its quirky and diverse cast of characters. Take, for instance, the bumbling skeleton duo of Papyrus and Sans: the former, a spaghetti-crazed, puzzle-loving, less-than-bright member of the royal guard; the latter, a lazy, underachieving sentry who would rather eat burgers and crack bad jokes than do his job.

“Undertale” manages to strike the perfect balance between tongue-in-cheek humor and seriousness in each member of this eccentric ensemble. I became invested in each and every one of them.

Being a role-playing game, “Undertale” also features elements of turn-based combat, wherein players are given the options to confront enemies with force or act their way to a peaceful resolution. This mechanic is where the brilliance of the game lies: monsters defeated by the player stay dead, and as a result, many major characters can be killed off, which causes events to unfold in drastically different directions. Each encounter begs the question of how far the player is willing to go for freedom, and these choices stay with them for the rest of the game.

The battle system also mixes in elements of the shoot-em-up genre, with players controlling the protagonist’s soul – represented by a tiny red heart – in order to dodge streams of enemy attacks. In conjunction with the mercy system, this unique gameplay element keeps each fight fresh and engaging.

Of course, “Undertale” does possess several minor flaws. While the characters and story kept me hooked, the various environments and locales found throughout the game aren’t as well-developed as they could be. Thankfully, this shortcoming is offset by the fantastically-atmospheric soundtrack, composed by Toby Fox, who previously created music for the multimedia web comic “Homestuck.” Some of the visuals also look a bit odd, especially in battles, where most enemies are presented as simple, monochromatic images. The game is also a bit short, clocking in at only about six hours on average, but these details are easily overlooked.

“Undertale” is a nearly-flawless experience. Its missteps are few and far between, and it manages to excel with its innovative battle system, compelling story and offbeat humor and characters. While its length leaves a bit to be desired, what’s there has enough soul to more than make up for it. For fans of the role-playing genre, this title is, quite simply, not to be missed.

“Undertale” is available for both PC and Mac for $9.99.

By Alex York

Senior, Commonwealth Connections