You have probably heard of a little $10 Steam game called Undertale that came out around September of 2015. Coming out of seemingly nowhere, this game exploded in popularity and received widespread recognition. For those who have played it, and especially those who haven't, you might be wondering how exactly this indie game became so popular so fast. While I could talk endlessly about how amazing Undertale is, I feel it really boils down to one main reason: the creator Toby Fox perfectly understands the mind of the gamer.
Undertale (Video Game) Relationships. There's actually a whole story behind the painting and why it was painted but I unfortunately don't know were it came. It makes sense he'd be studying those forces, given that the story of Undertale came about due to characters (the player included) with time-warping abilities called 'save' and 'load.' (Yes, that's.
Choices and Consequences
The main premise of Undertale's gameplay is that you can choose to kill some Monsters, kill every Monster, or spare every Monster. The element of choice has always been a major draw of video games. Unlike other media, you have control over what the character does and this perception of control only increases when your choices have consequences.
The choices you make in Undertale have a dramatic impact on how the game plays out since you can kill main characters and minor characters alike. Other Monsters take note of who is gone and this loss can be felt throughout the game depending on who you killed. With such a complex spare/kill system in place, who you choose to fight or spare can result in one of at least fifteen neutral endings, the True Pacifist Ending, or the No Mercy Ending (aka Genocide Ending). The latter two are definitely the main draw of the game and display the most awareness of gamer psychology.
True Pacifist
What Is The Story Behind Undertale
A True Pacifist run means that no Monsters are killed throughout your game. For the most part, people who play this way naturally are those who are less inclined to ingame violence and more likely to care about the characters. Toby Fox rewards players who choose this route with a cast of unique, interesting characters. Choosing to spare and befriend main characters unlocks special events in which you can hang out with/date the Monsters in question. These dates are some of the best moments in the game and are a great reward for having mercy.
The Pacifist Run makes you feel like you have made great friends who care about you and want to help you as much as you help them. The ending to this run is phenomenal and emotionally fulfilling considering the bond many players develop with these characters, creating a powerful experience for the players who genuinely wanted to play nice.
No Mercy
By far the hardest ending to achieve, a No Mercy run forces the player to actively murder every Monster in each area until they are told that there is no one left. It is tedious and gruelling, but like the Pacifist Run it reveals a lot of interesting information about the story behind Undertale. The game becomes bleak and lonely as Monsters flee from your murderous rampage; the creator knowing that players who choose this route are only interested in the result of killing each character rather than the characters themselves.
Undertale Story Book
Where Toby Fox's understanding of gamer psychology really shines is through the player's interactions with certain characters who are aware of the player's intentions. One character even goes as far as to say that the you are choosing to do a No Mercy run because you can. And because you can, you have to. With the completionist mindset many gamers have, these words ring true. While I cannot bear to kill these characters, I know many other people who have given into this very impulse, playing through this route simply because the game gives them the choice to do so.
What Is The Story Behind Undertale
Undertale is an experience that is difficult to fully capture in words, but it is one I would highly recommend. Whatever you are looking for in a video game, Undertale has it all, and its understanding of the way people think while playing video games will no doubt help it create a lasting impression in any player's mind.
