Why ‘Undertale’ Would Make a Great Television Show

There are many aspects of Undertale that make it such a wonderful and memorable video game. From catchy theme songs to eccentric dialogue and slapstick humor, this game deserves every bit of love that it receives from its fanbase even today. Fans may recall the unique combat system specifically designed for this game alone or the witty remarks between Sans and Papyrus. There are even hundreds of thousands of fan animations and songs featuring Toby Fox’s characters. But what if the game was adapted into a television show? Transferring video games to the big screen is not uncommon in today’s film industry, but it’s less common to see them develop into a show to watch from home. Here is why Undertale would make a great television show. 

The Music is a Bop 

It goes without saying that the Undertale soundtrack is a masterpiece. The 16-bit music is simplistic yet captivating and produces a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of those classic Megaman or The Legend of Zelda games. Moreover, they add another layer of depth to the characters. Sometimes, they can even change depending on the player’s choices throughout the game. Who can forget the quirky, nonchalant theme of Sans or perhaps the overly dramatic melody when fighting Undyne? Or what about the cleverly written menu theme song that shifts to other variations as the player progresses through the game? It is because of these music tracks that the game has become so memorable. 

A television show with this same atmosphere and thought process would certainly be a hit. For most shows, there is the expectation that the first scene will have typical orchestral music. But what if this show opens with its classic 16-bit soundtrack instead? It would almost emulate the experience of opening a shiny new video game (a shiny retro-esque game, that is). Imagine the first episode opens with a scene where Alphys and Undyne are at the Grillby’s pub, enjoying a nice hamburger while a jaunty jazz theme (entitled “Sans”) plays overhead. Or, how about one where Napstablook goes to some kind of ghost party, and the “Ghost Fight” theme plays in the background? This music style would undoubtedly immerse viewers in a world that feels fresh and nostalgic. It would set the tone that this show is not afraid to break conventional norms, much like the game did. Additionally, as the hypothetical show progresses, the music could evolve, almost mirroring player agency and character arcs throughout the game. 

Unique Combat Sequences 

If Undertale can be defined by one thing, it is the combat system. Unlike most video games that implement first-person mechanics, cinematic fight sequences, or turn-based modes, Undertale frames its combat differently. Instead, the combat functions much like Geometry Dash, where the players’ survival depends on their reaction times. What is also interesting is that instead of showing an avatar character, the player is represented simply by a small 16-bit heart icon boxed in a white border. Perhaps the best part about this combat system, though, is that it offers creative battles that cannot be replicated elsewhere in other video game styles. For example, when the player fights Muffet the Spider girl, some of her attacks appear as donuts, croissants, or spiders that players must dodge to avoid getting hurt. When fighting Mettaton, players need to avoid buttons. If the players provoke Sans, he will send out gaster blaster lasers and excessive amounts of bones that deal massive damage. 

Similar to video games, some scenes in film can often suffer from repetitive fight scenes. But, with a game like Undertale, adapting this unique combat system can make the fight scenes feel more personal and fresh. Obviously, the heart icon surrounded by the white border would not make much sense in a television show. Nevertheless, adapting the game’s combat system somehow would be a creative way to grip viewers. It would also be an excellent way to prevent fight scenes from dragging on. One can be Frisk getting trapped in Muffet’s purple spider web, and she must dodge getting smacked in the face by spider pastries. Another can be when she fights Undyne, she uses a makeshift shield she finds nearby and tries to block Undyne’s spear attacks. Using this fighting style would certainly raise the stakes and remain faithful to the game.