10 Video Game Bosses You DON'T Want To Beat
7. Toriel - Undertale
"But... but Sans!", cried the loser. "Sans is much cooler, and he's a meme! too", they add, slinging back another can of Gamer Blast taurine-and-poison drink. Yet no matter how much they angrily post otherwise on 4Chan, they are incorrect.
Toriel hurts more to beat.
The (quite literal) mother figure of Undertale, Toriel's role is the one of a carer, a protector, and nostalgic vanguard of a memorial to the idea of a perfect life. Toriel, as a big... sheep-thing in a poncho, sees the player as a way to preserve that memory, to retake lost innocence, and to wrap the past up in a big ball of wool (presumably sheared from her own backside). Yet, for all her attempts to keep the player safe, most will choose harsh reality over a warm, cosy lie.
Despite the opening to the game being something of a classroom lesson in morality (with Toriel repeatedly telling you you can use your words to mitigate conflict, instead of your fists), eventually you'll be presented with the opportunity to leave her care, and the only way to do so is to engage in a battle with Toriel herself.
Despite knowing the only way to exit the underworld is to take a life (in complete contrast to all of her lessons), Toriel lets the player leave afterwards, defeated (emotionally, in particular).
Yet, from here, the player can choose to heed Toriel's teachings, and use kindness instead of kicks.