Mobius is a perfect digital world created for the imagined benefit of humanity by μ, a virtual idol vocaloid program that attained sentience and self-awareness.
Only humans who are suffering in the real world and strongly related to μ’s songs are lured into Mobius.
Once they enter, people often forget that the real world exists. Regardless of age or gender, they are turned into students and forced to experience high school over and over, which μ considers “the most radiant time in a person’s life.”
In order to grant the wishes of every Mobius resident, μ curates Mobius’ creative energy by singing songs composed by the “Ostinato Musicians.”
Currently, the city called Miyabi is the only physical area that exists within Mobius. Its buildings and terrain are drawn from the residents’ memories of the real world.
In The Caligula Effect: Overdose, the story progresses as two major routes, the “Go-Home Club Route” and the “Musicians Route.”
Go-Home Club Route
In Mobius, inhabitants become their “ideal selves” that they couldn’t achieve in the real world and then repeat high school endlessly. The protagonist (you) and his or her classmates are outsiders within Mobius that have realized the existence of a reality outside Mobius. Each student has a strong desire to return to reality for their own individual reasons, and form an organization called the “Go-Home Club” to find a way to escape Mboius in order to return to reality.
Of course, for the Mobius inhabitants outside of the Go-Home Club, they are more than happy to remain in this happy world. The Go-Home Club, which is trying to destroy this happiness and return to harsh reality, can only be considered traitors in this world. As the president of the Go-Home Club, the protagonist (you), who meets another songstress named Aria and gains the power to fight, challenges the creator μ and her Ostinato Musician subordinates, and will find a way to escape Mobius by any means necessary. Even if it means kiling the creator that freed them from their own suffering.
Musicians Route
The Ostinato Musicians are composers who protect μ and provide music. In order to preserve the world of Mobius, the Ostinato Musicians are trying to eliminate the disruptive Go-Home Club. The protagonist, who became the president of the Go-Home Club, meets Thorn, the leader of the Ostinato Musicians expected to be the enemy.
Thorn speaks. “I understand that you suffered, and came to Mobius.”
Thorn asks. “And yet, do you truly want to return to reality?”
Thorn laughs. “You are only being used. You must learn both sides of the story.
Using the power of μ, Thorn gives the protagonist the abilities of a Musician, as well as a new appearance as a Musician. From that point, the protagonist (you), will use your appearances as the president of the Go-Home Club pursuing μ, and as an Ostinato Musician protecting μ, to fully understand both sides of the story of Mobius, the world of happiness. And you will eventually be faced with a final decision. Betraying the trust of your comrades comes with a massive toll, and what lies ahead is…
Character Scenarios
In Mobius, you can become a high school students regardless of your age or gender, and attain your ideal self. In other words, your appearance and gender in Mboius is not necessarily the same as in reality.
Even though they are not the Go-Home Club, the Ostinato Musicians are no exception to this fact. They also suffered in reality for their own reasons, and were imprisoned by Mobius. Each has their own deep trauma and complex.
Each of the Ostinato Musicians are covering up their suffering in reality, and only the protagonist (you) can get to the core of their secrets.
However, if you sense danger or develop a feeling of dislike in the true nature they are about to reveal, it is not a problem to turn back. The raw pain that they display may betray the image that the protagonist (you) wanted to love and get closer to.
■ System
The Caligula Effect Reconstructed in Unreal Engine 4
The comfort of the controls, the production, and the visuals have been completely redone. The unique “Imaginary Chain” battle system has also been further evolved to become easier to play. Many improvements over the previous game are included to achieve optimal gameplay. As the name implies, it has overdosed.
Imaginary Chain: New Sensation Command Battles that Combine the Exhiliaration of an Action Game with the Strategy of a Tactical RPG
New sensation command battles that combine the exhilaration of an action game with the strategy of a tactical RPG. The battle system visualizes and predicts character actions before they occur. In The Caligula Effect: Overdose, the battle system has been reformed from the previous game, and has evolved to become even easier to play.
Causality Link: Friendships with Students Gone Astray in Mobius Have Also Been Enhanced
There are over 500 students in the game, each with their own unique names and profile. In the real world, they all experienced trauma and escape to Mobius to live an idyllic high school life. In The Caligula Effect: Overdose, friendships with students who have lost their way in Mobius have also been enhanced. And also in the game, your connections with them will become the key to going home.
■ Characters
◆ Go-Home Club
Protagonist (voiced by Chiharu Sawashiro)
As the president of the Go-Home Club, his goal is to escape from the false-but-perfect world Mobius.
Despite the fact that he was the last to join the Go-Home Club, various circumstances compelled Shogo to hand over the presidency to him.
NEW: Protagonist (Female) (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro)
As the president of the Go-Home Club, his goal is to escape from the false-but-perfect world Mobius.
Despite the fact that she was the last to join the Go-Home Club, various circumstances compelled Shogo to hand over the presidency to her.
Shogo Satake (voiced by Shunsuke Takeuchi)
A 3rd Year student, he’s the former president of the Go-Home Club.
Despite only being 18 years old inside Mobius, it seems he has experienced the “loop” in Mobius many times.
He is prone to philosophical thoughts and has a lethargic demeanor. He hides deep hopelessness and a strong desire for the real world behind his sleepy-looking eyes.
Izuru Minezawa (voiced by Yuichiro Umehara)
A 2nd Year student on the verge of an awakening.
He’s 17 in Mobius and has been trapped there for one year.
His appearance in Mobius is that of a little-known deceased celebrity from the real world. Izuru is withdrawn and emotionless, demonstrating no concern or interest in associating with others.
He knows that Mobius is a false world, but refuses the Go-Home Club’s repeated invitations. He prefers to seek his own means of escape.
Kotaro Tomoe (voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya)
Kotaro is a nosy boy whose cheerful attitude doesn’t fit his large build. He often sets the mood at the Go-Home Club.
Kotaro simply can’t leave people alone if they need help. His favorite words are “love” and “friendship.” He has a deep respect for his father and does not hesitate to say that his dream is to become a rescue worker. When you first meet him, he seems like a good guy—bright and energetic—but as time goes on, it becomes apparent that he’s a troublemaker.
Kensuke Hibiki (voiced by Shota Aoi)
Kensuke is a 1st Year high school student.
He is 16 in Mobius and has been there for two years.
An Ostinato Musician who produces songs for µ, Kensuke is an enemy of the Go-Home Club. His battle with the Go-Home Club forces him to question his own existence and he ultimately decides to join his former enemies in their quest to return home.
Kotono Kashiawaba (voiced by Rie Murakawa)
A beautiful young girl with a soothing quality and a prim, mature aura about her.
She’s charming in a way that manages to be both innocent and seductive. She’s kind to all she meets, making her extremely popular with boys.
Kotono fills an older sister role in the Go-Home Club.
Naruko Morita (voiced by Ari Ozawa)
Naruko is a 2nd Year high school student. She is 17 years old and has been in Mobius for one year.
An insatiably curious 2nd Year student, she loves rumors and scandals. She acts like a paparazzi sometimes. She multitasks well and can post on social media while carrying on a conversation about a totally different subject.
She’s been investigating the Go-Home Club, which has recently become a sensationalist trending topic throughout the school.
Mifue Shinohara (voiced by Rie Takanashi)
Mifue has short-cropped hair and large eyes. She eats and laughs a lot. Her favorite things are whipped cream and chocolate cornets.
She has a cheerful, bold personality, and often lightens the mood among the other girls.
She’s good friends with Suzuna, who is in the same grade as her.
Suzuna Kagura (voiced by Minami Tanaka)
She’s a quiet girl that always has a forlorn look on her face…
She has trouble maintaining eye contact when she speaks.
She’s timid, but once she sets her mind to something she’ll always find a way to achieve it. When she’s determined, her voice is sometimes so loud that people around her have to cover their ears or risk deafness.
NEW: Ayana Amamoto (voiced by Maria Naganawa)
A second-year high school student who is quick-witted, strong-willed, and has eye-catching beauty.
However, she has trouble speaking and even making eye-contact with men. She is often violent to the men that oppose her, and the men in the Go-Home Club are no exception.
It seems that her behavior and reactions will change in a big way depending on whether the protagonist is male or female.
An third-year high school student who has a handsome face and friendly smile in addition to his intellect and eloquent, gentleman-like speech.
Even without being told, he is already aware of Mobius’ secrets including that this world is not real and that they are on the third-year loop.
◆ Ostintao Musicians
Sweet-P (voiced by Emi Nitta) Composer: OSTER Project
Dressed in fanciful fairytale pastels, Sweet-P is both Mobius’ premier fashion icon and an Ostinato Musician.
She is distinguished by her long eyelashes and big, beautiful eyes.
Just like her fashion, Sweet-P’s songs exhibit a delicate, feminine quality. Some girls go absolutely nuts over her music.
Shonen-Doll (voiced by Yumiri Hanamori) Composer: Polyphonic Branch
Shonen-Doll is a young boy who dwells in Mobius’ enormous library, choosing to competely isolate himself from the outside world.
He always wears a low-hanging hood that obscures his face and hides his expressions.
Sneering at the masses, he writes gloomy, violent songs that attack people with social lives, who he interprets as weak for having to work in a flock in order to accomplish anything worthwhile.
He engages a lot of difficult concepts in his work and has a strong group of fanatical devotees who tend to embrace solitude and individuality and see his music as salvation.
Mirei (voiced by Eriko Nakamura) Composer: CyoucyoP
Mirei lives an idle life of luxury, fawned over by male followers inside her stronghold in Mobius’ Marine Resort.
She is an arrogant and selfish debutante who behaves as though she is the center of the world; however (except for her personality) she truly is exceptional at everything.
She boasts an immense popularity based on her goregous appearance and exceptional musical genius.
She is so obsessed with being number one that she even sees µ, the absolute idol inside of Mobius, as her rival.
Ike-P (voiced by Souma Saito) Composer: Asa
Ike-P is a 2nd Year student that attends the same school as the main characters.
He’s a classmate of Izuru who definitely looks like he’s in a band.
He is a natural narcissist who has a justified confidence in his looks — he’s always striking a pose just to show off.
He’s popular with girls and always wants to improve himself. For some reason, he’s constantly plotting against Izuru.
His distinct style sometimes makes him unapproachable.
Shadow Knife (voiced by Yuma Uchida) Composer: 164
A law-abiding hero who adores justice, he executes those who rebel in Mobius.
He skillfully wields shadows and knives to punish the wicked and the rebellious.
He serves as µ’s personal bodyguard due to his unique and effective combat abilities.
He often does and says awkwardly theatrical things, such as, “he’s the weakest of us Ostinato Musicians,” which makes it difficult for others to respond.
There is a theory that his name, apparence, and even combat abilities are identical to that of an anime character that was popular a few years ago.
Thorn (voiced by Yuka Otsubo) Composer: CosMo@Bousou-P
Thorn is the leader of the Ostinato Musicians.
Thorn is a lovely young girl with a sickly appearance. She appears before the protagonist’s party in an uncanny, phantasmal way — she always shows up where she couldn’t possibly be.
She is the oldest and first composer of µ’s songs, known for her enormously popular dark and brooding love songs.
µ trusts Thorn completely and obediently follows her orders.
Wicked (voiced by ???) Composer: YM
A Musician completely shrouded in mystery. Generally only her existence and songs are known, but there is not a single person who knows what she looks like.
Her songs are filled with intense violence and ridicule everything, delivering a shocking blow to listeners.
NEW: Kuchinashi Composer: Pinocchio-P
A young female Musician with a typically listless expression.
Rather than speaking from the mouth using her natural voice, she converses through a special mouth mechanism that creates a synthesized voice.
More often than not, she suppresses any feelings of excitement.
Extremely individualistic, she often keeps to herself even when gathered among fellow Musicians.
NEW: Stork (voiced by ???) Composer: DECO*27
By far the most suspicious Musician, even among the other unique Musicians.
As his name implies, he wears a stork costume and excels at making love songs that captivate the women of Mobius.
He is a good-natured man with a gentlemanly manner of speaking, but for some reason has a tendency to not treat his fellow musicians very well.
He has the powerful ability to “mimic everything,” and stands in the way of the Go-Home Club.
◆ µ and Aria
Aria (voiced by Asami Shimoda)
She’s a virtuadoll that was created around the same time as µ.
She was forced to take a smaller form in Mobius because of µ’s vast power.
She wants to stop µ, who has become steadily more unhinged since creating Mobius, and return to the real world. To this end, she selects the main characters and grants them the ability to fight.
In contrast to the lovely, immaculate, and perfectionist µ, her personality is bright, cheerful, and casual, which makes it easy for her to make friends.
µ (Mu) (voiced by Reina Ueda)
µ is a vocal synthesizer software that will obediently sing anything her user inputs.
Little by little, a seed of consciousness and self-awareness germinated within her. The songs people told her to sing alerted her to the agony of reality, so she created the eternally-youthful world of Mobius in order to save a tortured humanity.
Now she flies throughout Mobius, bringing bliss to all she meets and ensuring that the smiles never end.
◆ Other
Marie Mizuguchi (voiced by Mai Fuchigami)
In Mobius, Marie is a 2nd Year student and classmate of the protagonist.
She is an exceptional honors student with a gentle demeanor that makes her approachable.
Even while participating in the Go-Home Club’s occasionally dubious activities, she watches over the main characters without too much prying. This is particularly true for the main character, whom she supports as a close friend.
She is destined to be caught in the conflict between the Go-Home Club and the Ostinato Musicians.
The Caligula Effect: Overdose is due out for PlayStation 4 on May 17, 2018 in Japan.
