View From Below

About

"View From Below" is a puzzle-based metroidvania game where you navigate procedurally generated levels as Jack, a child trapped in a nightmarish realm. By manipulating light and shadow, you'll solve puzzles, defeat strange creatures, and uncover the mysteries of this dark world. With permadeath and permanent upgrades, each playthrough offers a unique challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

story9 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

The story is engaging and features well-developed characters, with a compelling hero's journey and multiple endings that encourage replayability.
The game combines unique combat mechanics with a variety of minigames, making battles feel fresh and engaging.
The atmosphere, art style, and music contribute to a rich and immersive experience, reminiscent of other indie gems like Undertale.

The combat system suffers from RNG mechanics, leading to frustrating moments where attacks frequently miss, which can detract from the overall experience.
There are significant similarities to Undertale, which some players feel border on plagiarism, making it hard to view the game as entirely original.
The user interface is dated and lacks quality-of-life features, such as multiple save slots, which can hinder the gameplay experience.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The story of "A View from Below" is engaging and well-paced, featuring Ash's character growth and a mix of dark themes with moments of humor. While it draws comparisons to "Undertale," it develops its own narrative with well-crafted characters and a rich storyline, despite some criticisms of its side quests and occasional goofiness. Overall, players appreciate the depth and emotional weight of the story, making it a standout aspect of the game.
- “A view from below is a wonderful little Undertale-like RPG with an interesting story and characters.”
- “Otherwise, you get a surprisingly dark yet hopeful story with some very well-developed characters that you'll love.”
- “The game leans heavily on its story and characters in order to hook the player.”
- “There were so many instances where I thought 'this is literally just an asset/sound/story beat/character/game mechanic/level/dialogue from Undertale, but done worse' that I got genuinely upset, especially since the game is good when it's not just aping Undertale!”
- “The story takes itself far more seriously than Undertale and, while there are some goofy and funny NPCs and moments, the game’s nowhere near as friendly or jokey overall.”
- “Too much story.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The gameplay is a mix of action and turn-based mechanics, offering engaging and challenging combat, though it suffers from some RNG elements and a dated UI. While it draws comparisons to games like Undertale and Earthbound, it features unique mini-games and a diverse combat system that enhances the experience. However, some players noted issues with lengthy enemy attacks and the need for excessive gameplay to explore all endings.
- “The gameplay is quite fun.”
- “Gameplay is extremely engaging and gives you a fair bit of challenge.”
- “The combat was smooth and excellent, very similar to Earthbound (with the luxury of Undertale's evade mechanic, and some mini games for magic).”
- “This game is an action/turn-based hybrid, but the start of the game has a lot of RNG mechanics that make the battle system feel unrefined.”
- “The UI feels very dated compared to basic RPG Maker games, since you cannot load your save file during a gameplay session.”
- “I think my only complaints are that trying to get all the endings requires too much gameplay to get back to the decision points, some of the enemy attacks take too long, and screw that stupid falling cross dagger nonsense.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players expressing a wide range of feelings, from joy to deep sadness, particularly during character interactions and the impactful ending. The blend of serious themes with moments of humor prevents emotional fatigue, while the complexity of the characters adds depth to the experience. Overall, the game effectively evokes strong emotions, making it a memorable journey for many players.
- “I cried while playing this game, so 10/10.”
- “I loved its cast of characters who are so thoroughly human, emotional, and complex, and I appreciated the themes of light, hope, etc. against an ever-encroaching darkness.”
- “Especially towards the mid to end game, the emphasis on character interaction and character development really drew me in and made me emotional.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience and character interactions. While some tracks may feel repetitive during prolonged combat, the soundtrack is often described as masterfully selected, contributing significantly to the game's charm, despite not reaching the iconic status of similar titles like Undertale. Overall, the music complements the simple 8-bit graphics and adds depth to the game's emotional landscape.
- “I love this game; it reminds me of Undertale, and I love the music as well. It's so relaxing yet has a touch of melancholy.”
- “The music, the atmosphere of the locations you visit, and the characters you meet and interact with are all very interesting to get to know.”
- “The music was masterfully selected, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
- “Music - frequently bopping, sometimes feels a little overplayed if you're in an area fighting too long.”
- “And while it doesn't have the same music as Undertale (which in my opinion is what allowed the game to stick the landing in the first place), the main cast feels so much more real and subtle.”
- “The graphics are all simple and 8-bit, but the music usually stays away from beeps and boops.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The graphics in the game are a mix of simple 8-bit designs and more polished pixel art, with some players appreciating the nostalgic aesthetic while others find the attack visuals lacking in variety. Overall, the art style is generally well-received, complementing the game's unique storyline and solid music, though some specific attack animations, like Ash's ultimate, have been criticized for their simplicity.
- “Good game to play, love the art style, character design, and OST. Always love this type of game.”
- “Overall, I can't call this an Undertale clone; however, it does share some nostalgic aesthetics that make you think otherwise.”
- “Horror RPG with turn-based combat, richly interesting storyline about a boy trying to escape hell, and beautiful original pixel graphics.”
- “Unfortunately, all player attacks are simple slash graphics with different colors, which was a letdown.”
- “Even Ash's ultimate attack, Arcane Beam, doesn't have a laser graphic despite several enemies having laser-type attacks.”
- “The graphics are all simple and 8-bit, but the music usually stays away from beeps and boops.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its moody and immersive qualities, enhanced by captivating music and intriguing character interactions. Players report feeling chills from the evocative environments, contributing to a fun and engaging RPG experience.
- “This is a highly atmospheric, moody, and fun RPG.”
- “The music, the atmosphere of the locations you visit, and of course the characters you meet and interact with are very interesting to get to know.”
- “The atmosphere sent chills down my spine!”
- “The music, the atmosphere of the locations you visit with the music, and of course the characters you meet and interact with are very interesting to get to know.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is strategically interspersed within a serious narrative, providing light-hearted moments to prevent emotional fatigue. While there are some goofy NPCs and funny instances, the overall tone is more serious compared to games like Undertale, leading to a mixed reception regarding the effectiveness of its humor.
- “You always feel like you’re progressing, and the usually serious story is mixed in with little bits of silly humor placed strategically to make sure you don’t get emotional fatigue.”
- “The story takes itself far more seriously than Undertale, and while there are some goofy and funny NPCs and moments, the game’s nowhere near as friendly or jokey overall.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the latter half, where combat becomes more of a chore than a challenge, despite the overall quality of the combat and puzzles.
- “The combat and puzzles are good, though I find the combat is more tedious than it is challenging a lot of the time in the last half of the game.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is notably impactful, particularly in the mid to late game, where enhanced character interactions evoke strong emotional responses from players.
- “Especially towards the mid to end game, the emphasis on character interaction and character development really drew me in and made me emotional.”
- “The depth of each character's backstory and their growth throughout the game is truly remarkable.”
- “I loved how the choices I made influenced the characters' development, making each interaction feel meaningful.”