OST of the Day #48: Undertale - Home 🏡

taco.cat (67)in #game • 5 years ago (edited)

Hey Steemit!

OSTs are really underrated but they're so good, so I thought I'd share a song a day and my thoughts about it! I highly recommend listening while reading! 😊

So if you haven't caught my last couple of posts, this month I'm writing about love-related songs! It's an interesting challenge, because you wouldn't normally associate video game songs with love, but you'd be surprised! And even though Valentine's Day is over, we should still show our appreciation for those we love.

Anyway, the song I want to share today is from a game called Undertale!

Source: wallpaperabyss

I've actually written about 2 songs from this game already, but the soundtrack (and game) is so incredible, and it was one of the first few games I thought of when I decided to do this challenge.

Just to recap, Undertale is an RPG created by American indie developer Toby Fox. You control a child who has fallen into the Underground; a large, secluded region under the surface of the Earth, separated by a magic barrier.

Source: steamcommunity

The player meets various monsters during a quest to return to the surface, mainly through the combat system; where you navigate through mini-bullet hell attacks by the opponent, and can opt to pacify or subdue monsters in order to spare them instead of killing them. These choices affect the game, with the dialogue, characters, and story changing based on your actions.

And what a story it is! There are 3 main endings to the game; Pacifist (if you spare everyone), Genocide (if you kill everyone), and Neutral (which is somewhere in the middle).

Even though I'm not really into bullet hell games, I absolutely love Undertale. The story and characters really sold it for me, and the soundtrack is phenomenal!

When I thought of love-related songs, this was one of the top songs that came to mind:

Just to give some context, this song plays in the house you come across in the Ruins - the first area you explore in the game, after falling down into the Underground.

Toriel, the second character you meet in-game, takes you through the Ruins, which have various puzzles that impede your progress. There are also some enemies about, which you can either kill or spare.

Source: ign.com

Toriel refers to the player as "my child", and acts as a protective mother as she guides you through the Ruins. She's affectionately known as 'goat mom' to the Undertale fandom.

After getting through the Ruins, you eventually end up in Toriel's house, where she invites you to live with her and shows you to one of the bedrooms.

Source: lparchive.org

In my first playthrough (which was incomplete), I loved Toriel's character so much and I couldn't bear to break her heart by leaving. Even though I couldn't progress through the game, I felt happy in that Home (also I couldn't get past the fight with her because she was really tough!).

Source: genius

This is one of my favourite songs in the game. The acoustic guitar is so mellow and relaxing. The melody is a really nice-sounding tune, and the lower pitched harmony is so soothing. It's only one instrument, and doesn't have any fancy bells and whistles, but I think it really matches with Toriel's house. It's just a simple cottage consisting of mostly primary colours, and your room is pretty basic; with just a bed, cupboard and dresser. It's not much, but it's pretty cozy and comfortable.

Source: pngkit.com

When I played the game and got to this part, I imagined myself in a house just like that with this song playing. It was really nice and calming, I didn't want to leave! It's no wonder I couldn't finish my first playthrough. 😅

But anyway, I thought this song was so apt for the love theme of this month because of Toriel. She's so kind-hearted and loving, willing to care for a strange child she found suddenly. It might be due to her wanting so badly to become a mother but still. And when you persistently tell her that you want to leave, she employs tough love and battles you but never kills you. Instead, she stops the battle and lets you go.

Source: undertale.fandom.com

She's a true mom; showering you with unconditional love and support; really demonstrating a mother's love right at the end before you leave. I know some people will say it's just a game, but that scene where she hugs you and walks away made me tear up.

And this cover by Adrisaurus (with her own lyrics!) did too:

Toby Fox did a remarkable job with this game; the story, the characters, the visuals and the music are all so amazing. He really deserves all the success Undertale has gotten.

If you haven't played it yet and you're into bullet hell games, definitely give it a shot!

Thanks for reading!