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How NIKKE's Oswald Was Completed as a Complex Character Beyond a Simple VillainWe delve into the hidden story of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, exploring how Oswald's character evolved from a simple villain into a complex and multi-dimensional figure. We'll deeply analyze his actions and how the 'records' mechanism completes his narrative.
1. 🤔 Oswald, First Appearance and a Betrayal That Left a Strong Impression
· Oswald, the most crucial and mysterious character in the prequel story of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, first appeared in the half-anniversary event 'Overzone.'
· In this event, which reversed the atmosphere of Nikke, who was losing trust and sinking, Oswald appeared as the sole connection between Dorothy's Goddess Squad and the central government after the Dark Guardian operation.
· Although he seemed to be helping the Goddess Squad as a representative of the central government, he made a shocking move by unilaterally betraying Dorothy and abandoning them on the surface.
· As a result, he left a strong impression on players, uttering a curse filled with despair to get revenge on Dorothy. At the time, when the main villains of Nikke, Seu-en and Crow, were not yet highlighted as compelling antagonists, Oswald instantly emerged as the worst villain.
· In this event, which reversed the atmosphere of Nikke, who was losing trust and sinking, Oswald appeared as the sole connection between Dorothy's Goddess Squad and the central government after the Dark Guardian operation.
· Although he seemed to be helping the Goddess Squad as a representative of the central government, he made a shocking move by unilaterally betraying Dorothy and abandoning them on the surface.
· As a result, he left a strong impression on players, uttering a curse filled with despair to get revenge on Dorothy. At the time, when the main villains of Nikke, Seu-en and Crow, were not yet highlighted as compelling antagonists, Oswald instantly emerged as the worst villain.
00:00 - 00:52
1. 🤔 Oswald, First Appearance and a Betrayal That Left a Strong Impression
· Oswald, the most crucial and mysterious character in the prequel story of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, first appeared in the half-anniversary event 'Overzone.'
· In this event, which reversed the atmosphere of Nikke, who was losing trust and sinking, Oswald appeared as the sole connection between Dorothy's Goddess Squad and the central government after the Dark Guardian operation.
· Although he seemed to be helping the Goddess Squad as a representative of the central government, he made a shocking move by unilaterally betraying Dorothy and abandoning them on the surface.
· As a result, he left a strong impression on players, uttering a curse filled with despair to get revenge on Dorothy. At the time, when the main villains of Nikke, Seu-en and Crow, were not yet highlighted as compelling antagonists, Oswald instantly emerged as the worst villain.
· In this event, which reversed the atmosphere of Nikke, who was losing trust and sinking, Oswald appeared as the sole connection between Dorothy's Goddess Squad and the central government after the Dark Guardian operation.
· Although he seemed to be helping the Goddess Squad as a representative of the central government, he made a shocking move by unilaterally betraying Dorothy and abandoning them on the surface.
· As a result, he left a strong impression on players, uttering a curse filled with despair to get revenge on Dorothy. At the time, when the main villains of Nikke, Seu-en and Crow, were not yet highlighted as compelling antagonists, Oswald instantly emerged as the worst villain.
01:04 - 02:18
2. 💡 A Multi-dimensional Character Completed Through Reverse Chronology and Foreshadowing
· When Oswald and Goddess's narrative was revealed, the story, which connects 'Red Ash' to 'Overzone,' was presented in reverse chronological order in the game, showing Overzone first and then Red Ash.
· In Overzone, which was revealed first, all information about Oswald was intentionally withheld. Only his robot appearance and voice were heard, and his name was revealed at the final moment when Dorothy screamed, leaving him as an enigmatic foreshadowing.
· This led players to speculate wildly, suggesting he might be the commander of Goddess, a substitute for the boss, or even a descendant of Bosswald.
· Half a year later, through Red Ash, Oswald's true form and the fact that he was a genuine fan who truly respected Goddess were revealed. Through a cliché yet dark-lord-like presentation, players were guided to perceive his existence and true intentions in a multi-dimensional way all at once.
· As the story progressed, the hypothesis that Oswald betrayed Goddess to protect them from the Ark became dominant, and it was confirmed as the official truth in the Arc Guardian story.
· In Overzone, which was revealed first, all information about Oswald was intentionally withheld. Only his robot appearance and voice were heard, and his name was revealed at the final moment when Dorothy screamed, leaving him as an enigmatic foreshadowing.
· This led players to speculate wildly, suggesting he might be the commander of Goddess, a substitute for the boss, or even a descendant of Bosswald.
· Half a year later, through Red Ash, Oswald's true form and the fact that he was a genuine fan who truly respected Goddess were revealed. Through a cliché yet dark-lord-like presentation, players were guided to perceive his existence and true intentions in a multi-dimensional way all at once.
· As the story progressed, the hypothesis that Oswald betrayed Goddess to protect them from the Ark became dominant, and it was confirmed as the official truth in the Arc Guardian story.
02:19 - 03:46
3. 📜 Atonement and Narrative Completion Through the Device of 'Records'
· Oswald's narrative is closely linked to the device of 'records.'
· In Chapter 23's story and the director's interview, he was highlighted as the only person from the Ark who mythologized the Goddess Squad, and in Old Tales, he is depicted as the one who erased all records so they could start anew from a blank slate with their sordid stories.
· In the event 'Arcane Archive,' after retiring, he founded a library and a forbidden book repository, personally leaving records with the inscription 'Respect and Gratitude for the Sacrifice of the Starving' so that the achievements and sacrifices of the Goddess Squad and other nameless heroes would not be forgotten.
· It is later revealed that Nikkes who followed his will protected these records by sacrificing resources.
· In this narrative, 'records' are interpreted as a device symbolizing Oswald's atonement. As the person in charge of sealing the Ark, he agonized between the guilt of having to select the surviving humanity and the choice of having to betray Goddess, his idol.
· He must have contemplated atonement for the sacrifices made as the head of the Arc Guardian operation, and atonement for betraying his idol. The story seems to have intended to portray this through the device of 'records.'
· In Chapter 23's story and the director's interview, he was highlighted as the only person from the Ark who mythologized the Goddess Squad, and in Old Tales, he is depicted as the one who erased all records so they could start anew from a blank slate with their sordid stories.
· In the event 'Arcane Archive,' after retiring, he founded a library and a forbidden book repository, personally leaving records with the inscription 'Respect and Gratitude for the Sacrifice of the Starving' so that the achievements and sacrifices of the Goddess Squad and other nameless heroes would not be forgotten.
· It is later revealed that Nikkes who followed his will protected these records by sacrificing resources.
· In this narrative, 'records' are interpreted as a device symbolizing Oswald's atonement. As the person in charge of sealing the Ark, he agonized between the guilt of having to select the surviving humanity and the choice of having to betray Goddess, his idol.
· He must have contemplated atonement for the sacrifices made as the head of the Arc Guardian operation, and atonement for betraying his idol. The story seems to have intended to portray this through the device of 'records.'
03:47 - 04:20
4. ✨ The Meaning in His Name and the Character's Choices
· Since Nikke is a game that puts effort into character names, we can also look into the etymology of the name Oswald.
· There's the story of 'Oswald the Lucky Rabbit,' Disney's first mascot, who was forgotten for decades due to copyright disputes. This might be a coincidence, but considering that a major device in the Goddess narrative is fairy tales and Oswald is associated with records, it feels significant.
· Called the Hercules of the central government, he committed the Ark's sins with his own hands but always chose the lesser of two evils.
· According to the developer notes, more of Oswald's story is scheduled to be revealed this year.
· There's the story of 'Oswald the Lucky Rabbit,' Disney's first mascot, who was forgotten for decades due to copyright disputes. This might be a coincidence, but considering that a major device in the Goddess narrative is fairy tales and Oswald is associated with records, it feels significant.
· Called the Hercules of the central government, he committed the Ark's sins with his own hands but always chose the lesser of two evils.
· According to the developer notes, more of Oswald's story is scheduled to be revealed this year.