2016: Undertale
Undertale
Release Date Developer Publisher 15 Sep 2015 Toby Fox Toby Fox
Undertale is a difficult game to describe without playing it. A large part of the experience is based on subverting the typical expectations from JRPG titles, like Earthbound, which it was inspired by.
Players are offered the choice to play through the game either using the (intentionally) lackluster combat mechanics to defeat enemies, where they use a single type of attack to deal damage. Or they can learn how to befriend enemies, finishing combat via “mercy”.
The pacifist mechanic expands upon the games narrative-driven experience, allowing the player to learn more about common enemies or even bosses like now-famous Papyrus and Sans. But what drew me to the game is that the player is always offered the choice to follow up on these experiences. Someone looking to min-max the game might kill off each character in combat, wondering what all of the hype was about.
Of course, the player’s main guide at the beginning, Toriel, teaches the player how to actually play the game, by letting them know they shouldn’t try to harm the creatures of Undertale. But it’s not unreasonable that a player might ignore that approach as, initially, it also seems fairly dull.
Ultimately, Undertale is a game that requires players to get invested in its world to really appreciate the game. The goofy humor and heartfelt characters may draw many players in, though I’ve also seen players try to rush through the game like a standard JRPG, missing Undertale’s “true nature” and some of the great moments along the way. It’s hard to capture the humor and love put into this game, so I’d recommend trying it yourself.