Underhero

Although Underhero will forever be one of my favourite games, the ending worlds do drag on a bit. Despite that, I recommend basically everyone try it, as it will definitely put a smile on your face.

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Underhero is a single-player mystery platformer RPG with unique timing-based combat and an interesting plot, reminiscent of Paper Mario. Its splendid visuals, exceptional music, and hilarious characters create a wholesome story, but it can be quite buggy and grinding at times. In Underhero, you play as an underling of the main villain who becomes the new "hero" in a quest to defeat your evil boss, Mr. Stitches.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,108 reviews

story309 positive mentions

grinding56 negative mentions

Charming and humorous writing with engaging characters.
Unique combat system that combines real-time action with RPG mechanics.
Colorful pixel art and a delightful soundtrack enhance the overall experience.

Platforming can feel clunky and imprecise at times.
Some areas are tedious and overly long, particularly the maze-like sections.
The rhythm mechanic in combat can be difficult to time correctly, leading to frustration.

story
646 mentions
48 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of *Underhero* is a whimsical and engaging narrative that subverts traditional RPG tropes by featuring a minion who accidentally kills the hero and must take on the heroic quest themselves. While some reviewers noted that the plot can feel generic at times, many praised its unexpected twists, humor, and character development, making it a memorable experience that resonates with players. Overall, the combination of charming visuals, a unique combat system, and a well-crafted story contributes to its appeal, drawing comparisons to beloved titles like *Paper Mario* and *Undertale*.
- “The story is one of the strongest points of this game and I love the plot twist at the end.”
- “Underhero's story, though, totally steals the show.”
- “The story is well written and charming, the characters are a blast, the gameplay is fun and unique, and it all comes together for a really special experience.”
- “As for the story, instead of subverting RPG tropes, it actually seems to be going through the same motions, resulting in a hollow, shallow, unmotivating facade of a plot.”
- “The story eventually starts to feel like the writers were making it up as they go and leads up to a very long final dungeon with tedious platforming and almost no combat, which is disappointing since the game's platforming is just 'okay' compared to the robust battle system.”
- “The first half of the story also feels dragged.”
music
414 mentions
54 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Underhero" has received a largely positive reception, with many players praising its catchy and engaging soundtrack that enhances the game's whimsical atmosphere. While some tracks are described as standout "bangers," others are noted as less memorable, leading to mixed opinions on the overall quality. The integration of music into gameplay mechanics, such as timing attacks to the beat, adds an interesting layer, though some players found this aspect challenging. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest features, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack is an absolute banger and the characters are actually worth interacting with.”
- “The music is really something else and I can't wait for the next project done by these guys!”
- “The music is amazing, atmospheric, and very well done.”
- “The music hurt my ears.”
- “While the story and gameplay were solid points for me, the music is where the game kind of falls short.”
- “The music sounds amateurish and is not really memorable.”
gameplay
381 mentions
40 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Underhero" is a blend of 2D platforming and turn-based RPG mechanics, featuring timing-based combat and puzzle exploration. While many players appreciate its unique mechanics and engaging story, some criticize the execution, noting issues like clunky controls, repetitive battles, and a rhythm mechanic that feels poorly integrated. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some finding the gameplay enjoyable and innovative, while others feel it lacks polish and can become tedious.
- “Every combat mechanic serves a purpose and is tightly designed, enough to keep me engaged with the combat the whole way through.”
- “Underhero is a charming and colorful game with one of the most brilliant stories I've ever seen, and once you get used to the gameplay it's an absolute joy of an experience.”
- “Sadly, the super interesting premise is coupled with mediocre gameplay, and I lost interest about a third of the way through this game.”
- “The gameplay has a lot of layers: RPG elements that are reminiscent of Mario & Luigi, because you can get attacked and not get damaged based on your skill, platforming, puzzle games, heck, even rhythm game elements are included in the combat system, with the 'groovy!' attacks and the rush mode.”
- “The main problem is, neither gameplay style is able to hold up this game, because they both have copious minor issues that pile up and drag down the experience as a whole.”
graphics
168 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that is colorful and vibrant, reminiscent of titles like Paper Mario and Yoshi's Wooly World. While many players appreciate the engaging character designs and overall aesthetic, there are notable issues with performance, including occasional stuttering and graphical inconsistencies that detract from the experience. Overall, the visuals are appealing but lack the polish and detail found in other indie games, leading to mixed feelings among reviewers.
- “The art style is amazing (seriously, absolutely in love with the first boss), the music is incredible (and the reason I started playing this game in the first place; you're awesome Stijn!), and the story was not what I expected!”
- “The graphics are delightful, and the characters are some of the most entertaining I've ever seen.”
- “The graphics are consistently wonderful and colorful, the character design is fresh and aesthetically pleasing, the music is fantastic with no exceptions, the gameplay is fun and engaging, the writing is phenomenal... that last part is what really sells the game, though.”
- “Considering how minimalistic the graphics are, it's a shock how poor the performance is.”
- “The visuals are alright but also are inconsistent; the sprites for characters, the background and small objects attached to the background like candles are all completely different looking.”
- “Graphics are not smooth, so it almost hurts the eyes.”
humor
164 mentions
96 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever dialogue, lovable characters, and a mix of lighthearted and dark comedic elements that keep players engaged. Many reviewers highlight the witty writing and self-aware humor, though some note that the humor can be hit or miss, occasionally feeling forced or overly reliant on clichés. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with compelling storytelling, making it a delightful experience for fans of comedic RPGs.
- “An amazing adventure, great sense of humor, lovable characters, catchy music, and some really original ideas and sequences.”
- “The story doesn't take itself seriously, but the main theme and topic are well built, and there are several jokes that do in fact land throughout the game, making it pretty hilarious at times.”
- “Underhero maintains the humor and wit found in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, albeit with a snarkier tone that some players may find a bit grating, but most will likely enjoy.”
- “Funny and yet unfunny.”
- “The game knows what it is and isn't afraid to make jokes about it without it being 'cringy' or unfunny, and a lot of jokes were funny enough to not make me laugh but like that 'nose exhale' you do when you find something funny.”
- “The characters are likable and have tons of personality and humor without being cringey.”
grinding
56 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with many describing certain elements, such as puzzles and platforming, as tedious and drawn-out, particularly in the final dungeon. While some enjoy the combat and humor, others feel that the slow pacing and repetitive tasks detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of exhaustion by the end. The game does require some grinding and exploration, but the unique mechanics and engaging battles may still make it worth the effort for some players.
- “However as a warning, the game can be very slow and tedious; walking is kinda slow, most platforming isn't that difficult and just takes a while, battles are a lot of waiting around, some areas are very confusing to explore, etc. Also, if you are an achievement hunter, beware that certain collectibles can be missed completely if you progress too far past them, requiring a full restart from the beginning of the game to get them.”
- “The story eventually starts to feel like the writers were making it up as they go and leads up to a very long final dungeon with tedious platforming and almost no combat, which is disappointing since the game's platforming is just 'okay' compared to the robust battle system.”
- “The combat is fun, but certain enemies are more than a little tedious, given the stamina system, and make me consider avoiding the experience so that I wouldn't have to bother fighting them.”
stability
32 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its stability issues, with numerous reports of bugs affecting mechanics like platforming and collision detection. Players have noted that certain features, such as the glide mechanic and v-sync, contribute to a frustrating experience, often resulting in a "buggy mess." While many appreciate the game's potential and artistic elements, the overall consensus is that it requires significant polishing and bug fixes to enhance stability.
- “Good game if a bit unpolished and janky in areas, runs great on Linux, friendly developers!”
- “The glide mechanic they have is buggy and doesn't function properly.”
- “Other misc stuff: the collision detection is janky on platforms, a lot of challenges are very unintuitive, v-sync for whatever reason locks the game to 30fps and slows time itself; one could say the game is a bit of a buggy mess.”
- “Tl;dr game had lots of potential (and very pretty art/pleasing music), but was extremely messy and buggy.”
character development
24 mentions
33 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its subtlety, with players appreciating how the main characters evolve throughout the story, often without immediate recognition. The expressive character designs, particularly of the silent protagonist and memorable villains like Mister Stitches, contribute to a compelling narrative that balances lighthearted visuals with darker themes. Overall, the character design and development are praised for their creativity and emotional depth, enhancing the game's overall appeal.
- “From the character design to the backgrounds, everything was very clearly crafted with love.”
- “The music composition is engrossing, the art is well-done, and the character designs range from 'pretty solid' to 'out-and-out brilliant.' In particular, Mister Stitches is such a compelling villain design that combines cutesy aesthetics with diabolical menace.”
- “Otherwise, the character designs that I saw are either from the same county as most clip art or lifted in a bland way from other sources and then palette swapped.”
- “The character development was also amazingly subtle; it took me until nearly the end of the game to even realize how drastically our main characters had changed, right under my nose.”
- “The character designs that I saw are either from the same county as most clip art or lifted in a bland way from other sources and then palette swapped.”
emotional
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game effectively balances humor with serious and heartfelt moments, leading to an emotionally impactful experience, particularly in its unexpected and touching ending that resonated deeply with players. Many reviewers noted that the narrative's twists and character development elicited genuine feelings, including tears, while maintaining a lighthearted tone reminiscent of classic RPGs. Overall, the emotional depth enhances the gameplay, making it a memorable journey.
- “Normally I love to write about the story of a game and how it made me feel, but me saying anything at all will ruin the experience that I know you will have, because it'll be the same experience that I had.”
- “Mixed in with all of the 'saying what the player is thinking' humor and the general silliness of the world are a good number of serious, heartfelt, and honestly sad moments, the final stretch especially doing a good job of making you feel for the characters you've been watching and interacting with.”
- “I won't go beyond that, but the ending of this game made me cry and boggled my mind with how it played with my expectations.”
atmosphere
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a charming, cozy, and whimsical vibe, enhanced by a soothing soundtrack that features memorable themes. Players appreciate the blend of goofy humor and the inviting pixelated visuals, which contribute to a relaxing experience, making it enjoyable despite some familiar adventure game tropes. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a significant draw, creating an engaging and delightful environment for players.
- “[i]underhero[/i] permeates with a chill, cozy atmosphere that makes it inviting to players looking to relax.”
- “Composer Stijn van Wakeren deserves much credit for this atmosphere, as the soundtrack delivers consistently soothing tracks, with even a couple of earwormy themes that'll stick with you even if the majority will fade from memory.”
- “The entire pixelated atmosphere is what really got me into playing this game.”
- “[i]Underhero[/i] permeates with a chill, cozy atmosphere that makes it inviting to players looking to relax.”
replayability
14 mentions
29 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered moderate, with a score around 7/10. While some players find value in revisiting the story and uncovering missed secrets, many agree that it lacks significant replay value beyond achievements and completionist goals. Despite this, the enjoyable gameplay and narrative may encourage at least one additional playthrough.
- “The replay value is quite good, because then you can uncover secrets and story you may have missed the first time.”
- “Replayability: 7/10 (it's okay for replaying, cause it's not too long, and it's fun!)”
- “Lacks replay value besides achievements, but a good game overall.”
- “I don't see it having a ton of replayability unless someone wanted to 100% it.”
- “In addition to this, there isn't a whole lot of replayability.”
- “Sadly a bit lacking in replay value.”
optimization
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The optimization of Underhero has been criticized for its poor performance, especially given its minimalistic graphics. Players have reported issues with controller responsiveness in a required minigame, leading to a preference for keyboard controls, and some have experienced stuttering that can be mitigated by using a monitor with a refresh rate above 60 fps and enabling vsync. Overall, optimization appears to be the game's most significant flaw, impacting gameplay and completion.
- “Considering how minimalistic the graphics are, it's a shock how poor the performance is.”
- “Underhero only has one main problem, and it can be summed up in one word: optimization.”
- “Also, there is one required minigame which has very iffy controller performance, which makes it a lot easier to just do on keyboard. This minigame also has a hidden achievement, which is permanently missed if you continue playing after beating the minigame and not meeting the required score, which is quite annoying for completion. This means you may need to play the game over again to get back to that point if you saved/reached a checkpoint before knowing.”