No Straight Roads (Company)
No Straight Roads, commonly abbreviated as NSR, is a huge record label, an music empire, and the governing body of New Vinyl City that serving as one of the main Allied group of Z-Tech. The biggest music company in the world, it is now called one of the "Big Four" record labels, along with Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group. Z-Tech acquired ten percent of NSR in March 2050 for 5 billion and acquired an additional ten percent stake in January 2051.
Overview
As the largest and most powerful record label in Vinyl City and its de facto corporate government, NSR controls every aspect of the city, down to the music scene, keeping EDM the dominant genre through its monopoly. The megastars who are under contract of NSR run their own districts within the city, where they have establishments based on their brand and places they perform their concerts. They all have a Platinum Disc that grants them as charters in their respective districts.
History
As the largest and most powerful record label in Vinyl City and its de facto corporate government, NSR controls every aspect of the city, down to the music scene, keeping EDM the dominant genre through its monopoly. The megastars who are under contract of NSR run their own districts within the city, where they have establishments based on their brand and places they perform their concerts. They all have a Platinum Disc that grants them as charters in their respective districts.
In 2050, combined with the newly acquired resources of the local Hinobi Glitch Tech operatives, and the adaptive equipment of Z-Tech, this urban fusion of music, technical assimilation, and gaming prowess has accelerated their already incredibly innovative progress to unthinkable levels. Home to a variety of colorful districts and neighborhoods, each boasting its own array of entertainment and manufacturing specialities, the limit in New Vinyl City has gone so far beyond the sky.
Past
Vinyl City is a big, high-tech city powered by music and is known as the music capital of the world. It used to have an energy problem but has since become well-powered thanks to the emergence of the record label and EDM empire NSR and their power source known as the Qwasa, a machine that converts music into power and distributes it through the whole city. Since then, music has been the main power source, and thus a wide-spread commodity. However, throughout the game, the city primarily favored EDM music over other genres, enforced by NSR with an iron fist and great prejudice.
Key Figures
Tatiana - The CEO and the prime charter of Vinyl City.
Megastars
NSR's top artists who each control a district of city, and whose visual style is based off of their genre of EDM.
DJ Subatomic Supernova - An egotistical, space-themed DJ representing some form of disco, he's the charter of Cast Tech and his core location for concerts is Club Planetarium. He is also responsible for the creation of the NSR Satellite.
Sayu - A bubbly, mermaid-like virtual idol representing cutecore (similar to an idol group or Vocaloid), who makes usage of her Pyun Pyun Trident. She is the charter of Akusuka and her core location for concerts is at the Kura Kura Stream Hub.
Yinu - A young pianist prodigy representing neoclassical, who is aided by her mother, and plays her White Bloom Pianoforte. She's the charter of Natura and her location for concerts is in the Natura Concert Hall.
1010 (Pronounced "Ten-Ten) - A poptastic, robotic boy band representing funky house, incorporating their dance sessions into their music. They are the charters of Metro Division, and their location for concerts is Barraca Mansion. Their manager is a cyborg named Neon J.
Eve - An intense, eccentric diva representing psydub, the charter of Dream Fever Her location for concerts is the Evenfall Gallery. She's Tatiana's right-hand woman, and is considered the most dangerous artist of NSR.
Employees
Mia - An booth attendant found working in the Festival Plaza, who Bunk Bed Junction meets after crashing DJ Subatomic Supernova's concert.
Drones
Drones are used by NSR for security, and they guard their artists' concerts.
- Bouncers - NSR security drones that can create a shockwave.
- Grey - Slams once at a slow pace to the beat.
- Red-arm - Slams at a faster pace than Grey varieties.
- Red - Slams twice in a row on a beat. Sometimes moves before attempting to attack.
- Black - Slams three times in a row on a beat. Will move before attempting to attack.
- Hologram - Unique to Sayu's fight. Behaves like a Grey or Red-arm Bouncer depending on the difficulty.
- Vandalized - Unique to the finale. Acts just like a Grey Bouncer, but weaker and will be destroyed in one hit.
- Cameras - NSR security drones that fly and can shoot.
- Purple - Will sometimes or always shoot out a Purple projectile.
- Turrets- NSR Security drones that stand in place and shoot. Will attempt to melee instead of shooting when approached.
- Beaters - NSR security drone that can move around and burst out metal pistons.
- Shielded - Unique to the 1010 Approach. Can spawn temporary shields.
- Illusionary - Unique to the Eve Approach. Moves only by disappearing and reappearing near Mayday and Zuke before attacking.
- Clappers- Additional to the Encore Edition. They only strike their palms against their opponents, but stationary.
Possessions
Regularities
NSR Tower
NSR Tower is the HC of NSR. The tower is first seen during Tatianas monologue at the start of the game, and again when Mayday and Zuke climbed up to a building edge. It is the tallest building in Vinyl City, with an added on lighthouse on top.
NSR Tower is where Tatianas boss fight takes place.
During the finale of the game, it is revealed that the tower can turn into a robotic hand.
Festival Plaza
"We feed it music and it powers the whole city" - 1010 (White)
It has be stated repeatedly in game that the Festival Plaza act as a power generator. the process of how it converts music into energy is currently unknown.
Specialties
Districts
There are five districts in Vinyl City. All of which are under management of a charter. Each district has their own unique flair that correlates with its charter.
Cast Tech
Cast Tach is the district managed by DJ Subatomic Supernova. Club Planetarium can be found here, which is where the first boss fight takes place.
Akusuka
Akusuka district is managed by Sayu. Kura Kura Stream Hub can be found here, which is where the second boss fight takes place.
Natura
Natura is managed by Yinu. Natura Concert Hall can be found here, which is where the third boss fight takes place.
Metro Division
Metro Division district is managed by 1010, and Neon J. Barraca Mansion can be found here, which is where the fourth boss fight takes place.
Dream Fever
Dream Fever district is managed by Eve. Evenfall Gallery can be found here, which is where the fifth boss fight takes place.
Story
Past
Lights Up Auditions
After Mayday and Zuke's performance at the Lights Up Audition, an event that has been used to find new artists to prop up under NSR's label, Tatiana and the other artists all failed Bunk Bed Junction, believing them to not represent what NSR is looking for.
Following this performance, Tatiana makes an announcement that NSR was only searching for EDM artists now, and asked for future auditioners to only work in that genre, enraging Mayday.
As Mayday and Zuke argue over whether NSR is a truly corrupt system, the city experienced a blackout. From the duo's vantage point, they see the backup energy that NSR produced was not being funneled into the entire city, but only to the districts where the NSR artists reside.
Bunk Bed Junction planned to take on the NSR artists, one by one, and started a music revolution in the process.
DJ Subatomic Supernova vs. Bunk Bed Junction
DJ Subatomic Supernova, during his concert at Club Planetarium, is seen having an argument about a satellite launch over a phone call. Once the call ends, he complains about his Mr. Dodo Ice Pop having melted, and orders a new one. As Bunk Bed Junctionbarge into Club Planetarium without permission or a "VIP privilege card", he is startled and challenges them, leading to the boss battle. DJSS then proceeds to battle the duo with his turntables. After they crack his helmet, a black hole leaks out. Mayday and Zukeuse "Showstopper" to end the battle and DJSS is sent flying off to space.
After his defeat, Mayday and Zuke watch on TV as a news anchor for Vinyl City Report informs that DJSS had been supervising the launch of an NSR Satellite. The launch turns out successful.
Sayu vs. Bunk Bed Junction
Sayu taunts Zuke and Mayday by suggesting supposed feelings for each other after Mayday criticizes her for not being real, with both characters sliding in with excuses. She recognizes that the two are a threat, but doesn't seem to actively be intimidated by them until her creators begin to panic.
Once the fight ends, Bunk Bed Junction enter her control room, and Mayday pulls the plug. She recognizes that they are incredibly talented to have made it this far on their own, but explains to them that they're involved in things they're too young to be messing with.
Yinu vs. Bunk Bed Junction
Yinu holds her concert at Natura Concert Hall, where Zuke and Mayday interrupt. Yinu's Mother initially tells her to not worry about them and keep playing, but as the battle goes on Yinu's Mother becomes increasingly ignorant of her well being, showcased as Yinu isn't even present in the fourth phase. Once she knocks down Bunk Bed Junction, Yinu declares that she hates everyone including her mother for ruining her performance and acting childish.
She is clearly distraught by the breaking of her piano, but as she plays a sad tune on one half of it, her mother shrinks down and joins her, showing that she is aware of how badly she has been acting.
1010 vs. Bunk Bed Junction
The battle begins with 1010 flirting with Mayday, who falls for it. She continues to defend them throughout the fight, even after they destroy the factory machine and reveal the robotic endoskeletons underneath their attractive appearance.
After defeating them and Neon J, Neon J assumes that they are there to finish off him or his men, to which they reply that they don't care about that. Neon J begins talking about his war history and grows annoyed when Mayday and Zuke simply walk away without listening.
Eve vs. Bunk Bed Junction
Eve has a different interaction and feelings towards both members of Bunk Bed Junction both of which have yet to be clarified.
Mayday
"This pedestrian girl you chose is a mistake. She is fire. Fire and sea do not mix."
Eve sees Mayday as inferior to her and struggles to understand why Zuke would "abandon" her for Mayday, especially when it comes to understanding art. Her envy is shown in the fight as well, where Mayday's side is visually harsher and more violent than Zuke's side. She refers to Mayday as "fire", the polar opposite to Zuke's "sea", implying that to her logic, they are not compatible.
Zuke
Remember when I was the tectonic plates and you were the sea? The heat we channeled when your waves broke upon my earth was euphoric. We were untouchable!
Eve and Zuke met when the two were in college. Zuke, who was a loner just like Eve when she went by Nadia, was handpicked by her after she saw potential in his artistic insights. It is implied that Nadia and Zuke started dating for their college years. The two were in a band together before she lit Zuke's hair on fire in an incident, prompting him to leave and stop talking to her. Eve took it hard and developed an obsession with Zuke, who she thought was the only one who understood her. She refers to Zuke as the "sea" to Eve's "earth", emphasizing how important Zuke is to her. In the fourth phase, she starts growing desperate, mocking Zuke that he wouldn't have been successful if it weren't for meeting her, as if to hurt him just as he hurt her.
Tatiana vs. Bunk Bed Junction
As Bunk Bed Junction break into her office, Tatiana and Mayday get into an argument, with Mayday criticizing her bias against Rock music while Tatiana criticizes Bunk Bed Junction for their actions and methods in reshaping the city’s politics, pointing out how their poor example would likely lead to future riots by people who simply don’t like the system, including actual EDM fans, and asking how they plan to even run the city with those circumstances. When Mayday can’t provide an answer, Tatiana attacks the duo. However, she loses, and the Crown breaks apart to reveal Kul Fyra’s guitar.
Irritated that Mayday and Zuke haven’t gotten the hint, Tatiana informs them that she was Kul Fyra the whole time, and that the Goolings disbanded due to creative differences that she blamed herself for not controlling. After it’s revealed that the energy output of Rock and EDM are both the same, Tatiana sarcastically congratulates them before Kliff shows up.
Saving Vinyl City
Kliff explains how he felt about Kul Fyra’s disappearance, apparently having known Tatiana’s true identity the whole time, and asks if the support he gave her as her fan meant anything, to which Tatiana only replies that she doesn’t owe him anything. Kliff, in a rage, sets the NSR Satellite to collide with the NSR Tower in order to end the company and have Rock become the new dominant genre in Vinyl City. Mayday and Zuke decide to stop the satellite after realizing they’d become like NSR, and so Tatiana informs them that they have to give back the Districts to the Megastars in order to stop the satellite. As Mayday and Zuke finish their task, they’re stopped by Kliff with an army of robots on their way to the Grand Qwasa, but Tatiana appears and destroys them with a wave of fire and Rock with her guitar.
Aftermath
After the satellite is destroyed by the final Showstopper, Mayday’s guitar is destroyed as well, and after regretting all her actions, nearly decides to give up performing. After encouraging Mayday to share some words with the crowd, Tatiana officially admits her mistakes and announces that NSR will be allowing all genres of music for the sake of a brighter future for the city, offering Bunk Bed Junction positions among the Megastars. Confused about what to do next, Mayday refuses (for now). Tatiana gives Mayday her guitar, telling her that she’s still a performer and that Tatiana’s performing days are long behind her. Mayday accepts it in tears, and Tatiana remarks that the city is heading towards a brighter future than ever before.
Invasion and meeting Z-Tech
For sometime After many events in Vinyl City. Music Revolution, when Estallia took over the city, Gray Gravel invasion, and the arrival of Z-Tech.Industries, Mayday and Zuke finally decided to join NSR and the Reformed Kliff joined as well. Z-Tech supported NSR and gave them advanced equipment and new Allies (Glitch techs) to futurize the city and renamed it as New Vinyl City, the Music Capital of the Multiverse. Each NSR artist now became governors of each district of new vinyl City. As a reward, The Company of Z-Tech has been granted access into the city and has established bases, War Factories, Radio Stations, and Shops to sell their products from weapons to manufactured goods. Z-Tech and their Allies quickly liked NSR and Glitch Techs for the Qwasa (converts music into energy), high tech equipment, Nano-plixel technology and their music from rock, EDM and more. To fit in with NSR, Z-Tech suggested that bunkbed junction make collaborations with the artists, But also Mr.Pardo (the President of the United Federation of Nations) reminded Tatiana to never let one genre be dominated (EDM for example) or tell her fans what she told Kliff last time ever again or They’ll be sorry (I mean it) Nsr and Bunkbed-Junction agreed.