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Silhouette Mirage

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Silhouette Mirage is a video game that was developed by Treasure Co. Ltd and initially published by ESP for the Sega Saturn on September 10, 1997 in Japan[1]. The game was later ported to the Sony PlayStation and published by Working Designs on June 22, 1998 in Japan and Europe (on January 7, 2000 in the U.S.).[2]

Story

Template:Spoiler The setting is (presumably) planet Earth, during a post-apocalyptic year 2000. Prior to the events in the game, a group of scientists conducted genetic experiments in a great facility called Edo. From their activities emerged the two attributes: Silhouette and Mirage. These aspects manifested in a boy named Armageddon.

The two aspects were based on the dualistic nature of Yin and Yang: One's existence is crucial to the other's. Despite the complementary nature of the attributes, they repelled each other. As a result, Armageddon's attributes split to form two pure figures: Megido and Har, respectively the Silhouette and Mirage self-proclaimed leaders.

Eventually, the genetic experiments resulted in a biological explosion which contaminated the genetic structure of all entities on Earth. Many perished, and those that survived displayed either of the two attributes (A special group, called Proteans, can display both attributes).

In preparation for this disaster, the computer system Gehena created a being known as 'The Messenger of Justice' (hostile figures dubbed her 'Messenger of Destruction'), designed to repair Edo's computer's system and neutralise all the instances of the two attributes.

Gameplay

The game is basically a third-person platform/side-scroller (2D) game similar to that of the Mega Man series. What makes the game unique is that it works the concept of the two attributes into the game: A figure inflicted by an attack whose attribute differs from it suffers Power damage, and has its spirit (similar to MP) absorbed when inflicted by same-type attacks (it is never absorbed in the Japanese version).

The game is quite difficult to finish completely, especially in the English version. Most of the initial options are locked and can only be modified if you finish the game five times.

Silhouette Mirage is filled with biblical allusions. In the original Japanese version almost all the characters and places are named after places and figures from the Bible. In order for it to be accepted in the American market, some of the names were changed.

Characters (and their Japanese Names)

Shyna Nera Shyna (Sinna Neutlarva Sinner)

The protagonist. Shyna's size is not to be underestimated. Shyna feels that it is her sole duty to repair Edo, but doesn't seem to have any future plans after that.

Gehena (Gehenna)

A computer system which communicates to Shyna telepathically via an unemotional female voice. Gehena frankly gives data in response to the many encounters made in Shyna's journey.

It is named after the ancient Hebrew underworld/hell.

Silhouettes

Silhouettes tend to be physical and sport dark bluish colors.

  • Specters (Devil) - Pumpkin-headed peons of Megido. They exhale blasts, throw off their explosive heads and pound you with mallets.
  • Grigg (Grigori Shemhazai) - A rebel who wishes to kill Shyna for his self-gratification and humiliate both Hal and Megido for not being able to locate and destroy her. His real name came from the Grigori, a group of fallen angels.
  • Nardo AKA Samurai Security Patrol - A member of the Samurai Security group, Nardo is unaware of Shyna's mission and proceeds to eliminate her because of a report that she is disturbing the peace in Raqia.
  • Goliath - A grotesuely buff wrestler. He is known to 'load' his biceps into his fists to increase the intensity of his attacks. After Shyna defeats him, he is knocked head-first into is truck, which falls off the bridge, but it is unclear if he survived. He is named after the gigantic Gathian, which was beaten by the biblical David.
  • Pablo (Paracelsus) - A seemingly timid boy who owns castle Shehadim. He is actually a lycanthrope who turns into a werewolf in the presence of a full moon. His real name is derived from the demon in Dante Aligheri's Divine Comedy.
  • Samson (Samson Hairpower) - Delia's large servant who rarely talks intelligently behind his mask. He is named after the Nazarite prophet.
  • Faust AKA Shadow Man (Georg Faust)- Is a performer who specialises in shadow puppetry. Basically attacks his opponents indirectly with shadows. People believe he died after he used his shadow bomb (which he did after Shyna defeated him), but should he be alive, then his ___location remains a mystery. His name may be a nod to Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus.
  • The Reaper- Not much is known about The Reaper. He claims to be a being that lived for many centuries, training in a nexus of his own creation. Despite his attribute, The Reaper is not affiliated with Megido and is considered a rogue Silhouette. Like Shyna, you must not underestimate his size, for all his attacks (including his scythe slash) can deal critical damage.

Megido Birthclod

Leader of the Silhouettes and also the most powerful. Initially, Megido intends to kill Shyna (as evident by the large number of Silhouette bosses that Shyna encounters in the game), but eventually realises that her cause is right.

Like his brethren, Megido likes to be physical, though most of his claw attacks come in the form of waves and shuriken.

His name is a reference to the proposed final battlefield of Armageddon in the Book of Revelations

Mirages

Mirages are more technical than the Silhouettes. They use machines to attack Shyna.

  • Polly Peeper (Cupid) - Girls with happy masked faces and blond hair. They shoot blasts, lift their skirts to throw explosives and punch Shyna with their toy fists.
  • Bug (Moses) - He is a special Mirage who has a nexus which grants him easy and quick access to any part of the world. Originally a servant of Hal, Bug later joins Shyna. He serves as Shyna's personal livesaver, and rescues her from near death experiences in the last minute. He even appeared one last time in Edo to give Shyna upgrades and recovery items. His real name came from the famous Levite who lead the Israelites to the promised land.
  • Sara (Sarah) - She is the host of a popular but deadly game show called "You Die, You Lose". Due to her anti-social nature and short stature, she hides behind a Playboy-bunny-esque sign and uses the sign's 'head' to hit those who'd come close to her. The booklet says that she once was a gambler until she went broke. It is possible that she managed to have Har air in the show, "You Die, You Lose", with the help of Delia. She is named after Abraham's wife.
  • Delia (Delilah) - One of Hal's cronies (and supposed other brother), he is the main influence in the city of Machonom due to his wealth. He has nostrils as big as his television prowess and gladly uses them to exhale hot flames when he sniffs gourmet soup masterpieces. He may have died after he inhaled too much Silhouette based soup, if he is alive, his ___location is unknown. His real name is based after Samson's wife and betrayer.

Har (Hal) Birthclod

Leader of the Mirages. He prides himself to be able to hack into any computer system and create artificial lifeforms known as 'Guardian Angels' which are like Proteans. Unlike his brother, Hal doesn't come to realise the benevolence of Shyna's success and wants the world to stay the way it is so that he can rule all (including the Silhouettes).

He appears to have no arms, and instead uses wire-like tentacles to perform his activities.

His name may be a tribute to the dominating computer HAL 9000 from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, It is more likely that his name is a reference to the proposed final battlefield of Armageddon (Har Megiddo in Hebrew) in the Book of Revelations.

Zohar

A Protean which acts as Hal's right-hand guy. Zohar, as well as having both attributes can change genders based on the active aspect. Later, it is revealed that he is a Guardian Angel, and dicovers additional transformations... Cypher Ha-Zohar (Silhouette) and Cypher Za-Zohar (Mirage).

Zohar Metatron (Silhouette, Male) like most Silhouettes, is physical and hotheaded. Fittingly, he wields a sword.

Zohar Sandalphon (Mirage, Female) on the other hand isn't as impulsive but likes to crack harsh but witty remarks on Shyna. She wields a blasting gun.

Zohar's two forms are named after Metatron and Sandalphon, the acclaimed "twin angels" in biblical mythology.

Guardian Angels

  • Dynamis (Dyunamis06) - The first GA Shyna encounters as well as the stupidest (A major flaw on Hal's design). She speaks like a five-year old and repeatedly tries to sell Shyna flowers. She makes up for her mental flaw with long reaching claws jutting out of her body as well as brute strength and size. After shyna defeats her, she crashes into a building, but is possible that she is still alive, but we have yet to find out.
  • Malak - The 'smiley face of doom'(shyna calls it the 'smiley face from hell'). Unlike Dynamis, this GA is not so stupid, but is just as childish. This in turn becomes his weakness as he does not take his job seriously. His true form is that of a mechanical chameleon. After Malak is defeated, the body is destroyed but the smiley face remains leaving for uncharted areas (but not before he says to Shyna: "Curse you and the hat you flew on!") his ___location is unknown.
  • Primsdam (Princedoms07) - The largest of the GA's. Unfortunately, Primsdam is prone to flaws like the previous two GA's, but almost finishes the job of deleting Shyna. was slain at the hands of Megido.
  • Gargantuan (Galgalim03) - Mindless floating GA. All it cares about is eating and is hurt depending on the attributes of those it ingests. It was his apetite that led him to his downfall.
  • Serah (Seraphim01) - The first of the GAs to be created (and Delia's "beloved"). When you battle her, a chorus drowns out all sound effects as she hits you with a barrage of projectiles and Serah Larva (which she consumes to recover her hit points). She explodes after shyna defeats her. Her name is derived from the highest order of Angels
  • Geluve (Cherub) - Though Gehena indicates that she is Mirage, Geluve displays both attribues. You can't grab or hit her directly, instead you must focus your attacks on her 'arms' which are composed of combined Polly Peepers and Specters. after her defeat at the hands of shyna herself, Geluve deletes herself (in what she says: is to restore her pride). You only fight her when you defeat Serah.

Armageddon (Clod)

As mentioned above, Armageddon was the result of genetic experiments in Edo. In his appearance, Armageddon looks like a little green boy with long hair. After Hal (whose true name is "Har") and Megiddo split from Armageddon's combined attributes (ArMageddon/Har-Meggido), he went in a stasis state within Edo. He is never mentioned that much in the game, but apparently he is Shyna's brother, although she doesn't know this until much later.

His English name is derived from the apocalyptic event in the Book of Revelations.

Shyna's Parasites

These beings help Shyna shoot various projectile styles and are obtained from various Hare Warez shops in the game. Oddly, each were named after the Seven Deadly Sins in the Japanese version to compliment their natures.

  • Surosa (Sloth)- produces normal bullet-like shots. Higher levels of Surosa enables Shyna to shoot them rapidly.
  • Rasti (Lust) - He enables Shyna to shoot up to four clouds of damaging gas, great for cornered enemies (but prone to being reflected). Higher levels enables Shyna to shoot larger clouds.
  • Angara (Anger) - Angara is similar to Surosa, but he makes Shyna shoot large Angara bullets at an angle. Though the explosives deal massive damage and can knock enemies off, they're moderately difficult to shoot.
  • Grattoni (Gluttony) - This parasite quickly consumes Shyna's energy and enables her to blast a damaging ray in return.
  • Envia (Envy) - Envia grants Shyna a wall of controllable 'wings' which act as scissors to damage obstacles. Unlike other parasite attacks, Envia's wings cannot be reflected back. Higher levels increase the size of the wings.
  • Cavitas (Covetous) Enables Shyna to lock-on and accurately hit enemies with sniper shots.
  • Priday (Pride) - Fires up to two boomerangs

Trivia

  • In the English game disc, there is a code that acessed a trailer to the PSX version of Lunar 2: Eternal Blue.
  • The Priday parasite is likely a reference to the kamaitachi "sickle weasels" of Japanese folklore.
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