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Mikoshi Cores

Mikoshi Cores

Two rows of cores numbered 0-7. The left side is surrounded in blue squares, while the right is surrounded in red. A judgment card split down the middle is nestled behind them, with an overwhelming sense of symmetry/asymmetry at play.

The Strange Symbol

I've traced the symbol that appears on each of the cores here for easier viewing:

The Strange Symbol

The Ambassadors (Holbein)

The symbol upon initial inspection seems rather tall. I've seen stretched symbols before in the world of art - an example being "The Ambassadors".

A stretched smudge at the bottom of the painting When viewed at the right perspective, the smudge becomes a very clear skull.

Processing the Symbol

By viewing the core symbol in the same way, we can attempt to destretch it and analyze it further:

The symbol (shown in white), mirrored against itself in the same way the cores are mirrored against themselves and the judgement card which indicates two halves Here, I attempt to repeat the pattern for the number of cores. This is the final result. Very reminescent of the ending pyramid and the pathway leading to it, reflecting an inverted tower entrance below. There being 4 of these could be pointing to Johnny's "Don't fear the reaper" path, a hidden pyramid in addition to the Hanako, Rogue, and Panam paths of the base game. The previous symbol is very reminescent of these music albums

Ultimately it seems that these symbols are pointing to the hidden "Don't Fear (The Reaper)" ending existing, by expressing 4 pyramids instead of the 3 we knew about prior to this ending path coming to light.

Or, it could be as simple as stemming from an 8 bit 6502 system.

Similar Structures

Mega Buildings

The cores are very similar in architecture to the mega buildings that dot the landscape of Night City. There are 8 cores, and there are 8 mega buildings that are not inaccessible.

H01 @ 1pm. Smudged Graffiti

Arasaka Estate

The heated outdoor seating area at the Arasaka Estate also shares some very notable architectural similarities with the cores. Seeing a fire underneath the obilisk reminds me that we "have a city to burn".

Arasaka Estate - Heated Seating