History VideoGame / BeyondASteelSky

* AffablyEvil: Alonso acts friendly and extremely polite, but his behavior and tone makes clear that he is dangerous.

* CelShading: The game adopts such style following the leap to 3D, in order to preserve the comic book styled art direction.

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* MonochromeCasting: Averted, particularly people from the Gap. Given that the series is strongly suggested to be taking place in a post-apocalyptic Australia, it would make sense that there are many aborigines living outside the city.

* HeroWorshipper: The entire society's attitude toward Saviour Joey/Ken.

* HolographicTerminal: The holographic MINOS terminals are everywhere, including private homes, and in public to the frequency that payphones used to be.

* AdultFear: Robots that appear without warning and steal your children ranks high on the list. And then there's the fact that [[spoiler:the kids were brainwashed and used in experiments]].

* AIIsACrapshoot: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken, particularly as he went off the rails based upon a simple instruction. Contrast with the first game]].

* AnAesop: Luxury at any cost (particularly that of [[spoiler:free will]]) is not a trade worth making. LivingIsMoreThanSurviving.

* BadAssLongcoat: Just as with the first game, Foster uses one of these to conceal items.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Both Raquel and Polly clearly have psychological problems after having been through some sort of mental conditioning.
* BreadAndCircuses: The citizens of Union City seemingly live in a utopia, but they are highly oppressed, and the government has some very dark secrets.
* BigBad: The council, though it's ultimately averted, as [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] turns out to be TheManBehindTheMan.

* CheerfulChild: Polly. Leet even comments that her happiness is [[Film/ThisIsSpinalTap turned up to 11]], no doubt after her conditioning.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: As with the original, it draws significantly from Creator/WilliamGibson's ''{{Literature/Neuromancer}}''. The city is replete with holograms, neon glow from 80s Cyberpunk, biomechanical implants, and Cyberspace.
* {{Cyberspace}}: The game carries on the [[InsideAComputerSystem LINCspace vision from the previous game]], and layers a [=MINOS=] administration user interface on top for newer functions.
* {{Cyborg}}: Strangely, this seems to be less common now than the previous game. While it was possibly commonplace in the past to have implants, Foster is the only such human still around with a Schriebmann port. [[spoiler:Leet had one, but later got rid of it]].

* {{Dystopia}}: The dystopian setting combines traditional {{Cyberpunk}} themes (aping ''Film/BladeRunner'' and ''Literature/Neuromancer'') with elements from Australian movies such as ''Film/MadMax'' (being set in the outback) and other movies such as ''Film/DemolitionMan'' (a safe and clean society built hiding dark secrets) and even ''Film/TheFifthElement'' (overcrowding)

* [[EverythingIsAnIpodInTheFuture Everything is an iPod in the Future]]: In the public areas, which have the overly clean gleam of consumer electronics. The industrial areas still have the UsedFuture aesthetic from the first game.

* EyelessFace: Saviour Joey/Ken, whose entire body lacks discrete features other than limbs.

* FalseFriend: [[spoiler:Jimmy the Thumbs]], who both acts friend and pretends to be Leet, in order to steal Foster's body parts.

* GargleBlaster: Leet's ([[spoiler:actually, Jimmy the Thumbs']]) moonshine is described as an intense, practically undrinkable, conccotion.

* HappinessInMindControl: Unhappy (or uncooperative) people are forced into more positive outlooks after being taken to [[spoiler:the spa]].

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:The Joey board]] sacrifices himself to allow Foster and Orana to re-enter the city.

* SciFiWritersHave/NoSenseOfTime: Union City is unrecognizably transformed in just one decade.

* OhCrap: Several, but chiefly when Foster realizes that the council is just [[spoiler:a front for his old friend, Saviour Joey/Ken]].

* ServantRace: Every robot in the game, save potentially [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]], lives a life of servitude.

* ShoutOut: The [[spoiler:stun robot at the recycling center]] is a reference to the Black Knight from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'', quoting the movie almost verbatim.

* UglyGuyHotWife: Grundy (the real one), who was very out of shape, and Songbird.

* WhamLine: When [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] reveals that the reason for the city's current state is [[spoiler:a directive from Foster himself]].

* TheDragon: At first, Alonso looks like TheBigBad, but [[spoiler:he reports somewhere in the hierarchy to Saviour Joey/Ken]].

* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] justifies his actions in creating the five ministries. The ministries commit many horrors (killing, brainwashing, kidnapping, removal of free will) to create the perfect society.

* EyelessFace: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]], whose entire body lacks discrete features other than limbs.

* HeroWorshipper: The entire society's attitude toward [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]].

* [[HolographicTerminal Holographic Terminals]]: The holographic MINOS terminals are everywhere, including private homes, and in public to the frequency that payphones used to be.

* LeetLingo: One of the human characters is actually named "Leet," which though derived from his real name, is also a reference to his profession.
* MachineWorship: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] is regarded almost as a god, to the point of "[[spoiler:Joey]]" being used in place of "God" in some phrases.

* PercussiveMaintenance: How Foster fixes [[spoiler:the bridge, as well as using when opening the truck]].

* RareGuns: Distance weapons can only be found on rare occasions. Even most enforcement robots use batons or a form of taser.

* RobbingTheDead: Foster gets access to Union City by [[spoiler:stealing the identity of a dead man]].

* [[RobotMaid Robot Butler]]: Tarquin takes care of all domestic activities in the Grundy household.

* [[SacrificialLion/VideoGames Sacrificial Lion]]: [[spoiler:The Joey board]] sacrifices himself to allow Foster and Orana to re-enter the city.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When Chipsworth innocently suggests what Alonso is doing with Songbird. Also, when Joey reprograms the barrel robot.

%%* ALessonLearnedTooWell: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] implements the directive.

* ExactWords: The overriding theme of the game is explored in how [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] interpreted his instructions ([[spoiler:make the people happy]], to mean that this directive should be executed at any cost.

%%* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: What Chipsworth innocently suggests Alonso is doing with Songbird. Also, when Joey reprograms the barrel robot.

%%* HappinessInMindControl: Unhappy (or uncooperative) people are taken to [[spoiler:the spa]].

* HeroWorshipper: The entire society's attitude toward Saviour Joey/Ken.

%%* [[IdenticalLookingAsians Identical Looking Robots]]: The droid 1CU expresses indignation at being mistaken for 2CU.

* MachineWorship: Saviour Joey/Ken is regarded almost as a god, to the point of "Joey" being used in place of "God" in some phrases.
* MeaningfulName: Almost all of the droids have names with some sort of meaning. For example, a butler droid is named "Chipsworth" (similar to [[Film/Clue Wadsworth]]) and a security droid is named 2CU (ie. "to see you.")

* {{Retcon}}: The crucial [[spoiler:last directive to Joey/Ken]] never actually happened onscreen in the first game.

* RobotBuddy: The Joey board, which Foster built as a child as his companion. They were separated for ten years, and the story reunites them [[spoiler:for a day]].

%%* WhamLine: When [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] reveals the source of the directive.
%%* WickedCultured: Alonso.

%%* [[IdenticalLookingAsians Identical Looking Robots]]: The droid 1CU expresses indignation at being mistaken for 2CU.

''Beyond a Steel Sky'' is an AdventureGame developed by Creator/RevolutionSoftware and the sequel to 1994's ''VideoGame/BeneathASteelSky''. It was released on June 26, 2020 on the Apple Arcade, with a Steam release set for July 16, 2020.

%%* WickedCultured: Alonso.

%%* {{Hologram}}: The Greta AI, MINOS terminals, advertisements, the [[spoiler:fireworks]], and [[spoiler:the council]].
%%* [[HolographicTerminal Holographic Terminals]]: These are everywhere.

* IronicName: The names of the five ministries, an allusion to ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour''.
%%* LeetLingo: The names of many of the robots. One of the human characters is actually named "Leet," which though derived from his real name, is also a reference to his profession.

%%* MeaningfulName: Almost all of the droids.

%%* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: What happens to [[spoiler:SaviourJoey]] when confronted with the consequences of his control measures.

%%* OminousVisualGlitch: When Greta performs an operation on Foster's U-Chip.

%%* RobbingTheDead: This is how Foster gets access to Union City.
%%* RobotBuddy: The Joey board.
%%* [[RobotMaid Robot Butler]]: Tarquin.

%%* [[SacrificialLion/VideoGames Sacrificial Lion]]: [[spoiler:The Joey board]]
%%* ServantRace: Every robot in the game, save potentially [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]].

%%* TerminallyDependentSociety: This society seems to be somewhere between [[VideoGame/BeneathASteelSky the first game]] and ''WesternAnimation/WallE''.

%%* UnwittingTestSubject: [[spoiler:The children from the Gap]].
%%* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Alonso and the council use this argument.

%%* ExactWords: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]] interpreted his instructions.

%%* EyelessFace: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey/Ken]].
%%* FantasticNoir: Foster uses this to describe events, his intentions, or even communicating things that he should or shouldn't do.

%%* GargleBlaster: Leet's ([[spoiler:actually, Jimmy the Thumbs']]) moonshine.

%%* AffablyEvil: Alonso. Averted with other civil servants, who are merely PunchClockVillains.
%%* AIIsACrapshoot: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey, particularly since the first game]].
%%* ALessonLearnedTooWell: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] implements the directive.
%%* AnArmAndALeg: Thanks to [[spoiler:Jimmy the Thumbs.]]

%%* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey's directive]], taken from the last thing Foster said to him in ''Beneath a Steel Sky''.
* BittersweetEnding: The citizens of Union City are free, and the [[spoiler:kidnapped children are rescued]], but [[spoiler:Leet]], [[spoiler:the Joey board]], and [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] are dead, and the [[TerminallyDependentSociety citizens of Union City]] now have to support themselves after having been dependent upon machines..
%%* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Raquel and Polly.

* BigBad: The council, though it's ultimately averted, as [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] turns out to be TheManBehindTheMan.

%%* CheerfulChild: Polly.

%%* CrapsaccharineWorld: At first glance, Union City ''appears'' to be a [[FalseUtopia citizen's utopia]].
%%* {{Cyberpunk}}: As with the original, it draws significantly from Creator/WilliamGibson's ''{{Literature/Neuromancer}}''.

%%* DeadpanSnarker: The Joey board.

%%* DeadSidekick: What happens to both [[spoiler:the Joey board and Saviour Joey]].

%%* TheDragon: On screen, Alonso, though it's not clear where exactly he sits in the hierarchy.
%%* {{Dystopia}}: The dystopian setting combines traditional {{Cyberpunk}} themes with elements from Australian movies such as ''Film/MadMax'' and other movies such as ''Film/DemolitionMan'' and even ''Film/TheFifthElement''.
%%* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] justifies his actions in creating the five ministries.

%%* [[EverythingIsAnIpodInTheFuture Everything is an iPod in the Future]]: In the public areas. The industrial areas still have the UsedFuture aesthetic from the first game.
%%* ExactWords: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] interpreted his instructions.

%%* EyelessFace: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]].

%%* FalseFriend: [[spoiler:Jimmy the Thumbs]].

* HeelRealization: After Foster carefully shows [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] how the five well-intentioned ministries restrict freedom and equality.
* HeroWorshipper: The entire society's attitude toward Saviour Joey.

* MachineWorship: Saviour Joey is regarded almost as a god, to the point of "Joey" being used in place of "God" in some phrases.

* OhCrap: Several, but chiefly when Foster realizes that the council is just [[spoiler:a front for his old friend, Saviour Joey]].

* PutOnABus: Everyone says this is what happened to Joey in that he walked into the desert five years ago. [[spoiler:Saviour Joey simply chose to create a fictional city council to increase human acceptance.]]

%%* ServantRace: Every robot in the game, save potentially [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]].

* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] was just doing what he was told, just like any computer would do.
%%* WhamLine: When [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] reveals the source of the directive.

* AffablyEvil: Alonso. Averted with other civil servants, who are merely PunchClockVillains.
* AIIsACrapshoot: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey, particularly since the first game]].
* ALessonLearnedTooWell: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] implements the directive.
* AnArmAndALeg: Thanks to [[spoiler:Jimmy the Thumbs.]]

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey's directive]], taken from the last thing Foster said to him in ''Beneath a Steel Sky''.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Raquel and Polly.

* CheerfulChild: Polly.

* CrapsaccharineWorld: At first glance, Union City ''appears'' to be a [[FalseUtopia citizen's utopia]].
* {{Cyberpunk}}: As with the original, it draws significantly from Creator/WilliamGibson's ''{{Literature/Neuromancer}}''.

* DeadpanSnarker: The Joey board.

* DeadSidekick: What happens to both [[spoiler:the Joey board and Saviour Joey]].

* TheDragon: On screen, Alonso, though it's not clear where exactly he sits in the hierarchy.
* {{Dystopia}}: The dystopian setting combines traditional {{Cyberpunk}} themes with elements from Australian movies such as ''Film/MadMax'' and other movies such as ''Film/DemolitionMan'' and even ''Film/TheFifthElement''.
* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] justifies his actions in creating the five ministries.

* [[EverythingIsAnIpodInTheFuture Everything is an iPod in the Future]]: In the public areas. The industrial areas still have the UsedFuture aesthetic from the first game.
* ExactWords: How [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] interpreted his instructions.

* EyelessFace: [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]].
* FantasticNoir: Foster uses this to describe events, his intentions, or even communicating things that he should or shouldn't do.
* FalseFriend: [[spoiler:Jimmy the Thumbs]].
* GargleBlaster: Leet's ([[spoiler:actually, Jimmy the Thumbs']]) moonshine.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: What Chipsworth innocently suggests Alonso is doing with Songbird. Also, when Joey reprograms the barrel robot.

* HappinessInMindControl: Unhappy (or uncooperative) people are taken to [[spoiler:the spa]].

* {{Hologram}}: The Greta AI, MINOS terminals, advertisements, the [[spoiler:fireworks]], and [[spoiler:the council]].
* [[HolographicTerminal Holographic Terminals]]: These are everywhere.
* [[IdenticalLookingAsians Identical Looking Robots]]: The droid 1CU expresses indignation at being mistaken for 2CU.

* LeetLingo: The names of many of the robots. One of the human characters is actually named "Leet," which though derived from his real name, is also a reference to his profession.

* MeaningfulName: Almost all of the droids.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: What happens to [[spoiler:SaviourJoey]] when confronted with the consequences of his control measures.

* OminousVisualGlitch: When Greta performs an operation on Foster's U-Chip.

* RobbingTheDead: This is how Foster gets access to Union City.
* RobotBuddy: The Joey board.
* [[RobotMaid Robot Butler]]: Tarquin.

* [[SacrificialLion/VideoGames Sacrificial Lion]]: [[spoiler:The Joey board]]
* ServantRace: Every robot in the game, save potentially [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]].

* TerminallyDependentSociety: This society seems to be somewhere between [[VideoGame/BeneathASteelSky the first game]] and ''WesternAnimation/WallE''.

* UnwittingTestSubject: [[spoiler:The children from the Gap]].
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Alonso and the council use this argument.

* WhamLine: When [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] reveals the source of the directive.
* WickedCultured: Alonso.

* FakeAustralian: The game is almost certainly set in post-apocalyptic Australia, but only a small number of characters (mainly those outside the city) actually have anything approaching an Australian accent. The remainder of the characters have a variety of regional British accents (probably due to the game's creators being British), a generic Midwestern American accent (for Foster), or even New York City accents (in the case of 1CU and 2CU.)

''Beyond a Steel Sky'' is an AdventureGame and the sequel to 1994's ''VideoGame/BeneathASteelSky''. It was released on June 26, 2020 on the Apple Arcade, with a Steam release set for July 16, 2020.

* FakeAustralian: The game is almost certainly set in post-apocalyptic Australia, but only a small number of characters (mainly those outside the city) actually have anything approaching an Australian accent. The remainder of the characters have a variety of regional British accents (probably due to the game's creators being British), a generic Midwestern American accent (for Foster), or even New York City accents (in the case of 1CU and 2CU.)

* NightmareFuel: Given what Officer Orana says about her history, [[spoiler:Saviour Joey is implied to have been abducting children for a long time]]. Also, the fate of Asio City.

''Beyond a Steel Sky'' is the 2020 sequel to 1994's ''VideoGame/BeneathASteelSky''. It was released on June 26, 2020 on the Apple Arcade, with a Steam release set for July 16, 2020.

''Beyond a Steel Sky'' is the 2020 sequel to 1994's ''VideoGame/BeneathASteelSky''. It was released on 26 June 2020 on the Apple Arcade, with a Steam release for a later date.

* CelShading: The game adopts such style following the lepa to 3D, in order to preserve the comic book styled art direction.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_3479.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Good thing it's not his wife.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Welcome bakc to Union City]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_3482.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Entrance to Union City]]

* BittersweetEnding: The citizens of Union City are free, and the [[spoiler:kidnapped children are rescued]], but Leet, [[spoiler:the Joey board]], and [[spoiler:Saviour Joey]] are dead, and the [[TerminallyDependentSociety citizens of Union City]] now have to support themselves.

* BreakOutTheMuseumPiece: Foster's quest takes him to a museum where he stumbles upon an old friend ([[spoiler:Joey]].)

* {{Cyborg}}: Strangely, this seems to be less common now than the previous game. While it was possibly commonplace in the past to have implants, Foster is the only such human still around with a Schriebmann port. Leet had one, but later got rid of it.

* GargleBlaster: Leet's [[spoiler:actually, Jimmy the Thumbs']] moonshine.

* UnwittingTestSubject: The children from the Gap.