Funny / Hi-Fi RUSH

Your protagonist, ladies and gentlemen.

Per wiki policy, Spoilers Off applies here and all spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.

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Track 1: A Fresh Start

• Pictured. When Chai turns in his papers in the beginning of the game, his photo has him doing a devil horns pose. When the receptionist puts it down, Chai is one-for-one making the same face.
  • If that photo isn't bad enough, the one used for his Vandelay ID card was taken while he was about to sneeze. It can be even equipped in the postgame as part of the Vandelay jacket.
• Blink and you miss: he's 25, has zero employment history, and his skill description is "I'm dope and I do dope things". He doesn't know his own blood type, and his character profile even mentions he's a college dropout. Basically, he's a NEET.
• Kale picking up Chai's music player, getting angry with the lineup chosen for Project Armstrong and chucking it off the edge. The music player bounces comically of several platforms, robots, and scenery Rube Goldberg machine style and conveniently lands on Chai's chest.
• Upon first exiting the Armstrong production facility after being flagged as a defect Chai is accosted by some security bots, causing him to instinctively pop out his new magnetic grabber, which leads to this bit of Black Comedy.
  SBR-001: Is that a weapon?
  Chai: [genuinely confused and making no threatening movements] Uhh... I don't think so?
  SBR-001: I think he's resisting. [The bots immediately pull out stun batons]
  Chai: Wait what!?
  • Keep in mind the security bots were literally looking at a data pad displaying Chai's Armstrong implants, and read out loud that he has a magnetic grabber for the purpose of waste management. And they still react to Chai innocuously holding the magnetic grabber this way.
• Chai understandably freaks out a little when he sees his music player implanted in his chest after the fight, but it becomes funny when you realise he just changed out of his hospital gown from the Armstrong procedure, and therefore somehow completely missed that it was stuck in his chest when putting on his normal clothes.
• The tutorial segments that teach Chai new combat mechanics are depicted as being all in his head. The next wave of robots that arrive to detain the "defect" find him surrounded by the scrap of the last robots, playing up an imaginary crowd like a kid playing air guitar. Suffice to say, they aren't immediately convinced that Chai is the threat they're looking for.
• There's a robot employee hiding in the vents playing a rhythm game, complaining how hard it is to get the beats right.
  • If you hit him, he'll chew you out, because he almost hit the new high score.
• At some points in the level Smidge will provide Chai with tips and tutorials, but at one point, if Chai ignores Smidge despite it trying to chase him down, if Chai tries to talk to Smidge again, it will refuse to tell Chai the hint because he walked past without talking.
• When Chai tries to make a jump, the platform he lands on collapses beneath his feet, leading him to painfully, but comically bounce down into a side scrolling section.
  Chai: [in pain] I think I found a shortcut.
  Peppermint: Yeah, sure.
  • And during that segment, Chai falls down another set of platforms.
    Chai: [definitely in pain] Wow... Lotta shortcuts around here...
• There's another rooftop you can jump to when going to meet up with the cat's mysterious owner. There, Chai can find a tanning robot employee, who is trying to skip out on work. How does a robot get a tan? Who knows.
• This dialogue exchange between Chai and QA-1MIL:
  QA-1MIL: I like defects.
  Chai: [Chai and 808 nod] That's good!
  QA-1MIL: I like how they taste.
  Chai: [Chai and 808 shake their heads] Ohh, that's bad!
  • In the same fight, if Chai manages to get QA-1MIL to break his face, his head says 'WEAK POINT'. And yes, it is a weak point.
    Chai: Does his forehead say 'weak point'?
    • The Steam Achievement for reveal the weak point, which has the same name, has this as a description:
    Destroy QA-MIL's face, revealing its shame.
• QA-MIL explodes after its defeat sents Chai flying to the counter stating the number of days without a defect. The counter resets to '0' on impact, representing said "defect" [Chai] getting away on Rekka's watch.
  • Before Chai hits the counter, it says: '994,543,515 days without defects' which amounts to almost 2,722,912 years. This doesn't make any sense as the Vandelay company isn't that old, unless Rekka is intentionally counting humanity from the beginning of time (of their universe).
• Chai wandering through some underground tunnels following 808 to Peppermint, apparently terrified of spiders and robot spiders.
• The in-between stage at the hideout has a steam achievement pop up for petting 808 the first time, excitedly confirming that yes, you can pet the cat!

Track 2: Power Up

• At the beginning of the level, Chai and 808 explode out of the manhole and strike a pose in the air and land a superhero landing. Chai cheerfully explains that he's back, only for Peppermint to question who he was talking to.
• The two robots by the vending machine are discussing how to get a drink from the vending machine without paying. Talk to them again, they'll complain how stingy the company is to give them a break every three months.
• There is a VA-SER unit that's slacking off, telling a SCR-UB unit about how it had taught Rekka everything there needs to be known about production.
  • Hit the robot and begin the long line of robotic employees evoking Ratso Rizzo:
    VA-SER: Hey, I'm working here!
    SCR-UB: LIES.
• While trying to find a way to Rekka's office, Chai decides to take a magnetic rail despite having no idea where it goes. He still gets spotted in the end and Rekka has a bot blow up the rail he's on, which causes him to smash through a window. Take a look up at the window after the fall, you can see a cartoonish outline of a Chai and 808 in the glass.
  • In the cutscene, Rekka breaks reality by reaching out of her speech bubble (her actual voice is just going through the intercom) and causing the bomb bot to drop it's bomb.
  • Talk to the O5-KAR bot right after landing, it compliments Chai on surviving the landing, claiming that he would have been scrap had he fallen from that height. But if you hit him, he says this:
    O5-KAR: Ah, you poor lad, must be delusional from the fall. I am not your enemy.
• Peppermint teaching Chai how to call her in for help using 808. And Chai's very understandable reaction:
  Chai: YOU COULD HAVE BEEN HERE THIS WHOLE TIME?
  Peppermint: Didn't think you'd need me, Mr. Confident.
  • Right after, Peppermint teaches Chai (and the Player) how they can summon her to shoot buttons to pave a way forward. And Chai's annoyed remark:
    Chai: [disgusted] Ugh, you sound like a video game tutorial.
  • A little later, SMIDGE appears to give some extra tips on calling Peppermint into battle, and throughout the whole explanation, he refers to Peppermint as a 'strange lifeform'.
• Sometime during the level, you can run into that tanning bot again, this time he's chilling out in the water with an inflatable. You have the option of blasting him with Peppermint. The first time doesn't do anything, but the second time causes him to flip upside down and disappear into the water, inflatable tube and all.
  Chai: That's harsh, Peppermint. He was just vibin'.
  Peppermint: Hey, you aim, I shoot. This is on YOU.
• There's a CAR-11E unit that seems to be in love with one of the feminine receptionist robots.
  • The two reappear later in Track 8, apparently on a forbidden date despite office politics.
• Rekka's dialogue in the entire chapter, which makes clear she cares about her public image above all else.
• OL-404 informs Chai that the current waiting time for an appointment with Rekka is three months and she happily tells you to take a seat until then.
• In the pre-boss battle banter, Rekka informs Chai that the gloves are coming off and she slowly begins taking them, confusing Chai, only for her to throw the huge glove directly on his face (a gesture of challenge). Chai, clearly intimidated and with a mouthful of glove, asks Peppermint what the plan was.
  Peppermint: I don't know. Fight?
  Chai: You're paying me double for this.
  Peppermint: ...But I'm not paying you anything.
  • Get grabbed Rekka and she performs an over the top wresting move, the backbreaker, even flicking her hair in a taunt before crunching Chai like a pretzel. After she lets him go, a crumpled Chai winces in pain before unfolding himself and getting back into combat.
• It's not on screen for very long, but when Peppermint accesses the SPECTRA files on Rekka's computer, there's a note at the end (presumably from Kale) which reads: "I'll keep this high level since some people are stupid enough to leave important documents right on their desktop". Later, we see Zanzo does exactly that.
• Chai accidentally telling Peppermint's entire plan in a Vandelay executive board meeting. Worse still, 808 is boasting along with him.
  • Looking at Mimosa's square shows she didn't actually answer the meeting call herself, she has one of her robots do it, then she has another go on all fours so she can sit on his back.
  • The whole reason Chai accidentally joined the meeting to begin with is because he was trying to stop the 'beeping' while Peppermint was trying to find more info on SPECTRA. He just pushed the big flashing red button.
    Chai: You said make it stop.
  • Blink and you'll miss it: When Chai shows off Rekka's belt as proof of his victory, Roquefort's monocle falls off in shock.
  • For most of the meeting, Zanzo seems to be delivering a villainous monologue of some kind while striking more Jojo poses, but he's muted. When he tries to repeat it, Kale interrupts him.
• After returning to the hideout and Peppermint explaining to Chai why Vandelay's mind control scheme needs to be stopped (he wasn't listening), Chai starts to leave and let Peppermint handle things on her own. Peppermint responds by shutting off the lights and slowly turning to give him a Death Glare. Chai promptly decides to stay instead.
• Peppermint also decides to demonstrate just what SPECTRA is capable of and has a bit of fun while doing so.
  Chai: Don't you think- [gets controlled by SPECTRA] that you were right all this time and I'm a stubborn loser. Also, Peppermint is WAY cooler than me.

Track 3: Trial by (Volcanic) Fire

• At the start of the level, Peppermint reminds Chai that he should not step in lava, to which Chai responds that he does know that. Peppermint just wants to tell him, just in case.
• There is a pink VA-SER unit trying to convince its green co-worker to get back work, but it refuses because its too hot, only for the other to point out that they aren't even programmed to feel heat.
  • Hit them twice, the green VA-SER unit continues the trend started by a unit in the previous level:
    VA-SER: Hey, I'm resting here!
• You can fin a red VA-SER unit fishing, complete with a tin can as bait. Apparently there's nothing much but rocks to fish for, but its apparently a good way to relieve tension. In fact, this unit is aware enough to know that Chai isn't supposed to be here, but is willing to look by as long as he doesn't rat out his fishing spot.
• Chai's pun upon arriving at R&D:
  Chai: Here we ARE & D.
• There is a LU-C1LLE unit acting as guest reception at Research and Development and is very unenthused about its current job and management, speaking permanently speaks in a very bored Sarcasm Mode.
  LU-C1LLE: Do I look like I work here?
  Chai: Yes, actually.
  • If you stick around, Chai can try to 'pretty please' his way to the AI room.
    Chai: I can see the entrance to the AI Labs right behind you. Can't you, you know, sneak me in?
    LU-C1LLE: What's in it for me?
    Chai: Knowing that you did this guy here a huge solid.
    LU-C1LLE: For me, that's unquantifiable. Therefore: no.
    Chai: Thanks for being no help.
    LU-C1LLE: Your welcome. If you need any more assistance feel free to ask.
  • And can ask it what job it has exactly:
    Chai: So, you just sit around here the whole day?
    LU-C1LLE: I greet and guide. I'm friendly.
    Chai: That's debatable.
    LU-C1LLE: No, it isn't.
    Chai: Well, I didn't even get a greeting.
    LU-C1LLE: I acknowledged your existence. In this day and age, that's as good as you're gonna get.
  • When Chai decides to leave, he is bummed out that the LU-C1LLE didn't recognize him as the 'famous' runaway 'defect', even though this is supposed to be a stealth mission.
    Peppermint: I'm sure your fans are all waiting for you in Lab 44.
• One of the PGR-101 units is working on toughening up a SBR unit, which involves watching it get hit by a giant fist over and over again. It is pretty entertaining.
  • Hitting this unit will have it spew a line of code at you:
    if(You.attack(Me) = true)
    then It.annoys(Me);
• The fact that apparently the insurance paperwork for these tests is done after the tests are done, which is not how it works. In fact, it's just ridiculous enough to think about that these robotic test employees even have insurance anyway.
  • It's also apparently extremely rare for a unit to even make it all the way to the end and survive. But even if they do, they're doomed anyway because the last waiting room is a dead end where they leave them to rust. Why don't they just... dispose the unit instead of creating an entire waiting room to watch them slowly perish? Who knows. Zanzo probably just finds it hilarious.
  • The end of the tests also has a very unenthused LU-C1LLE bot waiting there with some balloons and confetti to congratulate whoever walks through the door. Apparently she has been waiting for a long time and finally can take a break. Look a bit closer, you can even find a single cupcake and some punch on her plastic desk.
• While taking part in the Lab 44 Test Runs, Zanzo and a PGR-0101 are unable to recognize Chai through a 480p stream.
• A funny example of Zanzo's micromanagement is him adding in a feature that causes lasers to self-destruct on embarrassing failure.
  • In the next section, Chai gets the hang of parrying lasers, and Zanzo acts like it wasn't his fault.
• Past the first test chamber, you can find a Test Robot who is very excited about what's next in store for him. If you hit him, he explodes into a million pieces. He isn't too upset though, he's just glad to help. At least he went out doing what he loved...?
  Test Robot: Oh, is this the test? If that's the case, glad to help!
• Zanzo promises to reward a gift basket after testing is over. Peppermint already suspects a trap.
  Chai: But what if it is a gift basket?
• Once again, Chai goes into an Imagine Spot to learn the parry skill to combat Korsica's attack drones. And also once again, it looks extremely weird to everyone outside his head.
  Peppermint: [sounding legitimately concerned] Chai, did you just black out?
  Chai: Maybe, I dunno! Doesn't matter. Watch this.
  • A few test chambers later, Chai asks if his inner voice had told him about enraged enemies yet. The Imagine Spot announcer voice chimes into say no, he hadn't yet, before proceeding to do so.
• Chai and Zanzo's first interaction once again proves how absolutely dense Chai is.
  Zanzo: Mister Chai, was it?
  Chai: That's MISTER Chai to you!
  (Beat)
  Zanzo: (genuinely confused) That's... what I just called you.
  Chai: Okay then!
• The last enemy of the Track is a robot equipped with an advanced "Z-Shield" that can't be broken until next Track. Even Peppermint is unable to break it.
  Peppermint: I'm useless!
  Chai: You said it, not me.
  • When all attempts to take it down fail, Chai tries to reason with it. It ends just as Peppermint expects but he does survive despite being punched through multiple walls.
    Chai: [going through each wall] SUCH! A! BAD! I! DEA!
  • If you happen to be replaying this level after beating the main story (in which case, you will have all allies unlocked) and use Macaron to defeat the Z-Shielding, Peppermint and CNMN will comment on Chai breaking the continuity.
    CNMN: [panicking] Mister Chai, Sir Macaron has yet to join you, this is cheating.
    [Chai defeats the Z-Shield bot]
    Peppermint: Well, this messes everything up.
    CNMN: Do not be afraid. I will activate the cutscene as usual.
    [Cutscene plays completely normally]
  • We see in a later track that the computers saved a freeze frame of the moment Chai eats a steel-plated knuckle sandwich just before going airborne.
    • It gets shown multiple times, even for the mission briefing comic book for the next level when they recruit Macaron to help them break Z-shielding, to which an annoyed Chai asks to not be shown him getting punched in the face anymore.

Track 4: Less Budget, More Problems

• The track starts with a Previously on… in order to show Chai getting punched in the face again. No other track uses it.
• As Chai is getting to know Macaron, CNMN is seen in the background replaying the moment Chai got clocked in the face by the Z-Shield bot. Later, if you talk to CNMN before starting the track, the computers all have the moment Chai's face got done in.
• This is actually the first time that Peppermint and Macaron met, they had been collaborating for quite some time, working on how to save the company. But apparently, not only did they both use their real names as their code names, Macaron didn't really stop to verify who Peppermint really was. Even more surprising, Chai is the one who lectures Macaron on internet safety.
  Macaron: In secret! Code names and stuff. Just so there was no risk of getting caught.
  Chai: But your code names are your... actual... names. Dude, she could have been a crazy internet stalker or something!
  Macaron: Oh... I never thought about that. I guess I was just happy someone wanted to help.
  Chai: Well, you got lucky this time, but... next time, I won't be here to protect you.
• Upon realizing that his ability to break Z-Shielding means he has to fight, Macaron slumps over and kicks one of the chunks of the wall, muttering about how he doesn't want to. Keep in mind that Macaron is 47 and is acting like a child who was just told to clean his room.
• When Chai asks, CNMN tells him that his name stands for Consciousness Review Allocation Personnel. When Chai starts to point out the obvious, CNMN replies that not everyone can have a common and usual name like Chai.
• SEB-AAA and JSF-001 in this level can be found in an area behind a lava waterfall that requires incredibly precise timing to get to. Upon talking to them, SEB-AAA starts monologuing about how they should stop hiding rewards in such hard to reach places. It's commentary about Vandelay, but its obviously also commentary on the player's struggle of getting to this spot to get the loot.
• Chai deciding to enter the 'AR Room' instead of the 'AI Room' because it sounded close enough.
  • And the only reason this happened is because Peppermint was too busy getting a personality test from CNMN to guide Chai to the right room, and her Exact Words were to "Pull a 'Chai' and find another way in".
  • And then, the results of Peppermint's personality test:
    Macaron: Oh, wait now, Peppermint, don't get mad...
    Peppermint: 'Unsympathetic'? 'Hot-headed'? You don't even know me!
    CNMN: [terrified] You are only proving me correct.
    Peppermint: Come on, Chai, you can vouch for me, right?
    Chai: I'm staying out of this.
• Chai being absolutely fascinated by AR reality (the delivery of this line just really sells his status as an idiot):
  Chai: Wow...it's like I'm really there...
• Hit one of the PGR-101 units and he'll say a variation of the trending line:
  PGR-101: Stop it! I'm programming here!
• Chai seems to really want the rumored gift basket that he was supposed to get at the end of Zanzo's tests. There is no gift basket, but Zanzo materializes one in the AR reality for Chai to get to. In the end, he knocks it away, much to the dismay of both Chai and Macaron.
  Chai: [distraught] Nooooo!
  Macaron: The gift basket!
  Peppermint: Uh, guys...?
  • Immediately followed by Zanzo making a big show of the ambush, complete with JoJo-esque Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs... or he tries to, anyway.
    Zanzo: And now I take you... DOWN!
    [Beat]
    PGR-0101: Did... you want us to drop the platform?
    Zanzo: [head-cables flaring] Was that not IMPLIED!?
• Zanzo's various antics during the AR reality gauntlets are amusing.
  • He projects himself into the obstacle course to taunt Chai, only for Chai to remark that his tiny holographic avatar isn't very intimidating, this clearly infuriates him.
  • Later a gigantic holographic avatar directs the AR programmers to generate a volcano obstacle... directly in front of the hologram's crotch.
• The fact that Zanzo's budget, which Chai and his friends are trying to deplete, has a healthbar that decreases with every flashy thing he throws at them.
  • In a subtle moment, when Zanzo "fires" his programmer by forcing him to fight you, his budget actually increases. After all, a destroyed robot is one that's no longer on payroll.
• The end result finally has the R&D department being defunded, completely halting what appears to be another epic robot boss. Zanzo tries to fight Chai himself but, in a sense of payback, is sent through a wall in one smack.

Zanzo: My masterpiece! Now everyone will see... THAT I AM... (Runs out of money at the very last second) Defunded?!

• The fact that Zanzo keeps information about the confidential SPECTRA right on his desktop, which outright states its cognitive manipulation aspects...
• If you look at carefully during the cutscene where the team is talking about SPECTRA, you can see that Zanzo actually has a body pillow of himself on the sofa behind them.
• Before Kale can get Korsica to take in Chai and his little group, Chai calls a timeout for a group huddle so they can figure out what to do next. And Kale and Korsica just... let them do that. While Korsica calls this out, Kale is shocked speechless by the audacity of Chai to just politely ask for a moment in what is supposed to be a very serious moment.
  Chai: Uh, can we have just one- Sorry, just take a second.
  [Chai enters a group huddle with everyone while Korsica and Kale just stare at them]
  Korsica: Are we actually giving them a moment, sir?
• When Korsica has Chai on a headlock while Kale derides her for not capturing the entire team, Chai attempts to taunt her for it, and she briefly chokes him in response until he pathetically taps her arm.

Track 5: Breaking Out

• After every mission up to this point, Chai goes back to the hideout to chat, get upgrades, ect. Even after Track 3 you get a substitute hideout in Macaron's lab. After Track 4 and Chai gets knocked out by Korsica, you inexplicably appear back at the regular hideout, with Chai expressing relief that it's all over and they defeated the Big Bad. Talking to everyone reveals some very Out of Character dialogue with everyone praising Chai for being smart and heroic.
  • Peppermint, who is the one who butts heads with Chai the most, is overenthusiastic about meeting him again.
    Peppermint: And you were the star of the show! Where do you come up with all these great ideas?
    Chai: I wish I could tell you, but even I don't let myself in on THAT secret.
    Peppermint: That makes total sense!
  • Macaron acts as if he looks up to Chai and finds him a total inspiration.
  • CNMN probably has the funniest dialogue of them all:
    CNMN: Mister Chai, that was really quite an amazing performance! So much so, I realize I mistook you at first and misconstructed your psych profile.
    Chai: So what's it now?
    CNMN: Instead of brashly acting out based off your fear of inferiority, I see you know out of confidence. You are surely an inspiration for the team, and for children aged 5 and up.
    Chai: [enthusiastically] Rated E for Everyone!
• The way that Chai finally wakes up from the dream is so surreal, it's hilarious (and a Twin Peaks reference too). Once he finally comes to, Korsica is snapping her fingers in his face, asking if he fell asleep again, implying that he had time to take more naps while in captivity.
  Chai: [yawns] Am I under oath?
  • After Korsica leaves the room, the two SRB units standing guard release their rigid pose they were keeping up as an appearance and sigh in relief. As Chai is trying to find a way out, they begin casually chatting with each other and look really uncertain about fighting their prisoner once he has his weapon back.
• Chai manages to break out of containment thanks to 808 showing up. He blasts the door open which hits a poor cleaning unit. A moment later, Chai confidentially walks out of the room and stubs his toe on the same cleaning bot.
  SCR-UB: [fleeing the scene] KARMA.
  • When 808 follows Chai out a moment later, Chai tries to act cool about it, hiding the fact that he stubbed his toe.
  • This becomes a Brick Joke when Chai arrives at the L.I.F.T. in Track 6, where he has wisened up and stops himself from running his foot into another S.C.R.U.B. unit.
• Right after, Chai asks for a mission report and Peppermint responds:
  Peppermint: Is that code for 'Chai forgot the plan again'?
  • Followed by Peppermint having to explain the plan to Chai in borderline toddler terms. When he finally gets it, Peppermint gets frustrated with him and just tells him to find Korsica.
• Some of the scrolling text found in this level are absolutely hilarious:
  Any guitar looking weaponry should be immediately reported to your supervisor.
  Please gauge any Musical Robot Powers as suspicious.
  All paper files should be encrypted before being submitted.
• The 'schematics' that the dented TEC-78 asked Chai to find? They're comic books.

Track 6: L.I.F.T. Me Up

• On the way to the L.I.F.T, Korsica makes a PSA about Chai, but is confused about what occurred back in Track 5.
  Korsica: All right... Somehow, the defect, who I thought we secured, got away. What the hell? Not only that, he helped fix our security system. I... should be angry, but let's just say my feelings right now are... mixed. Yeah. Mixed.
  Chai: A vague praise. I'll take it!
  Korisca: In other words: APB on the kid. See him? Call it in.
• Once there, Peppermint warns him of an ambush, but he waltzes in, expecting the workers to mistake him for a technician like the last one. It actually works until an ES-101 walks in and informs everyone that Chai's the defect...which the workers don't actually believe, because of Chai's earlier maintenance work. The worker's reaction when they realize Chai is the defect is priceless.

  ES-101: There's the defect! Stop him!
  TEC-78: Nah, this is the guy that fixed the security system, man.
  ES-101: Idiots! That's the defect!
  TEC-78: [turns around and looks at Chai]
  Chai: Um [makes a heart-shaped sign with his hands]
  TEC-78: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

  • Chai actually apologizing to that one dented TEC-78 bot when he steps on its face to escape.
• While dealing with the emergency brakes on the L.I.F.T, Macaron makes a pun how security is "pulling out all the stops". Peppermint is annoyed but lets it slide for this Track.
• The gang realizes in hindsight that destroying the brakes was a bad idea, but Peppermint has a workaround to stop the L.I.F.T. from overshooting its destination and crashing: she shoots down an enormous construction sign to use as an improvised ramp so the L.I.F.T. jumps off its rails and bleeds off all its momentum through repeated flips and smashing against the tunnel walls before crashing to a stop at Security Wing 2.
  Macaron: Hey, I just realized. Yeah, with no breaks...how are we stoppin'?
  [Chai's face slowly morphs into horror]
  • Peppermint just implies Chai will be fine through this, nonchalantly suggesting he find something to hold on to before quickly teleporting out. By the time the lift grinds to a stop Chai is left crumpled on the ground, and is so shaken that that he looks like he aged ten years.
  • Before using her weapon, she pauses to ask Chai to give her the space to concentrate, revealing that he'd walked right up to peer over her shoulder in confusion, putting his face and 808 right in the blast zone of her launcher's exhaust port.
  • The scene briefly cuts to a couple bots waiting at a lift station, with one complaining that the lift is running late while the other is exasperatedly trying to reassure him that it'll arrive any second, before the derailed lift flies past them with Chai screaming in terror as he hangs on for dear life.
    ES-101: [Beat] Huh...
    • What's more, this ES-101 unit in particular (a model that's built like a giant buff man with a stereotypical Ahnold accent) is holding the cutest little lunch box.
    • When all is said and done, and the L.I.F.T. screeches to a stop right at his intended destination, Chai leaps up looking very unsettled, says "That was a smooth ride" and walks off...just in time for the L.I.F.T. to collapse behind him.
  • The name of the song that plays throughout this level? "Can't Stop Us Now".

Track 7: The Climb

• Right after the first battle, if you explore that first construction area a little more, you can find a bunch of gears in a smiley face behind some crates, a friendly and funny message from the devs!
• If you interrupt the mission and return to the Hideout, Chai has this amazing monologue:
  Chai: [cheerfully] I love how I can be midway through a prison escape, then back here. All momentum, gone!
• After Korsica cuts off elevator access, Chai grimaces about finding a way up, which is a very long way. And Macaron tries to encourage him:
  Macaron: Ahh, the Chai I know wouldn't let that stop him!
  Chai: ...Macaron, you've known me for like 5 hours.
• When Chai makes it to a second tower to climb, an infuriated Korsica interrupts by activating the security lasers. Chai and 808 don't seem phased about it at first, until the lasers sextuple in quantity, leaving the tower absolutely bristling with them. The sight of which changes their expression quick.
  Korsica: Alright, I'm putting a stop to this. [Some laser emitters on the tower dramatically activate]
  Chai: Eh. That's not bad. (A ridiculous amount of lasers immediately turn on) Hngh.
  Korsica: Let me know when you decide to give up.
  Chai: Great! Fantastic! Can we get any more lasers!?
  Macaron: She's panicking.
  Chai: I'm panicking! We don't have a plan!
  • Partway up the tower an announcement is made revealing that Korsica activated so many security lasers that it's actually causing power outages throughout the department.
    • Even better, one of the omnipresent banner screens indicates that she's using 30000% of the normal laser output!
• Chai points out a few times throughout the mission that they don't actually have a plan to get Korsica's password beyond "get to her office", forcing him to wing it even more than usual.
  Chai: OK, plan time — How am I getting that password?
  Peppermint: We're still... thinking?
  Chai: Think... better? We're running out of time!
  Peppermint: Well, I don't see you contributing!
  CNMN: Miss Peppermint, please don't confuse Mister Chai by implying that he is the brains behind the mission.
  Chai: Exactly! ...Wait.
• The major issue with dealing with Korsica is that the party needs to convince her to give over her password for the SPECTRA project, since she doesn't use any cybernetic gear or enhancements like the rest of the Vandelay heads do and thus doesn't have an access key; she's just expected to remember an actual password. What does this password turn out to be (as revealed in the final Track)? 'Password.'
  • It's even funnier because one of the scrolling displays in the previous levels claim that for security reasons, employees are required to change their password every 48 minutes.
• When Chai finally makes it to Korsica's office, he accidentally ends up falling through the vent right onto Korsica, and bounces off to the floor. The vent door also ends up hitting Korsica in the head and when she goes to confront Chai, she is instead greeted with Chai writhing on the floor because 808 has latched onto his face and won't let go.
  Chai: [muffled] It isn't what it looks like!
• Despite Korsica's seriousness, there is a sign she's Not So Above It All - in a Freeze-Frame Bonus, while Chai is spying on her through the vent, one of the folders she has open behind SPECTRA is labelled 'CAT gifs'.
• During Korsica's Boss Fight, Chai, who's started a plan to provoke Korsica into tiring herself out in combat, is taking the time between weathering her barrage of attacks to convince her of Vandelay's evil plans with SPECTRA and get her to work alongside the team rather than in opposition, as Korsica is clearly not cut from the same cloth as the others. After Korsica exhausts herself after several rounds, her stamina/health is almost gone, and Chai's pleas actually seem to be getting through to her... then this happens.
  Chai: He (Kale) doesn't care about you! Otherwise he wouldn't have kept you in the dark.
  Korsica: You don't know that.
  Chai: I KNOW you're not like the others, Korsica! You can feel something's wrong!
  Peppermint: Chai, you are...surprisingly convincing.
  Macaron: [as Korsica ponders Chai's words] De-escalating... I think we may have a chance...
  Chai: Or are you just too OBLIVIOUS to figure that out!?
  Peppermint: Ohhh, COME ON!
  Korsica: [rising to her feet as her stamina almost completely fills back up] That's it! Now I'm mad!
  CNMN: In your own words: you really blew it Mister Chai.
  Chai: [confused] Wait, what does "Oblivious" mean?
  • What's a bit funny is that Korsica is quick to react to what Chai just said instead of stopping to think what he was actually supposed to say; "oblivious" is defined as not being aware of things but, from Chai's tone and wording, it sounds like he just called Korsica "stupid".
  • Also as Chai proceeds to call Korsica oblivious, a guitar riff can be heard in the background as if to emphasize his slipup.
• The banter and the chatter between Chai, Korsica, et. al during the whole boss fight in general. From Peppermint telling Macaron to slow down for calling Chai a genius when he decides to wear Korsica down, to Korsica being confused at Chai's "floating cat", to Chai thinking Korsica was making a pun when she tells him he can't "strongarm" her, to Peppermint backing up CNMN's observation of how good Chai is at aggravation. The whole encounter is a comedy goldmine.
• The fight itself feels like a gameplay-related Brick Joke to Macaron's early comment about being "locked out of the pacifist route", as Chai essentially does take the pacifist route against Korsica.
• After defeating Korsica, Chai will slide in to catch her flying body with an accompanying QTE. If you screw up the QTE, Chai will overshoot his mark, causing Korsica to unceremoniously flop on the ground behind him. Even better is that you're graded at the end on whether or not you manage to catch her, and you HAVE to catch her for an S rank, or you will get a D in the special bonus.
  Chai: [Sucks air through teeth as the triumphant music that was playing deflates]
  Macaron: [disappointed] Chai...
  Chai: [embarrassed] Sorry.
  • When making his getaway, Chai unceremoniously mashes Korsica's face against a retinal scanner to open a door, making her groan. Then, while attempting to carry Korisca out of her office, Chai accidentally smacks her head against two doorframes. On the third, he very slowly and carefully maneuvers around the door despite it being conspicuously wide enough to fit them—which slides shut anyway, bonking Korsica in the head again. The funniest part? He has dealt more damage to her here than in the boss fight itself.
  • When Chai finally sets Korsica down after all of that head bashing, he gives her a small pat on the head. It comes off less as Chai showing genuine concern for her, and more as a bit of self-congratulation for doing such a good job at carrying her to safety.
  • After Kale's attempt to kill Chai and Korsica on the L.I.F.T., he chides himself for not using his robot's flamethrowers on Korsica after telling her she was "fired", having used a laser to try killing her instead.
• After returning to the hideout and talking with CNMN, he talks about how sorry he feels for the designer of the robot that Chai and Korsica encountered while trying to escape because the designer worked very hard to design the robot specifically to fight Chai, yet Chai didn't end up fighting it. As he says, that robot never appears again in the story. One can't help feel that it's actually the plight of the poor developers having to scrap this boss.

Track 8: A History Lesson

• There are two robots in the beginning area that have been watching another robot dance for hours because they didn't get tickets to Mimosa's show, so this was the best show they were going to get.
  • And of course, if you hit them:
    VA-SER: Hey, I'm watching here!
• There is a cleaning bot chasing after a lawnmower dog bot around and around in a circle.
• There is a Vlog found in the at the museum reception desk, reminding staff of some important things to keep in mind:
  • That admission to the museum is free, but requires a mandatory donation.
  • To direct the guests' attention to the 'Vandelay Arrow'. Yes, that's right, Vandelay has trademarked the arrow in this universe.
  • And finally, to gaslight any guests who have negative criticism of the exhibit into thinking that the exhibit doesn't exist.
• All the combat robots that Chai has been fighting this whole time are being marketed as friendly household and child friendly robots to help regular people in their day to day life, completely hiding the fact that they are deadly combat robots.
• There is a pink VA-SER unit standing in plain sight, striking a pose among some pictures. Apparently it's just trying to take a break by hiding amongst the art.
• Upon entering the Vandelay origin exhibits, both doors are locked until Mimosa finishes explaining the exhibit. This is probably done as a way to make sure the player doesn't miss out on the important story dialogue, but it makes perfect sense in universe too. The proud and egotistical Kale and Mimosa wouldn't hesitate to trap any visitors in the room until their 'inspiring' story was fully told.
• When entering the first battle that contains electric floors:
  Macaron: Chai, watch your step! The generator is still running.
  Chai: That's 'shocking'.
  Korsica: No.
  Peppermint: STOOOOOOP...
• One of the collectibles is a complaint memo suggesting that the water generators and jumping puzzles should be replaced with a simple power switch. The request was denied because "This is so much cooler."

Track 9: Take the Stage

• How does Chai get onstage? By dressing up as hammerhead version of Left Shark.
  Chai: I'm on my way to the stage, dressed as a shark. Ask me anything.
  • When the robots throw the disguised Chai backstage, he flops around like a real shark would out of water.
  • The fact that Chai's portrait has him in the shark costume for this segment.
  • Left Shark later becomes an unlockable costume for Chai once the main game is finished. Now imagine the cutscene possibilities.
    • If you replay this level with the Left Shark costume, Chai will take off the Left Shark costume... to reveal another Left Shark costume.
  • When Mimosa starts the fight, Chai and 808 can be seen struggling to take the costume off.
• Mimosa instantly makes Chai part of her show.
• 808 mimicking Chai's pose when he bursts onto the stage one for one.
• Mimosa has a grab attack that consist of grabbing Chai with her dress-wings and slapping him three times.
• CNMN cuts the lights as the heroes make their escape, but he and Korsica almost run into each other because it's so dark.
• After Kale orders the campus shut down, he requests a coffee, resulting in this exchange:
  Roquefort: We... shut down the cafe.
  Kale: When I said "close the campus down", I didn't mean the cafe!
  Roquefort: You said close down everything.
  Kale: But not coffee, Roquefort. Not coffee. You ALWAYS need coffee for things like this!

Track 10: The Masterplan

• What is Chai's great plan of breaking into the tower? Taking Peppermint's sarcastic comment of 'shooting him out of a cannon to his next objective' literally.
  • The mission report for this track features Chai sitting on the sofa while a montage of his team getting exasperated with his plans plays in the background in what is one for one, a Xenogears reference.
    • Word of God in an interview stated that, when he asked Square Enix permission to recreate this scene as a homage, they replied with what can be summarized as "Th...that's it?"
  • Apparently, the reason why Macaron couldn't tell him off for his idea is because Chai 'had too much heart' and no one could say no.
• Right after the intro segment, the scene cuts to the camera shaking and Chai finishing what looks like an extreme battle up on the rooftop offscreen, right where to the cannon was, completely skipping the journey to it. Whatever the context, it leaves even someone like Korsica in awe.
  Chai: [drops into frame] Whoo! What a wild battle! Hah, wish you coulda seen it!
  Macaron: I can't believe you survived that!
  Korsica: That was the most... amazing thing I've ever seen!
  Chai: Yeah, [he leans over to the camera and looks right at the player] and let's never mention this again.
• Just seconds before firing:
  Chai: This is the greatest plan ever!
  Everyone but 808: This is the dumbest plan ever.
  • Chai says his line to 808 — and just like him, she looks absolutely pumped.
• Unsurprisingly, the plan goes awry and Chai crashes into a blimp, bounces off and crashes into the employee cafeteria, which is luckily only a few floors below their target. Cue every single enemy robot pausing their meal to look at Chai and 808 making the exact same bigfoot-like pose from the wanted poster.
  • One of the enemies of the level is a samurai bot wearing a chef outfit, using a long spatula and ladle in place of swords, absolutely furious that Chai interrupted lunchtime.
  • After Chai clears the fight, CNMN mentions that Macaron passed out at some point but is back on his feet again.
• Immediately following the cafeteria brawl:
  Roquefort: Roquefort here. Shut this place down! Protect Finance at all costs! [amused] Heh, I said "costs!"
  Peppermint: Ughhhhhhh.
• When trying to find his way to Roquefort, Chai gets attacked by a VU-T 0 R 1, who knocks him down to a lower platform. As he is gets on his feet, we have a golden piece of dialogue delivery by CNMN:
  CNMN: Nobody panic! Mister Chai has assured that he has quote: got this, end quote.
• Chai delivering an absolutely vicious burn to Roquefort right before their fight.
  Roquefort: Grr, you're making me angry. I was on my deathbed when Kale saved me. I was smart, but weak. He fixed that.
  Chai: Really? Why'd you wanna be less smart?
  • Hilariously, it's also not entirely clear whether this burn was intentional or a genuine question from Chai.
• Roquefort's boss fight is pretty standard, but near the end, he states that his Unstoppable Rage allows him to keep going, while Chai appears winded. Suddenly, a huge pile of gold representing quarterly earnings is sent raining down on and burying the wolf, unceremoniously ending the fight in Chai's favor before he could find a workaround.
  • The fact that at the end of his first and second phases, he will revert into his human form and Chai will have to chase and beat him down. In comparison with the crazy robots enemies so far, it feels a little wrong to be beating up an old man like this.
    • The sheer amount of swagger that Roquefort's wolf form has in its walking animation. He could not be less concerned with you in the slightest, until you knock him out of it, where he starts running away in panic instead.
  • Chai being downright terrified of Roquefort's transformation.
    Chai: Korsica... That wolf thing...(grabbing 808 and shaking her) WAS NOT AN EXPRESSION!
• After the fight, Chai meets up with the gang again and he expresses how awesome of a fight it was, wishing the others had seen it.
  CNMN: [with sparkly eyes] We were spectating through the door. Lady Korsica suggested to let you handle it.
  Korsica: [embarrassed] Uh, CNMN, we don't always have to repeat EVERYTHING we hear.

Track 11: The Needle Drop

• Chai gets an opportunity to chat with everyone right before confront Kale:
  • CNMN telling Chai he's the human equivalent of dividing by zero:
    CNMN: I do not have random data. I need something to quantify.
    Chai: Well, quantify... me!
    CNMN: I actually tried, but every time I put you into a calculation, I got an error. I think you are the human equivalent of dividing by zero.
    Chai: Ha! Awesome!
  • Korsica remarking that she didn't actually think they'd make it this far:
    Korsica: I gotta say, as much as I didn't see Roquefort turning into a giant wolf, I didn't expect us to come this far.
    Chai: You assumed I would fail?
    Korsica: Well, I... figured your luck would have to run out at some point.
• At the beginning of Track 11, Chai uses past words of encouragement from the rest of the team in order to tune himself to the right harmonic frequency to disable Kale's barrier. While his memories of Peppermint, Macaron, and Korsica are genuinely motivating, the CNMN memory however?
  CNMN: I, for one, Mister Chai, like your pants!
  Chai: Eh, good enough.
• The moment where Chai breaks the harmonic barrier and says he doesn't need a guitar because he is a rockstar (which is a moment of awesome) is somewhat undercut immediately after when he gets his guitar back.
  CMNM: Mr. Chai, I thought you said you didn't need a guitar?
  Chai: Well, yeah, but...this is cooler.
• After breaking out of Kale's trap the team smashes through windows and emerges from the resulting cloud of debris with a dramatic slow-motion Team Power Walk, during which there are a few amusing details.
  • 808 (riding on Chai's shoulder) gives Chai a quick fist-bump. Equal parts funny and awesome.
  • Whereas the others emerge perfectly composed in an effort to look determined or cool, Macaron is in the middle of waving away the cloud of dust and hacking out a cough.
  • CNMN is still in the middle of drawing Cool Shades, complete with a Fascinating Eyebrow, onto his faceplate in preparation for the action shot.
• Kale Vandelay's true plan for the mind-controlling SPECTRA AI: Distribute it with Project Armstrong to... ensure complete customer loyalty so he doesn't have to chase market trends anymore. Everyone that isn't Kale or Roxanne (who is currently under SPECTRA's influence by the way) is disappointed by how lazy and corporate the true motive is.
  • Something to mention is that earlier in the game, Kale is accused of using SPECTRA and Project Armstrong to have a brainwashed cyborg army to take over the world. He vehemently denies it every time... and come this level he was telling the truth.
• Throughout the level Chai's friends will periodically pitch in to help him traverse platforms or bail him out of danger, and despite trying his best to be helpful throughout the level the results of CNMN's efforts are... mixed.
  • When Chai accidentally locks himself in a cargo container suspended by a crane CNMN uses the crane's controls to move him to the next part of the level, but his manipulation of the crane is so jittery and stiff that it causes the container to violently jerk around before smashing into the next platform, audibly thrashing the trapped Chai in the process.
  • While Chai is trying to escape from the revitalized Zanzo robot, CNMN manages to hack a screen with the intention of helping Chai, only to have the robot destroy the screen even before he can even finish explaining how he intends to help.
  • Later, there's a mini segment where the player actually takes control of CNMN running heroically to the severed robot arm to equip it. The only issue is that CNMN moves comically slow despite his exaggerated running animation, complete with a pathetic little hop in place of a jump. And the cherry on top is just how much CNMN is enjoying himself, clearly having a major blast just shuffling around and hopping once or twice.
• After CNMN destroys Zanzo's robot at the cost of severly damaging himself. He asks Chai for reassurance that he did a good job. Chai delivers in the way he does best.
  CNMN: Was I "dope", Mister Chai?
  Chai: That was VERY dope, CNMN. [turns around and starts walking away] Man, he is messed uuuuuup!
• For some reason, depending on the costume CNMN is wearing when he gets destroyed, he will be holding a random something in his hand. For example, with the Prep outfit, he has a gold bill with his face on it and his Punk outfit has him hold a microphone. There is no explanation or acknowledgement on why he has these things.

Track 12: Curate the Future

• Kale mind-controls Chai. Which is horrifying, but also... not.
  Chai: [monotone] I am proud to be part of the Vandelay family.
  Macaron: Chai would never say that!
  Kale: [completely fed-up] No, that's the point, I'm CONTROLLING— [gets pounced on by 808]
• When Chai gets taken control of by Kale via SPECTRA, 808 straight up attacks Kale and strikes a boxing pose to boot. Cue a whole segment where you fight Kale as a cat.
• A subtle one, but right after Kale throws off his coat to reveal his robotic body... Another coat folds out of his robotics, topped off with an identical collar popping up; as dramatically as Iron Man's visor, to complete his ensemble. And then he throws that coat off for the final phase of his fight.
  • And when he throws it off in the last phase, another collar will shoot out!
• Lose to Kale and he will say that now that he is done with you, it's time for his coffee.
• The final battle against Kale? Pure epic. His final words on the other hand are just a cherry on top...
  Kale: This is just too much work...
  [explodes]
• Peppermint puts in all five keys, then types in Korsica's password. What, you ask, appears to be the head of security's password? "PASSWORD".

Ending & Post-game

• In the ending, Chai accidentally interrupting Peppermint's attempt to make a move on Korsica. She rightfully gives him a noogie for it.
  • Right after this moment, Chai dramatically points offscreen right, but the truck drives offscreen left instead, implying that Chai was pointing in the wrong direction. A moment later, the truck is seen speeding off to offscreen right instead, meaning that Chai was right.
• The fact that Macaron is so physically huge, he is squashing CNMN in the passenger's seat in the ending sequence.
• Chai has become the official Ambassador for Vandelay, but according to his inner thoughts, apparently, he isn't being paid.
• After finishing all the SPECTRA postgame content, Korsica is starting to take things a little easier than she used to thanks to Chai's influence. Chai then offers to give her tips on how to 'chill out harder'.
• If Chai manages to collect all 24 pieces of graffiti, the Artist will visit the hideout to add its newest edition there. What is it? A pretty realistic rendition of Chai as a banana. Chai vehemently expresses how much he does not want this, but the Artist ignores this. Congratulations! This portrait is now permanently grafted in to the hideout's floor, ready to greet you every time when you return.
• The SPECTRA rooms turn out to be a very convoluted plan by Kale to restart SPECTRA in case it ever goes down. Kale is also revealed to be the SPECTRA's AI. AI!Kale traps Chai in the final room, which all is set up to be a secret Superboss. Peppermint is locked out and it seems as though Chai his own!...until the lights suddenly cut out. Chai looks around to see that a SCR-UB unit has unplugged SPECTRA after getting tangled up in the cable.
  • Chai continues to play off the 'victory' and takes credit for defeating Kale. He frees the cleaning unit and what does he do to ensue nothing like this happens again? He puts a sticky note on the plug with the words 'Do not touch - Chai'. After this, Chai continues to act like he had an epic battle to the others.
  • The Steam Achievement for finishing SPECTRA postgame is called:
    "I can't see this ever being a problem again."
    Solve the problem once and for all in an epic battle.

General

Chai

• A lot of the humor is directed at Chai as the resident Butt-Monkey, who regularly gets in way over his head and ends up subject to Amusing Injuries.
• The fact that Chai calls himself a (future) rockstar, and yet he can't actually play any instruments, let alone a guitar. His weapon just happens to be shaped like one. It takes the last stages of the game for him to be able to back up his claims.
• Chai's antics in general. When he isn't operating entirely on an Indy Ploy, his "plans" are completely absurd and no end of frustration to his teammates. And perhaps best of all? They work basically 90% of the time. Deliberately angering Korsica to exhaust her while deflecting and dodging her attacks, hitching a ride onto a broken tramline and miraculously ending up at Rekka's office, shooting himself out of a damn fireworks cannon and surviving... Anyone else doing this stuff would qualify as Too Dumb to Live. Chai is simply Too Dumb To Die.
• Chai absolutely loves puns, which he will make at every single given opportunity presented to him, much to the chagrin of literally everyone else.
  • Two optional couch lines have Chai brainstorming puns, clearly preparing to use them later.
• The Armstrong Project designates Chai as a garbage collector, it's why he has a magnetic arm and a grabber tool. The music player in his chest is what allows him to have unique capabilities, but the whole garbage-collector-role thing seems to be a sore spot for him.
• Chai busts through walls and windows a lot during the game, and he doesn't manage to make a single cool entrance despite trying his hardest. He always manages to find something to stumble on or just fall flat on his face. His best attempt is before Mimosa's boss fight where he jumps off a wall instead of hitting the ground, only to almost fall while landing.
• Several achievements/missions are written from Chai's perspective or a relevant comment on the task:
  • "Uh, they were broken when I got here" followed by "OK, well THEY came after ME!", for destroying Vandelay robots.
  • "I hit things with a guitar really well."
  • "I'm trying to FOCUS HERE!"
  • "OK, I THINK I know what I'm doing now"
  • "I have to read ALL of these things?"
  • "You ever parry a volcano?"
  • "I can't see this ever being a problem again"
  • Some of them are written by members of the team instead, such as "You must like calling me in, Chai" from Peppermint.

Allies

• CNMN has a marker always at the ready to draw on his face and form an appropriate facial expression based on what he's saying. It quickly turns comical when he doodles on a Blush Sticker for instance.
• Unlike Chai, Peppermint absolutely hates puns, not just because she wants to take things seriously, but because she thinks they're so lame. She groans at anyone, ally or enemy, who tries their hand at it.
• In a sense of irony, Vandelay is so mismanaged in security measures, that no one even bothered or potentially even remembered to revoke the competent Korsica's clearance, work e-mail, or even her access to SPECTRA when Kale fires her as the department's head. Before Track 10, Peppermint's crew will be stumped on how to proceed or ready to bumble into a trap, only for Korsica to reveal insider information on Vandelay's movements, and when asked about the seeming prescience, Korsica will just muse about how inept and incompetent Vandelay was. At the start of Track 10, even she awkwardly states they should really get on fixing such a glaring risk.
• There are some meta jokes between Chai and his companions anytime Chai decides to dip out in the middle of a level or in between missions.
  Chai: You ready to take down Kale?
  Korsica: I... thought we all acknowledged that we were.
  Chai: Well, I'm rested up, and now I'm SUPER ready.
  Korsica: Whatever that means... Listen, Chai, does it always need to be so... meta when we come back from a break?
  Chai: [looking directly at the player] Well, if SOMEONE wants to just walk away from the heat of things, this is what they get.
  • Visiting and talking to CNMN right after he gets destroyed in Track 11 has this exchange:
    Chai: CNMN! You're not destroyed!
    CNMN: I know! This is the most egregious continuity error yet!
    Chai: Well, I won't bring it up if you won't.
    CNMN: But I'm afraid I already have, Mister Chai!
    Chai: Then let's just pretend this didn't happen.
  • Quitting the game right before the final boss on the Track has everyone getting angry at Chai for leaving at such a critical moment. Chai (who is the player) tries assure them that they probably had a good reason. Probably.
    Peppermint: I should be SO MAD right now!
    Chai: What did I do now!?
    Peppermint: You stopped and took a break during such a climatic moment!
    Chai: I'm sure I had my reasons!
    Peppermint: Maybe, but I'm sure some momentum was lost here, which is kind of a bummer.
    Chai: I will get back to it!
• Despite the fact that 808 was created by Peppermint, she's the most in-tune with Chai due to their synchronization. She enthusiastically poses to emphasize his dialogue, shares his excitement about the dumbest ideas, and sometimes needs to be reminded by Chai of all people to stay focused.
  • To a lesser degree, 808 will emulate the expressions and mannerisms of whoever is speaking through her, leading to some interesting moments where 808 is mimicking CNMN's robotic movements or Peppermint's exasperation with Chai.
• Apparently, the mission report comics in the beginning of most tracks are actually how the team is drawing up the plans. It's show explicitly in the beginning of Track 9 (with Peppermint slamming down the comic they're reading on the table) and Macaron confuses the TEC-78's actual comic books for schematics in Track 5.
• CNMN has a consistent habit of throwing himself off of ledges headfirst like a missile.
• One of 808's idle animations in the hideout has her suddenly notice her tail and start to chase it, then spin around so fast while trying that she transforms into ball form.
• One might notice that, except for 808, all of the resistance members are named after kinds and flavors of tea: Chai, Peppermint, Macaron, CNMN (Cinnamon), and Korsica(n). They're Tea-(m)mates.
  • You can argue that 808 is named after boba tea.

Others

• The fact that Zanzo is a walking JoJo's Bizarre Adventure reference. He constantly makes poses at every given moment, whether it's in a hologram or in an online meeting.
  • As amazing as it is hilarious, when Zanzo summons the Jojo-inspired 'menacing' visual sound effect, he says 'Go! Go! Go!' which is actually how you say those characters in Japanese. He also shoos them away as if he could see them.
• How hilariously mistreated the robotic employees are. They are constantly overworked and pushed to the limit, older models constantly live in fear of getting scrapped, and more. They are also denied any form of vacation and sick leave must be booked six months in advance.
  • Somehow, for some reason, the robot employees are also being paid somehow, for seemingly no other reason than to buy food, drinks, and merchandise back from Vandelay. Also odd, some employees also mention having a 'home' somewhere too.
  • The fact that the robot employees need to eat, drink, and sleep like normal people is strange enough too. And it's not like their meals are special meals for robots, they seem to mimic real human food and even then, they're being fed the equivalent of table scraps.
• The recurring characters of SEB-AAA and JSF-001 which seem to be based on The Evil Within's Sebastian and Joseph. They can be found in most levels, sometimes in difficult to find locations and have often depressing cynical dialogue about how corrupt Vandelay is.
• There are random gold busts of Kale in every level, allowing Chai to bust them open for some gear. Apparently Kale is such a narcissist that he needs his gold statues in the most odd locations for no real reason than to stroke his ego. Furthermore, they change expressions whenever you wail on them.
• Every time you meet a new model of robot for the first time, you get a cinematic of them attacking Chai. The only problem is, with only a few exceptions, they flub their introductions. One example is a robot brandishing a greatsword quickly finds itself off balance and falls on its ass. Another robot makes a menacing pose to the camera only to find Chai is on the other side of the room. A third will try to threaten Chai, but is so exhausted from climbing to where Chai is that it just collapses on the floor. So on and so forth. The robots are frequently as goofy as Chai.
• Apparently Vandelay has the authority to add new days of the week, at least at their campus. There are an additional three days of the week and all of them are Mondays (labeled Monday 1, Monday 2, and so on).
  PGR-0101: Even more suspicious: Why are there 4 Mondays in a row now...?
• One of the Steam patch notes for the game's Photo Mode update? Adjusting the salary of Zanzo's programmers for inflation.
  • Carrying on the theme, update number 3 allegedly changes the colour of SCR-UB units from blue to 'cyber blue' in the hopes of increasing its cool factor with younger audiences.
• The song titles of the original music used in "Streamer Mode" sometimes have a correlation with the names of the licensed music, but not always. The song that replaces Flaming Lips's "Free Radicals" in Rekka's boss fight, though? It's titled "Captive Normals".

Gameplay

• While going through the levels, you can chat to any robot employees around, but you can also hit them for extra dialogue, resulting in extremely humorous reactions and extra lines that can easily be missed.
• The fact that Chai fixes all broken generators by hitting it really hard (to the beat) even though there is a 'DO NOT HIT' sticker plastered right in the front.
• Sometime after Chai unlocks the ability to use chips to upgrade his abilities, Peppermint adds a total dud chip that actually removes Chai's ability to pull in items when dashing with this description:
  "I wanted to check if you actually read these descriptions before buying these chips, so I made one that is basically useless. Let's see if you can pass this test, Chai. - Peppermint"
• Some of Chai's super moves are absolutely hilarious:
  • One of Chai's special moves is summoning a holographic version of himself slapping his butt that taunts and draws the enemy's attention. The best part is that Holo-Chai actually slaps his butt to the beat.
  • There's another special move involving 808 which involves 808 'stealing the show' and infatuating all the enemies on the screen.
    • Attempting to use this on certain bosses has some hilarious consequences. Mimosa is actually impressed with 808's performance (even claiming even she can't top that) and Roquefort finds 808 so cute it's actually tempering his anger. On the other hand, Kale simply states that he is a dog person.
  • There's a special called 'Rip and Tear' which has this description:
    "Chai harnesses the energy of the beast. Some sort of evil within? None can know for sure, but an aura beastly claws rip apart any enemies in front of Chai."
  • There's a super move called 'Pick-me-up!' which has Chai pull out a drink in the middle of battle and restore some health. That's already pretty funny on t's own, until you realize that this super move actually does damage. The little can Chai throws away has a hitbox.
• Chai will do little poses and such to signal the change of phases between battles. Some of them include:
  • Chai striking a rockstar pose and throwing his guitar in the air. He expects to catch it, but the guitar lands on 808 instead before landing perfectly in Chai's hand. Chai doesn't even notice.
  • One features 808 striking a martial arts pose, zooming out to reveal Chai doing the same.
  • Chai turning around and getting exasperated/tired when he sees more enemies. This one can emulate the player's emotion depending on how many phases there are in the fight.
  • 808 jamming out on an imaginary guitar and having Chai remind her that they're in the middle of the fight. Looks like Chai is a rather big influence.
  • 808 deciding it's the best time to start grooming herself despite the incoming enemies.
  • In fact, such goofy poses are the most common, especially early in the game.
• There's an in-game achievement where you have to kick the cans Chai knocks out of the vending machines into trash can. Yup.

Customization

• CNMN has many of the goofy costumes, from a hot dog to chicken costume.
• Macaron has an outfit that turns him into Kiss styled rockstar.
• Peppermint having a 808 onesie as a costume and 808 having a Peppermint costume.
• Chai has a superhero costume that looks much like a certain powered ranger...
• A small easter egg, if you idle too long in the customization skin, everyone will stop and stretch every once in a while from posing too long. Even CNMN, who does a tricep stretch, despite the fact he has no triceps.
• The Bossplay Costume Pack DLC features costumes for the entire gang based on the Vandelay Executives and some of the pairings are unbelievably cursed:
  • Pasty wannabe rockstar Chai dressed as Kale, complete with fabulous hair.
  • Peppermint as Rekka.
  • 808 wearing a helmet based on Roquefort's wolf form. Complete with new play animations.
  • Macaron as Mimosa.
  • Korsica as Zanzo. The DLC icon even has her posing enthusiastically.
  • CNMN wearing Korsica's old uniform.
    • Playing with 808 in the hideout while she has the Roquefort costume equipped will sometimes see her pounce on Chai and do Roquefort's flurry attack on him.
• The Team Play costume pack has the gang swap costumes in pairs: Chai and 808, Peppermint and Korsica, and Macaron and CNMN.
  • Just like with the Roquefort costume, 808 will instead jam out to an air guitar while equipping the Chai costume while Chai cheers enthusiastically at her performance.

Vlogs

• Every Vlog that has Rekka speaking has her speaking in all caps constantly, even in executive emails between the board members (even they tire of her constant yelling). She even slaps a reporter for supposedly disrespecting her, even though the comment was meant as a compliment.
  • This might not even be her fault most of the time, as one of her emails points out her frustration with the Caps Lock key on her personal workstation being stuck. In fact, only one of her emails has her point out the all caps are intentional.
• There's a Vlog found in Track 4 called 'Disgruntled Decaf Revenge', which centers around an employee getting irritated that they are were stationed to program a fix to the coffee machine firmware...behind a lava waterfall that's pretty hard to get to. They decide to make all the coffee machines only spit out decaf in revenge.
  • For the rest of the game, everyone occasionally comments or gets frustrated on why only decaf seems to be coming out of the coffee machines, even Kale. By the end of the game, after Roxanne is put back in charge, it's implied the coffee machines are still stuck on only spitting out decaf.
• Going back into Chai's cell in Track 5, there's an email from Korsica thanking Zanzo for their cooperation and 'sacrifice' in capturing the defect.
• This poem by a SCR-UB unit:
  "I CLEAN FLOORS.
  BUT ROBOTS ARE CLEAN BEINGS.
  THERE MAY BE NOTHING MUCH TO CLEAN, BUT I CLEAN NONETHELESS."
  —> ——MAY THOSE WHO FIND THESE WORDS OF WISDOM BE AT PEACE
• There's a Vlog detailing how ground pound buttons would get into a 'depressed' state after being pushed and would remain in this depressed state until they are given positive encouragement and comfort. Sometimes they will say 'OW!' instead of 'ON!' when hit.
• One of the Vlogs in the Museum has Mimosa chewing out the museum staff for putting up a K3M-0N0 unit up for display, asking if she wants people to start "asking questions". On the surface, this is probably because these units are animalistic monsters with Wolverine Claws that have no subtlety or easy spin with Vandelay's intention of marketing their robots for Mundane Utility... until you consider that "Kemono" is the Japanese word for "beast" that Furries use to identify themselves and it adds a second meaning that Mimosa's concerned people will think Vandelay is going to start selling furry stuff (which might be even funnier, considering Roquefort's situation Vandeley could augment people into cyborg-furries).
• Apparently, Chai has become such a notorious ball of destruction that Vandelay is starting to sell merchandising for surviving his onslaught to their own employees. Preorders for for hoodie sales start now:
  " [...], we've begun accepting preorders for the humorously themed 'I survived the Project Armstrong Defect Fiasco' hoodies. They will be available in white nimbus colorway with the text in a font called Tangolian Rail. They will be individually numbered for any surviving employees."

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