Admit it, you'd probably have a hard time sparing a smug guy like this

So the 1st anniversary of Undertale snuck up on me (Even if I was just a few weeks late jumping onto that bandwagon). But even for something I threw together in an hour I felt I had to post something about it.

You can see my more immediate thoughts upon completing the game at my sister profile here, (SPOILERS THERE IN!) http://www.furaffinity.net/view/18132919/ (SPOILERS THERE IN!). As for the more current feelings on the Undertale phenomenon? Largely unchanged. It does several things deftly that many RPGs had rarely attempted such as creating a pacifist ludo-narrative while still keeping the player actively engaged with a largely defensive based combat system. Those very notions seem as counter intuitive to the common conventions of an RPG that it's not terribly surprising how it can turn off the common player base. This is much less to perhaps what the game does ask of it's players to invest themselves in the world, the characters, and conflicts there-in and not to think of each encounter as a pile of stats but rather to treat each individual soul and monster as a real, living element that should be respected as much as any other life. And as I said in the affore mentioned post if the game puts so much effort into making you believe in it's world, is there much harm in humoring it?

All of this might fall flat on it's face were the world it asked you involve yourself in wasn't compelling, but the characters from the big players of the story to the common mook just ooze with personality and sincerity. Toriel's motherly nature is show in all of her actions to the point of disciplining those who she feels she's protecting for the greater good. Alphys can be seen as your common nerd with unfortunately also common self-image issues, but what her fears are based on remind us that those in our lives are facing battles you are not fully aware of. Every cast member may come off as a flat, one-note person; but with time and patience on the player's part you can see them as the three-dimensional being that they are (Except for Papyrus, who we wouldn't have any other way).

Of course I can't let discussion of this game go by without mentioning the wonderful soundtrack. I'd read articles detailing each track and the numerous secrets and easter-eggs there in, allowing you to peer into even relationships between characters based on this context alone. One detail I'll share here is if you'll notice how the soundtrack uses a mix of chip-tunes and real instruments; If you'll notice that in songs (particularly boss themes) that use instrument samples (such as Bonetrustle, Asgore, and slightly with Heartache) are when characters are acting against their personal nature. In parallel to their common chip-tune themes which coincide with their video-gamey pixelly selves when they act more genuinely to their own values and beliefs. There are even other touches such as the discordant relationship between the piano and guitar notes in 'Home', where it shows the two elements are having difficulty working together and building a healthy relationship, much akin to the two active characters in the appropriate scene.

That's about all I think I can say now with my head-cold addled mind. But I'd love to hear any of your thoughts on this wonderful game. Undertale is for me still a game reflective of a single artist's goal and a shining example of what makes video games unique as an art form. To also have it tied up with a simultaneously heartwarming and heart-breaking story makes it an experience I won't forget for some time.

Undertale and concepts property of Toby Fox
Master Grey is my own OC. (Could have used Teacy, but I think Grey fits the Undertale world a bit better)