The Time is the first entity the Player encounters in Lapse and is a side character in Before Zero.
Origin[]
Time's origin and existence are unknown. Time only explains that it is "Time itself".
Appearance[]
Time appears as a featureless white humanoid in a black background. In Lapse 2:Before Zero, Time's appearance is the same, but with a white background instead of black, and a black film grain around his outline.
Biography[]
A Forgotten Future[]
Warning: Spoilers Ahead.
At the start of the game in the Year 2075, Time found the main protagonist and decided to watch their actions and determine if they deserve to live. Throughout the game, they would pull the player back to warn them of their actions.
Ultimatum[]
In the year 2119, they pull back the protagonist to warn them that consequences will happen if they don‘t save the world in 2150.
Back to the Past[]
In the true ending (Good), the player calls them to eradicate Alysha Hall (Cyborg), causing Time to forgive them for their actions as it restored balance in the timeline, hence saving the world.
Loop[]
When the player reaches the year 2150 without 'fixing the rips in the Space-Time Continuum', Time will appear, angry with the player for not accomplishing the task given. Time then abandons the world. As a result, time in the player's world freezes, with everything else.
Before Zero[]
Time returns again in an imprisoned state inside the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Once the player solves the mystery of the Great Pyramid and unlocks the room, he will meet Time. Time explains that it was imprisoned by the Pharaoh to use Time's powers to live longer without aging, as the Pharaoh was afraid of dying. Time then gives the player two choices, take the hourglass that controls his powers, and bring it to mankind, or destroy the hourglass to free Time.
A Forgotten Future
In the true ending (Good), the player destroys the hourglass, releasing Time. Time gives thanks to the player then departs, promising to bring Kumiyo and Kasmut back to their timelines.
Zero
If the player takes the hourglass to give it to mankind, Time acknowledges the player that he made his choice, and Time simply vanishes.
Powers[]
The Time, being "Time itself", can control the fabrication of space and time. As seen in Lapse: A Forgotten Future, Time can enter a lapse that stops time for a brief period to talk to the player. Time can abandon a world and leave time frozen in it. Time is very capable of traveling to the past or the future. Despite being seemingly powerful, the Time was somehow captured and imprisoned by the Pharaoh in ancient Egypt inside the Great Pyramid. Time explains that Pharaoh, with the help of many people, "sealed Time with trickery". By exploiting Time's presence, the Pharaoh used its powers to manipulate time to live in "eternal youth". The Great Pyramid was built to contain Time and avoid altering the flow of time in the surrounding areas.
Trivia[]
- The Picture of Time suggests Time as more of an abstract object, as Time is an Abstract noun.
- Time is aware of your status as an android time machine, as implicitly stated at the beginning of Lapse and every ending.