Deus Ex Machina (machinima)
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"The definition [for Deus Ex Machina] is: A person or event that provides a sudden and unexpected solution to a difficulty." |
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Recent graduate John Brent and Michael Jacobs have grown tired of seeing their graduating class dying. The year is 2552, the last surviving city on Earth is Salvation City, a city plagued with crime and augmentation drugs. There are no cops as the UNSC needs every soldier up in space to guard against Covenant attack, so thus they equipped everybody with Mark VI powered armor, and let the city police itself.
Does this sound like a really, really bad idea? Well, that's because it is, the city has gone to hell, and it's so dangerous that everybody has to carry around tasers (plasma pistols). The backstory may sound silly, but the whole thing is to Hand Wave the required character models that Halo 3 provides, given that it is a machinima.
Moving on, the aforementioned Michael Jacobs modifies John Brent's suit to have super human strength, temporary invulnerability, invisibility, and thermal/night vision. John decides he must have a nickname, so after hearing the page's quote at the top, decides on Deus Ex Machina.
Surprisingly good cinematography for a machinima series, the camera angles and lighting effects make for a very theatrical experience. Sadly, the writing isn't quite so good. John hardly ever uses his suit's abilities when they would actually be helpful. See Idiot Ball for details.
- Black Comedy Rape: The ending. So much!
- Chekhov's Gun: It happens a lot, to say the least.
- Crapsack World
- Differently-Powered Individual: According to John Brent: "I guess you could call me a superhero, but that makes it sound kinda retarded".
- Deus Ex Machina: Naturally, if a sudden resolution to a crisis isn't a Chekhov's Gun.
- Gainax Ending: To say the least.
- Hero with Bad Publicity: After bonding with a symbiote in a homage to Spider-Man.
- Idiot Ball: John Brent seems to carry and collect them. Mainly not using his temporary invulnderability outside of one instance.
- Jack Attack: John Brent.
- Killed Off for Real: Michael Jacobs.
- Machinima
- Not Quite Dead
- Not Wearing Tights: Not that the game engine would allow tights, but...
- Old Shame
- Red Herring: The assistant seen at the end of the first arc turns out to be a minor character who dies in the same episode he has involvement in.
- Series Hiatus: Digital Ph33r has long ago abandoned the series.
- Villain with Good Publicity: Derick Owen.
- We Will Wear Armor in the Future: Exaggerated and justified at the same time.