BATTLE AGAINST A TRUE HERO Confuses Game Composer

Today we are finally featuring some Undertale music here in the channel, and it's Battle Against a True Hero! The Undertale soundtrack is legendary. Even I, who didn't play the game, have heard some of it. It was fun to break down Battle Against a True Hero and try to uncover it's meaning from the perspective of an outsider to Undertale!

[DaviVasc]

Glad to finally be covering Undertale music here in the channel! This one was so cool. I gotta do more Undertale videos soon.

[exomancer]

A somewhat important thing to note with Undertale music is that it's composed in a 24-tone system.

[KlausiboyZ]

1:10 "So punchy" Undyne would take that as a compliment

[tristangoncalves]

If I remember correctly this battle takes place at the one point where you truly take the plunge into being wholly evil, up until that point you've killed everyone you've encountered but it was always a fight, in this case you attempt to kill a child who clearly trusted you and was not a threat and that is where the "true hero" intervenes

[wojtekthegreat]

Dude has never played undertale but comprehends the story and fight of undyne just by the music - this is a true testament to how much of a master toby fox is at his craft

[Lusius]

Minor spoilers ahead, just a quick warning for that:

So, this song plays during a fight only encountered in the 'genocide' route (aka the evil route) and it signifies the point if no-return. Up untill this fight, you can still diverge from the evil path to take a neutral path instead (except having killed everyone before). As soon as you reach this fight; you're effectively locked into the evil path. The person you are fighting gains a boost of extreme energy/strength through determination to stop you, which makes her the last hope of the underground. And she has trained all her life for this exact situation. But not only does she know that, if you beat her, the underground is doomed... She also knows that, if she doés beat you, she will also die (because the strength of determination is lethal to monsters). So there is happiness, because she gets to fullfill her duty and destiny, and because she gained the extra strength through determination to be able to actually stand up against the player. But there is also sadness, because she knows she will die no matter what, and because she knows that her failing will make you unstopable. So this is where the duality of the song comes from. Both the hope of stopping you, and the breaking truth that everything is lost if she fails.

[enemykiller]

Spoilers up ahead, because you mentioned that you never played Undertale, but the "gentle" part is actually a motif from her love interest, Alphys, a nerd, goofy, and a weeb scientist whose also in-love with Undyne. That part really hit me, because of how dramatic it sounds. Undyne knowing that she might die, still never fails to remember her friends, especially Alphys. You mentioning that the chords give off the "happy" and the "sad" emotional weight onto them really symbolizes how happy Undyne is in meeting Alphys, and how both of them would be devastated if Undyne loses that battle. What more can I say, that sly dog really is a master of creating such beautiful music. It's terrifying.

[KaptenOl.]

7:01 You’re correct. The song playes when you fight undyne the undying, who you can only fight in genocide, and she is represented as trying to stop your rampage once and for all

[THEGREATPAPYRUS]

11:40 Wow, the closer you are to victory - the sadder is the song. Unbelievable, Toby Fox is a genius

[elisa.alexander]

*The wind is howling.*

The amount of focus and adrenaline and DETERMINATION I feel when hearing that calm (but surprisingly fast and precise) piano in the beginning is unmatched.

[tychotheyokaiguy]

It's so unusual how, when someone explains music and the undertones slash emotions to music, you start to hear it every where(the first time this happened to me was Ace Attorney/Apollo Justice, during the Smuggler/Concert Trial learning how to hear shifts and sudden changes to music), and in a weird way, but I can't think of another way to explain it; "Learn the emotions of music." Or I guess the emotions baked into the music.

Like when I listen to Psychonauts music, specifically Gloria's Theatre or PSI King's... entire level. You can really begin to get even deeper understandings

[NinjaPickle]

As a fan of your channel that got here from the Bloodborne soundtrack reactions, you've just open a floodgate of views by covering Undertale lol. Excited to see more from you, keep it up!

[themightyai-]

I think I know why I like these videos now; I love video game music and you explain WHY I love it. I can never quite describe the feelings, but when you go through the chords and leitmotifs I always feel like "YES! YES! That what I am feeling!"

[NeiroYT]

7:46 zunpet works! now you can check any touhou song, try Entrusting This World to Idols ~ Idolatrize World

[necromancer]

Your channel really is super underrated. Like the analysis and the explaination on what the notes mean adds a lot to the reaction and analysis and makes watching your vids a lot more enjoyable imo.

[plush_bun_bun]

You made me realise that I love watching passionate people. It makes me so happy to see other people happy I can't even explain it.

[raglock]

A very welcome surprise.
Learning more about one of my favorite osts ever made so many years later is awesome.

[shermaniac]

Hearing this in music-y terms is so enlightening! The true hero is your opponent here, and I feel like there's always more "sad chords" toward the end of a phrase, and more at the end of the song, meaning it starts out heroic, the opponent comes at you fired up and ready to win, but towards the end not only does the fact the song lasted long mean you're closer to winning - a central theme of the game is your determination. You WILL win. This song knows how the story ends. Undyne comes out heroic and strong, but you WILL beat her, and that is sad. Happy notes to sad notes. Thank you for this analysis!

[Aya_Albion]

Amazing video, as always! I’ve never played Undertale, but its music has already captured my heart, it could be because of Mitsuda Lick! This piece sounds heroic and yet fragile. I feel like kind of tragic but brave resolution from it. It makes me feel like I’m burning out with impatience. I got so emotional. I should definitely play the game! Thanks to your channel, l can get to know amazing game music like this, Davi. It’s a really great thing!

[Vexnatos]

10:58 That's not just any progression, that's a *Royal Road* progression, which is all over Japanese music, and adds a bit of melodrama to the piece. Compare to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" and "Together Forever".