This entry is designed ONLY for people who completed both True Pacifist and Genocide routes already.

This entry, at once, might be rigged with personal opinions, but maybe you'll agree with them if you endure long enough to finish reading the entry x) Keyword "IF".

I don't really follow Indie games. Most of them are straightforward terrible and poorly thought out. But sometimes, when something flows on the surface of the ocean, it might be worth fishing it out. Sure, there are people who say that Undertale is overrated. But considering the position in which you've heard next to nothing about it, except that it's supposedly great, how can this status even bother you? You have a game in front of yourself that's probably good and a chance to get to know it by yourself. And so, I've tried Undertale.

I can't say the story is terribly intricate, as it could have been so much more. At once, though, it's important to mention that the entire team behind building this game consisted barely of handful of people, with one person doing vast majority of the work. There's certain charm in its simplicity though, and it serves mainly as a background for building characters' personalities and unique world they live in.
It's the monsters and characters (along with some unexpected mechanics), compiled with really atmospheric and catchy music (anybody who fought Sans would know why the tune differs so much from all the others, I recon) that make Undertale what it is. And what it is exactly? A charming, heartwarming game aimed at playing with your emotions a bit lot and lighten up your day (that is, until you decide to go on a murderous rampage and try the genocide way).

As mentioned above, what belongs to Undertale's strong points, is its music and characters. I'm not going to talk about music this time, as it doesn't give the same vibe unless playing the game (True Pacifist "The End" screen, anyone? How much time you've spent there just staring at it and listening to "Memories"?). But I'd love to share some of my thoughts on characters appearing, in order of their appearance I hope. Leggo!

True Pacifist:

Flowey - "That son of a ..." you'd like to say. True, Flowey is supposed to represent all the evil imaginable. And so I perceived him for majority of the True Pacifist route, but even then I considered him to be a well-made villain in terms of game's world. It was only during the endgame phase when I've absolutely switched my mind about him.

Toriel - she could have been so much more in my eyes. There's no way not to think of Toriel as of mother. I cannot imagine if there would be anyone who, at one point, wouldn't actually use the cell phone to call her mom. But I considered her... weak. Out of place even. She wanted to stop Asgore's plan, but she instead stayed in the underground. Even though it was enough for her to simply appear to have a giant impact on Asgore's behavior instantly. She could have done so much more if she only didn't hide away after what happened in the past. And it cannot be said that she was afraid or didn't have guts, as in order to stop Asgore she was willing to trap herself and the character underground in theory forever.
Alas, her destiny was different. She was used as a tool. A tool to show you that you can actually screw up in this game, and it can hurt you a lot if you do not think through all of your actions. I quickly realized that I don't have to kill Toriel to proceed, it just took me a moment to figure out the solution. But killing her would serve a valuable lesson to everyone who did so... ...and talked to Sans and Asgore for example by the end.

Sans - probably fan's favorite. In true pacifist, he was a very nice support character. Observant, true to his personality, always lazy skelington who does everything by doing nothing... and it usually works. Of course, a prankster and quirky commentator. I can't say I went crazy about his character, but his placement in the game was top-notch. The fact he appeared everywhere at once made me think, at one point, that he was Asgore himself actually.

Papyrus - Papyrus... had a certain charm to his character. His born-in naivety, self-centered approach and an attitude of not having a single care in the world (except of his dream) pushed me away from him at first. But I guess he grew on me once it turned out that he's basically nearly the most important supportive character in the game. Always there to help, always bringing positive attitude with himself wherever he appeared. He was created purely for neutral and true pacifist endings, as he appears throughout the entire game. However, he played his role perfectly in my eyes. From the start, where he was your first "greater" enemy, through various in-game moments like befriending Undyne and Alphys, until the very end where it was actually HIM who placed the last piece of the puzzle for Flowey to be reborn.

Undyne - my second favorite, definitely. A character that's probably the most true to her personality... violent, aggressive, proud and extremely courageous. But at once caring, friendly and cheerful. But I find it hard to believe that Undyne played a MAJOR role in the entire game. Of course, she was important and lack of her character would be vastly detrimental to the story and game itself, but in the end she was mainly used as a character who either set certain events in motion, either served as a great source of information about lore and others. Like her story about how she met Asgore, why she can't allow Papyrus to join the guard or simply the letter to Alphys.

Alphys - I initially despised the geek, but in the end I'm neutral towards her. She's probably the most important character in the game story-wise, after all. It was HER who gave life to Flowey. If someone carefully remembered details they've encountered in the game, one of the books in Snowdin library explained how monsters are buried. Their dust was usually buried with their favorite thing in life. As it happens to be, Asriel's was a golden flower. After Alphys injected DETERMINATION into that very flower, filled with Asriel's essence, she awakened him. None of this would have happened if she did not agree to be a scientist in Asgore's name and perform these experiments for him. Therefore yes, I've grown to respect Alphys a lot as a very important story character.

Mettaton - okay. Oh, my God. This is a character that's basically an icon of this game. Sure, he did not really play any major role in the game's story, but his character and backstory was something like an icing on a cake. I'm pretty sure 80-90% of people's reactions when first meeting him amounted for something akin to "...wtf did I just witness?" " NO REALLY " "GUYS?!" Besides, let's admit it: He was the most charismatic character in the game. Fabulous, even. And he was a STAR. Yep, that's good enough with me. Then again, even he had its limits what was shown during his fight, when he was tired of Alphys pretending to be a hero and actually decided to finally test you by himself.

Asgore - there's not much I can say about this one. We all know his role, he was supposed to be your ultimate target. I can agree with everything that's been said about him. Whether it was said by Toriel, Undyne or Sans, I don't really care. A giant wimp with a big heart, but at once weak and despicable due to his fear and willingness to remain at peace at all costs, even if it meant entirety of monster race to suffer. Toriel nailed my thoughts on him in an instant. "If he only wanted, he could take one soul, travel through barrier, get all the souls needed and then destroy it. But instead he remained there, hoping nobody ever would come again and he wouldn't have to kill."

Amalgamates - why am I mentioning them, you'll ask? Because the true laboratory section was a giant, unexpected by me plot twist. It suddenly turned out that there's been a dark secret hidden throughout this entire time, and tons, tons of question I've had were answered in that location. The most important ones being: "What is Alphys actually doing...?", "Can I know a bit more about Asriel, please?", and most importantly "Why is Flower so different than all other monsters?"

Finally... (this part contains info from Genocide route as well)

Asriel Dreemurr - this is the character that I appreciated the most in the entire game. Why? Because not only he pieces everything together, but he actually forces you to THINK. Think A LOT. If you actually cease focusing on just mindlessly reading everything he's saying to learn the ending, or battling him just to win, there are a lot of minor details that Undertale was giving you hints about that can make you feel emotional. Although, I have to admit, to fully appreciate his character one MUST complete the Genocide route as well, only after meeting him first though. Then, once you actually attempt to put yourself in Asriel's skin... Let me quote Sans on this: "You cannot imagine how it feels". - trying to comprehend the full spectrum of despair and desperation through which Asriel must have gone from the moment Chara fell down to the Underground is just a fool's act. He saw that Chara's intentions were evil, however they were brothers. He lost his brother later, and when he voluntarily agreed to fulfill Chara's dying wish, he was betrayed. Chara's attempt to take over the power they possessed cost Asriel his life. Then, later, Alphys revived him, but he remained soulless. At first he fought, he struggled to remain his true self. His power was simply unbelievable and he was able to do anything he wanted, but the fact he couldn't love or feel compassion simply destroyed and broke him, turning him into the Flowey we get to know first. And then, after so much time has passed, once he finally regained the capability to love and feel compassion after being reborn, it turns out he acquired them only for one day, maybe few hours. Maybe less, even. I felt it was absolutely justified from him not to let go off that power and defeat you at all costs, after all this time he had suffered.

Now, a bit of food for your thoughts: Was Flowey REALLY soulless? As game stated, monster souls are too weak to survive once the vessel they're contained in breaks, their body in other words. However, human souls are powerful enough to remain prevail through the power of determination, what was their weakness. Asriel said that in order to fulfill Chara's dying wish he merged their souls together. But what happened after he died? I do not believe that Flowey, after he was given life again, was soulless. Quite the contrary. What I believe happened was Chara's soul sustaining Asriel's soul's life. Once Flowey was brought to life, Chara's soul was simply the stronger one this time, it hollowed out and destroyed Asriel and took control over him. And only after absorbing all other souls, which were filled with positive feelings only, was Asriel able to overcome Chara's soul and return to his normal self finally.
This is only a theory, however it fits into the True Pacifist route in my eyes.

Although I yet have to discover how to explain the Genocide one... the only solution with this would be, as Chara states himself, that he is being reborn through player's actions. So maybe he just transfers his essence onto player from Flowey/Asriel...? This is confusing in this regard, because Flowey from the very start perceives you as Chara, the only friend who ever understood him.

I guess that's something that'll require a few more playthroughs from me to figure out.
Cheers! And comment! D: