Why Underrail is incline

[Vlajdermen]

I've been playing Underrail since the end of last summer. It was the first game recommended to me by the Dex, though what finally sold me on it was that it was made in Serbia. I haven't finished it yet (I'm 40-50 hours in) but it's a great game so far, and there's some reasons for that that you don't see many people bring up that probably would've sold me on the game sooner. I'm here to point them out.

To get the small reasons out of the way first:

• It runs perfectly even on an old ass PC like mine. It doesn't overheat it either; even though it's a relatively new game, it's as easy to run as Arcanum.
• It's a pure gameplayfag game. The story never forces itself down your throat, and while that means the writing is bland, it knows how to get to the point and it's devoid of all autism. I never got the feeling that it was written by fat neckbeards (like that Morinth business in ME2).

Now, the biggest reason I think Underrail is such hot shit is because of its similarities to Super Metroid. I don't know if that was the intended comparison, but the subtle electronic music, gloomy look, and maze-like world all had Super Metroid written all over it. As a result, Underrail also makes you want to snoop around every corner like a dog looking for truffles, and has the same type of relaxing atmosphere. You could also compare it to Dark Souls.

And thank Perun, there's no battle music.

If there's anything else to point out, it's that the combat has its shit together. It's just the right ratio of strategy, character building and luck. I always felt like hot shit after beating a tough group of enemies. It's also not above cracking some jokes. There's never too much of them and they're generally funny. One that stood out to me was a drunk at Core City named Guzomir (a local equivalent to Cornholio).

TL;DR just play Underrail if you haven't. It's quality shit.

 

[normie]

I will, but I've been pushing off playing it since the expansion was announced, then thinking it would be soon

I can't give in now

 

[Yosharian]

like that Morinth business in ME2

That's a pretty random reference for a thread about Underrail

 

[Trashos]

Brofisted the OP, but I don't really agree that the writing is bland. UR has very good story and characters. NPC characterization is masterfully done, sometimes within just a couple of lines of dialogue. It also features some (rare but) really nerdy discussions on tailoring, biology, batteries etc, which is rare to see and I welcome it. I agree that the amount of writing is just right. But bland? No.

 

[Agame]

while that means the writing is bland, it knows how to get to the point and it's devoid of all autism. I never got the feeling that it was written by fat neckbeards (like that Morinth business in ME2).

Agreed, it IS bland, but it gets the job done and doesnt get in the way of the game, unlike a certain other Fallout inspired game...

Spoiler

Yes I do mean: ATOM "Its totally literary bro, you just need a higher IQ" RPG...

Super Metroid.

Thats a neat reference, now that you mention it, it really does have that feel with the tunnel system aesthetic.

 

[Forest Dweller]

I've been playing Underrail since the end of last summer. It was the first game recommended to me by the Dex, though what finally sold me on it was that it was made in Serbia.

 

[Trashos]

I mean OK, some people call even Kafka's writings bland, because they are not full of adjectives and parallelisms, and they are not out to punch the reader emotionally. If you want to call that bland, be my guest. I call it "Thank goodness!"

Now, don't get me wrong, I can appreciate writers at the other end of the spectrum too. Honore de Balzac is awesome, and within the realm of RPGs Avellone is pretty talented as well. The problem here is that a lot of writers think they can do this style, while they can't.

TLDR: To me UR reads like someone/some people poured their heart and soul in the writing of this game. It is just not the heart and soul of Jerry the Punk. Fortunately.

 

[Agame]

Trashos I agree, "simple" writing can be very powerful, many bad/hack writers unfortunately equate good writing with the "purple prose" phenomena. Leading to abominations like Pillars of Eternity.

someone/some people poured their heart and soul in the writing of this game

And that is wonderful, but it does not mean they are a great writer. The writing for UR is functional, and I am happy with that, it fits the game perfectly. Now if you are trying to say UR writing is on par with Kafka I will just refer you to that jolly black fellow above...

 

[Trashos]

And that is wonderful, but it does not mean they are a great writer. The writing for UR is functional, and I am happy with that, it fits the game perfectly. Now if you are trying to say UR writing is on par with Kafka I will just refer you to that jolly black fellow above...

No, of course it is not on par with Kafka. I think the reason why I used that analogy is clear.

I do believe that UR's writing shows great skill in NPC characterization, though.

 

[Twiglard]

I don't really agree that the writing is bland. UR has very good story and characters. NPC characterization is masterfully done, sometimes within just a couple of lines of dialogue.

They could've done another pass over Junkyard's initial quests. The early game gives an impression of shitty writing. Once it opens up, it's as you said. YMMV.

It also features some (rare but) really nerdy discussions on tailoring, biology, batteries etc, which is rare to see and I welcome it.

It's PhrygianDominant being awesome and a fucking polymath. Even minutiae of his stuff on medicine is accurate (see logs on the morgue terminal). He lists an obscure off-label pill for insomnia. Disclaimer: I have insomnia.

 

[chucktooth manbare]

I've said it before, I'll say it again: this is the smartest game I've ever played, and that includes the writing/dialogue.

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

I am the very unpopular opinion of not liking this game. I appreciate what it does, how it does it, and it's well made as far as a retro-rpg goes. But I don't have fun. Everything feel like a slug to me and I can't enjoy it: neither gameplay, nor story.

 

[Lord Commissar Alexer]

Is the Addon finally finished?

 

[aeroaeko]

Some random stranger on the internet bought it for me because I joked about being too poor. I have never so much as installed it and unfriended / blocked him on steam. I still feel bad about it.

 

[Tweed]

Is the expansion coming out this year?

 

[chucktooth manbare]

I am the very unpopular opinion of not liking this game. I appreciate what it does, how it does it, and it's well made as far as a retro-rpg goes. But I don't have fun. Everything feel like a slug to me and I can't enjoy it: neither gameplay, nor story.

That's how I feel about the vast majority of games I try to play, but I'm the exact opposite with underrail; it's hard to put down. I can spend weeks at a time on it.

 

[luj1]

I am the very unpopular opinion of not liking this game. I appreciate what it does, how it does it, and it's well made as far as a retro-rpg goes. But I don't have fun. Everything feel like a slug to me and I can't enjoy it: neither gameplay, nor story.

Midlife crisis

 

[Edija]

It is probably the best RPG made in a decade, but Deep Caverns is just so poorly designed and conceived, it really shits on the whole experience. As much as I like the game, and as much as I'm waiting for Expeditions to hit to start a new playthrough, I wish Styg would redesign the whole area and give it some direction. Now it is just a massive time sink with a lot of backtracking.

 

[Beggar]

In my first playthrough I was addicted to it. Yet I got tired of it pretty fast. Few re-runs and I don't wanna launch it anymore. You can spend lots of time fucking with it, mechanics are great. But it doesn't have any soul. I would rate Pathfinder and Divine Divinity higher

 

[just]

it brings out my autism