I've been thinking about this character for Holozing for a long time
@cocacolaron
Posted 2d ago · 4 min read
I’ve been thinking for a while now about adding a new character to Holozing—someone who complements our protagonist, yet simultaneously acts as a sort of "ghost actor" behind the scenes of everything that unfolds throughout the game and its lore.
He isn't your typical charismatic character who steals the spotlight. In fact, if you were to see him for the first time, you’d probably just assume he was just another NPC.
He’s always hunched over, speaks in a low voice, avoids eye contact, and has this nervous habit of adjusting his glasses every couple of minutes. Nobody pays him much attention... and that suits him just fine.
Because while everyone else is focused on capturing creatures, battling, or exploring, he is observing. Analyzing patterns, behaviors, and reactions. This guy doesn't see creatures... he sees systems.
His role within the team starts out as something basic: technical support, data analysis, maybe offering a scientific explanation whenever something strange pops up. But little by little, you begin to realize that he is always one step ahead.
When the protagonist encounters an unknown creature, he already has theories. When something goes wrong, he had already anticipated it. And when no one else understands what’s happening... he figured it out ages ago.
The interesting thing is that he never flaunts it. (A cliché, I know.)
That low profile isn't a coincidence. He is someone who knows exactly what he’s doing, but has no need for validation. And that makes him far more interesting than the typical "arrogant genius" archetype. There is no visible ego here... but there is definitely control.
And this is where Holozing can pull off something truly powerful on a narrative level.
Because eventually, you reach a point where you start to wonder: How does he know so much? We aren't just talking about intelligence here. This character seems to have access to information they shouldn't possess.
They understand these creatures in a way that transcends mere science. At times, they even anticipate behaviors that haven't even occurred yet. And that begins to breed a certain sense of unease.
The player notices it even if the protagonist doesn't always do so.
There could be several interesting directions to take here. One of the most obvious: that they had been researching these creatures long before the events of the game began. But an even more intriguing possibility would be that they didn't merely study them... but actually intervened in their evolution.
Imagine if some of the game's core mechanics mutations, aggressive behaviors, unique abilities—weren't natural occurrences, but rather the direct result of past experiments. Experiments which, of course, they never mention.
And yet, they are always there in the background—offering advice, guiding decisions, and subtly nudging the protagonist down certain paths.
They never give orders. They never impose their will. But they influence.
That makes them one of those characters who grow in stature over time. At first, they are simply "the group's scientist." Later, they become "the smart guy." And finally... they start to feel like someone who knows far too much.
You could even play with small details: optional dialogue where they drop bits of information that don't quite add up; cold, detached reactions to critical situations; or moments where they seem more interested in observing than in actually helping.
They wouldn't be a classic villain. Nor even necessarily a direct antagonist. But they would be precisely the kind of character who makes you question everything that’s happening. And in a game like Holozing where the relationship between humans and creatures is central having someone who understands both sides all too well... could be more dangerous than any enemy.