One Chance (video game)

One Chance is a indie browser video game developed by Dean Moynihan, and released for Newgrounds on December 2010. The game is named this because there is no "possible" way to restart the game after completion.

The player controls a scientist named John Pilgrim, who created a cancer-attacking "cure", which is released in a gas form, and is causing humanity's extinction, due to it targeting human cells. The player has six days to complete an antibiotic, and has multiple endings.

Development

The game is titled "One Chance" because the player literally has only one chance to play the game. Refreshing the page after playing will bring you back to the ending you received.

Synopsis

The player takes control of a scientist, Dr. John Pilgrim. He has a wife, Penny, and a daughter, Molly. He's the leader of a small group of scientists who have discovered what seems to be the cure for cancer, titled E48K15, but soon realize that the experimental cure doesn't just kill cancer cells, but all living cells as well. The virus is released into the air, and the player is given 6 days to save the Earth.

Gameplay

Lupo says "One Chance starts off simple enough with John Pilgrim, our protagonist, waking up on a Tuesday to the world praising him for his discovery in finding a cure for cancer."^[1] WhatGamesAre explains: "What follows is a simple adventure game where you can walk around, talk to people and open doors. Every day the game changes the scenario up a little bit and reinforces the message of how much time is left. In the end...the results are stark and affecting."^[2] There are multiple endings, and some reviewers ask readers to share their own personal experiences on how they chose to spend their last 6 days on Earth before the ceasing of all life.^[3]

Critical reception

BulletReviews noted "With the inability to restart the game, in One Chance there are genuine consequences for your decisions for the first time ever in gaming history".^[4] WhatGamesAre said "At several points the game then surprises you. You think you have it figured out, and then something changes and it sneaks past your defences. You might feel appalled or just freaked out that this little Flash game is somehow getting to you, and you may well feel conscientious and even guilty about the situation that the game places you in." It added that "The biggest flaw with One Chance is that it is only good for one play through...The other game-side flaw is that there is no sense of a solution."^[5] Destructoid notes "There's a problem with branching paths and moral decisions in videogames: even if they are meaningful (few are), players can usually bypass the system by using multiple save files or other means to go in for another attempt and a different outcome", and adds that this game has a very good system to prevent people from "cheating".^[6]

Lupo wrote "One Chance is a short but quite strong experience which will put into perspective your priorities in life, for if the end of days were to come, would we keep fighting though the inevitable seems sure or spend the last precious moments with those we love?".^[7]

References