On one hand you will start to question everything you have ever done in a video game. On the other hand you get easily one of the best songs i've heard all year pumping into your ears while you play through the most engaging and intense boss battle in the game.
+iblobtouch Which one ? The U one or S one? Both are awesome. Also besides learning backstory, once you get to finale finale the only reasonable thing to do is completly erase the savefile. And feel guilty for the rest of the days.
+Nixitur Just recently found that out. Nabbed me over two grand before I decided to move on. Plus, the Temmie's in the game are fucking hilarious. "Tem alergic to tem. HOIves!"
K4RN4GE911 I also love the dialogue when you try to sell something to Temmie that she _really_ wants and then say "No" twice. That also changes once she goes to college. She also gets a graduate cap which is adorable.
+Marblez3 It's amazing how something that wouldn't look out of place on the Gameboy manages to tug on the heartstrings more than big budget games that shoehorn in that stuff whenever possible. It's also one of the few times I've felt something playing a game, it really deserves more attention.
I've never felt sorry for an "innocent" Bioware NPC because they all have backstory and usually are terrible people... except for Marauder Shields... he tried to save us all...
Allright, I'm sorry, gonna have to stop at 2:33 If the game is as good as you're making it sound at toying with the player head, I'm gonna want to have a playthrough as blind as possible.
+Black INK.I.M Read the review if anyone else feels at all conflicted. But the fact that Jim gave such a strange loooking game a 10/10 was enough for me to at least give it a look. I'm not at all what you would call a Jim fanboy either.
+Black INK.I.M A very good idea, though you may have to fight your urge to play it like a standard RPG for your first run Or else you'll have a bad time
***** Oh, most definitely. . . I just felt like I should give 'em an idea of what their in for. Although I'm sure the game will make him regret whatever bad decision he makes~
V. Burn Well..maybe the "average player" just doesn't have as much *experience* with video games as critics like Jim do. Something to think about, I guess.
+V. Burn What a load of old shit. He's been a reviewer for 10 years and played allsorts in that time. Use that squishy thing between your ears and have a think about the drivel you're posting. What you meant to say is that YOU don't think it's good...don't try to dress that up as some standard that applies to whatever the hell you define as an "average player".
+cheezemonkeyeater I totally killed Toriel by accident, I just wanted to find a way home! I didn't know the last attack would hit her for one third of her health!
Bitcoon I know... Thats why I decided not to savescum it and just kept playing with my actions/choices. Made doing a second playthrough so much better.
My friend randomly gave me the game and I had no prior knowledge when I first played it. Killed Toriel on my first run because I thought the game was trying to teach me that it really was "kill or be killed", but once I realized I messed up I tried to reset and got freaked out when Flowey showed that he knew that I killed someone lol. 5 years later, I decided to buy the game on Steam, and I just finished the True Pacifist run.
YAY JIM LIKES THIS TOO! I've been playing this game on my channel and I adore it to bits! Most especially Flowey (obviously who wouldn't) but I also can't help loving all the incidental little encounters. It just oozes personality from every inch. Massive props to the dev for a beautiful construction!
Huh. This game is getting a lot more press than I expected. I'm proud to be among the first Kickstarter backers for this game, and I'm proud this is another Kickstarter miracle that turned out to be a brilliant game.
+De Villain Looking at the game from a game designer's perspective, there seems to have been a shit ton of work put into programming each enemy's unique attacks and mercy puzzles (like, a shiiit ton), as well as the choices being remembered throughout playthroughs. If I had to guess, I'd say most of the budget went towards paying programmers with the creator Toby Fox taking a bit as (well-earned) income for his musical talents and a small bit to the artists as well. I wouldn't say the art budget was necessarily misused, just that the game is very stylized and obviously Earthbound inspired in a lot of aspects. The simplistic graphics do a good service to the game imo, as they don't distract players from the game's other intricacies.
Notice that one of the frogs, when you see them outside battle, says "they've only seen a maximum of three frogs in this room"? But there were only two when Jim went through. When you do a complete pacifist run, there are three. Jim did kill a few monsters, though... including a frog...
This is a game that doesn't just toy with traditional RPG conventions, it actually turns some into a major plot point that gets expanded upon with additional play throughs. Undertale's brilliance lies with its humor, endearing characters, and a deceptively simple story that is far more nuanced (darker and tragic) than it appears at first glance. It's probably the best game I've played all year and I can't recommend it enough. At ten bucks it would almost be a crime to pass up.
Just gace this a shot. Retro style games like this, i have no interest in at all, (exception obviously being pokemon) but i thought i'd get this and give it a shot after less than 5 minutes of this video. I'm now up to the Skeleton brothers, it's changed the way i've played the game. Until this point i'd kill things willy-nilly FF style. But the dialogue in this is unbelievable, you really feel for the characters, the back and forth with the brothers is hilarious, and you really grow to care. The controls on the keyboard aren't my favourite but it doesn't detract from the game. After a couple of hours on this, seriously give this game a shot, as someone who usually hates games with this art style/retro thing going on for retros sake, this isn't for retroa sake. Not sure it's perfe 10, yet. But it's definitely a 9 from me.
+Dk92 I love seeing these "thought it was shit, turns out to be awesome" comments. I mean, Undertale doesn't look that fantastic at face value and the start is rather slow.
+Dk92 Love this comment. I get this "eh, not my thing" response a lot when I recommend it (or read comments about it) and it saddens me that a lot of people leave it at that and never experience the game as a result. If there's ever a list of games everyone needs to play, this should be right at the top. It deserves an honest try from anyone, because it has so much to offer, but a lot of its charm and innovation hides subtly beneath the surface. Even watching something like this Jim video about it isn't enough to show what the game's about. To really go into that would undermine what it has to offer.
+Dk92 I gotta say, you've got a pretty narrow minded view on Pixel art. I mean, you've got to realize that people who make games with pixel art aren't doing it for nostalgia sake or to cash in on some trend. They genuinely love the style. Some pixel art can even be harder and take up more time then some other styles. Pixel art can get quite complex which means you will have to fill in every single pixel individually. That is a pain and isn't as easy as it may seem. Also, you seem to lump in all pixel art together by saying "I usually hate games with this art style/retro thing" It seems like you're implying that there is no differing art style's when it comes to pixel art. (at least that's what i got out of that sentence) Which obviously isn't true. There is a wide ranged of variety of pixel styles. Or you could be implying that you dislike this specific pixel style. If so, I would have to agree.
+LETSpeakTRUTH I would imagine that's the case. To be honest, a lot of the art you see at the start of Undertale is honestly kind of lacking. It does pick up dramatically, but it doesn't do a good job of selling the game to players when it matters the most.
InfernalLawyer The art gets better, but I'd argue that part of the charm IS the bad art. In almost any other game, it would be bad art simply because there's a bad artist trying to get by on their meager skills. Undertale does a lot to shake off that vibe. I get the sense that it was a deliberate stylistic choice to make the art and animation low-quality, but it was definitely deliberate that they misused assets in pretty janky ways. When you look at some of the stuff they do later in the game, it's definitely serving a thematic purpose. And the charming awfulness of the art serves to sort of disarm the visuals, to where you wouldn't ever expect the game to do what it does. And indeed, part of the choice could simply be because Toby wants you to have to fill in the blanks with your mind. The aesthetic is made purposefully very simple, so you have to kind of imagine what things "really" look like. And as you go through the game, you start to realize how wrong you were on some of those things. Additionally, Toby can get away with doing silly things like rotating a standing sprite to make the character "lay down". The poor quality of the visuals adds another potential layer of humor into the game's scenes. Honestly, the game could be done with 'better' visuals, but I think it would lessen the impact of dozens of funny moments and certainly lessen the visual ties to certain narrative elements of the game. (which I'd prefer not to spoil publicly)
I thought the Witcher 3 and MGSV would be my game of the year contenders because of just how much fun and enjoyment I had out of them. then I played Undertale and it took a piece of my heart when I finished it and I can't stop looking for it. then there's the fantastic characters, unique battle system and elder god tier soundtrack definitely my GOTY 2015
I've noticed that a lot of people seem to be turned off by the graphics, while the people who have played the game have no problem with them. I feel like this fits into some theme about showing mercy and accepting things even if they don't seem to be appealing, but I'm too lazy for that sort of comparison.
***** Yep. Feels like an intentional artistic choice. Like your advancement in the game is changing the world in a literal manner. Reminds me of this little flash game I played once called Loved, where if you obey the mysterious voice, it goes from being simple atari graphics to clearer and more colourful NES graphics. (but to get the good ending you're supposed to disobey, so taking that route makes it harder.) I've seen that in a couple other games but can't recall the names offhand. It's a nice effect though. (like I remember an action-rpg that would go greyer when you got hit or did nasty things to npcs)
+CrazyRiverOtter I'm a complete graphics whore and I've bought and played games just cause they're pretty. But I've never disregarded a game because of how it looks. As long as the graphics don't bother game play(i.e every character looks the same, hard to distinguish foreground items from the background etc.) then I'm open minded. That's why I legit want to smack the people who say Undertale is shit cause of how it looks.
I got the true pacifist ending on my first run of this game and Flowey guilted me from restarting. I want to play even more but it means undoing the happy ending ;__;
Jim, you can also call Toriel and talk to her. I don't want to spoil anything, but try romancing her and then call her "Mother". Yes, it also has repercussions later. Nothing major, but the devs didn't forget about that option later in the game.
+Dan Yu Oh you...ain't you precious? Run along now and let the big people talk...just watch your language from now on, and be careful, that edge is too sharp for you.
Undertale is easily my contender for GOTY. The soundtrack is amazing and the differing paths, twists extensive lore and secrets is crazy. Also this is the only game to make me feel bad for doing Genocide but at the same time gave me such a thrill against the genocidal final boss that I feel conflicted.
Ain't nothing "playful" about the way this game plays with video game conventions when you're on the Genocide path. There were a few days after I finished that run where I sincerely wondered whether my enjoyment of video games might be permanently diminished as a result. Who knows, maybe that'll eventually turn out to have been the case. Either way, a game so skilled in what it's doing as to warp your emotional experience not only with it but with all other games as well to such an extent is an achievement that's nothing short of masterful.
I feel like my love of this game in spite of its awful art is a testament to how effective the game as a whole is. Not that it's all bad art, but none of it is particularly good. It hits almost every retro visual style pet peeve I have, and does so repeatedly. Sprites squash, stretch, and rotate all the time, some sprites are blatantly higher-res than others (the battle menu options for instance... and those also look pretty poorly drawn to begin with), the game uses multiple visual styles often at the same time (colored everything, but battle sprites and text-box faces are strictly black and white... except sometimes when they're not?), and they re-use assets in places that don't always make sense. And yet, I would hardly have it any other way. I absolutely adore this game, and despite having competition that's as masterful as Ori and the Blind Forest and Bloodborne, there's no doubt in my mind that Undertale is the best game I've played this year, and probably many years. It may look like crap and break all your rules and expectations, but damn if it doesn't grow on you fast if you just give it a chance. I honestly think that the only way someone can truly dislike Undertale is if they go into it wanting to find things they hate. Sure, not everything may be up everyone's alley, but there's just too much to like here. I'm happy to see Jim giving it a shot, because Undertale really deserves more of a spotlight. It's one of those games that I would consider "required playing" for pretty much anyone - even those who don't like the genre, gameplay or humor should give it an honest play because it masterfully does so many things that few games even try to do.
+Dedlok So is the androgynous child character a girl, or is it a woman's skeleton? Because, I'm all for human child x adult skellington romance as long as it's heterosexual. Otherwise this game is clearly more left wing propaganda from The Gays trying to corrupt our youth.
+Dedlok A male skellington? But I'm a guy, and not gay. I'm so emotionally stunted, that something like that actually bothers me enough to send a message to the developer. (seriously, Jim tweeted about it...some guy was just THAT insecure). It boggles my mind to see people so weird as to complain about not being able to relate to a female character in a game...especially if there's a love story element to the game. You're playing a character, and you understand that people can fall in love...how exactly can't you relate to that character again? Some really weird people out there man. Sorry, didn't mean to turn this comment into a whole ramble.
+chris c I would HIGHLY suggest you do a full (like, not the half and half deal you're doing in that video) pacifist run before going ham on a biscuit full genocide! Also by "genocide", people don't just mean "kill all bosses" or "kill all enemies you meet", I hope you know that. It's a very deliberate, kinda fucked up process that you need to keep up in a conscious effort. You have to work for it, even more so than for the full pacifist path.
+chris c So basically just kill off only a single enemy type every time you meet them? That's messed up. Do they react to you as you come across them, just getting immediately scared?
Paul Dennett No, systematically farm an area until no more random encounters appear, then proceed to the next boss, farm, proceed, rinse, repeat. That's how to get the worst possible ending. If you don't farm to completion or spare someone, it turns back into a neutral run. And yes, things change. A lot.
To everyone who wants to watch this without fear of spoilers, there is a free demo that plays the first chapter of the game. I'd advise you try it before anything else.
Honest reply here: Game really did seem like something so simple yet done with so much thought and brevity. That is until you start playing. Tipping point was going to the first actual door. The Music.. is literally perfect. The atmosphere is perfect. Actually getting goosebumps at how much it feels like a true event. Feelings you usually only ever get in a movie or series you've fallen in love with. That this is possible with only a few minutes into the game... 10/10 Thanks Jim, this would have gone under my radar.
Well, at least one of my regularly watched youtubers acknowledged it's existence (or release). That's a good thing. I'm a bit concerned that it undeservedly goes under the radar.
+Darrus Dreadtiger Vinnie's playing it? Awesome, he was one of the first I thought of when it comes to playing the game on TH-cam. Undertale's one of those great games that's great fun to watch, and even experiencing it beginning to end isn't enough to sate your desire to buy and play it.
If you're watching this without knowledge of the game, and you think you might like the game, or want to try it: Stop the video now. Buy the game immediately and play it. The more blind you play through the better. (Even if you're one of the minority groups who finds the game boring, before two hours in you can refund it, anyway). I WILL SAY, THOUGH, the game's puzzles are rather lackluster, with a couple of exceptions. I'd also give it a 10/10, I have two or three issues with it, once is a typo which looks un-ironic, the other(s) I can't remember.
One of my favorite gaming experiences ever. I only wish I hadn't looked anything up beforehand, but knowing what I needed to know to ease my concerns was what eventually got me to play it. As soon as Flowey says at the start "It's kill or be killed," I wanted to prove him wrong and I felt like I had to succeed in doing so; I couldn't bear doing otherwise and that's what I respect about the game.
I don't like exaggeration, yet this is one of the best RPGs I've ever played on any platform. The amount of care and effort put into this game is astonishing, and I came away from it feeling better than any game had managed to make me feel. I'm with Sterling here, it's a wonderful title through and through.
+Stormy Blue Miata Ah, I remember slowbeef talking about how he rec commended this game to him, and he was iffy about playing it because it only runs at 30 FPS, no joke.
NaotaInka That's not true. His videos cover everything, and that includes the quality of the port. He's a consumer advocate and believes just because we choose to play on PC that we should not suffer from an inferior experience. I don't understand how people continually fight against someone who is legitimately trying to inform you on every aspect of a game's quality and letting YOU decide which parts of it are relevant to making a purchase. I am both colorblind and get motion sickness from games with low FPS, so he is actually saving me money by being one of the only game critics to actually cover this stuff. For others (you) that may not matter, so they won't factor it into their purchasing decision. Isn't it enough to just focus on what's important to you rather than chastising him for including information that is also important to others? Apparently not.
Started playing this on your recommendation. It's as good as you say. I haven't laughed out loud that consistently while playing a game in a while. I love the skeleton bros! ^_^
I'm a little late watching this but I just love it when Jim gets passionate about something that doesn't upset him. It's kinda like seeing a kid with a new toy that he's explaining to all his friends if that makes any sense.
I'm not sure if you still read the comments to this video, but thank you so much for recommending this. Maybe it's bad to say, but I'm not a huge game person. I've always loved movies far more, and only one game before this had achieved the same feelings movies give me. This week however, two games have reached this level. The Beginner's Guide and Undertale. I know all mediums are equal, all are capable of art, but these two games are the first to feel like art to me, personally. It was giving me something that only games could and movies could not. Thank you for leading the path to widening my mind.
It might be possible... I think a couple of the bosses drop a lot of EXP if you manage to defeat them at LV 1. I won't say who, but suffice to say the pacifist solution for some of the encounters isn't always immediately obvious. I wouldn't be surprised most people who played this blind with no spoilers ended up making at least one "mistake". Then again, is it really a mistake if, as an observer, you expect it to happen?
The true final sequence of the game is probably some of the most powerful music, story telling, and imagery I've ever seen in any video game ever. I'll give $10 to anyone who can find a flaw.
+TheIncognitusMe Okay. The game drags on a bit at around the Hotlands area. Plus some of the puzzle elements are used once or twice and then thrown away almost instantly. I'll be expecting my Monopoly$10 in the mail.
+TheIncognitusMe There's the lily flower puzzle for one. The first instance is less of a puzzle and more of a "please display your ability to read the instructional signpost", and then it's immediately ditched after the next puzzle. Still, I suppose one could argue that it's better than shoving in unnecessary padding to increase game time.
+TheIncognitusMe to be fair I think there is a weak point, but it'll vary between players. Some dislike waterfall and some dislike hotlands, others dislike the neutral route and how easy it is to end up on it, others dislike the way the feeling from the ruins is absent for most of the game, others dislike the extremely limited and stylistic art. But that's just a testament to the masterpiece it is - it's so close to greatness that really you have to start nitpicking or be particularly rankled by some specific moment to consider it lacking.
I think it's *amazing* that Jim's championing little games like _Undertale_. You can just tell how much he's in love with this game. Kinda cute, to be honest.
I love the fact that (NO KILL SPOILER WARNING) Flowey wants you to avoid killing anyone, because he needs all their souls for himself to become his original self. And also become God and KILL everyone. The true pacifist ending made the difference between Undertale being a really great game, and being possibly the greatest game I've ever played. It struck my feels in all the right places.
now that I've finally finished my first undertale run (11 h Marathon, Pacifist, finished a few minutes ago) I can finally watch this video. and good God I'm so happy? that this game is a thing that exists. I've been laughing, I've been in pain, I've been full out sobbing when playing this game. it's hands down one of the best games I've ever played, and I don't say that lightly. The music does admittedly do a whole lot, Toby Fox is utterly amazing in that regard. Considering that he made a lot of music for Homestuck makes it extra amusing for me, because I can recognise his music and also see that he does get some inspiration for character designs from there. All in all, best dog petting simulator I've ever played, and I really want goatmum to become my mother.
I almost beat the game today I went for the neutral ending. And got stuck at the final boss, 'cause I am out of healing items and money. I also can't get a random encounter (probably due to judgement already being past). Any advice on what to do? Or do I just go Dark Souls style and bash my head against a wall until I master the QTEs so well, I'll just magically beat him?
+vcom741 How did you manage that? There is a glamburger and 100g in the 2 trash bins in the core, did you collect that yet? If not, get those, buy some bisycles from the money and you should be good to go.
Thank you, jim! I got this game on whim when it came out, beat it, and have been urging everyone I know to try it, and now you have produce substance to support this amazing game!
Well now... the QTE things do put me off a bit from a mechanics perspective... but that nitpick aside, I can certainly see glimpses of the cleverness, understated whimsy and hidden edge you speak of even in this brief look. While I might not end up playing it myself, it's always nice to see another really good game out there that I can respect the hell out of.
This game is beyond perfect. This game is a giant middle finger to everything made since the dawn of gaming. It's...the standing RPG that I will judge all future "Story" driven games by. And, in my own personal opinion, Chrono Trigger doesn't come close to comparing to Undertale. Undertale does more to your look on life in an hour and thirty minutes than an entire series of games can try to do. Strange, is it? I honestly don't think so. Undertale is the story of when Man becomes the Monster's monster. You're a human child that falls down into the banished realm of the monsters. Every single thing you decide to do affects the lives of everyone around you. But not just them. How you are represented within this, too. It's hard to really talk about the story, as, amazingly enough, the internet unanimously avoids spoiling the game. I will continue that gesture by not furthering your knowledge of the game. Instead, I will talk about what first caught my attention about this game. The combat system. You have "Fight"___"Act"___"Items"___"Mercy"___ at your disposal. Your fight option mechanic consists of timed button presses to do more damage than you should. Items is self explanatory. Act...and Mercy... They are your non-combatant routes of dealing with foes. You can, in a strange idea, stop a monster from attacking you by telling a joke, stealing their hat, or getting close to a tsundere plane...but not too close. You can choose to spare your foe, or flee altogether with Mercy. When a monster no longer wishes to fight, they will be able to be spared. Although...You're not forced to stand still and take damage, unlike in most other RPGs. In the Mario RPG style, you're able to do actions to avoid ALL attacks. You can go through this entire game without being touched, although that'd take ridiculous amount of skill...Instead, you dodge attacks via bullet hell style. For those of us who have played games like Touhou and the sort will be in their zone. Although, the game is able to teach players who haven't played them (or like them) on a perfect difficulty ramp. One of my favorite things about games are bossfights. My opinion on Undertale's bossfights? Absolutely perfect. Each boss brings an entirely new dimension that is explained by subtle hints that the player WILL undertstand quickly. All of the bosses in the game deserve high, high amounts of praise, but there's a particular one that puts Touhou bosses at their very knees in comparing. I wish I could mention it here, but if I do, "you're going to have a bad time." This is also the only game I've given 300% of my ****s given for the characters. Every single one of them I cared for, cried for, cheered for, and was pissed off at (in a emotional way.) The game time is all over the place for people. Some people complete their first run in six hours, some in fourteen. The music is godlike. Beyond the levels of talent of those like ZUN and Two Steps From Hell. These songs are not "Song Walls Of Heroes" that you'd hear. Every single track in the game is built more for the moments, and play right when it's needed. There's over 100 songs that are unique, and none overstay their welcome. The humor of the game is just as perfect as the rest of the game, but I won't spoil them here. Not only this, but the game is aware of itself. It knows your actions, beyond multiple playthroughs. I highly reccomend this game to the highest degree. It's the first game to be "Perfect." As highly opinionated as that word is, that word is fact for this game. If I was forced to choose experiencing any game, and that'd be the final game I'd ever get to play, I'd be perfectly alright with this being the finale of games that I'd ever play. If you pirate this game, you're beyond cruel. For 10 US $, it's much cheaper than a AAA 60$ "experience." Many morals will be learned. You will learn to live. You will know pain. You will know sadness. You will know happiness, beyond the walls of the game. Is it even a game anymore? No. It isn't. It's the finale. Perfection.
Jim, you gave Binding of Isaac Rebirth 9/10 and Undertale 10/10? WTF, mate? Enough is enough. I'm telling my mum on you, you posh chungus-pigsnout-chaperone!
I honestly don't think I can get over the fucking awful art style. Don't get me wrong I'm not one to think that graphics are the defining factor in a game, but holy shit this game looks like a kindergartner designed the characters and environments. Usually in most cases I can overlook visually unappealing things and still enjoy a game, but this one looks like the contents of a daycare's art class trash can.
+Kyle Reynolds Same here. At this point I'm completely fed up with this retro bullshit. I understand it's cheap, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Computers and consoles are getting more and more powerful, while games are degenerating into this 8-bit mess.
+kyotheman69 How can you compare this to Earthbound? The art in Earthbound had character and detail. I don't mind older looking games. I even admire older games for their design. This game is honestly so visually horrible that it's distracting and not even worth playing.
I'm sorry, Jim, but I disagree with you about this game. From what I see, this is nothing but a poor man's version of Eartbound but breaking the fourth wall a little more than its predecessor. Those "jabs" it takes about video game tropes are so dated and are delivered in such a patronizing way that it looks pretentious, like it's so far up its ass that feels free to break the fourth wall only because the game thinks its more inteligent than thou by doing so. Yeah, because no other game EVER had explored the nature of morals or how you behave while playing a video game. But, like I said, I only know about this game what you've shown in this video. I dunno if I'm wrong or if I'm right and certainly I don't care either, but watching you praise a game that constantly nags you while thinks so high on itself made me cringe quite a lot.
+MrSpecter91 The Earthbound comparison is a common and obvious one, but honestly I think people need to get over Earthbound. This game is basically a modern Earthbound, and at this point I think Earthbound is becoming somewhat outdated. Yes it's charming and wonderful but it's also somewhat grindy and the game drags on quite a bit. Undertale takes the Earthbound formula and redefines it with more modern tropes and game mechanics. It's an easier game to get into and I really don't see how you can find this game dated when pretty much everything in here can be appreciated on it's own merit, which makes it more timeless. Of course, not everyone will find this game to their liking because writing and sense of humor is always subjective, but I think your opinion is a minority. Also remember that this video barely scratches the surface of the game and you should at least give the free demo a try before totally dismissing it.
+MrSpecter91 Yeah, you haven't seen anything yet. The truly interesting stuff starts happening once you reach the first boss, Napstablook being a mini-boss. And then it just keeps on going.
+MrSpecter91 Hold on, so you've seen 20 minutes of random gameplay for a game on youtube without playing it but you still feel entitled to talk crap about it, blatantly disingeniously oversimplify it, make assumptions, and complain that it totally sucks? God, I'm glad Jim's the one doing videos here and not you. If your major complaint is that the game is full of itself, maybe you should at least check if this is actually true?
Funny how things change. This gem used to be one of the most underrated games out back in September, and now it's just blown up here on TH-cam. In the last month or so, it's been picked up by Jim, Dunkey, Tom Fawkes, NicoB, Cry, Manly, Minx, Solowolf, Dexter, jacksepticeye, Markiplier, Game Grumps, 2 Best Fr- It's big, I think you get the idea.
I love that you mentioned Earthbound because that's exactly what I got from the aesthetic and the sheer quirkiness of it all. I thought of it right away.
14:16 This part is made so much better by the sign near the very first rock you encounter that says, "3 out of 4 rocks recommend you push them." The fucking sense of humour in this game is phenomenal.
Seriously this is a 10/10 Game Of The Year without a doubt. When people stop playing it, I can guarantee that it will become one of the classics. This game will be up there on the shelf with the other greats.
Thank you, Jim! Thanks to you and the gameplay displaying the game, I decided to buy it and go on a full Pacifist run. Now, if you'll excuse me, my heart is still crying inside in how beautiful this game was. Like, damn, so much love & effort was put into this!
The concept of talking your way out of fights and befriending monsters reminds me alot of the game "Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne." Where you can talk to the demons and get them to join your party. If they don't join you, you can wait till the right moment where they become unreasonable and crazy then you might to get them to inadvertently join you.
I quite regret doing that but in my first (and as of now, only) playthrough, I sometimes killed enemies out of convenience (because it took way longer to spare them and I was running out of HP). Apart from that, I spared everything I could but the feeling of being way underleveled enticed me to kill a few. Also, I didn't know all bosses were spareable because they just didn't seem to react to my actions, which may be because I've already killed too many monsters before.
This game is my GOTY everything about this game appeals to me in every aspect. There is so much attention to detail that if you actually wait in the main room she does end up calling you back.
What you said about the character mocked you for killing another and resetting to save them, that happened to me, probably in the same place. That was such an impactful moment for me..... This game has had more of an emotional effect on me than anything I've played in years, if ever.
* Jim Sterling plays Undertale
* It fills you with determination
but nobody came.
all the buttons on the microwave are labeled spaghetti
Golden Age Gamer *smells like angry fish.
+MPKX
*You wiggle your hips sexily
+MPKX
Dare I ask where your profile picture is from?
Going fully genocidal is not advised.
Unless, of course, you want to have a bad time.
a really bad time. like seriously an absolute nightmare of a time. seriously fuck sans.
The genocide ending is nightmare fuel.
On one hand you will start to question everything you have ever done in a video game.
On the other hand you get easily one of the best songs i've heard all year pumping into your ears while you play through the most engaging and intense boss battle in the game.
+iblobtouch That song is pretty much Toby's signature. I'm pretty sure it has appeared in everything he has ever worked on.
+iblobtouch Which one ? The U one or S one? Both are awesome.
Also besides learning backstory, once you get to finale finale the only reasonable thing to do is completly erase the savefile. And feel guilty for the rest of the days.
* (It's a legendary artifact.)
* (Will you take it?)
♥Take it Leave it
* (You're carrying too many dogs.)
+Bright Spark well atleast your're not carrying too many temmie's
Dragoon-BB hOI!
+Bright Spark The Dog Residue is the best item in the game and nobody can tell me otherwise.
It's also infinite money.
+Nixitur Just recently found that out. Nabbed me over two grand before I decided to move on. Plus, the Temmie's in the game are fucking hilarious.
"Tem alergic to tem. HOIves!"
K4RN4GE911
I also love the dialogue when you try to sell something to Temmie that she _really_ wants and then say "No" twice. That also changes once she goes to college.
She also gets a graduate cap which is adorable.
I felt more guilt seeing you kill these monochrome sprites than a lot of innocent npc's I've killed in BioWare games.
+Marblez3 It's amazing how something that wouldn't look out of place on the Gameboy manages to tug on the heartstrings more than big budget games that shoehorn in that stuff whenever possible.
It's also one of the few times I've felt something playing a game, it really deserves more attention.
I've never felt sorry for an "innocent" Bioware NPC because they all have backstory and usually are terrible people... except for Marauder Shields... he tried to save us all...
+V. Burn Here's some attention. Congratulations!
Cause this game is so cute. :3
+V. Burn
The salt is within you, you have proven it with your 4 or 5 hate comments.
Now go play your Mass effect, bro.
Allright, I'm sorry, gonna have to stop at 2:33
If the game is as good as you're making it sound at toying with the player head, I'm gonna want to have a playthrough as blind as possible.
+Black INK.I.M This is a very good idea.
+Black INK.I.M Read the review if anyone else feels at all conflicted. But the fact that Jim gave such a strange loooking game a 10/10 was enough for me to at least give it a look. I'm not at all what you would call a Jim fanboy either.
+Black INK.I.M A very good idea, though you may have to fight your urge to play it like a standard RPG for your first run
Or else you'll have a bad time
HeWhoEnjoysTehVids I think that's a valid way to experience the game for a new player. Definitely intentional on behalf of the dev.
*****
Oh, most definitely. . . I just felt like I should give 'em an idea of what their in for.
Although I'm sure the game will make him regret whatever bad decision he makes~
The most aggravating thing about this game is how hard it is to talk about it. Everything spoils!
Jim has that sound in his voice that you only hear from somebody who's in love.
+Max Power The longs pauses in between sentences. I know.
I can't remember the last time a game made me felt such a broad range of emotions.
i know exactly what you mean. wolfenstein: the old blood, made me feel the same way 😢
A game Sterling actually loves..? This should be good.
(I'm gonna read the review as soon as I finish watching this video)
V. Burn Well..maybe the "average player" just doesn't have as much *experience* with video games as critics like Jim do. Something to think about, I guess.
+V. Burn What a load of old shit. He's been a reviewer for 10 years and played allsorts in that time. Use that squishy thing between your ears and have a think about the drivel you're posting.
What you meant to say is that YOU don't think it's good...don't try to dress that up as some standard that applies to whatever the hell you define as an "average player".
+V. Burn You speak for all gamers, do you?
+V. Burn He plays a lot of good games too though.
+Jim Sterling throwing stones out of your glass house there aren't you
Finally, a game that has good spider representation.
5:11 Literally a hand-holding tu...Toriel !
You can tell Jim's got his sincerity head on (Aunt Sally) when he doesn't name his character Chungus.
"I did accidentally kill one person."
Right. Accidentally. I believe you.
+cheezemonkeyeater I totally killed Toriel by accident, I just wanted to find a way home! I didn't know the last attack would hit her for one third of her health!
+OmgTheThing Well... you were just repeatedly stabbing her, telling yourself "sure, I'll stop when she's almost dead and try talking again".
Bitcoon
I know... Thats why I decided not to savescum it and just kept playing with my actions/choices. Made doing a second playthrough so much better.
@@OmgTheThing I totally did the same thing. Also killed Undyne, because I didn't know how to beat her otherwise
My friend randomly gave me the game and I had no prior knowledge when I first played it. Killed Toriel on my first run because I thought the game was trying to teach me that it really was "kill or be killed", but once I realized I messed up I tried to reset and got freaked out when Flowey showed that he knew that I killed someone lol.
5 years later, I decided to buy the game on Steam, and I just finished the True Pacifist run.
Easily one of my favorite games this year
This is going to be one of the biggest indy games of the year.
+Princess Luna
this was the biggest thing since shovel knight for me
it made me feel things i havent felt in a long time
I'm still early in the game. Since I'm burned out on MGSV, I should really start to focus on beating this one.
Princess Luna
This game is a masterpiece of its genre...whatever you can call this
anyway stay determined
I'm shocked that you think your opinion should be treated as fact on this game.
oh cute someone parading there opinion as fact
that or an obvious troll...as usual
YAY JIM LIKES THIS TOO! I've been playing this game on my channel and I adore it to bits! Most especially Flowey (obviously who wouldn't) but I also can't help loving all the incidental little encounters. It just oozes personality from every inch. Massive props to the dev for a beautiful construction!
Huh. This game is getting a lot more press than I expected. I'm proud to be among the first Kickstarter backers for this game, and I'm proud this is another Kickstarter miracle that turned out to be a brilliant game.
+Sam Hartman (Duster) This was kickstarted? Where'd the money go?
+De Villain Looking at the game from a game designer's perspective, there seems to have been a shit ton of work put into programming each enemy's unique attacks and mercy puzzles (like, a shiiit ton), as well as the choices being remembered throughout playthroughs. If I had to guess, I'd say most of the budget went towards paying programmers with the creator Toby Fox taking a bit as (well-earned) income for his musical talents and a small bit to the artists as well. I wouldn't say the art budget was necessarily misused, just that the game is very stylized and obviously Earthbound inspired in a lot of aspects. The simplistic graphics do a good service to the game imo, as they don't distract players from the game's other intricacies.
Notice that one of the frogs, when you see them outside battle, says "they've only seen a maximum of three frogs in this room"? But there were only two when Jim went through. When you do a complete pacifist run, there are three. Jim did kill a few monsters, though... including a frog...
+Kunori I've never actually got the third frog to show up. I think you need to never hurry dialogue up with X to make it appear.
When Jim gave this game 10/10 then this is a must play game
+Xander Beast Then you remember he gave D4 a positive review.
But not a 10/10, which is really rare
+BladeChild except D4' s great.
I agree that d4 it an aaesome game, but i was only talking about 10/10 games
This is a game that doesn't just toy with traditional RPG conventions, it actually turns some into a major plot point that gets expanded upon with additional play throughs. Undertale's brilliance lies with its humor, endearing characters, and a deceptively simple story that is far more nuanced (darker and tragic) than it appears at first glance. It's probably the best game I've played all year and I can't recommend it enough. At ten bucks it would almost be a crime to pass up.
Just gace this a shot. Retro style games like this, i have no interest in at all, (exception obviously being pokemon) but i thought i'd get this and give it a shot after less than 5 minutes of this video. I'm now up to the Skeleton brothers, it's changed the way i've played the game. Until this point i'd kill things willy-nilly FF style. But the dialogue in this is unbelievable, you really feel for the characters, the back and forth with the brothers is hilarious, and you really grow to care. The controls on the keyboard aren't my favourite but it doesn't detract from the game. After a couple of hours on this, seriously give this game a shot, as someone who usually hates games with this art style/retro thing going on for retros sake, this isn't for retroa sake. Not sure it's perfe 10, yet. But it's definitely a 9 from me.
+Dk92 I love seeing these "thought it was shit, turns out to be awesome" comments. I mean, Undertale doesn't look that fantastic at face value and the start is rather slow.
+Dk92 Love this comment. I get this "eh, not my thing" response a lot when I recommend it (or read comments about it) and it saddens me that a lot of people leave it at that and never experience the game as a result. If there's ever a list of games everyone needs to play, this should be right at the top. It deserves an honest try from anyone, because it has so much to offer, but a lot of its charm and innovation hides subtly beneath the surface. Even watching something like this Jim video about it isn't enough to show what the game's about. To really go into that would undermine what it has to offer.
+Dk92
I gotta say, you've got a pretty narrow minded view on Pixel art. I mean, you've got to realize that people who make games with pixel art aren't doing it for nostalgia sake or to cash in on some trend. They genuinely love the style.
Some pixel art can even be harder and take up more time then some other styles. Pixel art can get quite complex which means you will have to fill in every single pixel individually. That is a pain and isn't as easy as it may seem.
Also, you seem to lump in all pixel art together by saying "I usually hate games with this art style/retro thing" It seems like you're implying that there is no differing art style's when it comes to pixel art. (at least that's what i got out of that sentence) Which obviously isn't true. There is a wide ranged of variety of pixel styles.
Or you could be implying that you dislike this specific pixel style.
If so, I would have to agree.
+LETSpeakTRUTH I would imagine that's the case. To be honest, a lot of the art you see at the start of Undertale is honestly kind of lacking. It does pick up dramatically, but it doesn't do a good job of selling the game to players when it matters the most.
InfernalLawyer The art gets better, but I'd argue that part of the charm IS the bad art. In almost any other game, it would be bad art simply because there's a bad artist trying to get by on their meager skills. Undertale does a lot to shake off that vibe. I get the sense that it was a deliberate stylistic choice to make the art and animation low-quality, but it was definitely deliberate that they misused assets in pretty janky ways. When you look at some of the stuff they do later in the game, it's definitely serving a thematic purpose. And the charming awfulness of the art serves to sort of disarm the visuals, to where you wouldn't ever expect the game to do what it does.
And indeed, part of the choice could simply be because Toby wants you to have to fill in the blanks with your mind. The aesthetic is made purposefully very simple, so you have to kind of imagine what things "really" look like. And as you go through the game, you start to realize how wrong you were on some of those things. Additionally, Toby can get away with doing silly things like rotating a standing sprite to make the character "lay down". The poor quality of the visuals adds another potential layer of humor into the game's scenes.
Honestly, the game could be done with 'better' visuals, but I think it would lessen the impact of dozens of funny moments and certainly lessen the visual ties to certain narrative elements of the game. (which I'd prefer not to spoil publicly)
I thought the Witcher 3 and MGSV would be my game of the year contenders because of just how much fun and enjoyment I had out of them.
then I played Undertale and it took a piece of my heart when I finished it and I can't stop looking for it. then there's the fantastic characters, unique battle system and elder god tier soundtrack
definitely my GOTY 2015
I've noticed that a lot of people seem to be turned off by the graphics, while the people who have played the game have no problem with them. I feel like this fits into some theme about showing mercy and accepting things even if they don't seem to be appealing, but I'm too lazy for that sort of comparison.
+CrazyRiverOtter It's a shame that those types won't see how they steadily improve later on.
Literally everything about this is so dang meta.
Zhenya Zheltobriukhov Yeah. The game is actually really pretty once you get to the last areas, especially with the final boss.
***** Yep. Feels like an intentional artistic choice. Like your advancement in the game is changing the world in a literal manner.
Reminds me of this little flash game I played once called Loved, where if you obey the mysterious voice, it goes from being simple atari graphics to clearer and more colourful NES graphics. (but to get the good ending you're supposed to disobey, so taking that route makes it harder.)
I've seen that in a couple other games but can't recall the names offhand. It's a nice effect though.
(like I remember an action-rpg that would go greyer when you got hit or did nasty things to npcs)
+CrazyRiverOtter I'm a complete graphics whore and I've bought and played games just cause they're pretty. But I've never disregarded a game because of how it looks. As long as the graphics don't bother game play(i.e every character looks the same, hard to distinguish foreground items from the background etc.) then I'm open minded. That's why I legit want to smack the people who say Undertale is shit cause of how it looks.
I got the true pacifist ending on my first run of this game and Flowey guilted me from restarting. I want to play even more but it means undoing the happy ending ;__;
+Willo Wisp Now try to kill everyone.
And then rebeat the game on the pacifist run again.
+Willo Wisp Do like I did Copy your save. :D than you create a new world without restarting the old one...SOOOOOOO META!
+Dragoon-BB how would you do that?
your saves are in your appdata/local/undertale/ Their are things that someone says are saved somewhere else for certain choices you make.
+Dragoon-BB just copy the folder contents and paste them in a new folder and delete the original.
The rock got me at 14:13. I will so buy this game
***** You....cried? That makes me even more curious.
+here4frags It's immensely tempting to give clues... but I wouldn't dare spoil it. This game is a treasure~
Bitcoon
You sir, shall receive my thanks for not spoiling anything, because i still have to wait a week for my wage to come in before i can buy it :)
+here4frags You'll do well in getting this game, i don't think we will have such a beatiful odd gem of a game like this in some years.
+here4frags Make sure to go fully pacifist at first ( not kill anything ) not only the ending is great, you wont have a bad time :)
"I accidentally killed someone in my last playthrough."
*his LV was at 5*
Oh Jim...
Endgame enemies give lots of XP. I'm suspecting Metatton, considering that he's boosting you at the end of geno.
Killing Toriel gives you lvl 5 at the start of the game, so I guess he killed her on accident, like most people do at their first playthrough
Undertale is pretty great.
No its not
This is the only game I've played in many, many years where you end up hurting for and loving the last boss
Jim, you can also call Toriel and talk to her.
I don't want to spoil anything, but try romancing her and then call her "Mother".
Yes, it also has repercussions later. Nothing major, but the devs didn't forget about that option later in the game.
14:00 This is actually referenced in an earlier part of the ruins where it said that 3 out of 4 rocks like being pushed around.
#FucKonami
+Dan Yu What are you talking about?
+Apéritif 420 I flushed one out!! Get him!!
+Dan Yu Oh you...ain't you precious? Run along now and let the big people talk...just watch your language from now on, and be careful, that edge is too sharp for you.
Undertale is easily my contender for GOTY.
The soundtrack is amazing and the differing paths, twists extensive lore and secrets is crazy.
Also this is the only game to make me feel bad for doing Genocide but at the same time gave me such a thrill against the genocidal final boss that I feel conflicted.
LV 5
"I killed one thing."
I don't believe you.
At the end of geno route, one enemy boosts you several levels, despite you being past 10 at the time. So it's possible.
I really love Toriel. She's such a good character.
Man, Jim really filled me with his determination here.
Ain't nothing "playful" about the way this game plays with video game conventions when you're on the Genocide path. There were a few days after I finished that run where I sincerely wondered whether my enjoyment of video games might be permanently diminished as a result. Who knows, maybe that'll eventually turn out to have been the case. Either way, a game so skilled in what it's doing as to warp your emotional experience not only with it but with all other games as well to such an extent is an achievement that's nothing short of masterful.
Turiel is adorable. A very motherly, genuinely kindly looking person...goat...thing O_o
Turiel...Tutorial...I wonder XD
+bloodrunsclear Wasn't it Toriel? :p
Also yeah, good pun.
Popcioslav - Oh, whoops XD Turiel is the elf lady from the Hobbit movies.
That's Tauriel.
Again...whoops ^^'
+bloodrunsclear Toriel
not tauriel
not turiel
JUST toriel
SOLD! I watched this and bought it right away. This looks so good and I love the soundtrack.
tfw Jim hasn't seen the golden ending.
feels like DETERMINATION
I feel like my love of this game in spite of its awful art is a testament to how effective the game as a whole is. Not that it's all bad art, but none of it is particularly good. It hits almost every retro visual style pet peeve I have, and does so repeatedly. Sprites squash, stretch, and rotate all the time, some sprites are blatantly higher-res than others (the battle menu options for instance... and those also look pretty poorly drawn to begin with), the game uses multiple visual styles often at the same time (colored everything, but battle sprites and text-box faces are strictly black and white... except sometimes when they're not?), and they re-use assets in places that don't always make sense.
And yet, I would hardly have it any other way. I absolutely adore this game, and despite having competition that's as masterful as Ori and the Blind Forest and Bloodborne, there's no doubt in my mind that Undertale is the best game I've played this year, and probably many years. It may look like crap and break all your rules and expectations, but damn if it doesn't grow on you fast if you just give it a chance.
I honestly think that the only way someone can truly dislike Undertale is if they go into it wanting to find things they hate. Sure, not everything may be up everyone's alley, but there's just too much to like here. I'm happy to see Jim giving it a shot, because Undertale really deserves more of a spotlight. It's one of those games that I would consider "required playing" for pretty much anyone - even those who don't like the genre, gameplay or humor should give it an honest play because it masterfully does so many things that few games even try to do.
Yeah, that's all very well, Jim, but are there any skellingtons?
+Snotlingfondler Yes. You can even date a male skellington.
+Dedlok So is the androgynous child character a girl, or is it a woman's skeleton? Because, I'm all for human child x adult skellington romance as long as it's heterosexual. Otherwise this game is clearly more left wing propaganda from The Gays trying to corrupt our youth.
+Dedlok You know, I just bought it now on everyones recommendation but just hearing that makes my impulse purchase so much more right.
+Dedlok A male skellington? But I'm a guy, and not gay. I'm so emotionally stunted, that something like that actually bothers me enough to send a message to the developer. (seriously, Jim tweeted about it...some guy was just THAT insecure).
It boggles my mind to see people so weird as to complain about not being able to relate to a female character in a game...especially if there's a love story element to the game. You're playing a character, and you understand that people can fall in love...how exactly can't you relate to that character again?
Some really weird people out there man. Sorry, didn't mean to turn this comment into a whole ramble.
+Sly Goat Your joking but there actually are gay couples in the game.
First time in a while I've been grossed out at a Jim intro. Damn son
Reminds me of OFF. Have you Played OFF jim?
+Marquis Forneus same here, made me wonder if it was the same creator
+Queen Chrysalis No Undertale is a game by Toby Fox.
Gumba Masta
ah ok, the style seemed quite close, hence the confusion.
+ReddehWow Well Toby Fox does music. Music is his doing. That be done by him.
+ReddehWow I was going to jump on that comment, but then the Napstablook music kicked in, and I got what you mean.
Thank you for this.
+chris c I would HIGHLY suggest you do a full (like, not the half and half deal you're doing in that video) pacifist run before going ham on a biscuit full genocide!
Also by "genocide", people don't just mean "kill all bosses" or "kill all enemies you meet", I hope you know that.
It's a very deliberate, kinda fucked up process that you need to keep up in a conscious effort.
You have to work for it, even more so than for the full pacifist path.
+chris c And thank *GOD* for Jim!
+chris c So basically just kill off only a single enemy type every time you meet them? That's messed up. Do they react to you as you come across them, just getting immediately scared?
Paul Dennett
No, systematically farm an area until no more random encounters appear, then proceed to the next boss, farm, proceed, rinse, repeat.
That's how to get the worst possible ending.
If you don't farm to completion or spare someone, it turns back into a neutral run.
And yes, things change. A lot.
+Paul Dennett I'll say this much - the characters do indeed react to your murder-spree, and in a very real way.
To everyone who wants to watch this without fear of spoilers, there is a free demo that plays the first chapter of the game. I'd advise you try it before anything else.
Honest reply here:
Game really did seem like something so simple yet done with so much thought and brevity.
That is until you start playing. Tipping point was going to the first actual door.
The Music.. is literally perfect. The atmosphere is perfect. Actually getting goosebumps at how much it feels like a true event. Feelings you usually only ever get in a movie or series you've fallen in love with. That this is possible with only a few minutes into the game...
10/10
Thanks Jim, this would have gone under my radar.
Well, at least one of my regularly watched youtubers acknowledged it's existence (or release). That's a good thing.
I'm a bit concerned that it undeservedly goes under the radar.
+V. Burn Well, Dodger did. Lets be hpnest, 90% of the games she talks about sound pretty much the same.
V. Burn No fair. I didn't even notice that the most recent co optional was out yet.
Plus Vinnie of Vinesauce started playing it. Lovely!
+Darrus Dreadtiger Vinnie's playing it? Awesome, he was one of the first I thought of when it comes to playing the game on TH-cam. Undertale's one of those great games that's great fun to watch, and even experiencing it beginning to end isn't enough to sate your desire to buy and play it.
Bitcoon Actually I screwed that up. Seems like it's Joel. Still. Good video, that.
Darrus Dreadtiger Enjoyed watching the first two parts. Looking forward to skeleton dating with Joel!
I will avenge you papyrus
*murders something*
Your love increased!
. . .
The game is giving me mixed messages.
If you're watching this without knowledge of the game, and you think you might like the game, or want to try it: Stop the video now.
Buy the game immediately and play it. The more blind you play through the better. (Even if you're one of the minority groups who finds the game boring, before two hours in you can refund it, anyway). I WILL SAY, THOUGH, the game's puzzles are rather lackluster, with a couple of exceptions.
I'd also give it a 10/10, I have two or three issues with it, once is a typo which looks un-ironic, the other(s) I can't remember.
Your player character looks like a Simpsons character.
+Dr Shaym The art is a bit off and it's a bit short, but other than that it's a fantastic game.
+Dr Shaym wait'll you see Dr. Alphys
+LvLupXD If the game was any longer, it'd probably overstay its welcome on multiple playthroughs.
A few years later, we're playing Ni no kuni 2, and a male Lisa Simpson familiar shows up.
I'd love to see it on the 3DS too, but Gamemaker doesn't support 3DS export. :(
To be fair Jim, I wouldn't want to eat fruit that was just shat on.
One of my favorite gaming experiences ever. I only wish I hadn't looked anything up beforehand, but knowing what I needed to know to ease my concerns was what eventually got me to play it. As soon as Flowey says at the start "It's kill or be killed," I wanted to prove him wrong and I felt like I had to succeed in doing so; I couldn't bear doing otherwise and that's what I respect about the game.
Omg! You actually called yourself Jim in the game instead of Chungus?!?!
I don't like exaggeration, yet this is one of the best RPGs I've ever played on any platform. The amount of care and effort put into this game is astonishing, and I came away from it feeling better than any game had managed to make me feel.
I'm with Sterling here, it's a wonderful title through and through.
Hey Jim, shoot a tweet at TotalBiscuit and get him to do a WTF or 15min of Game video on this. It's wonderful and needs more exposure.
+Stormy Blue Miata Ah, I remember slowbeef talking about how he rec commended this game to him, and he was iffy about playing it because it only runs at 30 FPS, no joke.
+Isaacian It's no surprise. TB cares less about games and more about specs.
NaotaInka That's not true. His videos cover everything, and that includes the quality of the port. He's a consumer advocate and believes just because we choose to play on PC that we should not suffer from an inferior experience.
I don't understand how people continually fight against someone who is legitimately trying to inform you on every aspect of a game's quality and letting YOU decide which parts of it are relevant to making a purchase.
I am both colorblind and get motion sickness from games with low FPS, so he is actually saving me money by being one of the only game critics to actually cover this stuff. For others (you) that may not matter, so they won't factor it into their purchasing decision.
Isn't it enough to just focus on what's important to you rather than chastising him for including information that is also important to others? Apparently not.
Started playing this on your recommendation. It's as good as you say. I haven't laughed out loud that consistently while playing a game in a while. I love the skeleton bros! ^_^
I have seen the Genocide run and it is horrifying.
I'm a little late watching this but I just love it when Jim gets passionate about something that doesn't upset him. It's kinda like seeing a kid with a new toy that he's explaining to all his friends if that makes any sense.
strong Earthbound feeling from this
I'm not sure if you still read the comments to this video, but thank you so much for recommending this. Maybe it's bad to say, but I'm not a huge game person. I've always loved movies far more, and only one game before this had achieved the same feelings movies give me.
This week however, two games have reached this level. The Beginner's Guide and Undertale. I know all mediums are equal, all are capable of art, but these two games are the first to feel like art to me, personally. It was giving me something that only games could and movies could not. Thank you for leading the path to widening my mind.
LV 5?
Killed ONE person my big blubbery and poundable ass.
It might be possible... I think a couple of the bosses drop a lot of EXP if you manage to defeat them at LV 1.
I won't say who, but suffice to say the pacifist solution for some of the encounters isn't always immediately obvious. I wouldn't be surprised most people who played this blind with no spoilers ended up making at least one "mistake". Then again, is it really a mistake if, as an observer, you expect it to happen?
Be good, won't you?
My child.
This is the one game I think we'd all want to see Jim play, and one of the few games he'd oblige us with a playthrough of.
The true final sequence of the game is probably some of the most powerful music, story telling, and imagery I've ever seen in any video game ever.
I'll give $10 to anyone who can find a flaw.
+TheIncognitusMe Okay.
The game drags on a bit at around the Hotlands area. Plus some of the puzzle elements are used once or twice and then thrown away almost instantly.
I'll be expecting my Monopoly$10 in the mail.
+InfernalLawyer Which puzzle elements are used only once? And how is that a flaw exactly?
+TheIncognitusMe There's the lily flower puzzle for one. The first instance is less of a puzzle and more of a "please display your ability to read the instructional signpost", and then it's immediately ditched after the next puzzle.
Still, I suppose one could argue that it's better than shoving in unnecessary padding to increase game time.
InfernalLawyer A flaw is something that hurts the game's quality. One-time puzzles is okay. You know?
+TheIncognitusMe to be fair I think there is a weak point, but it'll vary between players. Some dislike waterfall and some dislike hotlands, others dislike the neutral route and how easy it is to end up on it, others dislike the way the feeling from the ruins is absent for most of the game, others dislike the extremely limited and stylistic art. But that's just a testament to the masterpiece it is - it's so close to greatness that really you have to start nitpicking or be particularly rankled by some specific moment to consider it lacking.
I think it's *amazing* that Jim's championing little games like _Undertale_.
You can just tell how much he's in love with this game. Kinda cute, to be honest.
I love the fact that
(NO KILL SPOILER WARNING)
Flowey wants you to avoid killing anyone, because he needs all their souls for himself to become his original self. And also become God and KILL everyone.
The true pacifist ending made the difference between Undertale being a really great game, and being possibly the greatest game I've ever played.
It struck my feels in all the right places.
now that I've finally finished my first undertale run (11 h Marathon, Pacifist, finished a few minutes ago) I can finally watch this video.
and good God I'm so happy? that this game is a thing that exists. I've been laughing, I've been in pain, I've been full out sobbing when playing this game. it's hands down one of the best games I've ever played, and I don't say that lightly.
The music does admittedly do a whole lot, Toby Fox is utterly amazing in that regard. Considering that he made a lot of music for Homestuck makes it extra amusing for me, because I can recognise his music and also see that he does get some inspiration for character designs from there.
All in all, best dog petting simulator I've ever played, and I really want goatmum to become my mother.
I almost beat the game today
I went for the neutral ending.
And got stuck at the final boss, 'cause I am out of healing items and money. I also can't get a random encounter (probably due to judgement already being past).
Any advice on what to do? Or do I just go Dark Souls style and bash my head against a wall until I master the QTEs so well, I'll just magically beat him?
+vcom741 You should be able to go back to the Core for encounters even after judgement, I had to.
Morrigan Doerner Thanks. I'll check it later.
+vcom741 How did you manage that?
There is a glamburger and 100g in the 2 trash bins in the core, did you collect that yet?
If not, get those, buy some bisycles from the money and you should be good to go.
+vcom741 Do the Piano puzzle.
Get Dog Residue.
tEM ShOP!!!
just die 7 times to asgore and something will happen. atleast that's what i heard, never needed such baby help.
Thank you, jim! I got this game on whim when it came out, beat it, and have been urging everyone I know to try it, and now you have produce substance to support this amazing game!
if you dont like this game, its honestly your loss
Well now... the QTE things do put me off a bit from a mechanics perspective... but that nitpick aside, I can certainly see glimpses of the cleverness, understated whimsy and hidden edge you speak of even in this brief look. While I might not end up playing it myself, it's always nice to see another really good game out there that I can respect the hell out of.
This game is beyond perfect.
This game is a giant middle finger to everything made since the dawn of gaming. It's...the standing RPG that I will judge all future "Story" driven games by. And, in my own personal opinion, Chrono Trigger doesn't come close to comparing to Undertale. Undertale does more to your look on life in an hour and thirty minutes than an entire series of games can try to do.
Strange, is it? I honestly don't think so. Undertale is the story of when Man becomes the Monster's monster.
You're a human child that falls down into the banished realm of the monsters. Every single thing you decide to do affects the lives of everyone around you. But not just them. How you are represented within this, too.
It's hard to really talk about the story, as, amazingly enough, the internet unanimously avoids spoiling the game. I will continue that gesture by not furthering your knowledge of the game. Instead, I will talk about what first caught my attention about this game.
The combat system.
You have "Fight"___"Act"___"Items"___"Mercy"___ at your disposal. Your fight option mechanic consists of timed button presses to do more damage than you should.
Items is self explanatory.
Act...and Mercy...
They are your non-combatant routes of dealing with foes. You can, in a strange idea, stop a monster from attacking you by telling a joke, stealing their hat, or getting close to a tsundere plane...but not too close.
You can choose to spare your foe, or flee altogether with Mercy. When a monster no longer wishes to fight, they will be able to be spared.
Although...You're not forced to stand still and take damage, unlike in most other RPGs. In the Mario RPG style, you're able to do actions to avoid ALL attacks. You can go through this entire game without being touched, although that'd take ridiculous amount of skill...Instead, you dodge attacks via bullet hell style. For those of us who have played games like Touhou and the sort will be in their zone. Although, the game is able to teach players who haven't played them (or like them) on a perfect difficulty ramp.
One of my favorite things about games are bossfights.
My opinion on Undertale's bossfights? Absolutely perfect. Each boss brings an entirely new dimension that is explained by subtle hints that the player WILL undertstand quickly. All of the bosses in the game deserve high, high amounts of praise, but there's a particular one that puts Touhou bosses at their very knees in comparing. I wish I could mention it here, but if I do, "you're going to have a bad time."
This is also the only game I've given 300% of my ****s given for the characters. Every single one of them I cared for, cried for, cheered for, and was pissed off at (in a emotional way.)
The game time is all over the place for people. Some people complete their first run in six hours, some in fourteen.
The music is godlike. Beyond the levels of talent of those like ZUN and Two Steps From Hell. These songs are not "Song Walls Of Heroes" that you'd hear. Every single track in the game is built more for the moments, and play right when it's needed. There's over 100 songs that are unique, and none overstay their welcome.
The humor of the game is just as perfect as the rest of the game, but I won't spoil them here.
Not only this, but the game is aware of itself. It knows your actions, beyond multiple playthroughs.
I highly reccomend this game to the highest degree. It's the first game to be "Perfect."
As highly opinionated as that word is, that word is fact for this game.
If I was forced to choose experiencing any game, and that'd be the final game I'd ever get to play, I'd be perfectly alright with this being the finale of games that I'd ever play.
If you pirate this game, you're beyond cruel. For 10 US $, it's much cheaper than a AAA 60$ "experience."
Many morals will be learned.
You will learn to live.
You will know pain.
You will know sadness.
You will know happiness, beyond the walls of the game.
Is it even a game anymore? No. It isn't. It's the finale. Perfection.
After doing a passive playthrough in this game i can say never have i finished a game and felt so happy/relaxed before
Jim, you gave Binding of Isaac Rebirth 9/10 and Undertale 10/10? WTF, mate? Enough is enough. I'm telling my mum on you, you posh chungus-pigsnout-chaperone!
I bought this right after reading your review and I am so glad I did. It's already one of my favorite RPGs of all time.
I honestly don't think I can get over the fucking awful art style. Don't get me wrong I'm not one to think that graphics are the defining factor in a game, but holy shit this game looks like a kindergartner designed the characters and environments. Usually in most cases I can overlook visually unappealing things and still enjoy a game, but this one looks like the contents of a daycare's art class trash can.
+Kyle Reynolds could be style choice, make it look retro, game looks a lot like EarthBound
+Kyle Reynolds Same here. At this point I'm completely fed up with this retro bullshit. I understand it's cheap, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Computers and consoles are getting more and more powerful, while games are degenerating into this 8-bit mess.
+kyotheman69 How can you compare this to Earthbound? The art in Earthbound had character and detail. I don't mind older looking games. I even admire older games for their design. This game is honestly so visually horrible that it's distracting and not even worth playing.
+Kyle Reynolds Earthbound was visually horrible.
+FastFlyerJr I think you're talking about mother or earthbound beginnings
Great to see you highlighting the good rather than just the bad. Hope to see more of a balance. This looks a great game.
I'm sorry, Jim, but I disagree with you about this game. From what I see, this is nothing but a poor man's version of Eartbound but breaking the fourth wall a little more than its predecessor. Those "jabs" it takes about video game tropes are so dated and are delivered in such a patronizing way that it looks pretentious, like it's so far up its ass that feels free to break the fourth wall only because the game thinks its more inteligent than thou by doing so. Yeah, because no other game EVER had explored the nature of morals or how you behave while playing a video game.
But, like I said, I only know about this game what you've shown in this video. I dunno if I'm wrong or if I'm right and certainly I don't care either, but watching you praise a game that constantly nags you while thinks so high on itself made me cringe quite a lot.
+MrSpecter91 The Earthbound comparison is a common and obvious one, but honestly I think people need to get over Earthbound. This game is basically a modern Earthbound, and at this point I think Earthbound is becoming somewhat outdated. Yes it's charming and wonderful but it's also somewhat grindy and the game drags on quite a bit. Undertale takes the Earthbound formula and redefines it with more modern tropes and game mechanics. It's an easier game to get into and I really don't see how you can find this game dated when pretty much everything in here can be appreciated on it's own merit, which makes it more timeless. Of course, not everyone will find this game to their liking because writing and sense of humor is always subjective, but I think your opinion is a minority. Also remember that this video barely scratches the surface of the game and you should at least give the free demo a try before totally dismissing it.
+MrSpecter91 Yeah, you haven't seen anything yet. The truly interesting stuff starts happening once you reach the first boss, Napstablook being a mini-boss. And then it just keeps on going.
+MrSpecter91 A poor man's version of a 21 year old game?
+MrSpecter91 Hold on, so you've seen 20 minutes of random gameplay for a game on youtube without playing it but you still feel entitled to talk crap about it, blatantly disingeniously oversimplify it, make assumptions, and complain that it totally sucks?
God, I'm glad Jim's the one doing videos here and not you. If your major complaint is that the game is full of itself, maybe you should at least check if this is actually true?
+MrSpecter91 It gets much better at the end of the Ruins level. Much, MUCH better.
Jim talked a little about this game last week on Podquisition. I am happy that he did a Squirty Play of it.
Thank you for covering this, it never survived the initial glance I gave it, mistaken for a low quality effort.
Funny how things change. This gem used to be one of the most underrated games out back in September, and now it's just blown up here on TH-cam. In the last month or so, it's been picked up by Jim, Dunkey, Tom Fawkes, NicoB, Cry, Manly, Minx, Solowolf, Dexter, jacksepticeye, Markiplier, Game Grumps, 2 Best Fr-
It's big, I think you get the idea.
so happy you made a video of this one! honestly i'd love to see you play more games you really enjoy.
I love that you mentioned Earthbound because that's exactly what I got from the aesthetic and the sheer quirkiness of it all. I thought of it right away.
14:16 This part is made so much better by the sign near the very first rock you encounter that says, "3 out of 4 rocks recommend you push them." The fucking sense of humour in this game is phenomenal.
Been playing this game on my channel, it's absolutely amazing and I love it and I love you for making a video about it. All the feels.
Seriously this is a 10/10 Game Of The Year without a doubt.
When people stop playing it, I can guarantee that it will become one of the classics.
This game will be up there on the shelf with the other greats.
Thank you, Jim! Thanks to you and the gameplay displaying the game, I decided to buy it and go on a full Pacifist run.
Now, if you'll excuse me, my heart is still crying inside in how beautiful this game was. Like, damn, so much love & effort was put into this!
The random encounter battle music is amazing! I love it! :D
This reminds me so much of Earthbound, which has been one of my fave games since 94. I hope it does come to the 3DS so I can actually play it
The concept of talking your way out of fights and befriending monsters reminds me alot of the game "Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne." Where you can talk to the demons and get them to join your party. If they don't join you, you can wait till the right moment where they become unreasonable and crazy then you might to get them to inadvertently join you.
I quite regret doing that but in my first (and as of now, only) playthrough, I sometimes killed enemies out of convenience (because it took way longer to spare them and I was running out of HP). Apart from that, I spared everything I could but the feeling of being way underleveled enticed me to kill a few. Also, I didn't know all bosses were spareable because they just didn't seem to react to my actions, which may be because I've already killed too many monsters before.
The battle system graphics is like old Commodore 64 8-bit style. 05:15 Aw, that's one of those holding your hand moments.
The fact that Jim is at a loss for words at its magnificently clever design means that this is a game DEFINITELY worth buying.
Wishlist'd.
This game is my GOTY everything about this game appeals to me in every aspect. There is so much attention to detail that if you actually wait in the main room she does end up calling you back.
What you said about the character mocked you for killing another and resetting to save them, that happened to me, probably in the same place. That was such an impactful moment for me..... This game has had more of an emotional effect on me than anything I've played in years, if ever.
Well...Atleast your not going to have a bad time right?
7:14 Who knew that three years later we’re still finding new things?
i stopped at 54 seconds because, in that time, you had convinced me I just want to play this game. Thanks Jim!
I loved watching Dodger play this on twitch. really creative game.