The Underside is an exploration based action platformer in the vein of games like Castlevania, Metroid, and Cave Story.
Set on a flat planet, called The World, The Underside begins with the legend of the World’s creation at the hands of a figure known as the Almighty King. When evil overtakes the surface of the world, the Almighty King decides to start anew by flipping the flat World upside down, with the upper side of the World now becoming the neglected Underside, and the blank canvas on the under side of the World now becoming the Overside.
You play a character named Ip, who is thrust from the prosperous world of the Overside into the dark depths the Underside. All the while, the once-benevolent Almighty King is on the verge of destroying his creation. Throughout his adventure, Ip must find his way back to the Overside, and maybe prevent the World from being destroyed while he’s at it.
The game’s world, characters, plot threads, and dialogue are heavily inspired by Earthbound/Mother 2, and are quirky, whimsical, and sometimes a little strange.
The Underside has been under development since early 2005.
February 11th, 2013 at 4:42 am
Still waiting…
February 16th, 2013 at 11:12 am
So, is this ever going to be finished? Or is this considered abandoned after 6 years?
March 8th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
I like how the very earliest comment predicts a release date of 20XX.
April 11th, 2013 at 3:11 am
Hey there, I ask that you don’t abandon this game, please. It has so much potential; it would be a shame to let it go to waste. Here’s hoping for your motivation to kick in.
April 14th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Yeah, it’s a super rare playable action trip! Umanity needs that game!
May 5th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Periodically checking on this game a couple times a year for several years and no changes in a long time. I was really hoping that with the plethora of release platforms for a game like this development would start up again. Steam, XBL, PSN and most recently the OUYA console all seem like they are perfect for this game. With the popularity of indie games it really seems like a shame for this game not to make its mark.
May 5th, 2013 at 8:31 pm
it’s not much, but it’s a start: https://t.co/ZK2DcN75RU
i’ve actually got it running on a google nexus 7 at full speed, so a OUYA port might not actually be out of the question. but that’s a bridge i’ll have to cross when the game is actually a game again, hahaha :^)
May 15th, 2013 at 8:50 pm
I am not sure how to contact Mr. Podunkian. I have already sent him two Emails, but it seems there is no response. If anyone has a better way of contacting Arthur Lee, I would really appreciate it! Thank you.
May 22nd, 2013 at 2:06 am
Still waiting for Merry Gear Solid 3. Yeah I’ve given up on asking you to finish the Underside.
August 1st, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Mr. Podunkian, Sir, I would just like to say that the game you have here is complete joy to my life. Though not finished, it is just a pleasant and almost reminiscent game that feels like it is meant to be played. A complete special experience. I do hope that one day in the future we will all be able to rejoice at your accomplished masterpiece.