History VideoGame / CorpsePartyPC98

-->--The tagline

The original game has never been released in English or outside of Japan, but it's had several notable [[VideoGameRemake remakes]] so far that have been localized: an official adaptation into a PC game, titled ''Corpse Party: Blood Covered'' which expanded the story and reworked the characters; a [[FanRemake fan made faithful remake]] by an anonymous member of a Japanese message board with the permission of the original developers, titled ''[[https://memoriesoffear.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=46 Corpse-Party =Rebuilt=]]'', an update of said remake with additional content and endings inspired by the rest of the franchise, titled ''[[https://zwataketa.itch.io/cprebirth Corpse-Party ~Rebirth~]]''; and finally ''[[VisualNovel/CorpseParty Corpse Party: Blood Covered ...Repeated Fear]]'', the second official remake, this time for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]]. This page covers tropes for the original and ''Rebuilt''.

This is the original version of ''VisualNovel/CorpseParty'', created by KENIX-SOFT and developed using the Dante 98 program. It was then released in Japan on April 22, 1996. It is very different from later entries in the series with a simpler mode of gameplay, smaller cast, and a very simple story.

* AnotherSideAnotherStory: ~Rebirth~ has two additional side stories starring new characters:
** Extra Chapter: MayuMori - This chapter stars the characters Mayu and Morishige, from Blood Covered. After sharing the ghost story, the two are dragged into Heavenly Host [[spoiler:by Yuki Kanno, hailing from Blood Covered]] and need to find a way to escape. This story sets up certain events that take place in the main game.

* BreakTheCutie: Played straight in one of the new routes in ~Rebirth~. This version gives the player the option to have 2 characters die in Yuka's place, continuing the story with Yuka instead. After the second time, which was caused by [[spoiler: Yuka saying the Vengeful Spirit deserved to die the way she did]], Shinozaki cruely jokes how Yuka "has a bad habit of getting others to die for her". The poor girl, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizing her mistake,]] [[TearsOfRemorse is utterly crushed]]. [[spoiler:Thankfully, [[SurprisinglyHappyEnding the endings on this route are more positive than the norm for this game.]]]]

* TheCanKickedHim: If you go to the bathroom, you will probably die. [[spoiler: And in ~Rebirth~, in the men's toilet, someone did.]]

* TheCorruption: While the concept of "the darkening" hadn't yet come to the series, just ''being'' in Tenjin Elementary, with its evil aura, is enough to drive the spirits there insane and make them dangerous. Also, Shinozaki can influence people to act violently, as shown in some of the bad endings.
** ~Rebirth~ introduces the concept of the darkening here, justifying a scene from the original where Yoshiki and Ayumi have a fight. In this case, though, it can be taken by a spirit with high aptitude, but not erased.
* CreepyChild: [[spoiler:As always, the evil Shinozaki]].

* DealWithTheDevil: At one point, [[spoiler:Yoshiki and Ayumi]] may claim that they've found a way out--which involves killing their friends to earn their freedom. [[spoiler:Ayumi]] then tries to change the terms of the deal by [[spoiler:backstabbing Yoshiki so she can take ''Satoshi'' instead]]. This turns out to be [[spoiler:just a case of DemonicPossession, though]].
* DeathOfAChild: [[spoiler:Considering that the main antagonist is a CreepyChild ghost... Guess.]]
** [[spoiler: ~Rebirth~ adds in the ghost children from Blood Covered as well, so that applies here, too.]]

* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:Yoshiki falls into a pit at one point, and then climbs back out while everyone else is in mourning.]]

* DownerEnding: ''Anything'' but the Best Ending, [[spoiler:[[EarnYourHappyEnding which ends with]] [[EverybodyLives everyone getting out alive]].]]
** ~Rebirth~ actually subverts this for three of the additional bad endings [[spoiler:where Satoshi and Naomi die in the school]]. The other additional endings that don't reference other games are just as gut-wrenching as before, though.
* DrivenToSuicide: In one of the worst endings, [[spoiler:Yoshiki admits to Satoshi he was planning on killing himself]]. And in one of the endings of ~Rebirth~, he does.

* FinalSpeech: On one ending path, [[spoiler:poor Yuka]] is able to hang on long enough to deliver one of these, including making an AnguishedDeclarationOfLove and asking the target to say they love them back, even if they don't really mean it.
** In ~Rebirth~, this scene gets changed to remove any direct declarations of love, with [[spoiler:Yuka]] instead lamenting that they will never be able to tell the boy they like how they feel about him. While not outright stated here like in the original game, it could be argued that she is lying about the boy "being from her class". [[spoiler:She still asks the target to say they love her back.]]
*** [[spoiler:The reason this scene was changed is because the creator of ~Rebirth~ has a sister, and thus finds Yuka's incestual feelings in the original really creepy.]]

** The players can make the characters running instead of walking by holding [[spoiler:"Space"]] and directional arrow, which will be helpful in the [[spoiler:escape sequence after defeating Evil Shinozaki]]. The game does not bother to explain any of this, not even in the form of in-game clue.
** In Yoshiki-Ayumi part of the game, the infirmary is completely inaccessible and there is no way to heal them if they receive any damage before the JRPG-like final boss battle. ~Rebirth~ gets rid of the JRPG-like boss battle sequence, so there is no way for Yoshiki or Ayumi to replenish their HP, though it becomes irrelevant by the point where the boss fight would occur in the original.
** In Satoshi-Naomi-Yuka part of the game, when they reach the second building of the school through a hidden passage, there is a chase sequence where they have to run away from a hulkling monster. The trap/puzzle room cannot hinder the monster and the players cannot fight back. The game doesn't tell you what to do other than to run for your lives. There are two ways to escape the monster's sure kill: [[spoiler:hiding in a locker inside of a closet and just barely avoiding getting found before the monster is distracted, or reaching the main building where the good half of Shinozaki thwarts the monster]]. The latter method requires finding the Iron Lever before the event occcurs.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Yoshiki]] can make one; so can [[spoiler:Naomi]] in a seperate incident and [[spoiler:even Yuka]] in one ending.
** [[spoiler:All of these turn into {{Senseless Sacrifice}}s in the endings.]]
** ~Rebirth~ gives [[spoiler:Satoshi]] a chance to do this as well to save [[spoiler:Yuka]]. Unlike the previous examples, [[spoiler:this sacrifice is not in vain]].

* ItsAWonderfulFailure: In ~Rebirth~ only, dying against the FinalBoss results in you, the player, being forced to see your party's corpses having been dumped into the Death Room.

* LighterAndSofter: Extra chapter of Morishige and Mayu. While in their chapter obtaining Blessed Shoes is rigorously complicated and required lots of backtracking (including tackling Cursed Floor and sacrificing a bit of health), escaping Tenjin is significantly easier for Morishige and Mayu than in the storyline of the main five. This is due in part to the Vengeful Spirit being unaware of their existence thanks to Yuki's interference when they were summoned to Tenjin.
* LockedInAFreezer: At one point, an evil spirit can seal [[spoiler:Yoshiki and Ayumi]] in a small room together, taunting them through a poster that "You can never leave". While this part is avoidable in the original PC-98 and Rebuilt remake, it is mandatory in ~Rebirth~ version, in order to make the Girl in Red open the Science Lab.

* MaybeEverAfter: [[spoiler: Between Satoshi and Naomi in the GoldenEnding.]]

*** ~Rebirth~ removes some parts of this ending but adds a post-credits scene [[spoiler:in which Shiho, now the girl in red, asks her sister to perpetuate the cycle of hatred by telling the ghost story to many people, likely leading to Ending B from Corpse-Party Zero. The reason for the removal of the scenes is because a "true ending" will be added that brings them back.]]

*** In ~Rebirth~ this ending is changed and takes place from [[spoiler:Yoshiki's]] perspective. [[spoiler:Yoshiki goes to Ayumi's house to check on her, only to find her stabbing herself with scissors for the same ritual as in Ending D-2, except more violently as she is crushed by the guilt of telling the ghost story which led to her friends' deaths.]]

** ~Rebirth~ brings the ending count up to 15, plus a few "extra" endings.
*** E-1: [[spoiler:Everyone except Yoshiki dies. Yoshiki learns that Satoshi was killed by his sister after escaping and wonders when Ayumi will do the same to him. He then meets Sayako and gets scouted to join a Kendo club, leading to the events of Corpse Party if...]]
*** E-2: [[spoiler:Everyone except Ayumi dies. Echoing Ending B from Zero, Ayumi decides that her friends must be lonely in Heavenly Host. Years later, an older Ayumi is found telling the same ghost story to a couple of girls, continuing the cycle of hatred.]]
*** F-1: [[spoiler:Naomi is the only one killed. The process for getting this ending is that same as the standard Ending C route, except that Yuka needs to hold the charm. In ~Rebirth~, the ending is changed to show that rather than an evil spirit taking her body, Naomi herself has turned evil. After returning home, Yuka finds Satoshi murdered by Naomi, who is now the Girl in Red.]]

*** F-3: [[spoiler:Naomi and Yoshiki are dead. This ending is an alternate take on the events of D-2 following F-1. Ayumi is told by Yuka that Naomi killed Satoshi, and decides to get her help to perform the ritual. However, Ayumi performed the ritual wrong, and gets incinerated as Yuka calls out her name.]] The events of this scene are based off the opening of Corpse Party D2: Depths of Despair.

*** H-1: [[spoiler: Satoshi, Naomi, and Ayumi are dead. After escaping, Yoshiki takes on the task of caring for Yuka, as if to make up for failing to save Ayumi. He brings Yuka back to his house and introduces her to his little sister Miki.]]
*** H-2: [[spoiler: Satoshi, Naomi, and Yoshiki are dead. Sometime after escaping, Ayumi talks to Satoshi, noting Yuka's recovery and lamenting Yoshiki's sacrifice for her sake. She ends feeling guilty for telling the ghost story, not knowing if her words reached her deceased friends.]]
*** Additionally, there is one ending that can be acquired after beating the game once. The player must play through the game while keeping everyone alive, and find a specific item that is only available once the route is locked in (aka, it becomes impossible for any characters to permanently die from that point on). [[spoiler: Close to the end of the game, instead of entering the basement, Satoshi's team stumbles upon an anniversary party for the Corpse Party franchise, with all of the major characters appearing, plus several characters from Blood Covered.]] This ending is based off the surprise ending from ''VideoGame/SilentHillDownpour''.

* PetTheDog: Rarely happens in any Corpse Party Game. In ~Rebirth~, there is a scene where Yoshiki and Ayumi are being attacked by vengeful spirits near the swimming pool. [[spoiler:If one of them died in the Science Lab before arriving at the swimming pool, the vengeful spirits will not appear there, allowing Yoshiki or Ayumi to access the pump room and drain the pool water undisturbed]].
* PlotArmor: While all of the other four can be killed, [[spoiler:Satoshi survives the horror in all endings]]. Subverted in ~Rebirth~, where all of the characters are able to die.
* PowerCrystal: Crystal Cluster found in Infirmary, which is useful to defeat an evil spirit who trapped [[spoiler:Yoshiki and Ayumi]] in a sealed room. Interestingly enough, if your party managed to encounter FinalBoss without using said Crystal Cluster, the crystal can be used to [[spoiler:increase MP to all party members in unlimited usage.]] In ~Rebirth~, Power Crystal exists but it has a completely different use.

* SaveScumming: This game encourages the players to save anywhere and anytime before making important decisions, as there is no limit to the amount of saves the players can make. Be careful, saving in the wrong place at the wrong time can lock the characters in {{Unwinnable}} scenario, thus forcing the players to reset and start a new game.
** ~Rebirth~ subverts this trope by removing the ability to save anywhere, with saving instead being done by touching candles found throughout the school. This prevents players from being able to trap themselves in unwinnable scenarios (except when glitches are involved), but makes certain parts of the game harder. [[spoiler:For example, the boss fight and escape sequence must be done in one go now, unlike before.]]

** In ~Rebirth~, entering the Science Lab is mandatory as it contains the Blessed Shoes for Yoshiki and Ayumi, however the game will warn you before taking them that it might be a bad idea. [[spoiler:Thankfully, there is an item in this version that allows both Yoshiki and Ayumi to survive the encounter with the model, blowing it up rather dramatically in the process.]]

* SequenceBreaking: In ~Rebirth~, the swimming pool trap sequence can be skipped altogether by [[spoiler:letting either Ayumi or Yoshiki dies in the Science Lab]]. Appearently, [[spoiler:killing off Ayumi]] is one of ''%ANY speedrunners'' favourite tactics to finish the game.

* ShoutOut: Being the first game, the original doesn't have any. ~Rebirth~ on the other hand has several of these from across the entire franchise.
** There's several references to the manga Corpse Party: Musume, including an event where Yoshiki and Ayumi are attacked by snakes and the principal's daughter's body appears in the principal's office. The addition of the character Naho Saenoki can also be seen as this.
** Blood Covered fans, check out the leftmost stall in the men's bathroom. [[spoiler: "SHUT THE GODDAMN DOOR!!!"]]
** There is one scene that partially references the Blood Covered manga. [[spoiler:After falling into the pool, Ayumi and Yoshiki dry off their clothes in the Security Office and talk until they're dry, hanging a dusty security blanket between them to protect each others' dignity.]]
** Ayumi mentions Naho's article novel called "The Genesis of Ars Moriendi", referencing the manga Corpse Party Cemetery0.
* SuddenGameplayChange: [[spoiler: You fight Shinozaki in a classic JRPG-style battle.]] This was changed in Rebirth to fit the standard gameplay style.
* SuperEmpowering: In the original and Rebuilt the survivors gain special powers before the FinalBoss courtesy of [[spoiler:Shinozaki's good side giving them the rest of her power.]]

** In ~Rebirth~, taking Yuka's place actually results in Satoshi's death, so refusing is the correct choice to save both characters.

* UnexpectedGenreChange: At the end of the original game and =REBUILT=, the students must face a FinalBoss, the ''only'' battle in the game. Made more difficult by the fact they haven't gotten any ExperiencePoints, meaning they've got about 30 HP each... Fortunately, before choosing your party, you get a chance to learn what everyone's strengths are via an InfoDump:

** ~Rebirth~ adds a new room right before the final boss called the "Death Room." Inside you'll find the bodies of all the characters who died during that playthrough. As if you needed another reminder that you royally screwed up.

*** In Rebirth, the option to scold [[spoiler:Yuka]] has been removed, and in its place a new event has been added where [[spoiler:Yuka]] guides Satoshi on an invisible path. At one point, the wrong instructions are given which makes it possible for Satoshi to fall. If this happens, he will yell at [[spoiler:Yuka]], resulting in a similar situation as the original game. [[spoiler:Thankfully, this rift can be fixed by visiting the Infirmary before the bathroom event, resulting in a wholesome scene between the two siblings.]]
** In ~Rebirth~, if Satoshi is dead, Yuka will badmouth the Vengeful Spirit. AKA the entity which could have killed her in the bathroom and let her walk. [[spoiler:This leads to Shinozaki attacking Yuka in rage, which Naomi takes. In other words, Yuka [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone got Naomi killed]] [[CallItKarma by being a brat.]]]]

** Mayu's side story does not have Blessed Shoes, instead Mayu and Morishige have to find [[spoiler:Holy Water]] to protect their feet when they walk through the green goo. Mayu and Morishige will eventually run out of [[spoiler:Holy Water]], meaning they will take damage everytime they step on the green goo, and the infirmary is inaccessible in this side story. To make the matters worse, finishing this side story means it is mandatory to go through the green goo even when Mayu and Morishige no longer have [[spoiler:Holy Water]].

** In Satoshi-Naomi-Yuka part of the game, when they reach the second building of the school through a hidden passage, there is a chase sequence where they have to run away from a hulkling monster. The trap/puzzle room cannot hinder the monster, the players cannot fight back, and they cannot even hide. The game doesn't tell you what to do other than to run for your lives. There are two ways to escape the monster's sure kill: [[spoiler:hiding in a locker inside of a closet and just barely avoiding getting found before the monster is distracted, or reaching the main building where the good half of Shinozaki thwarts the monster, as the second building has already been fully conquered by her evil side]] The latter method requires finding the Iron Lever before the event occcurs.

* LighterAndSofter: Extra chapter of Morishige and Mayu. While in their chapter obtaining Blessed Shoes is rigorously complicated and required lots of backtracking (including tackling Cursed Floor and sacrificing a bit of health), escaping Tenjin is significantly easier for Morishige and Mayu than in the storyline of the main five.

* AllLoveIsUnrequited: There's a [[TriangRelations Type 5]] situation going on: [[spoiler:Yoshiki is crushing on Ayumi, who's only interested in Satoshi, who is in turn oblivious to Ayumi, Naomi, ''and'' Yuka's feelings for him]].

** Fail during [[spoiler:the final escape sequence]], and this becomes the fate of [[spoiler:[[KillEmAll your whole group]]]].

*** This room is also used in a new cutscene that plays if the player loses during the final boss. All of the characters' mangled corpses are shown in the Death Room as a gut-wrenching sound plays.

** In Yoshiki-Ayumi part of the game, the infirmary is completely inaccessible and there is no way to heal them if they receive any damage before the JRPG-like final boss battle. Even worse in ~Rebirth~ since this version gets rid of the JRPG-like boss battle sequence, there is no way for Yoshiki or Ayumi to replenish their HP. Big chance the player won't know this information until they beat the game themselves.

** All choices that involve throwing another character under the bus to save your own skin, or just plain acting like a jerk in a stressful situation, lock you out of the GoldenEnding. The fanmade version REBUILT took it UpToEleven by giving the picture of deceased character(s) black and white color in Ending Credits.

* UnexpectedGenreChange: At the end of the game, the students must face a FinalBoss, the ''only'' battle in the game. Made more difficult by the fact they haven't gotten any ExperiencePoints, meaning they've got about 30 HP each... (This battle is changed in ~Rebuilt~ to fit the standard gameplay style, so this trope does not apply in that case) Fortunately, before choosing your party, you get a chance to learn what everyone's strengths are via an InfoDump:

* UnexpectedGenreChange: At the end of the PC-98 game, the students must face a FinalBoss, the ''only'' battle in the game. Made more difficult by the fact they haven't gotten any ExperiencePoints, meaning they've got about 30 HP each... Fortunately, before choosing your party, you get a chance to learn what everyone's strengths are via an InfoDump:

** In Satoshi-Naomi-Yuka part of the game, when they reach the second building of the school through a hidden passage, there is a chase sequence where they have to run away from a hulkling monster. The trap/puzzle room cannot hinder the monster, the players cannot fight back, and they cannot even hide. The game doesn't tell you what to do other than to run for your lives. The only way to escape the monster's sure kill is by [[spoiler:reaching the main building where the good half of Shinozaki thwarts the monster, as the second building has already been fully conquered by her evil side]].

** If Satoshi chooses to scold [[spoiler:Yuka]] instead of calm her down after seeing a corpse and talking to a spirit in a classroom, she would cry and angry at him to the point of [[spoiler:refusing to go to the bathroom with him, thus confirming that the game will lead to Bad Ending.]]

* SequenceBreaking: In ~Rebirth~, the swimming pool trap sequence can be skipped altogether by [[spoiler:letting either Ayumi or Yoshiki dies in the Science Lab]].

* PetTheDog: Rarely happens in any Corpse Party Game. In ~Rebirth~, there is a scene where Yoshiki and Ayumi are being attacked by vengeful spirits near the swimming pool. [[spoiler:If one of them died in the Science Lab, the vengeful spirits will not appear near the swimming pool, allowing Yoshiki or Ayumi to access the pump room and drain the pool water undisturbed]].

* PowerCrystal: Crystal Cluster found in Infirmary, which is useful to defeat an evil spirit who trapped [[spoiler:Yoshiki and Ayumi]] in a sealed room. Interestingly enough, if your party managed to encounter FinalBoss without using said Crystal Cluster, the crystal can be used to [[spoiler:increase MP to all party members in unlimited usage.]] Crystal Cluster is absent in ~Rebirth~ which means [[spoiler:Yoshiki and Ayumi]] can only be rescued from the sealed room through another means.

** In Yoshiki-Ayumi part of the game, the infirmary is completely inaccessible and there is no way to heal them they receive any damage before the JRPG-like final boss battle. Even worse in ~Rebirth~ since this version gets rid of the JRPG-like boss battle sequence, there is no way for Yoshiki or Ayumi to replenish their HP. Big chance the player won't know this information until they beat the game themselves.

* GuideDangIt: The players can make the characters running instead of walking by holding [[spoiler:"Space"]] and directional arrow, which will be helpful in the [[spoiler:escape sequence after defeating Evil Shinozaki]]. The game does not bother to explain any of this, not even in the form of in-game clue.

* LockedInAFreezer: At one point, an evil spirit can seal [[spoiler:Yoshiki and Ayumi]] in a small room together, taunting them through a poster that "You can never leave."

* PowerCrystal: Crystal Cluster found in Infirmary, which is useful to defeat an evil spirit who trapped [[spoiler:Yoshiki and Ayumi in a sealed room. Interestingly enough, if your party managed to encounter FinalBoss without using said Crystal Cluster, the crystal can be used to increase MP to all party members in unlimited usage.]]

* SchmuckBait: The Science Lab. The door to it is explicitly opened by [[spoiler:the malevolent spirit that is the game's BigBad]], and there's even a note that blatantly warns you to stay away from that place. If you go in anyway and awaken the anatomical model as a result, tragedy is highly likely.

** In ~Rebirth~, if Satoshi is dead, spoiler:Yuka will badmouth the Vengeful Spirit. AKA the entity which could have killed her in the bathroom and let her walk. [[spoiler:This leads to Shinozaki attacking Yuka in rage, which Naomi takes. In other words, Yuka [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone got Naomi killed]] [[CallItKarma by being a brat.]]]]

** In ~Rebirth~, if Satoshi is dead, spoiler:Yuka will badmouth the Vengeful Spirit. AKA the entity which could have killed her in the bathroom and let her walk. [[spoiler:This leads to Shinozaki attacking Yuka in rage, which Naomi takes. In other words, [[CallItKarma Yuka]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone got Naomi killed]] by being a brat.]]