The Moronic Morality of Undertale (ft. The Pope)

Summary

In this imaginative and humorous transcript, Pope Francis engages in a discussion with Harry Gold about the indie game Undertale, focusing on its moral themes and gameplay mechanics. They explore the game's unique approach to non-violent conflict resolution, the humor that initially deterred Harry, and the concept of 'ludo-narrative dissonance.' The conversation touches on the game's narrative critique of violence in gaming, while also acknowledging its own moralizing tone and the challenges it presents to players.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pope Francis, in a humorous twist, is depicted as an avid video game player and host of a podcast discussing games.
• 🎮 The conversation centers around the indie game 'Undertale', focusing on its unique approach to morality in gaming.
• 🎁 Pope Francis received 'Undertale' as a gift from Matthew Patrick of The Game Theorists, sparking his interest in the game's moral themes.
• 🤔 The discussion explores the game's 'no kill' mechanic, which challenges traditional video game norms where combat is often necessary.
• 😅 There's a shared appreciation for the humor in 'Undertale', which initially was perceived differently by Harry Gold.
• 🎶 Both the Pope and Harry Gold praise the game's music, dialogue, and characterization, highlighting its artistic merits.
• 🤓 The conversation delves into 'Ludo-Narrative Dissonance', where the game's mechanics clash with its narrative.
• 🤔 The ethical dilemma of self-defense in 'Undertale' is questioned, as the game's narrative doesn't align with the player's need to defend themselves.
• 🎭 The script satirically addresses the Pope's views on gaming, providing a playful and thought-provoking take on the intersection of faith and entertainment.
• 🔍 The dialogue scrutinizes the game's moral stance, suggesting it is at times hypocritical and overly simplistic in its portrayal of violence.

Q & A

Who is Pope Francis discussing the game Undertale with in the script?

Pope Francis is discussing the game Undertale with Harry Gold in the script.

What is the Popecast, as mentioned in the script?

The Popecast is described as the Vatican's number one interview show where Pope Francis discusses various topics, including video games.

What gift did Matthew Patrick of The Game Theorists give to Pope Francis?

Matthew Patrick gave Pope Francis a copy of the 2015 indie game Undertale.

What other video game does Pope Francis mention playing in the script?

Pope Francis mentions playing Animal Crossing in the script.

What is the issue Harry Gold initially had with Undertale's humor as described in the script?

Harry Gold initially had an issue with Undertale's humor because it was portrayed to him as pretentious and smug, similar to 'alternative comedy'.

How does Harry Gold describe the initial impression of Undertale's moral stance?

Harry Gold describes the initial impression of Undertale's moral stance as sanctimonious and high-handed, making it seem like it's looking down on other games and players.

What is the concept of 'Ludo-Narrative Dissonance' as discussed in the script?

Ludo-Narrative Dissonance is when the gameplay elements of a video game do not align with the narrative elements, creating a clash between what is happening in the game and the story being told.

What is the main criticism Harry Gold has about Undertale's portrayal of violence in the script?

Harry Gold criticizes Undertale for its portrayal of violence by suggesting that the game's narrative does not justify the player's actions when they are forced to fight back against enemies, yet the game treats the player as if they are the aggressor.

What is the significance of the 'LV' and 'XP' in Undertale as mentioned in the script?

In Undertale, 'LV' stands for 'level of violence' and 'XP' stands for 'execution points', which is a commentary on the game's theme of non-violence and the traditional role of these terms in video games.

How does Pope Francis relate the concept of violence in Undertale to a biblical verse?

Pope Francis relates the concept of violence in Undertale to the biblical verse Matthew 5:39, which suggests turning the other cheek when struck, to illustrate the game's theme of non-violence.

What is the outcome of the discussion between Pope Francis and Harry Gold regarding Undertale's narrative and gameplay?

The outcome of the discussion is that while Harry Gold appreciates Undertale for its humor, story, and characters, he finds the ethical undercurrent and the dissonance between the narrative and gameplay to be problematic.