Delta mentions he has Mind Hacking powers.
Mind Hacking is an esper ability that plays a significant role in Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma, although it could be seen as being mentioned and perhaps also used in the previous two games.
Overview[]
Mind Hacking is a skill that is born in certain individuals. Delta states that he was born a Mind Hacker because his parents had esper abilities (both his mother and father are SHIFTers) and their reproductive cells underwent epigenetic changes due to the stress of the Decision Game. It is unknown if people with this skill can be born to non-esper parents. In Virtue's Last Reward, it is mentioned that "Brother" (Delta) believed he received his powers as a "gift from God" or some higher power.
Delta Mind Hacks Eric to kill Sigma and Sean.
At its core, Mind Hacking utilizes the morphogenetic field to be able to read people's hearts and minds. Delta describes his power as "touching the thoughts of other people and see into them". This allows him to be able to perceive other's thoughts and, via reading the minds of SHIFTers, learn about multiple timelines from them. With a bit more effort, Mind Hacking even allows temporary mind control, giving them full dominion of the target's actions while under their influence. This is seen when Delta Mind Hacks Eric to kill; Eric displays some notable resistance, fighting for control of his body, although Delta is able to take over.
As of Zero Time Dilemma, Delta is the sole known user of this ability. However, it is heavily implied that ? (the consciousness of player) is a Mind Hacker who Mind Hacks the actions of Diana, Carlos and Sean during the game, and perhaps even Junpei and Sigma from the previous games. The director of the series said that there is no doubt ? "intervenes" during the events of Zero Time Dilemma. In this sense, then ? is also an esper and SHIFTer. If one of the protagonists presses the button in the Decontamination Room, they feel as if an external force was guiding them, suggesting that ? is compared to "Toxoplasma gondii", a parasite that can control other people's actions.
Trivia[]
- Although not confirmed, it is possible that Delta was Mind Hacking Sean, and Delta may have the ability to Mind Hack the quantum computer in the Quantum Computer Dome.
- Mind Hacking (the ability to read minds) as seen in Zero Escape could be seen as a criticism of the superpower of mind reading, and all the consequences it would bring, making one wonder if peering into the consciousnesses and thoughts of humanity is worth it. It is mentioned that Brother/Delta was so devastated and saddened by the amount of hateful, envious and greedy thoughts he encountered that he embarked on a mission to try to purify human consciousness.