2) Undertale
I like to think of myself as pretty up to date when it comes to the world of indie gaming. I’ll admit, though, Undertale flew way under my radar prior to its release. I never heard about the Kickstarter and I never read a preview for the title. Hell, I didn’t even see any footage from it prior to launch. All of the early buzz and positive reviews though led to me seeking out the game, and welp, here we are.
By now, there has been plenty written on Toby Fox’s RPG, both of the good and bad variety. So while the denizens of GameFAQS may be mad at it, there are plenty of reasons why Undertale manages to succeed as well as it does.
The gameplay, which is a strange blend of traditional RPG mechanics and bullet-hell action, not only works, but it’s continued evolution over the course of the game keeps it from feeling stale. The often hilarious storyline is also a major highlight, and the surprisingly dark places it can go to are sure to surprise any newcomers to the title.
What I remember most about the RPG, though, is the fact that every action actually has a consequence. We have seen plenty of games that have tried, and failed, to implement a morality system that actually feels like it carries any weight. Where most of those titles fail, though, is where Toby Fox’s opus manages to surprise.
When you decided to fight and kill an enemy, you actually feel the weight of the fact that you just killed a living thing. And while you may over time forget all of your actions, the game is keeping a note of every single thing you do.
You’re free to play Undertale as you see fit, but be warned: you may not like what you have become at the end of your adventure.
Published: Jan 6, 2016 10:43 am