Game Composer Breaks Down ASGORE from UNDERTALE

Today we're listening to the Asgore theme from Undertale! Undertale music continues to surprise me in very unique ways. Agore at first seemed like just another boss battle theme, but I quickly got reminded of how unique Toby Fox 's composing style can be. Micro tones... Who would have thought...

[DaviVasc]

Dang. Micro tones. Who would have thought.

[mtlytl]

Man he really discovered the entire lore of asgore surprisingly well by just his music

[milkmanmaya]

the fact that he could distinguish toriels leitmotif and how her and asgore are related in some way both by marriage and motivation just from the song is insane, toby fox is such a legend

[Alureon]

I’ve never played Undertale, but from what I understand this is the theme that plays when Asgore has to kill you to save the underground and break the barrier. He doesn’t want to hurt you, but at the same time he knows he has to. That’s probably why the theme sounds tragic.

Edit: Thank you all so much for the likes! :D

[jackbeavis]

6:41 perseverance? He literally discovered determination through song, this man and Toby are both amazing

[puglife]

“Oh it’s over already?” Is one of the most consistent undertale music reactions I’ve ever seen.

[AliSquish]

"I am not sure if Asgore is a good guy or a bad guy"
Man I think THIS is what makes the theme stand out so much because it's blurry in the end. It's heroic, but yet tragic. It's empowering and exciting, but bittersweet and intimate. It's not black or white, but some shade of moral gray.

I think Asgore is a tragic hero, and I loved your interpretation of this theme <3 you've earned a sub from me

[GrimmHooke]

The repetitive nature of the song is definitely intentional, since Asgore has done this so many times before - and it is melancholic, as he's not happy about it, every repetition breaking his heart a little more. Such a great observation! I love how much you can tell about the story just from hearing the music.

[peeeeeeeeeeaf]

making your music impossible to play on a normal piano is some insane gatekeeping and i respect the hell out of it

[shaishavpathak]

“Dang. There’s a lot of… strange things going on here.”
You just summed up the entire Undertale Soundtrack.

[deluxeloy]

You know, I was aware Toby is an eccentric character. He plays by his own rules, he knows what he finds important, he has a vision and doesn't waver. He makes insane long-term plans, he does things nobody else does - or even can! - and follows all the way through.

I already knew there was nobody like him, and that was BEFORE he pulled the microtone bullshit I only learned about today. This man is a treasure.

[hnglbanana]

what makes the melody at 5:14 (toriel's leitmotif) even more insane is that it's a leitmotif designed to fit 3/4 time that's been stretched out for this song that's in 4/4. absolutely crazy how music alone can show asgore's connection to toriel while also highlighting how vastly different they are

[DavrK]

this man literally FELT and HEARD determination through the music. insane

[supervak]

As a fan of undertale it made me tear up when you essentially just accurately described Asgore's character using music alone. It's so incredible how much a soundtrack is capable of

[Pixelhurricane]

It amazes me how Asgore in the game is set up to be the tragic hero that doesn't *want* to kill you, but believes he *has* to for the greater good, and you figured all of that out perfectly just by analyzing the chords.

That is SERIOUSLY impressive music theory, you make me want to learn way more about composition! It's so interesting to see it through an expert perspective like this

[CurvishSundown]

Fun fact about a section of this theme for those that haven't played Undertale: 9:44, the "upbeat" sounding part? That's actually the Game Over theme. Its incorporated into the Asgore theme here, but it is note by note the Game Over theme when you die. The Game Over screen always urges you to push on and keep trying, and to stay filled with

D E T E R M I N A T I O N

[VardinTar]

If he knew the game lore this would be so deep. You pretty much nailed his character, the king of monsters who’s losing his motivation, a soft character that is forced to be the ruler and does what he must for his people.

[legionofmetal]

You are very clearly gifted. You described Asgores character by merely listening to and explaining how the song feels and words PERFECTLY. Extremely well done. There are few people like you that can do that.

[ShadowplayCats]

A feeling of perseverance you say. Perhaps you could also say a feeling of.. determination?

[JimmyRei]

It is important to remember, "Bergentrucking" comes from the german mythology of "The King Under The Mountain" (which Asgore literally is.) And ASGORE itself is mixes in liberally two leitmotifs you have heard throughout the game - "Determination", which is the track that plays when you die and need to restart, and "Heartache" - the song which plays during Toriel's boss fight.

The song itself plays its own story. Asgore is the King Under the Mountain. He hates his duty, but does it anyway. He is "Determined" to finish the job, but his heart aches to do so. This song also confirms, more or less, that he is Toriel's husband - though the game plays coy with that right up to the point of the battle. Like so many other music pieces, the music is a vital part of telling the story of the character you are fighting.

Additionally, ASGORE is one of the few fighting music tracks which includes instrumentation, not just chiptune sounds. It is a critical, though often overlooked part of the soundtrack, that instruments *only* appear in fight music when your enemies are truly, actually, trying to kill you.