u/Full-Kaleidoscope454

​

1. Something I didn't quite understand in the series: what is the difference between a Source and the Soul? I understand that the former surpasses the latter, existing as one's true consciousness and concept, but then, what is the soul in this context? Is it the spirit or a lower-level kind of mind?

2. If we extrapolate the concept of the Source from the story, wouldn't the Source be at the normal level or similar to the conceptual souls in other stories (for example, Tensura, Shinza Bansho, DC, where they are supposed to be archetypes, etc.)? So... does that mean that a character within these contexts with the ability to manipulate and directly attack the soul would be able to directly affect a Maou Gakuin character's Source? I ask this because Sources aren't normally affected by just any spell or attack; specific things are needed. And no, it's not necessarily referring to Anos, but to any character in general.

Something I'm not clear on (since it might just be something within the game rather than anything else) is the masks.

More than anything, their descriptions and their "personalities."

What do I mean by that?

Does Jacket really see them as other people or personalities of himself? Are the abilities mentioned real or just something within the game?

As I understand it, whether consciously or unconsciously, Jacket gives each mask a personality, a name, and so on. Perhaps to deal with guilt, or maybe his psyche is so devastated that simply putting on a mask awakens a kind of dissociative identity.

Or maybe he just finds it funny.

As for the abilities, well... I can understand that they're just a mechanic to add variety to the game, since some border on the supernatural, and as far as I could see, there isn't much supernatural in Hotline Miami.

I can understand why some only use certain weapons, as part of the story of when they're obtained, or as something Jacket does unconsciously. But other lines involve giving them almost superhuman abilities.

What do you think?