Ending Theories + Possible Sequel?

[Scoobie]

Preface by saying spoilers for the whole game and ending, obviously.

So in the end of the game Daniel successfully delivers the music box to The Presence in "There", but discovers a second music box was made for LeGrant's elder daughter as well. After that we get a haunting scene showing the first door mini-game you encountered, and how Daniel was somehow "secretly behind the door the whole time".

There's other weird time related anomalies as well, though. Long before Daniel was born, a young institutionalized Ariadne was drawing pictures of him and referring to him by name.

I think these details are trying to imply that The Presence's existence, as a beyond-human-comprehension eldritch creature, exists outside the linear passage of time. The amalgamation of tormented souls that make up it's "body" doesn't get any bigger, because its body already consists of every person who ever has, or ever will, become a victim to the Presence. That's why Ariadne's drawing of Daniel on the couch being taken is "something that must happen", because in a way it already did. He's a part of the Presence the whole time, it's just that in the "real world"s linear timestream, the events of him being taken hadn't happened yet.

This theory also explains parts of Berenice's nightmares. The undead version of herself isn't just a nightmare or hallucination, it's the version of her that was already taken by the Presence. She tells the alive Berenice to "wake up" because she's trying to save herself from becoming a part of the Presence, but it's inevitable.

This could also explain when Daniel sees himself commit suicide in the mirror at St Cecilia. Maybe it's the revenant/Presence version of himself trying to imply that death is a better fate than ending up as a part of the Presence.

Regardless, I think the undead/"evil" versions of characters are just misunderstood. In a twisted way, I think they're just trying to help the living versions of themselves. Even playable character's revenants are helpful if you give them the chance (and they still remember who they are)

Anyways with all this mind, I think a sequel would be pretty easy to set up. We just need a second protagonist to encounter the song, and to track down the second music box to bring it to "There". It could have a little time jump at the start and take place after Ariadne has passed away from natural causes, and Elayne's music box starts making rounds after it's found when people are clearing out her estate. Maybe one of Daniel's closer companions (probably Lidia or Sophie) is still alive and helps the new protagonist out by telling them everything they learned about the Presence while trying to save Daniel.

Regardless of how they do it, I'd LOVE to see this game get a sequel. There's literally nothing else like it.

[PaperKing]

Originally posted by Scoobie:

Preface by saying spoilers for the whole game and ending, obviously.

So in the end of the game Daniel successfully delivers the music box to The Presence in "There", but discovers a second music box was made for LeGrant's elder daughter as well. After that we get a haunting scene showing the first door mini-game you encountered, and how Daniel was somehow "secretly behind the door the whole time".

There's other weird time related anomalies as well, though. Long before Daniel was born, a young institutionalized Ariadne was drawing pictures of him and referring to him by name.

I think these details are trying to imply that The Presence's existence, as a beyond-human-comprehension eldritch creature, exists outside the linear passage of time. The amalgamation of tormented souls that make up it's "body" doesn't get any bigger, because its body already consists of every person who ever has, or ever will, become a victim to the Presence. That's why Ariadne's drawing of Daniel on the couch being taken is "something that must happen", because in a way it already did. He's a part of the Presence the whole time, it's just that in the "real world"s linear timestream, the events of him being taken hadn't happened yet.

This theory also explains parts of Berenice's nightmares. The undead version of herself isn't just a nightmare or hallucination, it's the version of her that was already taken by the Presence. She tells the alive Berenice to "wake up" because she's trying to save herself from becoming a part of the Presence, but it's inevitable.

This could also explain when Daniel sees himself commit suicide in the mirror at St Cecilia. Maybe it's the revenant/Presence version of himself trying to imply that death is a better fate than ending up as a part of the Presence.

Regardless, I think the undead/"evil" versions of characters are just misunderstood. In a twisted way, I think they're just trying to help the living versions of themselves. Even playable character's revenants are helpful if you give them the chance (and they still remember who they are)

Anyways with all this mind, I think a sequel would be pretty easy to set up. We just need a second protagonist to encounter the song, and to track down the second music box to bring it to "There". It could have a little time jump at the start and take place after Ariadne has passed away from natural causes, and Elayne's music box starts making rounds after it's found when people are clearing out her estate. Maybe one of Daniel's closer companions (probably Lidia or Sophie) is still alive and helps the new protagonist out by telling them everything they learned about the Presence while trying to save Daniel.

Regardless of how they do it, I'd LOVE to see this game get a sequel. There's literally nothing else like it.

Unfortunately, the devs have said that they have no plans for a sequel.

Indeed, I find the evil versions of the characters (known as revenants) to be quite interesting. It seems to be like, they're in the fine line between Elsewhere and the real world. If they are hostile, I suppose they are already influenced by the Presence, and if they are friendly, it means their resolve isn't shaken.

A nice detail in Ariadne's mansion is that if you look closely, there's a painting. It's all dark, with white light as if a door is opened ajar, light leaking through. This set up is similar to the ending where Daniel sees the door and attempts to escape. If you examine it, it will say something along the lines of "Author : Sophie/Alexander/Etienne/Alina"

Whoever pushed the door will be listed as the author, as they sort of sealed Daniel's fate by preventing him from escaping.

[Scoobie]

Originally posted by KingsGambit:

Unfortunately, the devs have said that they have no plans for a sequel.

Indeed, I find the evil versions of the characters (known as revenants) to be quite interesting. It seems to be like, they're in the fine line between Elsewhere and the real world. If they are hostile, I suppose they are already influenced by the Presence, and if they are friendly, it means their resolve isn't shaken.

A nice detail in Ariadne's mansion is that if you look closely, there's a painting. It's all dark, with white light as if a door is opened ajar, light leaking through. This set up is similar to the ending where Daniel sees the door and attempts to escape. If you examine it, it will say something along the lines of "Author : Sophie/Alexander/Etienne/Alina"

Whoever pushed the door will be listed as the author, as they sort of sealed Daniel's fate by preventing him from escaping.

Damn, no sequel? Do you know where they posted that, I kinda wanna see it for myself.

Me and my friend who are replaying the game together JUST discovered that painting! It's also a hallucination you can find in Chapter 2 that randomly replaces one of the doors in the antique shop. Super cool detail!

This game is literally full to the BRIM with awesome small details like that. Even stuff like Erica knowing to not interact with her venomous pets, or Alina knowing how to disarm the security system in the Husher mansion is crazy cool to me. There's an insane amount of love put into this game, I can only hope whatever Protocol makes next can live up to Song of Horror.