Boss Battles in Undertale - More Than Just an Obstacle

I’ve spent the past few weeks reading everything I can about Undertale; its secrets and lore, various analyses and interpretations of its story and mechanics, and of course, reviews. And one thing I’ve noticed mentioned frequently in the reviews or fan gushes of the game, is that a lot of them have trouble pointing out the one thing that makes Undertale great. They can’t summarize and simplify the magic of Undertale into one core concept, and I find this very interesting. It got me thinking, if I had to pick one thing, one core thing about Undertale that makes it so special and unique…what would that be?

I thought about this a lot, and I have to admit, the more I think about it, the more I understand the struggles of others, because well…I can’t think of an answer! There’s really no one simple thing Undertale does to make it special, it’s well…everything it does! It’s the way it constantly surprises you with great fun dialogue, an emphasis on exploring the mechanics and characters through choice, a unique battle system, the music, a fresh air of simplicity, there’s a lot that Undertale does to make it special.

But then I thought, if I can’t say “what” makes Undertale special, maybe I can say “when” Undertale feels special; the moments in which Undertale really shines, and explore why that is. And after mulling on this question, I think I can come up with a sufficient answer. The moments in which Undertale really shines, I would say, is during the boss battles.

The Message of Undertale

Warning: The following analysis contains spoilers for the story of Undertale. Do not read this if you have not completed Undertale to its full true ending.

I’ve already done an analysis of what Undertale taught me, and while thinking about it, I can think of another thought I gained from this experience; something that I feel is the main and core theme of the tale of Undertale. And that little message was, well, simply put, that we’re all human, and that there are no monsters deserving of pain and violence.

What I Learned From Undertale

My favorite works of art have always been those which have the greatest effect on me. Those that change the way I look at things, put thoughts in my head that haven’t been there before, and cause me to reevaluate myself and how I interact with the world. It is the main reason why I feel My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic will forever be my favorite piece of art, simply because it changed me more than any story has yet to, and perhaps ever will.

And I think this is core to what makes Undertale such a beautiful work of art. It’s effected and changed people in so many ways, that it can’t help but be an experience to cherish. I may do an analysis of why it’s able to do this so well and what makes art “memorable” to us, but that’s for another analysis. No, for my first write up of Undertale, I’d like to get super personal, and simply talk of…how Undertale affected me, and what new thoughts it gave me.

Note: The following contains very minor spoilers, including gameplay mechanics and battle set ups. With how little it is, it should be fine to read if you have not played Undertale.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Analyzing Themes - On Your Marks

The concept of change has always been something that most cartoon shows have struggled to embrace. Many television shows in general prefer to stick to a set structure and keep it for their whole duration. They use the same characters, same conflicts and climaxes, same worlds, etc. This is appealing in part because it is easier to write and create stories with, but another appeal of it is the safety and security that comes from this familiarity. There’s always a familiar setting to return to, a familiar story, and familiar faces and friends. It offers a comforting place to retreat to whenever things feel uncertain, and it wouldn’t be hard to imagine this as a large part of its appeal.

Despite this, there have been a lot of recent cartoons that are taking the gamble and creating shows with change. Characters that change, worlds that change, and stories that change, it’s slowly becoming more and more common. Cartoons such as Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and its sequel The Legend of Korra show a shift in cartoon storytelling, with a greater degree of change being present. And they aren’t the only ones, there is another show that’s embracing this theme of change, and in nowhere is this more apparent than in the episode of On Your Marks from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.