Underhero

I think Underhero is genuinely one of the best games I've had the pleasure to play, and experience,...,, it's so much fun when you sit down to play it with a friend who's already beaten the game and LIES TO YOU AND TELLS YOU BLASPHEMOUS THINGS, BOB!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10/10 paper castle games needs more games for me to eat up

Underhero is... many things.
A true gaming experience is something that uses its many features to create something that is much more than the sum of its parts, and I believe Underhero accomplishes this.
Polished pixel game, JRPG with a timing / stamina system, puzzle platformer, and a somewhat whimsical tale of a melancholic JRPG minion-turned-unexpected-hero of the story.
Gameplay focus is roughly split between timing-based combat (all offensive actions such as sword / hammer / slingshot use various amounts of stamina, you can choose to block damage with shield for defensive play or parry enemy attacks with shield for extra stamina gain) and puzzle exploration platforming (solving traditional conveyer-style puzzles for keys to unlock doors to progress, and a couple of scavenger hunts to obtain a few extra upgrades and goodies). I'd say to a new player that they'll either like the gameplay or really, really hate it. I really liked the combat, but the puzzle elements did feel a bit tedious and exhausting by the end of the final dungeon (one time, I ran into a platform collision bug that prevented me from getting one of the last keys and I resorted to contacting the devs directly for brute force fix / puzzle bypass), but JRPG puzzles are what they are.
As for the story... I've read a few reviews complaining about how Underhero wasn't really as 'subversive' it initially presented itself as. I think I understand what they mean as I've fully played the game myself and I somewhat agree...
The initial plot setup is unique. A lowly, nameless minion known as a 'Masked Kid' enacts a hasty plan to crush the chosen hero, Scarf Kid, with a huge chandelier. This works better than anticipated at the cost of minion friendly fire. As a result of this opening twist, Masked Kid's boss, Mister Stitches, a whimsical but also intimidating figure, directs the Kid to return the stones to the guardians of the realm. In addition, Elizabeth IV, the sassy, blunt, talking enchanted blade wielded by the recently deceased hero, convinces the Kid to be her new partner in her quest to defeat Stitches, promising that they can keep any treasure they find along the way.
It's been said that Masked Kid is a passive, silent protagonist and it doesn't contribute to any sort of big JRPG critique, and that's valid. The first three worlds mainly consist of Masked Kid and Elizabeth traveling through worlds, talking to wacky NPCs, opening locked doors and defeating the various bosses, Stiches's reluctant subordinates, which feature an enormous moth queen, a former hero-turned-ghostly-armored-vagrant who pines after his glory days, and a large salamander volcano monster who has been nursing a poorly hidden crush on his boss. They all question why Stiches chose to initiate such an odd charade in the first place, but no solid answer is revealed until the fourth world, an underground laboratory in Stiches's castle.
(Spoiler territory for anyone looking to buy the game on sale and play through the game blind...)
Things get more interesting here, as the Kid and Elizabeth encounter Sitches's right shark on a scooter, T. Bur, who reveals that the hero's journey that defined Masked Kid and Scarf Kid and Elizabeth... is all part of a perpetual, artificial cycle that is enforced by Stiches, who believes that the world will otherwise end due to the whisperings of a 'mysterious presence'.
It's a very interesting twist that stuns the various NPCs, and it's something that greatly affects Masked Kid based on their journal entries.
The final dungeon gauntlet is a long stretch of tedious puzzles, plus a group of around twenty Masked Kids who stand between the protagonist and their final destination. Of course, after their various experiences speaking to NPCs and learning about the grief that Stiches causes for numerous people, plus T. Bur begging them not to kill Stiches regardless of the cycle's foundation, they're a lot les eager to kill their fellow minions, and Elizabeth encourages the path of bribery or avoidance.
"I told them to fight without giving them another choice... it was wrong of me."
The final battle ends with Masked Kid and Elizabeth victorious over Stiches due to the help of the three boss units and healing potions tossed by the minion crowd, Paper Mario style. Masked Kid holds Elizabeth aloft, and then shows mercy to Stiches and breaks down sobbing.
Then comes the final twist, where the eccentric quiz show host, the Puzzleman, appears and starts ranting about how Masked Kid ruined the cycle, and then drags them and Elizabeth into a 3D white void. It was an interesting and abstract twist. The true final battle ends with the protagonist winning due to the power of friendship (NPC text boxes become platforms that let you attack the boss when they appear to be unreachable in the air).
The Underhero NPCs all move on with their lives, while Masked Kid and Elizabeth decide to keep traveling through the void to find another adventure, with Masked Kid noting in their journal that they want to find a way to make up for the dubious things they did on their original journey. Apparently, this leads them to the world featured in the title screen and beyond.
Overall, Underhero isn't a 'subversive' RPG like Undertale, and that's why I like Underhero more than the petty, condescending, postmodern / nihilistic narrative featured by Undertale and Toby Fox.
The various parts of Underhero, on their own, aren't that original... but with the fun gameplay, great visuals, awesome music, and whimsical story... the devs crafted a narrative experience that stood out, something that still resonates with me to this day.

Underhero is a platforming focused take upon Paper Mario with a couple of interesting twists to the story and premise. It can feel a little grindy, but has enough unique takes to make it worth trying.

good game. pretty great story. underrated game. play.

Just be aware that there is a secondary mechanic of "Rythm combat" that I have gotten through my first 6 hours completely ignoring because I play all games on mute (and suck at matching rythm anyways, especially with charged attacks)

Seriously fun though, and I love how absolutely inept the characters you meet seem to be. Hell, even your magic weapon is an idiot in the good way.

This game is amazing. The storytelling, the music, and the character design are all perfect, and all the interactions are filled with whimsy, charm and/or silliness. Unfortunately, the game has its shortcomings. I encountered a couple visual bugs in my play-through, and there are portions of the game where the screen flashes very bright. I am not usually photosensitive, but throughout the portions of the game where the flashes were prominent, I would regularly have to take breaks to rest my eyes. If you like RPGs, platformers, or rhythm games, definitely add this too your collection. It is a masterwork, one of a kind game that I would not pass up if it looks interesting to you!

I'm pleasantly surprised by the game as a whole and it quickly became a favorite of mine. I was attracted by its Paper Mario-like style and combat, as well as the whimsical music which was awesomely done! You're playing a story with the freedom to find Easter eggs, lore, and something funny within each level.
The cons that I see a few other players have mentioned:
Yes, the game does feel slow in both combat and character speed, however, this is not as big of an issue as some make it out to be. This is a character-driven game. It does not hurt the gameplay and forces the player to slow down and become acquainted with the current level/world that's created. Speed is not necessary for this game in any way, learn to slow down and enjoy the atmosphere that the developers created.
"The combat is tricky, a wrong move and the player will be punished harshly". This is also a result of players trying to rush the game. The combat is slow but each enemy is unique when fighting, there are subtle cues that each enemy has that will tell you which attack they plan to use, giving the player enough time to react correctly. Rushing will cause constant mistakes, missed attacks, and great punishment as some enemies can attack more than once at a given time. The game will teach you how the combat works, including stamina and the rhythm aspect (which is not necessary to complete the game but will allow the player to perform stronger attacks). Keep in mind that the stamina bar plays a huge part in the combat, waste it all in one go and your character will tire out quickly resulting in them needing to rest and being unable to react. Every successful dodge will result in quick stamina regeneration. If stamina runs out, there is a defense option that can help you recover faster. This is all explained in the game for those who pay attention lol.
lastly, yes the game can have some tedious tasks, mainly lots of wandering and going back and forth. If you are into exploration this will be nothing to you. It may annoy those who are not, but other than this it's not a big issue to worry about. I will emphasize talking to the NPC characters as what some say will help you greatly.
Overall, I highly recommend this game! I wanted to discuss primarily the cons from other reviews as l feel they are not proper judgments of the game. If I were to talk about everything that I love about this game it would be too long with spoilers lol.