"Towelket: One More Time" (known in game as Towelket Once Again) is the 3rd installment in the Towelket main series. Like the other games, it was made in RPG Maker 2000 as well. It has been registered on freem.ne.jp on the 16th March 2009 and was updated the last time on the 15th February 2015. A remake made in RPG Maker MV was released on the 2nd April 2017.
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「 Chun 」said: "You’re wrong. This isn’t a sadness contest. Everyone has hard times and happy times. Everyone lives like that."
I loved this much more than Towelket 2. Not because I liked the ending more than the last game or how it's much brighter, but because of the message. Towelket has, at this point, somewhat obtained an identity for itself with the cutesy artstyle while having brutal, heartbreaking, and disturbing moments, but from all this there can be one common theme I see at this point from the trilogy of games: the cruelty of the universe. Time and time again, you've seen so much death, so much horrible stuff (especially from the 2nd game), but despite this, there is some hope to be found with a brighter tomorrow--a brighter future. Suffering and misfortune is destined to be apart of us in our lives, no matter how much we try to escape or avoid it. Even if you are repeated to experience those same mistakes once again (intended), you will find that you can make hope out of a situation out of it... maybe even give that hope to others to see that you are not alone. Even in the darkest of days you will find a way to salvage something positive out of the destruction you've seen. This story of death, destruction, despair, time-marching, love, passion, and understanding the machinations of the universe made me feel so much for this damn rpgmaker game. I can't even describe how to feel about it other than this is a fucking freeware rpgmaker game!? Not to undermine its quality by price, of course just... shocked how these small games can bring out such a strong story to you for free. Nothing made me feel more than Chun's chapter. Nothing made me think more than Chun's chapter. The philosophical dunk of this game was powerful. I love this game so much and it's the third game in the main series so I do not know how it will top this but it was a peak game. In conclusion, it hit the ball out of the park with what the first and 2nd game did with that striking balance of light hearted comedy and the darkness of the franchise, landing a hopeful and enlightening package in the end.
I loved this much more than Towelket 2. Not because I liked the ending more than the last game or how it's much brighter, but because of the message. Towelket has, at this point, somewhat obtained an identity for itself with the cutesy artstyle while having brutal, heartbreaking, and disturbing moments, but from all this there can be one common theme I see at this point from the trilogy of games: the cruelty of the universe. Time and time again, you've seen so much death, so much horrible stuff (especially from the 2nd game), but despite this, there is some hope to be found with a brighter tomorrow--a brighter future. Suffering and misfortune is destined to be apart of us in our lives, no matter how much we try to escape or avoid it. Even if you are repeated to experience those same mistakes once again (intended), you will find that you can make hope out of a situation out of it... maybe even give that hope to others to see that you are not alone. Even in the darkest of days you will find a way to salvage something positive out of the destruction you've seen. This story of death, destruction, despair, time-marching, love, passion, and understanding the machinations of the universe made me feel so much for this damn rpgmaker game. I can't even describe how to feel about it other than this is a fucking freeware rpgmaker game!? Not to undermine its quality by price, of course just... shocked how these small games can bring out such a strong story to you for free. Nothing made me feel more than Chun's chapter. Nothing made me think more than Chun's chapter. The philosophical dunk of this game was powerful. I love this game so much and it's the third game in the main series so I do not know how it will top this but it was a peak game. In conclusion, it hit the ball out of the park with what the first and 2nd game did with that striking balance of light hearted comedy and the darkness of the franchise, landing a hopeful and enlightening package in the end.
"You ran. But I, who am accepting the sorrow of having lost my own important person, am different from you. I didn't run. I'm now only praying for the person who loved me. ...I am different from you."
It's hard to go in-depth for the Towelket series because by their nature, they are obtuse and hard to approach. Numbered at random, with occasional lack of direction, and its nature as a very underground series of RPGMaker games means there's barely anything on them online in the western sphere compared to other works that have more succesfully breached the culture barrier. But despite that clear lack of connection, there are still people dedicated enough to bring it over, people who put in the hours to read and play, and who feel passionate enough about it to share it with others. And that visceral nature of connection is what surpasses the language barrier for all art, even for the most niche of works and the most hidden of games.
Having seen that my Backloggd list was at 499 games played after I finished QP Shooting - Dangerous!!, another work of the same nature as Towelket, I decided to make my 500th game logged this; I had already gone through 3 and 2, and found a strong appeal for both in different fields, 3 in its more comedic nature and decent cast despite its low text and 2 in its horrifically depressing representation of femininity in the modern age represented in the angle of another alien invasion. This was also the game that had me get into the series in a sense; while I have more interest in a few other titles more than this, it was the one I had heard more positive towards compared to the rest of the series.
And I believe it's quite justified to be as well-loved as it is: Towelket: One More Time is another improvement on what 3 and 2 did, taking their comedic and surrealist natures combined with the dark and horror atmosphere that 2 nails to create an outstanding mixture of comedy and drama. One More Time's synopsis is silly if taken at face value with the use of a "curse of turning corners", but as you progress through the story do you truly start to feel immersed into the story and the role of you as the protagonist: being thrown into millions of years into the future and constantly antagonized, seeing constant reminders of your friends having been brutalized, One More Time is dark. But it's not just dark despite its imbuing misery, but rather it continues to have some levity with the Check mechanic; where the party constantly comments on your environments and the characters grow more attached to each other, these little nuggets of dialogue create some well-desired levity despite everything.
One More Time is also a more uplifting experience than 2 ever was: and while 2's misery and depression is not entirely to be discarded, I do think that Kanao's style here feels like some much-needed optimism compared to the embuing, nihilistic nexus that 2 prided itself on. Not to get into spoilers as this is a game that I reccomend you do play, but there's still a strong sense of acceptance here to the misery that 2 presents in a much more global scale, presented in a much more buddhist angle.
I write all of this, but at the end, to talk of One More Time is unnecessary. The more I speak and explain the less I do justice to this game; because words aren't enough. One More Time is pure communication and yearning distilled into a game that resolves itself in pure acceptance, and it is presented in a manner that only it could justify itself. And perhaps, for what I wished to do for a "500th game logged", little serves the role like One More Time does in the function of games as art, and art as communication.
"Sad people... I'm not the only one.
Happy people... I'm not the only one.
Everyone... is the same as myself.
...hardships and happiness.
I am the same as everyone.
Everyone is the same as me."
It's hard to go in-depth for the Towelket series because by their nature, they are obtuse and hard to approach. Numbered at random, with occasional lack of direction, and its nature as a very underground series of RPGMaker games means there's barely anything on them online in the western sphere compared to other works that have more succesfully breached the culture barrier. But despite that clear lack of connection, there are still people dedicated enough to bring it over, people who put in the hours to read and play, and who feel passionate enough about it to share it with others. And that visceral nature of connection is what surpasses the language barrier for all art, even for the most niche of works and the most hidden of games.
Having seen that my Backloggd list was at 499 games played after I finished QP Shooting - Dangerous!!, another work of the same nature as Towelket, I decided to make my 500th game logged this; I had already gone through 3 and 2, and found a strong appeal for both in different fields, 3 in its more comedic nature and decent cast despite its low text and 2 in its horrifically depressing representation of femininity in the modern age represented in the angle of another alien invasion. This was also the game that had me get into the series in a sense; while I have more interest in a few other titles more than this, it was the one I had heard more positive towards compared to the rest of the series.
And I believe it's quite justified to be as well-loved as it is: Towelket: One More Time is another improvement on what 3 and 2 did, taking their comedic and surrealist natures combined with the dark and horror atmosphere that 2 nails to create an outstanding mixture of comedy and drama. One More Time's synopsis is silly if taken at face value with the use of a "curse of turning corners", but as you progress through the story do you truly start to feel immersed into the story and the role of you as the protagonist: being thrown into millions of years into the future and constantly antagonized, seeing constant reminders of your friends having been brutalized, One More Time is dark. But it's not just dark despite its imbuing misery, but rather it continues to have some levity with the Check mechanic; where the party constantly comments on your environments and the characters grow more attached to each other, these little nuggets of dialogue create some well-desired levity despite everything.
One More Time is also a more uplifting experience than 2 ever was: and while 2's misery and depression is not entirely to be discarded, I do think that Kanao's style here feels like some much-needed optimism compared to the embuing, nihilistic nexus that 2 prided itself on. Not to get into spoilers as this is a game that I reccomend you do play, but there's still a strong sense of acceptance here to the misery that 2 presents in a much more global scale, presented in a much more buddhist angle.
I write all of this, but at the end, to talk of One More Time is unnecessary. The more I speak and explain the less I do justice to this game; because words aren't enough. One More Time is pure communication and yearning distilled into a game that resolves itself in pure acceptance, and it is presented in a manner that only it could justify itself. And perhaps, for what I wished to do for a "500th game logged", little serves the role like One More Time does in the function of games as art, and art as communication.
"Sad people... I'm not the only one.
Happy people... I'm not the only one.
Everyone... is the same as myself.
...hardships and happiness.
I am the same as everyone.
Everyone is the same as me."
It would be difficult for anyone to follow up the decidedly serious sociopolitical commentary of Towelket 2, but through its opening mantra, "ゲームの主人公みたく4方向で歩きましょう," Towelket Once Again cleverly addresses and effectively bridges the tone gap between the previous two entries while mixing in some sardonic philosophical wit, illuminating that it is not simply a return to the tradition of Towelket 3. Once Again is somber: subtly whittling away at you, eroding perception of time and place, and provoking what it means to be human in a very Cyberpunk Buddhist sense.
At first, I thought the absence of the "心の中'' system was a disappointing step back, but it grew on me because of how it ultimately contrasted to Towelket 2’s sparse nature. Once Again distinguishes itself by imploring you to stop and smell the burnt roses, abandoning a focused plot for more character interactions. The conversation events scattered throughout represent the here and now as a reason to continue forward, whether it be a funny joke, wholesome character moment, or exposition about the world, and while you could go through the game without checking most of them, I'd imagine the story is a lot more grim and hopeless that way. It must be your conscious decision to become invested and care, to enjoy those fleeting moments and store the most memorable ones in your very own 心の中, which is made easy thanks to Kanao's naturalistic, endearing writing style (can't speak for the English translation). I like how, despite their appearances, the characters never come off as too ridiculous, and this lack of insistence also helps sell the dialogue and humor. Once Again actually might be the most "original" in the whole series in premise and writing style alone, but it simultaneously creatively weaves together elements from previous games, the humor, morbidity, surprising wholesomeness, with a newfound appreciation for contemplation and friendship which make the terrifying moments all the more affecting. Once Again works well also because it's deftly interconnected, with its writing built around the theme of "cycles'' allowing the plot to call back to relevant information from earlier in the story, bringing it to a greater meaning and giving a real sense of closure without overstaying its welcome, accomplishing a satisfyingly extensive plot within a condensed 5-7 hours.
I'm glad that this series continues to push the narrative capabilities of the niche medium of "actually trying to be a bonafide RPG" RPG Maker games. Even if the combat leaves much to be desired, Once Again proved that Kanao has an ambitious author's soul buried inside. There is something to be said about Towelket 2's minimalism, but for a sequel with such a different vibe, Kanao was able to step up and make a uniquely hilarious, wholesome journey through existential dread.
At first, I thought the absence of the "心の中'' system was a disappointing step back, but it grew on me because of how it ultimately contrasted to Towelket 2’s sparse nature. Once Again distinguishes itself by imploring you to stop and smell the burnt roses, abandoning a focused plot for more character interactions. The conversation events scattered throughout represent the here and now as a reason to continue forward, whether it be a funny joke, wholesome character moment, or exposition about the world, and while you could go through the game without checking most of them, I'd imagine the story is a lot more grim and hopeless that way. It must be your conscious decision to become invested and care, to enjoy those fleeting moments and store the most memorable ones in your very own 心の中, which is made easy thanks to Kanao's naturalistic, endearing writing style (can't speak for the English translation). I like how, despite their appearances, the characters never come off as too ridiculous, and this lack of insistence also helps sell the dialogue and humor. Once Again actually might be the most "original" in the whole series in premise and writing style alone, but it simultaneously creatively weaves together elements from previous games, the humor, morbidity, surprising wholesomeness, with a newfound appreciation for contemplation and friendship which make the terrifying moments all the more affecting. Once Again works well also because it's deftly interconnected, with its writing built around the theme of "cycles'' allowing the plot to call back to relevant information from earlier in the story, bringing it to a greater meaning and giving a real sense of closure without overstaying its welcome, accomplishing a satisfyingly extensive plot within a condensed 5-7 hours.
I'm glad that this series continues to push the narrative capabilities of the niche medium of "actually trying to be a bonafide RPG" RPG Maker games. Even if the combat leaves much to be desired, Once Again proved that Kanao has an ambitious author's soul buried inside. There is something to be said about Towelket 2's minimalism, but for a sequel with such a different vibe, Kanao was able to step up and make a uniquely hilarious, wholesome journey through existential dread.
Found it to have a rather slow start but midway through time becomes more a thing you question rather than something you experience.