Wow ...just where to begin ? There's so much to say about this game it has its own universe and story to tell!
Underhero is a game hard to describe, it's a mix of RPG with 2D platforming with completely different type of turn-based combat which the developers made and called timing-based combat, a new concept I haven't played a game like this before, and it works perfectly for this gem.
Story
You're the underling of the evil kingdom, a disposable minion now crowned a hero! hence where the naming came "underling/underdog/hero" at least that's what I got from the game.
The hero fails and you have the responsibility to take their position by saving the world and taking your own path to it.
The game has a lot of extra dialogues that you can activate by pressing LT and your sword Elizabeth will say something on the current room you're in, monsters also have dialogues that you can talk with them in battle and they give more dialogues if you spare them, every character feels like they have their own personality and designed to stand out in the game, a remarkable effort was spent in writing all of their text.
It left me tearful at the end, the story and how it progresses and ends is very emotional, the ending is so outstanding I had to take time to appreciate it, I cannot share more due to obvious spoilers, but everything builds up to a perfect ending.
Combat
So what I said about it being time-based combat, it's very easy to understand how it works by watching a gameplay video, but to go further into details you can jump/duck to evade attacks, you have a shield to block/parry and a sword, a swing and a hammer to attack.
You don't need to wait for your turn in combat to attack you can start swinging whenever you want the only thing that limits you is stamina, which charges on its own or faster when you drink a potion or block or evade an attack, monsters have tells in which you can remember to know how to avoid their upcoming attack, you can time your attack with the game's music to score a ~Groovy~ combo which deals extra damage, you can also use your sword Elizabeth to give you hints on how to fight a monster.
Every time you level up you select one of 3 upgrades. Hp, Stamina or Damage.
You also find and buy upgrades for your hp, or your weapons/shield and stamina which adds abilities to some of them and enhances them.
Bribing: You can spare monsters by bribing them, throwing gold to them which ends the battle without killing them, once done you cannot fight that monster again but you can talk to them to get extra dialogue, there are no random encounters in this game you can see the monsters you're about to fight, killing them gives you much more XP than sparing them, though this isn't Undertale it is not inspired by it at all even if the name might make you think so, there isn't much to gain from sparing monsters, you just get less XP to make the game more difficult, end the battle faster and gain more dialogue.
Boss Battles, aren't really your average RPG boss fights, you don't just get in the time-based combat, they'll have several phases in which you can move freely and dodge attacks and set the conditions in which the boss gets to their vulnerable state then you can start the combat and attack them, this added a very satisfying boss fights that I truly enjoyed.
World
The world is quite big, the platforming isn't really perfect I feel like it could be better but it feels okay with this game I suppose, you have the forests, the snow levels the dark ones ...lava..its all very colorful and different.
There are various secrets and upgrades to obtain all over the world, side quests to do for certain npc's and such.
The castle which is your base was done in a very funny way, you're all minions to the evil king but you're treated like employees, you have a cafeteria, apartments to live in, ID cards and roles, it all feels very wholesome and nice to see them all act on their roles and have stuff like Taco Tuesday, it also has portals to other worlds.
There are cassettes scattered around the world, you can collect them all and play them at the save station.
Sometimes places will feel like a maze but luckily there are maps in most areas which can show where you are and where you should go.
A good handful of mini games that are very fun and tricky.
Also your character writes everything in a journal which you can access in your inventory in case you forgot what you were supposed to do, it also contains some texts that you need to remember, a handy tool to have rather than having to take a screenshot or write things down in a paper.
Shortly? Underhero created a new concept of combat that worked absolutely perfect, brings out a very colorful world and a new take on hero stories by making the underling the new crowned hero, with a heartwarming and well done story and music to set the atmosphere this game excels in every corner, truly a work of art.
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