Daniel vs Mandus

[Alardem]

For Mandus, it just doesn't make that much sense. Why did he go to Mexico, why did the egg split his soul? And wtf happened that made him realize what he'd done and give him amnesia? I'd have to find a plot description to know all of this stuff. All of this that I've listed so far wasn't even clear to me until I saw someone's quick description of the story. Needless to say I was pretty confused throughout the game. Also I don't have children, so the whole thing with the children didn't really make a lot of sense to me. Maybe if I was 40 I'd understand better.

I'm not even 20 and I can answer all that. :p

Mandus went to South America because he's a rich man who could do that - and because his 'great-uncle' had books that spoke of archaeological treasures hidden in the ruins of great civilizations like the Aztec. Upon arriving, he encountered an otherworldly artifact just as Daniel had done 60 years before and it granted him a twisted vision of the future. As for his change of heart; it seems to have taken place after the Professor's arrival and subsequent murder around Christmas Eve. I think that prompted Mandus to search his soul, attempt suicide in despair by sabotaging the Machine, and having his memories fried out of his skull.

As hateful and depraved as Ozzie is, his fear of the future, his desperation to change society, his myopic sense of superiority over humanity - those traits can still be applied today. One only has to look at the doomsday prophets, the people claiming that World War 3 is just around the corner, and many an armchair misanthrope on the internet to see just how ridiculous and crazy such a perspective actually is. :p

I don't empathize with the character, but I can understand him.