Back in the Office

The sequel to the popular visual novel Underworld Office from Buff Studio, you play as a spirit named Charlie who wakes up one day with no memory of his life. All he has is a pair of scissors. What’s even more unusual is that he was an evil spirit and was dark, but woke up light, as if he was a good spirit. Charlie has to team up with returning characters like Eugene and Hayden to recover his memories and change his fate. But it’s not going to be easy, as Charlie In Underworld deals with darker and more mature themes.

Choices Matter

Just like the gameplay in Underworld Office, the screen operates like texting exchanges. Whenever a character is talking, or when an event happens, they all come up as different text bubbles as if they were in a group chat. The dialogue and background music really set the tone for any situation, from the mundane to the terrifying. Sometimes when characters swear, usually Charlie, the words will be censored with numbers and special characters. It’s kind of funny, especially when there’s a serious moment. There will occasionally be instances where players will have to choose between two different dialogue and action options. Choosing one or the other can alter how spirits respond to Charlie and how events play out. Playing the game at all costs tickets, and these special choices can cost from five to 10. Using tickets as a currency is fitting, as Charlie In Underworld mainly takes place in a train station.

Players start off with 30 tickets, and gradually lose them as more special choices come up. There’s an easy way to refill tickets; watch an ad. One ad will get players 25 tickets, which isn’t a bad deal. After the first ad, players will have to wait 30 seconds for it to recharge. Watching ads in a row after increases the wait time, but it’s worth it. 25 plus tickets can go a long way. The other option is to purchase tickets, but that’s not really necessary. An example of a situation in which tickets would be spent is choosing responses to help Hayden before he turns into an evil spirit. If Charlie and Eugene succeed, there’s a beautiful scene that plays out afterwards.

Spooky Achievements

While enjoying the twists and turns of Charlie In Underworld’s story, be sure to save every so often. No one wants to replay a section they just got through. Not to mention, they might lose their chance at an achievement. There are 12 different achievements players can earn. One example is ‘The Underworld Office’s Headache.’ This is gained after choosing words for Charlie that come off as annoying. A picture will show up in the achievement menu, represented by a scissor icon. The picture is, fittingly, an angry-looking Charlie. More achievement pictures will show up the more players pick certain actions and dialogue.

Additionally, players can earn pictures in the album, marked by a cut picture. These album pictures show up after significant moments in the story, like Charlie meeting everyone for the first time. Other album pictures are connected to certain choices made, like deciding if Charlie returns his scissors to Eugene or not after using them. These show the paths players have taken and have yet to take. This means replaying the game is encouraged. If a choice was made that a player regretted, they can try again. Replayability with any game is always a plus.

Going Ghost!

Charlie In Underworld is a spooky mystery filled with horror and heart. Empathetically written characters and cute but creepy art make for a compelling story. Making life-altering decisions that could either help or hinder progress, choosing to have friends or enemies, all leading towards why Charlie lost his memories. Players will have to keep stocking up on tickets, but it’s all worth it to solve the mystery.