NETBot

Role
NETBot is the main antagonist of Star Retriever and Star Retriever: Remastered. Using his artificial intelligence abilities, he manages to steal the stars from Mapleton and scatters them among many worlds.

In Star Retriever
In Star Retriever, NETBot appears in two initial forms: The classic holographic image, or a mysterious core. NETBot makes comments about the player's progress frequently. In World 4-2, NETBot reveals his true self. When the player defeats NETBot at the boss battle after World 7, it seems that he is dead. However, NETBot initiates the Failsafe Protocol, in which he creates a new prototype of himself and scatters 1 red star in each world. After the red stars are collected, the player can finally defeat NETBot for real.

In Star Retriever: Remastered
In Star Retriever: Remastered, NETBot's only initial form is the classic holographic image. Instead of making more comments or asking questions, NETBot mainly says snide remarks about the player's questions. At the end of World 3, NETBot reveals his identity in a short flashback sequence. In the Remastered version, the boss battle is still after World 7, but the Failsafe Protocol does not exist. Therefore, red stars do not exist, but the game continues for 3 more worlds.

Background
A research corporation known as Science NET began plans to construct the first working artificial intelligence robot in 2002. The project took over 2 years to complete with thousands of scientists around the globe. When the project finally was complete in April of 2004, the AI, also known as NETBot, killed the lead scientist and escaped the facility. Science NET went bankrupt in June of 2004 with the news of the lead scientist's death.