History Main / SecondHourSuperpower

** ''FinalFantasy'' does this a lot. ''[[FinalFantasyIII III]]'' and ''[[FinalFantasyV V]]'' both give you the Jobs after a few hours, and you don't get the Espers until pretty well into the story of ''[[FinalFantasyVI VI]]''. The other games do similar things to varying degrees, but these are the most obvious.

* The HEV suits from the original ''HalfLife'' and its sequel.

* SonicColours DS doesn't give you the well known boost (it's basically a third Sonic Rush with some alterations) until Tropical Resort Act ''2''. The first "real" wisp power after that is at the start of the second zone, where once you've got used to the boost, the wisp powers really come into play.

* ''JustCause 2'' and its trademark grappling hook.

* In {{Fallout 3}}, you get the ability to use V.A.T.s after your tenth birthday party.

* In {{Fallout3}}, you get the ability to use V.A.T.s after your tenth birthday party.

* In Fallout3, you get the ability to use V.A.T.s after your tenth birthday party.

* In [[Fallout Fallout ]], you get the ability to use V.A.T.s after your tenth birthday party.
* In [[Timesplitters Timesplitters Future Perfect]], you get the Uplink after you get to the rebel base.

* In ''Game/KingdomHearts'', you can't actually fight the Heartless until you gain a Keyblade.

Contrast EleventhHourSuperpower, which involves a sudden power-up right before the climax, as well as ATasteOfPower that lets you have a (nearly) full set of powers for a while before taking them away. Recently, many games have also adopted the trend of giving the hero powers by infecting him or her with TheVirus or TheCorruption shortly after the game starts.

* This is relatively common in the PaperMario series. In ''The Thousand Year Door'', the Star Meter abilities are only available after visiting the titular door for the first time, and in ''Super Paper Mario'' you get the 3D-flip ability halfway through the first level.

* After the two prologue chapters of {{Final Fantasy XIII}}, you get so [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu say "hello" to Anima]]. He says "hello" back by [[SuperEmpowering making]] [[BlessedWithSuck you]] [[TheChosenOne l'Cie]].

Simply put, a special ability that sets the hero apart and establishes why ''he'' is the one saving the day. More often than not, this power is what sets the game apart as well, and will often serve as its core gameplay mechanic. Many games today will feature an upgrade system for the power, allowing our hero to adapt to even greater threats as his enemies grow stronger.

This does not have to be a ''power'', specifically. Weapons count as well, provided they give the hero some advantage over his enemies that normal weapons don't. Such a weapon will usually be ForgedByTheGods.

Contrast EleventhHourSuperpower, which involves a sudden power-up right before the climax, as well as ATasteOfPower that lets you have a (nearly) full set of powers for a while before taking them away.

* In ''[=~Dante's Inferno~=]'', it's Death's Scythe.

* ''[[MetroidPrime Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]]''. You start the game with the general Samus gear, but after the assault on Norion and Samus successfully saving the planet from destruction (for once), she gains the power.

* The ''DevilMayCry'' games have the Devil Arms, which are acquired either through flashy cutscenes or defeating bosses. The main characters are superpowered already, but this makes them even more powerful.

* Kind of the defining trope for spellcasters in most pencil & paper RPGs. A first-level magic-user in AD&D, for example, would have a spell that was ''nearly'' as good as a single swing of the fighter's weapon, which he was allowed to use ''one'' time per day. By level 5, still fairly low-level (though it would take a lot more than two hours of playing time to get there), he had access to Fireballs, capable of taking out ''multiple'' low-level enemies in one hit.

* In ''JustCause 2'' and its trademark grappling hook.

* In ''JustCause 2'' it's the trademark grappling hook.

Contrast EleventhHourSuperpower, which involves a sudden power-up right before the climax.

* In ''KingdomHearts'', you can't actually fight the Heartless until you gain a Keyblade.
* In {{Portal}}, you don't actually get the signature Portal Device until a few test chambers in. Even then, you can only fire one portal, unable to make orange portals until later.

* In ''DantesInferno'', it's Death's Scythe.

* In TimeShift, you only receive your time controlling suit when you reach the second level.
* In Singularity, you receive the Time Manipulation Device early on, which lets you control time to a certain extent.

*In ''JustCause 2'' it's the trademark grappling hook.
*In ''DantesInferno'', it's Death's Scythe.
*In the new {{Wolfenstein}}, it's B.J.'s otherworldly medallion.
*Elric of Melnibone, Stormbringer could be considered this.

* In ''DarkSector'' Hayden gains the power of the Glaive shortly after he gets infected. \

* In ''{{Onimusha}}'', your attacks to hurt the demons, but won't kill them. You shortly later gain the Oni Gauntlet.