[Spoilers] Game Theory - Queen Vanessa could actually be...

[Ardenian]

There are some interesting yet small evidences that Queen Vanessa and Time Kid could be related, maybe being mother and daughter, extending to the Prince being her father, since he has brown hair.

My theory is that Queen Vanessa, Prince and Time Kid were once a family, until Prince left for his education, causing her mother Vanessa to go mad, being jealous of the female tutors at his academy. As a result, she imprisoned him in the cellar and Time Kid fled the place in horror, seeking the power of time to undo the damage and restore her family to what it used to be, before her mother went mad.

This could explain why Time Kid needs more Time Pieces, as she has to travel back in time, quite a bit probably, and why she doesn't use the Time Pieces to fight evil, as Mustache Girl suggests, since the Time Pieces already have a purpose, travelling back in time to restore her family. The spaceship is therefore not an actual spaceship, but a time machine.

Subcon Forest: Somewhere in Subcon Forest, there are ruins with something that seems to be a mix of a fountain with white water and white ice. There are clocks of different sizes lying around and somewhere, there is a place that resembles a dining room. This could be a place that is shattered through time (~Silent Hill), when Time Kid acquired her (time) powers and beginning her journey, causing Subcon Forest to become a twisted version between the events that occured in the past and actual reality. Since the player doesn't see Prince when visiting the manor, the giant skeletons could be an illusion of the decayed father.

Vanessa's Behavior: When Vanessa notices that someone is in the manor, she will burst into anger, but quickly calm down after entering the hallway. If you casually walk into the piano room at that moment, she will presumably see you, but not react. This could be explained by her recognizing Time Kid, as her child. She will only hunt you if you approach her or when causing a disturbance. Otherwise, she will behave playfully, as if she plays hide and seek with Time Kid.

Playroom: In the playroom of the manor, there is a painting that reveals Time Kid, the more you progress on that floor. While this could easily be seen as something that haunted houses do, it could also mean that the room belongs to Time Kid and the step by step reveal means Time Kid remembering her past, step by step. In this context, it is also interesting that Dweller Mask is not considered a hat power, as you are able to use it in the mansion, which could hint that it is one of Time Kid's original powers.

Ice Magic: Both Queen Vanessa and Time Kid are able to perform ice magic, Time Kid with her hat, Queen Vanessa through other means, as it is hinted when she freezes the cook in her closet while you play through the manor. Both their magic involves covering something into ice.

The Snatcher: Why would The Snatcher send you into the manor in the first place? All his contracts involve doing something useful, something for him, but not the one going to the attic of the manor. Assuming that Subcon Forest is a shattered reality, The Snatcher could function as a character of control, signing contracts with Time Kid to bring her back into reality and accept the fate that happened to her family. It is also one of the characters that tries to stop you from "going home" after the final act.

Vanessa's Appearence: Vanessa's whole appearence and soundtrack reminds me of a section in the game Among the Sleep. There, a mother with an alcohol problem abuses her child, a baby. In one of the levels there is a monster called The Forest Lady (Hyda) that causes noise (?) around it, being an alternative version of the abusive mother and looking very similar to Queen Vanessa. This could be an easter egg in A Hat in Time, with Queen Vanessa being inspired by that character.

Of course, this theory interprets a lot into probably trivial things, just a theory that grew in my head while playing through the game. One could go even further, saying that the whole world is not reality, but an imagination of Time Kid, with her fight with Mustache Girl being her internal conflict if she should try to use her power for good, but accept the fate of her family or go back in time to restore it, but then not being able to do any good.

[794redfield]

Sorry to say, but this "theory" is more of a Head-canon. Snatcher as the Prince and Queen Vanessa were dating, but they hadn't married yet and as a result, hadn't had a child yet. Also, it shouldn't be overlooked that even though the Prince liked her, Vanessa was outright OBSESSED with him, cutting her hair short to match his, getting jealous of pecking bacon just because he liked eating it and even contemplating holding him in her manor against his will so he could never leave her again, the state of the playroom was likely just her getting a bunch of kid's stuff preemptively for when she eventually married him and had a child, whether he wanted to or not.

[Ardenian]

Originally posted by 794redfield:

Sorry to say, but this "theory" is more of a Head-canon. Snatcher as the Prince and Queen Vanessa were dating, but they hadn't married yet and as a result, hadn't had a child yet. Also, it shouldn't be overlooked that even though the Prince liked her, Vanessa was outright OBSESSED with him, cutting her hair short to match his, getting jealous of pecking bacon just because he liked eating it and even contemplating holding him in her manor against his will so he could never leave her again, the state of the playroom was likely just her getting a bunch of kid's stuff preemptively for when she eventually married him and had a child, whether he wanted to or not.

Agreeing with you, it is definitely a head-cannon. Thanks for pointing out, I didn't know most of the details or outright overlooked them.

[794redfield]

Originally posted by Ardenian:

Originally posted by 794redfield:

Sorry to say, but this "theory" is more of a Head-canon. Snatcher as the Prince and Queen Vanessa were dating, but they hadn't married yet and as a result, hadn't had a child yet. Also, it shouldn't be overlooked that even though the Prince liked her, Vanessa was outright OBSESSED with him, cutting her hair short to match his, getting jealous of pecking bacon just because he liked eating it and even contemplating holding him in her manor against his will so he could never leave her again, the state of the playroom was likely just her getting a bunch of kid's stuff preemptively for when she eventually married him and had a child, whether he wanted to or not.

Agreeing with you, it is definitely a head-cannon. Thanks for pointing out, I didn't know most of the details or outright overlooked them.

No problem.

[NighT WolF]

But it's still a great theory. Always love to read them, even when they are completely wrong. :D

There is even more. If you played the game Psychonauts: At the end Raz has to fight a twisted version of his father, like he imagines him and because he thinks he is "bad". If you walk up to the attic and use the dweller vision, then you can see a silhouette of Raz on the bottom. That could be an easteregg that the Queen is a twisted version of her mother, like the father of Raz.

[Ardenian]

Originally posted by NighT WolF:

But it's still a great theory. Always love to read them, even when they are completely wrong. :D

There is even more. If you played the game Psychonauts: At the end Raz has to fight a twisted version of his father, like he imagines him and because he thinks he is "bad". If you walk up to the attic and use the dweller vision, then you can see a silhouette of Raz on the bottom. That could be an easteregg that the Queen is a twisted version of her mother, like the father of Raz.

Interesting detail! On a side note, is Psychonauts worth playing if I liked A Hat in Time and Super Mario N64? I've read that while Psychonauts is quite an original game, its platforming didn't age well and sucks. What's your opinion on that?

[Amiibo]

But Hey! That's just a theory. A GAME THEORY!!!!!!

[NighT WolF]

Originally posted by Ardenian:

What's your opinion on that?

Well, it's been seven years already since i last played it, but i still think it's a fantastic game. I'm not sure in which way the plattforming aspect should suck and it's hard to say something like that, since nearly every level in the game is different.

[Ardenian]

Originally posted by NighT WolF:

Originally posted by Ardenian:

What's your opinion on that?

Well, it's been seven years already since i last played it, but i still think it's a fantastic game. I'm not sure in which way the plattforming aspect should suck and it's hard to say something like that, since nearly every level in the game is different.

I see, thank you! Might check it out if I run out of games.

[Amiibo]

Also it's Hat Kid not Time Kid

[794redfield]

Originally posted by NighT WolF:

Originally posted by Ardenian:

What's your opinion on that?

Well, it's been seven years already since i last played it, but i still think it's a fantastic game. I'm not sure in which way the plattforming aspect should suck and it's hard to say something like that, since nearly every level in the game is different.

The platforming for the most part is pretty good, mainly because Raz is very "floaty" so you have a ton of time to correct your jumps if you screw up, especially when you get Levitation. The only place the game really hits a low point, IMO, is the final level, which was so brutally difficult that I think they actually made it easier in the Steam release.

[Zaplush fella]

Mh. I don't think so, Hat kid has an diary and you can see her thoughts after each chapter, and well, in Subcon's ones she absolutely roasts Snatcher, which would be weird if he's her father, not only that but Hat kid (again, in her diary) seems to not be familiar with adults in general, or people in general (this could be just an mis-interpretation of mine though) I know the thread is from literally 2 years ago but I want to put this out lol