How Undertale Was Made and Why its Success Scared The Creator

Summary

This transcript explores the creation of Undertale, an innovative RPG by Toby Fox, who handled writing, programming, and music. Inspired by Earthbound, Toby aimed to challenge conventional RPG mechanics, allowing players to spare or befriend enemies rather than kill them. The development process involved personal reflections on gameplay tropes and a desire for emotional storytelling. Undertale's unique combat system combines turn-based mechanics with bullet hell elements, making it accessible yet engaging. Released in 2015, it quickly gained a cult following and significant commercial success, leading to Toby's subsequent project, Deltarune, which he hopes will inspire future developers.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Undertale was inspired by the idea of addressing the consequences of violence in RPGs, encouraging players to spare rather than kill monsters.
• 👾 Toby Fox, the game's sole developer, believed in a small team to maintain a focused vision, leading to a cohesive game design.
• 📖 The game's narrative and characters were heavily influenced by Earthbound, which shaped Toby's early gaming experiences.
• 🛠️ Toby used GameMaker to create Undertale, experimenting with a text-based combat system that allowed for meaningful interactions with enemies.
• 🤖 Every monster in Undertale is designed to feel unique, contrasting with traditional RPGs where enemies often lack distinct personalities.
• 🎶 Toby composed the entire soundtrack himself, with themes tailored to individual characters, enhancing emotional engagement.
• 📅 After its 2015 release, Undertale sold over a million copies, gaining a cult following and critical acclaim for its innovative approach.
• 🕹️ The game subverted RPG conventions, such as fetch quests and backtracking, to create a more engaging gameplay experience.
• 💔 Toby experienced stress and pressure due to Undertale's popularity, initially feeling overwhelmed by the attention it received.
• 🔮 Deltarune, Toby's follow-up project, is set in a different universe with a singular ending, reflecting his growth as a developer.

Q & A

What inspired Toby Fox to create Undertale?

Toby Fox was inspired by the idea of addressing the consequences of killing monsters in RPGs, along with his early experiences playing Earthbound, which left a lasting impression on him.

How did Toby Fox's background in music influence Undertale?

Toby, being a musician, composed the entire soundtrack for Undertale himself, with each main character having their own theme song, drawing inspiration from SNES RPG music and other influences.

What makes Undertale's combat system unique?

Undertale features a text-based combat system where players can choose to spare or kill enemies, emphasizing dialogue and player choice, inspired by mechanics from games like Shin Megami Tensei and bullet hell shooters.

What role does the character Toriel play in Undertale?

Toriel serves as a guide and protector for the player early in the game, intentionally depicted as an overprotective mother to comment on the trope of tutorial characters in modern games.

How did Toby Fox approach character design and development?

Toby aimed to make each monster feel like an individual rather than just generic enemies, inspired by his desire for meaningful interactions rather than typical RPG mechanics.

What was the outcome of Undertale's Kickstarter campaign?

The Kickstarter campaign for Undertale, which sought $5,000, ended up raising over $50,000, allowing Toby to expand his vision for the game significantly.

Why did Toby Fox want to challenge traditional RPG mechanics?

Toby was tired of conventional JRPGs and wanted to create an RPG that engaged players in new ways, integrating storytelling with gameplay and avoiding common tropes like fetch quests.

What were some influences on Undertale's writing and story?

Toby drew from various sources, including the unsettling themes of Earthbound, internet culture, and comedic elements from shows like Mr. Bean, blending them into a unique narrative.

What is the significance of the character Flowey?

Flowey's character design includes unsettling elements, such as a voice clip from a McDonald's commercial, which Toby adjusted to create a more disturbing effect, enhancing the game's eerie atmosphere.

What are Toby Fox's feelings about Undertale's unexpected success?

While initially overwhelmed and stressed by Undertale's popularity, Toby ultimately expressed gratitude for the attention, recognizing it allowed him to support others and continue his career as a developer.