Yume Nikki:Uboa: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:58, 17 September 2016

If you turn off the light in Poniko's Room, there is a 1 in 64 chance that the Uboa Event will occur. Whether the event will occur is determined when the player enters the room (leave and enter again for the next chance). Uboa was added along with the Pink Sea in Ver.0.08.

Appearance

Uboa as they appear in the manga

Uboa appears like a black blob or shadow-like creature with a white oval covering most of their front. The oval resembles the traditional Noh theatre masks, as well as the greek comedy/tragedy masks that depict extreme joy or sadness. However, in regards to the greek masks, Uboa's expression seems to be a blend of both, as their left eye is squinting, while their right eye is resting. Accordingly, the left corner of the mouth is turned up as, while the right corner is turned down.

In the right upper part of the oval, the black colour invades it slightly, making the "mask" appear "cracked".

In the manga, Uboa was given a ponytail and arms, probably to resemble Poniko.

Event

Uboa in Poniko's room.

There is a chance that the event is triggered when you turn off the light. When the event happens a bright flash fills the screen, then the entire room changes and Uboa replaces Poniko. The background music changes to an alarming filtered "aah" noise. You cannot leave the room, and flipping the light switch only causes another flash.

Some of the items in the room change. The dresser gets a "face" with googly eyes that may remind players of those of Masada and a smile. The two pictures change, the one over the desk turns from what looks like a mouse to a face which has googly eyes as well, and what could be either a moustache or another smile. The one over Poniko's bed changes from one shape to another. The window gets eyes and the rug's design also changes, showing a pattern with eyes as well. The lamp on the desk turns on, showing a light beam.

If you interact with Uboa, their face will become warped and you will be sent to a looped area highly similar to the White Desert (with even its soundtrack playing). The area shows a monochrome background and a a large decorative NPC that interacts with the white part of the background. This white part is shaped in a bubbly way and drop shapes are drawn on top of it, making it seem wet.

Uboa in the monochrome area.

When walking, Madotsuki's footsteps make the same "water" sound effects also heard when adventuring through the Pink Sea, so the white, wavy ground can be interpreted as the same sort of substance. Uboa themself is seen motionless with the warped expression in the right down part of the area. It is impossible to interact with them. Despite this location's many similarities to the White Desert, there are no routes that lead away from this area and into the White Desert itself. The only way to escape this area is by pinching Madotsuki awake or by using the Medamaude effect.

Sound Files

Sound associated with Uboa.

Sound File	Description
	The background music that plays when Uboa is in Poniko's room.
	The White Desert soundtrack that plays after you get teleported into the new area.

Reception

Uboa is likely a major factor for the success of the game, especially in the English version. Many non-Japanese players were introduced to Uboa through YouTube. Uboa itself may very well be the number one inspiration to download and explore Yume Nikki by most fans.

Fan Speculation

Isolation - Due to being trapped after making Madotsuki interact with Uboa, and the following area playing the dreary White Desert soundtrack, it could relate to the game's recurring theme of isolation.

Poniko's True Form - A common interpretation is that Uboa is Poniko's true form, mostly because they replace her sprite.

Revenge - Uboa could be an annoyed Poniko getting angry with Madotsuki, as she keeps switching the lights off and on, which could be seen as a prank.

Trivia

This is lost in English, but the syllables that make up Uboa's name (ウボァ) do not normally go together in Japanese, with the effect of the name being similar to Cthulhu or Astfgl in its "wrongness".
Uboa is one of the most popular characters from the game and has made cameos or was inspiration for other characters in other (indi) video games.

Uboa's marking (.flow)

Dogboa (Yume 2kki)

- Yume 2kki - In the Sky Kingdom world there is a dog-like character that resembles Uboa. This character has been called "Dogboa" by fans.
- .flow - Uboa makes a cameo as a marking in the dead end room in the Underwater Temple.
  
  Mask Effect (Me)
- Me - the Mask effect is a clear reference to Uboa's face, and the location it's found in is quite similar to Poniko's room.
- Undertale - W. D. Gaster bears a striking resemblance to Uboa. The creator has referred to Uboa in other works as well.
- Spooky's House of Jumpscares - Specimen 13 behaves similar to Uboa.
- In the game LISA: The Joyful by Dingaling Games, the character Mr. Beautiful has a mask that appears similar to Uboa once cracked in battle. However, Dingaling stated on Twitter that the similarities weren't intentional, and that the character was instead based on Shoko Ashara.
According to some, Uboa's design (that of their initial sprite) was likely inspired by Spirited Aways No-Face.
- No-Face is in turn inspired by Noh theatre and could also be based on the kōken, the stagehands dressing in all black, moving the scenery and props.
Uboa's name originated from a type of scream in Japan. Originally pronounced 'uhoa' (ooo-hwha) when said in a manner resembling a scream, the name certainly suits its appearance and situation.
Going along with the previous statement, the scream Uboa was popularized by Emperor Mateus from Final Fantasy II, who screamed Uboa when he was defeated in the NES/FC Japanese version and English prototype, this was likely part of the inspiration for the name
The origin of Uboa's face design prior to its distortion when the player touches it may have come from a 1997 Treasure game called Mischief Makers. This may be coincidental however. In Mischief Makers, the denizens of the planet Clancer as well as most objects on the planet all have black, hollow-looking eyes similar to Uboa's that may be both curved inward or one curving outward. These creatures also possess gaping black mouths and white faces, much like Uboa.
In the walfas' create.swf (despite being being Touhou in origin but because of Uboa's meme status) Uboa's face is an option to use on a character.

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 | name       = Uboa
 | image      = File:Uboa.png
-| caption    = Uboa's Initial Sprite
+| caption    = ウボァ
 | location   = • [[Pink Sea|Poniko's Room]]<br/>
 • Uboa's Trap World
 | role       = Traps Madotsuki in an inescapable world
 | size       = Standard
-| killable   = No
+| effect reaction   = None
 | notes      =}}
-{{Audio
+If you turn off the light in [[Pink Sea|Poniko's Room]], there is a 1 in 64 chance that the ''Uboa Event'' will occur. Whether the event will occur is determined when the player enters the room (leave and enter again for the next chance). Uboa was added along with the Pink Sea in Ver.0.08.
-| title     = Uboa sound effect
-| filename  = BGM 013-50.ogg
-}}
-If you turn off the light in [[Pink Sea|Poniko's Room]], there is a 1 in 64 chance that the 'Uboa Event' will occur. Whether the event will occur is determined when the player enters the room (leave and enter again for next chance), or to wait 5 seconds after the switch is flipped. Uboa was added along with the Pink Sea in Ver.0.08.
-==Description==
+==Appearance==
-[[File:Uboa.jpg|thumb|Uboa as they appear in the manga]]
+[[File:Uboa.jpg|thumb|140px|Uboa as they appear in the manga]]
-'''Uboa''' (ウボァ) is a strange creature. Though there is no direct gender ascribed, Uboa may potentially be female due to its eventual replacement of [[Poniko]]'s sprite. There is a chance that they will replace Poniko when you turn off the light, and plays a continuous filtered "Aah" sound. When the event happens a bright flash fills the room, similar to a blowing light bulb, then the entire room changes and Uboa replaces Poniko (if you kill her before triggering the event, Uboa is not going to appear. However, you will be locked in Poniko's room). You cannot leave the room, and flipping the light switch only causes another flash of light. If you touch Uboa, you will be sent to a Monochrome Street highly similar to the [[White Desert]] (with even its soundtrack playing); which is a looped area flooded with white liquid (potentially a swamp or marsh), [[Bloody Touching Monster|a strange monster in the background bleeding]], and Uboa's face will become strangely warped. Despite this location's atmosphere being identical to the White Desert's, there are no routes that lead away from this area and into the White Desert itself. The only way to escape Uboa's Trap World is by pinching [[Madotsuki]] awake or by using the [[Effects#Medamaude|Medamaude]] effect.
+'''Uboa''' appears like a black blob or shadow-like creature with a white oval covering most of their front. The oval resembles the traditional [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh#Masks ''Noh''] theatre masks, as well as the greek comedy/tragedy masks that depict extreme joy or sadness. However, in regards to the greek masks, Uboa's expression seems to be a blend of both, as their left eye is squinting, while their right eye is resting. Accordingly, the left corner of the mouth is turned up as, while the right corner is turned down.
-==Reception==
+In the right upper part of the oval, the black colour invades it slightly, making the "mask" appear "cracked".
-[[File:Uboaroom.jpg|thumb]]
-Uboa is likely a major factor for the success of the game, especially in the English version. Many non-Japanese players were introduced to Uboa through YouTube. Uboa itself may very well be the number one inspiration to download and explore Yume Nikki by most fans.
-===Discovery===
+In the manga, Uboa was given a ponytail and arms, probably to resemble [[Poniko]].
-On July 30, 2005, someone discovered both Uboa and [[FACE]] and posted about it in the second iteration of the Yume Nikki thread on 2ch. The poster was unlucky enough to get Uboa the very first time he flipped the switch. He described his reaction with the sound "Uboar", which was the infamous death cry of the Emperor in the Japanese version of Final Fantasy II. "Uboar" caught on as the name of the character, and was later shortened to "Uboa".
-===Fan Speculation===
+==Event==
-[[File:Uboaspace.jpg|thumb]]'''Hopelessness''' - Due to the aspect of being trapped, Uboa could be interpreted as a feeling of hopelessness.
+[[File:Uboaroom.jpg|thumb|170px|Uboa in Poniko's room.]]
+There is a chance that the event is triggered when you turn off the light. When the event happens a bright flash fills the screen, then the entire room changes and Uboa replaces Poniko. The background music changes to an alarming filtered "aah" noise. You cannot leave the room, and flipping the light switch only causes another flash.
-'''Poniko's True Form''' - A common interpretation is that Uboa is Poniko's true form, mostly because they replace her sprite.
+Some of the items in the room change. The dresser gets a "face" with googly eyes that may remind players of those of [[Masada]] and a smile. The two pictures change, the one over the desk turns from what looks like a mouse to a face which has googly eyes as well, and what could be either a moustache or another smile. The one over Poniko's bed changes from one shape to another. The window gets eyes and the rug's design also changes, showing a pattern with eyes as well. The lamp on the desk turns on, showing a light beam.
-'''Frustration''' - A theory based on the correlation between the game ''Mischief Makers'' and Uboa's face, Uboa may be based on Kikiyama's and/or Madotsuki's frustration. Uboa is thematically similar to near-hopeless gameplay since it is very hard to trigger the event and even harder to accidentally discover. This may be Kikiyama's way of projecting game frustration.
+If you interact with Uboa, their face will become warped and you will be sent to a looped area highly similar to the [[White Desert]] (with even its soundtrack playing). The area shows a monochrome background and a [[Bloody Touching Monster|a large decorative NPC]] that interacts with the white part of the background. This white part is shaped in a bubbly way and drop shapes are drawn on top of it, making it seem wet.
+[[File:Uboaspace.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Uboa in the monochrome area.]]
+When walking, Madotsuki's footsteps make the same "water" sound effects also heard when adventuring through the [[Pink Sea]], so the white, wavy ground can be interpreted as the same sort of substance. Uboa themself is seen motionless with the warped expression in the right down part of the area. It is impossible to interact with them. Despite this location's many similarities to the White Desert, there are no routes that lead away from this area and into the White Desert itself. The only way to escape this area is by pinching [[Madotsuki]] awake or by using the [[Effects#Medamaude|Medamaude]] effect.
-'''Revenge''' - Since Poniko could be interpreted as Madotsuki's emotional side, which she is locking away, bothering her (switching the lights on and off) causes Uboa to appear, giving a fright to the player.
+==Sound Files==
+Sound associated with Uboa.
+{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 80%;"
+| style="text-align: center;"|'''Sound File'''
+| style="text-align: center;"|'''Description'''
+|-
+|[[File:BGM 013-50.ogg|noicon]]
+|The background music that plays when Uboa is in [[Poniko]]'s room.
+|-
+|[[File:SYA_sfx.ogg|noicon]]
+|The ''White Desert'' soundtrack that plays after you get teleported into the new area.
+|}
-'''Molestation''' - The white liquid that fills the Monochrome Street/Uboa's Trap World may in fact be semen. The hills (which may also be covered in semen) that the [[Bloody Touching Monster]] is groping could also potentially represent breasts or the body in general. It appears to be more likely however that [[KyuuKyuu-kun]] is a metaphor for this potential theme in Madotsuki's past.
+==Reception==
+Uboa is likely a major factor for the success of the game, especially in the English version. Many non-Japanese players were introduced to Uboa through YouTube. Uboa itself may very well be the number one inspiration to download and explore Yume Nikki by most fans.
+===Fan Speculation===
+'''Isolation''' - Due to being trapped after making Madotsuki interact with Uboa, and the following area playing the dreary [[White Desert]] soundtrack, it could relate to the game's recurring theme of [[Theories#Themes_of_Isolation|isolation]].
-'''Inferiority Complex''' - As a Hikikomori Madotsuki may view Poniko as the archetypal normal/popular girl which Madotsuki contrasts her and her self-worth against. The distinction exemplifying Madotsuki's perspectives of being inferior. Even beyond the physical appearance of both girls, there exists much more that is directly in contrast to them. Both seem to live independently within the realms of a singular room. Though both of these rooms function relatively similarly, ascetically Poniko's room is bright, colorful, well furnished, posh and thus a drastic distinction from Madotsuki's dingy small apartment. Following this hypothesis; overall Poniko embodies all that Madotsuki views as desirable yet lacks, her antithesis in every way. Yet whereas Madotsuki lives within the expanses of her vast, sprawling dreams, Poniko's transformation into Uboa occurs only once the lights are turned off, (thus symbolic of sleep.) During this frightening occurrence Madotsuki's entrance into the inner realm of Poniko/Uboa is of a confined small linear endless repetition which Madotsuki is sealed into via Uboa's body itself. Here in this cold and abysmal ceaseless confinement, exists a pertinent and final concluding contrast. Not only outwardly, but now inwardly. illustrating just how drastically opposite each is defined within Madotsuki's framework. If all that the Poniko archetype represents is outwardly attractive, popular and desirous. Inwardly she is viewed as shallow, ugly, malicious, frightening, her true form the horror that is Uboa.
+'''Poniko's True Form''' - A common interpretation is that Uboa is Poniko's true form, mostly because they replace her sprite.
-'''Madotsuki's Abusive Mother''' - With the manga appearance of Uboa, it is possible that Poniko is Madotsuki's mother and Uboa is supposed to represent Poniko's abusive side.
+'''Revenge''' - Uboa could be an annoyed Poniko getting angry with Madotsuki, as she keeps switching the lights off and on, which could be seen as a prank.
 ==Trivia==
 *This is lost in English, but the syllables that make up Uboa's name (ウボァ) do not normally go together in Japanese, with the effect of the name being similar to ''Cthulhu'' or ''Astfgl'' in its "wrongness".
-*When the Uboa event activates, some of the items in the room change. The dresser gets a "face"[[File:Dogboa3.png|thumb|44px|Dogboa (Yume 2kki)]] with googly eyes that may remind players of those of [[Masada]] and what seems to be a creepy smile. The two pictures change, the one over the desk turns from what looks like a mouse to a face which has googly eyes as well, and what could be either a moustache or a creepy-looking smile, and the one over Poniko's bed that changes from one shape to another. The window gets eyes and the rug's design also changes, showing a pattern with eyes as well. The lamp on the desk turns on, showing a light beam.
 *Uboa is one of the most popular characters from the game and has made cameos or was inspiration for other characters in other (indi) video games.[[File:Uboa_flow.png|thumb|Uboa's marking (.flow)]]
+[[File:Dogboa3.png|thumb|44px|Dogboa (Yume 2kki)]]
 **'''Yume 2kki''' - In the ''Sky Kingdom'' world there is a dog-like character that resembles Uboa. This character has been called "Dogboa" by fans.
 **'''.flow''' - Uboa makes a cameo as a marking in the dead end room in the ''Underwater Temple''.[[File:Memask.png|thumb|67px|Mask Effect (Me)]]
@@ Line 51: / Line 62: @@
 **'''Spooky's House of Jumpscares''' - Specimen 13 behaves similar to Uboa.
 **In the game [http://lisa-rpg.wikia.com/wiki/LISA%3A_THE_JOYFUL LISA: The Joyful] by Dingaling Games, the character Mr. Beautiful has a mask that appears similar to Uboa once cracked in battle. However, Dingaling stated on [https://twitter.com/NitroRad/status/636395722099814400 Twitter] that the similarities weren't intentional, and that the character was instead based on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoko_Asahara Shoko Ashara.]
-*According to some, Uboa's design (that of its initial sprite) was likely inspired by '''Spirited Away'''s No-Face.
+*According to some, Uboa's design (that of their initial sprite) was likely inspired by '''Spirited Away'''s No-Face.
-*Uboa's name originated from a type of scream in Japan. Originally pronounced 'uhoa' ''(ooo-hwha) ''when said in a manner resembling a scream, the name certainly suits its appearance and situation.
+**No-Face is in turn inspired by ''Noh'' theatre and could also be based on the ''kōken'', the stagehands dressing in all black, moving the scenery and props.
+*Uboa's name originated from a type of scream in Japan. Originally pronounced 'uhoa' ''(ooo-hwha)'' when said in a manner resembling a scream, the name certainly suits its appearance and situation.
 *Going along with the previous statement, the scream Uboa was popularized by [http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Emperor_Mateus Emperor Mateus] from Final Fantasy II, who screamed Uboa when he was defeated in the NES/FC Japanese version and English prototype, this was likely part of the inspiration for the name
 *The origin of Uboa's face design prior to its distortion when the player touches it may have come from a 1997 Treasure game called ''Mischief Makers''. This may be coincidental however. In ''Mischief Makers'', the denizens of the planet Clancer as well as most objects on the planet all have black, hollow-looking eyes similar to Uboa's that may be both curved inward or one curving outward. These creatures also possess gaping black mouths and white faces, much like Uboa.
-[[File:004.png|thumb|320px|Uboa's interaction with Madostuki]]
+*In the walfas'  [http://walfas.org/flash/create.swf create.swf] (despite being being Touhou in origin but because of Uboa's meme status) Uboa's face is an option to use on a character.
-*In the walfas'  [http://walfas.org/flash/create.swf create.swf] (despite being being Touhou in origin but because of Uboa's meme status) Uboa's face is an option to use on a character.
-*In the manga, Uboa was given a ponytail (and arms) and, possibly hinting towards a theory and while they attack her, Madotsuki calls them "Mom" (depicted left).
 [[Category:Characters]]
 [[Category:Events]]