Simulation – 1990 is far more than a simple sci-fi premise; it’s a deep dive into the psychological and emotional cost of an existence that is fundamentally artificial. While the high stakes action involving body switching, Hardened Air, and evading The order drives the plot, the real weight of the story lies in the profound feelings experienced by the individuals trapped Beneath the Surface.
The journey begins with Ella and Rosie’s ability to detect one another as an anomaly, a glowing dot in a sea of non-sentient digital shells. This ability, while crucial for survival, is also a source of intense emotional isolation. It creates a stark, existential divide. This knowledge forces them to live in a constant state of distrust, knowing that the only people they can truly connect with are the ones being hunted alongside them. The very act of perceiving reality becomes a lonely burden.
Detachment from Self: Every switch means abandoning one vessel for another. This repeated experience erodes the connection between the self and the physical form, causing a deep seated trauma that suggests the true self is unmoored, a portable piece of data rather than an embodied whole.
The Weight of the Host: When Ella switches into bodies like Steve’s or Brenda’s, she must reconcile her own identity with the appearance and life of a stranger, making every interaction feel like a lie. The emotional toll of this psychological masquerade is immense.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking emotional layer is explored in the contrasting states of those who succeed and those who remain. The entire narrative is fueled by the driving purpose: Escape.
Simulation – 1990 uses its science fiction framework to dissect the human condition, showing that even in a digital world, the need for connection, the struggle for self, and the search for purpose remain intensely and devastatingly real.
