#raeplayshsr

With all three of the Himeko trailers I get the feeling that they are hope mixed with despair/sadge, the HSR team is really good at this and also at putting things in that may not be in the correct order to weave a story that keeps you guessing. Steam of consciousness thoughts and additional context as I watch through the various trailers again. I'm noticing some parallels to Phainon and Firefly in the symbolism and language used.

Also, alot of the trailers quotes in the description seem to be them talking to one another but it doesn't give context...

Also, they reference quotes in a trailer of things they said previously.

Improv Tour Trailer: "To the Onlooker":

It gives us a glimpse of Himeko as a young adult and provides some backstory and how everyone treats her since she has the weathering curse. Helps to set the story for how Himeko longs for the stars and with Starchaser.

Also, it helps to set the story for how she worked to repair the astral express. The trailer gives me vibes that Himeko Imaginated Motoko but initially she has this form because Himeko couldn't imagine what her future self would look like. To me it does look similar to Himeko just more ethereal. Kinda gives Phainon warrior inside vibes here.

Another thought is she imaginated a friend since Asat was hardly there for her...

Then at the end we see a picture of what appears to be Himeko's future self and I'll call it her 'inner self' touch the painting and then turn into what we now know as Present day Himeko and referred to as 'Motoko' in the trailers.

Animated Short: "Your Ending, My beginning":

This Animated short was both hype and also sad. HoYo knew what they were doing by animating this very similar to hi3 animations and using similar poses and background tracks for the animation.

I have saw alot of discourse over how things were explained in 4.3 vs. what the trailer shows and my understanding is that part was how Himeko was telling the story to Ryusuke(Asat). I got the vibe that Himeko was deliberately skewing details to sus out if Ryusuke was real or a fake.

The trailer does confirm that Himeko created Motoko and she has a very phainon line in "My wish is to fufill your wish" along with a very Firefly line of "Even if we burn to ashes...This shall be proof that we lived "

The Mech / Magical girl transformation sequence is beautiful and amazing and the ethereal glow that Himeko Nova shows at the beginning of the transformation reminds me of the previous form.

The fight sequence is great, who doesn't love a G Gundam style Mech vs. Kaiju city scale fight?! I haven't seen anyone else mention this but this part really gives me Nightglow vibes as the pose is very similar to Hi3 Himeko with her sword right next to Kiana at the end. Might just be a coincidence and we do know from HSR 4.1 Mecha PomPom fight that to Imaginate something is one thing but to make it move takes wishpower.

Now I've seen a lot of disagreement in the community based on this part of who sacrificed themselves and I think it's meant to be vague and throw you off. Personal opinion is it was Young Himeko who used her lifeforce to power up Motoko/Himeko Nova/Starblazer. I've seen people say it was Motoko because when they combined she was the blue/blue white and that was her burning her power and not the Red that was Himeko.

Why do I think it was the opposite? Because I interpret the blue/white flames? as Himeko Nova getting a power boost like you would see in Anime from this additional info. This power boost and sacrifice ignites the flames of the Trailblaze which is why the Astral express lights up as well as you see Starblazer and Flames.

At the end of course we see that Motoko is holding young Himeko and she has her eyes closed and is unresponsive giving us a "is she knocked out or worse?" speculation and the feels definitely come a feeling as the opening theme plays and the Astral Express goes starward.

Further confusion is the repeat of Himeko having dreams and Asat with his smug ending lines.

Himeko * Nova Character Trailer: "The Morning Star Falls Tonight":

IMO Best character trailer thus far. It is so well animated and the transitions are just beautiful along with the soundtrack. I really think it sets the scale of the stakes especially at the beginning, Asat is a very big threat and it's structured in a way to paint a picture of everyone maybe not coming out unscathed (or worse). These trailers may also be HoYo playing into the Himeko memes that every Himeko must die and "Himeko stay on the express" kinda thing.

The starting notes and phrases of " Today, Navigator Himeko is leaving the Astral Express" only helps to paint and advance this narrative. They are helping to paint mystery of if Young Himeko lived or died due to the dialog mentioned. I don't think all of this trailer is from the same time frame as some may older and others younger. Also, it sounds like Motoko has survivors guilt because she dreams of that moment often.

Once this trailer starts it doesn't stop and the more I've watched it the more I've gotten theories and caught additional details

This shot leads me to believe that Young Himeko is alive but in very dire straits. My first thought was that this was a room in the express and that the Trailblaze/Astral express is keeping Young Himeko alive (which would also explain the need for refueling...) Beautiful star in the background.

Then of course you have the letters " S A C R A F I C E " appear quickly individually to further this thought and Young Himeko's body appears to be shaken by some force? There is a faint beeping and then Young Himeko is jarred awake as if she was waking up from being unconscious from the Fusion and her using her lifeforce to power starblazer.

This whole sequence before the Himeko Nova character card makes me think of two things: 1.) Young Himeko is providing a tactical role to Himeko nova and since they merged they can communicate somehow. Gives me Babs Gordon Oracle vibes honestly.

2.) Young Himeko can control Himeko Nova somehow remotely? (Due to their fusion?!) Or maybe the community is right and Motoko actually did sacrifice themself and the Himeko we know has been operated by Young Himeko all this time?

This part after Himeko Nova hits a wall after being hit and Young Himeko being affected seems to give this some additional proof....

The transition to this was phenominal and 10/10

Next sequence is painting that the odds are against us and stacked especially with Asat Pramat.

There's so many "death flags" and actual colored blood that we could have a parade here.... Which is interesting especially since they've gona with other motifs before for blood...

This scene I think actually helps to tell that Both Young Himeko and Motoko did survive and that Himeko is in the express. How it pans out I'm assuming that Motoko/Nova has told Young Himeko that she's going to send a train car away from Asat and make her final stand which Young Himeko obviously doesn't agree with...

Especially with the lines of " No, this can't be it! If you can't come with me, what's the point of all of this?!" . Young Himeko doesn't want to actually see Himeko Nova sacrifice herself because them she'll be alone and what is the point of her living?

The Younger Himeko is a great transition to tell her beliefs and story in a tugging the heart string way. Before it goes into the uplifting battle sequence and theme. Motoko cranking what I believe is the express would further support this.

Possibly this part is Young Himeko wanting to sever the chain of fate and a throw back to the Animated short where if she's going to die she's going to do it on her own terms?

May just be me but this reminded me so much of Amphoreus and gave me major Tribios and Triane Vibes!

The battle scene was a triumphant power boost with defying the chains of fate. This transition was phenomenal and totally unexpected but ever since Penacony we do seem to love running the Astral express into things haha...

Aaand then the hi3 parallels are back again with the very end of nightglow..

But it seems like this will be different because the Trailblazer and other members of the Astral Express will always be there.

And a great logo animation! so much to say but can't wait to play!

With 4.4 dropping soon, putting my thoughts here:

I'm going to be disappointed to some degree if 4.4 / Planarcadia gets nicely wrapped up in a bow and then we move onto the beach next patch (Caveat: Unless they pull off a banger of a story line which is always possible...). It would be more interesting if we had to retreat from Planarcadia because Asat turned out to be too strong for us and we have go to Astropolis to get help from the IPC and Robin.

If Himeko sacrifices herself so that we can escape and then there is some plot that brings us back to Astropolis and resurrects Himeko

This is going to be a bit rough around the edges and more of a stream of consciousness thing so forgive me if it's not the best on grammar and punctuation. THAR BE POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW SPECULATING ON 4.3!!!!

Judging from the trailer it seems like they may be trying to sew some confusion or doubt about the current Himeko just like they did at the end of 4.0. This is making me think that the current Himeko is not 100% the Himeko during the last Phantasmoon games.

Himeko made a pact with Graphia/Aha as her winning the Phantasmoon games and that is why it seems like she got rid of the weathering curse.

Another theory could be that this is like an alternate timeline Himeko or something like Himeko merged herself with an Imagenae

I had a thought at the end of 4.2 of " Watch Graphia end up looking similar to Himeko in some way" and it sounds like that might be true, given the hair style...

Graphia is a former nameless and Himeko fixed the Astral Express that Graphia had crashed down on which explains her boarding pass in the trailer.

All that I know is that I don't want to hear anyone mention "Final Lessons" or hear anyone talk about Nightglow... (you know what I mean hi3 players...)