If each version of Elster (Lilith, LSTR-2301, LSTR-512) is associated with one of each of the three main endings, I think you can further associate them with the keys used to access the Artifact ending, which further supports your theory that the Artifact ending is the culmination of every Elster working together. SACRIFICE: Lilith Itou is related to Isa Itou, who is shown dripping blood onto the Artifact symbol paired with the word "Sacrifice". The key is found in the Itous' bookstore. The description of the Key of Sacrifice is Lilith's memory of a bomb dropping on Vineta, and the Leave ending shows Elster collapsing in Vinetan waters. ETERNITY: LSTR-2301 is trapped in the dream loop, repeating her journey countless times, each time ending in the "heartbreak" as described by the Key of Eternity. The Memory ending shows that LSTR-2301 loves Ariane, but Ariane doesn't love her back. LOVE: LSTR-512 is the version of Elster that Ariane loves. The Key of Love gives us Ariane's memories of LSTR-512. The Promise ending shows the two lovers reuniting. This also seems to solidify whether or not Promise ends the loop. (I had previously thought it to be intentionally ambiguous.) LSTR-2301 has fully become LSTR-512, escaping Eternity. The 5 keycard door also associates the symbol of Love with the Bagua trigram of Heaven, possibly indicating that Ariane and Elster have escaped Hell. The three different people contained within Elster also corresponds with the three nesting dolls from Nowhere. The puzzle with the nesting dolls also gives you the Plate of Balance, which has a triangle symbol. Not sure if this tells us anything new - might just be Bioresonance creating coincidences. Now I'm going to start seeing threes everywhere instead of sixes! (I did not re-watch the first video, so I apologize if I am treading old ground. It's been a hot minute.)
WOW these are amazing observations! I was trying to figure out the deeper significance of the 3 keys, and this is absolutely it. Also the detail of the three nesting dolls leading to Balance is 🤯These details add a lot more weight to the theories I discuss in this video, Imma pin this comment so everyone else can see it!
I was very disappointed to read the description of nesting dolls after assembling them. I was so sure that the doll is a metaphor of Elster going through Serpinsky, Nowhere and Rotfront and becoming whole in the process, because the middle doll was blood red like flesh and because of triangle patterns on the bottom, like Serpinski's emblem. It also looked kinda like an astronaut, and I thought - oh, this is a 512 unit! Then I inspect the doll and it says that this is a model of a Mynah unit T___T I was like - so it is a MNHR simple because it is HEAVY?! That's why it helps you to get the Balance tile?! However, I think this can be a little joke, like a message - looking for hidden signs, player? I think you can feel the same when finding a Kohlibri drawing :D And I still think that the doll has a meaning despite this joke; and I very much love your interpretation, @RevCosmosisV2, it's beautiful!
I love how the very end of your analysis is also a good description for the game's fandom: We are just coping so hard that our space lesbians can be happy.
Not many peoples do what you did, coming back to older video to update/correct them, it show that you are true to yourself and that you respect the game and the fans. May the YT Algorithm be with you
BRO WAKE UP PART 2 OF THE SIGNALIS LORE JUST DROPPED I watched the first video a hundred times and loved the way you broke down the story. Pls keep making great content!
It is inspiring to see the effort you put into signalis, your first video was already peak, I loved it, and now, one year later, you decided to revisit this videogame, only to refine your (and my) understanding of it.
Also a fun fact a friend told me on Discord: Both Itou sisters perished, probably during military service. We're shown this through their military portraits in the book shop, which each feature a black ribbon in the corner. This mirrors a real-world Japanese funerary tradition which likely originated during the devastating wars of the Meiji era. Soldiers would prepare a portrait (‘iei’) before deployment. If they died, mourners would wear a black or white ribbon (‘moshou’) until the funeral, at which point it was draped over the portrait as a farewell gesture. The ribbon could then remain on the portrait, serving as both a memorial and reminder to others to be tactful when discussing the deceased. With her only real friends in the world gone forever, this is probably the last straw that finally push her to join the Penrose programme, having nothing to lose anymore. Pretty heartbreaking stuffs.
I watched the first part of this analysis almost a month after it came out, and I remember I felt like my brain kinda vomited ice and snow. I just loved it. Now, after all the corrections made to the game, this second part is but a second love letter to one of my favorite horror games. Yours is the most complete line of study within Signalis. Thanks a lot.
Its weird to think that a video that popped up in the corner of my recommended would have such an impact on my way of thinking about stories; its themes, meanings, connections and what truly makes a great story worthy of being called a masterpiece. I am so glad to see the final conclusion of this breakdown. As you stated, this story is an experience and should be played by as many people as possible. And to say that this video and your previous one are an experience is an understatement. I am so glad to have witness your video when it had around 20k views to then blow up to were it is today. Amazing video as always and I can't wait for more videos from you indie! Know that in my eyes, you created something as unique and engaging as the work that is it based on!
I was actually super happy to realize that you put out a part two to your first video! I love to put the first part in the background as I do other things as your voice and explanation of the wild maelstrom of stuff that is Signalis is soothing and interesting at the same time. While there were mistakes, I still am grateful for these videos as they give a good timeline to follow to make the timeline of events and meanings a solid foundation. Thank you for your contributions!
I was just watching your first video again for the 9,000 time, completely huffed up on the copium reserves we all collectively pass around within this community, yet I failed to notice this video until now. And yet again you hit it right in the feels, I can't get over your interpretations and explanations. Thank you, for everything.
I don't regularly comment on videos; however I wanted to extend gratitude for your insight into the tragic triad of Elster, Ariane and Falke. This is a piece of media that really demands a lot more of your attention and willingness to dig into it; even if the narrative, symbolic implication of gestaltzerfall advises otherwise. For a game that wears its influence proudly on its sleeve, Signalis is able to forge its own story by platforming its inspirations to create something altogether new. Something beautiful, yet melancholic. I had written a personal review of the game omitting my thoughts on the story as my understanding of it was somewhat hazy at best, though I would say with confidence that, in no small part thanks to your presentation of the information at-hand, it has catalyzed a metamorphosis of my appreciation of Signalis. I can't imagine how long you spent working on these breakdowns, but it was well worth your time. As a personal note or question, as you mentioned that the narrative influence from Robert Chambers and H.P. Lovecraft, do you think the Silent Hill influence should be factored into the understanding of Signalis [particularly Isa's connection to Lisa from SH,] as well as the existence of Nowhere? Or are they simply references and nothing more?
Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that 😊 Regarding Silent Hill, I would say there probably is another layer of understanding to be had in analyzing its many influences on Signalis. The reason I didn't cover them here is that, well, I've never actually played a Silent Hill game, and didn't want to just relay superficial secondhand information about them - similar situation with the Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, and other contemporary references. Especially when plenty of other creators have already made analyses that go deeper into those inspirations, it felt like my time was better spent digging into elements more explicitly shown/used in the game.
Bro you dropped this just in time for me to finish the game twice and I want to believe that the artifact ending is a happy ending because goddammit there has to be at least one
I'm so sad I couldn't get into the game, the gameplay just wasn't for me, but I knew the story was going to be good so I thank you for putting it in such a marvelous way in both videos. I now love this game I could never really play.
I think you hit the nail on the head with each "normal" ending being related to the three distinct at yet connected characters of Lilith Itou, LSTR-S2301, and LSTR-512. I do however continue to think that Promise is not an ending that results in the loop breaking, and I'll try to explain my reasoning for believing as such. The game sets a precedence that some pairs of people are connected to each other, who are then separated due to circumstances, and when reunion of the two becomes impossible, it is foreshadowed by the member of the pair who is seeking the other out losing their right eye. IIRC your first analysis pointed out the connection between Alina and Lilith's regiment and the snapshot of Lilith leaving a pot of white lilies on (most likely) Alina's gravestone. The last picture we see of them together, Lilith has already lost her right eye. The same is true for Adler and Falke. While the LSTR we play as does eventually see Falke wake up from her dream, from the moment Adler loses his right eye to Isolde, he never sees Falke wake ever again. Isolde herself loses her right eye shortly before realising the truth and disintegrating. Lastly, we're left with LSTR and Ariane. In all three of the normal endings, right before LSTR can cross the gate, Adler stabs LSTR in the right eye, marking her with the same symbol as him, meaning Elster can never be truly reunited with Ariane again. You may have noticed that I have avoided using "Elster" until just now, and that is because I used to believe that the reason Promise does not break the loop is because, whether you believe the promise is simply a vow to end Ariane's suffering or if it has a more abstract meaning like not leaving each other behind, is still not fulfilled. We are told that the process used in replika neural blueprint transfer is imperfect, and even if Ariane's bioresonance is incredibly potent, this principle still applies. Even if LSTR-S2301 gains Falke's share of Elster's memories, she is still not the LSTR Ariane fell in love with. Ariane made a promise with Elster, and only Elster can fulfill the promise. Artifact is the only ending in which LSTR does not lose her eye, and most importantly, doesn't even fight Falke for her share of Elster's thoughts and memories, because she knows how to break from the cycle thanks to Elsters guidance (the fsk ID (AKA caller ID) for the SSTV signals are all labeled LSTR-512), and it is not through trying to become what she cannot be. There is a lot I'm leaving out for the sake of brevity, but I would love to hear your thoughts on this take, since your original video and the double dream theory is what got me into Signalis lore analysis in the first place, though the need for cope so that these two could at least be happy in some way didn't hurt either!
I think that's an equally valid interpretation, for sure! The detail of each SSTV signal being marked with 512's signature is certainly notable; I like the idea of 512 "guiding" S2301 to achieve the Artifact Ending as the best outcome.
Thank you! Thank you so much for this and the previous video. It is often said that media "explainers" or similar are hampering creativity. But your video is the opposite. It ignites and incites discussion. Heartfelt discussion and makes you think. Signalis is like an eternally deep sea of ungraspable meaning. One that has parts you try to hold, and parts that will always slip away, that appear on the edge of your vision and won't allow you to fully look at them. The game has given us so much. A horror both psychological, and most important to me, emotional. Moving past Silent Hill 3 as the game that is the most special to me. Your video aided so much in this, and makes me and a friend continue to lose ourselves in this sea. This sea of emotion and meaning. I understand the Subreddit's desire to escape the bleakness of it all, the existential fear at its core. But in the end we cannot let go of the game. And so often the desire to return to its pain and meaning returns. Thank you. Your video does the same, allows us to dive back in, take some meaning from it, some clarity, and experience so much of it again, sometimes differently. And in the end, I am left with a feeling of deep tranquillity that makes me feel so alive. Thank you so much
Thank you so much for these two videos. I feel like after playing the game 2/3 times and reading everything I had an 80% understanding, but the last 20% seemed so difficult to wrap my head around. With these videos I think I pretty much understand what's happening in the game now.. Sort of?
Your part 1 video is one of my favorites, I watched it several times. So this part 2 is a welcome addition. I didnt even know about the patches and their changes.
I did not to say it under 1st video, but I have to do it here. Your production quality is outstanding! Sound of part transitions (that mix of boot sequence and elevator sounds), despite me hearing it for dozens of times, still gives me chills. Thank you for your hard work and research! You deserve much, much more subs.
Just a one minor issue I found with your first video that otherwise holds up very well. The “red eye outline” you use to state that the Penrose at the end of the game is real (witch admittedly is not that far fetched of an idea) is a very common visual technique in game graphics that combines film grain and a vignette the “red eye” can even be toggled on and off in the menu via the film grain setting
Yeah, I did notice that! However, considering the fact that the base background layer is dark red (not black), and how well this "red eye" layer fits the game thematically, I'm inclined to think the effect was still very much intentional by the developers. I'd certainly be interested to know if they ever confirm or deny this though.
I've also seen speculation that it's an outline used for the red effect when Elster has low HP. That said the Chinese community did some pretty deep digging some time ago and they seem to agree with the eye theory, altho it appears and vanishes are seemingly random points in the game.
@@indiexplorergamesI initially followed this logic especially with the apparent “red eye” disappearing on the original Penrose at the end of the game. But the little detail of it only being partially removed from the screen made me think it was a glitch with promted me to go to the final penrose “trip” and test it by turning up the brightness to max now in full honesty my results may have been off but I did see the “red eye “ outline on the final Penrose
Thank you very much for both parts!! When I watched the first, I felt that the itch of trying to understand and learn more about Signalis sibsided (maybe not to the full extent, but still, I could at least sleep at night! :) ). So - thank you for your contribution to the peace of mind - mine and many other people's (I'm sure)! I played the game for the first time after both patches, and I am very glad that it happenned so; looking back, I attached great importance to the documents/words that were missing in the first version and I used them in the basis of my speculations. During my first run I did not discover Adler's "second" study, because when the game hinted it with Adler's note "go back, this is the last warning" I said "f*ck you, you can't tell me what to do" and rushed forward 🤣 Also - I am very thankful for the thoughts about Prometheus - I was very puzzled when I found the book in the game. Every piece of information is very carefully selected and quite important, so I was constantly asking myself - why is it here? What does it add to the story? (on a side note, I was very amused when Elster commented on bookshelves that she doesn't have time to read; well, the girl has her priorities and reads mostly censored and confidential documents with occasional cryptic and creepy poems :D ) Anyways... thank you so much! 🙇♀
So three Elsters, Lilith, 512, and 2301. Could you say theres also three Ariannes? Arianne, Alina, and Falke? Rule of 6, maybe ties into the secret ending where we see the 6 graves.
Yes, but I would argue that LSTR-S2301's degradation is more extreme because her identity is being forcibly merged with that of another unit; it isn't happening naturally or organically.
Thank you! It's the 20th track on the official OST, Eulenlieder. The ambient first half plays in the EULE dorm in-game, but I used the second half that sounds quite a bit different (and doesn't appear in the game).
Great stuff. Just a small correction tho, the death screens alter between S2301 and 512 during Sierpisnki levels and in nowhere it's only S2301. There is a reddit post from like 10 months ago that details where it actually switches.
Yup, I know the exact post! In my latest playthrough I actually died on purpose repeatedly in the spots that they mentioned, but (to my surprise) had very different results - the ones I spoke about in this video. It would appear that the developers changed them again within the past 10 months, or perhaps just changed the trigger spots to other specific places I didn't test.
I have a question: if LSTR-2301 is part of excavation team C, why does nobody at the base remember her? Or why does ADLR specify that there has never been a replica of the LSTR model in Sierpinski? Perhaps the cycle we are playing through is the one commissioned by the replica, or it's about everyone having their memories altered each cycle. I really don't know. Does anyone have an explanation for this?
I feel like im going crazy. I just finished watching your first video, as a friend recommended it to me yesterday. I look to the recommended tab, this one appears. Uploaded six hours ago (not as of writing this) . Is this some sort of sign? Whatever the case, im excited to make my way trough this video as well
What troubles me after watching this is the starting tutorial. I mean, if Penrose-512 is still somewhere in space with Ariane in cryosleep and dead LSTR, what's with the crashed ship at Rotfront?
I sort of touched on this in Part 1, but I think that whole sequence is "fabricated" by Ariane, and represents the memories of LSTR-512 leaving her body (the Penrose) and being transmitted by Ariane's signal (the radio room). Though I'm sure you could interpret it in other ways as well.
I can't say part 2 helped my over all feelings about the explanation of the story in it's complete form, but those updates that I haven't played and you went over do help a bit and add more understanding to the over all complex picture. I still look back at the story in a mostly depressing way because the explanation of why the story keeps looping upends my initial false understanding and the ending meaning I had come up with, and it makes me feel sad because of that. I do value facts however. And the fact is this story is largely and likely what you've come to explain. An attempt by someone who is asking for release. Normally I don't say a story makes me feel depressed, just sad. I've played many games that actively made me sad or were painful to watch certain things happen in them, games that could also be called a "story of tragedy" as it were. This one with a better understanding of what all it's moving parts are trying to say and do, just hurts to think about. What it is at the end of it all. I'm not saying that to say I find it unworthy though. It just becomes less enjoyable to think about over a game that makes me sad of tragedy. As a person who also doesn't believe in the concept of souls and an afterlife either, I don't attribute much to that either unless the fantasy/sci-fi world sets up for it existing in the first place. As such, it makes THE ending even more difficult. I suppose Artifact, if I'm remembering the right one, has some degree of positive nature to it, but all of them have something about them that with the explanation just doesn't feel "good" anymore. That may very well have been the point, and I've played games in the past that have done something similar to that, but it's rare a game deals effective psychic damage to me like the general explanation of this game gave. Part of me wishes the game's story had been done differently, one where I had my original understanding as flawed as it was and an ending the felt right to me. Instead of an explanation of what appear to be facts/truths of this world upending that. The game is a story of tragedy that can't be undone largely. I guess I just wish my thought of a small sliver of something that wasn't tragedy could remain, but with the explanation it really can't. That's fine. I've accepted that, as much as I wish I could rewind it. Not every story we engage with will ultimately be what we hoped in the beginning, such is life. Thank you for the follow up video. As I said before I appreciate understanding and knowing, even if knowing doesn't give me the results I had hoped for. I prefer to live in the actuality and not a subjective fever dream. That one thing, Signalis does expertly in my opinion. The reality of life is not always what we wish it to be or feel. It sometimes just is. And we need to understand and accept it, and learn how we can do what we need to do and continue moving forward for as long as we can. Thank you Sir.
If each version of Elster (Lilith, LSTR-2301, LSTR-512) is associated with one of each of the three main endings, I think you can further associate them with the keys used to access the Artifact ending, which further supports your theory that the Artifact ending is the culmination of every Elster working together.
SACRIFICE: Lilith Itou is related to Isa Itou, who is shown dripping blood onto the Artifact symbol paired with the word "Sacrifice". The key is found in the Itous' bookstore. The description of the Key of Sacrifice is Lilith's memory of a bomb dropping on Vineta, and the Leave ending shows Elster collapsing in Vinetan waters.
ETERNITY: LSTR-2301 is trapped in the dream loop, repeating her journey countless times, each time ending in the "heartbreak" as described by the Key of Eternity. The Memory ending shows that LSTR-2301 loves Ariane, but Ariane doesn't love her back.
LOVE: LSTR-512 is the version of Elster that Ariane loves. The Key of Love gives us Ariane's memories of LSTR-512. The Promise ending shows the two lovers reuniting.
This also seems to solidify whether or not Promise ends the loop. (I had previously thought it to be intentionally ambiguous.) LSTR-2301 has fully become LSTR-512, escaping Eternity. The 5 keycard door also associates the symbol of Love with the Bagua trigram of Heaven, possibly indicating that Ariane and Elster have escaped Hell.
The three different people contained within Elster also corresponds with the three nesting dolls from Nowhere. The puzzle with the nesting dolls also gives you the Plate of Balance, which has a triangle symbol. Not sure if this tells us anything new - might just be Bioresonance creating coincidences. Now I'm going to start seeing threes everywhere instead of sixes!
(I did not re-watch the first video, so I apologize if I am treading old ground. It's been a hot minute.)
WOW these are amazing observations! I was trying to figure out the deeper significance of the 3 keys, and this is absolutely it. Also the detail of the three nesting dolls leading to Balance is 🤯These details add a lot more weight to the theories I discuss in this video, Imma pin this comment so everyone else can see it!
I was very disappointed to read the description of nesting dolls after assembling them. I was so sure that the doll is a metaphor of Elster going through Serpinsky, Nowhere and Rotfront and becoming whole in the process, because the middle doll was blood red like flesh and because of triangle patterns on the bottom, like Serpinski's emblem. It also looked kinda like an astronaut, and I thought - oh, this is a 512 unit!
Then I inspect the doll and it says that this is a model of a Mynah unit T___T I was like - so it is a MNHR simple because it is HEAVY?! That's why it helps you to get the Balance tile?!
However, I think this can be a little joke, like a message - looking for hidden signs, player? I think you can feel the same when finding a Kohlibri drawing :D
And I still think that the doll has a meaning despite this joke; and I very much love your interpretation, @RevCosmosisV2, it's beautiful!
I love how the very end of your analysis is also a good description for the game's fandom: We are just coping so hard that our space lesbians can be happy.
Not many peoples do what you did, coming back to older video to update/correct them, it show that you are true to yourself and that you respect the game and the fans. May the YT Algorithm be with you
BRO WAKE UP PART 2 OF THE SIGNALIS LORE JUST DROPPED
I watched the first video a hundred times and loved the way you broke down the story. Pls keep making great content!
It is inspiring to see the effort you put into signalis, your first video was already peak, I loved it, and now, one year later, you decided to revisit this videogame, only to refine your (and my) understanding of it.
Also a fun fact a friend told me on Discord: Both Itou sisters perished, probably during military service. We're shown this through their military portraits in the book shop, which each feature a black ribbon in the corner. This mirrors a real-world Japanese funerary tradition which likely originated during the devastating wars of the Meiji era. Soldiers would prepare a portrait (‘iei’) before deployment. If they died, mourners would wear a black or white ribbon (‘moshou’) until the funeral, at which point it was draped over the portrait as a farewell gesture. The ribbon could then remain on the portrait, serving as both a memorial and reminder to others to be tactful when discussing the deceased.
With her only real friends in the world gone forever, this is probably the last straw that finally push her to join the Penrose programme, having nothing to lose anymore. Pretty heartbreaking stuffs.
I watched the first part of this analysis almost a month after it came out, and I remember I felt like my brain kinda vomited ice and snow. I just loved it. Now, after all the corrections made to the game, this second part is but a second love letter to one of my favorite horror games. Yours is the most complete line of study within Signalis. Thanks a lot.
Its weird to think that a video that popped up in the corner of my recommended would have such an impact on my way of thinking about stories; its themes, meanings, connections and what truly makes a great story worthy of being called a masterpiece. I am so glad to see the final conclusion of this breakdown. As you stated, this story is an experience and should be played by as many people as possible. And to say that this video and your previous one are an experience is an understatement. I am so glad to have witness your video when it had around 20k views to then blow up to were it is today. Amazing video as always and I can't wait for more videos from you indie! Know that in my eyes, you created something as unique and engaging as the work that is it based on!
I was actually super happy to realize that you put out a part two to your first video! I love to put the first part in the background as I do other things as your voice and explanation of the wild maelstrom of stuff that is Signalis is soothing and interesting at the same time. While there were mistakes, I still am grateful for these videos as they give a good timeline to follow to make the timeline of events and meanings a solid foundation. Thank you for your contributions!
I was just watching your first video again for the 9,000 time, completely huffed up on the copium reserves we all collectively pass around within this community, yet I failed to notice this video until now. And yet again you hit it right in the feels, I can't get over your interpretations and explanations. Thank you, for everything.
babe wake up achtung achtung part 2 just dropped
I don't regularly comment on videos; however I wanted to extend gratitude for your insight into the tragic triad of Elster, Ariane and Falke. This is a piece of media that really demands a lot more of your attention and willingness to dig into it; even if the narrative, symbolic implication of gestaltzerfall advises otherwise. For a game that wears its influence proudly on its sleeve, Signalis is able to forge its own story by platforming its inspirations to create something altogether new. Something beautiful, yet melancholic.
I had written a personal review of the game omitting my thoughts on the story as my understanding of it was somewhat hazy at best, though I would say with confidence that, in no small part thanks to your presentation of the information at-hand, it has catalyzed a metamorphosis of my appreciation of Signalis. I can't imagine how long you spent working on these breakdowns, but it was well worth your time.
As a personal note or question, as you mentioned that the narrative influence from Robert Chambers and H.P. Lovecraft, do you think the Silent Hill influence should be factored into the understanding of Signalis [particularly Isa's connection to Lisa from SH,] as well as the existence of Nowhere? Or are they simply references and nothing more?
Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that 😊 Regarding Silent Hill, I would say there probably is another layer of understanding to be had in analyzing its many influences on Signalis. The reason I didn't cover them here is that, well, I've never actually played a Silent Hill game, and didn't want to just relay superficial secondhand information about them - similar situation with the Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, and other contemporary references. Especially when plenty of other creators have already made analyses that go deeper into those inspirations, it felt like my time was better spent digging into elements more explicitly shown/used in the game.
Signalis lore part 2 just dropped!!!!!! here 23 minutes after release!!!! hype!
Bro you dropped this just in time for me to finish the game twice and I want to believe that the artifact ending is a happy ending because goddammit there has to be at least one
I'm so sad I couldn't get into the game, the gameplay just wasn't for me, but I knew the story was going to be good so I thank you for putting it in such a marvelous way in both videos. I now love this game I could never really play.
Im so fucking happy that you did this video. This is so important to me, you have no idea
A part 2 for one of my favorite videos in recent memory? A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one :D
“And just when all hope was lost.. he returned”
I just finished part one 2 hours ago 😭
I think you hit the nail on the head with each "normal" ending being related to the three distinct at yet connected characters of Lilith Itou, LSTR-S2301, and LSTR-512. I do however continue to think that Promise is not an ending that results in the loop breaking, and I'll try to explain my reasoning for believing as such.
The game sets a precedence that some pairs of people are connected to each other, who are then separated due to circumstances, and when reunion of the two becomes impossible, it is foreshadowed by the member of the pair who is seeking the other out losing their right eye. IIRC your first analysis pointed out the connection between Alina and Lilith's regiment and the snapshot of Lilith leaving a pot of white lilies on (most likely) Alina's gravestone. The last picture we see of them together, Lilith has already lost her right eye.
The same is true for Adler and Falke. While the LSTR we play as does eventually see Falke wake up from her dream, from the moment Adler loses his right eye to Isolde, he never sees Falke wake ever again. Isolde herself loses her right eye shortly before realising the truth and disintegrating. Lastly, we're left with LSTR and Ariane.
In all three of the normal endings, right before LSTR can cross the gate, Adler stabs LSTR in the right eye, marking her with the same symbol as him, meaning Elster can never be truly reunited with Ariane again. You may have noticed that I have avoided using "Elster" until just now, and that is because I used to believe that the reason Promise does not break the loop is because, whether you believe the promise is simply a vow to end Ariane's suffering or if it has a more abstract meaning like not leaving each other behind, is still not fulfilled.
We are told that the process used in replika neural blueprint transfer is imperfect, and even if Ariane's bioresonance is incredibly potent, this principle still applies. Even if LSTR-S2301 gains Falke's share of Elster's memories, she is still not the LSTR Ariane fell in love with. Ariane made a promise with Elster, and only Elster can fulfill the promise.
Artifact is the only ending in which LSTR does not lose her eye, and most importantly, doesn't even fight Falke for her share of Elster's thoughts and memories, because she knows how to break from the cycle thanks to Elsters guidance (the fsk ID (AKA caller ID) for the SSTV signals are all labeled LSTR-512), and it is not through trying to become what she cannot be.
There is a lot I'm leaving out for the sake of brevity, but I would love to hear your thoughts on this take, since your original video and the double dream theory is what got me into Signalis lore analysis in the first place, though the need for cope so that these two could at least be happy in some way didn't hurt either!
I think that's an equally valid interpretation, for sure! The detail of each SSTV signal being marked with 512's signature is certainly notable; I like the idea of 512 "guiding" S2301 to achieve the Artifact Ending as the best outcome.
Thank you! Thank you so much for this and the previous video. It is often said that media "explainers" or similar are hampering creativity. But your video is the opposite. It ignites and incites discussion. Heartfelt discussion and makes you think. Signalis is like an eternally deep sea of ungraspable meaning. One that has parts you try to hold, and parts that will always slip away, that appear on the edge of your vision and won't allow you to fully look at them. The game has given us so much. A horror both psychological, and most important to me, emotional. Moving past Silent Hill 3 as the game that is the most special to me.
Your video aided so much in this, and makes me and a friend continue to lose ourselves in this sea. This sea of emotion and meaning.
I understand the Subreddit's desire to escape the bleakness of it all, the existential fear at its core. But in the end we cannot let go of the game. And so often the desire to return to its pain and meaning returns. Thank you. Your video does the same, allows us to dive back in, take some meaning from it, some clarity, and experience so much of it again, sometimes differently. And in the end, I am left with a feeling of deep tranquillity that makes me feel so alive.
Thank you so much
Thank you so much for these two videos. I feel like after playing the game 2/3 times and reading everything I had an 80% understanding, but the last 20% seemed so difficult to wrap my head around. With these videos I think I pretty much understand what's happening in the game now.. Sort of?
thank you so much for this. what an intelligent, thoughtful, and beautiful interpretation of a phenomenal experience.
PART TWO IS HERE!! THANK YOU FOR THE DEDICATION!!
*starts crying*
Your part 1 video is one of my favorites, I watched it several times. So this part 2 is a welcome addition. I didnt even know about the patches and their changes.
Oh right guys, we have two videos to rewatch and a game to replay.
Thank for the video.
NO WAY THERES A PART TWO NOW IM SOOO GLAD YOU DROPPED ANOTHER ONE!!!
I did not to say it under 1st video, but I have to do it here. Your production quality is outstanding!
Sound of part transitions (that mix of boot sequence and elevator sounds), despite me hearing it for dozens of times, still gives me chills.
Thank you for your hard work and research! You deserve much, much more subs.
I literally watched part 1 a day ago holy shi-
Just a one minor issue I found with your first video that otherwise holds up very well. The “red eye outline” you use to state that the Penrose at the end of the game is real (witch admittedly is not that far fetched of an idea) is a very common visual technique in game graphics that combines film grain and a vignette the “red eye” can even be toggled on and off in the menu via the film grain setting
Yeah, I did notice that! However, considering the fact that the base background layer is dark red (not black), and how well this "red eye" layer fits the game thematically, I'm inclined to think the effect was still very much intentional by the developers. I'd certainly be interested to know if they ever confirm or deny this though.
I've also seen speculation that it's an outline used for the red effect when Elster has low HP. That said the Chinese community did some pretty deep digging some time ago and they seem to agree with the eye theory, altho it appears and vanishes are seemingly random points in the game.
@@indiexplorergamesI initially followed this logic especially with the apparent “red eye” disappearing on the original Penrose at the end of the game. But the little detail of it only being partially removed from the screen made me think it was a glitch with promted me to go to the final penrose “trip” and test it by turning up the brightness to max now in full honesty my results may have been off but I did see the “red eye “ outline on the final Penrose
@@lorkieborkie2537I’d love to see what they found
Bro I was JUST thinking of this game and you uploaded part 2.
sweet, there's a part two
gamers are happy
not people who watched streams tho
Thank you very much for both parts!!
When I watched the first, I felt that the itch of trying to understand and learn more about Signalis sibsided (maybe not to the full extent, but still, I could at least sleep at night! :) ). So - thank you for your contribution to the peace of mind - mine and many other people's (I'm sure)!
I played the game for the first time after both patches, and I am very glad that it happenned so; looking back, I attached great importance to the documents/words that were missing in the first version and I used them in the basis of my speculations.
During my first run I did not discover Adler's "second" study, because when the game hinted it with Adler's note "go back, this is the last warning" I said "f*ck you, you can't tell me what to do" and rushed forward 🤣
Also - I am very thankful for the thoughts about Prometheus - I was very puzzled when I found the book in the game. Every piece of information is very carefully selected and quite important, so I was constantly asking myself - why is it here? What does it add to the story? (on a side note, I was very amused when Elster commented on bookshelves that she doesn't have time to read; well, the girl has her priorities and reads mostly censored and confidential documents with occasional cryptic and creepy poems :D )
Anyways... thank you so much! 🙇♀
OMG OMG PART 2!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK!
Part 2 NICE! Love your vids man
Damn I didn't expect a continuation to the last video but I am very glad.
Well I'm gonna try finishing my second playthrough and go for a third, aiming for different endings. Good luck me, thanks for the video o7
HOLY SHIT SURPRISE PART 2 LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO
Oh so that's why Falke says they're whole again. Falke had 512 memories but was missing lilith and vice versa?
I watched the previous video yesterday so this was quite the surprise
So three Elsters, Lilith, 512, and 2301. Could you say theres also three Ariannes? Arianne, Alina, and Falke?
Rule of 6, maybe ties into the secret ending where we see the 6 graves.
The timing of this video couldn’t be more perfect as I am finishing my second (hidden ending) play though of the game
🗣🗣the signalis brainrot is back!!!
7:58 error: persona degradation is confirmed to be when replikas gain their own personality, so not a bad thing, it just effects work productivity.
Yes, but I would argue that LSTR-S2301's degradation is more extreme because her identity is being forcibly merged with that of another unit; it isn't happening naturally or organically.
Amazingly well done, both part 1 and 2 explanations! On a side note, what's the name of the music used in the outro?
Thank you! It's the 20th track on the official OST, Eulenlieder. The ambient first half plays in the EULE dorm in-game, but I used the second half that sounds quite a bit different (and doesn't appear in the game).
Great stuff. Just a small correction tho, the death screens alter between S2301 and 512 during Sierpisnki levels and in nowhere it's only S2301. There is a reddit post from like 10 months ago that details where it actually switches.
Yup, I know the exact post! In my latest playthrough I actually died on purpose repeatedly in the spots that they mentioned, but (to my surprise) had very different results - the ones I spoke about in this video. It would appear that the developers changed them again within the past 10 months, or perhaps just changed the trigger spots to other specific places I didn't test.
I have a question: if LSTR-2301 is part of excavation team C, why does nobody at the base remember her? Or why does ADLR specify that there has never been a replica of the LSTR model in Sierpinski?
Perhaps the cycle we are playing through is the one commissioned by the replica, or it's about everyone having their memories altered each cycle. I really don't know. Does anyone have an explanation for this?
The thing I always find myself wondering about is the lstr template. It came from a “decommissioned” Penrose ship? How does that work?
I feel like im going crazy. I just finished watching your first video, as a friend recommended it to me yesterday. I look to the recommended tab, this one appears. Uploaded six hours ago (not as of writing this) . Is this some sort of sign?
Whatever the case, im excited to make my way trough this video as well
synchronicity
@@tedhaidydei8261 might as well be hahhaha
But otherwise great work on the video very well done and researched I apologize for my otherwise negative tone with my critique
Oh not at all! Your point is totally valid, just figured I'd explain my reasoning for not bringing it up as a correction here 😁
Never clicked on a video so fast
Yay :)
What troubles me after watching this is the starting tutorial. I mean, if Penrose-512 is still somewhere in space with Ariane in cryosleep and dead LSTR, what's with the crashed ship at Rotfront?
I sort of touched on this in Part 1, but I think that whole sequence is "fabricated" by Ariane, and represents the memories of LSTR-512 leaving her body (the Penrose) and being transmitted by Ariane's signal (the radio room). Though I'm sure you could interpret it in other ways as well.
I can't say part 2 helped my over all feelings about the explanation of the story in it's complete form, but those updates that I haven't played and you went over do help a bit and add more understanding to the over all complex picture. I still look back at the story in a mostly depressing way because the explanation of why the story keeps looping upends my initial false understanding and the ending meaning I had come up with, and it makes me feel sad because of that.
I do value facts however. And the fact is this story is largely and likely what you've come to explain. An attempt by someone who is asking for release. Normally I don't say a story makes me feel depressed, just sad. I've played many games that actively made me sad or were painful to watch certain things happen in them, games that could also be called a "story of tragedy" as it were. This one with a better understanding of what all it's moving parts are trying to say and do, just hurts to think about. What it is at the end of it all. I'm not saying that to say I find it unworthy though. It just becomes less enjoyable to think about over a game that makes me sad of tragedy.
As a person who also doesn't believe in the concept of souls and an afterlife either, I don't attribute much to that either unless the fantasy/sci-fi world sets up for it existing in the first place. As such, it makes THE ending even more difficult. I suppose Artifact, if I'm remembering the right one, has some degree of positive nature to it, but all of them have something about them that with the explanation just doesn't feel "good" anymore. That may very well have been the point, and I've played games in the past that have done something similar to that, but it's rare a game deals effective psychic damage to me like the general explanation of this game gave.
Part of me wishes the game's story had been done differently, one where I had my original understanding as flawed as it was and an ending the felt right to me. Instead of an explanation of what appear to be facts/truths of this world upending that. The game is a story of tragedy that can't be undone largely. I guess I just wish my thought of a small sliver of something that wasn't tragedy could remain, but with the explanation it really can't.
That's fine. I've accepted that, as much as I wish I could rewind it. Not every story we engage with will ultimately be what we hoped in the beginning, such is life. Thank you for the follow up video. As I said before I appreciate understanding and knowing, even if knowing doesn't give me the results I had hoped for. I prefer to live in the actuality and not a subjective fever dream.
That one thing, Signalis does expertly in my opinion. The reality of life is not always what we wish it to be or feel. It sometimes just is. And we need to understand and accept it, and learn how we can do what we need to do and continue moving forward for as long as we can.
Thank you Sir.
Part 2 🤣👍
No fucking way part 2 and it just came out a few mins ago
Wait there's more? 😅