History Main / SecondHourSuperpower

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', the main character gains the ability to use the reality warping [[MakeMeWannaShout Thu'um]] after completing at least one dungeon and defeating their first dragon in the storyline. In fact, depending on what quests you choose to do, you could play half the content before doing the quest that unlocks this ability.

* Flight became this in ''Manga/DragonBall''. It was introduced halfway through the first series, as a special ability of the ArcVillain. By the beginning of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', not being able to fly was considered a liability in combat.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', all characters start at about the [[SuperWeight Iron Weight]] and don't receive any superpowers (including the [[JobSystem Paradigm Shift system]] or, indeed, the ''ability to get {{Character Level}}s'') until they get to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu say "hello" to Anima at the end of the prologue]]. He says "hello" back by making them L'Cie, whose power grows almost exponentially with time until they either succeed or fail at their Focus (ie, task). This is lampshaded from the start, when the heroes discover that formerly-tough EliteMooks are little more than CannonFodder for them now.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', all characters start at about the [[SuperWeight Iron Weight]] and don't receive any superpowers (including the [[JobSystem Paradigm Shift system]] or, indeed, the ''ability to get {{Character Level}}s'') until they get to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu say "hello" to Anima]] at the end of the prologue]]. He says "hello" back by making them L'Cie, whose power grows almost exponentially with time until they either succeed or fail at their Focus (ie, task). This is lampshaded from the start, when the heroes discover that formerly-tough EliteMooks are little more than CannonFodder for them now.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', all characters start at about the [[SuperWeight Iron Weight]] and don't receive any superpowers (including the [[JobSystem Paradigm Shift system]] or, indeed, the ''ability to LevelUp'') until they get to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu say "hello" to Anima]] at the end of the prologue]]. He says "hello" back by making them L'Cie, whose power grows almost exponentially with time until they either succeed or fail at their Focus (ie, task). This is lampshaded from the start, when the heroes discover that formerly-tough EliteMooks are little more than CannonFodder for them now.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' gives you your Terastalizing ability only after you get to the school (and have to fight one trainer who uses it before you can!)

** The Soul Cube [[spoiler: (only on Nightmare difficulty)]] and the Artifact are second level superpowers, but never really get powerful or useful until a little bit later.
** The Super Shotgun from ''Doom 2'' is available in a side room on level 2. If you know the secrets, you can have both the Plasma Rifle and the [[{{BFG}} BFG 9000]] before you even hit the 10th map.

* In ''VideoGame/OnimushaWarlords'', your attacks do hurt the demons, but won't kill them. You shortly later gain the Oni Gauntlet.

* ''Franchise/Metroid'':

* In the first ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', you start off as just a Republic soldier on Taris, but become a Jedi shortly after that.
** In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' , while you start as a Jedi, you don't get your lightsaber for the first few parts of the game, so it's similar if not exactly the same.

* In ''VideoGame/JediOutcast'', you play two levels with Kyle Katarn as TheGunslinger of a garden variety, then he says "LetsGetDangerous" and pays a visit to Luke Skywalker for his lightsaber. After that, he's a Jedi. It's the same in ''VideoGame/JediKnightDarkForcesII''. Kyle has no Force powers until after he visits his father's workshop.

* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption''. You start the game with the general Samus gear, but after the assault on Norion and Samus successfully saving the planet from destruction, she gains [[SuperMode Hypermode.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' starts with the Handguns weapon equipped in the prologue of the first game, whose moveset is functionally identical to the guns you get at the end of the prologue, except that Wicked Weaves can’t be used for [[HandWave story reasons]], allowing players to get used to the combo system before permanently upgrading combo finishers in every subsequent chapter with flashy AoE attacks.

** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', the ([[ProlongedPrologue lengthy]]) prologue has you play as Roxas, whose combat mechanics are very similar to the first game's and has very few options. Once you get control of Sora, you get the much more varied [=KH2=] combat mechanics and several more options, most notably Drive Forms.

* ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'':
** You're locked to your starter weapon (the Splattershot Jr.) until you reach Level 2, and aren't able to choose from weapon classes other than Shooters until Level 3, with the basic weapons of each class not being fully unlocked until Level 9.
** The full extent of CharacterCustomization isn't unlocked until Level 4, at which point the various shopkeepers deem you cool enough to switch out of your StarterEquipment and experiment with new looks (and, in conjunction, ability loadouts).
** While you can play it locally with friends from the start, you can't play [[PlayerVersusEnvironment Salmon Run]] online until you reach Level 4. Similarly, the game doesn't let you participate in ranked modes until you've reached Level 10.

* The multiplayer for the ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' series locks you to your default weapon until level 2, locks you out of any weapon other than rapid-fire shooters and to your default clothing until level 4, and locks Ranked Mode until level 10. The [[VideoGame/Splatoon2 second game]] locks [[MultiMookMelee Salmon Run]] until level 4.

* In the first ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'' game, you play for about two minutes as a human (literally as soon as you walk out of the first room, you're in a HopelessBossFight), then spend the rest of the game as a super-powerful vampire.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' and ''[[Videogame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]'' didn't allow use of [[LimitBreak Z-Moves]] until after completing the first trial, since Z-Crystals replace badges as the PlotCoupon of this generation.

* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Doom}} Doom 3]]'':

** The Super Shotgun from Doom 2 is available in a side room on level 2. If you know the secrets, you can have both the Plasma Rifle and the [[{{BFG}} BFG 9000]] before you even hit the 10th map.

** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Mystery of the Emblem]]'' and the remake hand Marth the title shield at the end of Chapter 2. Its only in-game function is to open treasure chests, admittedly, but its storyline powers are rather more impressive.

* Functionally, this occurs in ''TableTopGame/DungeonsAndDragons and ''TableTopGame/{{Pathfinder}} for non-magic using characters. By fourth level or so, many can do things or survive wounds that would be virtually impossible for flesh-and-blood humans. Alternatively, a character could begin without any unusual powers and take a magic-using class at second level. Magic users start with supernatural powers.
** If the already superhuman abilities of ''TableTopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' are treated as "Normal" for the setting, then the Mythic Adventures expansion allows "normal" Pathfinder characters to become mythic heroes who outstrip their vanilla kin. The Wrath Of the Righteous Path starts delivering these Mythic powers by the end of the first sixth of the adventure.
** Rangers in particular during 1-3.5rd Edition TableTopGame/DungeonsAndDragons and TableTopGame/{{Pathfinder}} have no obviously special powers, just lots of BadAssNormal skills, but after a few levels start gaining spells and mystical bonds.

* The ''VideoGame/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.
** There's also [[SuperMode Devil Trigger]], which usually isn't acquired until you're a few missions into the game. In the first game, Dante gains the ability after acquiring his first Devil Arm, Alastor. The third game has him acquiring it after his first battle with Vergil, where he's defeated and impaled with his own sword, Rebellion. Nero from the fourth game acquires it after resurrecting and acquiring Yamato, the sword that once belonged to Vergil.