The Caligula Effect 2

***The Caligula Effect** **2*** (also known as ***Caligula 2*** in Japan) is a role-playing video game that was co-developed by Furyu and historia for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It was published by NIS America in Oct 19th 2021 in North America, with a PC release on June 23rd, 2022.

## Plot

A mysterious virtuadoll, Regret, creates a world known as Redo, an utopian simulation that confines people plagued by their regrets. To escape from this virtual world, a group of "awakened" high school students re-establish the Go-Home Club to fight against Regret’s reign and escape to the real world.

*"I'm sorry. I haven't created anything past this point yet."*This article or section is a stub.
## Gameplay

*"I'm sorry. I haven't created anything past this point yet."*This article or section is a stub.
*Caligula 2* is a role-playing video game featuring turn-based combat in dungeon environments. Combat is triggered upon encountering enemy characters during dungeon exploration.

Combat is a hybrid of turn-based and real-time, where battle flow pauses while you are selecting character commands, but all attacks and skills play out simultaneously. When selecting a target for a skill, the game invokes its "Imaginary Chain" system. The Imaginary Chain will show you the results of all attacks and actions performed by both allies and enemies, and through that, the chance you can successfully pull off that particular maneuver. Keep in mind, the Imaginary Chain is merely a predictive simulation based on if all attacks connect properly. Reduced accuracy as a result of debuffs, poor synergy, enemy disruption, status ailments, and other conditions may impact the actual turn of events.

The Causality Link system shows the connections and relationships between you and several other NPCs. By interacting with them and completing sidequests, you can increase your relation with them.

## Development

*Caligula 2* was co-developed by Furyu and historia using the Unreal Engine.

Takuya Yamanaka was the Producer, Director, Planner, and Screenwriter. Tadashi Satomi, unlike the first game, was not involved with the writing due to schedule conflicts.

*Caligula 2's* soundtrack was composed by various Vocaloid-P (ボカロP) musicians. Overall sound director is Tsukasa Masuko.

## Music

Similar to its predecessor, each musician in *Caligula 2* has their own song that plays when in their respective area. Each song has three (four if the game-exclusive instrumental version is included) variations, which referred to as "off-vocal", "Regret", "χ", and "remix". The version of the song that will be playing at any given time depends on the player's current situation.

The off-vocal variation, sometimes referred to as the instrumental variation, is the version of the song where in place of vocals, a piano plays to the tune and pitch of the lyrics. This variation is used when the player is exploring the musician's area, but is not currently engaged in combat.

The Regret variation is the version of the song where the lyrics are sung by Regret. It is used when the player is engaged in combat with an enemy other than the area boss.

The χ variation is similar to the Regret variation, the sole difference being that the lyrics are sung by χ instead of Regret. It is used in combat while χ-jack is active. Note that unlike the other variations, the played song will not necessarily be the one that belongs to the area's musician, as the player can select which song will be covered by χ while using the χ-jack.

The remix variation is a highly energetic version of the song, possessing an emphasized pulse, aggressive vocals sung by Regret, and added electronic instrumentation. It is used during the boss fight with the musician themselves.

The English and Japanese titles of the musicians' songs are listed below, along with their real-life composer. All of the remixes were done by TeddyLoid.

1. Machina - 永遠の銀 (Eternal Silver) by kemu
2. Pandora - オルターガーデン (Alter Garden) by Ayase
3. MU-kun - スワップアウト (Swap Out) by ポリスピカデリー (Police Piccadilly)
4. #QP - Q愛セニョリータ (Q-Ai Senorita) by かいりきベア (Kairiki Bear)
5. Doktor - Designed desires by ぬゆり (nulut)
6. Kranke - 祈っているだけ (Simply Praying) by Neru
7. Kudan - ミス・コンダクタ (Miss Conductor) by ツミキ (Tsumiki)
8. Bluffman - xxxx/xx/xx by cosMo＠暴走P (cosMo@bousouP)
9. Regret - SINGI by sasakure.UK

In addition to the songs of the musicians, there are 31 additional ambient tracks used in various story sequences along with 4 returning songs from *Caligula: Overdose*.

## Story

*"Also... the Hidden? Couldn't that be something even you don't want to know?"***The following content contains spoilers.** Please proceed at your own risk.
#### Machina Arc

On an otherwise peaceful night, Redo is shaken by a break-in by a virtuadoll named χ, whose entry leaves a gaping hole in the sky. This event draws the attention of Regret, the creator of Redo, and Bluffman, the leader of Regret's personal army called the Obbligato Musicians. At the same time, the protagonist, taking a nap at Tatefushi Academy after a long day of classes, is beset by disturbing dreams of the real world. Waking up, they proceed to look out the window, only to witness the hole in the sky created by χ. Before they can fully process what they are seeing, Marie Amabuki interrupts them, telling them that the campus is closing for the day and thus everyone must vacate the premises.

The next day, the protagonist arrives to school exhausted, plagued the previous night by nightmares similar to what they had during their nap. Noticing this, Marie advises that they abstain from class for the day. Leaving early, they head to the school's metro station and board the unusually well-decorated train that arrives. Upon entry, χ, who is later revealed to be the conductor of this particular train, takes up residence in the protagonist's body, allowing her to communicate telepathically with them. Scared, the protagonist bolts away from the train back into the campus, attempting to escape χ. During their run, she reveals to them the nature of Redo as a simulation, along with her plans to destroy Redo similar to how Mobius was destroyed five years prior to the events of the game.

Unfortunately for the two of them, their run was noticed by Machina, a member of the Obbligato Musicians, who dispatches Puppetheads to attempt to neutralize this new threat to Redo. With no other options, χ activates the protagonist's Catharsis Effect through forcing the latter to remember the trauma that brought them to Redo, manifesting as a set of twin combat knives. With this newfound ability, they are able to fight off the first wave of Puppetheads, although significantly more arrive to take the place of their fallen comrades. Thankfully, before the protagonist can be overwhelemed, they are rescued by Gin Noto, who leads them to safety at the school's metro station. Once there, χ summons her special train, called the χ-express, which they all proceed to board in order to evade Machina and his army.

While riding the χ-express, χ informs Gin of the truth about Redo. Despite being mostly confident in her words, he expresses a reluctance to aid her in her goal to dismantle Redo, as he isn't quite yet sure whether or not he actually wishes to return to reality. Regardless, he decides to continue aiding χ for now, if only to ensure the safety of the protagonist, whose fate is tied to that of χ since they share a body. Before χ can argue further, the train is suddenly brought to a halt by an unexpected track closure at Okitama Station.

Now on foot, the trio moves through the station towards the exit, realizing along the way that the entire station has been shuttered for an unknown reason. Just as they reach the escalator leading to the surface, they are intercepted by Machina, who forces χ, and by extension the protagonist, to follow him back to the rest of the Obbligato Musicians. The sight of his friend captured and being lead to their probable demise is enough to awaken Gin's Catharsis Effect in the form of a crossbow, which he uses to stun Machina. Gin, the protagonist, and χ then flee further into the station, closing the emergency shutters behind them to stall their pursuer.

With their original route blocked, the trio opt to travel along the subway tracks via the Tsunaga Line until they reach the above-ground section. Unable to chase them directly, Machina resorts to broadcasting his song over the underground PA system to convert the commuters and staff into Digiheads, who then attack the trio on his behalf. Fighting their way along the tracks, they stumble upon a fellow student, Sasara Amiki, waiting for a train at one of the platforms. To their surprise, she is unaffected by Machina's mind-controlling song and is additionally capable of seeing χ, who is invisible to most residents of Redo due Regret's manipulation. Intruigued, χ explains to Sasara the fabricated nature of Redo, whereupon she happily agrees to join them in their quest to return to the real world.

After continuing their journey through the subway station for a while longer, the group finds their path blocked by a locked turnstile. While there, Machina takes advantage of a nearby monitor to speak with and convince them to surrender. During this conversation, Sasara is able to get Machina to share his reason for wishing to reside in Redo - his desire for immortality. However, their discussion is cut short when χ insults Machina, enraging him and causing him to sever the connection. Based on his outburst, Sasara correctly deduces that Machina is only a child in the real world.

As the group proceeds through the underground, they eventually stumble upon an unusually powerful Digihead. Seemingly unaware of the group's presence, Gin attempts to take it down with a bolt from his crossbow, only for it to surprise them by swiftly blocking the shot. Turning to face its attackers, it retaliates by shooting Gin in the leg with an energy weapon, immobilizing him. The protagonist attempts to intervene and protect Gin but gets likewise incapacitated, this time by a powerful slash from the Digihead. Despite pleas from the two to retreat and save herself, Sasara steps in to protect her newfound friends from an untimely demise; awakening her Catharsis effect in the form of a naginata (a type of Japanese polearm). Using her freshly acquired powers, she heals the injuries of Gin and the protagonist, allowing them to move and fight once more. After dispatching the Digihead, the team congratulates Sasara on her excellent performance. Everyone except for Gin, who is mildly annoyed that he had to rely on someone else to save him, and a woman at that.

Following yet more fights with Digiheads, the group reaches the Yanoha Line, where they stop for a short rest just as Sasara remarks as to how expansive the subway system of Redo truly is. In response, χ complains that they would have already reached their destination had it not been for Machina's interference. As if on cue, the group hears an explosion followed by the sound of a metal door being violently opened, alerting the group to Machina's proximity. With this in mind, χ urges the group to keep moving; a message she especially directs at Gin, who is taking his time studying the train schedule. From this, he notices that one of the trains, the limited express train, does not actually make any stops along the Yanoha Line, despite what he had earlier thought. χ chastises Gin, asking what use that information could possibly have in their current situation, but Gin does not answer.

Continuing along the Yanoha Line, the group reaches a station with an unobstructed exit, with an excited χ declaring that they have achieved freedom at last. Unfortunately, this jubilation is cut very short by Machina, who ambushes them, but fortunately misses his attack. Furious, χ immediately attempts to engage in combat, but she is stopped by Sasara, who attempts one final time to negotiate with Machina for their release. She pushes him to consider whether happiness holds any meaning in a world where it is guaranteed rather than earned, but Machina retorts that it is the most efficient way of going about things. Sasara continues, saying that although the real world is full of uncertainty, it is still possible to find contentment as she did, and thus one should not fear reality. Machina states that he has nothing to be afraid of in reality, but the protagonist, Gin, and Sasara all see through this lie. Sasara tries to comfort Machina, saying that he has plenty of time to live and find fulfillment, something which she believes will help alleviate the fear of death. This strikes a nerve with Machina, who snaps, likening Sasara to his parents who brushed off his worries and ignored him. He then reaffirms his loyalty to Regret for "saving" him unlike his parents, and proceeds to attack the group.

A brutal fight ensues, with Machina summoning his drone "Bit" to aid him in combat. With his drone providing tactical assistance by highlighting weak points and harassing the enemy, Machina pummels the group using a combination of a machine gun, shoulder-launched missiles, an experimental laser device, and his own mechanical frame as a melee weapon. Despite this extensive arsenal, he proves unable to defeat the group, although they too are incapable of defeating him in turn.

Now at a stalemate, Gin and Sasara plead with him to stand down, but Machina remains unconvinced, declaring that remaining in Redo will protect from meeting the same fate as his late grandmother. He rants about how every minute spent living brings one closer to their inevitable death, and how he refuses to accept this reality for himself. Despite Gin's attempts to appeal to him by stating that everyone is subject to the same worry, and thus he is not alone in his pain, Machina refuses to relent; preparing instead to recommence his assault.

Just before the fight resumes, Gin looks at a clock and notices that the limited express train is about to reach the station they are in. Remembering from the schedule he was reading earlier that the train will in fact go right through the station instead of stopping, he hatches a plan to have it run over Machina and take him out for them. Needing to stall for just one more minute, he pretends to surrender to Machina, who refuses to accept this offer. Gin goads him into rambling about his loyalty to Regret, which buys just enough time his plan to work. He then gets χ to use her power as a virtuadoll to disorient Machina with a scream; using his momentary confusion, Gin and the protagonist are able to shove Machina onto the tracks, where he is promptly hit and run over by the limited express train. Sasara worries that they may have just killed Machina, and by extension a child in the real world, but χ tries to reassure her by saying he is a cyborg and thus could survive an impact from a train... probably. Still slightly worried, Sasara wants to go look for him later so that she can talk to him again; a sentiment which confuses χ to no end.

With the enemy defeated for now, χ congratulates the team on taking down one of the musicians. Gin expresses concern that their victory was only due to a stroke of luck, but Sasara seems unfazed; declaring that they should continue marching towards whatever exit there is from Redo. Gin, however, still remains ambivalent about the idea of returning to the real world, although he chooses to stick with the group knowing that he now has a target on his back thanks to his knowledge of the truth about Redo. With a firm goal of returning to reality in mind, χ declares the group to be the second incarnation of the go-home club that took down Mobius, with the protagonist as its leader.

Now as an official resistance group, they ponder what their next steps should be, considering that leaving Redo is a very distant prospect at the current moment. Gin suggests that they should first ensure that no one else becomes aware of the fact they know the truth of Redo, lest they become a target of Regret herself. Sasara, on the other hand, suggests that their first priority should be recruiting more allies to their cause, as there are likely other individuals who, like them, are aware of the simulated nature of Redo. They decide to do both; they will keep their allegiance secret whilst simultaneously attempting to covertly recruit more members. With their strategy now decided, χ and the protagonist proudly proclaim the beginning of the go-home club and its resistance.

#### Pandora arc

Unbeknownst to the go-home club, news of their existence has already reached Bluffman, the leader of Regret's personal army. While unaware of exactly who they are, he knows that they defeated Machina at Okitama Station. Aware that χ will gain more power over Redo the more of its leaders - the musicians - she defeats, Bluffman intends on putting a stop to her growth as soon as possible. To this end, he orders another musician, Pandora, to be on the lookout for any members of the go-home club and to terminate any that she finds on the spot. She asks Bluffman why he does not just let them leave and take the threat they pose along with them, but he does not answer, instead affirming that his orders stand. After the call, Pandora laments the fact she has been drawn into this conflict against her will, as she simply wishes to reside in peace in Redo.

## Limited Edition

The limited edition of the game came with the following:

* Special box art illustration
* Copy of the game
* Code containing DLC content
* Special illustration by Oguchi
* 100 page art book by Oguchi
* DVD documentary
* 2 CDs containing χ and Regret versions of the soundtrack

Some versions of the limited edition also included a hardback cover of the art book, as well as a bag with the protagonist's floral pattern design and their own name-tag.

## Gallery

Official box art illustration for *The Caligula Effect 2.*Official box art illustration for the limited edition of *The Caligula Effect 2.*Official key artwork for *The Caligula Effect 2.*A special illustration included with the limited edition version of the game.
## References

1. ↑ https://nisamerica.com/caligula-effect-2/
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Official OST crossfade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPnOfjLbcFg
3. ↑ English titles and composer names are listed on this page. https://nisamerica.com/caligula-effect-2/characters