View From Below

About

View From Below is a single player role playing game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Jack Astral and was released on May 22, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews

story9 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with well-developed characters and multiple endings, making it engaging and emotionally impactful.
The combat system is unique and incorporates various minigames, providing a fun and challenging experience.
The atmosphere, art style, and music are praised for their quality, contributing to an immersive gameplay experience.

The combat system suffers from RNG mechanics and can feel unrefined, leading to frustration during battles.
There are issues with the user interface, such as the inability to load save files during gameplay and clunky casino mechanics.
Some players find the game too similar to Undertale, leading to criticisms of originality and pacing, especially in the early chapters.

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%
62%
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, though some players find the need to replay for different endings tedious. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable, especially for fans of indie RPGs, despite some minor flaws.
- “The gameplay is extremely engaging and gives you a fair bit of challenge.”
- “Gameplay out of combat feels much like Undertale, but since you're dealing with literal demons that do not like you, actual combat is much more straightforward JRPG fare, with a rather diverse set of minigames to avoid attacks.”
- “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 through its complex characters and heartfelt storytelling. The balance of serious themes with moments of humor prevents emotional fatigue, while character development and interactions, especially towards the end, leave a lasting impact. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to evoke strong emotions, culminating in a touching and memorable conclusion.
- “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%
34%
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 extended gameplay, the selection is often described as masterfully chosen, contributing to the game's charm, though it may not reach the iconic status of similar titles like Undertale. Overall, the soundtrack complements the simple graphics and unique combat, making it a notable aspect of the game.
- “I love this game; it reminds me of Undertale, and I love the music as well. It's so relaxing yet also has a sense of melancholy.”
- “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 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%
24%
38%
The graphics in the game are a mix of simple 8-bit styles and original pixel art, with some players appreciating the nostalgic aesthetics while others find the attack visuals lacking, particularly in variety. Overall, the visuals are considered better than expected, complementing the game's unique combat and engaging storyline.
- “Graphics are vastly better than I expected.”
- “Horror RPG with turn-based combat, richly interesting storyline about a boy trying to escape hell & beautiful original pixel graphics.”
- “Graphics are really nice, music is solid and the combat is very unique and difficult from the get-go.”
- “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%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its moody and immersive qualities, enhanced by captivating music and intriguing character interactions. Players report that the environment evokes strong emotional responses, with some even describing it as spine-chilling. Overall, the atmosphere significantly contributes to the enjoyment of the RPG experience.
- “This is a highly atmospheric, moody, and fun RPG.”
- “The music, the atmosphere of the locations you visit, and the characters you meet and interact with are very interesting to get to know.”
- “The atmosphere sent chills down my spine!”
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.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight that character development becomes particularly impactful in the mid to late game, with strong emphasis on character interactions that evoke emotional responses.
- “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 was impressed by how the choices I made influenced the characters' development, making each decision feel significant.”
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.”