Undertale

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5370 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,431 out of 5370
  2. Mixed: 330 out of 5370
  3. Negative: 609 out of 5370

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  1. SpunkyMonkey
    Apr 5, 2016
    7
    Nice game, excellent music and "vibe", very fresh and often surprising. Sadly, the actual gameplay just isn't that good, and it often feels like a slog at times, with some sections dragging on for what seems like AGES. Overated, but still has a bit of magic which few other games have.
  2. hvis
    Apr 11, 2020
    7
    The style and the characters/dialogues are fairly childish (JRPG-style, basically, although a lot of games in that genre also try to be more mature). The plot is imaginative enough overall, though.

    And interesting, fresh mechanics are a reason enough to check this one out.
  3. lahjaunelmia
    Jul 3, 2016
    7
    It is kinda fun game. The gameplay is fun while battling. The battle system is unique. I really like the bullet hell system and all the unique attacks enemies perform. Though the process of befriending enemies was kinda bland and boring. The gameplay in overworld is the definition of boredom. It has almost nothing going for it(especially in the genocide route, I had to stop playing becauseIt is kinda fun game. The gameplay is fun while battling. The battle system is unique. I really like the bullet hell system and all the unique attacks enemies perform. Though the process of befriending enemies was kinda bland and boring. The gameplay in overworld is the definition of boredom. It has almost nothing going for it(especially in the genocide route, I had to stop playing because I was so bored with all the grinding, and to this day haven't finished this 2nd playthrough). It is just not fun at all. At some points it is mediocre at best. For example the stuff with Mettaton.

    Let's get to art. The soundtrack is fantastic and I'd say it has one of the best soundtracks ever in video games. I listen to it quite regularly and can't get enough of it. Then there are the graphics. Graphics are good in battles. I really like the black and white style, really interesting and unique. Overworld graphics on the other hand are atrocious. It is so rough and ugly. I mean when you see these other indie games with mind blowing pixel art and then look at Undertale's overworld. Man, I really wish it looked better. It would have made the world look much more atmospheric, beautiful and lively.

    Now let's talk about the story and characters. Characters are quite interesting and entertaining. I especially like Undyne, Sans and Asgore. Toriel is not so bad either. The meta narrative in Undertale is quite unique and I haven't really ever played a game like this where every action has an effect in the story and even after resetting the game the game still remembers what you have done. It is quite pretentious at points but hey it's something new. The actual story is decent. Nothing mind blowing but it's fun and at times heartwarming.

    Overall Undertale is a decent game with amazing soundtrack. The graphics and the overworld gameplay could do some work but for 10 euros it is worth a shot.    … Expand
  4. kuehnau
    May 24, 2016
    7
    UnderTale is a video game that was released for the PC platform on Sep. 15th, 2015 by Toby Fox. There are many aspects to UnderTale and before I reach my final conclusion, I want to cover those subjects.

    Developer: Toby Fox is a fantastic developer, who takes the often obsessive (and even toxic) fanbase in stride. A great example of an indie developer, Toby hasn't appeared to sell out    UnderTale is a video game that was released for the PC platform on Sep. 15th, 2015 by Toby Fox. There are many aspects to UnderTale and before I reach my final conclusion, I want to cover those subjects.

    Developer: Toby Fox is a fantastic developer, who takes the often obsessive (and even toxic) fanbase in stride. A great example of an indie developer, Toby hasn't appeared to sell out (yet), limiting and restricting the amount of offical UnderTale merchandise. While every store on the face of the Earth may carry Five Nights at Freddy's merchandise, Toby tends to be much more selective on who can sell his product.

    Programming: A well programmed game, during the time I spent with UnderTale, at no time did I experience any bugs or crashes (that weren't intended by the developer).

    Mechanics: UnderTale is a "bullet hell" stylized RPG in which the player will have to physically dodge enemy attacks while being confined to a box. During this phase, players move a red heart, which represents your "soul". While your attack is a fairly standard JRPG turn based attack, enemy attacks tend to be much lengthier and involve dodging bullets and memorizing attack patterns.

    While this combat mechanic will start off feeling fresh and unique, by the time you finally finished the game, you'll be glad you are done with it's combat system. Often times, Boss Fights revolve around a marathon, in which you will not even be able to FINISH the fight until the enemy says everything they need to say, which can be frustrating at times, most bosses have a trick you need to figure out to defeat them, very few of them are straight forward fights.

    Community: This is most likely one of my most biggest complaints with the game (next to the story). UnderTale has managed to collect some of the most obsessive, often times toxic fans in almost any fandom I have come across. Managing to collect the attention of furries, sexually confused individuals and SJWs, frothing, foaming at the mouths the fandom will defend the game to any end, often verbally eviscerating anyone who has anything remotely negative to say about UnderTale.

    This is possibly one of the worst fandoms I have ever seen, ranking right next to Five Nights at Freddy's. Most users seeing I didn't rate UnderTale a solid 10 out of 10 will most likely rate this review as "unhelpful" without even reading the entire review.

    Story: I will try not to spoil the game in this part of the review. Simply put, you are a child who has fallen underground, it is now your objective to make your way through the underground, trying to find your way home. As you progress through the game, you'll quickly discover that not everything happening here is quite as it appears to be. The underground has problems of it's own and you can take it upon yourself to try and solve these problems.

    The story of UnderTale, while unique is possibly, one of the biggest issues I have with the game. Themes such as love, friendship and dedication are drilled into your head constantly.

    You will also be judged based on your behavior while playing the game, which is what my problem is with the story. Kill any enemies and you'll be judged for it. The game acts as if any enemy deaths, no matter what, are a violation of the underground's citizens, completely ignoring the fact most (if not all) monsters are trying to either capture you or kill you.

    I find it ironic, even asinine, that the game expects you to lay down your life for creatures, all who have an agenda that revolves around capturing or killing you. Very few of the relationships that you'll forge feel genuine in any extent. For a story about love, understanding and friendship, I found it hard to ever feel a real connection for any of the characters, let alone care about them.

    The story is branching, there are three major branches in the game, all which will make changes to the game worth seeing. There are lesser branches to the game, but the content that changed is so minescual it isn't worth the effort of another play through. For these minor changes I suggest just using YouTube.

    Conclusion: At the end of the day, Undertale is absolutely a game that is worth your time playing, rough spots and community aside. The game is short enough that you can fit a play through (or even multiple ones) in a day. The price is reasonable and I think supporting a developer such as Toby Fox is enough incentive itself to purchase the game.    … Expand
  5. Klewer
    Jan 10, 2016
    7
    The hype and big wraps on this game swayed me to get it. And for the most part it is a good experience with a lot of interesting aspects and your decisions are interesting. However for me the actual action and bullet hell sequences are not my cup of tea and towards the end of the game I found it a struggle to push through.

    Still worth a look, best do some research on mechanics first.
  6. shaoran2
    Oct 7, 2015
    7
    Ignoring the pcdouchebaggraphicwhorerace This game is AWSM This game is funny and entertaining battle system very different rpg it's fun and it's your reflexes his music is beautiful if you like the music YS and megaman style this is definitely your game the reason I wear a 7 is that NO SPANISH LANGUAGE! :(
  7. Sjalka
    Sep 28, 2015
    7
    I have to state that i rather prefer role playing games that are a lot more visual. I have not grown up in the old computer days with NES or Atari - so i do not feel the nostalgia or so when encountering those games.

    Now - the most important part of a RPG is most certainly the characters and their story - and the game delivers ... very well! I do not know how it works - but there are    I have to state that i rather prefer role playing games that are a lot more visual. I have not grown up in the old computer days with NES or Atari - so i do not feel the nostalgia or so when encountering those games.

    Now - the most important part of a RPG is most certainly the characters and their story - and the game delivers ... very well! I do not know how it works - but there are games where you instantly feel a connection to the characters ... you actually instantly kind of "like" them - and care for them. (even the evil ones) ... and then there are games where you simply never feel the connection (and of course there is the in-between).

    Untertale ... well... for some reason i instantly liked the setting and character(s) - even if they are presented in utmost ugliness.

    Here is also where i draw the line. It may sound (and might actually be) superficially - but i do not think that the art-style is beneficial for the game. I can see the game made in a low res art-style ... but not in Atari 2600 era style - but rather a low res VGA style. So it seems like the art team was simply not able to provide.
    Visuals are an important part of a RPG - which is kind of a visual novel with more interaction than what nowadays goes for "visual novel" i guess. So .. great character(s), great story - and an easy 10/10 ... but for ME ... the presentation brings it down a significant notch. (on the basis of a low budget game that is ... if it was a AAA title - even the story would not be a 10/10 - cause i expect more complexity from such a budget)    … Expand
  8. Klotz
    Oct 2, 2016
    7
    An interesting game with extrem boring gameplay/combat mechanics.
    While I like the idea of playing through a game in an pacifistic way it should still be fun.
    It's not bad but far from all the praise it gets.
  9. Alexey970
    Sep 30, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Okay. first off, I have to say that while I recommend this game, I didn't liked it as much as other people do. The reasons are lying in details. So I will do like this: Point out the game srongest points for people who have not played it aand my personal net picks for people who have played it. By no means I think this game is overrated or not so good (after all, not each game is capable of curing deppresion or change your life) , but there are some points that I would like to talk about. Here we go.
    + Combat is very original. I really liked negotation system in shin megami tensei series, but this gamee has one of the best interpritaions of it.
    + The cast is memomerable and likeable, also there is a lot of character development.
    + Jokes are very very funny and original as well.
    + Replay value is very high
    + Boss battles are super fun and origignal. Too bad that tere are no boss rush mode.
    + Replay Value is high, although it depends from your position towards the game's message
    + Exploration and backtraking are rewarding, wich is good because I really like to backtrack if some of the location design has changed later on
    + I personally think that game is not that short, because you really should try to rush it throught to complete it in 6 hours.
    + While I persinally think that it is hared to listen soundtrack outside of the game, it's awesome and fitting to any moments.
    In fact, there are a lot more positive points, but these are done their best to catch an eye

    Now let's talk about things that I personally dislike. There is high chance that you will not notice them, but I have.

    [spoiler] - The game really likes to strip your choices at some points, especially toward your cell. I found the telephone number of some monster but the game tells me "You decided not to call". Royal Scientist upgraded it so that I now connected to the social net, but I can't use It! There are only 3 characters I can call, wich is Toriel, Papyrus and Undyne. To make matters worse, Toriel will be available only at the very begining and the very end, while Papyrus and Undyne are united into pair so I can call them oonly at once, and, basically, they are only characters who can provide moral support.
    - Silent protagonist. There are a lot of moments where I wanted to see his reaction, but alas.
    - The story gets really really confusing towards the end.
    - 4th wall breaking moments are confusing as well.
    - I have not cried at all. Yes, there were moments of sadness, but because game so likes to throw jokes on you, at some points it hard to tell, whenether it wants to make you cry or laught or scared.
    - Lore is unecessary complicated
    - True ending.
    Now let's talk about last aspect more detailed.
    1) While other people during the final battle were crying, I personally almost commited suicide with facepalm. Who ever thought that fusing Flowey and Asriel into one character was a good idea? I was shouting like Konstantin Stanislavski "I don't believe it!" Asriel was presented as a mild and likeble character but Flowey is just opposite. And there is a very bad explanation about Asriel's changing of attitude. I can't take it seriously.
    2) So, everyone is having fun while Asriel doomed with eternal punishment? Okay, I understand that I can not save him, but why the hell I can not at least make other characters pay there respect for it? And I don't care that it will broke their hearts, just let me do that, game!!!
    3) A lot of plot holes are risen because of that ending. Why Asgore and Toriel have not ralised how evil was their adopted human son? How the body of their (by the way, why everyone refering to Chara/Frisk "They" and not "Him"?) is mystically warps form the village to coffin to ruins? Why Chara's soul decided to corrupt Frisk and not other fallen humans? Is Frisk is so special? Or what? [/spoiler] If you dont't agree with me, feel free to bash me with dislikes, but I was have to spoke all the thoughts that I had in mind.

    Anyway, again: If you have not played this game -- I can safely recommend it to you. Like all others.    … Expand
  10. cc742a
    Mar 5, 2016
    7
    Undertale was, without a doubt, the game I heard the most about in 2015. It was praised as being the pinnacle of storytelling and a new and exciting game that surpasses all others that year. I... disagree, and before the hate comes rolling in, allow me to explain myself.
    First off, the games pacing. Undertale keeps great pacing for most of the game, and is exciting and well driven by its    Undertale was, without a doubt, the game I heard the most about in 2015. It was praised as being the pinnacle of storytelling and a new and exciting game that surpasses all others that year. I... disagree, and before the hate comes rolling in, allow me to explain myself.
    First off, the games pacing. Undertale keeps great pacing for most of the game, and is exciting and well driven by its characters. However, the games pace slows to a grinding halt in the third act, when your thrown into a volcano and get stopped every 5 seconds by a "lol so nerdy" scientist. THIS SECTION DESTROYS THE PACING. This game has so many amazing scenes and set pieces, and comes crashing down at this one spot.

    Next, the characters. I wont lie, this game has so amazing character development. Characters are complex, interesting, and well made. My biggest complaint comes in undyne, a fish women who, after I fought, crawled away. I shrugged this off but after completing the game and looking up videos found this character has a whole side quest, completely unknown to me that in order to find required you to backtrack to a specific village and have a conversation with.

    Speaking of side quests, they seem oddly out of place in a game like this. A game like this feels like it should be alot more focused and the characters should be more involved. This is done fantastically with the skeletons, but all other characters seem to lack this focus. I didn't look for side quests when I played, and I ended up missing a couple of interesting areas.

    Now for the game play. Its oddly enough a bullet hell, and works fairly well as one. the morality system is well made, but can be confusing in certain fights that require a very specific pattern in order to succeed, and some that you don't know if you need to keep talking to or if there is another solution to the problem (undyne and toriel come to mind). Its a good system though, and the morality system is very interesting.

    I wont say much about the music. It is without a doubt the best part of the game. lots of memorable tracks that are either cozy and fitting, or well suited for the boss battles. easily a 10/10 soundtrack.

    It feels shallow to say a game is bad because of the hype, but I do think the hype has taken a lot away from undertale. If you mention you plan to play it you will get a detailed map from the fanbase on what route to take, where to walk, how to spend your money, etc, etc. This game will be a lot better in a couple of years when hype has gone down and people can play the game blind.

    In conclusion, expect a game that does a great job at making the characters, has a fun combat scheme that would get boring if the game lasted longer than it does, and a soundtrack that makes you remember how good retro music can be. Its by no means bad, but try not to buy too much into the hype. Besides, it wasn't event the best rpg maker game of 2015 (Lisa)    … Expand
  11. Carewolf
    Nov 9, 2015
    7
    Great game, though insanely overhyped for some reason. It is very charming and does several new unique things. The gameplay (especially combat) is not very good though and gets very repetitive very quickly, and the same for soundtrack which is just annoying and repetitive from the get go.
  12. Mitchzap65
    Jul 10, 2016
    7
    For 15 bucks, It's good! Escpecially for a game that is only 2 hours long, but a mere 2 hours will not cut it. The characters are not nearlly as complex as people say, but certainly not two-dimentional at the slightlest. The combat is unique, but can only go so far, probably one of the reasons this game is so short. Music is great, but Paper Jam had it better. Comedy wise, it hardly everFor 15 bucks, It's good! Escpecially for a game that is only 2 hours long, but a mere 2 hours will not cut it. The characters are not nearlly as complex as people say, but certainly not two-dimentional at the slightlest. The combat is unique, but can only go so far, probably one of the reasons this game is so short. Music is great, but Paper Jam had it better. Comedy wise, it hardly ever sticks, not for me at least. The story does its job, but it "shrouds itself in mystery" (AKA lacks in explanation, make it hidden at least!) too much. Certainly good, but rough around the edges.… Expand
  13. letcreate123
    Aug 29, 2016
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm here to rewrite my review since my opinion on this game pretty much changed since then.
    For a first, blind experience it's probably a 9, but once you start replaying it it kinda loses it's charm. However, it's still a neat game, in my opinion.

    However (yes, again), unless you're an ending hunter, this game won't have much replay value aside from doing a Genocide Route and then a Souless Pacifist. That and the infamous punch card trick, which from a speedrunner perspective is kinda cool, but not for normal, casual players as you'll probably find it useless and only an inventory filler.

    Gameplay is OK, the battle system is kinda cool, story is done kinda well, soundtrack is also kinda cool (there are a few amazing soundtracks in there), graphics are OK for an 8-bit game. But when you think about the game overall, it's nothing really too new and interesting (aside from the final boss battle in the True Pacifist Route, the two final bosses in the Neutral Route and the final boss and ending of the Genocide Route).

    Do I recommend it? If you like RPGs and bullet hell games, I guess this is okay for you. Otherwise, I don't really know.    … Expand
  14. RadicalRic
    Dec 16, 2015
    7
    This game is charming, unique, happy, funny and it will surprise you sometimes. It's made with love and care, trying to make you remember the good things about videogames and what made you enjoy them in the first place. Unfortunately it's really short but sometimes happiness is meant to be felt in short bursts. It also gets somewhat repetitive and hard to get into because it's fanbase isThis game is charming, unique, happy, funny and it will surprise you sometimes. It's made with love and care, trying to make you remember the good things about videogames and what made you enjoy them in the first place. Unfortunately it's really short but sometimes happiness is meant to be felt in short bursts. It also gets somewhat repetitive and hard to get into because it's fanbase is one of the loudest and obnoxiously obssessed with it. If you have the pure bliss of getting into this game without knowing anything about it, you'll like it. And if you want your friends to play it please don't be a dick and don't tell them anything about it, it'll spoil it for them.… Expand
  15. EpicLadySponge
    Feb 9, 2016
    7
    Maybe Undertale would work better if it would have more interesting features in it and builds up a better story. Enjoy it while it lasts, Undertale gamers. You'll pretty much have fun here faster than us.
  16. othaner
    Mar 4, 2016
    7
    this game is nothing but a meme, with one of the worst communities since mine minecraft, i'm glad this game didn't win any awards though i deserved them
  17. AscendantKnight
    Jan 26, 2016
    7
    Graphics is what makes a game good. So that should not be judged upon. However, as deep as the story was, the concept of humans vs monsters seemed very dull to me and I wished the developer was more creative. The gameplay was suspenseful; like I had to dodge everything matrix style, but did not seem challenging at all. The music is beautiful, the characters were very fun, especiallyGraphics is what makes a game good. So that should not be judged upon. However, as deep as the story was, the concept of humans vs monsters seemed very dull to me and I wished the developer was more creative. The gameplay was suspenseful; like I had to dodge everything matrix style, but did not seem challenging at all. The music is beautiful, the characters were very fun, especially Asriel (I had a lot of sympathy him and the fact that his **** ex-wife was **** And the paths that you take (pacifist/genocide) seemed very diverse as well and the neutral endings seemed meh, so either go genocide or pacifist because they are more interesting… Expand
  18. Acquiescinit
    Feb 8, 2016
    7
    This game is disappointing. It has a great story line with fun characters, but it's all over so fast. In just a few hours you can beat this game and realize that the puzzles aren't even close to challenging, and the boss fights can be somewhat annoying if you try to spare people.

    The biggest problem with the puzzles is that they were all set up in such a way that you needed a hint to    This game is disappointing. It has a great story line with fun characters, but it's all over so fast. In just a few hours you can beat this game and realize that the puzzles aren't even close to challenging, and the boss fights can be somewhat annoying if you try to spare people.

    The biggest problem with the puzzles is that they were all set up in such a way that you needed a hint to solve them, but once you read the hint (which is always sitting conveniently next to the puzzle) the solution was obvious. In all but one or two of the Legend of Zelda games, the puzzles were either just laid of in front of you for you to figure out, or if there was ever any kind of hint or unknown solution, you had to explore further to find it. Perhaps it is unfair to compare two games of different genres, but the point is that there was nothing interesting let alone captivating about the puzzles. All they did was make the game slightly longer.

    The story carries the game along with the level of control the player has over the story. Without the ability to choose how you want the story to go, this game would be bland. With that aspect, it is above average, but that's about it.    … Expand
  19. athf
    Mar 14, 2016
    7
    The characters are round and engaging. The graphics are simple (unlike most games these days), which leave room for the imagination of the player, yet the color scheme appealing. The story plot is rich in humor, and surprisingly unique. I suggest to give it a go.
  20. Ky__
    Jun 7, 2016
    7
    Undertale is an RPG that relies too much on story, likeable characters, and "Choosing not to fight". That's not always a bad thing, though. Just, with such a good game like this, of COURSE you're unable to keep it from being spoiled to death! I haven't even played it, and I know everything already because so many people have spoiled it for me. Gameplay, from what I've seen, is split into 3Undertale is an RPG that relies too much on story, likeable characters, and "Choosing not to fight". That's not always a bad thing, though. Just, with such a good game like this, of COURSE you're unable to keep it from being spoiled to death! I haven't even played it, and I know everything already because so many people have spoiled it for me. Gameplay, from what I've seen, is split into 3 different timelines. Pacifist (Sparing everything unless you have to fight), Neutral (Spare monsters and bosses, if you want) and Genocide (Killing everything no matter what). The soundtrack is very good, I insist you have a listen (Only after playing the game, of course). The story itself, as I've already said, is something the game really relies on. In fact, the creator of the game insists you play it yourself before watching a playthrough of it. All in all, I insist you check it out, if it isn't already spoiled for you.

    tl;dr: Good game, already spoiled for me, soundtrack is good, you don't have to fight the monsters to beat it, play it yourself, dont watch a playthrough until after playing it.    … Expand
  21. mbrigham1223
    Feb 1, 2017
    7
    An incredibly innovative indie title that falls off the rails towards the end.

    Pros: - The music is incredible; catchy, fun and perfectly suited to the title - Great writing; the characters are memorable and unique, with the first half of the cast unforgettable - Creative and ingenuitive "combat"; while you can go through this world completely hack and slash, they is a completely non    An incredibly innovative indie title that falls off the rails towards the end.

    Pros:
    - The music is incredible; catchy, fun and perfectly suited to the title
    - Great writing; the characters are memorable and unique, with the first half of the cast unforgettable
    - Creative and ingenuitive "combat"; while you can go through this world completely hack and slash, they is a completely non violent path to take. The majority of the battles are more puzzles than fights, looking for ways to please the enemy enough to make them not want to fight

    Cons:
    - The last few bosses are either combat heavy or just endurance fests, with the final boss not leaving the player any choice but to fight. That ruined my enjoyment. It was Deus Ex Human Revolution all over again - my non lethal character being forced needlessly into combat. Others require you just to wait long enough for the boss to give up. The fun was in puzzling out the battles, not sitting there and avoiding attacks for ten minutes.

    Mixed:
    - The limited visuals can sometimes be a detriment, with occasional bland and samey environments. For the most part, though, the art design is eye catching and pleasing

    Overall, an incredible example of what one man can do. An original title in a time of sequels, reboots and remasters, it's no wonder that Undertale is so highly praised. However, the later marathon bosses damage the game's world view. In a title that so deeply relies on it's story, this is a painful detriment. Overall, a good game, worth picking up cheap, but don't expect the world from it.    … Expand
  22. Erosion
    Jan 27, 2017
    7
    Game was great until fandom's came and nuke'd UNDERTALE, The only thing people care about in UNDERTALE is Sans, lets face it. This game is falling down deep into an uncanny abyss of cancer, And there is almost nothing we can do to stop it
  23. NZAnimeManga
    Dec 7, 2017
    7
    Very entertaining, I'm currently halfway through my first run (pacifist), and I'm enjoying the humourous writing and the 4th-wall-breaking moments. Entertaining, charming, and thought-provoking but the gameplay itself is definitely lacking.
  24. AlvaroK95
    Dec 28, 2021
    7
    Un gran juego tanto a nivel jugable como de banda sonora. Es algo corto, pero muy original y diferente en su propuesta, no hay juego igual. Además, sus personajes te calan, y no para de tener sorpresas hasta el mismo final.
  25. lidwang
    Mar 1, 2019
    7
    I know that popular games at some point get a lot of backlash for just being popular, but this games gets trashed waaay to much, and it's a really good game even though it's not the most extraordinary game ever mad. The world is really lineal and inconsistent in therms of desing and the game mechanics although a great concept are extrempley basic. But if you are a fan of the mother seriesI know that popular games at some point get a lot of backlash for just being popular, but this games gets trashed waaay to much, and it's a really good game even though it's not the most extraordinary game ever mad. The world is really lineal and inconsistent in therms of desing and the game mechanics although a great concept are extrempley basic. But if you are a fan of the mother series I would recommend this game any day of the week.… Expand
  26. BM85
    Aug 27, 2019
    7
    It can be a great nostalgic adventure for those who grew up playing the old 2D RPG games and it’s a good game for everyone else.

    GAMEPLAY ( 7 out of 10 ) The combat system is innovative, varied and frequently challenging but lacks depth and winning a tough battle is much more about eye-finger coordination than strategy or creative thinking. The puzzles are somewhat clever but there are    It can be a great nostalgic adventure for those who grew up playing the old 2D RPG games and it’s a good game for everyone else.

    GAMEPLAY ( 7 out of 10 )
    The combat system is innovative, varied and frequently challenging but lacks depth and winning a tough battle is much more about eye-finger coordination than strategy or creative thinking. The puzzles are somewhat clever but there are very few of them in the game and the level designs aren't the most impressive or diverse, particularly in the tedious first half of the game. When you encounter a monster, you can do certain actions (including “Check”, “Console”, “Talk”, “Complement”, “Joke”, “Hug”, “Flirt”, etc…) besides fighting and you can even choose to “Spare” him, which only works after you do certain actions or when the monster is weakened enough. This is an interesting system and it's much more fun and less repetitive than simply attacking the monsters. But with some monsters, including all the bosses, the “Spare” option sometimes doesn't work the same way than with regular monsters or doesn't work at all, and the game only gives you a small clue about this in the beginning and never reinforces it after that.

    To “Spare” a monster doesn't reward you with any EXP points (only with coins), so if you don't kill any monster your character will remain weak and with low HP throughout the entire game. It doesn't make any sense to me that you earn EXP points for killing the monsters and not earn any for winning the battles without killing them, and it only makes the game more frustrating in the process. To “Talk” and “Spare” monsters starts out as a more compelling course of action then simply killing them, but because your character’s HP remains low and the monsters become stronger as you advance in the game and never show you any mercy (they will always try to kill you if you don't spare them, even if you don't attack them), the result will probably be an increase in “Game Over” screens per hour. This eventually forces you to backtrack a little to buy more health items. In conclusion, the only incentive to continue not killing any monster after the first few hours of the game is to see how that affects the story and the ending.

    If you kill one of the bosses the game will probably punish you by becoming increasingly hard and mind-numbing and making the final boss battle almost impossible to beat – at least the boss that I killed had that consequence – which is extremely unfair and anti-climactic, particularly because the game doesn't give you any clue about this. Also, it’s impossible to go back to before your last save point because you can't have more than one save file, which is another incomprehensible and dated aspect that adds more frustration – if this is the price to pay for a few speech lines alluding to what you did in previous lives and playthroughs and other so called “4th wall destruction” elements present in the game, it's not worth it in my humble opinion. In other words, the choice to be a pacifist or a murderer appears to be just an illusion of choice, since the game never gives you any chance to redeem yourself.

    The controls are simple enough to be enjoyable to play with a keyboard and it's also compatible with non-Microsoft gamepads.

    STORY ( 7 out of 10 )
    Character speeches and narrative lines are well written – some of them are genuinely funny and a handful are truly thought provoking. The characters themselves are odd and have unique personalities, although throughout the game none of them is developed to the point of becoming completely three dimensional. The plot is mysterious and different enough and has some heart, and it's impressive how the game remembers what you did and how some of your actions affect the tone of the story and its characters' behaviors, but at the same time it's incoherent and doesn't seem to have a very well-defined vision of what it wants to transmit to the player. I couldn’t beat the final boss and thus haven’t seen any version of the story finale.

    VISUALS ( 6 out of 10 )
    “Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery EP” has a much more beautiful pixel art design then this game and there are a few times when it's not perfectly clear what's happening on screen, which hurts the gameplay.

    SOUND ( 7 out of 10 )
    The music is enjoyable, its tone always fits the game seamlessly, but the sound effects are just awful.

    VALUE ( 9 out of 10 )
    The game lasts between 7-11 hours, depending on how you play and how many times you die in the game. That's a great amount considering the low price, despite the fact that after I finished the game I didn't want to replay it, even knowing there was still new dialog to be read and multiple endings to be unlocked.

    FINAL SCORE ( 7.0 out of 10 )
    An innovative, somewhat clever, enjoyable, simplistic and half-the-time frustrating 2D RPG that lacks depth and coherence.    … Expand
  27. Odh
    Sep 6, 2019
    7
    I don't want to put spoilers if you don't already know about the combat or the choice of combat, but I felt the concept with numerous endings depending on how one plays the game was brilliant! But it is a game that is only a few hours long, has a useless inventory system, and was I the only one creeped out by the some of the characters wanting to date the main character? I know its anI don't want to put spoilers if you don't already know about the combat or the choice of combat, but I felt the concept with numerous endings depending on how one plays the game was brilliant! But it is a game that is only a few hours long, has a useless inventory system, and was I the only one creeped out by the some of the characters wanting to date the main character? I know its an indie game, it has great music, a simple yet engaging story, and completely original gameplay/storytelling, but I just wished for more in this limited world? I get making the game short encourages numerous playthroughs to see different endings and play the game differently, but you may have to do everything perfect in every minute of the game or not get the ending you want.… Expand
  28. Cafe_8bits
    May 27, 2020
    7
    Undertale is a neat parody of RPGs. A great game, that you should play if you are a RPG fan, even with the terrible fanbase.
    The game has great characters, a unique setting, and a presentation that remembers me NES games.
    A good one, give it a try.
  29. jcgonzmo
    Dec 4, 2019
    7
    Let me give you some background information:
    1) I bought this game for $5 dollars on Steam
    2) This game was made by only 1 person, Toby Fox. He did the art, story, music, etc. a) As a $5 dollar game made by one dude, the game is quite good. It is VERY charming. b) The are 3 endings. Each play through last 6 hours and they are EXACTLY THE SAME. Only the final 10-15 minutes change. If    Let me give you some background information:
    1) I bought this game for $5 dollars on Steam
    2) This game was made by only 1 person, Toby Fox. He did the art, story, music, etc.

    a) As a $5 dollar game made by one dude, the game is quite good. It is VERY charming.
    b) The are 3 endings. Each play through last 6 hours and they are EXACTLY THE SAME. Only the final 10-15 minutes change. If you replay the game, you will fast forward everything because it is the same, every last single thing.
    c) Music is EXCELLENT.

    In conclusion, it is a charming and short $5 made by one guy. It is very basic, but quite creative. Let me be clear though, this thing is not as amazing as some weird fans are making it to be. Shovel Knight, Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, Celeste TRUMP this game. Sonic Mania Plus for $20 is 10/10/ I cannot emphasize this enough, Undertale is a nice $5 game.    … Expand
  30. SurrealKitten
    Dec 18, 2019
    7
    Undertale is a wonderful game, largely due to its exceptional story as well as wonderful characters. While its gameplay mechanisms are unique, creative, and solid enough for the first few playthroughs, they are significantly flawed, and their flaws compromise the overall gameplay and replayability. Still, I recommend this game to anyone who loves a good story and is not too obsessed withUndertale is a wonderful game, largely due to its exceptional story as well as wonderful characters. While its gameplay mechanisms are unique, creative, and solid enough for the first few playthroughs, they are significantly flawed, and their flaws compromise the overall gameplay and replayability. Still, I recommend this game to anyone who loves a good story and is not too obsessed with replayability and the sort.
    Below is a more detailed analysis.

    Positives:
    + An overall light-hearted story about love, peace and forgiveness. More mature and disturbing aspects also exist, making the game more interesting.
    + Fleshed-out and lovable characters
    + The music is awesome, especially for people who grew up playing old video games.
    + Your moral choices affect the story, and you can choose your ending.
    + The pacing of the story is just all right
    + Controls are fluid
    + The combat mechanism is quite refreshing and creative
    + A lot of easter eggs that contribute to world-building.
    + As of now, I haven't found anything sloppy or unreasonable with worldbuilding. Most situations ingame are reasonable.
    + Interesting details (such as dialogue) that gives a deeper understanding about the motives of certain characters (I won't spoil this part)

    Negatives:
    - Combat is a bit too easy. The bullet hell is overly simplified and not really interesting enough. There is also a lack of higher difficulty modes, forcing those looking for a challenge onto the darker routes (which is why I quit playing). This is not good for the game's replayability.
    - The theme of mercy and pacifism gradually loses its charm gameplay-wise. Each enemy can be spared by a set method, and after you figure it out, all you need to do is to repeat what you did again and again. It is fun for the first time, but after maybe 2 playthroughs, it becomes pretty bland and robs you of any incentive to spare NPCs. This impacts the game's replayability.

    Neutral Aspects:
    ~ The visual style is unique and quirky, and quite simplified. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing.
    ~ A lot of content left intentionally unexplained. Good for fan speculations and fanmade content, but perhaps a little bit confusing......?

    Overall:
    Solid and worth its price, and wonderful for the first few runs until you get the perfect ending. The mechanisms are sufficient to support the game. The flaws, while significant, are not likely to impact players who simply want to enjoy the story.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2015
4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 43
  3. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. GameStar
    Jan 16, 2017
    89
    Undertale is absolutely unique. It's a RPG masterpiece full of weird characters and a moving message.
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  2. games(TM)
    Mar 4, 2016
    90
    With multiple endings based on how you choose to play out your run, set pieces that can play out very differently based on your actions and so many incredible moments that we’d love to share but daren’t do so for risk of spoiling anything, Undertale is easily one of the indie standouts of last year.
    Read full review
  3. DarkStation
    Feb 23, 2016
    100
    Through a combination of often relaxed but sometimes tense gameplay, a dreamy atmosphere, and genuine characters that feel like they’re actually alive and all living together in this isolated society of longing, Undertale transcends its medium and becomes a genuinely moving experience I would recommend to anyone who is open to a sometimes sorrowful, sometimes hilarious, always bizarre and engaging emotional journey.
    Read full review
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