Stranger:What is his weakness?

Statikk HDM · #1 03-19-2004, 09:06 PM

From what I've just seen of Stranger he doesn't seem weak at all, but perfectly capable of laying the law down on anybody who opposes him. Since his weakness is reportedly a moral problem or more centered on Stranger's beliefs this small news bit has led me to speculate at length on what this weakness could be. Since he is an out of towner and bit of a loner it could be specism or an unwillingness to take help from species that he deems inferior.
It could also be that instead of being some rugged he-man to rid the world of outlaw bosses and other such unsavory villians he'd be hired as a killer of rebels and insurgents but would eventually see the light(are you sensing the perfect opportunity for Abe and Munch to make their cameo appearances?) Greed could definately be a bounty hunter's incentive. He could also be offered sanctuary and large bounties from a certain evil entity like Margaret, Molluck, or some other despicable behind-the-scenes operator to bump off competing mob bosses while infiltrating rebel strongholds and snitching on underground revolutionaries.

Sekto Springs · #2 03-20-2004, 04:29 AM

Lorne said that Oddworld has always been about physically weak and overlooked kinds of heroes, but for Stranger he wanted to switch the idea around so that he is physically strong but mentally weak. Lorne also says that Stranger is fighting an internal conflict but we don't know what it is. So if he does have any weaknesses they'd be in his mind, not his body.

***Nate*** · #3 03-21-2004, 10:59 AM

or possibly morally weak, as in he initially goes bounty hunting under the pay of the Industrials and through the game he realises that he has been going wrong all his life. That is a theory by the way - not gospel.

Mac the Janitor · #4 03-21-2004, 12:18 PM

SS is right...he's gonna have a big inner struggle. I'm guessing he'll be one of those sensitive guys who try to hide it by being all gruff and such...

Havoc · #5 03-21-2004, 12:26 PM

Well, im not realy following the development of stranger... but since Oddworld is all connected one way or a nother... could it be hes having that struggle for having helped out glukkons in the past which made him lose a dear friend?
I dunno but It would seem a typical story for oddworld in a way...

Shell Man · #6 03-21-2004, 02:37 PM

Perhaps his physical transformation is connected to his inner struggle. Maybe he has to discover things about himself that bcome manifest as he transforms.

Majic · #7 03-21-2004, 04:52 PM

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SS is right...he's gonna have a big inner struggle. I'm guessing he'll be one of those sensitive guys who try to hide it by being all gruff and such...

My thoughts too.

oddguy · #8 03-21-2004, 05:28 PM

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I dunno but It would seem a typical story for oddworld in a way...

There's nothing typical about OW. *shakes head in a disaproving way*

I concur with SS and Mac and all those that agree with them. The thing is, we know he has an inner struggle, but what could it be? Guilt? Guilt of what? Hmmmmm, we shall see.

-OH MY ODD...guy

Mac the Janitor · #9 03-21-2004, 05:37 PM

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I concur with SS and Mac and all those that agree with them. The thing is, we know he has an inner struggle, but what could it be? Guilt? Guilt of what?

Here's what I've thought ever since the X-Factor:

He's gonna be Mr. Big Shot Bounty Hunter, getting all the prizes, and then grow horns and thus the hunter becomes the hunted. He'll feel guilt for being a hunter earlier because now he knows what it feels like to be hunted - constantly paranoid and hiding.

Those are my thoughts, anyway.

oddguy · #10 03-21-2004, 05:42 PM

Makes plenty of sense.

Jacob · #11 03-22-2004, 07:08 AM

I hope its not as cliché as that. I wonder now that OWI have suddenly done this, if this story will change their other stories in the Quintology...

***Xavier*** · #12 03-22-2004, 07:20 AM

I agree with Jacob, it's a bit too cliché Mac...

paramiteabe · #13 03-26-2004, 02:49 AM

I would have to agree but take that idea a little bit further like the bit about him secretly working for Margret and Molluck to go after wanted criminals like Abe and Munch.

If Stranger is concurrent with the events of the quintology which means its happening at the same time, then perhaps we are seeing him catching up with Abe and Munch or at least getting close to their location but not in the game. Like he is in the imediate area. Then if he was hired to go after them as a bounty of probabaly a huge sum of moolah then that can to the guilt trip inwhich we believe Stranger has.

Lorne also states how the next game is real edgy which fits the description perfectly. But then again its only theory.

Paramiteabe...

Di$array · #14 03-26-2004, 03:13 AM

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Perhaps his physical transformation is connected to his inner struggle. Maybe he has to discover things about himself that bcome manifest as he transforms.

yer me and my m8 have agreed on that idea

Jacob · #15 03-26-2004, 12:43 PM

Hmmm, i don't understand why games people don't listen to their fanbase. Most game players have really good idea's...like me.

oddguy · #16 03-26-2004, 02:33 PM

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Hmmm, i don't understand why games people don't listen to their fanbase. Most game players have really good idea's...like me.

The only way that could happen is if the fanbase were employed by OWI.

Or...if OWI made an idea contest, and by signing up for the contest and clicking the "I agree" button, all the good ideas you give are official property of OWI and you own nothing! Bwahahaha!

-oddguy

***Xavier*** · #17 03-26-2004, 09:19 PM

whoa, evil Oddguy
personnally I wouldn't mind to "help" Owi for free
but they have enough good ideas on their own

oddguy · #18 03-27-2004, 06:18 PM

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they have enough good ideas on their own

I know. Those guys are amazing genious people.

***Wil*** · #19 03-29-2004, 05:06 AM

I liked Jacob's idea a while back that Stranger suffers from certain dilusions, namely believing his boat is some kind of conscious being, although I doubt that will be true. Implications are, I think, edging things towards the boat actually being a life form.

Perhaps Stranger's weakness would be a form of paranoia or insecurity brought down by believing (probably correctly) that everyone is going after his horns. Another likely idea is that he has a history of anger management issues or simply extremes of emotion. Raymond kept going on about how Stranger keeps a poker face, maybe that's the only way he can keep in control of his enraged actions. He seems as though he could be a fierce chappy, in any case.

Jacob · #20 03-29-2004, 08:31 AM

I hope OWI's do a character with Split Personality Syndrome. I've just watched 'Identity' and 'Session 9' and they've made me become obsessed with SPS. But yeh, SPS with an Oddworldian twist would be thooper.

Di$array · #21 03-29-2004, 09:05 AM

stranger is one with nature..ok? so the glukkons could exsplot this in some way

Volsung · #22 03-31-2004, 01:44 PM

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I hope OWI's do a character with Split Personality Syndrome. I've just watched 'Identity' and 'Session 9' and they've made me become obsessed with SPS. But yeh, SPS with an Oddworldian twist would be thooper.

That seems like a possibility. Signs: Stranger is weak mentally/emotionally; Lorne originally intended for munch to have a dr. jekyll mr. hyde personality, but time did not permit. Perhaps Lorne's intending to weave this idea into stranger.

Also, are we sure his centaur form is a good thing? It seems as if this could be a panic or rage induced form. Something which he metamorphs into if a situation has gotten out of hand.

***Nate*** · #23 03-31-2004, 06:26 PM

They said on the Inside Xbox show that he starts off looking normal and gradually transforms into the horny beast. It seems to me that this reflects his personal journey and increased level of self-awareness.

***Wil*** · #24 03-31-2004, 11:09 PM

I'm sure the word 'disguise' was used in the X-Factor show, refering to Stranger's humanoid form. I think his centaur appearance is his natural one, but he becomes his Clint ego in order to interact within the industrial society, primarily because Steefs are hunted for their horns. Although he could slip into his centau form when he is enraged, which might tie into the anger management idea, and as the game progresses, I'm sure we'll see more and more of Stranger's real identity.

Volsung · #25 04-01-2004, 06:49 AM

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as the game progresses, I'm sure we'll see more and more of Stranger's real identity.

Probably, but then the question becomes: what is stranger's true identity? Is he the disguise, fitting into industrial situations? or is he this more "natural" form? Most of the other characters we've seen fit easily into one category or the other. Abe is natural. Sligs are industrial. We've heard of a plan to blur this particular line before with sligstorm, but that never came through. Now it seems as if we could see it with Stranger. Is he industrial or native? who's interests is he concerned with? Does he even know?

Statikk HDM · #26 04-01-2004, 10:05 AM

You've raised a good point that it might be more of an ideological struggle than some inner struggle with emotions, Volsung. I personally think that Stranger used to be a hardcore Industrialist who gets betrayed by his own because he has desirable headware.

***Nate*** · #27 04-01-2004, 11:29 AM

It makes me think of that scene in Xmen2 when the teleporter guy asks Mystique that if she can look like anyone, why she doesn't live her life looking normal and she responds "Because we shouldn't have to".

By the way, do we actually know for sure that the industrialists want Stranger's horns of is that just a theory?

***Wil*** · #28 04-02-2004, 08:08 AM

It's just a theory, as it happens - but one that fits all too well with things. The conclusive evidence in my personal opinion is Lorne adding, with absolutely no justification, that the Steef has "gotta have horns", in the Inside Xbox feature. There's also the very first EGM report, which described ICO as an inspiration for the game. The lead character from that has a very familiar... attribute.

But as I say, theory.

Jacob · #29 04-02-2004, 11:10 AM

'she responds "Because we shouldn't have to".'

That's my favourite line throughout the whole film, Mystiques hott.

***Nate*** · #30 04-04-2004, 01:14 PM

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Mystiques hott.

ewwwwwwwwww. Creepy blue latex makeup fetish!

:

There's also the very first EGM report, which described ICO as an inspiration for the game. The lead character from that has a very familiar... attribute.

Excuse my ignorance (or lack of understanding of Three Letter Acronyms) but what is ICO and what is his... attribute?