Do you think it's justified to delete system_information_963?

[NiteHood]

[SPOILERS FOR GENOCIDE RUN]

So, for those of you that don't know, after a Genocide run, once you've sold your soul to Chara, the game creates a file called "system_information_963" and puts it on your computer. This file only affects one thing. As long as it exists, the post credits cutscene for the True Pacifist ending is "permanently" changed to imply that Chara has taken control of Frisk's body, and if you choose not to stay with Toriel (I don't know who could possible not want to stay with her, but okay) that Chara goes on to murder all of your friends. I say "permanently” in quotes because if you know about the system_information_963 file, it’s actually very easy to remove any trace of Genocide, especially if you have the DRM-free version (non-Steam version).

My question is this though: is deleting it justified? Before you just reply “Uhh, yeah. Of course m8.” Let’s take a minute to really dissect what you’re saying by deleting that file. Toby Fox made the whole premise of Undertale with a specific idea in mind. Your decisions have weight to them. Every single run ends with judgement. Sans always knows what you did, and you will have to face the consequences of your actions. Frisk has a way to repent, in a sense. If you feel guilty about what you’ve done, you can Reset to go back to the beginning and try again—Unless you’ve committed genocide—This is supposed to be the one thing that’s so bad, that you can’t just run from the consequences of it. This is the one thing you need to face regardless of your Resets. You stain the game with blood by doing Genocide, and you can never pretend that you didn’t…

Unless you delete system_information_963.

Do you see what I’m saying here? The game is trying to send a message. In the real world, you can’t Reset. You can’t run from you actions forever. What I’m asking is if it’s okay to undermine that message for your own sake. If this game ever gets ported to consoles, they’ll have a lot more control over the permanence of that decision, since you can’t just edit game files on a console. Should they include an in-game option to wipe the game completely 100% clean, or should they force players to live with what they’ve done? Who deserves the final say on what the consequences are? The creator or the consumer?

This is a subjective question, so I’m just hoping to spark some interesting discussion rather than discover the definitive answer. Let me know your thoughts (and the reasoning behind them). I'm curious.

[Brassqund]

I accept the consequences of my actions.
At first, I didn't even wanted to accept the offert of chara.
I actually keep the game as an empty void for a couple of days.

One day, I wanted to screenshot the offer...
but I by reflexe, I use alt+enter to go in fullscreen... accepting the offert at the same time.
-_-

So no, for me this file shouldn't be deleted.
Ever.
That doesn't even stop you from playing.
It is just a little at the LAST second of the game that change.
People want to erase the game beacause that make them feel guilthy
when erasing the file make you even more guilthy.
Not only you did kill every poor monsters...
but you can't even accept it.

But ...
that's my way to see it.

[(Edgy) Asriel Dreemurr]

It's your game you can do whatever you want with it.

[JamTasty]

Originally posted by (Edgy) Asriel Dreemurr:

It's your game you can do whatever you want with it.

That's understandable but as the post creator says; its supposed to justify that can't run from all of your problems; you need to understand that consequences aren't things you can manipulate.

[infinity]

yes

[Chatian]

do it you won't

[strawberrymikus01]

To me it seems like a similar choice to choosing to forgive or hug asriel in the true ending. Chara scolds you for thinking that you are above consequences. If you choose not to delete your "consequences" that Chara creates for your genocide (that not even a true reset can eliminate) then Chara is proven correct, you must hold your consequences. If you erase your "consequences" Chara fails to hold you to them. Of course you are more powerful than them, Chara isn't real. You already know that, you're playing a video game. But still, they were able to create a file. A real tangible thing that makes the game incapable of forgetting.
But Flowey too is incapable of forgetting your resets, but there's still a mechanic that can overcome that. Even after he pleads for you to not reset you still might anyway.
Choices shaping the narrative is what defines Undertale itself. Even if it isn't morally "right" it still shapes the story that the game tells.
Is it justified? No, if you ask me. But if you try to tell someone what they can or can't do with their game it will eventually devolve into an "iS TiME TrAVeLINg iN AnIMaL CroSSIng OkAY????" argument and no one really wants that.

[strawberrymikus01]

Originally posted by strawberrymikus01:

To me it seems like a similar choice to choosing to forgive or hug asriel in the true ending. Chara scolds you for thinking that you are above consequences. If you choose not to delete your "consequences" that Chara creates for your genocide (that not even a true reset can eliminate) then Chara is proven correct, you must hold your consequences. If you erase your "consequences" Chara fails to hold you to them. Of course you are more powerful than them, Chara isn't real. You already know that, you're playing a video game. But still, they were able to create a file. A real tangible thing that makes the game incapable of forgetting.
But Flowey too is incapable of forgetting your resets, but there's still a mechanic that can overcome that. Even after he pleads for you to not reset you still might anyway.
Choices shaping the narrative is what defines Undertale itself. Even if it isn't morally "right" it still shapes the story that the game tells.
Is it justified? No, if you ask me. But if you try to tell someone what they can or can't do with their game it will eventually devolve into an "iS TiME TrAVeLINg iN AnIMaL CroSSIng OkAY????" argument and no one really wants that.

oops didn't realize i just necroposted but eh i dont feel like deleting this i think it's a good addition but oof

[Sixteen60]

it should work, i never tried because i never did a successful genocide route though.