Grace Thompson
Undertale is a video game developed by Toby Fox that offers its players three routes: Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide. Players can choose between violence and mercy, sparing or killing monsters. The game is rated as age 10 and up by ESRB, but some find it too scary or disturbing for kids. The game has been described as inspiring Catholic ideals of forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love, with a character calling out for the player to stay on the straight and narrow. However, the game also includes a forced homosexual situation, which may be considered incompatible with Catholic teachings. Overall, the game has received positive reviews from Catholic players, who have praised its emotionally resonating effect, witty dialogue, and interesting puzzles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | RPG |
| Primary Audience | Teens to young adults ages 13+ |
| Platform | PC, macOS, Nintendo Switch |
| Story | Mercy, light amidst darkness, and love amidst pain |
| Number of Paths | Three (Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide) |
| Number of Endings | 93 |
| Music | Over 100 entries |
| Core Emphasis | Decision to engage in violence vs. find a peaceful route |
| Catholic Ideals | Forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love |
| Philosophy | Differs from Catholicism |
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What You'll Learn
Undertale's emphasis on choice and morality
Undertale, an 8-bit, retro-style video game, offers a unique take on the role-playing game genre by emphasising player choice and morality. The game, developed by Toby Fox, gained popularity for its innovative approach to player agency and its impact on the gaming community.
In Undertale, players encounter various non-playable characters and are presented with choices that challenge their moral standards. The game offers three main routes: Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide. Each route provides players with different options for engaging with enemies, ranging from showing mercy and sparing their lives to killing them. The Pacifist route, considered the "good path," encourages players to spare all enemies and leads to a positive ending. Conversely, the Genocide route is darker and more brutal, resembling traditional RPG video games. The Neutral route falls between these extremes, with players sparing some characters while taking the lives of others.
Undertale's save point function also sets it apart from other games. In typical role-playing games, the absence of choice can lead to player desensitisation towards violence. Undertale addresses this issue by providing players with meaningful decisions that impact the game's narrative and their overall experience. The game encourages players to weigh their actions against their moral standards, fostering a sense of accountability for their choices.
The game's emphasis on choice and morality has a significant effect on players. Undertale challenges the normalisation of violence in RPGs and prompts players to reconsider their approach to in-game violence. It inspires players to "talk out" their differences and forgive their enemies, aligning with Catholic ideals of forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love. Additionally, Undertale's narrative structure, which adapts to the player's choices, encourages multiple playthroughs, allowing players to explore different paths and outcomes.
While Undertale's morality has been praised for its impact on players, some critics argue that its binary choices between good and evil lack complexity. They suggest that the simplistic morality of being a "saintly goody goody or puppy-kicking baddy" fails to capture the nuanced moral dilemmas present in great novels or films. Despite this criticism, Undertale's emphasis on player choice and morality has left a lasting impression on the gaming community, challenging players to reflect on their values and the consequences of their actions.
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Undertale's impact on players
Undertale is a video game that allows players to choose between violence and mercy, genocide or pacifism. Players can take different routes, including Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide. The Pacifist route is the "good path", where the player shows mercy to every enemy and attains more levels, side-quests, and exciting gameplay. The Genocide route is dark and brutal, and the Neutral route involves sparing and killing monsters.
Undertale has been described as inspiring its players to stop their addictions and cut through desensitization. It stands out among video games for inspiring its audience to "talk out" their differences, hurts, vengeance, and grudges, and to forgive and have mercy if the "enemy" will not reciprocate. Undertale has been said to inspire Catholic ideals of forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love. The game has also been praised for its witty dialogue, interesting puzzles, and compelling story.
Undertale has had an emotional impact on players, filling them with determination and encouraging strong emotional reactions. The game's music has been described as simple yet phenomenal, enhancing the emotional moments of the game. The game has been criticized for its romance and for requiring players to act as a matchmaker for two gay couples to get the true ending.
Undertale is rated as age 10 and up by the ESRB, but some have expressed concern about the game's suitability for children due to its violent and scary characters, visuals, and gameplay. The game has been described as unsettling and potentially disturbing for younger players. Overall, Undertale has had a notable impact on players, evoking strong emotions and sparking discussions about its themes and content.
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The game's three routes: Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide
Undertale is a video game with a unique story that changes based on the player's actions, offering up to 93 different endings. The game has three main routes: Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide. Each route can be stopped at any time, and the player is encouraged to play each route as different parts of the lore are contained within each.
The Pacifist route is the "good path", where the player shows mercy to every enemy encountered and spares their life. This route offers more levels, side quests, and exciting gameplay, as well as a good ending. It is considered the "true ending" as it leads to a sad conclusion and complete credits. It can be challenging, as it is always easier to fight than to act in the game.
The Neutral route is accomplished when the player decides to spare the lives of some characters and take the lives of others. It is the most common route and can be accidentally achieved, for example, by killing the first boss without understanding the mechanics. This route still offers an engaging experience with funny writing and environments.
The Genocide route is dark and brutal, similar to most RPG video games. It involves the player killing every possible monster in the Underground. This route is challenging as some boss characters are difficult to defeat, and it can be time-consuming. The ending can occur without prior completion of the game, and it alters subsequent True Pacifist and Genocide route endings.
Undertale has been praised for inspiring Catholic ideals of forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love. It encourages players to "talk out" their differences and forgive their enemies. The game also treats every character as a person, challenging the player to become balanced in their consumption of video games and inspiring them to stop their addictions.
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Undertale's music and its impact
The Undertale soundtrack, composed by Toby "Radiation" Fox, has been widely praised by gaming press and fans. It has been described as a "damn fine collection of unforgettable tunes" that "reinforces [the game's] earth-shattering moments". The soundtrack comprises 101 tracks, with tracks 78-101 considered "hidden" and not visible before purchasing the album. The music sets the theme of the game incredibly well, with each song embodying every feeling and encounter.
The game features coherent situational music, with the music changing and adapting to what is happening on screen. For example, in the snow area, the basic theme when wandering through the snow fields is sparsely instrumented with only a piano and a small group of strings. However, when the player reaches Snowdin Town, the music changes to an upbeat song while keeping the main melody of the snow field music. Another example is the song “Home”, which plays in the house in the Ruins, a peaceful and calm place, and the music reflects this atmosphere.
The Undertale soundtrack has been frequently covered by various styles and groups. "Megalovania", in particular, has seen extensive use in Internet memes and was played in a circus performance during a weekly public audience with Pope Francis in January 2022. The popularity of the soundtrack can be attributed to Fox's composition process, as he composed the music for each section of the game prior to programming, allowing him to decide how the scene should go.
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Undertale's LGBT+ themes
Undertale is a video game that offers its players three paths: Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide. Each path can be stopped at any time. The Pacifist route is the "good path", where the player shows mercy to every enemy encountered. Undertale has been praised for inspiring its players to talk out their differences, hurts, vengeance, and grudges, and to forgive and have mercy on their enemies.
Undertale has been noted for its LGBT+ representation. The characters Undyne and Dr. Alphys share mutual crushes on each other, and there are also a pair of lesbian royal guards in Hotland. The game's protagonist, Frisk, is nonbinary and goes by they/them pronouns. Undertale has been praised for its handling of LGBT+ themes, with one reviewer noting that Undertale lets its characters and narrative choices speak for themselves instead of using representation as some kind of hook or angle.
However, one reviewer on Reddit expressed discomfort with the LGBT+ themes in the game, stating that they found it "disturbing" and "disgusting" that the game's creator, Toby Fox, "accepted homosexuality and was open sexually". This reviewer also mentioned a "forced homosexual situation" in the game.
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Frequently asked questions
Undertale is rated as age 10 and up by the ESRB, but some players have found certain themes in the game disturbing. The game offers three routes: Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide. Players can choose between violence and mercy, and the game has been described as inspiring Catholic ideals of forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love.
Undertale features a gay romance subplot, which some players have found disturbing. The game also has a good path that requires players to show mercy and spare the lives of all enemies, which may be challenging for younger players. Additionally, the game features monsters and can be scary for children.
Undertale has been praised for its inspiring message of forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love. The game challenges players to become balanced in their consumption of video games and treats every character as a person. It also features witty dialogue, interesting puzzles, and an engaging story.
Some players have expressed concerns about the game's strong emotional response and the potential for it to cause people to exaggerate how good it is. The game's simple graphics and music take a back seat to the gameplay and story, which may not appeal to all players. As with any form of media, it is essential to be mindful and ensure that the game does not influence real-life behavior and decisions.
