cryptotheism thyrell gamers dont die they respawn. this is because gamers can never escape samsara Source: thyrell Ikaruga (2001)i suppose nier automata is the obvious pull for this but let's talk about ikarugai think the former's influence on the latter's shmup sections are pretty obviousbut i don't think the thematic similarities between the two about death and rebirth are wholly coincidental eitheranyway you must imagine how futile and painful the process of beating ikaruga was back when it cost money to keep trying