Can You Save Asriel in Undertale? A Comprehensive Guide
The burning question on every Undertale player’s mind, after experiencing the emotional rollercoaster that is a Pacifist Run, is almost always the same: Can you save Asriel? The short answer, unfortunately, is no. You cannot permanently save Asriel in the way many players hope for. He does not leave the Underground with Frisk and the other monsters. However, the nuances of his fate are far more complex and heartbreaking, deserving a deeper exploration.
The Tragic Tale of Asriel Dreemurr
To understand why Asriel’s fate is so poignant, we must revisit his story. Asriel Dreemurr was the beloved son of Toriel and Asgore, the royal family of the Underground. He found Chara, the first human to fall into the Underground, and the two became inseparable siblings. When Chara fell ill, their last wish was to see the golden flowers of their village. Asriel absorbed Chara’s soul, becoming powerful enough to cross the barrier.
However, upon reaching the human village, the villagers mistook Asriel for a threat and attacked him. Despite having the power to retaliate and destroy the humans, Asriel refused, carrying Chara’s body back to the Underground. Wounded and weakened, he collapsed in the royal garden, where he turned to dust.
This dust was later used by Dr. Alphys in her determination experiments, leading to the creation of Flowey, a soulless being devoid of empathy and incapable of feeling love. This is the crucial link: Asriel’s essence was injected with determination, bringing him back to “life,” but without a soul.
Why Asriel’s “Saving” is Temporary
During the True Pacifist ending, Frisk manages to reach out to Asriel, who has absorbed the souls of all the monsters in the Underground and gained immense power. In this form, he is Asriel Dreemurr, God of Hyperdeath. Through Frisk’s unwavering kindness and determination, Asriel is reminded of his true self and the love he once felt. He ultimately releases the absorbed souls, breaking the barrier and freeing the monsters.
This act, however, has a consequence. By releasing the souls, Asriel loses the power that sustained his form and reverts to Flowey. Since Flowey is soulless, he cannot feel the bonds of friendship and family that would allow him to leave the Underground with the others. He chooses to stay behind, alone in the Underground, unable to experience true happiness.
The Hopeful Ambiguity
While Asriel doesn’t leave with the others, the ending is somewhat ambiguous. The game doesn’t explicitly state that Flowey continues to live a life of malice. There’s a glimmer of hope that, having briefly experienced love and remorse, Flowey might be changed, perhaps even striving to be a better person (or flower). Fan theories and interpretations often explore this possibility, offering solace to those who desperately want a happier ending for Asriel. Some supplemental media also hints at Flowey’s continued existence within the Underground after the Pacifist Ending.
The real tragedy is that Asriel’s inability to cross the barrier isn’t due to a lack of wanting. It stems from a fundamental lack: a soul. The rules of the Undertale universe dictate this limitation, making his situation even more heartbreaking. You can learn more about game design and narrative choices like these at the Games Learning Society, located at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Understanding the Impact
The inability to fully “save” Asriel is a deliberate choice by the game’s creator, Toby Fox. It serves as a powerful reminder that some wounds cannot be completely healed and that even the most determined efforts cannot always achieve a perfect outcome. It adds a layer of complexity and realism to the game’s otherwise optimistic message of forgiveness and redemption. While you can’t save Asriel in the conventional sense, you can offer him forgiveness, understanding, and a moment of peace before he returns to his lonely existence as Flowey. And, in a way, that might be the most meaningful “saving” of all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Asriel in Undertale
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide further clarity on Asriel’s story and his role in Undertale:
1. How did Asriel come back to life as Flowey?
Asriel’s dust, containing his essence, landed on a flower in the royal garden. Dr. Alphys, in her experiments with determination, injected the flower with the substance, unintentionally bringing Asriel back to “life” as Flowey, but without a soul.
2. Why can’t Flowey feel emotions?
Flowey’s lack of a soul prevents him from experiencing emotions like love, empathy, and compassion. He is essentially a being of pure determination, driven by a primal instinct to survive and, eventually, to manipulate and control others.
3. How do you get the Asriel fight in Undertale?
The Asriel fight is the final boss of the True Pacifist Route. To unlock it, you must complete the game without killing any monsters, befriend Papyrus, Undyne, and Alphys, and then return to the Core to trigger the True Lab sequence.
4. What happens if you don’t forgive Asriel Dreemurr?
In the True Pacifist ending, Frisk has the option to forgive or not forgive Asriel. If you choose not to forgive him, he understands and accepts your decision. It doesn’t significantly alter the ending, but it does affect the dialogue during that scene.
5. Does Asriel turn back into Flowey permanently?
Yes, after releasing the monster souls and human souls, Asriel loses his powerful form and reverts to being Flowey. This is because he no longer has the power derived from the souls that allowed him to manifest as Asriel.
6. Is Asriel good or bad?
Asriel is a complex character. While Flowey’s actions are undoubtedly villainous, Asriel himself is ultimately a victim of circumstance. He is a tragic figure who, after briefly experiencing love and remorse, is forced to return to a soulless existence.
7. Can you lose the Asriel fight?
You cannot truly “lose” the Asriel fight. Even if your HP reaches zero, the game will allow you to continue, reflecting the power of determination. This underscores the importance of perseverance and the unwavering spirit of Frisk.
8. Who is harder, Sans or Asriel?
While both are challenging bosses, Asriel is generally considered more powerful than Sans from a lore perspective. Asriel, in his God of Hyperdeath form, possesses the power to destroy timelines, while Sans’ power is more limited and focused on manipulating time within a battle.
9. Does Asriel turn evil by choice?
Asriel’s transformation into Flowey is not a conscious choice. The lack of a soul renders him incapable of feeling empathy, leading to his twisted and often malevolent behavior. He is a product of his circumstances rather than inherently evil.
10. Why can’t you save Asriel permanently?
The game’s narrative structure and world-building dictate that a soulless being cannot cross the barrier. Asriel’s only means of existence is by existing as a soulless flower, Flowey.
11. Can you fight Asriel after killing Flowey in a previous playthrough?
To encounter the Asriel fight, you must achieve the True Pacifist ending, which requires loading a save file where you haven’t killed anyone. A previous playthrough where you killed Flowey doesn’t prevent you from achieving the True Pacifist ending in a new playthrough.
12. Is Asriel evil as Flowey?
As Flowey, Asriel is not necessarily “evil” in the traditional sense. He is simply incapable of feeling empathy or remorse, which leads him to engage in manipulative and destructive behaviors. He lacks the moral compass that a soul would provide.
13. How did Chara become evil?
Chara’s morality is debated among fans. Some believe Chara was always malevolent, while others argue that they were corrupted by the negative experiences they faced. In the Genocide Route, the player’s actions influence Frisk, which subsequently corrupts Chara, making them appear more vengeful.
14. Is Asriel a God in Undertale?
In the True Pacifist Route, Asriel transforms into “ASRIEL DREEMURR, God of Hyperdeath,” after absorbing the souls of all the monsters and the six human souls. This form grants him immense power, allowing him to manipulate timelines and wield devastating attacks.
15. What happens if you dodge Flowey’s bullets?
Dodging Flowey’s “friendliness pellets” at the beginning of the game triggers special dialogue where he acknowledges that you know what the pellets actually do. This is a subtle hint to players who may have played the game before, recognizing the true nature of Flowey.