Are You Supposed to Leave the Room in Undertale? Exploring Choice and Consequence
Yes, you are absolutely supposed to leave the room in Undertale! While the game presents you with the option to stay in the room Toriel leaves you in, doing so essentially halts your progress. Undertale is a game about choice and consequence, and this initial decision is a crucial early example of that. Staying put demonstrates obedience and a willingness to remain in the comfortable, albeit stifling, safety of Toriel’s home. However, leaving signifies a desire to explore the unknown and confront the challenges that await you in the Underground. The game subtly nudges you towards the latter path, promising progression and a richer experience.
The Illusion of Choice: Staying vs. Leaving
The brilliance of Undertale lies in its ability to make even seemingly simple choices feel meaningful. Toriel’s request to stay in the room is presented as a test of your trust and obedience. Will you do as you’re told and remain safe, or will you venture out into the potentially dangerous world? This is the first instance in which the game sets up the illusion of choice, which makes the player feel more engaged with the story.
The Consequences of Staying
Choosing to stay in the room isn’t game-breaking. The game doesn’t punish you harshly. If you decide to stay, Toriel will call you periodically to check on you, reinforcing the feeling of being cared for. However, nothing significant happens. You’re essentially stuck in a loop. The plot does not progress. Eventually, if you choose to sleep in the room, you will get the message that you must continue on, spoken in Asgore’s voice. This subtle, yet impactful, message underscores the game’s inherent desire for you to experience its narrative. In essence, staying is a dead end.
The Benefits of Leaving
Leaving the room, on the other hand, propels the story forward. It sets you on the path to explore the Ruins, encounter new characters, and ultimately determine the fate of the Underground. It’s a necessary step to understanding the world, its inhabitants, and the underlying themes of the game. Choosing to leave signifies agency and a willingness to engage with the narrative.
Exploring the Themes of Choice and Consequence
Undertale is more than just a game; it’s an exploration of morality, choice, and consequence. Every action, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect on the story and its outcome.
The Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide Routes
The initial decision to stay or leave the room is a microcosm of the larger choices you’ll face throughout the game. Will you choose pacifism, sparing every monster you encounter? Will you opt for a neutral approach, making choices based on the situation? Or will you embrace a genocidal path, killing everything in your way?
Each of these choices leads to a different ending, reflecting the impact of your actions on the world and its inhabitants. This depth of choice and consequence is what makes Undertale such a compelling and thought-provoking experience. If you are interested in game design and the theory behind it, consider researching learning game design and development from the GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about staying in the room and related Undertale topics:
1. How long do I have to wait in the room to see all the dialogue?
If you wait in the room for about five minutes, Toriel will call you and offer some additional dialogue. However, this is just a small bonus and doesn’t significantly impact the story.
2. What happens if I never leave Toriel’s house?
If you never leave Toriel’s house, the game essentially remains stagnant. The secret ending is that you become a statue and never move or speak again and Toriel out of shock does the same thing. You won’t progress, and you’ll miss out on the vast majority of the game’s content.
3. Can I still get the True Pacifist ending if I accidentally kill a monster early on?
If you accidentally kill a monster, you are locked out of the True Pacifist ending. You’ll have to reset your game and try again, ensuring that you spare every enemy.
4. Is it possible to beat Undertale without killing anyone, including bosses?
Yes, it is absolutely possible to beat Undertale without killing anyone! This is the True Pacifist route, and it requires you to spare every enemy, including bosses.
5. How many kills are required for the Genocide route?
To trigger the Genocide route, you need to kill a specific number of monsters in each area before fighting the boss. The number varies per area. For example, in the Ruins, you need to kill 20 enemies before fighting Toriel.
6. Can I flirt with Toriel?
Yes, you can flirt with Toriel through the cell phone. There is a flirt option, but it is just a minor interaction that doesn’t influence the game significantly.
7. How many endings does Undertale have?
Undertale has three main endings: Neutral, True Pacifist, and Genocide. There’s also a fourth miscellaneous ending for Hard Mode.
8. What happens if I name myself “Chara”?
Naming yourself “Chara” doesn’t have a significant impact on gameplay. It just makes the game more accurate, as that is the name of the first fallen human.
9. Do I only fight Sans in the Genocide route?
Yes, Sans is the final boss of the Genocide route. He’s renowned for being incredibly difficult, despite his seemingly weak stats.
10. Can I do a Pacifist run after killing Toriel?
No, you cannot get the Pacifist ending after killing Toriel unless you reset your save and start over.
11. What happens if I sleep in the bed after killing Toriel?
Sleeping in the bed after killing Toriel results in a song called “Empty House” playing when you wake up, reflecting the consequences of your actions.
12. How long does it take to 100% complete Undertale?
Achieving 100% completion in Undertale typically takes around 20½ hours, depending on your play style and familiarity with the game.
13. What is the scariest moment in Undertale?
The “scariest” moment is subjective, but many players find the Genocide route, particularly the fight against Monster Kid or Flowey’s death scene, to be unsettling.
14. What happens if you spare Sans after he falls asleep?
You cannot spare Sans after he falls asleep during the Genocide route. The game prevents you from doing so.
15. How do I unlock the secret room in Undertale?
To unlock the secret room, you must achieve the True Pacifist ending, dodge all the Kickstarter credits without hitting any names, and then start a new game. The locked door will then be open.
Conclusion: Embrace the Journey
Undertale‘s brilliance lies in its ability to empower players through meaningful choices. While staying in the room with Toriel might seem like a safe and comfortable option, the game subtly encourages you to embrace the unknown, explore the world, and ultimately shape your own destiny. So, while you can stay, the true magic of Undertale lies in the choices you make as you venture forth. Venture out and learn, and consider looking into how Games Learning Society helps kids learn through gaming!