Changes: Thornheart

Revision as of 20:55, 25 September 2015

The Mystery Man is a fanon term to describe the unknown man in a business suit who walks with a noticeable limp, who appears to be set up as the next main antagonist of the series, following Curien and Goldman. He first appeared in one of the endings for The House of the Dead III, and appeared again in one of the endings for The House of the Dead 4 and Special.

Appearances

He first appeared in one of the endings of The House of the Dead III, seen walking in the chamber where the Wheel of Fate was defeated and picks up a glowing canister revealed earlier as Daniel's cure. As he holds it in his hands, he chuckles to himself saying, "It appears that he didn't understand its true purpose," and then walks off.

In another ending in The House of the Dead 4, he enters and sits down in a clean office not seen anywhere else in the game, clearly unaffected by the world collapse. He chastises Goldman by saying he was soft and humans have no need of hope, and that the "true end" shall begin. He also mentions the existence of another "Pandora's Box".

In The House of the Dead 4: Special, he appears in the good ending if the player did well enough, appearing in the lab where the Magician was defeated. He states that Pandora's Box has been closed, if there is any hope left. He then says the Wheel of Fate cannot be stopped.

According to an interview with series director Takashi Oda for the Website of the Dead, should another arcade sequel be developed, its story would be based around this character.

Identity

Not much is known about the Mystery Man (even this name is unofficial), and as such, his true identity is still unknown. In his first appearance, a brief glimpse of his face could be seen. Since nothing else was known at the time, many have speculated his true identity, with the most prominent being Goldman (under the belief he survived the fall), Harry Harris from the House of the Dead 2 (if he became disillusioned with his injuries inflicted by Strength and turned against the AMS). Not even Overkill's Papa Caesar is out of the equation, or that he may be the successor Goldman was talking about at the ending of HOTD2 (though the aforementioned successor is more likely to be The World).

HOTD4 not only reaffirmed that Goldman was indeed dead, only appearing in flashbacks and recorded messages, but revealed that the Mystery Man was a separate person with a different appearance and voice. He was shown to harbor a strong contempt for humanity, believing they are beyond hope, unlike his colleague Goldman. It has yet to be revealed what his motives and goals are, as well as his previous ties to both Curien and Goldman. Takashi Oda also stated that the character's first appearance was in The House of the Dead III, debunking his identity as a known existing character.

Artwork for the digital home release of HOTD4 show the Mystery Man's face fully uncovered, including the image seen above.

Quotes

The House of the Dead III: "It appears they didn't understand its true purpose" (Referring to Daniel Curien's vital)
The House of the Dead 4: "Goldman, you are soft. These wretched humans have no need for hope. Soon the true end shall begin. There is more than one Pandora's box!"
House of the Dead 4: Special: "So Pandora's Box has been closed. That is if there is any "hope" left. The Wheel of Fate cannot be stopped".

Trivia

He appears different and slightly older in The House of the Dead 4 ending compared to what he looked like from The House of the Dead III ending. This is strange, as The House of the Dead III takes place several years after The House of the Dead 4. Although it could be because he could barely be seen in the House of the Dead III ending, or that the developers of the game decided to slightly retcon his appearance.
If you noticed in The House Of The Dead 4 ending, you can almost see that on the mystery man does not have a foot on the damaged leg.
He had a resemblance to the character the G-Man from the Half-Life series. He even had a middle aged gaunt appearance, plus a widow peak hairstyle like the G-Man, and is seen dressed in a suit. The G-Man is also a mysterious entity in the Half-Life series, with his real identity not disclosed.

Gallery

v • econtent
Characters	Lisa Rogan • G • Thomas Rogan • Dr. Curien • Daniel Curien • Thornheart • Dan Taylor
Creatures	Acid • Azteca (I - II) • Barry • Cain • Charles • Devilon • Ebitan • Frederic • Koebitan • Hugh • Jack • Julie • Kageo • Torso Kageo • Mark (I - IV) • Meat Man • Morkin • Morris • Murrer • Pico • Putti • Raymond • Rogan Commandos • Sunsun • Yukio
Bosses	Death • Fool • Sun • Wheel of Fate
Chapters	Reminiscence • Chasing Shadows • Bewilderment, Sensory Chaos, and Ultimate Challenge (EFI and DBR facilities - EFI BIO facilities - Information Systems Department) • Wheel of Fate
Other pages	Lore (AMS • EFI Research Facility • Thomas Rogan's Private Division) Game modes (Extreme Mode • Time Attack) Spin-offs (Darts of the Dead • The House of the Dead Reels • The Typing of the Dead 2) 2 & 3 Return • The House of the Dead III Perfect Guide • The House of the Dead 4 Official Sound Tracks • Unused content

v • econtent
Characters	James Taylor • Kate Green • Caleb Goldman • G • Thornheart • Gary Stewart
Creatures	David • Stones • Roses • Costello • Mackey • Ebitan • Damian • Charles • Murrer • Bern • Taran • Kevin • Kageo • Jimmy • Victor • Devilon • Laban • Constantin • Gauvain • Agent • Bain • Frank • Lance • Eric
Bosses	Justice • The Lovers • The Empress • Temperance • The Star • The World
Chapters	Escape • Lost • Emptiness • Despair • Reunion • Hope
Other pages	Lore (AMS • AMS European branch office • AMS PDA • Caleb Goldman's headquarters) Official Sound Tracks • The House of the Dead 4 Special • Unused content

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ==Identity==
 Not much is known about the Mystery Man (even this name is unofficial), and as such, his true identity is still unknown. In his first appearance, a brief glimpse of his face could be seen. Since nothing else was known at the time, many have speculated his true identity, with the most prominent being Goldman (under the belief he survived the fall), [[Harry Harris]] from the'' [[House of the Dead 2]] ''(if he became disillusioned with his injuries inflicted by [[Strength]] and turned against the [[AMS]]). Not even [[The House of the Dead: Overkill|Overkill's]] [[Papa Caesar]] is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJPYXKdlFHw out of the equation], or that he may be the successor Goldman was talking about at the ending of ''HOTD2'' (though the aforementioned successor is more likely to be [[The World]]).
 ''HOTD4'' not only reaffirmed that Goldman was indeed dead, only appearing in flashbacks and recorded messages, but revealed that the Mystery Man was a separate person with a different appearance and voice. He was shown to harbor a strong contempt for humanity, believing they are beyond hope, unlike his colleague Goldman. It has yet to be revealed what his motives and goals are, as well as his previous ties to both Curien and Goldman. Takashi Oda also stated that the character's first appearance was in ''The House of the Dead III'', debunking his identity as a known existing character.
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 * He appears different and slightly older in ''The House of the Dead 4'' ending compared to what he looked like from ''The House of the Dead III'' ending. This is strange, as ''The House of the Dead III'' takes place several years '''''after'' '''''The House of the Dead 4''. Although it could be because he could barely be seen in the ''House of the Dead III'' ending, or that the developers of the game decided to slightly retcon his appearance.
 * If you noticed in ''The House Of The Dead 4'' ending, you can almost see that on the mystery man does not have a foot on the damaged leg.
-*He had a resemblance to the character G-Man from the Half-Life computer games. He even had a middle aged gaunt appearance, plus a widow peak hairstyle like G-Man, and is seen dressed in a suit. G-Man is also a mysterious entity in the Half-Life games, with his real identity not disclosed.
+*He had a resemblance to the character [http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/The_G-Man the G-Man] from the [http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Half-Life_and_Portal_universe Half-Life series]. He even had a middle aged gaunt appearance, plus a widow peak hairstyle like the G-Man, and is seen dressed in a suit. The G-Man is also a mysterious entity in the Half-Life series, with his real identity not disclosed.
 ==Gallery==