OneShot

* Original
* Remake

**OneShot** is a 2014 art game developed by Eliza Velasquez and NightMargin, using the RPG Maker 2003 program with highly modified use of RTP to feature fourth-wall breaking elements, serves as a prototypical project for 2014 Indie Game Maker Contest.

## Themes

The game incorporates exploration, interactive drama, puzzle-solving game genres and deals with the themes of life and death, metafictional interaction with the player, and surrealistic environment.

## Premise

> *"You, as the player, or, as referred to, their god, must guide the lost child Niko through a strange world, utilizing items, characters, and environment to progress. Trying to save the world and its people from extinction by restoring its sun, there will be some obstacles, like the presence of a mysterious "Entity," who's trying to stop you from accomplishing your mission. And you, as the player, or the world's god, is involved in the final destiny of Niko and the world. And once the game ends, it's done. No replaying. You only have one shot to save the world."*
>
>

## Endings

Normal Ending 1: Restored
If you choose to place the sun in the tower, the sun will be restored, and the world begins to light up. It does not show what happens to Niko. However, according to some people, the world may still die.

Normal Ending 2: Shattered
If you decide to shatter the lightbulb, Niko returns home to be with their mother again, but the rest of the inhabitants will never see the sun again as the world dies.

True Ending: Solstice
It is widely referred to as the 'Solstice ending' or the 'true ending' by many people. To obtain this ending, the player must have completed the game at least once, whether it be either ending, and have deleted their previous game file(s). Once the game has been relaunched, it will start just like the first gameplay, though some dialogue will vary. Once the player reaches the Mines in the Barrens, gameplay will proceed differently going on.
When the player and Niko eventually make it to the top of the Tower, Niko will place the lightbulb into the spire, illuminating the world once more (similar to Ending 1). After, Niko returns to the room where they had first woken up in, and walks off the window of the game (similar to Ending 2). Both the World and Niko are saved in this ending.

**NOTE**: This is only obtainable in the Steam remake.
Worst Ending: You killed Niko
If you exit the game without using one of the beds in the original RPG Maker 2003 version of the game, the next time the game is opened, it will return to a modified version of the start menu, in which the lightbulb in the title is broken, the music is heavily distorted, and Niko is absent, save for their clothes, which are laying at the bottom of the screen in a pile. If the start option is selected, a much darker version of the starting room is displayed alongside sinister music. Upon closing the game window (which is the only thing the player can do to interact with the game at this point), a pop-up appears, reading: "You killed Niko." The game cannot be played past these two screens if this ending is reached.
The original game warns you about this outcome at the beginning of the game, and in a confirmation pop-up when the player attempts to close the game in an area that would trigger this ending.

## Development

### Original

In 2014, the initial version was developed over the course of a month, using the RPG Maker 2003 program, and released as a freeware on June 30, 2014, by creators Eliza Velasquez and Nightmargin (Casey Gu). It was developed as an entry for RPGMakerWeb's 2014 Indie Game Maker Contest, but it did not receive any accolades; later won eight out of twelve categories at 13th Misao Awards, including Game of the Year. Velasquez and Gu said that they initially thought this version was their finalized product until Degica Games approached them to publish the game. According to them, with the additional production time, they managed to expand and include everything they wanted to add in the original version.

### Remake

The game has been rebooted into a modified version of the original, replaced with the RPG Maker XP program, released as a commercial product through Steam and Itch.io in 2016 and 2020, respectively under their production studio **Future Cat LLC**.

## Trivia

* *OneShot* is officially port into consoles under the name **OneShot: World Machine Edition**, but it suggests that is not made in RPG Maker programs.
* *OneShot*'s 2003 version is not supported with EasyRPG emulator on Android due to its highly modified RTP.
	+ This was also the same from the 2003 version as the remake version is not supported with JoiPlay emulator on Android.
* *OneShot* drew inspirations from video games such as *Yume Nikki*, *Link's Awakening*, and *Hyper Light Drifter*, as well as the children's novel *The Little Prince*.
* When you talk at Prohebot, Niko (through screen) will communicate with the player. Depending on any names you choose, Niko will comment something different.
	+ If you name yourself as a "parent", Niko confused what player chose parent's names, saying that they already have parents on their own.
	+ If you name yourself something "gross" or "obscure", Niko reacts grossly at the player's choice.
	+ If you name yourself with a "swear" or "sexual innunedo" word, Niko refused to say about the word that player chose.
* At one point in the 2003 version, there were some games in Niko's computer screen such as *Yume Nikki*, *Off*, *Space Funeral*, and *The Witch's House*.

## References

1. ↑ INDIE GAME MAKING CONTEST 2014 WINNERS!
2. ↑ Game indie OneShot traz conceito único de interação com o jogador (ign.com)
3. ↑ 2014 Misao Awards :: rpgmaker.net
4. ↑ Oneshot, an indie Adventure Puzzle game for RPG Tsukuru 2003 :: rpgmaker.net
5. ↑ Steam Community :: Guide :: Secrets of OneShot