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* DraggedOffToHell: Or to the Womb of Nehilim, to be precise. Can happen three times: you can get trapped there if you mess around in a certain area, it can happen to the whole world in one of the bad endings, and in the good ending, [[spoiler: this is you you'll defeat Croesus.]]
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''Anchorhead'' is an award-winning work of InteractiveFiction written and programmed independently by Michael Gentry, and is heavily inspired by the CthulhuMythos. The game is set within the titular town of Anchorhead, which rests firmly within LovecraftCountry. You play the role of a nameless woman who has moved into town with her husband Michael, and quickly becomes enmeshed in the dark, disturbing goings on -- to say more would be to spoil a truly excellent plot.
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''Anchorhead'' is an award-winning work of InteractiveFiction written and programmed independently by Michael Gentry, and is heavily inspired by the CthulhuMythos.Franchise/CthulhuMythos. The game is set within the titular town of Anchorhead, which rests firmly within LovecraftCountry. You play the role of a nameless woman who has moved into town with her husband Michael, and quickly becomes enmeshed in the dark, disturbing goings on -- to say more would be to spoil a truly excellent plot.
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cleaned up Genre Savvy tropes as per http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=14517129060A14005800&page=1#1
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* GenreSavvy: The [[TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday shopkeeper]] hints that he (or a friend of his) has been through his own Lovecraftian story, and recognizes that you're in the same situation.
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/anchorhead_1998.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Not even the "R" key cure the fear of unknown...]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Not even the "R" key cure the fear of unknown...]]
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* TheAntichrist: [[Croseus Verlac; or at least, he and his followers seem to believe that he is.]]
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* TheAntichrist: [[Croseus [[spoiler:Croseus Verlac; or at least, he and his followers seem to believe that he is.]]
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* TheAntichrist: [[Croseus Verlac; or at least, he and his followers seem to believe that he is.]]
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* ChildByRape: [[spoiler:All of the male Verlacs, who were each conceived by the previous male Verlac's rape of his own daughter.]]
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* BurnTheWitch: After Croseus's death, many of the townspeople of Anchorhead, led by the local Calvinist minister, turned on his daughters, branded them witches, and burned them all at the stake (except for the youngest, who somehow managed to escape).
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** Several aspects of the town are pretty clear nods to ''TheShadowOverInnsmouth'', particularly the librarian with "fish-eyes" and the local drunk [[spoiler:who gives the protagonist key information for the price of a bottle of whiskey]].
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** Several aspects of the town are pretty clear nods to ''TheShadowOverInnsmouth'', ''Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth'', particularly the librarian with "fish-eyes" and the local drunk [[spoiler:who gives the protagonist key information for the price of a bottle of whiskey]].
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Incidentally, you can find it [[http://www.wurb.com/if/game/17.html here]] or [[http://pr-if.org/play/anchorhead/ here.]] The list of awards should really speak for itself.
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Incidentally, you can find it [[http://www.wurb.com/if/game/17.html here]] or [[http://pr-if.org/play/anchorhead/ here.]] here]]. The list of awards should really speak for itself.
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* BackStory: There's quite a bit of it. You'll need to put some of it together (reading newspaper articles, etc.) to advance the plot.
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* BackStory: {{Backstory}}: There's quite a bit of it. You'll need to put some of it together (reading newspaper articles, etc.) to advance the plot.
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* [[CobwebOfDisuse Cobweb of Disuse]]: Between you and an intriguing-looking iron key in the corner of the Verlac mansion basement.
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* [[CobwebOfDisuse Cobweb of Disuse]]: CobwebOfDisuse: Between you and an intriguing-looking iron key in the corner of the Verlac mansion basement.
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* CosmicHorrorStory: Arguably -- [[spoiler:you ''can'' win in the short-term, but it's not exactly LovecraftLite, either; the "good" ending strongly implies that [[TheEndOrIsIt everything is about to start all over again.]]]]
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* CosmicHorrorStory: Arguably -- [[spoiler:you ''can'' win in the short-term, but it's not exactly LovecraftLite, either; the "good" ending strongly implies that [[TheEndOrIsIt everything is about to start all over again.]]]]again]].]]
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* {{Diary}}: You can find two of them, belonging to [[spoiler:Edward and Anna Verlac.]]
* DissonantSerenity: You, in the NonStandardGameOver where you [[spoiler: go mad from reading the book and [[EyeScream claw your own eyes out]].]]
* DissonantSerenity: You, in the NonStandardGameOver where you [[spoiler: go mad from reading the book and [[EyeScream claw your own eyes out]].]]
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* {{Diary}}: You can find two of them, belonging to [[spoiler:Edward and Anna Verlac.]]
Verlac]].
* DissonantSerenity: You, in the NonStandardGameOver where you [[spoiler: go mad from reading the book and [[EyeScream claw your own eyesout]].]]out]]]].
* DissonantSerenity: You, in the NonStandardGameOver where you [[spoiler: go mad from reading the book and [[EyeScream claw your own eyes
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* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves [[spoiler::you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]] in a bad ending.]])
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* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves [[spoiler::you [[spoiler:you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]] in a bad ending.]])ending]]).
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* [[GuessTheVerb Guess the Verb]]: Averted.
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* NonstandardGameOver: The game has a large number of grisly ways to die, including [[GoMadFromTheRevelation insanity]] and suffering a FateWorseThanDeath.
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* NonstandardGameOver: NonStandardGameOver: The game has a large number of grisly ways to die, including [[GoMadFromTheRevelation insanity]] and suffering a FateWorseThanDeath.
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* OldDarkHouse: The Verlac mansion, which has [[SecretPath hidden passageways]], [[SpookyPainting unsettling]] [[PortraitPaintingPeephole paintings]], windows painted shut, a family crypt out back, a dank cellar, and an [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination [[MadwomanInTheAttic in the Attic]]]].
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* OldDarkHouse: The Verlac mansion, which has [[SecretPath hidden passageways]], [[SpookyPainting unsettling]] [[PortraitPaintingPeephole paintings]], {{p|ortraitPaintingPeephole}}aintings, windows painted shut, a family crypt out back, a dank cellar, and an [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination [[MadwomanInTheAttic in the Attic]]]].
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* PortraitPaintingPeephole: You can [[spoiler:spy on Michael through the eyes of]] [[SpookyPainting Croseus Verlac's portrait]] in the sitting room.
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* PortraitPaintingPeephole: You can [[spoiler:spy on Michael through the eyes of]] of [[SpookyPainting Croseus Verlac's portrait]] portrait]]]] in the sitting room.
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* PowerOfLove: Plays a crucial role in the ending... with the help of [[spoiler:a couple bits of jewelry]].
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* PowerOfLove: ThePowerOfLove: Plays a crucial role in the ending... with the help of [[spoiler:a couple bits of jewelry]].
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* TomeOfEldritchLore: The book in the church. [[spoiler: Reading it all the way through [[GoMadFromTheRevelation causes a]] NonstandardGameOver.]]
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* TomeOfEldritchLore: The book in the church. [[spoiler: Reading it all the way through [[GoMadFromTheRevelation causes a]] NonstandardGameOver.NonStandardGameOver.]]
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* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: Plenty, and frequently includes GoMadFromTheRevelation. You'll get a few glimpses of ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow throughout, but be careful about digging too deeply.
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* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: Plenty, and frequently includes GoMadFromTheRevelation. You'll get a few glimpses of ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow Things Man Was Not Meant to Know]] throughout, but be careful about digging too deeply.deeply.
* YouCantGetYeFlask: Averted.
* YouCantGetYeFlask: Averted.
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* VillainousIncest: [[spoiler:How Croseus' spirit has carried on his bloodline.]]
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** [[spoiler: William]] is most definitely inspired by ''The Dunwich Horror''.
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** [[spoiler: William]] is most definitely inspired by ''The Dunwich Horror''. [[spoiler:And he finally shows up on Whateley Bridge, named after the monstrous brothers in that story.]]
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* GeniusLoci: The EldritchAbomination the cult worships is a living comet.
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** In one dream, you're a little girl, waiting for your father to come and tuck you in to bed... but when your "father" comes in to your room, you realize it is actually your husband Michael, as he starts to remove his belt. [[spoiler:In the best ending, you find out that you are pregnant - this dream was a vision of what could have been [[FridgeHorror your unborn daughter's future]], had you not stopped Croseus.]]
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* BabiesEverAfter: A very, very dark subversion. [[spoiler:In the "best" ending, the protagonist learns that she is pregnant, to her shock and horror, with the fear that Croseus may still somehow return. The story comes to a close with Michael ominously (though innocently) saying that he hopes the baby will be a girl.]]
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** Croseus Verlac's M.O. is taken straight out of ''The Thing on the Doorstep''.
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** Croseus Verlac's M.O. is taken straight out of ''The Thing on the Doorstep''.''Literature/TheThingOnTheDoorstep''.
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* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Verlac, i.e. "warlock" (it's German). Edward's letter calls Croseus one.
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* UnexpectedInheritance: How you got to Anchorhead in the first place. (Actually, Michael only inherited the house because the previous heir ''killed his entire family.'' Unfortunately for you, [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive the Call can find a way.]]
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* UnexpectedInheritance: How you got to Anchorhead in the first place. (Actually, Michael only inherited the house because the previous heir ''killed his entire family.'' Unfortunately for you, [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive the Call can find a way.]]]])
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* PowerOfLove: Plays a crucial role in the ending... with the help of a couple bits of jewelry.
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* PowerOfLove: Plays a crucial role in the ending... with the help of a [[spoiler:a couple bits of jewelry.jewelry]].
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* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]] in a bad ending.)
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* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves you [[spoiler::you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]] in a bad ending.)]])
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* DissonantSerenity: You, in the NonStandardGameOver where you [[spoiler: go mad from reading the book and [[EyeScream claw your own eyes out]].]]
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* AfterlifeExpress: [[ConversationalTroping Discoursed upon]] in a book of folklore and superstitions. (However, if you stand on the tracks and wait, you'll find the train is plenty real enough to run you over.)
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* AfterlifeExpress: [[ConversationalTroping Discoursed upon]] in a book of folklore and superstitions. (However, if you stand on the tracks and wait, you'll find the train is plenty real enough to run [[spoiler:run you over.over]].)
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* DreamingOfThingsToCome and DreamingOfTimesGoneBy: In your nightmares.
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* DreamingOfThingsToCome and DreamingOfTimesGoneBy: In your nightmares. Pay attention, they hold useful clues.
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* OldDarkHouse: The Verlac mansion, which has [[SecretPath hidden passageways]], [[SpookyPainting unsettling]] [[PortraitPaintingPeephole paintings]], windows painted shut, and an [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination [[MadwomanInTheAttic in the Attic]]]].
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* OldDarkHouse: The Verlac mansion, which has [[SecretPath hidden passageways]], [[SpookyPainting unsettling]] [[PortraitPaintingPeephole paintings]], windows painted shut, a family crypt out back, a dank cellar, and an [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination [[MadwomanInTheAttic in the Attic]]]].
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* ShoutOut: Numerous, to the original Cthulhu mythos and its authors. Among them are the city of Arkham, Whateley Bridge, the Miskaton University library...
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* ShoutOut: Numerous, to As the original author puts it, plainly clear to anyone who's read Lovecraft or the Cthulhu mythos and its authors. mythos, or even "stood downwind from someone who has." Among them are the city of Arkham, Whateley Bridge, the Miskaton University library...
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* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: Plenty, and usually includes GoMadFromTheRevelation.
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* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: Plenty, and usually frequently includes GoMadFromTheRevelation.GoMadFromTheRevelation. You'll get a few glimpses of ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow throughout, but be careful about digging too deeply.
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too many blank spaces.
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'''Caution: spoilers may be found here.'''
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* AfterlifeExpress: [[ConversationalTroping Discoursed upon]] in a book of folklore and superstitions.
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* AfterlifeExpress: [[ConversationalTroping Discoursed upon]] in a book of folklore and superstitions. (However, if you stand on the tracks and wait, you'll find the train is plenty real enough to run you over.)
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* BigFancyHouse: The Verlac mansion. [[spoiler:Lucky you, it's also a HauntedHouse. Who would have thought it?]]
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* BigFancyHouse: The Verlac mansion. [[spoiler:Lucky (Lucky you, it's also a HauntedHouse. Who would have thought it?]]it?)
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* BrownNote: [[spoiler: If you continue reading the book in the church.]]
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* BrownNote: [[spoiler: If you continue reading the book in the church.]]
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* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Croseus Verlac]] has possessed [[spoiler:several generations of his offspring]], and intends to do the same to [[spoiler:Michael.]]
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he is our blood]]]]''
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he always returns to his blood]]]]''
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he is our blood]]]]''
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he always returns to his blood]]]]''
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* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Croseus Verlac]] has possessed [[spoiler:several several generations of his [[spoiler:his offspring]], and intends to do does the same to [[spoiler:Michael.]]
-->''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords ''[[ArcWords he is our blood]]]]''
blood]]''
-->''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords ''[[ArcWords he always returns to his blood]]]]''blood]]''
-->
-->
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* [[spoiler: DownerEnding / BolivianArmyEnding: It depends on your interpretation, or, rather, on what you want to believe happens after the end. Don't forget, though: "He always returns to his blood". Also, Michael's words at the end: "I've always wanted to have a little girl". Sounds very creepy if your consider the context.]]
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* [[spoiler: DownerEnding / BolivianArmyEnding: It depends on your interpretation, or, rather, on what you want to believe happens after the end. Don't forget, though: "He always returns to his blood". Also, Michael's words at the end: "I've always wanted to have a little girl". Sounds very creepy if your consider the context.]]end.
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* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves [[spoiler:you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]]]], but the other you'll ''need'' to do to defeat a certain monster).
to:
* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves [[spoiler:you you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]]]], but the other you'll ''need'' to do to defeat out]] in a certain monster).bad ending.)
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* [[spoiler: PowerOfLove: The way to return your possessed husband to his true self.]]
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* [[spoiler: PowerOfLove: The way to return your possessed husband to his true self.]]Plays a crucial role in the ending... with the help of a couple bits of jewelry.
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* UnexpectedInheritance: How you got to Anchorhead in the first place.
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* UnexpectedInheritance: How you got to Anchorhead in the first place. (Actually, Michael only inherited the house because the previous heir ''killed his entire family.'' Unfortunately for you, [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive the Call can find a way.]]
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spoiler covered under Eyescream
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* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]], but the other you'll ''need'' to do to defeat a certain monster).
to:
* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves you [[spoiler:you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]], out]]]], but the other you'll ''need'' to do to defeat a certain monster).
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Just clarifying...
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** Anchorhead has quite a few similarities to Innsmouth.
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** Anchorhead has quite a few similarities Several aspects of the town are pretty clear nods to Innsmouth.''TheShadowOverInnsmouth'', particularly the librarian with "fish-eyes" and the local drunk [[spoiler:who gives the protagonist key information for the price of a bottle of whiskey]].
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** Anchorhead has quite a few similarities to Innsmouth.
** The abduction [[spoiler: and sacrifice]] of children hints at ''The Dreams in the Witch-House''.
** [[spoiler: William]] is most definitely inspired by ''The Dunwich Horror''.
** Croseus Verlac's M.O. is taken straight out of ''The Thing on the Doorstep''.
** The abduction [[spoiler: and sacrifice]] of children hints at ''The Dreams in the Witch-House''.
** [[spoiler: William]] is most definitely inspired by ''The Dunwich Horror''.
** Croseus Verlac's M.O. is taken straight out of ''The Thing on the Doorstep''.
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* DreamingOfThingsToCome and DreamingOfTimesGoneBy: In your nightmares.
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* [[GuessTheVerb Guess the Verb]]: Expertly averted.
* InTheBlood: '''[[CompleteMonster He]] always [[DemonicPossession returns to]] his blood.'''
* InTheBlood: '''[[CompleteMonster He]] always [[DemonicPossession returns to]] his blood.'''
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* [[GuessTheVerb Guess the Verb]]: Expertly averted.
Averted.
* InTheBlood:'''[[CompleteMonster He]] '''He always [[DemonicPossession returns to]] his blood.'''
* InTheBlood:
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''Anchorhead'' is an award-winning work of InteractiveFiction written and programmed independently by Michael Gentry, and is heavily inspired by the CthulhuMythos. The game is set within the titular town of Anchorhead, which rests firmly within LovecraftCountry. You play the role of a nameless woman who has moved into town with her husband Michael, and quickly becomes enmeshed in the dark, disturbing goings on -- to say more would be to spoil a truly excellent plot.
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<<|WebOriginal|>>
<<|WebOriginal|>>
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<<|WebOriginal|>>
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Incidentally, you can find it [[http://www.wurb.com/if/game/17.html here.]] The list of awards should really speak for itself.
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Incidentally, you can find it [[http://www.wurb.com/if/game/17.html here]] or [[http://pr-if.org/play/anchorhead/ here.]] The list of awards should really speak for itself.
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<<|WebOriginal|>>
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<<|WebOriginal|>>
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''Anchorhead'' is an award-winning work of InteractiveFiction written and programmed independently by Michael Gentry, and is heavily inspired by the CthulhuMythos. The game is set within the titular town of Anchorhead, which rests firmly within LovecraftCountry. You play the role of a nameless woman who has moved into town with her husband Michael, and quickly becomes enmeshed in the dark, disturbing goings on -- to say more would be to spoil a truly excellent plot.
The game is notable, in addition to its great writing and overall polished feel, for breaking the typical structure and conventions of an InteractiveFiction game; the narrative is broken up into "days", during which you must complete required courses of action in order to proceed to the next day.
Incidentally, you can find it [[http://www.wurb.com/if/game/17.html here.]] The list of awards should really speak for itself.
!!Anchorhead provides examples of the following tropes:
* AfterlifeExpress: [[ConversationalTroping Discoursed upon]] in a book of folklore and superstitions.
* AncientConspiracy: It goes all the way back to the town's founding.
* AndIMustScream: One ending involves [[spoiler:getting trapped in a dimension filled with nothing but "the necrotic folds of the womb of Nehilim"]].
* ArcWords: "He always returns to his blood", "the buzzing of a fly" (or variants thereof), and "red-rimmed eyes" are three ''very'' prevalent phrases in this game.
* AuthorAvatar: Michael, who shares his name and personality with the writer of the game.
* BackStory: There's quite a bit of it. You'll need to put some of it together (reading newspaper articles, etc.) to advance the plot.
* BigBad: [[spoiler:Croseus Verlac.]]
* BigFancyHouse: The Verlac mansion. [[spoiler:Lucky you, it's also a HauntedHouse. Who would have thought it?]]
* BigScrewedUpFamily: The Verlacs. And how.
* BodyHorror: [[spoiler:William Verlac.]]
* BookEnds: Both at the beginning in the deserted office, and at the ending scene which [[spoiler:takes place in your bathroom]], you hear that:
--> There's a fly buzzing around here somewhere.
* BrownNote: [[spoiler: If you continue reading the book in the church.]]
* ChekhovsGun: (caution: '''massive''' spoiler here) Your [[spoiler:wedding ring]].
* ClosedCircle: Your car broke down and has been towed away to the city of [[ShoutOut Arkham]], and your purse and phone are in it. The only phone you can find doesn't work; the road out of town leads into wilderness. In addition, as [[spoiler:[[DemonicPossession Croseus's power over him]] grows]], Michael outright refuses to leave, and you're determined not to go without him.
* [[CobwebOfDisuse Cobweb of Disuse]]: Between you and an intriguing-looking iron key in the corner of the Verlac mansion basement.
* CorruptHick: [[spoiler:An entire town full of them, actually.]]
* CosmicHorrorStory: Arguably -- [[spoiler:you ''can'' win in the short-term, but it's not exactly LovecraftLite, either; the "good" ending strongly implies that [[TheEndOrIsIt everything is about to start all over again.]]]]
* {{Cult}}: Guess what -- [[spoiler:the majority of the town]] is in it.
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Croseus Verlac]] has possessed [[spoiler:several generations of his offspring]], and intends to do the same to [[spoiler:Michael.]]
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he is our blood]]]]''
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he always returns to his blood]]]]''
* {{Diary}}: You can find two of them, belonging to [[spoiler:Edward and Anna Verlac.]]
* [[spoiler: DownerEnding / BolivianArmyEnding: It depends on your interpretation, or, rather, on what you want to believe happens after the end. Don't forget, though: "He always returns to his blood". Also, Michael's words at the end: "I've always wanted to have a little girl". Sounds very creepy if your consider the context.]]
* EasterEgg: Try actually screaming or crying at various points in the game.
** Also, try listening to your husband singing in the shower.
* EldritchAbomination: '''[[spoiler:Ialdabaoloth.]]'''
* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]], but the other you'll ''need'' to do to defeat a certain monster).
* GenreSavvy: The [[TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday shopkeeper]] hints that he (or a friend of his) has been through his own Lovecraftian story, and recognizes that you're in the same situation.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Several of the TheManyDeathsOfYou. Some of the ways to do this include [[spoiler:reading the black prayerbook all the way through, looking too closely at William, and killing Michael in the lighthouse]].
* [[GuessTheVerb Guess the Verb]]: Expertly averted.
* InTheBlood: '''[[CompleteMonster He]] always [[DemonicPossession returns to]] his blood.'''
* InventoryManagementPuzzle: A partial aversion -- you can carry almost all the items you'll ever need in the pockets of your trenchcoat, but you can only hold so much in your hands at any one time.
* KillItWithFire: You'll start to see this late in the game, if you make it that far.
* KleptomaniacHero: Since you're playing an every(wo)man-style character, this incongruous behavior is initially lampshaded.
* TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday: Source of a key artifact you'll need to win the game.
* MadwomanInTheAttic: William, [[spoiler:at least for the first few years of his life.]]
* NoNameGiven: The player's character is never addressed by name, even by Michael.
* NonstandardGameOver: The game has a large number of grisly ways to die, including [[GoMadFromTheRevelation insanity]] and suffering a FateWorseThanDeath.
** Actual deaths include getting [[spoiler:fatally poisoned by spider bite, killed by monstrous tentacled things, hit by a train, cooked alive by high-pressure steam, mobbed and lynched by the cultists, strangled by your own possessed husband, choked to death by the ghost of Croseus Verlac...]] Yeah, it's a pleasant game.
* OldDarkHouse: The Verlac mansion, which has [[SecretPath hidden passageways]], [[SpookyPainting unsettling]] [[PortraitPaintingPeephole paintings]], windows painted shut, and an [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination [[MadwomanInTheAttic in the Attic]]]].
* OrderliesAreCreeps: Chuck, the orderly of Danvers Asylum, enjoys reading pornographic magazines and making crass remarks.
* ParentalIncest: [[spoiler:A route to immortality. Ew.]]
* PortraitPaintingPeephole: You can [[spoiler:spy on Michael through the eyes of]] [[SpookyPainting Croseus Verlac's portrait]] in the sitting room.
** Extra FridgeHorror and ParanoiaFuel when the player remembers that, when you're in the sitting room, it sometimes appears to move subtly, "like the eyes are looking directly at you".
* [[spoiler: PowerOfLove: The way to return your possessed husband to his true self.]]
* [[RedEyesTakeWarning Red-Rimmed Eyes, Take Warning]]
* ShoutOut: Numerous, to the original Cthulhu mythos and its authors. Among them are the city of Arkham, Whateley Bridge, the Miskaton University library...
** The magic shop's violin (and the violin music you can hear in the lane nearby) are an extended reference to ''The Music of Erich Zann'', also by Lovecraft.
** The paintings in the mansion's gallery are horrifying, fantastical, and detailed to the point of photorealism. Paintings by Richard Pickman, in ''Pickman's Model'' (a short story by Lovecraft), were said to have the same qualities. [[spoiler: And, in both cases, they actually depict reality]].
* SpookyPainting: Croseus Verlac's painting in the sitting room.
* TakeYourTime: In dire situations, the game averts this, sometimes to [[GuideDangIt frustrating]] effect. Most of the time, however, you do get to take your time, since the first three days don't advance to evening until you've solved all the major puzzles for that day.
* TomeOfEldritchLore: The book in the church. [[spoiler: Reading it all the way through [[GoMadFromTheRevelation causes a]] NonstandardGameOver.]]
* TownWithADarkSecret: All of it.
* UnexpectedInheritance: How you got to Anchorhead in the first place.
* [[VideogameCrueltyPotential Textgame Cruelty Potential]]: You are gonna have to do some nasty stuff to escape the horrors of Anchorhead. You have the potential to do much worse than necessary, including [[spoiler: murdering your own husband]].
* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: Plenty, and usually includes GoMadFromTheRevelation.
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<<|WebOriginal|>>
The game is notable, in addition to its great writing and overall polished feel, for breaking the typical structure and conventions of an InteractiveFiction game; the narrative is broken up into "days", during which you must complete required courses of action in order to proceed to the next day.
Incidentally, you can find it [[http://www.wurb.com/if/game/17.html here.]] The list of awards should really speak for itself.
!!Anchorhead provides examples of the following tropes:
* AfterlifeExpress: [[ConversationalTroping Discoursed upon]] in a book of folklore and superstitions.
* AncientConspiracy: It goes all the way back to the town's founding.
* AndIMustScream: One ending involves [[spoiler:getting trapped in a dimension filled with nothing but "the necrotic folds of the womb of Nehilim"]].
* ArcWords: "He always returns to his blood", "the buzzing of a fly" (or variants thereof), and "red-rimmed eyes" are three ''very'' prevalent phrases in this game.
* AuthorAvatar: Michael, who shares his name and personality with the writer of the game.
* BackStory: There's quite a bit of it. You'll need to put some of it together (reading newspaper articles, etc.) to advance the plot.
* BigBad: [[spoiler:Croseus Verlac.]]
* BigFancyHouse: The Verlac mansion. [[spoiler:Lucky you, it's also a HauntedHouse. Who would have thought it?]]
* BigScrewedUpFamily: The Verlacs. And how.
* BodyHorror: [[spoiler:William Verlac.]]
* BookEnds: Both at the beginning in the deserted office, and at the ending scene which [[spoiler:takes place in your bathroom]], you hear that:
--> There's a fly buzzing around here somewhere.
* BrownNote: [[spoiler: If you continue reading the book in the church.]]
* ChekhovsGun: (caution: '''massive''' spoiler here) Your [[spoiler:wedding ring]].
* ClosedCircle: Your car broke down and has been towed away to the city of [[ShoutOut Arkham]], and your purse and phone are in it. The only phone you can find doesn't work; the road out of town leads into wilderness. In addition, as [[spoiler:[[DemonicPossession Croseus's power over him]] grows]], Michael outright refuses to leave, and you're determined not to go without him.
* [[CobwebOfDisuse Cobweb of Disuse]]: Between you and an intriguing-looking iron key in the corner of the Verlac mansion basement.
* CorruptHick: [[spoiler:An entire town full of them, actually.]]
* CosmicHorrorStory: Arguably -- [[spoiler:you ''can'' win in the short-term, but it's not exactly LovecraftLite, either; the "good" ending strongly implies that [[TheEndOrIsIt everything is about to start all over again.]]]]
* {{Cult}}: Guess what -- [[spoiler:the majority of the town]] is in it.
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Croseus Verlac]] has possessed [[spoiler:several generations of his offspring]], and intends to do the same to [[spoiler:Michael.]]
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he is our blood]]]]''
--> ''[[spoiler:[[ArcWords he always returns to his blood]]]]''
* {{Diary}}: You can find two of them, belonging to [[spoiler:Edward and Anna Verlac.]]
* [[spoiler: DownerEnding / BolivianArmyEnding: It depends on your interpretation, or, rather, on what you want to believe happens after the end. Don't forget, though: "He always returns to his blood". Also, Michael's words at the end: "I've always wanted to have a little girl". Sounds very creepy if your consider the context.]]
* EasterEgg: Try actually screaming or crying at various points in the game.
** Also, try listening to your husband singing in the shower.
* EldritchAbomination: '''[[spoiler:Ialdabaoloth.]]'''
* EyeScream: At least two, both ''by you'' (in self-defense, although one involves you losing your mind and [[DissonantSerenity calmly clawing your own eyes out]], but the other you'll ''need'' to do to defeat a certain monster).
* GenreSavvy: The [[TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday shopkeeper]] hints that he (or a friend of his) has been through his own Lovecraftian story, and recognizes that you're in the same situation.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Several of the TheManyDeathsOfYou. Some of the ways to do this include [[spoiler:reading the black prayerbook all the way through, looking too closely at William, and killing Michael in the lighthouse]].
* [[GuessTheVerb Guess the Verb]]: Expertly averted.
* InTheBlood: '''[[CompleteMonster He]] always [[DemonicPossession returns to]] his blood.'''
* InventoryManagementPuzzle: A partial aversion -- you can carry almost all the items you'll ever need in the pockets of your trenchcoat, but you can only hold so much in your hands at any one time.
* KillItWithFire: You'll start to see this late in the game, if you make it that far.
* KleptomaniacHero: Since you're playing an every(wo)man-style character, this incongruous behavior is initially lampshaded.
* TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday: Source of a key artifact you'll need to win the game.
* MadwomanInTheAttic: William, [[spoiler:at least for the first few years of his life.]]
* NoNameGiven: The player's character is never addressed by name, even by Michael.
* NonstandardGameOver: The game has a large number of grisly ways to die, including [[GoMadFromTheRevelation insanity]] and suffering a FateWorseThanDeath.
** Actual deaths include getting [[spoiler:fatally poisoned by spider bite, killed by monstrous tentacled things, hit by a train, cooked alive by high-pressure steam, mobbed and lynched by the cultists, strangled by your own possessed husband, choked to death by the ghost of Croseus Verlac...]] Yeah, it's a pleasant game.
* OldDarkHouse: The Verlac mansion, which has [[SecretPath hidden passageways]], [[SpookyPainting unsettling]] [[PortraitPaintingPeephole paintings]], windows painted shut, and an [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination [[MadwomanInTheAttic in the Attic]]]].
* OrderliesAreCreeps: Chuck, the orderly of Danvers Asylum, enjoys reading pornographic magazines and making crass remarks.
* ParentalIncest: [[spoiler:A route to immortality. Ew.]]
* PortraitPaintingPeephole: You can [[spoiler:spy on Michael through the eyes of]] [[SpookyPainting Croseus Verlac's portrait]] in the sitting room.
** Extra FridgeHorror and ParanoiaFuel when the player remembers that, when you're in the sitting room, it sometimes appears to move subtly, "like the eyes are looking directly at you".
* [[spoiler: PowerOfLove: The way to return your possessed husband to his true self.]]
* [[RedEyesTakeWarning Red-Rimmed Eyes, Take Warning]]
* ShoutOut: Numerous, to the original Cthulhu mythos and its authors. Among them are the city of Arkham, Whateley Bridge, the Miskaton University library...
** The magic shop's violin (and the violin music you can hear in the lane nearby) are an extended reference to ''The Music of Erich Zann'', also by Lovecraft.
** The paintings in the mansion's gallery are horrifying, fantastical, and detailed to the point of photorealism. Paintings by Richard Pickman, in ''Pickman's Model'' (a short story by Lovecraft), were said to have the same qualities. [[spoiler: And, in both cases, they actually depict reality]].
* SpookyPainting: Croseus Verlac's painting in the sitting room.
* TakeYourTime: In dire situations, the game averts this, sometimes to [[GuideDangIt frustrating]] effect. Most of the time, however, you do get to take your time, since the first three days don't advance to evening until you've solved all the major puzzles for that day.
* TomeOfEldritchLore: The book in the church. [[spoiler: Reading it all the way through [[GoMadFromTheRevelation causes a]] NonstandardGameOver.]]
* TownWithADarkSecret: All of it.
* UnexpectedInheritance: How you got to Anchorhead in the first place.
* [[VideogameCrueltyPotential Textgame Cruelty Potential]]: You are gonna have to do some nasty stuff to escape the horrors of Anchorhead. You have the potential to do much worse than necessary, including [[spoiler: murdering your own husband]].
* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: Plenty, and usually includes GoMadFromTheRevelation.
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<<|WebOriginal|>>
