![]() ![]() To see Undertale as dated is missing the point – it’s a love letter to such Nintendo classics as Earthbound, Pokémon and, to an extent, The Legend of Zelda. Their general sense of insecurity makes Undertale one of the humblest games around, and this is before taking its whimsically low budget feel into account. They have homes, families, jobs, and dreams. In short, every monster wants to be told – either directly or indirectly – that their lives matter. Play it either neutrally or pacifistically, however, and you’ll be treated to one of the most heart-warming gaming experiences. Play Undertale this way – affectionally known as ‘The Genocide Route’ – and you’ll find it no different to any RPG, save for the fact that enemy attacks must be dodged via Wario Ware style impromptu mini-games. The battle system always gives the option to bludgeon enemies to death during an encounter, requiring a well-timed button press to a perform critical hit. They can also attack in pairs, altering their attack formations. It’s a good job, then, that every area has unique monsters. A degree of trial and error is called for, sometimes with humorous results, and once you’ve learned how to leave a monster be, the same trick can be applied to all future encounters. If this sounds fascinating, perhaps even revolutionary, that’s because it is. The idea is to try and show empathy and understanding, using prompts, body language and speech bubbles to work out what the opposition requires to bring a conflict to a peaceful conclusion. During the turn-based battles, the ‘Act’ screen features different options depending on which monster you’ve run into. ![]() Others just want to talk a few even want to flirt.Īnd so Undertale is less about fighting and more about befriending. Some monsters don’t want to fight, while others only attack as a means of self-defence. As such, humans are seen as being both strong and powerful. It was humans that forced monsters into their underground domain, a story that has been passed down for generations. Most are either intrigued by the very presence of a human or downright terrified. More importantly, though, she teaches the importance of showing mercy.Īfter leaving Toriel’s cosy abode – on a quest to meet the King and return to the surface – it soon transpires that the majority of critters our hero meets pose little threat. ![]() A mild-mannered creature known as Toriel comes to their aid and after teaching the basics – her name is a wordplay on ‘tutorial’, see – she reiterates that the world is a dangerous place. It’s a kill or be killed situation, and after a swift battle, the protagonist is left injured. The first enemy our human hero encounters, after tumbling into an underground monster-filled world, spares them no mercy. If a monster doesn’t want to fight, would you still kill it? Before handing you this moral quandary the opening to this role-player throws a curveball. Toby Fox’s indie hit Undertale poses a similar question. It wouldn’t be merely content to graze in a field it would have questions about its existence – a desire to survive, form friendships, and live its life to its fullest. ![]() The common response is that if an animal could talk, it would possess a similar level of intelligence to that of a human. If animals could talk, would we still eat them? It’s an age-old question that’s often discussed. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |