History VideoGame / Signalis

* BlackBox: While the Nation is able to exploit bioresonance to create Replikas and other advanced technology, one scientist points out that nobody actually knows how bioresonance works.

* CosmicHorrorStory: The events of the story are heavily implied to be tied to some form of eldritch-level shenanigans. Most notably, there are repeated and vague references to something called the Red Eye that seems to be something man was never meant to meddle with, and that seems heavily tied into the plot somehow.

* MasculineFeminineGayCouple: [[spoiler:In the game's final chapter, Elster is revealed to have been in a [[SleepingWithTheBoss relationship]] with her Gestalt Officer [[{{Robosexual}} Ariane]]. Elster is a cold and stoic RobotSoldier, while Ariane is a warm and passionate human non-combatant.]]
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: What is bioresonance, how does it work, what are the risks? Nobody knows. And because bioresonance is [[AppliedPhlebotinum so useful]], nobody seems to care. Then again, one could argue that it's [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeanttoKnow better not to know.]]

* NoOSHACompliance: Medical records found on Rotfront show a suspiciously large number of citizens with all sorts of heavy respiratory diseases, and not all of them are even mine workers. The fences inside the Sierpinski mine made from ''monofilament razor wire'' take the cake, though.

* OneHitPolyKill: Can be done with disposable stun prods and thermite flares, due to how their attacks actually hit a small area in front of Elster rather than just individual targets, allowing the player to get rid of several enemies bunched together if managed properly. The shotgun can also do this if there are other enemies packed around one's target, as well as the flare gun if loaded with grenade rounds.

* PersonalHorror: While there is plenty of [[BodyHorror body]] and [[CosmicHorrorStory eldritch]] horror, as the story progresses it's clear that [[spoiler:the crux of the matter lies in the relationship between Elster and Ariane and the former's guilt over the inability to keep her promise. Later levels take on an even more personal tone, being based on Ariane's old life and current suffering, which is implied to have influenced her surroundings via bioresonance.]]

* QuickMelee: Disposable stun prods and Thermite flares are used this way, with them being mapped to a hotkey for instant use instead of being equipped on-hand.

* RevivingEnemy: Defeated enemies have a small chance to spontaneously reanimate when the player passes close by, thanks to their bodies being riddled with regenerating tumors. The only way to ensure an enemy doesn't return to life while backtracking is to [[FireKeepsItDead burn]] the living tissue with (very limited) thermite or (even more limited) flares.

* RoarBeforeBeating: Enemies usually scream when they spot you.

** The game developers directly acknowledge several literary works as a source of inspiration: Literature/TheKingInYellow by Robert William Chambers, Literature/TheFestival by H.P Lovecraft and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inhabitant_of_Carcosa An Inhabitant of Carcosa]] by Ambrose Bierce. [[spoiler:Ariane explicitly read the former and is heavily implied to read the latter among other things, which clearly shows in her DyingDream.]]

** The LP-265a Leuchtpistole Flare Gun is inspired by the DIANA 26.5mm [=SP 4=] flare pistol.

* {{Animesque}}: Not as prevalent as some examples, but the character designs do have elements that harken back to 80's and 90's anime, particularly the somewhat larger eyes that have detailed highlights and hair rendered in stylized and often spiky clumps.

** [[spoiler: Elster after the fake ending is missing an arm and has her chest ripped open exposing her ribs and organic internals behind them.]]

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

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

* LostTechnology: The original neural data of the [=LSTR=] series of Replikas is this, having been lost during the destruction of the Neural Archives on Vineta. As a result, [=AEON=] had to resort to using the memories of a decommissioned Penrose program [=LSTR=] as a new master copy for future production.

* MediaWatchdog: The small radio room at the end of the intro, later revealed to be [[spoiler: Ariane's old bedroom on Rotfront]], contains full shelves of Imperial literature that Elster states have been banned by the Nation.

* RetGone: Seemingly the fate of [=LSTR=]-S2301, who only showed up in one loop instance of Adler's journals and never again once the GroundhogDayLoop started. A note penned by a Kolibri unit found in the dorms implies that Falke's neural degradation and corruption during the later loops prevented S2301's requisition. [[spoiler:The playable character is strongly hinted to be S2301 imprinted with the memories of the "real" Elster via Ariane's bioresonance, as revealed by the unit serial number [[FreezeFrameBonus that's briefly shown in the bluescreen of death.]]]]

** At first, it seems obvious that this is their entire purpose: from frontline combat to industrial work to household cleaning, Replikas are created for the purpose of carrying out whatever task the government needs handled, and are "[[{{YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness}} decommissioned]]" as soon as they show signs of [[spoiler: diverging from their default personality and becoming their own person - euphemistically referred to as]] "Persona Degradation".

** The designs of the Replikas are heavily inspired by the Safeguard Androids from Manga/{{Blame}}, right down to their long limbs and lack of feet. Elster herself also resembles the manga's protagonist Killy, as a raven-haired [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots humanoid robot]] with a single-minded fixation on accomplishing their goals at any cost.

* YourDaysAreNumbered: According to the Project Penrose manuals, the [=LSTR=] line of Replikas has an estimated life expectancy of 3,000 cycles, or around 8.2 years of real time[[note]]Though it's unsure if this is their actual intended lifetime, or just an approximation based on when the containment of their space vessel's reactor would start to fail and kill them via radiation poisoning[[/note]]. [[spoiler:The real Elster was strongly implied to have hit this expiration date before she was able to fulfil her promise to MercyKill Ariane.]]

* QuickMelee: In addition to Stun Rods using their own button for quick-use, Elster will shove enemies back with her weapon if they are too close which doesn't do any damage but does briefly stun them.

* BecomeARealBoy: A classified AEON document titled ''"Operational Procedures: Control"'' reveals that [[spoiler:"Persona Degradation", obliquely referred to in other documents as a Replika degenerative condition requiring sufferers to be immediately [[{{YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness}} decommissioned]], is actually nothing more than Replikas encountering new situations, diverging from their default personality and becoming their own person.]]
** [[spoiler:As this makes them less efficient for their intended purpose, AEON manipulates their psychology with "Persona Stabilization" - regular activities and Fetish objects that recall their former Gestalt life - in order to keep Replikas ''"as productive, loyal and docile for as long as possible".'' The conclusion even suggests that the Eusan Nation is seeking to develop bioresonant technology to the point that wide-scale direct MindControl becomes practical, noting that such a technology would be far more effective than mere psychological manipulation.]]
** After discovering this document, an ARAR unit abandoned her post and retreated to a tunnel beneath the STCR Dorm on Floor 8, refusing to return to work in favor of tending to her bamboo plants - and unknowingly escaping the psychic disaster that subsequently befell S-23 Sierpinski, seemingly completely unaware of the nightmarish events happening above.

** Putting the Photograph item in the storage box will have Elster pulling out another one during Adler's introductory cutscene as if she still has it on her person.

* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: Subverted, a Replika changing or growing is "Persona Degradation", which renders them inherently unstable and often requires "[[DeadlyEuphemism decomissioning]]" to avoid them turning violent or spreading insanity. DoubleSubverted, the 1st Anniversary Patch for the game added documents and an NPC that reveal [[spoiler:the classified documents for dealing with Replikas are all also propaganda and unreliable, "Persona Degradation" is not inherently instability, but is a more broad development of personality that will "degrade" the original persona as the Replika becomes a unique, free-thinking individual. As a totalitarian state, the Eusan Nation has a vested interest in keeping the Replika's obedient and in-line, hence making it seem like any deviation is dangerous]].
** Several Replikas in Sierpinski [[spoiler: show this, with Elster changing from an aloof, unemotional person to falling in love with Ariane. There's also a Eule and Star in the mines that have fallen in love, with the Eule lamenting the Star dying while the Star hopes to see her again in another life. The 1st Anniversary Patch also has an Ara who discovered the above documents and has hidden herself from the danger.]]

* BrainUploading: A curious case in the form of Replikas and their neural patterns. A Replika's personality and disposition are inherited from their neural donor, with some alterations to erase memories of their past lives in order to make them easier to control and more effective in their intended occupation. The process is then repeated on an industrial level as Replikas enter mass production. As the process itself is poorly-understood even in-universe, there's always a chance of said past life memories to resurface and compromise the unit if exposed to specific stimuli, usually referred to as "persona degradation", and the "Bioresonance Technology and its Limitations" document heavily implies that the neural data is "uploaded" to a physical brain with pre-existing patterns as a form of WetwareCPU, rather than synthetic processors.

* CollisionDamage: Elster will take damage if she physically touches an enemy, whether or not said enemy has actually gotten an attack in or not.