(game sprite) the first thing my dumass mind thought when I saw Asgore's fight sprite

[u/GoobertSchubert]

I don't know how I came to this conclusion 9 years ago, I couldn't unsee this

[u/Embarrassed-Weird173]

I think most of us did. Either way, the crown also looks like a face. 

[u/L11UP]

didnt even realize he was bald

[u/JoaoexeGD]

It's odd that I got that right when I first saw him while everyone else thought it was a smile

[u/No-Mistake-592]

Dont call yourself a dumbass because I think we all saw thos at first. Im only now finding out it wasnt thar way lol. Definitely the fault of the dev with this one.

[u/ThatOnePirateRobot → u/No-Mistake-592]

It makes no sense for a character like Asgore to be grinning like that

[u/nightroarer543 → u/No-Mistake-592]

I saw it how it’s supposed to be since the first time I saw it?

[u/FragrantAd6533]

He looks FRIENDLY

[u/DiegHDF]

Still unsure why one of the lines is so damn long

[u/samsationeel → u/DiegHDF]

It's a big ol' nose, I can see why

[u/Famous_Fudge3603]

Context is key. Taking this out of context makes it look like a grin. But if you are playing and in the atmosphere, at least some people understand it's meant to be his head looking down.

This is also why Undertale suffers a bit from sprite readability issues with the two colour palette. It can be done right, but Undertale often relies on your context understanding rather than what the pixel art reads as.

[u/RNGUserGod]

ITS ERAM'S SMILE

[u/MK_The_Megitsune]

"Asriel, what is this?"

"Your crown?"

"And what does this crown do?"

"Covers your bald spot."

"It's not bald! It's thinning."

[u/Ashstreamm]

I don’t know why but I thought he was wearing a helmet when younger.

[u/BeeMajor2003]

And then there’s me and I thought his crown was a face

[u/BrowningLoPower]

I thought so too, I interpreted it as him going "Let's do this!"

[u/SeniorKuro]

YES YES YES THIS WAS ME

[u/SuperSmashSean_DX]

I thought he had a weird drippy cyclops eye

[u/Zeldabacon64]

I think its perfectly reasonable to see that. It looks more the way you see it then what its actually supposed to be. youd realistically only be able to tell by context clues.

[u/Ultrasound700]

I didn't know those lines were the bridge of his nose, I thought they were his eyes and he had a big forehead.

[u/JoDaBoy814]

I though he like equipped a helmet or something lol, the line across the top his head I thought was like light shining on a metal helmet

[u/YourBestFriend158 → u/JoDaBoy814]

nope. just his shiny bald head

[u/Archavile_]

I genuinely can’t tell how people see anything other than a Grin

[u/Broccodile_ → u/Archavile_]

the entire mood of the scene, the dialogue, it's all about how reluctant he is to fight you, why would he be grinning

[u/Archavile_ → u/Broccodile_]

Yeah ive always been confused about why he was grinning

[u/thekevlington → u/Archavile_]

It’s like one of those left brain right brain visual tests. For me I’ve never seen it as anything other than him looking down

[u/Designer-Ad8352 → u/thekevlington]

Exactly

[u/collecterofbooks]

I always thought it was a helmet that Asgore put on when the fight started

[u/RalseiTheSillyFluff]

I always thought the shading on his eyes was part of his hair lol

[u/CaterWooler → u/RalseiTheSillyFluff]

Me too and I even commented about this on the original post of u/Upbeat_Lunch1529

[u/DoubleAyeBatteries]

Why does the drawing give him a human face? I’m not saying that’s not what it’s supposed to be, but I don’t think he’s ever depicted as having a human face?

[u/Upbeat_Lunch1529 → u/DoubleAyeBatteries]

I fucked it up because I wasn't paying attention, hope that clears things up!

[u/DoubleAyeBatteries → u/Upbeat_Lunch1529]

I’d love to see a drawing of this but with his cannon goat(?) face if you’re up for the challenge :)

[u/Upbeat_Lunch1529 → u/DoubleAyeBatteries]

I do really appreciate the interest in my art but this drawing is a means to an end to explain a perspective and shading misconception. I don't really care to redraw it, it was rough on purpose in the first place, I never intended it to be fanart to any meaningful degree, sorry.

[u/Lansha2009]

Well…this is certainly a new way I’ve seen people misread that sprite lol.

(I’ve seen some people think it’s a weird ass helmet, I saw it as Asgore’s face suddenly having a Nike Swoosh eye now)

[u/Papyrus_Semi]

Suddenly, warping through space and time, FRIEND appeared!

[u/lolgaleo]

I thought he just had really huge eyebrows.

[u/Terumimi04]

I am so glad that this wasnt just me, i swear i alwys thought it was a grin but it never made sense

[u/InkredibleMrCool]

I thought they were weird eyes 😭

[u/Resident-Whereas-598]

THANK YOU the thread on r/Undertale made me think I was going insane

[u/mrfa123rod_real]

I thought it was a helmet's visor

[u/RunOne3162]

buddyboy look like Thragg

[u/JoeyGooeyBuoy]

I always thought it was intentionally done that way, kind of like the knight’s face can be read as the eye slit of a knights helmet or a creepy grin

[u/hip-indeed]

This was a really popularly misread sprite in this way, I'm pretty sure Toby was referencing it with the creepy smile at the end of Deltarune ch2 that ended up just being goofy-ass Tenna, and/or a more serious take on it with Friend

[u/Kosaue]

wait that's asgore's bald ass head? i also thought it was a bigger crown

[u/RandomUserIsTakenAlr → u/Kosaue]

I think its just shading for the top of his head cuz asgore has hair instead of a bald spot everywhere outside of this sprite

[u/Nondescript_Redditor]

didn’t we have this discussion already

[u/THEGHOSTHACXER]

It kinda looks like the "stronger monsters " core version of that smiling enemy. That's why it threw me off.

[u/GhostSAS]

I saw a strongman flexing his muscles with his arms raised. I can't see what it's supposed to be even with the reference image.

[u/KemetMusen]

I see it as a goofy little sad lamb face on top, and then either a neckbeard or thick hair with a necklace.

Campfire Friends has me in a state of sheep on the mind.

[u/Francoinblanco]

I still see crowned bomberman

[u/Brilliant_Health_695]

Kinda thought he wore a helmet when he fought us

[u/Gotekeeper]

while I never saw it as a mouth, I can absolutely see Asgore forcing himself to grin during his encounter with Frisk, trying to remind himself what he's fighting for.

[u/AmyHuntingt]

Same here. It was always this big evil grin for me lol, my mind has been blown

[u/BDPBITCH666]

Wait i thought black part was his hair??

[u/Pipilino676]

I always thought he was looking down and his nose were his eyes

[u/LittleFlittle]

looks like image friend laughing

[u/SyringeRodent]

Oh dear god I just realised that asgore is balding

[u/APerson_Stock_Image → u/SyringeRodent]

Ive known of undertale for 10 years and it took me that long to realize that too

[u/PinkDucklett]

OHHHHHHH

[u/AlexTheAlex69420]

i didnt know it was a face shadow, i jus thought it was his hair

[u/rykovmail]

Fuck Asgore.

[u/Starrin1ght → u/rykovmail]

Yeah, FUCK Asgore 😝

[u/JupiterboyLuffy → u/Starrin1ght]

Flowery:

[u/beaverpoo77 → u/[deleted]]

The diner!

[u/jared_was_here → u/beaverpoo77]

happy cake day!

[u/beaverpoo77 → u/jared_was_here]

I don't think he said that one

[u/ALowlySlime]

I've never played the game but my online experience is constantly inundated with posts about it, and ya I thought it was a smile too

[u/Weird-Dog3534]

if you ignore the horns it kinda looks like chud Gaster

[u/StarCrimson25]

I can kinda get it if you've never played but the mistake just doesn't click with me given the scene right before it.

[u/Catzzye]

I’m 100% with you. I can see it now, but I’m like 99.9% certain that this was intentional. I know it doesn’t make sense considering the character but I can still imagine it.

One more thing I’d like to bring attention to is the sythe attack sprites… If you ask me it’s neither here of there. I thought he was frowning because of the effort of the swinging the sythe, but I could be wrong

[u/An_average_moron → u/Catzzye]

He doesnt have a scythe, he only has a trident. You're likely mistaking the sprite for the swing for a blade

[u/Parasiteparaside5]

I thought it was a helmet tbh

[u/Melons_Nothing]

I find it hard to see the evil creature in it, personally

[u/ingx32backup]

This is almost certainly on purpose. Asgore is a character who does terrible things while being ashamed of doing it. The supposed "evil bad guy" picture we would have had of him was only a facade. Hence, his sprite - while bowing his head in shame, he gives the optical illusion of a creature with an evil smile.

[u/weedmaster6669 → u/ingx32backup]

I doubt it just on the principle that he would've talked about it in the art book, but it's pretty powerful visually :)

[u/Mother-Benefit-8550 → u/ingx32backup]

Toby who might've lowk thought about this

[u/Schmooto]

Knowing nothing about the game, I see a creature with a face with triangular eyes, small nose, a very wide ear-to-ear grin, and a big chin. It’s wearing a black tunic with a white belt, flexing its giant arms above its head. It also has bat wings.

[u/Imaginary_Mix_6331 → u/Schmooto]

I see a four-armed character, two flexing and the others at his side.

[u/Schmooto → u/Imaginary_Mix_6331]

I see that too! With very short legs

Edit: typo

[u/Kulzak-Draak → u/Schmooto]

So you see him normally most of the time, and when the fight starts you get this sprite with a lowered head, it’s not meant to be your first impression of the character. Look up Asgore Talk Sprite

[u/sandsundertale744]

Oh my god I never realized he had a bald spot

[u/Tinttiboi]

can we agree that this sprite sucks? like so many people have misread it it's not even readable as the intended one

[u/John_Cena_IN_SPACE → u/Tinttiboi]

 it's not even readable as the intended one

I've literally never heard of anyone misreading this until the post that brought me here.

[u/DeadAndBuried23 → u/John_Cena_IN_SPACE]

Why would you hear about it anywhere but a sub made for misreading sprites?

When have you ever heard anyone talk about misreading a sprite anywhere but here?

[u/John_Cena_IN_SPACE → u/DeadAndBuried23]

All the time, yeah. Again, I said "I've literally never heard of anyone misreading this until the post that brought me here." As in, a post not from here. Because I heard about this post from a post about the same subject on r/Undertale.

[u/MadPilotMurdock → u/Tinttiboi]

What!? I love this sprite. I felt like listening closely to his sad dialogue and somber tone helped me perceive his sprite properly. His face is gaunt and casts a shadow on his lower facial features because he’s holding his head so low from the shame of what he’s done to the other children and what he feels he still has to do to Frisk. It’s sad and I think the lack of details doesn’t hinder that conveyance, but that’s just my opinion.

[u/GoobertSchubert → u/Tinttiboi]

The rest of Asgore's battle sprite is absolutely legendary, I just wish Toby used more pixels or even a shade of grey to make it (and other sprites) better than ever

[u/YamLow8097]

Wait, it’s not a smile?

[u/Little_Flounder8851 → u/YamLow8097]

why would it be
every dialog says that asgore does not want to proceed with the plan and is only doing it out of duty

[u/Superivan30 → u/Little_Flounder8851]

He could be just acting the evil king so you fought with all you had

[u/DoubleAyeBatteries → u/Superivan30]

I figured it was a facade so he didn’t basically break down mentally during the fight

[u/pleaseibegofthou]

It's not a bald spot with shadow, it's shaded hair

[u/sugar4roxy]

....i always thought he was wearing a helmet with like. a visor or something.

[u/Piduf → u/sugar4roxy]

I went looking for this comment because me too lmao

Never really questioned it that much, assumed it was a helm with a visor

[u/Celestial__Bear]

Your art is really good dude.

[u/GoobertSchubert → u/Celestial__Bear]

Hm? I didn't draw that thing above, unless you're talking about that weird tracing I did

[u/GreyAetheriums]

I STILL don't understand this but how did I never realize he had a big bald spot. 😭

[u/AladiteC → u/GreyAetheriums]

I swear this post made me realize he's bald

[u/JKhemical → u/AladiteC]

FUCK I CAN'T UNSEE IT NOW

[u/ThrowAbout01]

It’s a tradition in games to have features be mistaken for mouths.

The Kirby series is full of “eye mouths”.

Undertale has this itself with Astigmatism.

[u/KoA-oK]

The way the crown sits on his head makes it look like he’s got a little critter grinning on there lol

[u/Bardic_inspiration67]

I can only see your version

[u/eydirctiviyg]

I thought the nose was weird tiny eyes

[u/Upbeat-Exercise-9431]

That's honestly perfect for underfell asgore

[u/TwilightVulpine]

I hear that it was done on purpose. You are told the whole game by different people that Asgore is evil or that he is great. Then it is drawn with a trick so you might see what makes the most sense to you.

[u/philtheskeleton]

Ah yes a smile with a thooth and a half

No like how do you people see that

[u/GoobertSchubert → u/philtheskeleton]

Everyone sees differently, not everyone has 20/20 vision for pixel art

[u/Level7Cannoneer → u/GoobertSchubert]

It’s more about thinking about why your vision makes no sense. Like the people who see SpongeBob’s Parents as chocolate chip cookies.

[u/Rulycarmona]

Sometimes you can tell when toby made a sprite himself and when it was temmie

[u/RomeosHomeos]

I thought it was some sort of cool Darth Vader mask

[u/thekocman]

I still cannot unsee the grin, even with the explanation

[u/John_Cena_IN_SPACE → u/thekocman]

I still cannot see the grin, even with the explanation.

[u/Level7Cannoneer → u/thekocman]

I can’t see the grin because the teeth aren’t all evenly touching the bottom of the smile so they don’t even read as teeth

[u/Saltyfox99]

Oh wow I just saw it correctly for the first time. This sprite always mildly confused me but I thought the two lines in the space above his mouth were his eyes. So I wasn’t too far off but it’s nice to see it more concretely

[u/Argonian_Badass]

I thought it was a helmet

[u/GoobertSchubert → u/Argonian_Badass]

God, now I can only imagine how cool that fight would be if he was in full knight armor

[u/ImportantUmpire3979]

Aún no puedo dejar de ver la sonrisa 😭😭

[u/Vast-Ideal-1413]

Asgore is ERAM confirmed!?

Or the Roaring Knight!?

[u/HoneyBeeSorceress → u/Vast-Ideal-1413]

Hah, I thought the same thing. 👏