Not a cat.
| “ | .....It's........okay. I...when I first came to this world...a long time ago... back then, all I wanted was to go home. ...[Player]... do you remember? The very FIRST time... I'm not sure how far back it was for you... But...I remember towards the end...I... actually wasn't sure anymore...about going home. Even knowing the world would be doomed eventually... I... still wanted the people here to be happy... So...when you told me to return the sun, back then...I didn't even....question it...but then I just...came back. And then...I found out about the world being like this... Prototype said to forget the things he told me... And Cedric told me not to think about it too much, but...I...I'm sorry for getting upset at you...back at the mines... I thought...for you to know all that, yet continue doing this... It...just seemed cruel. But then, I realized something... You...really wanted to save both the world and me... But at the end, you can only choose one, right? Is it...really hard for you too? It must be...if the world isn't broken...will that choice still be there? ...do you...still need to choose between one or the other? But...even if it is...I... really want to save this world, [Player]. Even if it's more dangerous this time around... Even if...so many of the nice people we met were...were... [Player]....I'm not....afraid, anymore.... That's why...I think you guys should let me go... I...promise I'll be okay...please? | „ |
| ~ Niko's From Zero to Hero moment |
Another RPG Maker candidate
Note: Niko's gender is unknown and I'm not good at gender stuffs so pls forgive me if I make some mistakes.
What's the Work?
OneShot is an indie puzzle-adventure game developed by Future Cat and published by Degica. The game is known for its unique fourth-wall-breaking mechanics and emotional storytelling. It follows Niko, a child tasked with restoring light to a dying world by returning the Sun to the Tower.
Who is Niko and What has Niko done?
Return the Sun chapter
Niko is the main protagonist of Oneshot. Niko's journey begins when they wake up in a strange room, confused and unsure of where they are. As they explore, they discover a glowing light bulb - later revealed to be the world's sun - which becomes their guide throughout their adventure. Throughout the process, they will be antagonized by a mysterious Entity.
Leaving the room, Niko enters a mysterious, desolate land, where they meet Prophetbot, a robot who reveals their divine role as the Messiah of this world. Prophetbot explains that the world is on the brink of collapse and that Niko must restore the sun to the Tower to bring light back to the world.
Throughout their adventure, Niko overcomes various puzzles and obstacles. They meet Silver, a 'tamed' robot who helps Niko with the puzzles and gives Niko the amber that guides Rowbot to the next area. They successfully repair Rowbot, allowing them to safely pass through the dangerous waters. Before moving on to the new region, The Glen, they played a final game of chess with Silver before saying goodbye.
As Niko go to The Glen, they form a bond with Alula and Calamus, two siblings struggling to survive in a world on the brink of collapse after finding Alula and helping reunite them. In here they meet a dying plant goddess named Maize, whom they give the sun to, calming her down before she passes away.
Continuing their journey, Niko reaches The Refuge, where they met the Lamplighter, an individual responsible for maintaining the city's lighting system. They help him fix the elevator going down. Niko also plants the seed Maize left behind before she died and revives her into a new life. Down to the ground, Niko meets a mysterious fox who tells Niko to "come back here" (important detail).
However, as Niko approaches the Tower, the Entity reveals the truth that they have to choose between saving the world or bringing Niko home. With the player's guidance, Niko makes a final choice. Niko doesn't hesitate to sacrifice their return to complete the quest, the Sun is placed in the Tower and Niko disappears, leaving behind a world that has finally been restored.
Solstice chapter
However, the game is not over yet, if the player follows the Author's instructions and restarts, the game will open the Solstice chapter, where Niko and Silver meet Prototype robot in the mine, who explains to Niko about the game and makes Niko remember the previous chapter. Misunderstood, Niko says that the player was cruel for creating a world that was doomed from the start only for Proto to exonerate the player and suggest a last chance, which can save both the world and bring Niko home. Niko, Proto and Silver run away from the Entity, who is destroying the mine with glitches, Niko takes Proto's memory disk after Silver and Proto are swallowed by the glitches.
Arriving at the Glen, Niko meets the siblings and a pilot, Cedric, who will take Niko to the Refuge and revive Proto with the disk. When they reach the Refuge, it is heavily damaged by the glitches. After being led to a safe place by Kip, a scientist, Niko apologizes to the player for the misunderstanding in the mine and bravely admits their desire to save the world and everyone in it despite the danger and Kip's objections, completely subverting their skepticism and pragmatism in the Return the Sun chapter.
Niko meets Rue, the mysterious fox from the previous playthrough. They go to the tower, together with Cedric, Proto and Rue they open the gate and meet the World Machine, who is the Entity that speaks to the player. It reveals itself to be a corrupted machine trying to save Niko from the world it accidentally destroyed. Niko sympathizes and tames (redeems) it, restoring the stability of the world and bringing back all those who were swallowed by the glitches. At the end of the game, Niko says goodbye to the Player and literally walks out of the game's window, going back home.
What makes Niko close to Pure Good?
Goodness Zone
Saving the world twice:
- Returning the Sun and sacrificing their chance to go back home in Return the Sun chapter.
- Redeeming the World Machine, fixing the world's error and bringing everyone back in Solstice chapter.
Admirable Standards
Though the Player has done more to save the world and the Author has figured out how to do it and given hints to the Player, Niko stands out as the Player's enforcer who plays an important role in that process with limited resources as they can't interact with the computer files.
Moral Agency
Niko relies heavily on the Player's decisions but Niko has a clear moral agency since they don't question the Player's decision in Return the Sun ending and especially, the moment Niko redeems the World Machine is completely without the Player's intervention.
What Prevents them From Being Pure Good?
Being a child, Niko is kinda..... reckless
In the Glen, iIf Niko encounters the shepherd when holding the sun, Niko will ask the shepherd to hold the sun to help her herd the sheep. Not counting that they don't know if the shepherd is a good or bad person, giving the sun when Prophetbot warned that it is fragile, is still too much to ignore.
When Niko returns after giving the sun to Maize, they are panicked when the Sun's light disappears, showing Niko didn't think it through.
However, it's a minor prevention because Niko doesn't have any bad intentions.
Verdict?
Guess what.... You decide.