Lore explanation?

[ConneR]

I play this game even though this game is scary, I'm comfortable with the play style, mechanics, puzzles, and various things. especially because my favorite game is Resident Evil (although I don't play all of it). but this game has an interesting story that my little brain cannot understand all the stories in this game. Are there any recommendations such as videos or something regarding the lore of signalis? i was wondering through youtube after i finished my first playthrough, and found an interesting concept about dreams. but still, i don't get all of it. this game story was crazier than the puzzle.

[Wind_Falcon]

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1262350/discussions/0/5855270367475629404/

[emeff]

I'm in the process of putting all the story bits together myself the way I understood. I'm playing for a second time and some things become clearer on a second playthrough.

If you can, I suggest building your own interpretation of the plot and events and when you're done, comparing it to some generally accepted theories. It's OK if you get some stuff wrong, you're not less smart if you don't get everything 100% right.

Either way, you should be able to find some videos on YouTube and discussions here's about the plot if you really want.

[Kurobon]

Lore background without going into endings and other major plot points.

Gestalts are individuals and civilians, functionally mortal humans but not quite humans. Gestalts might be another humanoid race altogether, but everything hints that they are also humanoids created by an undisclosed master race. Humans are either wiped out, colonized, or a master race that created Gestalts. Humans exist or existed, as Gestalts use old human tech with space travel and stellar technology. 50 years or so before the game events (probably much longer than natural years, as they use different time units contextual to space locations), some Gestalts seceded from a galactic empire and started a militarized society focused on conquest, technology and colonization. These Gestalts uncovered some powerful alien macguffin they do not understand but are somehow able to harness which was used to further their technology and create Replikas.

Replikas are mass-produced androids modeled from specific talented Gestalts. They look and feel humanoid and are integrated into society but are in fact mechanical bots created for specific tasks. Replikas are not mindless bots, they are borderline sentient and capable of independent thought, personalities, and life experiences. Replikas are bound to their old habits (and easily controlled by them) as they have deeply buried memories from their previous replicated Gestalt life that may surface under certain circumstances.

Replikas have different models. LSTR Replikas specialize in scouting, engineering and CQC military-style combat. LSTR units also inherit introspective, lonely "tortured soul" personalities from the Gestalt they are replicating. Meaning, an LSTR Replika is about the perfect companion for a Gestalts officer going on solo long term space mission because an LSTR unit bundles a complete spaceship crew into one needy love-starved sex slave bot.

This is the context of Signalis. In Signalis, your character is LSTR Replika unit 512.
512 is assigned to an incompetent Gestalt military radio officer that was punished with compulsory long-term space exploration duties because of her relationship with an imperial spy. The ship is eventually lost or stranded and 512 is tasked with finding her Gestalt owner / slaver, which most people confuses as a lover. 512 seems to be malfunctioning by merging together her personal experiences with the replicated model Gestalt experiences, so it's up to the player to discern what's going on.

[emeff]

Originally posted by Kurobon:

Lore background without going into endings and other major plot points. (...)

I only disagree with you about Gestalts not being human. The game makes no mention that they might be anything other than humans in active military service. Humans in this setting are simply technologically stunted, tapping into something beyond their comprehension tech-wise.

Them being anything other than human would also undermine the whole theme of Replikas being more than just machines, learning from their Gestalt counterparts, as well as the inhumane treatment of them by the Eusan nation, such as senseless decommissioning and general dehumanisation.

[Kurobon]

Originally posted by emeff:

Originally posted by Kurobon:

Lore background without going into endings and other major plot points. (...)

I only disagree with you about Gestalts not being human. The game makes no mention that they might be anything other than humans in active military service. Humans in this setting are simply technologically stunted, tapping into something beyond their comprehension tech-wise.

Them being anything other than human would also undermine the whole theme of Replikas being more than just machines, learning from their Gestalt counterparts, as well as the inhumane treatment of them by the Eusan nation, such as senseless decommissioning and general dehumanisation.

To my recollection, humans are not mentioned or maybe once when talking about old technology, but the technology they use is definitively human and retro-futuristic. Feel free to correct me or add context I may have missed. Other than that, thanks for your comment. Cheers!

[emeff]

Originally posted by Kurobon:

To my recollection, humans are not mentioned or maybe once when talking about old technology (...)

It's a bit fuzzy for me too, but I do remember the game mentioning humans go either to university or military service/education, and that they use exemplary citizens as blueprints for Replikas.

I played the game in English and German and didn't get the hint that they weren't properly humans, but I could be wrong. I'm gonna see if I can find anything else.

[splatfooly]

no ones confusing that they're lovers, they are. They quite literally kiss and show each other affection. They're lesbians. Get over yourself

[Kurobon]

Sure buddy.

[Pico]

Feels like there's constantly a thread where someone tries to dispute whether the game has love in it.

Either people didn't finish the game or they're so unfamiliar with love they can't recognize any. In any case, read this:
https://signalis.wiki.gg/wiki/Key_of_Love

OP doesn't need weird, biased mischaracterization in their thread, either. Shame on you, Kurobon. Your entire post is so off the rails that I doubt whether you even played the game.

[Wind_Falcon]

I find it silly how obsessed people on both sides get over whether Ariane and Elster are in love or not. I really don't care at all either which way, and it really doesn't matter much for the rest of the narrative. They are a couple of ostracized individuals that bonded in a doomed situation. Whether they are lovers or instead are like Frodo and Sam at Mount Doom after the Ring is destroyed but no help is coming for them is largely irrelevant to the rest of the events and themes.

Gestalts are regular humans. There is no evidence in-game for them being anything else. Their naming convention has more to do with hinting at the nature of the Replikas than about themselves.

[emeff]

Originally posted by Wind_Falcon:

I find it silly how obsessed people on both sides get over whether Ariane and Elster are in love or not. (..)

They are lovers, that's the long and short of it. It's one of the few things that's explicit and does not require interpretation. People only get annoyed when this part of their relationship gets erased from discussion, it's an important part of the story, the main impetus for Elster to find Ariane and I get the feeling we wouldn't be having this discussion if they were a heterosexual couple.

[Wind_Falcon]

You might be right about not having this conversation if it was a heterosexual couple. People seem to obsess over it exactly because its not. I don't think if it was hetero it would have so many zealous defenders and doubters.

[Krimzon_452]

theres a video on youtube by Indie Xplorer thats 2 hours long, look at that. explains everything. thats as good as its gonna get

[Kurobon]

Originally posted by Wind_Falcon:

I find it silly how obsessed people on both sides get over whether Ariane and Elster are in love or not. I really don't care at all either which way, and it really doesn't matter much for the rest of the narrative. They are a couple of ostracized individuals that bonded in a doomed situation. Whether they are lovers or instead are like Frodo and Sam at Mount Doom after the Ring is destroyed but no help is coming for them is largely irrelevant to the rest of the events and themes.

Gestalts are regular humans. There is no evidence in-game for them being anything else. Their naming convention has more to do with hinting at the nature of the Replikas than about themselves.

There's two sides? And passionate discussions? I just played the game a couple of times and gave my insight in what seems the most obvious takes. If people wants to see a slave bot created strictly to be a Commander's companion as who had a choice in choosing and loving a partner, fine by me.

[Pico]

Originally posted by Kurobon:

There's two sides? And passionate discussions? I just played the game a couple of times and gave my insight in what seems the most obvious takes. If people wants to see a slave bot created to be a Commander's relief as someone that had a choice in choosing a partner and loving a partner, fine by me.

Are you just trolling or do you actually think that's the game's scenario?

Elster models aren't created to be a "Commander's relief," the gestalt pilot isn't even meant to interact with them. The document provided for the ship explicitly tells the pilot to avoid befriending the Elster unit.

Replikas aren't treated as slaves, either. They're just another victim of the dystopian regime, yet they are given more luxurious treatment than the gestalts! Hell, the commander of the facility IS a replika.

Did these things not occur to you? I feel like I shouldn't need to say more.