Ego Rex

## Whisper bubble

 — Ego Rex at the beginning of the game.

**Ego Rex** is a being who periodically appears throughout *Alter Ego* to talk to the player. They are frequently mentioned by Es.

## Appearance

Ego Rex is a stone figure, somewhat appearing like a wall. They are split down the middle, with one half representing a man with a beard and the other half representing a woman.

## Personality

In contrast to the more impulsive Es, Ego Rex loves uniformity, which leads to many disagreements between the two. They are incredibly distrustful of Es, telling the player to be careful around her and showing noticeable disapproval when you don't scold Es for her impulses. On the other hand, scolding Es will cause them to become incredibly pleased, while finding a middle balance will also satisfy them.

## Story

Ego Rex, also known as the Façade, appears throughout the story between stages. Their dialogue foreshadows which ending you will receive, and after the second stage, they tell you that "[when we meet again] the end result will be in sight". They are also the one to tell you to go to Es' room at the end of each route if you wish to reset, and tell you on the ID and Superego routes that if you reset, you may be able to find "your true path".

Within the ID route, they chastise you for not scolding Es, and tell you that you have failed. They reiterate to stick to "the road unbending", and not to trust Es. At the end of the route, they scold you for not restraining Es, and remind you that Es must be restrained.

Within the Superego, or SE, route, Ego Rex congratulates you for reprimanding Es, and for sticking to rules and conformity. They give you their congratulations once you complete the route, stating that it is the "correct path", reiterating it when you attempt to reset.

Within the Alter Ego, or AE route, they are rather confused by your actions, but state that they will support them. Upon completing the AE route, they give their congratulations. It is unknown what happens to them after the true ending, but it can be assumed they are still present within the world.

## Relationships

* **The Player:** To the player, Ego Rex acts like a guide, explaining the ways that the world functions. Between acts, their reactions to the player's actions will give insight to which ending you'll get. While you have the chance to change you ending in the second act, you will be locked in once the third one begins, and you will be informed of (that ending) by Ego Rex.
* **Es:** Ego Rex is incredibly critical and disapproving of Es, constantly berating her for her impulses. They constantly tell Es to conform, which often annoys her more. Ego Rex sees Es as a danger, and while they direct the player to her, they tell (the player) to be wary.

## Trivia

* Just as Es likely represents the id in Freudian Psychology, Ego Rex is likely a depiction of the superego.
* Ego Rex's appearance could be a reference to Janus from Roman religion and mythology. Janus is the two-faced god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings, according to the Wikipedia article on Janus.

## External Links

Images of ALTER EGO's Earliest Stages in Development

Janus' Wikipedia page