Undertale Review

Funny, subversive, and imaginative, Undertale is truly a one-of-a-kind video game experience. On the surface, Undertale appears to be a retro throwback to the glory days of 16-bit RPGs. However, that is just a facade. The game is a cleverly-laid trap that had me questioning everything I thought I knew about the RPG genre and ultimately the entire medium of video games.

The depth of Undertale’s subversive writing and innovative gameplay mirrors that of the subterranean world it takes place in. It took multiple replays to fully excavate the layers of surprises that developer Toby Fox had in waiting.

Under the Tale

The basic plot of Undertale revolves around a human child named Frisk who falls into the underground world of monsters. Frisk (whose gender is not stated) must then make their way to the capital in order to return home. It’s a simple setup that seems in line with what you might find in a fairy tale or cartoon. However, from the first character I encountered in the ruins, Undertale was content with shattering my expectations. And, the game managed to stay one step ahead of me from that moment on.

The writing of Undertale explores a range of tones that work cohesively towards creating the game’s surreal atmosphere. The characters and scenarios swing between absurdist comedy and psychological horror without feeling dissonant with one another. And, beneath those raw emotions is an abundance of pathos in how the game tackles its own complex ethics.