The 2nd arc has a new opening. But the voice is different from anyone we’ve heard on the show. It’s a man who says he lives in the games, and he’s looking for Mainframe. His home. This man is a renegade, lost on the net. As the footage goes by, you see a gruff looking green sprite with a cybernetic eye, and a preference of using guns. And then it hits you immediately.
Holy crap, is… Is that Enzo?
The little sprite that was so happy and full of life has become a renegade without a format. Angry at the world around him. You also see Frisket, who looks about the same, as well as an adult AndrAIa, who… well… got pretty friggin’ hot. It’s mind blowing. It’s been only one episode, and all of this time appeared to have passed? Well, sort of. You see, ss the show mentioned in the previous episode, time moves different within games, and the effects of hopping from one game to another from system to system causes sprites to compile faster. And with that, it's time to be reintroduced to our main characters.
We open in a game akin to Mars Attacks, as three martian sprites are trying to avoid the user. The eventually manage to blow him up, before changing their game sprite icons back into regular icons. The game ends, and the cube leaves, as our heroes survey where they are. It isn’t Mainframe, but a system that’s in ruins. The binomes in the system are in bad shape, but are surprised that anyone has managed to exit the cube. They believe they are the user, but they introduce themselves as AndrAIa, and Enzo. But Enzo would prefer his name to be Matrix from here on in.
We also see that Matrix is on edge and a bit trigger happy, as any sudden sound will have him fire his gun. Also, it’s clear that Matrix isn’t a very happy individual at all. He goes to see what repairs can be done to the system, which AndrAIa goes with Frisket to find any remains of a principal office. The system is badly damaged, filled with nulls, and badly damaged. Matrix also learns that a virus is loose in Mainframe. Inside the principal office, Matrix find a binome called “The Wise One”.
Matrix finds a young robotic sprite being attacked by a mantis virus. He attacks the mantis, who thinks he’s a guardian. Matrix however is no guardian, and unlike Bob, he shows no mercy to viruses. He shoots the mantis in the head, deleting it. He leaves the sprite, who seems a lot like a certain sprite we remember. Meanwhile, AndrAIa tells The Wise One about their situations, as Matrix tells them about the damage to the system. If they lose one more game, the system is done for.
The binomes of the system want the three of them to stay and protect the system. AndrAIa suggests that they stay and train the binomes to survive the games. Matrix would rather leave the system to be destroyed. Of course, this gruffness to the binomes is only an act. In the end, only four binomes would join up. These binomes are the fast Barry, Gabby the writer, Hardboot the construction worker, and Jeff, who has no clue why he’s joined the fight other than wanting to help.
But the introduction is cut short as the game drops. But before that, the sprite from earlier enters with them. Matrix tells the sprite to stay out of the way. The game this time is based on Conan the Barbarian. Matrix rallies the troops, and gives the group names. Barry is Overdrive, Gabby is Tweak, Hardboot is… Hardboot (the name really does say it all), Jeff is Tactic, and the sprite is named Backup.
They also have to tell the group how to reboot, since this is the first time they’ve entered a game. They all reboot successfully, as they head to the tower to beat the user. But Backups is quickly separated from the group as a giant flying creature attacks them. Tactic finds a feather and takes it, believing it will serve a purpose later. Tweak is still a bit more concerned about writing AndrAIa’s biography, and Overdrive tries to break the chain of a boat. But a giant sea serpent attacks them.
AndrAIa quickly overwhelms the creature, and uses it to help the others cross. Matrix realizes Backup is missing, and goes to find him. He quickly manages to rescue Backup, as the others get closer to the castle. Meanwhile, outside the game, the system is still falling apart. The others make their way to the castle, and the feather that Tactic found earlier helps him to fly, which opens the drawbridge.
Meanwhile, Matrix and Backup are busy battling giant gargoyles. Matrix decapitates one, while Backup finishes the other off. The others find the gold tooth needed to finish the level, but Hardboot accidentally blocks the holder. Matrix and Backup arrive, just as the user makes it to the final level. AndrAIa tells Matrix to not help, as this is a fight the others have to win. And they manage to handle themselves great, keeping the user knocked out long enough to take the gold tooth and win the game.
Matrix, AndrAIa, and Frisket prepare to leave, as Matrix gives his yo-yo to Backup. And the episode ends, as Matrix, AndrAIa, and Frisket continue their journey, as the system seems to finally be on the road to recovery with its new heroes.
“Icons” is a great episode that helps to establish the new character directions of Matrix, AndrAIa and Frisket . Matrix is a gruff individual, without much optimism and more willing to shoot first and not even bother with the questions. He’s a renegade, just like he says. No longer considering himself a guardian and in so many ways, he’s different from what Bob was. Bob was a sprite who would rather try to work on changing the viruses for the better, and never deleted them. Even when a situation like Hexadecimal’s mask removal would have led to her destruction, he still saves her. Similar situation when Megabyte was almost destroyed in “When Games Collide”. Bob is bound by his code of honor, and will defend anyone who needs help, even viruses.
Matrix however shows no mercy to anyone who crosses his path. This makes him so much different from who Bob was, and especially far different from who he was as a small sprite. This is especially noticeable with his interactions with Backup, who acts a lot like the sprite Matrix once was. I can understand how a lot of people can be turned off by Matrix, considering how much of an anti-hero he is. But for the show to evolve like it does, this was a much needed character change, and it works so well.
AndrAIa doesn’t have too much change in character. She’s supportive of the sprite she loves, but is also the one to keep the angry sprite from going too far with his actions. Frisket really doesn’t change, since he’s always been the feral dog that’s been Matrix’s pet. He’s still definitely a threat to anyone who gets in the way of the sprites he cares about. And yes, I really do like her updated character design.
It’s also interesting to finally see a different system, and how they differ from Mainframe. This one definitely doesn’t seem any different from Mainframe, but is far more damaged and troubled. We get some interesting characters, each with their own interesting quirks, and even though this is the end of their tale, it would have been nice to see how the system recovered, and the evolution of these heroes.
After an episode with such a dark turn like “Game Over”, they could have taken this show in any direction. And I personally think the way they have so far has been excellently handled. We still need to learn a bit more about Matrix, and what motivates his aggression, but that will have to wait. Our heroes will have another system to deal with, and perhaps see a sprite that reminds them of an old friend.