Ten years ago, Toby Fox launched a video game that would become one of the most important indie role-playing games of all time. “Undertale” features story-driven gameplay with moral choice systems and player agency, creating a unique world where you can avoid violence or even befriend your enemies. It also centers on a quirky sense of humor that often breaks the fourth wall to challenge conventional game narratives.
Fox also created the soundtrack for “Undertale,” which has just as big a following as the game itself. The songs are gripping while evoking nostalgia with an 8-bit sound palette. They also have a tongue-in-cheek playfulness that complements the gameplay.
Now the game’s creator has opened up his original songs to reinterpretation with a new album called “Undertale (10-Year Anniversary Remixes). In his fall newsletter, Fox called it “an album of electronic UNDERTALE arrangements curated by Monstercat & Firaga Records. Many different artists worked very hard to put this album together, and the creativity shines through.”
The electronica remixes are crafted by Haywyre, No Mana, Øneheart, Pegboard Nerds, PrototypeRaptor, RoBKTA, RoboRob, Tokyo Machine, Vector U, and VGR. Øneheart kicks the album off with “Fallen Down,” but the Pegboard Nerds wrap the album up with one of Fox’s most famous songs: “Megalovania.”
The fast-paced piece plays in “Undertale” during the final boss battle against Sans on the Genocide Route. Its quick tempo and use of chromaticism build tension for the fight.
Fox wrote the song before “Undetale” was even created. He named it “Megalovania” partially after a song called “Megalomania” from the 1994 RPG “Live A Live.” However, in a conversation with”Live A Live” composer Yoko Shimomura, he explained how the song came about.
“First of all, I was 15 years old, okay? I was working on a project, and I actually just wanted to use ‘Megalomania’ in it,” he said. “However, In order to do that, I would have to remake it. And so after a few minutes of trying to transcribe it, I thought ‘this is too hard, wouldn’t it be easier to just make a new track?’ So I tried to do so, inspired by ‘Megalomania’ and another song.As for why it’s called “Megalovania”, the theme of the project was Halloween, so I thought adding ‘Vania’ so the end made sense… Transylvania = Vampire = Halloween…was my chain of thoughts.”
To celebrate Undertale’s 10th anniversary, we’re checking out the original version, the new remix, and a jaw-dropping piano cover.
First up, the original. Fox’s original oozes with energy. Just listening to the song will take you right back to the boss fight in your mind.
The Pegboard Nerds gave the song an Electro House remix that makes you want to get up and dance, rather than staying on the couch. However, they retain many of the same old-school video game sounds to tie into the nostalgia.
Finally, we have a solo piano rendition by YouTuber Tehishter. Beginning with an enormous classical-style intro, the pianist plays the melody on its own before adding octaves of the bass line in his left hand.
“Undertale has been one of the most impactful games I have played in a very long time,” he wrote on the video description. “It has a depth to it that I don’t see very often in gaming, and it’s an amazing breath of fresh air (and tears, many many tears). It has become a big inspiration to me at the moment, and I hope I can share it with you guys.”
Now it’s your turn to celebrate Undertale’s 10th anniversary with the sheet music for “Megalovania”:
