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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 549 reviews

story154 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

Charming and colorful art style that enhances the overall experience.
Engaging combat system that combines real-time actions with RPG mechanics, rewarding timing and strategy.
Unique and humorous story that subverts traditional RPG tropes, with memorable characters and unexpected twists.

Platforming can feel clunky and imprecise at times, leading to frustrating moments.
Some battles can drag on due to slow stamina regeneration and repetitive enemy types.
Lack of a map or clear navigation can make exploration tedious and confusing.

story
322 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 players found the plot to be somewhat generic or lacking in originality, many praised its humor, unexpected twists, and well-developed characters, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the narrative is complemented by charming visuals and a captivating soundtrack, contributing to its appeal as a standout indie RPG.
- “The story is one of the strongest points of this game, and I love the plot twist at the end.”
- “Underhero is an amazing game inspired by the likes of Paper Mario and other Nintendo RPGs; it tells an incredible story through its dialogue with many unexpected twists and turns.”
- “The story is engaging, it's meaningful, heck it can also be a collectathon!”
- “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 story feels very basic and very 'strung together'.”
music
207 mentions
54 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Underhero" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some tracks are described as standout "bangers," others are noted as less memorable, leading to mixed opinions on the soundtrack's consistency. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its whimsical atmosphere and enjoyable narrative.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, and I've been listening to it nonstop while studying for a while now.”
- “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 music composition is engrossing, the art is well-done, and the character designs range from 'pretty solid' to 'out-and-out brilliant.'”
- “The music hurt my ears.”
- “Turn the music all the way down and it still gets obnoxious sometimes.”
- “The music sounds amateurish and is not really memorable.”
gameplay
189 mentions
41 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Underhero" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of timing-based combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving elements that some players find engaging while others criticize for being repetitive or poorly executed. While the combat mechanics, including rhythm-based attacks and unique enemy interactions, offer a fresh take reminiscent of classic RPGs, many reviewers noted issues with clunky controls and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game's charming visuals, engaging story, and innovative mechanics have garnered a dedicated following, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay consists of a combination of traditional 2D platforming and pseudo turn-based RPG style battles.”
- “The core gameplay is a unique combination of platformer and turn-based RPG, although there tends to be more platforming later in the game.”
- “The gameplay is both simple and engaging.”
- “Sadly, the super interesting premise is coupled with (in my opinion) 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
82 mentions
48 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and appealing character designs, reminiscent of titles like Paper Mario and Yoshi's Wooly World. However, some users noted technical issues such as graphical hiccups, lack of detail in certain areas, and inconsistent visual styles that detracted from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the visuals contribute positively to the game's whimsical narrative and engaging gameplay.
- “The art style is amazing (seriously, absolutely in love with the first boss), the music is incredible, and the story was not what I expected!”
- “The colorful aesthetic, with its smooth edges and bubbly sound effects, evokes games like Yoshi's Woolly World, while surprisingly sharp bits of humor, violence, and innuendo mixed in prevent this from totally being a kid's game.”
- “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.”
- “The only real negative I encountered was a bit of stutter/jank in the graphics periodically.”
- “Considering how minimalistic the graphics are, it's a shock how poor the performance is.”
- “The visuals are alright but also inconsistent; the sprites for characters, the background, and small objects attached to the background like candles are all completely different looking.”
humor
82 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 jokes, though some feel that the humor can occasionally miss the mark or feel forced. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with an engaging story and unique gameplay, making it a recommended 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; a lot of jokes were funny enough to not make me laugh but elicited that 'nose exhale' you do when you find something funny.”
grinding
28 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some enjoy the combat and unique elements, many feel that the puzzles, platforming, and certain side quests become tedious and slow, particularly in the final dungeon. The game requires exploration and can lead to frustrating moments, especially for achievement hunters, but some players appreciate the variety and humor that offset the grind.
- “The final dungeon gauntlet is a long stretch of tedious puzzles, plus a group of around twenty masked kids who stand between the protagonist and their final destination.”
- “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.”
stability
16 mentions
19 % positive mentions
-12 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs affecting mechanics like platforming and collision detection, leading to a generally janky experience. While some players appreciate the game's potential and artistic qualities, many express frustration over the frequent glitches and performance issues, particularly with the glide mechanic and controller responsiveness. Overall, the game is seen as unpolished, but there is hope for improvements in future patches.
- “Good game, if a bit unpolished and janky in areas, but it runs great on Linux.”
- “The game is stable and performs well, even in demanding situations.”
- “I appreciate the consistent updates that enhance stability and performance.”
- “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.”
- “The game had lots of potential (and very pretty art/pleasing music), but was extremely messy and buggy.”
- “Some of the platforming is either janky or outright buggy.”
character development
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its subtlety, with players appreciating how the main characters evolve throughout the narrative, often without overt recognition until the end. The expressive character designs and engaging artwork contribute significantly to the overall experience, enhancing the emotional depth and appeal of the characters. While some designs may feel derivative, the overall aesthetic and compelling villain designs, like Mister Stitches, add to the game's charm and narrative complexity.
- “My favorite part is the artwork and character design and how expressive the main character is, despite them being a silent protagonist.”
- “From the character design to the backgrounds, everything was very clearly crafted with love.”
- “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
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, culminating in a poignant ending that resonates deeply with players. Reviewers note the effective mix of silliness and serious themes, which creates a memorable experience that can evoke strong feelings, including tears. The narrative's unexpected twists and well-developed characters contribute to a satisfying emotional journey.
- “Normally I love to write about the story of a game and how it made me feel, but 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 humor and general silliness of the world are a good number of serious, heartfelt, and honestly sad moments, especially in the final stretch, which does a great 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
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a charming and cozy vibe, enhanced by a whimsical pixelated aesthetic and a soothing soundtrack that includes memorable themes. Players appreciate the blend of humor and lightheartedness, which contributes to an inviting environment perfect for relaxation and enjoyment. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a significant draw, making it engaging and delightful.
- “Even the less 'original' parts of the game, such as the general 'happy-go-lucky' atmosphere of a lot of adventure games with all the weird and random tasks you do, still feel great and give the game a lot of charm.”
- “[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.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered moderate, with some players appreciating the opportunity to experience the story again and uncover missed secrets. However, many reviewers note that it lacks significant replay value beyond achievements, making it more suitable for a single or occasional playthrough rather than extensive replaying.
- “Replayability: 7/10 (it's okay for replaying, because it's not too long, and it's fun!)”
- “The replay value is quite good, because then you can uncover secrets and story you may have missed the first time.”
- “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
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor performance despite its minimalistic graphics, with specific issues noted in controller responsiveness during a required minigame that can hinder completion. Players have found that enabling vsync can alleviate some stuttering problems, but overall, optimization remains a significant concern.
- “Also, there is one required minigame which has very poor controller performance, making it much easier to just use a keyboard. This minigame also has a hidden achievement that is permanently missed if you continue playing after beating it without meeting the required score, which is quite annoying for completionists. This means you may need to replay the game to get back to that point if you saved or reached a checkpoint before knowing.”
- “Considering how minimalistic the graphics are, it's shocking how poor the performance is.”
- “Underhero only has one main problem, and it can be summed up in one word: optimization.”