As spoiler-free as possible, how to get endings?

[vtbots]

I'm aware there are multiple endings, correct? How many endings are there? And, with little to no spoilers as possible, how do you end up in those ends?

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Basic ending is defeating the final boss.

Best ending, which gives you New Game Plus capability, is defeating the bonus boss then defeating the final boss.

You may need to defeat the final boss without defeating the bonus boss first to unlock some achievements because they may be buggy. I'm not sure. I don't care about achievements, but I have read others remark about this.

[AliceEngine]

Only two, finish with all levels beaten or don't. Extra boss doesn't count.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Doesn't the bonus boss count as a level?

[vtbots]

I'm getting mixed messages on the bonus dungeon thing, but basically to get the good end I have to at least clear all the story dungeons, then?
Also, does it have to be highest rank?

[AliceEngine]

I don't think rank matters. Optional boss level doesn't count, because it doesn't give you an item to return to the village (which is what actually matters - you have to return everyone's stuff). Not finishing all levels before you beat the final boss is no biggie, you can always reload your last save.

If you care about the achievements, read this: https://steamcommunity.com/app/322290/discussions/0/613956964602912481/#c617335934131232913

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

I'm pretty sure I finished all the non-boss levels, returned everyone's stuff, and then beat the final boss, and still only got the OK ending. Then I went and beat the bonus boss, then beat the final boss, and got the best ending.

[Tal]

To be clear, there aren't any (significant) alternate cut scenes for different endings, just more added on based on your progress. So you see the same scenes between the boss and monster town on all endings, and which side of town you're forced to exit and what happens after differs.

Any unhappy monsters: 'Exit' blocked, leave to 'Town' and Pino runs off with you there, fade to credits. Gives an intentional "unresolved" feel.

All furniture returned/monsters happy: 'Town' blocked, 'Exit' to visit with Motoro a couple much longer scenes play, The End.

Sort of. There's a final short scene after this when you fully complete Happy mode (which implies this is the "real" end Popon mentions as how you unlock her) where Parin is asleep in her bed and some of the monsters leer creepily at her through her window.

Bonus boss is messed up matters for achievements, but it's always played the second end when I went for the 'S' achievements. Only saw the non-end once, when I intentionally left one level at 'Clear' to see what happens.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

My save file has S-ranked (or higher) all levels except one or two.

I did get all the furniture returned.

From what I recall, beating the normal final boss but not the bonus boss, with what I have, activated the "unresolved" ending. Beating the bonus boss got me the "resolved" ending, despite my not S-ranking all the levels.

Maybe I'm wrong...?

[Tal]

Maybe not. What I did doesn't really test that, and I may have mis-remembered the conditions. I only did it to see the other end. Not sure I have a save state that would let me check now, though.

[Tal]

Only unusual save I had was one with the bonus boss open, all levels 'S' rank, all furniture returned. Gave me the 'goodbye' end, so bonus boss is definitely not required... but could count towards 'S' ranks if they just add up the total of those and you were only down one. More than one condition is also possible.

Still have Crazy left to beat, could toy with it towards the end (whenever that will be).

[vtbots]

@ Tal: I didn't read anything in the spoiler bars. But basically, it sounds like I might as well just go for the Good Ending outright instead of doing the Normal End first?

Though man, I'm getting so many mixed messages on Good End requirements. Maybe if Mastiff staff are awake...

[Tal]

Yep. There's almost nothing to miss with the non-end. There's even a downside to it – you've just figured out the final boss, battled it out, feel like you won, only to be told... you kinda didn't. Play more, come back and fight him again. Anti-climactic, and a final boss fight just isn't the same experience the second time around.

Might be less of an issue if you're down to a couple levels left to wrap up, but if you want to be certain and not wait for someone to confirm "just furniture", 'S' rank achievement conditions always worked for me. The basic requirement for 'S' is simply "get all chests/pots", so not actually difficult, just a bit of time and, at worst, maybe strap some cat ears to your head for a minute (no one will see!).