Undertale (Game)

Undertale

GAME » on September 15, 2015

Linux (Platform)Mac (Platform)Nintendo Switch (Platform)PC (Platform)PlayStation 4 (Platform)PlayStation Network (Vita) (Platform)PlayStation Vita (Platform)Xbox One (Platform)

A quirky indie RPG that takes place in a secret subterranean world of monsters. Killing is unnecessary!

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Overview

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Undertale is an indie comedic fantasy RPG developed and published digitally by tobyfox (Company) for PC (Platform), Mac (Platform), and Linux (Platform) on September 15, 2015.

Billed as a classic RPG in which enemies can be defeated non-lethally, Undertale has players controlling a mysterious (and silent) human child who falls into the "Underground": a hidden realm of monsters magically sealed away from the surface world long ago. After acclimating to their new surroundings, the child must find a way to return to the surface, interacting with the world's various denizens along the way (through friendly or hostile terms).

The game, playing similar to some early JRPGs (most notably the EarthBound (Franchise) series), employs a unique turn-based combat system combining elements of both bullet hell shooters and quick micro-games, along with traditional menu-based commands (including the "ACT" system, which are unique things players can do with different enemies). It is also known for its morality system, where NPCs react differently depending on how the player deals with each battle during the course of the game, leading to one of several possible endings.

Undertale was initially developed using GameMaker: Studio and was successfully crowdfunded via Kickstarter on June 24, 2013, raising $51,124 from 2,398 backers. The game was later ported by 8-4 to the PlayStation 4 (Platform) and PlayStation Vita (Platform) on August 15, 2017, to the Nintendo Switch (Platform) on September 18, 2018, and to the Xbox One (Platform) on March 16, 2021, all published by 8-4 themselves. The PS4, Vita, and Switch versions also received a retail release by Fangamer (Company).

It later received a multi-episode successor, known as Deltarune, which is set in a "parallel story" to the game and builds on several of the game's concepts (including a multi-character party system) and characters (with several of the game's characters returning with revised backstories).

Gameplay

Players navigate the retro-stylized 2D (Concept) world of Undertale from a top-down oblique perspective. Like most RPGs, Undertale's silent protagonist will interact with many non-player characters through dialog text boxes over the course of the game. Many areas also feature random encounters with monsters. Undertale primarily uses the framework of a traditional turn-based RPG combat system to present its encounters. The main battle menu displays four basic commands: "FIGHT," "ACT," "ITEM" and "MERCY".

FIGHT: The player physically attacks a monster with their equipped weapon. After choosing "FIGHT" and selecting a target, a slider bar appears on-screen, allowing the player to perform an active reload-style quick time event to determine the amount of damage dealt. Monsters may also attempt to dodge the attack. Like the player, monsters die when their HP reaches zero.
ACT: The player interacts with a monster in a non-violent fashion. Selecting "ACT" and a corresponding target will open a sub-menu with one or more possible actions, which vary depending upon the targeted monster. Undertale features a variety of unusual ACT commands such as "pet," "encourage" and "tell joke"; by choosing the correct sequence of actions, the monster's name will turn yellow in battle menus, indicating that the monster is reluctant to continue fighting.
ITEM: Opens the player's inventory to select a single item for use during their turn. The player can also equip armor or weapons during battle through this menu. Some items can end certain battles non-violently on their own.
MERCY: The player attempts to resolve an encounter peacefully. Choosing "MERCY" allows players to either "Spare" monsters or attempt to "Flee". Monsters can typically be Spared only after the player has ACTed one or more times to make the monster friendlier as indicated by their yellow name. Certain monsters can be Spared immediately without the need to ACT. Other monsters, particularly bosses, may require players to repeatedly Spare them in order to reach a peaceful resolution.

The player dodging an enemy's attack with their 'SOUL'.

The player acts first in nearly all encounters. After the player's turn, any remaining monsters will attack the player simultaneously in a bullet hell-style micro game. The protagonist's "SOUL," represented by a heart, appears inside a white "bullet box" near the middle of the screen during the enemy's turn. The SOUL is maneuvered with directional keys, allowing players to dodge enemy attacks and avoid taking damage.

Enemy attacks are color-coded by their effect. Most enemies attack using white-colored objects, which damage the player's SOUL upon contact. Green objects will actually heal the player. Additionally, some enemies can only be Spared after the player has touched one or more of their green projectiles. Aqua-colored attacks only deal damage if the player's SOUL is in motion; conversely, orange attacks deal damage if the player's SOUL is stationary.

Soul Modes

Most of Undertale's boss fights include special "soul modes" that significantly alter the manner in which the player's SOUL behaves while inside the bullet box.

Red: The default color. While red, a player's SOUL can freely move anywhere within the borders of the bullet box. This is the only mode in which players may attempt to Flee from an encounter.
Blue: The SOUL is affected by gravity and must avoid obstacles by jumping with the Up directional key in a manner similar to an auto-scrolling platformer.
Green: The SOUL is immobilized and uses a shield to deflect incoming magic spears. Using the arrow keys, the player positions their shield as each spear approaches from one of the four cardinal directions.
Purple: Horizontal lines appear in the bullet box, and the enemy projectiles will follow these lines. The player's SOUL may only move left or right along the lines, but it can switch to a new line with the up or down keys.
Yellow: The yellow SOUL is flipped upside-down and can fire bullets from its tip, which can destroy certain incoming enemy projectiles or damage enemy characters directly.

Soundtrack

Undertale's original soundtrack was composed by Toby Fox and is available on his bandcamp page (some songs are hidden).

#	Title	Length
1	Once Upon a Time	1:29
2	Start Menu	0:32
3	Your Best Friend	0:23
4	Fallen Down	0:57
5	Ruins	1:32
6	Uwa!! So Temperate♫	0:56
7	Anticipation	0:22
8	Unnecessary Tension	0:17
9	Enemy Approaching	0:56
10	Ghost Fight	0:56
11	Determination	0:50
12	Home	2:03
13	Home (Music Box)	2:02
14	Heartache	1:48
15	sans.	0:50
16	Nyeh Heh Heh!	0:32
17	Snowy	1:44
18	Uwa!! So Holiday♫	0:30
19	Dogbass	0:06
20	Mysterious Place	0:44
21	Dogsong	0:37
22	Snowdin Town	1:16
23	Shop	0:50
24	Bonetrousle	0:57
25	Dating Start!	1:56
26	Dating Tense!	0:26
27	Dating Fight!	0:35
28	Premonition	1:01
29	Danger Mystery	0:18
30	Undyne	0:45
31	Waterfall	2:06
32	Run!	0:26
33	Quiet Water	0:32
34	Memory	1:15
35	Bird That Carries You Over A Disproportionately Small Gap	0:25
36	Dummy!	2:25
37	Pathetic House	0:38
38	Spooktune	0:23
39	Spookwave	0:25
40	Ghouliday	0:12
41	Chill	0:56
42	Thundersnail	0:42
43	Temmie Village	0:57
44	Tem Shop	0:45
45	NGAHHH!!	1:22
46	Spear of Justice	1:55
47	Ooo	0:14
48	Alphys	1:25
49	It's Showtime!	0:46
50	Metal Crusher	1:03
51	Another Medium	2:22
52	Uwa!! So HEATS!!♫	0:34
53	Stronger Monsters	1:03
54	Hotel	1:27
55	Can You Really Call This A Hotel, I Didn't Receive A Mint On My Pillow Or Anything	1:01
56	Confession	0:42
57	Live Report	0:17
58	Death Report	0:47
59	Spider Dance	1:46
60	Wrong Enemy !?	0:58
61	Oh! One True Love	1:24
62	Oh! Dungeon	0:32
63	It's Raining Somewhere Else	2:50
64	CORE Approach	0:12
65	CORE	2:46
66	Last Episode!	0:07
67	Oh My...	0:14
68	Death by Glamour	2:14
69	For The Fans	1:47
70	Long Elevator	0:20
71	Undertale	6:21
72	Song That Might Play When You Fight Sans	1:02
73	The Choice	2:12
74	Small Shock	0:14
75	Barrier	0:31
76	Bergentrückung	0:21
77	ASGORE	2:36
78	You Idiot	0:34
79	Your Best Nightmare	4:00
80	Finale	1:52
81	An Ending	3:28
82	She's Playing Piano	0:18
83	Here We Are	2:06
84	Amalgam	1:20
85	Fallen Down (Reprise)	2:30
86	Don't Give Up	2:02
87	Hopes and Dreams	3:01
88	Burn in Despair!	0:21
89	SAVE the World	1:53
90	His Theme	2:05
91	Final Power	0:18
92	Reunited	4:44
93	Menu (Full)	0:32
94	Respite	1:54
95	Bring It In, Guys!	4:12
96	Last Goodbye	2:15
97	But the Earth Refused to Die	0:34
98	Battle Against a True Hero	2:36
99	Power of "NEO"	0:30
100	MEGALOVANIA	2:36
101	Good Night	0:31

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