View From Below
- May 22, 2020
- Jack Astral
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The story is engaging and features a compelling hero's journey, with well-developed characters and multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- The atmosphere and art style are highly praised, creating a moody and immersive experience reminiscent of other indie gems like Undertale.
- The combat system, while having its flaws, includes interesting mini-games and mechanics that keep the gameplay engaging and challenging.
- The battle system suffers from RNG mechanics, making it feel unrefined and frustrating at times, particularly with low hit rates and dodging mechanics.
- There are significant similarities to Undertale, leading some players to feel that the game lacks originality and borrows too heavily from its inspiration.
- The user interface is dated and lacks quality-of-life features, such as multiple save slots, which can hinder the overall experience.
- story17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The story of "A View from Below" is generally well-received, featuring strong character development and an engaging narrative that balances dark themes with hope. While some players note its similarities to "Undertale," they appreciate its unique elements and pacing, particularly in how it evolves from a plot-driven experience to a more character-focused conclusion. Overall, the game is praised for its interesting characters and well-crafted story, despite occasional moments of goofiness.
“I did enjoy Ash's growth throughout the game and would consider the story better than average.”
“Otherwise, you get a surprisingly dark yet hopeful story with some very well-developed characters that you'll love.”
“View from Below is a story-heavy RPG recently released on Steam that's somewhat reminiscent of Undertale.”
“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!”
“Too much story.”
“At first glance, it seems like an Undertale rip-off; while it does heavily borrow motifs from that game, I think this one has a lot more going for it in terms of gameplay, story, writing, and art.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend 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 mechanics that enhance the experience, despite some frustrations with enemy attacks and the need for extensive play to explore all endings. Overall, players find the gameplay enjoyable, particularly when complemented by the game's story and art.
“The 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).”
“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 mini-games to avoid attacks.”
“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.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a deeply emotional experience while playing, often leading to tears and strong connections with the complex, human characters. The game's themes of hope amidst darkness, along with impactful character interactions and development, contribute to a touching narrative that resonates with many, particularly towards the end.
“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.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
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 compared favorably to that of Undertale, though it is noted that it lacks the same iconic impact. Overall, the music is considered masterfully selected and contributes significantly to the game's charm.
“I love this game; it reminds me of Undertale, and I love the music as well. It's so relaxing and also has a touch 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.”
“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.”
“Good game to play, love the art style, characters, and OST except one (you know it when you know), always love this type of game.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed feedback, with some players expressing disappointment in the simplicity of attack animations, particularly noting the lack of variety in effects like lasers. However, many appreciated the overall art style and nostalgic aesthetics, finding the graphics to be better than anticipated.
“Good game to play, love the art style, character design, and OST except one (you know it when you know), always love this type of game.”
“Overall, I can't call this an Undertale clone; however, it does share some nostalgic aesthetics that may make you think otherwise.”
“Graphics are vastly better than I expected.”
“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.”
“Overall, I can't call this an Undertale clone; however, it does share some nostalgic aesthetics that might make you think otherwise.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
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, it creates 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.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than challenging, particularly in the latter half, where combat becomes more repetitive.
“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 development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
