Info about Undertale:

Official game description:
Welcome to UNDERTALE. In this RPG, you control a human who falls underground into the world of monsters. Now you must find your way out... or stay trapped forever.  
_((Healthy Dog's Warning: Game contains imagery that may be harmful to players with photosensitive epilepsy or similar condition.))_
features:
---------
*   Killing is unnecessary: negotiate out of danger using the unique battle system.  
*   Time your attacks for extra damage, then dodge enemy attacks in a style reminiscent of top-down shooters.  
*   Original art and soundtrack brimming with personality.  
*   Soulful, character-rich story with an emphasis on humor.  
*   Created mostly by one person.  
*   Become friends with all of the bosses!  
*   At least 5 dogs.  
*   You can date a skeleton.  
*   Hmmm... now there are 6 dogs...?  
*   Maybe you won't want to date the skeleton.  
*   I thought I found a 7th dog, but it was actually just the 3rd dog.  
*   If you play this game, can you count the dogs for me...? I'm not good at it.

Release date: Sep 15, 2015

Categories: Role-Playing Game, Bullet Hell, Choice-based Narrative, Story-driven Gameplay, Multiple Endings, Fourth-Wall Breaking, Turn-based Combat

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: The analysis of user reviews indicates that the game is generally perceived as providing good value for its price. There are no strong indications of predatory monetization practices such as pay-to-win mechanics, aggressive microtransactions, or confusing currency bundles. The mentions of DLC and purchasing decisions do not suggest any unfair or aggressive monetization strategies. Overall, the game is seen as a worthwhile purchase without significant complaints about monetization.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the need for external data to understand game mechanics, quests, and farming methods. Many users feel that the game is not fully enjoyable or understandable without referring to guides or wikis. This reliance on external data impacts the user experience significantly, as it interrupts the flow of the game and requires additional effort to fully grasp the game's content and mechanics.
- Proton/Linux: score 15; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally has good compatibility with Linux, with several users reporting positive experiences. However, there are some specific issues related to multimonitor setups and keyboard controls that need attention. The native Linux support is a significant advantage, contributing to the overall positive experience for Linux users.
- Steam Deck: score 60; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for Undertale on the Steam Deck reveals several significant issues impacting the user experience. Key problems include lack of controller support, issues with the save system, performance limitations, and stability issues such as crashes and glitches. These issues are critical as they directly affect gameplay and user satisfaction. However, there is also positive feedback regarding the game's unique experience and smooth performance on the Steam Deck, indicating that while there are notable problems, the game still offers a compelling experience for many users.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with lower-end systems experiencing major issues while higher-end systems show mixed results.
  - Sample size: 252 (0% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM (negative, 126 reports): Players report severe FPS drops after a short period of gameplay.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (positive, 45 reports): The game runs well on this hardware configuration.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM (negative, 9 reports): Players experience very low FPS, making the game unplayable.
  - Caveats: 252 of 61215 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $2.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users consistently mention Undertale being worth its price, especially when purchased on sale. Many users highlight the game's value, often stating it is worth every penny and more. The frequent mentions of the game being a masterpiece and worth the investment, even at full price, suggest a strong community sentiment that Undertale provides excellent value for money. The game's engaging story, unique gameplay, and emotional impact are repeatedly praised, reinforcing the perception of its high value.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: 7.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 10.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime and completion of different routes in Undertale. The first quote mentions being 'glued to the screen for HOURS,' indicating a significant session length. The second quote provides a specific total playtime of 'over 40 hours' to achieve the True Pacifist ending, which suggests a comprehensive playthrough including extensive interaction with NPCs. The third quote mentions beating the entire game and unlocking two endings, implying a thorough completion of the main story and additional content. The fourth quote mentions beating all three endings, indicating a full game completion.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Undertale often starts as boring but becomes addictive and fun once players progress past the initial stages, particularly the 'Ruins' section.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Progressing past the initial stages, particularly the 'ruins' section.
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Initial slow or boring sections, particularly the 'Ruins'; Repetitive gameplay; Excessive dialogue
  - Unlock drivers: Progressing past the initial stages; Enjoying the music; Appreciating the story and characters
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Enjoying the music; Appreciating the story and characters; Playing in Spanish or other languages with tutorials
- Player Archetypes:
  - Emotional Story-Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Emotional engagement and story immersion
    - Playstyle: Immersive and exploratory, focusing on narrative and character development.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Story enthusiast; Emotional gamer
    - Reference games: Celeste; Hollow Knight; Stardew Valley
  - Enthusiastic Recommender (buy)
    - Motivation: Sharing a beloved game with others
    - Playstyle: Comprehensive and patient, enjoying all aspects of the game.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Game enthusiast; Patient gamer
    - Reference games: Celeste; Hollow Knight
  - Challenge-Seeking Advocate (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of challenging gameplay and deep storytelling
    - Playstyle: Persistent and exploratory, tackling difficult gameplay and appreciating story depth.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Challenge seeker; Story appreciator
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Celeste
  - Casual Story Enjoyer (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of a good story and characters
    - Playstyle: Casual and narrative-focused, enjoying the game for its story and characters without delving too deep into mechanics.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Casual gamer; Story lover
    - Reference games: To the Moon; Night in the Woods


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Emotional impact and story (weight 0.31): The story and characters have a significant emotional impact on players. Many describe it as an emotional rollercoaster with long-term effects.
- Memorable and well-developed characters (weight 0.29): Characters are praised for being charismatic, memorable, and well-written. Players appreciate the depth and development of the characters throughout the game.
- Highly praised game quality (weight 0.27): The game is frequently described as great, well-written, and a masterpiece. Players recommend it for its high quality, enjoyable gameplay, and excellent mechanics and story.
- Unique combat and gameplay (weight 0.22): The game features a unique combat system and original gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the creative and challenging combat that sets it apart from other games.
- Amazing soundtrack (weight 0.17): The soundtrack is frequently highlighted as one of the game's strongest features. Players describe it as amazing, unforgettable, and atmospheric.
- Engaging and replayable gameplay (weight 0.17): The gameplay is engaging, intelligent, and offers high replayability. Players enjoy the interactive and challenging mechanics.
- Beautiful visuals and art style (weight 0.12): The game features beautiful scenery, graphics, and a unique pixel art style. Players appreciate the high-quality art design and picturesque moments.
- Multiple endings (weight 0.1): The game offers multiple endings based on player choices, adding to its replayability and depth.
- Enjoyable and meaningful dialogues (weight 0.07): The dialogues in the game are enjoyable, thought-provoking, and often humorous. Players find them profound and meaningful.

Common complaints:
- Lack of language translations (weight 0.16): The game lacks translations for several languages, notably Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. Players have expressed frustration over the absence of these translations despite the game's popularity and sufficient funds.
- Mixed feedback on Sans fight (weight 0.1): Opinions on the Sans fight are divided; some players find it too easy, while others find it extremely difficult and frustrating. This inconsistency in difficulty perception has led to varied player experiences.
- Control scheme limitations (weight 0.08): Players have criticized the game's control scheme, noting that it only allows for arrow key controls and not WASD. Additionally, the controls are described as unusual and not well-suited for keyboard play.
- Frustrating game mechanics (weight 0.08): Players have expressed frustration with the game's mechanics and certain segments of the gameplay. These issues have detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game for some players.
- Poor graphics quality (weight 0.06): The game's graphics are criticized for being weak, outdated, and poorly designed. Players have noted that the visuals could be significantly improved.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.05): The gameplay has been criticized for becoming repetitive and unengaging over time. This repetitiveness has been a common complaint among players.
- Issues with Flowey (weight 0.05): Flowey's behavior and actions in the game have been problematic for some players, including causing game crashes. Additionally, some players find Flowey's character to be scary.
- Emotional difficulty with genocide route (weight 0.05): The genocide route is intentionally designed to be emotionally challenging, which has been a point of contention for some players. This route can evoke strong negative feelings.
- Humor and pacing issues (weight 0.05): Some players have noted that the game's humor and pacing do not always land well. The jokes and overall pacing may not resonate with everyone.
- High game difficulty (weight 0.04): The game is noted for its challenging difficulty, which some players find to be excessively hard. This high difficulty level has been a point of frustration for some.
- Short game runtime (weight 0.03): Despite its short runtime, the game is rich in impact. However, some players have noted that the game's length is relatively short.
- Unclear story elements (weight 0.03): Some players have found the game's story to be unclear and confusing. The narrative elements do not always make sense to all players.
- Frequent random encounters (weight 0.03): Random encounters in the game interrupt gameplay frequently, which has been a source of frustration for some players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Choices impact story and endings (weight 0.32): The game features a choice-driven narrative where player decisions significantly affect the story, characters, and outcomes. This includes multiple endings and varying storylines based on player actions.
- Unique combat mechanics (weight 0.24): The game combines turn-based RPG elements with bullet-hell combat mechanics. This hybrid system requires players to make strategic choices and engage in dynamic battles.
- Multiple game routes (weight 0.23): There are several distinct routes players can take, including Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide paths. Each route offers different storylines, challenges, and endings.
- Balanced and enjoyable gameplay (weight 0.15): The gameplay is described as easy and enjoyable, with a balanced difficulty level. It includes puzzles, battles, and an interactive storyline.
- Retro-styled RPG with exploration (weight 0.09): The game features a retro pixel-art aesthetic and involves exploring different areas, interacting with characters, and uncovering secrets.
- Fourth-wall breaking elements (weight 0.05): The game includes unique elements where characters break the fourth wall, adding a distinctive and innovative touch to the gameplay experience.
- Minimal grinding required (weight 0.04): The game is noted for having little to no grinding, making the gameplay experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Performance notes:
- Good performance on low-end hardware (weight 0.1): The game runs well on low-end and old PCs, maintaining good performance and even achieving 60 FPS on older computers.
- Game crashes and freezing (weight 0.05): The game has stability issues, with reports of it crashing, closing by itself, and freezing during battles.
- 30 FPS issue (weight 0.02): Some players experience issues with the game running at 30 FPS, which affects the overall gaming experience.
- Screen tearing reported (weight 0.02): There are reports of screen tearing, which can detract from the visual experience of the game.
- Aspect ratio issues (weight 0.02): Players have noted issues with the game's aspect ratio, specifically mentioning problems with the 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Sarcastic comment about system requirements (weight 0.02): A sarcastic comment suggesting that if you can run paint, you can run the game, indicating very low system requirements.

Recommendations:
- Unique and profound experience (weight 0.14): The game is highly praised for its unique and emotionally impactful experience, combining innovative gameplay with a deep story.
- Highly recommended despite challenges (weight 0.08): The game is highly recommended by many players, even though it presents significant challenges.
- Recommend playing DELTARUNE (weight 0.07): Players recommend DELTARUNE, especially for those who enjoyed UNDERTALE, indicating a strong connection between the two games.
- Worth the price (weight 0.04): Players find the game worth purchasing at its current price point, suggesting good value for money.
- Avoid spoilers (weight 0.04): Players advise avoiding spoilers to maintain the game's emotional and narrative impact.
- Use headphones for best experience (weight 0.03): Players recommend using headphones to enhance the audio experience of the game.
- Play blind for better experience (weight 0.03): Playing the game without prior research or knowledge is recommended for a better experience.
- Highly recommended RPG (weight 0.02): The game is recommended as a must-play RPG, indicating its strong role-playing elements.
- Requires patience and time (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those who have a lot of patience and time to invest in it.
- Engage fully with dialogue (weight 0.02): Players suggest reading every possible dialogue to fully immerse in the game's story and characters.
- Learn combat mechanics (weight 0.02): Understanding and mastering the combat mechanics is advised for a better gameplay experience.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.02): Some players suggest waiting for a sale to purchase the game, indicating price sensitivity.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Joy (weight 0.51): Players experience joy due to the game's engaging dialogues, memorable characters, and emotional depth. The combination of humor, unique storytelling, and a beautifully written narrative, along with an incredible soundtrack, creates a deeply enjoyable and immersive experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.16): The game's engaging boss fights, unique gameplay routes, and multiple endings generate excitement. The tense atmosphere, innovative combat system, and the anticipation of challenging battles, such as the one with Sans, contribute to this thrilling experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.15): Players feel nostalgia due to personal memories associated with the game, often tied to childhood or significant life periods. The game's music, story, and characters evoke these sentimental feelings, making it a memorable experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.11): Frustration arises from the game's high difficulty, especially in boss fights and specific routes like the genocide route. Technical issues, lack of translations, and complex dialogues also contribute to this emotion.
- Admiration (weight 0.09): Players admire the game's innovative gameplay, deep storytelling, and charismatic characters. The game's cultural impact, unique combat system, and the developer's effort and passion are also highly regarded.
- Gratitude (weight 0.07): Gratitude is expressed for the game's life-changing experiences and its impact on personal growth. Players appreciate the emotional depth, philosophical themes, and the positive influence the game has had on their lives.
- Sadness (weight 0.07): The game's impactful story and emotional themes evoke sadness. Players feel deeply affected by the character arcs, endings, and the overall narrative, leading to a strong emotional response.
- Love (weight 0.07): Players love the game for its deep emotional connections to characters and story. The engaging narrative, memorable characters, and outstanding soundtrack create a profound appreciation and affection for the game.
- Disappointment (weight 0.04): Disappointment stems from the lack of translations and unmet expectations regarding the game's story, graphics, and humor. Some players feel let down by the overall experience and specific aspects of the gameplay.
- Inspiration (weight 0.04): The game inspires players through its themes of compassion, love, and deep storytelling. The music and moral messages motivate players and influence their outlook on life and creative pursuits.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction comes from completing challenging parts of the game, such as difficult boss fights and achieving specific endings. The overall quality and emotional impact of the game contribute to a fulfilling experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoy the game for its fun gameplay, engaging story, and memorable music. The unique mechanics, humorous elements, and overall positive experience contribute to this enjoyment.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise is evoked by unexpected twists and the depth of the game's narrative. The game's ability to exceed expectations and reveal dark or hidden elements adds to this sense of surprise.
- Awe (weight 0.02): The game's rich story, emotional impact, and outstanding music create a sense of awe. Players are amazed by the depth of storytelling and the emotional resonance of the game.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is triggered by poor translation quality and the developer's perceived indifference towards fans. Technical issues and the game's difficulty also contribute to feelings of frustration and anger.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Happiness is derived from the enjoyable gameplay, humorous content, and positive memories associated with the game. The unique mechanics, engaging story, and delightful music enhance this emotion.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from the game's humorous tone and funny interactions. Players find the game's mechanics and character behaviors entertaining and amusing.
- Reflection (weight 0.01): The game's thought-provoking themes and impactful narrative encourage reflection. Players contemplate the game's commentary on violence, player choices, and emotional depth.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is felt for the game's masterful storytelling, emotional impact, and innovative combat system. The meaningful character interactions and impactful lessons contribute to a deep sense of appreciation.}