OneShot: World Machine Edition
- September 30, 2024
- Future Cat LLC
- 7h median play time
"OneShot: World Machine Edition" is a rebuilt version of the acclaimed puzzle adventure game, now playable on Steam Deck and Windows. Players help Niko, a child from an alternate world, rekindle the sun and save everyone, while searching for hidden collectibles and solving world-bending puzzles. With an original soundtrack and charming pixel art, this version features an updated engine and UI for a modern gaming experience. Remember, you only have One Shot.
Reviews
- OneShot: World Machine Edition features exquisite characters, plot line, and world-building that evoke strong emotional responses, often leading players to tears.
- The art direction and music in OneShot are phenomenal, enhancing the overall experience and making it one of the best soundtracks in gaming.
- The game includes quality-of-life improvements such as diagonal movement, a fast travel map, and collectibles that add depth to the gameplay.
- The virtual desktop interface in World Machine Edition detracts from the original's immersive experience, as it lacks the fourth-wall-breaking elements that made the original special.
- Some players feel that the gameplay can be tedious at times, especially for those who prefer more action-oriented games.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content after completing it.
- story135 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of Oneshot is widely praised for its emotional depth, unique world-building, and memorable characters, often leaving players deeply moved and even in tears. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a strong connection between the player and the narrative, with its themes of existentialism and personal choice resonating strongly. Overall, it is considered a must-play for fans of story-driven games, with many calling it one of the best examples of storytelling in the medium.
“The characters, plot line, and world-building are exquisite.”
“This is one of the few games I have played in my life that has immersed me so deeply in its story and characters.”
“The story is memorable and touching, especially the solstice route that always brings me to tears.”
“It thinks far better of its own storyline and character writing than what it is.”
“It’s long, tedious and fails to be the cute and wholesome story it’s supposed to be.”
“Not much added to the actual story; I mean, if it isn't broken, don't fix it, I guess.”
- emotional82 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players reporting multiple instances of crying during their playthroughs due to its heartfelt narrative and relatable characters, particularly Niko. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create deep emotional connections, making it more than just a game, but a memorable experience that resonates long after completion. Overall, it is praised for its touching story, emotional depth, and the ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a must-play for fans of emotional storytelling.
“Oneshot was, is, and probably always will be the most emotionally impactful game I have ever played in my life.”
“The story is memorable and touching, especially the solstice route that always brings me to tears.”
“This game is so good, it even made me cry the second go around!!!!”
- music60 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and leaving a lasting impression on players. Many reviews highlight the inclusion of a music player and additional content, such as character profiles and wallpapers, which allow players to revisit the soundtrack and art at their leisure. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional resonance.
“Great music, atmosphere, level design, characters, etc. Overall amazing game, very much recommended.”
“I absolutely adore the characters, atmosphere, and music - and it's one I will probably always return to for more playthroughs eventually.”
“The story, the characters, the music, the atmosphere, all of it grabs a hold of you and never lets go.”
“The last song being called 'in memory' will always make me hurt.”
“You can't just pick the music track or picture you want to open, but instead you have to click through all the ones before the one you want to get to.”
“My only complaint is that the music player and gallery are very barebones: you have to manually flick through every item until you find the one you want, instead of it even being in categories.”
- gameplay35 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Oneshot is a mixed bag, with some players finding it charming and unique due to its creative narrative and meta-mechanics, while others describe it as tedious or lacking depth, especially in comparison to the original version. Many appreciate the integration of story and gameplay, though some feel that the mechanics can be clunky or overly reliant on real-time elements. Overall, while the gameplay may not be the standout feature, it effectively complements the rich story and art style.
“The gameplay does nicely complement the story at most parts of the game, although it can be a bit tedious at times.”
“The plot is lovely, the art is awesome, the gameplay is unique and very immersive.”
“Beautiful game & story once again & honestly this version really made the game even better both with UI and navigating through gameplay puzzles!”
“The gameplay is meh, but I love the story, characters, and art style so much.”
“After playing 15 minutes, I am now forced to wait to continue playing, and yes, this is a game mechanic. The character gets tired and wants to 'take a nap'; the nap, however, uses real time up to 45 minutes.”
“While there aren't any major additions to the original Oneshot gameplay, it adds tons of extra blurbs about characters through the [spoiler]friends[/spoiler] menu.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique art style and outstanding visuals, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed character designs and additional artwork, which contribute to the game's aesthetic appeal. While some reviews mention the graphics as "decent," the majority highlight them as a standout feature, making it one of the most visually impressive RPG Maker games.
“I absolutely love Nightmargin's art style, and their art makes the experience so much better overall.”
“The artwork is outstanding; I'll never stop loving OneShot.”
“This is by and far one of the most beautiful RPG Maker games ever, from the story to the visuals to the music.”
“As for newcomers, I'd say nothing in WME warrants picking it up over the original as what you're getting is essentially for the fans with a fake PC desktop (like DDLC+), character bios, new artwork, and an in-built music player.”
“Graphics: decent”
“The gameplay is meh but I love the story, characters, and art style so much.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky characters like the 'lamplighter' and playful references, such as the "funny light bulb" and "funny cat." Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and clever wordplay, which adds a whimsical charm to the experience, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
“However, the whole process is impaired as the elevator to the surface isn't working, and you aren't the only one inconvenienced by it, as you meet a character called 'Lamplighter', which honestly is a rather funny character, as this man just tries to get by each day, just refilling lamps.”
“I find it rather hilarious now, as I had to check a guide to even see if I was doing anything right, whilst also being extremely careful to not spoil myself.”
“We miss you, funny lightbulb cat <3”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by great music, level design, and well-developed characters. Many players feel that it captivates them to the point of forgetting they are playing, with some noting that while the original version had a more impactful atmosphere, the recreation successfully retains its essence while feeling fresh. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a significant highlight, contributing to its strong recommendations.
“Great music, atmosphere, level design, characters, etc. Overall amazing game, very much recommended.”
“I absolutely adore the characters, atmosphere, and music - it's one I will probably always return to for more playthroughs eventually.”
“It's rare for a game to create such an immersive atmosphere that you forget you're playing a game at all.”
“While I still maintain that the brevity and atmosphere of the original free version of the game led to a better one-shot experience, I cannot ignore the fact that both the 2016 release and especially this version are, for all intents and purposes, a very different game in its intent.”
“Still would say the original hits harder due to the nature of the puzzles and the story, but the recreation is done faithfully and feels fresh, while retaining the original's atmosphere.”
“The story, the characters, the music, the atmosphere, all of it grabs a hold of you and never lets go.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be long and tedious, often detracting from the overall experience and story. While some appreciate changes that reduce the grind, many still feel it requires excessive time investment, making it feel burdensome rather than enjoyable.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's long, tedious, and fails to be the cute and wholesome story it's supposed to be.”
“The gameplay does nicely complement the story at most parts of the game, although it can be a bit tedious at times.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally stable experience with the game, noting that it runs well on various systems, including Linux. However, some players have encountered minor bugs and glitches, particularly in specific areas, but these do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment.
“It runs great on Linux as well.”
“The game has been incredibly stable, with no crashes or major bugs.”
“I've experienced smooth gameplay without any interruptions or performance issues.”
“While this version of the game is a little buggy in some areas, I do like a lot of the things that have been added, even if only minor.”
“This game was awesome, I loved the graphics, and the fact that on a route I won't mention to avoid spoilers, the virtual desktop glitches!”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game excels in fun gameplay elements like cute character designs and engaging puzzles, it lacks depth in character development, leaving players wanting more substantial growth or backstory for the characters.
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users note that while the PC version offers more authentic meta elements and easier modding support, the WME version's greater number of unlockables enhances its overall replayability.
“It's hard to say whether I prefer the PC version or WME because while the PC version has more authentic meta elements and simpler modding support, WME's higher number of unlockables does make it more replayable overall.”
“It's hard to say whether I prefer the PC version or WME because while the PC version has more authentic meta elements (and simpler modding support, but that's just a factor of the engine), WME's higher number of unlockables does make it more replayable overall.”
“The game lacks significant changes in gameplay on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there isn't much incentive to go back and play again, as the side quests feel too similar.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is praised as perfect, indicating that it runs smoothly and efficiently without any noticeable performance issues.
“Performance: perfect”
“The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the game to run efficiently without sacrificing quality.”