History VideoGame / Signalis

* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: Elster is one big homage to survival horror protagonists, being a {{Determinator}} in search of someone close like James from ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' and a skilled engineer that can also fend for herself like Isaac from ''VideoGame/DeadSpace''. [[spoiler:Except she's a DoomedProtagonist; she seemingly died before the game even began, and no matter how far she goes, she'll inevitably die yet again and be sent back [[GroundhogDayLoop to start it all over]] - perhaps even if she does fulfill her "[[MercyKill promise]]" with Ariane. Adler infers that Elster's endless repetition of her [[IWillFindYou search for Ariane]] is destabilizing reality itself. Thus, unlike her inspirations, Elster may well be unable to die for good nor find closure, for herself or anyone else.]]

** STCR Replikas in particular have [[HairTriggerTemper incredibly volatile temperaments]] [[spoiler:due to being based off of the neural patterns of an implied sadist]] and need to be trained in patience early in their deployments or else they will be prone to committing cruel acts of violence. To keep them stable, STCR units are assigned directly under a [[SergeantRock veteran STAR Replika]] who can reign in their darker impulses.

''SIGNALIS'' is a [[{{Zeerust}} retro-futuristic]] SurvivalHorror game created by rose_engine, a duo of indie developers based in Hamburg, Germany, and inspired by classics like ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' and ''VideoGame/SilentHill''.

* BodyOfBodies: The Chimera, a boss encountered in Act II, is a melded mass of replika meat with four pairs of grasping arms and two pairs of long Storch legs, held together within a rectangular metal frame. It's by far the most freakish enemy in the game, looking like it came straight from ''VideoGame/SilentHill''.

** Anyone familiar with the Resident Evil remakes and resurrecting enemies would understandably assume that the Thermite Flares that can permanently kill a Replika require said Replika to be defeated before using it. Although never stated in the game, this is not the case: the Flares can be used as a melee weapon, just like the Stun Rods, to immediately kill just about any enemy.

** The battle themes take a page from Akira Yamaoka's work on Franchise/SilentHill series and provide a nightmarish combination of various screeches, buzzes and other unnerving noises.

* LastChanceHitPoint: While the game mostly replicated Resident Evil's health system with "Nominal", "Caution", and "Danger", taking a hit from an enemy at "Danger" does not kill you but instead drops you to "Critical" status, where another attack from any source ''will'' kill you. Surviving long enough in this state will cause you to go back up to the "Danger" state. [[spoiler:This also influences your ending, counting as the "Deaths Cheated" criteria.]]

* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler:Depending on Elster's actions, she can either fulfill her promise to Ariane and MercyKill her before succumbing to her own injuries, choose to [[TogetherInDeath bleed out at Ariane's side]], or give in to despair and simply walk away to [[DyingAlone die alone]] in the middle of nowhere. The catch is, it depends not on some conscious choices but on how aggressive the playstyle is, reminding of VideoGame/SilentHill2's unintuitive conditions for certain endings. The only directly choosable ending is the Artifact Ending, if several very well-hidden steps are taken.]]

** [[spoiler:The "Nowhere" level is giant homage to the Otherworlds from VideoGame/SilentHill1 and VideoGame/SilentHill3, as a rusted, blood-drenched distortion of a "real" location that gradually becomes a WombLevel the deeper you go.]]

** Similarly, the in-game copy of ''The King in Yellow'' (which has its title written in Chinese) is reverse-binded with its spine on the right side of the cover, clearly implying that it's meant to be read right-to-left.

* ApocalypticLog: There's plenty of diary entries left by Replikas, as writing diaries is a method of Persona Stabilization common to all the types. [[spoiler:Ariane's diary entires aboard the Penrose devolve into this as the cycles wear on and she suffers from severe CabinFever and worsening radiation poisoning.]]

* BodyHorror: The [[OurZombiesAreDifferent corrupted Replikas]] running rampant throughout the facility come in various states of mutilation and grotesque [[PowerUpgradingDeformation deformation]], depending on their vocation before turning. Special mention goes to the KLBR Replikas, who have their "brains" expanded into [[MyBrainIsBig fleshy mounds]] [[BloodFromEveryOrifice oozing with blood]] and subject anybody near them to severe SensoryAbuse. [[spoiler:It gets worse by the time Elster gets spirited away to [[WombLevel "Nowhere"]], a rusted nightmare realm covered in pulsing MeatMoss where a BodyOfBodies lurks in the depths.]]

** Elster simply refuses to take Isa's high-caliber Rifle without her permission. To ask for permission, Elster has to wake her up first. The only way to do that is to find ammonia salt in a different room before a certain point in the game. To make things worse, the entrance to the room in question only spawns after meeting Isa; players who have already explored the area can easily miss the new room.

* DarkWorld: There are two towards the end of the game. Initially, it seems that the S-23 Sierpinski mining station is being overrun by a typical zombie plague, with one case of MeatMoss in a kitchen. By the time the Elster jumps into the depths of the mines, she enters a nightmare realm made almost entirely of non-Euclidian rooms and hallways, meat moss everywhere, and distorted versions of prior locations. This returns in NewGamePlus, with an apartment complex on Rotfront being slowly consumed by growing cancerous growths as Elster gathers plot-relevant items.

* IncrediblyLamePun:
** It's possible to find a doodle of a Kolibri-class with a cabbage for a head. How is it signed? "Kohlibri" (or "Caulibri").
** The Revolver is based on the Chiappa ''Rhino'' 20D. Its named "Einhorn", German for ''Unicorn''.

* PsychicPowers: Referred to as "bioresonance" - it apparently allows certain Gestalts (and all Falke and Kolibri-class Replikas) to either project their own thoughts and memories onto other people, and also lift and move objects around. Somehow, it's key to artificial gravity and terraforming technology, and [[spoiler:is necessary in the creation of Replikas as it is used in the process of copying neural patterns]]. The power itself is poorly-understood in-universe, with other technological progress taking a backseat due to the Eusan Nation's single-minded focus on bioresonance research (with poor results), [[spoiler:but is implied to be eldritch in origin]].

* RevivingEnemy: All the enemies are infected "Replikas". Copies of a template [[HumansByAnyOtherName Gestalt]] with mechanical skeletons and outer shells, but biological components and organs sandwiched between them. Some sort of virus has infected everyone, killing the Gestalts/humans outright, and corrupting the replikas into monsters which will eventually get back up again as long as their biological components remain intact. The only way to ensure an enemy doesn't return to life while backtracking is to burn away the living tissue with (very limited) thermite or (even more limited) flares.

* AIIsACrapshoot: Even before going rampant, many Replika units have personality quirks as a result of [[spoiler:their AI being created from the neural patterns of human donors.]] Therefore, various accommodations needed to be made in order to prevent "Persona Degradation" from interfering with their tasks and endangering the humans entrusted in their care.

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: The inevitable consequence of Ariane being so different from others. Both official documents and notes left by her heavily imply she never quite fit in, and one first-person scene as viewed by Isa shows her being physically beaten by her classmates. [[spoiler:It clearly influenced her decision to enlist in the Eusan People's Navy: being isolated on a tiny ship out there in the void was a preferred alternative to constant oppression and bullying...at first.]]

** Rotfront, "the ice moon circling the largest gas giant. Still in the process of [[{{Terraform}} Klimaforming]]", with "a sunless sea below the ice" as well as the "red eye in the sky". Description matches [[{{UsefulNotes/TheMoonsOfJupiter}} Europa]], {{UsefulNotes/Jupiter}}'s fourth-largest moon.

* CommieLand: Eusan is heavily based on the Soviet Bloc nations, with a dash of Chinese thrown in.

* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: Elster is one big homage to survival horror protagonists, being a {{Determinator}} in search of someone close like James from ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' and a skilled engineer that can also fend for herself like Isaac from ''VideoGame/DeadSpace''. [[spoiler:Except she's a DoomedProtagonist; she seemingly died before the game even began, and no matter how far she goes, even if she does fulfill her "[[MercyKill promise]]" with Ariane, she'll inevitably die yet again and be sent back [[GroundhogDayLoop to start it all over]], with Adler inferring that her endless repetition of her [[IWillFindYou search for Ariane]] is de-stabilizing reality itself. Thus, unlike her inspirations, Elster is unable to die for good nor find closure, for herself or anyone else.]]

* DegradedBoss: The first Mynah-class replica is treated as an unavoidable boss battle complete with her own [[BossSubtitles intro]], but later on shows up two more times as a regular enemy.

* RevivingEnemy: All the enemies are infected "Replikas". Copies of a template [[HumansByAnyOtherName Gestalt]] with mechanical skeletons and outer shells, but some biological components sandwiched between them. Some sort of virus has infected everyone, killing the gestalts/humans outright, and corrupting the replika into monsters which will get back up again after a while as long as their biological components remain intact. The only way to ensure an enemy doesn't get back up again while backtracking is to burn away the living tissue with (very limited) thermite or (even more limited) flares.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: The Replikas are fully humanoid in appearance (minus a few clearly mechanical facial markings and a complete lack of feet) and seem to be capable of not only emotions, but full-on mental breakdowns. [[spoiler:This is because all Replika units are created from the neural patterns of human beings, which has the inadvertent side effect of the Replikas inheriting the quirks of their respective donors and occasionally have vivid recollections of their previous lives.]] They are even described as having "biocomponents" and "oxidant fluid", which seem to be analogues to muscles/organs and blood respectively, but are also stated to not be actual human body parts. There are even a couple of restrooms on Leng that are dedicated to the Replika Protektors, though the latter is more probably due to the fact some of the Protektor models are easily over 2 meters tall.

*** In S-23 Sierpinski, command, administration and security posts are all held by Replika staff. Gestalt workers reside in cage-like triple-bunk beds enclosed with metal grills, allowed extremely minimal personal belongings, and lives in constant fear of interrogation, imprisonment, torture and even death; in sharp contrast to the Replika quarters' colorful decor, spacious accommodation, and extensive recreational facilities.

** FLKR Falke ("Falkon"), a [[LargeAndInCharge 250cm tall]] law enforcement head and an object of worship and adoration among humans and Replikas alike.

** STAR Star ("Starling"). The bulk of Protektor corps. Keeping a level head in combat situations but also [[AloofDarkhairedGirl quiet and judgemental]].

** ARAR Ara ("Ara macaw"). The [[BoringButPractical base workforce]] Replikas who have replaced humans in dangerous industrial work.

** KLBR Kolibri ("Hummingbird"). [[PsychicPowers Bioresonant]] adjutants managing the mental state of the cadre. While [[PintsizedPowerhouse the shortest]] of all Replikas, they are a force to be reckoned with as they can convince and suggest anything to anyone.

* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: Elster is one big homage to survival horror protagonists, being a {{Determinator}} in search of someone close like [[VideoGame/SilentHill2 James]] and a skilled engineer that can also fend for herself like [[VideoGame/DeadSpace Isaac]]. [[spoiler:Except she's a DoomedProtagonist; she seemingly died before the game even began, and no matter how far she goes, even if she does fulfill her "[[MercyKill promise]]" with Ariane, she'll inevitably die yet again and be sent back [[GroundhogDayLoop to start it all over]], with Adler inferring that her endless repetition of her [[IWillFindYou search for Ariane]] is de-stabilizing reality itself. Thus, unlike her inspirations, Elster is unable to die for good nor find closure, for herself or anyone else.]]

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:The three conventional endings conclude the game with Elster ultimately dying of her wounds, with the main variation being down to whether or not she is capable of keeping her promise to MercyKill Ariane, and the implication that the GroundhogDayLoop of the game will continue until reality falls apart.]]

The game was released on October 27th, 2022, for UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, and Windows PC.

* * RevivingEnemy: All the enemies are infected "Replikas". Copies of a template [[HumansByAnyOtherName Gestalt]] with mechanical skeletons and outer shells, but some biological components sandwiched between them. Some sort of virus has infected everyone, killing the gestalts/humans outright, and corrupting the replika into monsters which will get back up again after a while as long as their biological components remain intact. The only way to ensure an enemy doesn't get back up again while backtracking is to burn away the living tissue with (very limited) thermite or (even more limited) flares.

** Rotfront, "the ice moon circling the largest gas giant. Still in the process of [[{{Terraform}} Klimaforming]]", with "a sunless sea below the ice". Description matches [[{{UsefulNotes/TheMoonsOfJupiter}} Europa]], {{UsefulNotes/Jupiter}}'s fourth-largest moon.

** The Itou twins' birthdate is 14S 52P c in Rotfront format, but their personal ID numbers also reveal their Vineta format birthdate: a traditional six-digit numeric string, 56-05-24. This confirms that the other planets have their own dates.

** First [[spoiler:is the unusual resemblance between Ariane and Alina Seo, with Ariane's mother thinking they could be sisters. The photo with Alina has a fellow soldier next to her, Lilith Itou; she is a dead ringer for Elster, and is suggested to be the template for her Replika model. Both even have a tendency to have their right eye be injured.
** This trope happens again when it's shown that Elster actually died on the Penrose, and the one seen in the game is likely a LivingMemory made by Ariane's bioresonance in an effort to finally die and/or Elster's own obsession refusing to let her promise to Ariane go unfulfilled in an eldritch realm where the latter's bioresonance is twisting the rules of reality more and more.

The game was released on October 27th of 2022, for UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, and Windows PC.

** The LP-265a Leuchtpistole Flare Gun is inspired by the Dianawerk 26.5mm LP2 flare pistol.

* AlternativeCalendar: The game is set in an alternate solar system, in which every world has been colonized by humanity; and as such runs on a very different calendar.
** You can find a diary, with the start date of 84-21-6, and the last number counting up. It also goes from day 9 to day A, suggesting that the date is in hexadecimal numbers.
** You also find some medical records. All of the patients have dates of birth like "10S 62P a" or "29S 39P b." This is Rotfront-style, which suggests that the other planets have their own dates.

** The number 6 also features heavily (the Rule of Six determining Elster's inventory limit, important doors needing six keys to open, [[spoiler:the six seals represented by the Plates, the six Elsters and six pillars in the Lily ending]]), although typically is represented as a quantity rather than the number itself. Oftentimes this "6" is closer to a case of "5+1", where one of the six in the set is distinct and different from the rest.

* BecomeARealBoy: A classified AEON document titled ''"Operational Procedures: Control"'' reveals that [[spoiler:"Persona Degradation", obliquely referred to in other documents as a Replika degenerative condition requiring sufferers to be immediately [[{{YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness}} decommissioned]], is actually nothing more than Replikas encountering new situations, diverging from their default personality and becoming their own person. As this makes them less efficient for their intended purpose, AEON manipulates their psychology with "Persona Stabilization" - regular activities and Fetish objects that recall their former Gestalt life - in order to keep Replikas ''"as productive, loyal and docile for as long as possible".'' The conclusion even suggests that the Eusan Nation is seeking to develop bioresonant technology to the point that wide-scale direct MindControl becomes practical, noting that such a technology would be far more effective than mere psychological manipulation.]]

* ColonizedSolarSystem: the game's solar system initially appears to be an AlternateUniverse take, with unfamiliar planet names referencing mythical Slavic cities. Elster's comments when viewing an Orrery displaying inhabited worlds, however, strongly suggests that the solar system is actually our own.

* CripplingOverspecialization: The Eusan nation went all in on pursuing bioresonance-related technologies to the point that research into other technologies such as electronics stagnated for decades. One scientist is concerned that since only very few individuals in the nation are capable of bioresonance, the nation may lose access to it entirely if said individuals die out.

** A found document describes early LSTR units as having a white chest plate, with the later models possessing a black one due to changes in design. [[spoiler:Elster finds the dead body of one such unit after the false ending, and takes her chest plate and arm to repair her own body]].

* GodEmperor: It seems the Grand Empress of Eusan was this, as she was an extremely powerful bioresonant who created the Replikas and bent all of humanity to her will. [[spoiler:It's also likely that the Grand Revolutionary and her daughter are this for the Eusan Nation, as they created Falke in their image for the Replikas to worship.]]

* ResurrectedRomance: Twice, and unusually within the same lifetime. First [[spoiler:is the unusual resemblance between Ariane and Alina Seo, with Ariane's mother thinking they could be the sisters. The photo with Alina has a fellow soldier next to her, Lilith Itou; she is a dead ringer for Elster, and is suggested to be the template for her Replika model. Both even have a tendency to have their right eye be injured. This trope happens again when it's shown that Elster actually died on the Penrose, and the one seen in the game is likely a LivingMemory made by Ariane's bioresonance in an effort to finally die and/or Elster's own obsession refusing to let her promise to Ariane go unfulfilled on an altered world where her bioresonance is twisting the rules of reality more and more.]]
* {{Retraux}}: The game is specifically styled after Playstation 1-era horror games and so has heavily pixelated and blocky artwork. There's even a CRT Mode in the options menu, a visual filter that gives the illusion of the game being played on an old curved monitor.

** The painting Ariane has been working on is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_the_Dead_(painting) Toteninsel]] (or "Island of the Dead") by Arnold Böcklin. [[spoiler:The fact that "Lovers" Tarot card was embedded into one of the paintings clearly references Ariane and Elster's journey.]]

** The surreal island where the player spends several first-person segments on is a macabre recreation of [[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestade_der_Vergessenheit ''Gestade der Vergessenheit'']] ("Shores of Oblivion") by Eugen Bracht.

** Typ-75 handgun is a dead ringer of CZ-75 rechambered to 10mm cartridges.
** Einhorn revolver is essentially Chiappa Rhino rechambered for 12mm HP (.50 cal.) rounds.
** Typ-84 Drache is based on experimental HK SMG II prototype in 8mm.
** EIN-12 Flechette is SPAS-12 with folded stock.

** One particular enemy, the corrupt Kolibri-class Replika, uses this as their actual method of attack by scrambling your perception of the room they're in. Which is merely annoying by itself, but when paired with other enemies it's a real danger in a fight.

* {{Radio}}: One of the prevalent themes in the game. Encoded broadcasts provide codes needed to solve the puzzles, the receiver itself can be used to kill Kolibri-class Replikas by following their resonance frequencies and creating a feedback loop overload. [[spoiler:This is directly tied to Ariane's upbringing as a daughter of a radio operator, working in the middle of nowhere.]]

* SensoryAbuse: The Kolibri-class enemies "attack" you via this: entering the room in which one of them resides causes your screen to be filled with multiple flashing messages, text-boxes and so on along with the usual loud, grating combat "music", which is an example in itself.

** Yet unlike the vast majority of Servant Races in other works, Replikas actually appear to stand on a higher rung of the societal ladder than the organic Gestalts they work with and oversee. Indeed, Replikas are shown in positions of authority throughout the entire setting:
*** In S-23 Sierpinski, command, administration and security posts are all held by Replika staff. Gestalt workers reside in cage-like triple-bunk beds enclosed with metal grills, allowed extremely minimal personal belongings, and lives in constant fear of interrogation, torture and imprisonment; in sharp contrast to the Replika quarters' colorful decor, spacious accommodation and extensive recreational facilities.

** Yet unlike the vast majority of Servant Races in other works, Replikas actually appear to stand on a higher rung of the societal ladder than the organic Gestalts they work with and oversee. Indeed, Replikas are shown in positions of authority throughout the entire setting.
*** In S-23 Sierpinski, command, administration and security posts are all held by Replika staff; Gestalt workers live in cage-like triple-bunk beds enclosed with metal grills, in sharp contrast to the Replika quarters' colorful decor, spacious accommodation and recreational facilities.
*** In Rotfront's Sektor C, the Blockwart ("block warden") is a Kolibri unit who maintains order and roots out dissidents and spies with bioresonant telepathy; herself being under the command of another Replika, a Kranich unit.

** After discovering this document, an ARAR unit abandoned her post and retreated to a tunnel beneath the STCR Dorm on Floor 8, refusing to return to work in favor of tending to her bamboo plants - and unknowingly escaping the psychic disaster that subsequently befell Sierpinski, seemingly completely unaware of the nightmarish events happening above.

* DarkWorld: There are two towards the end of the game. Initially, it seems that the Sierpinski S-23 mining station is being overrun by a typical zombie plague, with one case of MeatMoss in a kitchen. By the time the Elster jumps into the depths of the mines, she enters a nightmare realm made almost entirely of non-Euclidian rooms and hallways, meat moss everywhere, and distorted versions of prior locations. This returns in NewGamePlus, with an apartment complex on Rotfront being slowly consumed by growing cancerous growths as Elster gathers plot-relevant items.

* FictionalCurrency: The Rationmarks. While the name derives from German Mark[[note]] used before Euro was introduced[[/note]], the "ration" part implies it may not be a hard currency but some sort of a government account tab used to distribute resources. The Sierpinski S-23 introduction pamphlet also mentions a plan for sharing Rationmarks with the relatives or close ones.

* ServantRace: The Replikas are an unusual case.
** At first, it seems obvious that this is their entire purpose: from frontline combat to industrial work to household cleaning, Replikas are created for the purpose of carrying out whatever task the government needs handled, and are "[[{{YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness}} decommissioned]]" as soon as they show signs of diverging from their default personality and becoming their own person - euphemistically referred to as "Persona Degradation".
** Yet unlike the vast majority of servant races in other settings, Replikas also hold considerable authority over the organic Gestalts they work with and oversee. Indeed, Replikas are shown in positions of authority throughout the entire setting: in Sierpinski S-23, command, administration and security posts are all held by Replika staff. In Rotfront's Sektor C, the Blockwart ("block warden") is a Kolibri unit who maintains order and roots out dissidents and spies with their bioresonant telepathy. The only known exceptions are Penrose Project vessels, where the Gestalt officer holds authority over the LSTR technician unit, and the Grand Revolutionary and her Daughter ruling over the Eusan Nation itself.

* AIIsACrapshoot: Even before going rampant, many Replika units have personality quirks as a result of [[spoiler:their AI being created from the neural patterns of human donors.]] Therefore, various accommodations needed to be made in order to prevent "persona degradation" from interfering with their tasks and endangering the humans entrusted in their care.

* BilingualBonus: All inscriptions, wall signs and documents are in German with a dash of Chinese thrown in. The former's justified as the setting is heavily inspired by East Germany, the latter is implied to be remnants from TheEmpire.

* ColonizedSolarSystem: the in-game solar system initially appears to be an AlternateUniverse take, with unfamiliar planet names referencing mythical Slavic cities. Elster's comments when viewing the Orrery of inhabited worlds, however, heavily suggests that the solar system is actually our own.

** Vineta, "the ocean world ravaged by war", homeworld of humanity. Description matches {{UsefulNotes/Earth}}.

** Leng, a frozen terrestrial world with rich mineral resources, orbiting beyond the gas giants. Description matches {{UsefulNotes/Pluto}}.

** The "Rule of Six," which limits Elster's inventory to six slots, is an in-universe rule that limits an individual's ability to have private possessions, and appears to be hard-coded into Elster's persona.

* GloriousLeader: The Nation of Eusan is led, at least symbolically, by the Great Revolutionary and her Daughter. Rooms throughout the game feature two paired portraits which are too low-res to make anything of, but are implied to be of them. The SuperSoldier Falke units are also built in their image.

* RobotReligion: The ''Führungskommando-Leiteinheit-Replika'', AKA "Falke", is the [[StatuesqueStunner statuesque]] [[IronLady commander]] of every AEON Facility's Protektor Force and serves as their ultimate authority. Every Replika is known to worship Falke as the closest thing they have to a PhysicalGod due to her powerful [[PsychicPowers bioresonant abilities]] and her [[spoiler:uncanny resemblance to both of Eusan's tyrannical leaders: [[TheGeneralissimo The Great Revolutionary]] and her [[OverlordJr Daughter]].]]

* TheOneGuy: ADLER appears to not only be the only male Replika on Sierpinski, but the only male character with a speaking role in the entire game. The medical records Elster can find paint a similar picture, with only one man being present with the rest being women. [[spoiler:Possibly a JustifiedTrope, as there is numerous in-game notes that heavily suggest that both the Nation of Eusan and its Imperial predecessor are [[LadyLand hardcore]] [[{{Matriarchy}} Matriarchies]] led by female dictators: the Grand Revolutionary and the Grand Empress, respectively.]]