YMMV / ALTER EGO (2018)

• Alternative Character Interpretation:
  • The Facade, Ego Rex: The representation of the pressure to conform to society or self-control which may not necessarily be a bad thing? They seem to be bent on making Es "conform" which subconsciously affects Es' self-esteem. In their ending, they successfully made Es deny herself which causes her to literally disappear congratulating the player. However, in the True Ending, they concede that the player is not outright making Es to conform but reminds them that they are always there to guide her and the player. At one point in the story, Es asked the player if she should give in to her impulses. The player is given three options, either to let loose herself, conform to society's rules, or taking action on one's impulses depending on the situation. When the player selects the third choice, Es remarks that the answer is better than the Facade any other day.
  • Es: Is she a character in a video game becoming more self-aware or just another representation of the player's psyche? The game begins with Es apathetic to the nature of her own nameless world however as the game progresses she questions her self. In all endings, Es decides to read a book entitled Alter Ego with the player which is an allusion to the game itself depicting two wanderers, a little girl (Es) and a wizard (the player). The ID ending might imply Es having a Despair Event Horizon of realizing that she is just a fictional character in a game causing her world to collapse, the ALTER EGO has Es realizing her own identity while still being aware that she and the player live in two different worlds. Or Es (and to the extend the facade) could be a representative of the player themselves. The true ending suggests continued self-discovery for the player and not giving in to their own Despair Event Horizon. Es remarks in the post-completion that the player may one day stop visiting her (read: playing the game) which may allude to the situation of either losing a sense of self or giving in to impulses such as relying on escapist pursuits and vices.
• Genius Bonus: Before being translated, Freud's original name for the Id was "Das Es".
• Heartwarming Moments: The True Ending. If you take the right choices, Es will realize she can be free of The Facade's control without giving in to her psychopathic impulses, and go on a self-discovery journey with the protagonist by her side.

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