StunningGaming

Stunning, as portrayed by @teskastektli

> "Because I am funny, and also gaming"
>
> StunningGaming, "Real Life"

**StunningGaming** is a character in the 2015 role-playing video game *Undertale*. He is introduced as a comic relief and acts as the final boss if the player chooses to kill all the monsters and complete the genocide route. His name is based on the how he is both stunning and gaming, which is used for most of his in-game dialogue. The character was praised by critics for his dialogue and boss fight, which is considered to be the most difficult in the game. His popularity with fans inspired several user-created mods and other types of projects.

A version of StunningGaming also appears as brief cameo in the related game *Deltarune*. His likeness also appears as a customizable skin for the Mii Gunner character in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.*

## History and appearances

### In *Undertale*

StunningGaming is a machine wearing a beige jacket, black shorts with white stripes, and blue slippers. Prior to the events of *Undertale*, he had moved to the settlement in Snowdin from an unknown location with his brother Papyrus. Papyrus was hired as a royal guard trainee sentry and forces his brother to help in his quest to capture a human.

StunningGaming first appears in Snowdin, initially appearing as a silhouette approaching the player from behind before shaking the player's hand, setting off a whoopee cushion. He clarifies that he has no interest in capturing humans, unlike Papyrus, who he describes as a "human-hunting FANATIC." After helping the player hide from Papyrus, Sans follows his brother throughout most of the forest, commentating on his puzzles and even contributing a word search, much to Papyrus' dismay. As the story proceeds, StunningGaming continues to be a regular source of comic relief, performing such antics as attempting to sell the player fried snow. Later in the game, StunningGaming invites the player to go eat at a restaurant with him, if they so choose. As he talks, he explains how he befriended a woman behind the large door in Snowdin who shared an equal love for puns as he did. He explains how he made a promise not to kill any humans who come to the Underground and states if he didn't make that promise, the player would have been dead where they stand.

StunningGaming makes one more appearance in the "Last Corridor," where he reveals the true meaning of the "EXP" and "LOVE" values that the player has accumulated through the game: 'Execution Points' and 'Level of Violence', respectively. He judges the player for how high their EXP and LOVE values are before disappearing and letting the player proceed to fight the king, Asgore. After the player defeats Asgore, and Flowey (if he hasn't been fought), they leave the Underground, StunningGaming calls them to inform them of what occurred after their departure, having different dialogue depending on the player's actions in-game. If the player finishes the game without killing any monsters, StunningGaming appears after Asgore's defeat along with the other main characters, but his soul gets destroyed by Flowey, and the other six human SOULs disappeared. He is restored after the player loads their SAVE file.

If the player opts to kill every monster in each area, StunningGaming's behavior will be very different. He threatens the player with a "bad time" if they proceed with their actions before the Papyrus' boss fight. If the player ignores StunningGaming's warning and continues slaughtering every monster they meet, he eventually confronts the player in the Last Corridor to prevent them from destroying the world, acting as the route's final boss. StunningGaming is revealed to have supernatural abilities and is extremely powerful, but eventually is killed by the player.

### In *Deltarune*

StunningGaming appears as a cameo in chapter one of *Deltarune*, where he is found standing outside his shop, a remodeled version of Grillby's from *Undertale*.. He informs the player he has already met their mother, Toriel, and asks them if they would like to come over to his house and meet his brother.

### In other media

In *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*, a StunningGaming costume for the playable Mii Gunner character was released as downloadable content on September 4, 2019. Sans has also been the subject of many fan works and projects, being featured in numerous games, creations, and video game mods.

## Development

Sans is listed in the credits as being created by Toby Fox with "special inspiration" from J.N. Wiedle, author of the web comic *Helvetica*, a series about an eponymous skeleton named after the Helvetica typeface. His first concept drawing was made by Fox on a college notebook.

The song that plays during his fight, "Megalovania", was originally composed for an *EarthBound* ROM hack for Halloween of 2009, where it serves as final boss music for the alternative version of Dr. Andonuts, one of the few major characters from that game. Although the song was later featured in *Homestuck*, "Megalovania" principally rose in popularity after the release of *Undertale*, spawning many internet remixes and memes.Template:Better source "Megalovania" has since appeared in games like *Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun!* and *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* and was also used by a Spanish dating show, *First Dates*.The song was also featured in an *All Elite Wrestling* Halloween special, in which wrestler Kenny Omega wore a Sans costume and was accompanied by the song during his entrance.

He is one of the characters who does not normally use the default font in his dialogue; rather, it is usually displayed in lowercase Comic Sans. He only uses uppercase Comic Sans if he has stated something serious or, in some cases, threatens the player. He is often paired with his brother named Papyrus, also named after a font of the same name.

## Reception

Sans' appearance in *Undertale* was well-received by critics, with Dan Tack of *Game Informer* praising his boss fight. *TheGamer* ranked Sans as the third best *Undertale* character, stating that his jokes were "spot on in delivery". *Screen Rant* ranked Sans one of the top 7 of the hardest boss fights in video games. During the *Undertale* Q&A, Sans and Papyrus were the characters that received the most questions from fans. Sans was ranked as one of the best video game characters of the 2010s by *Polygon* staff and writer Colin Campbell, particularly his appearance and how: "When he makes a joke, the camera zooms in on him while he winks. It never gets old."

Sans has also been well-received by fans of the game, being the subject of many fan works. Professional wrestler Kenny Omega has expressed his love of *Undertale*, dressing as Sans for the October 30, 2019, episode of *All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite*. His addition as a Mii fighter costume in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* garnered positive feedback from fans, although *The Commonwealth Times* considered his addition to be a "potential problem" due to the decreasing nostalgia factor for each new character and ever-increasing size of the roster.

## References

1. ↑ Cobbett, Richard (September 29, 2015). *Undertale* review.
2. ↑ Grayson, Nathan (October 30, 2015). *Undertale*: The *Kotaku* Review.
3. ↑ Grayson, Nathan (November 1, 2018). *Undertale* Fans Already Have Theories About What's Going On In *Deltarune*.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minotti, Mike (September 4, 2019). *Undertale*Template:'s Sans becomes a costume in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*.
5. ↑ Lee, Julia (September 4, 2019). Sans from *Undertale* joins *Smash Bros. Ultimate* as a Mii Fighter costume.
6. ↑ Walker, Ian (September 4, 2019). *Undertale*Template:'s Sans Joins *Smash Bros.* As A Mii Fighter Costume.
7. ↑ Newell, Adam (September 21, 2019). *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* fan creates functional Undertale Sans Amiibo. Gamurs.
8. ↑ Hernandez, Patricia (May 13, 2019). Someone put *Undertale*Template:'s Sans fight in *Fortnite*, and it's amazing.
9. ↑ Gach, Ethan (May 13, 2019). *Undertale*Template:'s Toughest Boss Fight Made Into A *Fortnite* Map.
10. ↑ Morales, Greysun (October 3, 2019). Sans From *Undertale* Makes His Way Into *Monster Hunter: World* via a New Mod.
11. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (January 9, 2017). Toby Fox Shares College Notebook Filled with Early Concept Art and Ideas that Eventually Became *Undertale*.
12. ↑ Schilling, Chris (May 5, 2018). The making of *Undertale*.
13. ↑ Hussie, Andrew. [S Wake.].
14. ↑ Haasch, Palmer (2020-02-25). TikTok users keep reinventing Undertale’s ‘Megalovania’ (en).
15. ↑ Megalovania.
16. ↑ Doolan, Liam (October 13, 2019). *Undertale* Song Pack Arrives In *Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun!* As Paid DLC.
17. ↑ Baird, Scott (May 13, 2019). Spanish Version Of *First Dates* Show Uses "Megalovania" From *Undertale* On Its Soundtrack.
18. ↑ Jones, Alistair (2019-10-31). Sans From *Undertale* Is A Wrestler Now (en).
19. ↑ Sotomayor, Bella Vanessa (December 15, 2016). *Undertale*: A Game That Is Still Amazing Today.
20. ↑ Tack, Daniel (December 2, 2015). Does *Undertale* Live Up to the Hype?.
21. ↑ Tortorici, Colby (September 7, 2019). Ranking The Main Cast Of *Undertale*.
22. ↑ Dembrow, Dylan (January 20, 2019). The 20 Hardest Video Game Bosses Ever (And Exactly How To Beat Them).
23. ↑ Frank, Allegra (September 15, 2016). This *Undertale* Q&A is the best reminder of why it's one of the funniest games ever.
24. ↑ Colin, Campbell (November 27, 2019). The 70 best video game characters of the decade. *Polygon*.
25. ↑ *Undertale*: 21 Creepy and Cute Sans Fan Art. IGN (August 19, 2016).
26. ↑ Vas, Gergo (December 31, 2015). *Undertale*Template:'s Papyrus And Sans Have Dark Souls.
27. ↑ Template:Cite news
28. ↑ Crosby, Jack (October 30, 2019). *AEW Dynamite* results, recap: Inner Circle wreaks havoc, inaugural tag team champions crowned. CBS Sports.
29. ↑ Becht, Eli (September 6, 2019). *Smash Ultimate* players are losing their minds over the Sans costume.
30. ↑ Template:Cite news