History Undertale / TropesA

%%** Also mocked with the trophies in the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/PlaystationVita versions.

** [[TheFriendNobodyLikes Jerry]]. [[WordOfGod It is actually canon]] that Jerry is the only character with no good in him. When encountered, he is completely obnoxious and only cares for himself. [[SupportPartyMember Good thing he doesn’t have any combat capabilities.]] In fact, the game allows you and the other monsters to ditch him right off the bat.

* AnAesop:
** You can love something too much, or love something in a detrimental way. This particular lesson is taught mainly through the Genocide Route, which calls the player out for being so attached to playing ''Undertale'' that they’ll slaughter an entire race just to get more game content. In-Universe this applies to Toriel trying to force the protagonist to live with her against their will by trapping them in the Ruins. While she did so with good intentions and had [[FreudianExcuse understandable reasons]] for doing so, it was still a violation of the Protagonist’s rights and tantamount to kidnapping.
** There’s no need to be needlessly cruel to those who make mistakes. This is a major theme of the [[EarnYourHappyEnding True Pacifist Route]]. The game only gives the GoldenEnding if the PlayerCharacter shows kindness to those who hurt them and others. Nearly every single character opposed the human at some point during this route, and by the end, nearly all of them are on good terms.
** However, being nice won’t solve all of your problems, and sometimes you have to use reasonable amounts of force. This is most blatantly shown through the fight with Asgore, who literally [[InterfaceScrew breaks the MERCY button]] and forces you to FIGHT to progress. This doesn’t mean that murder is necessary however.
** There are serious consequences to using violence as your first resort or without regard to the consequences.

* AmbiguousEnding: It’s not entirely clear what is happening at the end of the Neutral Route. From what Sans and others say in the call, it seems as if you’ve escaped the Underground, but the thing is, electronic signals can’t pass through the Barrier, so how are they calling you in the first place? Not only that, but how would you have gotten out? [[spoiler:Asgore’s [[KickTheDog soul was destroyed]] by [[BigBad Flowey]], and [[FoulFlower Flowey doesn’t have a soul at all.]]]] Did you even escape the Underground at all? [[AndIMustScream Are you trapped in the Barrier?]] What’s going on?

* AmbiguousGender: The PlayerCharacter [[spoiler:and [[ShadowArchetype Chara]]]] is only referred to in gender-neutral pronouns. This also applies to Monster Kid, as well as any [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghost]] without a proper body. Of course, [[spoiler:given that Frisk and Chara are explicitly stated to be beings separate from the player themself, this probably means they are some variety of non-binary.]]

** [[FinalBoss Asgore]] does this as well, because [[spoiler:[[FridgeBrilliance he doesn’t want to kill the human and he doesn’t want to think about it]]]]. He [[InterfaceScrew destroys the player's Mercy button]], ensuring that the fight will only end with one of them dead. [[spoiler:Of course, if you defeat him, you can still choose to stay your hand at the last moment.]]

** Ice Cap becomes very distressed if the player isn’t looking at its hat. This is because it has self-esteem issues and feels its hat forms its identity ([[FridgeBrilliance because Ice Cap without its cap is only Ice]]).

* HundredPercentCompletion:
** {{Deconstructed|Trope}}. If you want to see everything the game has to offer, you'll have to play through the game several times and take different actions, which is par for the course for most games with multiple endings; however, both ''Undertale'' and its characters remember your previous runs…

** The PlayerCharacter themself will flirt with tons of strange monsters, including Toriel [[OedipusComplex after calling her mom]] and ''gelatin''. Other than that, the human is willing to date both Papyrus and Alphys.

** The PlayerCharacter themself will flirt with tons of strange monsters, including Toriel [[OedipusComplex after calling her mom]] and ''[[AnythingThatMoves gelatin]]''. Other than that, the human is willing to date both Papyrus and Alphys.

-->'''Tropes A'''

[[folder:Tropes #]]

[[folder:Tropes Ab-Al]]

[[folder:Tropes Am-An]]

[[folder:Tropes Ap-Ar]]

[[folder:Tropes As-Aw]]

[[folder:[=0-9=]]]

[[folder:A]]

* AmazonChaser: Alphys qualifies. [[spoiler:She really likes Undyne’s confidence and strength.]]

** [[spoiler:The distance to the Undyne fight on a No Mercy route from the nearest save point (Temmie Village) is a long way. The first time you die to her, a new save point will be placed on the screen right before the one you fight her on. In addition, when you load after dying, she simply says, "You're gonna have to try a little harder than THAT!" instead of going through her whole speech again.]]

** In an EasterEgg in [[spoiler:the [[SurpriseCreepy True Lab]], lying down in one of the beds causes a ghostly creature to appear beside it, and slowly reach out to Frisk… to reach down to tuck them in, and pat them on the head]]. [[spoiler:[[CreepyCute It would be cute, if it weren't creepy as well.]]]]

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking:
** [[ActionPolitician Asgore]], the king of the Underground. After you [[DefeatEqualsFriendship befriend her]], Undyne will let you know that Asgore is not to be messed with. She had only ever beat him in a sparring match once, and that was after he specifically taught her how to. And when you finally do fight him, he proves that he is anything but a pushover.
** Muffet is the leader of the Spider Clans, and one of the more challenging bosses in the game, with her own SOUL mechanics.

** Out of universe, during [[https://toby.fangamer.com/interviews/temmie/ a 2023 interview]] with Creator/TemmieChang, Toby noted that she was a huge dog lover during ''Undertale''[='s=] development, and that this was likely the reason why dogs are featured so prominently throughout the game.

* AuthorAppeal: Both InUniverse.
** [[ShrinkingViolet Alphys]], if Mettaton is to be trusted, [[SelfInsertFic has written several fan fictions]] [[AmazonChaser shipping herself with Undyne]].
** [[{{Narcissist}} Mettaton]] stars himself in [[AcmeProducts everything MTT]], including ''twenty-eight movies'' about himself, and he seems to like the theme of rectangles as well (which are also associated with him).

** You can love something too much, or love something in a detrimental way. This particular lesson is taught mainly through the Genocide Route, which calls the player out for being so attached to playing ''Undertale'' that they’ll slaughter an entire race just to get more game content.

** However, being nice won’t solve all of your problems, and sometimes you have to use reasonable amounts of force. This is most blatantly shown through the fight with Asgore, who literally [[InterfaceScrew breaks the MERCY button]] and forces you to FIGHT to progress.

'''Sans''': hey, take it easy. i’ve got a ton of work done today. [[IncrediblyLamePun a skele-ton]].

* AssociatedComposer: Music/TobyFox makes his own music for his projects, including ''Undertale''.

** It’s all but outright stated that [[ActionGirl Undyne]] was [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority made head of the Royal Guard]] simply because she could (and [[HotBlooded quite eagerly would]]) [[AlwaysGetsHisMan wipe the floor with any potential rival]].

-->[[spoiler:'''Sans:''']] go [[YouBastard to]] [[PrecisionFStrike hell]].

* AluminumChristmasTrees:
** The Glamburger is a twofer.
*** The Info text specifies the glitter and sequins on it as edible. Edible glitter and sequins do exist, but they're usually used on cakes and similar sweets.
*** [[http://www.cnbc.com/2014/10/07/chef-creates-glamburger-for-1770.html The most expensive burger in the world]] is called a Glamburger, though it uses gold and caviar rather than glitter and sequins.
** [[spoiler:The [[FishPeople fish monster]] [[AlchemicElementals Undyne]] has a relationship with [[ShrinkingViolet Alphys]]. Lesbian fish and lizards actually exist in RealLife.]]

** [[spoiler:YOU. Yes, [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou YOU]]. The person staring at the screen pressing the buttons. Just YOU. It is VERY possible for the entire Underground to [[CosmicHorrorStory fear you as a maniacal murderer who only wants to kill every living being.]] [[YouBastard And the game is a master at making you feel very, very bad about it]]]].

** [[BigBad Flowey]] also employs this strategy due to being one of the few characters capable of an AlwaysAccurateAttack. [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] in the fight with [[spoiler:[[EldritchAbomination Photoshop Flowey]], as while he is still technically using this trope, he could still [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim just]] [[OneHitKill straight up kill you]] [[KilledOffForReal permanently]] and he’s just being [[{{Sadist}} messing with you]].]]

** [[FinalBoss Asgore]] does this as well, because [[spoiler:[[FridgeBrilliance he doesn’t want to kill the human and he doesn’t want to think about it]].]] He [[InterfaceScrew destroys the player's Mercy button]], ensuring that the fight will only end with one of them dead. [[spoiler:Of course, if you defeat him you can still choose to stay your hand at the last moment.]]

* AudienceParticipation: At the end of the fight with [[spoiler:[[AgentPeacock Mettaton EX]]]], he has the viewers call in and comment on his [[spoiler:last]] show. [[spoiler:This is what eventually convinces him to stay underground and let the human pass]].

** The second one is [[TheWoobie Flowey]]. [[spoiler:For a substantial portion of [[MultipleEndings any route]], he projects on Frisk, believing them to be his friend, the [[HelloInsertNameHere Fallen Child]], when they've never actually met; in the True Pacifist Route, as [[OneWingedAngel Asriel]], he plans to reset the entire timeline so he can [[GroundhogDayLoop keep having fun]] [[CosmicHorrorStory with his "friends;"]] and in the Genocide Route, he talks about how his own genocidal actions were motivated, in part, by [[AllergicToRoutine the repetitiveness of helping everyone]] and [[HundredPercentCompletion the realization that they were all scripted actors]]. All of this is set up to [[MirrorCharacter directly parallel the player's own motivations and actions]], especially if they took the anticipated path of doing a True Pacifist Route and resetting for the Genocide Route.]]
** The third one is [[spoiler:the Fallen Child, who, as [[AbstractApotheosis an embodiment of completionism and powergaming]] during the Genocide Route, acts [[ShadowArchetype similarly to the player]]. Through the Fallen Child's actions, the player is shown just who they've been acting like: an OmnicidalManiac whom the lesser monsters fear and the more powerful ones die [[ArrogantGodVersusRagingMonster fighting]] [[TheApocalypseBringsOutTheBestInPeople heroically]]. As a bonus, if you decide to go against the Fallen Child, essentially who you were, at the last moment, you will be greeted by [[HoistByHisOwnPetard the same familiar determination]], [[ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine just on the other end of the stick]].]]

* AuthorUsurpation: ''Undertale'' and ''{{VideoGame/Deltarune}}'' are Creator/TobyFox’s defining works and greatly overshadow his work in the ''VideoGame/TheHalloweenHack'' and ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}''.

* AutomaticLevel: Because [[spoiler:Mettaton isn’t actually trying to kill you at first]], the PlayerCharacter can survive [[ItMakesSenseInContext the jetpack sequence of Cooking With A]] KillerRobot, the [[HavingABlast bomb sequence of MTT News]], and the [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience Multicolor Tile Puzzle]] without doing anything.

* {{Autosave}}: This is used to [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou screw with the player's head]]. While not telling the player that it's happening, the game automatically saves after the player makes moral choices, most notably [[PetTheDog sparing]] or [[KickTheDog killing]] the bosses. These saves also persist across the player's save files, and certain NPC's will "[[RippleEffectProofMemory remember]]" what happened in previous saves. For instance, if the player kills the first boss, reloads the game and spares the boss, [[BigBad Flowey]] the [[FoulFlower Flower]] will [[YouBastard call the player out on it]].

* AwakeningTheSleepingGiant: [[EarnYourBadEnding If you ride out the Genocide Route all the way to the end]], your [[FinalBoss final opponent]] is [[spoiler:[[AlmightyJanitor Sans, the lazy, affable skeleton]]]]. He [[YouBastard chides you for everything you've done]], stating he "[[NeutralNoLonger can't afford to not care anymore]]" and warns you that if you take another step "[[BadassBoast You're going to have a bad time]],” and [[SNKBoss he isn't lying]].

** In a rather unusual case, there is a snail on Blook Acres that speaks by saying “snail.”

* AntagonisticOffspring: [[spoiler:The Dreemurr parents, Asgore and Toriel have two children: Asriel and [[HelloInsertNameHere Chara]]. Asriel is reincarnated as [[BigBad Flowey]] who has performed Genocide Routes of his own in alternate timelines, will kill Asgore if you spare him on your first Neutral Route, and attempts to steal both parents’ souls on the [[GoldenEnding True Pacifist Route]]. Meanwhile, Chara is reincarnated as [[OmnicidalManiac the Fallen Child]], and kills all the monsters with the PlayerCharacter on the Genocide Route, destroying the world (and you, if you try to stop them) at the end.]]

** Probably intentionally done with the aforementioned final battle of the Genocide run (against [[spoiler:Sans]]) to punish the player for doing a Genocide run before a Neutral or Pacifist run. In those runs, the same mechanic is introduced early on in the fight with [[spoiler:Papyrus]], and it follows the pattern as above. In a Genocide run, though, you heartlessly murder [[spoiler:Papyrus]] without ever fighting him, and therefore the battle with [[spoiler:Sans]] will likely catch you completely off-guard. Likely also due to the fact that [[spoiler:Sans]] is the only CombatPragmatist in the game with genuine reason to kill you, while it's strongly implied that, even though the others say they want to kill you, most of them have never killed and don't fully understand or enjoy the reality of what it entails.

** PlayedForLaughs with the instant noodles: if used in battle, they take a ''hilariously'' long time to prepare with no option to skip the text, including taste-testing them and adding the flavoring packets... [[spoiler:all this for a healing item that restores 2-4 health, not enough to be worth it even on a Pacifist run (where you have really low max HP)]].
** Learning the secret of Sans's bedroom, which is [[GuideDangIt incredibly obtuse]]. You enter his room and walk through a long, pitch black darkness for half a minute, a loud droning noise getting closer and closer, suddenly everything goes black... [[spoiler:and Papyrus turns on the bedroom light to show that his room is more or less normal (aside from the the self-sustaining trash tornado in the corner) and you've just been running on a treadmill; the entire thing was a prank. Double-subverted, though, because you find the key to the room behind his house where Sans keeps the broken time machine, a hint towards his unsaid backstory that's the reason he has such a depressed disposition.]]

** The "don't step on the leaves" puzzle in the ruins will eventually just turn the entire floor solid if you fail at it enough times.

** The pacifist run's final battle against will never take you into a game over screen at all, and has checkpoints every few rounds. It's a good thing for two reasons — the battle is preceded by 10 minutes worth of cutscenes, and there's a portion where you can't heal for 5 turns after an attack that takes most people down to 1HP and has a pattern that's almost impossible to dodge.

** [[AgentPeacock Mettaton]] is iffy on the [[GreyAndGreyMorality morality scale]], as he is willing to take the [[PlayerCharacter human’s]] [[PoweredByAForsakenChild soul]] for himself to go to the surface and leave all the other monsters behind. However, he does care about [[ShrinkingViolet Alphys]] and is reminded of how much he values his fans at the end of his fight.

** The early RandomEncounter [[ShrinkingViolet Whimsun]] doesn't want to fight, but feels it has to. Its battle dialogue consists of a lot of apologies, ir can be spared right off the bat and its attacks don't even try to hit you.

* AppliedPhlebotinum: A twist revealed near the end of the Pacifist route (but implied in others routes) is that [[spoiler:there's actually a difference between being determined as a personality trait and actually possessing a thing called Determination. It's vaguely defined as "the will to keep living; the resolve to change fate" and apparently exists in some kind of distillable form like a chemical or hormone. Humans possess it in abundance and it's the reason you're able to SAVE and never die permanently, while monsters can only handle a certain amount before succumbing to a [[BodyHorror horrifying]] PhlebotinumOverdose since they're "made mostly of magic" and lack the physical matter to process it.]]