Undertale

Can't wait for Deltarune!

This game is a wonderful twist on RPGs and shmups alike, with a compelling narrative behind it. Having bought it on a whim originally, not having read or heard about it online, I had no idea of all the negative criticism it (in my opinion) undeservedly gets. The one thing I can concede is that even for a retro-styled game, most of the graphics are rather simple, which constrasts with the amount of work that went into other aspects of the game (such as its amazing soundtrack). However, having beaten the game multiple times by now, it's clear to me from some of the visual effects towards the very end, that this was very much an aesthetic choice. If you disagree with this choice, then my advice would be to simply move on. My one annoyance with this game is that controller support (which becomes very useful as the bosses increase in difficulty) is only natively available on Windows.

definitely one of my favorites.

A console game with fixed save points. And random enemy encounters. And a tiring ever repeating evasion mini-game. All fighting amounts to an agility mini-game in a small square where you have to evade various sequences of enemy missiles. The mini-game is clearly joystick oriented and very awkward with the arrow keys on a PC keyboard. For instance, you have to move a heart icon along a circle inside the square while you are being followed by a squadron of rockets. Moving (fast) along a circle with arrow keys ... just try it. As a consequence, a lot of dying and repeating again and again the same sequence of puzzles from the last save point to arive at the point of the your last fight. The rest of the game are (mostly simple) puzzles and a lot of reading supposedly humorous teletype text.

Undertale is a game with great pacing. It moves from juicy story and puzzle bits seamlessly, while filling the interim with a creative "battle" system that serves as a narrative mechanic. In short, this game is streamlined to present. I thoroughly enjoy the choices and characters Toby has put into the game. He seemed to have a vision of whimsy and heart, a real fantasy landscape, that he wanted to share with others. He did it, and we get to glimpse Toby's character throughout. Writing a review about a game often forces you to examine reused mechanics and gimmicks, whatever makes the 'game' special. I'm happy when I find a 'game' that is an expressive art form. Approachable, deliberate. Designed to be played and understood. Undertale is one of these experiences. Enjoy.