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''Beneath a Steel Sky'' is a British PointAndClick video game created by Creator/RevolutionSoftware. The game was released for PC DOS and Platform/{{Amiga}} platforms in 1994. It came in two basic versions for both of those platforms: a text-heavy disk-based affair with minimal sound effects and a more lavish [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc CD-ROM]] production with full music and speech, the latter of which was unusual considering the limitations of most computer systems of the era. The artwork and general style was partially created by [[Comicbook/{{Watchmen}} Dave Gibbons]], whose illustrations grace the [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc PC CD-ROM]] version's introduction video, with the subtitles using comic-book style {{E|mphasiseEverything}}MPHASIS on [[BoldInflation KEYWORDS]].

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''Beneath a Steel Sky'' is a British PointAndClick video game created by Creator/RevolutionSoftware. The game was released for PC DOS and Platform/{{Amiga}} platforms in 1994. It came in two basic versions for both of those platforms: a text-heavy disk-based affair with minimal sound effects and a more lavish [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc [[Platform/CompactDisc CD-ROM]] production with full music and speech, the latter of which was unusual considering the limitations of most computer systems of the era. The artwork and general style was partially created by [[Comicbook/{{Watchmen}} Dave Gibbons]], whose illustrations grace the [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc [[Platform/CompactDisc PC CD-ROM]] version's introduction video, with the subtitles using comic-book style {{E|mphasiseEverything}}MPHASIS on [[BoldInflation KEYWORDS]].



Beneath a Steel Sky was very well received upon release, with particular praise directed at the stylish graphics and darkly humourous off-kilter dialogue. Nevertheless, it failed to reach a larger audience and remains something of a forgotten gem, although Revolution Software commendably made it freeware to coincide with UsefulNotes/ScummVM porting the game using its custom engine, which means it can now be played on a variety of platforms. A "Remastered" edition was released for the iPhone in September 2009, which fixes some of the minor issues with the original game, features an intuitive new interface and an improved musical score.

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Beneath a Steel Sky was very well received upon release, with particular praise directed at the stylish graphics and darkly humourous off-kilter dialogue. Nevertheless, it failed to reach a larger audience and remains something of a forgotten gem, although Revolution Software commendably made it freeware to coincide with UsefulNotes/ScummVM MediaNotes/ScummVM porting the game using its custom engine, which means it can now be played on a variety of platforms. A "Remastered" edition was released for the iPhone in September 2009, which fixes some of the minor issues with the original game, features an intuitive new interface and an improved musical score.
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''Beneath a Steel Sky'' is a British PointAndClick video game created by Creator/RevolutionSoftware. The game was released for PC DOS and UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} platforms in 1994. It came in two basic versions for both of those platforms: a text-heavy disk-based affair with minimal sound effects and a more lavish [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc CD-ROM]] production with full music and speech, the latter of which was unusual considering the limitations of most computer systems of the era. The artwork and general style was partially created by [[Comicbook/{{Watchmen}} Dave Gibbons]], whose illustrations grace the [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc PC CD-ROM]] version's introduction video, with the subtitles using comic-book style {{E|mphasiseEverything}}MPHASIS on [[BoldInflation KEYWORDS]].

to:

''Beneath a Steel Sky'' is a British PointAndClick video game created by Creator/RevolutionSoftware. The game was released for PC DOS and UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} Platform/{{Amiga}} platforms in 1994. It came in two basic versions for both of those platforms: a text-heavy disk-based affair with minimal sound effects and a more lavish [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc CD-ROM]] production with full music and speech, the latter of which was unusual considering the limitations of most computer systems of the era. The artwork and general style was partially created by [[Comicbook/{{Watchmen}} Dave Gibbons]], whose illustrations grace the [[UsefulNotes/CompactDisc PC CD-ROM]] version's introduction video, with the subtitles using comic-book style {{E|mphasiseEverything}}MPHASIS on [[BoldInflation KEYWORDS]].
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I feel like this fits the Trivia trope Feelies better


* AllThereInTheManual: The game comes with a [[{{Feelies}} security manual]] intended for Reich's use which provides a lot of background details on the game's characters.
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* AlienGeometries: Hobbins' workshop is positioned in a way it should be protruding from the outer wall. Even the room with the freight elevator should.
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The player character is Rob Foster, rescued by a tribe of bandits as a child after he was found as the only surviving member of a helicopter crash on which his mother was also a passenger. He is raised by the tribe and comes to look upon them as his family, learning skills such as hunting and scavenging and building himself a robot from discarded scraps found in local garbage dumps of the walled megalopolis of Union City. They inhabit a barren wasteland known as "The Gap", a deserted area that was once part of the Australian outback, a harsh place where daily survival is a struggle.

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The player character is Rob assumes the role of Robert Foster, rescued by a tribe of bandits as a child after he was found as the only surviving member of a helicopter crash on which his mother was also a passenger. He is raised by the tribe and comes to look upon them as his family, learning skills such as hunting and scavenging and building himself a robot from discarded scraps found in local garbage dumps of the walled megalopolis of Union City. They inhabit a barren wasteland known as "The Gap", a deserted area that was once part of the Australian outback, a harsh place where daily survival is a struggle.
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* CoversAlwaysLie: The helicopter in the cover art looks vastly different from the one, which hoses down the villagers and takes Foster to Union City.
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* IfOnlyYouKnew: If you chose to question Hobbins at the trial and ask him, how the incident transpired, he'll state that it was because someone cut the power cable and released steam in the power station. Gee, wonder who that was.
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* ReducedToDust: If you attempt to use the scurity elevator with Reich's stolen ID before having Anita crack it, the scanner will burn Rob to crisp on the second try.
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** At the middle level you can talk to two guys. One is eerily apathetic and the other is a total jerkass towards Rob for no real reason. What's worse, they both know Rob's name despite he never introduced himself to them. Later it's revealed they're [[spoiler:not human at all ... but LINC's androids]].

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** At the middle level you can talk to two guys. One is eerily apathetic and talks in riddles while the other is a total jerkass towards Rob for no real reason. What's worse, they both know Rob's name despite he never introduced himself to them. Later it's revealed they're [[spoiler:not human at all ... but LINC's androids]].
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** As does the shed door's lock on the ground level.
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* {{Expy}}: The two security officers at the front desk in the security buildings interact like milder versions of [[WesternAnimation/TheMuppets Statler and Waldorf]].

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* {{Expy}}: The two security officers at the front desk in the security buildings interact like milder versions of [[WesternAnimation/TheMuppets [[Franchise/TheMuppets Statler and Waldorf]].
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* {{Expy}}: The two security officers at the front desk in the security buildings interact like milder versions of [[WesternAnimation/TheMuppetsShow Statler and Waldorf]].

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* {{Expy}}: The two security officers at the front desk in the security buildings interact like milder versions of [[WesternAnimation/TheMuppetsShow [[WesternAnimation/TheMuppets Statler and Waldorf]].
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* {{Expy}}: The two security officers at the front desk in the security buildings interact like milder versions of [[WesternAnimation/TheMuppetsShow Statler and Waldorf]].

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* RedHerring:
** You can steal a key and a [=WD40=] lubricant from the pipe factory storeroom. You never get the chance to use them, even if there were any as Potts inspects you right after you exit the room and takes said items back. He also takes the sandwich you can steal from Hobbins.
** The right doorway in the cathedral leads to a massive vertical ventilation shaft. Other than foreshadowing the Union City's underground and causing Rob to drop an accidental DoubleEntendre it serves no purpose.
** The option of giving Joey new name is completely optional and bears no significance to the plot.



* SinisterSubway: LINC is reachable through an old subway tunnel. There is also a monster lurking about there.

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* SinisterSubway: LINC is reachable through an old subway tunnel. There is also a [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere monster lurking about there.there]].



* TooDumbToLive: Rob won't put his hands anywhere near a huge pneumatic press, but a live socket? Sure! Why not?

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* TooDumbToLive: Rob won't put his hands anywhere near a huge pneumatic press, but a live electrical socket? Sure! Why not?
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* AmusingInjuries: When prying a loose brick from a wall, the brick hits Rob on his head. He turns to the camera making an embarassed gesture like it was a small annoyance.
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** At the middle level you can talk to two guys. One is eerily apathetic and the other is a total jerkass towards Rob for no real reason. What's worse, they both know Rob's name despite he never introduced himself to them. Later it's revealed they're [[spoiler:not human at all ... but LINC's androids]].


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* GoneHorriblyRight: Why was LINC created in the first place? To save the city from its apathetic bored and dumb populace. It does exactly that ... by replacing them with androids.


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* Jerkass:
** Joey spares no chance to drop snarky comments or lambast Rob for his incompetence.
** The guy standing before Dr. Burke's clinic acts like a complete asshole towards Rob for no apparent reason. He ramps the attitude up to eleven when [[spoiler:Rob finds him in the android breeding station]].
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* TookALevelInKindness: Joey is established as comedic sociopahic jerkass. Towards the finale of the game, when he gets an HumanoiAndroid body he starts acting surprisingly polite.

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* TookALevelInKindness: Joey is established as comedic sociopahic jerkass. Towards the finale of the game, when he gets an HumanoiAndroid HumanoidAndroid body he starts acting surprisingly polite.

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** Rob refuses to approach the edge of the platform, in the massive tall ventilation shaft, fearing that the air current may '''suck him off'''.

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** Rob refuses to approach the edge of the platform, in the massive tall ventilation shaft, fearing that the air current may '''suck [[AccidentalInnuendo suck him off'''.off]].


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* TookALevelInKindness: Joey is established as comedic sociopahic jerkass. Towards the finale of the game, when he gets an HumanoiAndroid body he starts acting surprisingly polite.

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* DoubleEntendre: Hobbins on Mrs. Piermont:

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* DoubleEntendre: DoubleEntendre:
** Rob refuses to approach the edge of the platform, in the massive tall ventilation shaft, fearing that the air current may '''suck him off'''.
**
Hobbins on Mrs. Piermont:
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: The monster which kills Rob, if he inspects the crack in the subway tunnel, comes completely out of nowhere and has absolutely no relation to the plot.

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The player controls a character called Rob Foster. Rob was rescued by a tribe of bandits as a child after he was found as the only surviving member of a helicopter crash, on which his mother was also a passenger. He is raised by the tribe and comes to look upon them as his family, learning skills such as hunting and building himself a robot from discarded scraps found in local garbage dumps. They inhabit a barren wasteland known as "The Gap", a deserted area that was once part of the Australian outback, a harsh place where daily survival is a struggle.

They are brutally set upon by a team of Security agents from Union City, a sprawling metropolis with millions of inhabitants, looking for someone named Overmann. After kidnapping Foster, destroying his robot's shell, and setting off in a helicopter, the leader of the forces gives the order to detonate an explosive, wiping out both the tribe and the land on which they lived. Overcome with emotion, Foster is restrained by the guards as they make their way back to the city. Without warning, the chopper spins out of control and crashes in Union City's industrial district, killing the pilot and all the passengers but two: Foster and an over-zealous Security agent named Reich. Climbing from the wreckage, he retreats to a nearby factory amidst a hail of laser fire. Reich proceeds to hunt him down, all the while referring to him as Overmann.

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The player controls a character called is Rob Foster. Rob was Foster, rescued by a tribe of bandits as a child after he was found as the only surviving member of a helicopter crash, crash on which his mother was also a passenger. He is raised by the tribe and comes to look upon them as his family, learning skills such as hunting and scavenging and building himself a robot from discarded scraps found in local garbage dumps.dumps of the walled megalopolis of Union City. They inhabit a barren wasteland known as "The Gap", a deserted area that was once part of the Australian outback, a harsh place where daily survival is a struggle.

They are brutally set upon by a team of Security agents from Union City, a sprawling metropolis with millions of inhabitants, looking for someone named Overmann. After kidnapping Foster, destroying his robot's shell, and setting off in a helicopter, the leader of the forces gives the order to detonate an explosive, bomb the village, wiping out both the tribe and the land on which they lived. Overcome with emotion, Foster is restrained by the guards as they make their way back to the city. Without warning, During the automatic landing, the chopper spins out of control and crashes in Union City's industrial district, killing the pilot and all the passengers but two: Foster and an over-zealous Security agent named Reich. Climbing from the wreckage, he retreats to a nearby factory amidst a hail of laser fire. Reich proceeds to hunt him down, all the while referring to him as Overmann.



* {{Bizarrchitecture}}: Union City is just ''odd'' when you pay attention to it - a strange inverse of Hive City from Warhammer 40k. The metropolis is a network of spires, but all the heavy industry is located on the higher levels, above the cloud-tops. Residential areas are beneath these factories, and the city's ultra-rich are below that as well, all on the ground level. Somehow ground level is the most aesthetically pleasing region with plentiful sunlight, greenery, and spotlessly clean. How there is no dirt and grime constantly seeping downwards is anyone's guess.

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* {{Bizarrchitecture}}: Union City is just ''odd'' when you pay attention to it - a strange inverse of Hive City from Warhammer 40k. The metropolis is a network of spires, but all the heavy industry is located on the higher levels, above the cloud-tops. Residential areas are beneath these factories, and the city's ultra-rich are below that as well, all on the ground level. Somehow ground level is the most aesthetically pleasing region with plentiful sunlight, greenery, and spotlessly clean. How there is no dirt and grime constantly seeping downwards (or people throwing thing things at the rich) is anyone's guess.



* ButNowIMustGo: At the end of the story, [[spoiler: LINC is replaced by Joey, doom is averted, and Foster leaves Union City to return to the Gap.]]



* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: Twice, once when Rob's mother died in an aircraft hull loss, and again when Reich blew up Rob's tribe and foster family. Another aircraft hull loss soon followed. One of the reveals is that [[spoiler:LINC's creator, absorbed into LINC, was the [[GlorifiedSpermDonor neglectful father]] [[LukeIAmYourFather of the protagonist]]]]. Turns out [[spoiler: this is not a ContrivedCoincidence, first time round it was LINC trying to stop Rob leaving the city. Second time, it was Rob's father trying to prevent LINC retrieving him from the wastes.]]

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* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: Twice, once when Rob's mother died in an aircraft hull loss, a helicopter crash, and again when Reich blew up Rob's tribe and foster family. Another aircraft hull loss crash soon followed. One of the reveals is that [[spoiler:LINC's creator, absorbed into LINC, was the [[GlorifiedSpermDonor neglectful father]] [[LukeIAmYourFather of the protagonist]]]]. Turns out [[spoiler: this is not a ContrivedCoincidence, first time round it was LINC trying to stop Rob leaving the city. Second time, it was Rob's father trying to prevent LINC retrieving him from the wastes.]]



* CoolShades: Reich has one. Potts thinks it's impressive and asks Robert to give it to him.

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* CoolShades: Reich has one.a pair. Potts thinks it's impressive and asks Robert to give it to him.



* {{Dystopia}}: It is natural for the {{Cyberpunk}} setting. The city is controlled by the evil computer LINC.

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* {{Dystopia}}: It is natural for the {{Cyberpunk}} setting. The A giant, polluted, largely grim city is controlled by the evil computer LINC.



** Those damn tongs at the endgam involve a lot of PixelHunt.
** Have fun finding out that Joey will ONLY follow you up and down the elevators if he's in the same screen as Rob when he enters said elevators. Seriously, go into any BASS forum and see how many threads about "Joey is not following me" exist. Go on, we'll wait.

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** Those damn tongs at the endgam endgame involve a lot of PixelHunt.
{{pixel hunt}}ing.
** Have fun finding out that Joey will ONLY ''only'' follow you up and down the elevators if he's in the same screen as Rob when he enters said elevators. Seriously, go into any BASS ''BASS'' forum and see how many threads about "Joey is not following me" exist. Go on, we'll wait.exist.



* HoistByHisOwnPetard: This happened to LINC's creator. [[spoiler: LINC requires a BrainComputerInterface and it eventually wore down its host. Said creator ended up being nothing more than a puppet for his machine and spent decades of his life linked up to it as nothing more than a part in a machine. Now LINC needs to replace him with a blood relative. Which Overmann is the only one.]]

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* HoistByHisOwnPetard: This happened to LINC's creator. [[spoiler: LINC requires a BrainComputerInterface and it eventually wore down its host. Said creator ended up being nothing more than a puppet for his machine and spent decades of his life linked up to it as nothing more than a part in a machine. Now LINC needs to replace him with a blood relative. Which Overmann Foster is his son, and the only one.option, which is why LINC had him brought to the city.]]



** Overmann, in more ways than one. Also Reich -- from the name alone you can probably tell what kind of character he is.

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** Overmann, in more ways than one. Also one.
**
Reich -- from the name alone you can probably tell what kind of character he is.



* NonIndicativeTitle: "Beneath A Steel Sky" suggests a [[DomedHometown domed]] or UndergroundCity, and Union City is neither, but it still invokes the kind of giant megalopolis it is.



* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Neither the manual or game explicitly state it takes place in Australia, and it is very easy to miss the scant few hints the game gives about the location.
** Overmann's adopted father is clearly a Australian Aboriginal, so that is a big clue right there.
** In the original version of the intro Foster Overmann is named after a can of Foster's Lager, which is an Australian brand. Later versions of the game changed this due to trademark issues.
** One screen in the intro depicting life in the Gap shows the silhouette of a kangaroo in the background.
** Hobart Corporation likely takes its name from the capital of Tasmania, which is also called Hobart.
* WombLevel: What LINC is gradually turning the city underground into.

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* WeHardlyKnewYe: Even besides [[PuttingOnTheReich the authoritarian police outfit]] and being named "Reich", Reich is sneering and hostile to Foster and [[DoomedHometown blows up his village and everyone he knew]] on his own initiative. A great basis for a persistent arch-enemy, until LINC kills him three screens in.
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Neither the manual or game explicitly state it takes place in Australia, and it is very easy to miss the scant few hints the game gives about the location.
** Overmann's
Australia. Rob's adopted father is clearly a Australian Aboriginal, so that is a big clue right there.
** In the original version of the intro Foster Overmann is named after
and took his name from a can of Foster's Lager, which is an Australian brand. Later Lager (Later versions of the game changed this due to trademark issues.
** One
issues), and one screen in the intro intro, depicting life in the Gap Gap, shows the silhouette of a kangaroo in the background.
background. However, once inside Union City, it could be anywhere. (Well, anywhere with a lot of British accents.)
** News terminals describe Hobart Corporation as the enemy, and it likely takes its name from the capital of Tasmania, which is also called Hobart.
Hobart, possibly siting Union City in the southwest of Australia.
* WombLevel: What LINC is gradually turning Approaching the city underground into.Council chamber and core of LINC, the walls are covered by tentacles and MeatMoss as LINC's OrganicTechnology spreads into the city.
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Beneath a Steel Sky was very well received upon release, with particular praise directed at the stylish graphics and darkly humourous off-kilter dialogue. Nevertheless, it failed to reach a larger audience and remains something of a forgotten gem, although Revolution Software commendably made it freeware to coincide with [[http://www.scummvm.org/ ScummVM]] porting the game using its custom engine, which means it can now be played on a variety of platforms. A "Remastered" edition was released for the iPhone in September 2009, which fixes some of the minor issues with the original game, features an intuitive new interface and an improved musical score.

to:

Beneath a Steel Sky was very well received upon release, with particular praise directed at the stylish graphics and darkly humourous off-kilter dialogue. Nevertheless, it failed to reach a larger audience and remains something of a forgotten gem, although Revolution Software commendably made it freeware to coincide with [[http://www.scummvm.org/ ScummVM]] UsefulNotes/ScummVM porting the game using its custom engine, which means it can now be played on a variety of platforms. A "Remastered" edition was released for the iPhone in September 2009, which fixes some of the minor issues with the original game, features an intuitive new interface and an improved musical score.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:


** Bouncing Babs is a MsFanservice with BuxomIsBetter and a tight LittleBlackDress. Why is she called Bouncing Babs? [[BaitAndSwitch She's the bouncer.]]

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** Bouncing Babs is a MsFanservice with BuxomIsBetter BuxomBeautyStandard and a tight LittleBlackDress. Why is she called Bouncing Babs? [[BaitAndSwitch She's the bouncer.]]
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* PressStartToGameOver: You can die with your first click once the game starts. Click the stairs and you walk down them... right into the security officer you started the plot running away from.
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Trope has been disambiguated per TRS


* WidowWoman: Mrs. Piermont. Her husband Helmut died during the construction of LINC.
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Hot Scientist is no longer a trope


* HotScientist: Anita. She's not quite a scientist but she's tech savvy and fits the description to perfection.

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* GoneHorriblyWrong: The attempt to create LINC to save the city from its apathetic bored and dumb populace [[spoiler: results in the creation of a machine that threatens to take over everything.]]
* GrandTheftMe: A chilling, non-human version. To say any more would ruin the finale.
* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: The guards from Security Services never realized that Robert is roaming around the city.



** Those damn tongs at the endgame. PixelHunt, anyone?

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** Those damn tongs at the endgame. PixelHunt, anyone?endgam involve a lot of PixelHunt.



* GrandTheftMe: A chilling, non-human version. To say any more would ruin the finale.
* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: The guards from Security Services never realized that Robert is roaming around the city.
* GoneHorriblyWrong: The attempt to create LINC to save the city from its apathetic bored and dumb populace [[spoiler: results in the creation of a machine that threatens to take over everything.]

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