It's Critter Time!

Guess it's been ten years since UNDERTALE dropped.

I feel lucky to have played it around launch and kept up with DELTARUNE as it released. Not like "I got in on the ground floor", more that it gave me the experience of seeing live some cross-section of the development of another person's art and self-expression. It feels like it's given me some sort of tools of how to approach my own like, experiences and feelings and creative aspirations. It feels like I got to stick my hands inside someone's skull and ribcage and now maybe I can reach my own one day.

That it also happened to kick major fucking ass is a bonus.

Toby posted a neat little form where you can share your feelings about it and draw yourself if you want. Here's what I wrote.

But yeah, I don't know. I'm not even that crazy about the game. I definitely didn't make a goat monster OC that's not a knock-off of Asriel in any way because I didn't know who the hell I was anymore when I detransitioned basically right around that time. I certainly haven't cried over and over again thinking about Susie or Ralsei or Kris or Noelle and how overwhelmed and scared and powerless you can feel as a child. And [chapter 4 and also Harrow the Ninth spoilers]

I guess this is technically the megathread lololol.

I've yet to play Deltarune past chapter 1 when it first came out, I need to get on it

And I'm in the camp of "Undertale was a truly excellent game, but nothing formative or truly life changing"
However, for what it represents, being a story that can only truly be experienced as a game and how something doesn't have to be perfect or overly complex to be amazing and appreciated it deserves all the praise and respect it has garnered

Here's my additions to the form (Ah the curse of two heads limiting canvas space)

I played Undertale in January 2016 and it became my main obsession for the rest of that year. It truly is a masterpiece in characterisation, genre deconstruction, humour, soundtrack, and emotional payoff. There were times where I had to stop playing for a few days because of how overwhelming it got. It truly is beautiful how you meet these quirky characters, who all have their own problems (guilt, poor self-esteem, anger, inability to let go, wanting to be liked) and ultimately save them through your actions. What's really impressive is how it does all this when pretty much all you do is traverse along a linear path, play bullet hell, and solve simple puzzles.

My favourite character was Alphys because I had a scientific background and was dealing with lots of anxiety at the time. Never started the Bad Time route (which of course you're not really supposed to do anyway) and I still have my original completed save file stored on an old laptop where Frisk and their friends can happily live.

When Deltarune Chapter 1 dropped, I remember being mostly confused about how exactly it connected to Undertale (is it a sequel? An alternative universe/timeline?) and whether the sequel would be as good without being derivative (the Dark World section has an almost identical structure to Undertale, for example). Then I watched a friend's playthrough and suddenly realised how everything connects together, how heavily the chapter's ending is foreshadowed, and how Susie has an entire character arc. Chapter 2 really was the moment where Deltarune established its own identity and became more than simply "Undertale 2" (Sidenote: the fact that Toby thought that everyone would hate Spamton, one of the most legendary characters he's created, is astonishing).

Admittedly, I still haven't played Chapter 3/4 of Deltarune yet, but it's at the top of my To Play list. Sadly, I just don't have as much time to play video games any more and I keep getting distracted with other responsibilities. I'll come back to this thread when I eventually get round to it.

I'm excited for both of y'all to get to play more Deltarune! Cool icons, too! I just did a little sketch for mine but I was happy with how it turned out.

I didn't jump on chapters 3 and 4 right away; I think I waited about a week or so because I wasn't quite in the mood for it at launch. I think they (like most games I guess) benefit from not trying to force it. But I hope y'all get to play it sooner rather than later if for no other reason than to avoid spoilers.

I wanted to hold off on chapters 3 and 4 at first but I caved and bought them on release day lol. I don't regret it at all, both chapters are a stellar experience. I'm usually not into RPGs at all so I never thought I would enjoy Deltarune as much as I do.

I guess I'm an odd case in that I played Deltarune first and that motivated me to try Undertale rather than the other way around. Undertale is a very good game but I don't see myself replaying it other than to complete genocide route (my first playthrough was true pacifist). I would definitely reccommend it to anyone who likes Deltarune, though.

Undertale and Deltarune are two of my favorite games. Through the Undertale fandom I eventually met my lovely partners! No regrets!

Big 3+4 spoilers in the tag below.

Raven wrote: Mon Jul 28, 2025 9:58 pm Big 3+4 spoilers in the tag below.

Hidden text.

So can we agree that Dess is the Knight right? Or at least some shattered, corrupted version of her? It lines up so well. The bat at the start of the fight, the antlers, the aura. It makes so much sense.

More ch3+4 spoilers below

for the age I am undertale was a like... formative piece of furry media for me. the goats got my goat idk man. undertale was already one of my favorite games of all time, and with the release of the new chapters ive been coming to terms with the fact that the execution so far is on all fronts better than undertale, and i could have a new entry in my list of favorite games ever. the storytelling, and writing are so much more detailed, and mature in deltarune, im very excited because it seems like theyre going deeper into deconstructing our relationship with games, and even fictional characters themselves.

chapter 3+4 spoiler talk

Kinda sorta Deltarune Chapter 4 spoilers?

I remember not being interested in Undertale when it came out and spoiling myself on everything, only to miraculously forget EVERYTHING when I gave it a proper try some time after, so I basically went in unspoiled.
Long story short, I am about a month after beating Chapters 3 + 4 of Deltarune having bawled my eyes out, cheered and felt the hype and it feels like my first time finishing Undertale all over again. I even responded to the Undertale form that Toby put up!

Chapters 3 + 4 spoilers:

FearRanger wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:41 am Chapters 3 + 4 spoilers:

Hidden text.

Not only do I think Dess is The Knight, I believe Kris might've had a soul BEFORE our involvement that they gave up for Dess.

Jelly wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:54 am

FearRanger wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:41 am Chapters 3 + 4 spoilers:

Hidden text.

Not only do I think Dess is The Knight, I believe Kris might've had a soul BEFORE our involvement that they gave up for Dess.

Hidden text.

the birdcage kris keeps definitely suggests to me this isn't the first time they've dealt with a capital s Soul, and the heart imagery lurking around the holiday estate, particularly piled up in dess's closet, is pretty conspicuous yeah

giantplant wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 6:45 pm

Jelly wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:54 am

FearRanger wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:41 am Chapters 3 + 4 spoilers:

Hidden text.

Not only do I think Dess is The Knight, I believe Kris might've had a soul BEFORE our involvement that they gave up for Dess.

Hidden text.

the birdcage kris keeps definitely suggests to me this isn't the first time they've dealt with a capital s Soul, and the heart imagery lurking around the holiday estate, particularly piled up in dess's closet, is pretty conspicuous yeah

Hidden text.

I find it interesting that Noelle says her mum is really into "red heart-shaped objects" when we know that human souls come in many colours. Red souls aren't unique either, since both Frisk and Chara have red souls. Do red souls have some unique ability?

FearRanger wrote: Wed Aug 20, 2025 7:16 am

giantplant wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 6:45 pm

Jelly wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:54 am

Hidden text.

the birdcage kris keeps definitely suggests to me this isn't the first time they've dealt with a capital s Soul, and the heart imagery lurking around the holiday estate, particularly piled up in dess's closet, is pretty conspicuous yeah

Hidden text.

I find it interesting that Noelle says her mum is really into "red heart-shaped objects" when we know that human souls come in many colours. Red souls aren't unique either, since both Frisk and Chara have red souls. Do red souls have some unique ability?

Hidden text.

AFAIK even though humans can contain greater levels of Determination in general, red souls are explicitly classified as Determination compared to other soul colours. Could be that red souls are the most potent source of Determination?

you know what guys ive been thinking about it more and im throwing a wrench into the knight discussion
you're all free to change my mind

Araphel wrote: Fri Aug 29, 2025 1:13 am you know what guys ive been thinking about it more and im throwing a wrench into the knight discussion

Hidden text.

ive become god damn convinced rudi (noelle's dad) is the knight... when susie gets aggro around him he literally says "careful i might kick ur ass later" with a lil wink and nod. the knight can enter the light world... contact kris. it would give narrative purpose to rudi's sickness, and create a cool twist. i think dess is the voice in the code. i identify with dessknight stuff but how can she be "lost" if shes right fucking there??!!!?! and i just find soul splitting nonsense to be overly convuluted.

you're all free to change my mind

The 10th anniversary stream has been fun to watch. It's at https://twitch.tv/fangamer and'll be on YouTube tonight.

The memories that have been getting shown off are nice. I am glad they put in a few normal/funny ones amongst all the emotional stories.

The 10th anniversary reminds me I need to actually play UT

"DO what the fuck do you mean and how haven't you???"

Well you see I had zero idea what it was and then around it's official release Tumblr users, back when it was WAY more blasé about spoilers, basically told me some major events to the point that I know key aspects of the game's ending and mechanics. It put me off it 'cus it had the associated memory of just "well gee, thanks. I'm glad you love this game but..."

Didn't ask for it! Left me pretty bitter for a while. I'm getting more indifferent to those feelings now but, it's still lurking in the back of my head.

It's kind of why I made sure as soon as DeltaRune dropped I played it immediately, internet is better than it was but I just did not trust the internet to lose it's collective mind again.

Anyway listen to Queen's mixtape

DarkOverord wrote: Mon Sep 22, 2025 3:02 am The 10th anniversary reminds me I need to actually play UT

"DO what the fuck do you mean and how haven't you???"

Well you see I had zero idea what it was and then around it's official release Tumblr users, back when it was WAY more blasé about spoilers, basically told me some major events to the point that I know key aspects of the game's ending and mechanics. It put me off it 'cus it had the associated memory of just "well gee, thanks. I'm glad you love this game but..."

Didn't ask for it! Left me pretty bitter for a while. I'm getting more indifferent to those feelings now but, it's still lurking in the back of my head.

It's kind of why I made sure as soon as DeltaRune dropped I played it immediately, internet is better than it was but I just did not trust the internet to lose it's collective mind again.

Anyway listen to Queen's mixtape

If you're interested in it you should play Undertale even if you know the major plot points. I can guarantee you the game will still find ways to surprise you.

giantplant wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 11:50 am If you're interested in it you should play Undertale even if you know the major plot points. I can guarantee you the game will still find ways to surprise you.

Yeah a lot of it admittedly has been waiting for my negative feelings to subside about the everything that led to it.

It might be a 2026 DO thing