History VideoGame / DotHackGU

* SlasherSmile: The only way to properly describe the look on Haseo's face [[spoiler: when he first awakens his powers as Skeith's Avatar and prepares to slaughter Bordeaux and her lackeys with it, even while Kuhn and Atoli are screaming at him to stop.]] In fact, he has this look on his face ''every time'' he summons Skeith until the beatdown of Magus.

** Any of Dingo's seven most dangerous PKs gets special fight music that is darker than the standard field music or area boss battle fights. This applies early on when you're significantly under-leveled; not so much once you hit the halfway point of each volume and have a decent strategy.

* SlasherSmile: The only way to properly describe the look on Haseo's face [[spoiler: when he first awakens his powers as Skeith's Avatar and prepares to slaughter Bordeaux and her lackeys with it, even while Kuhn and Atoli are screaming at him to stop.]]

* While preparing for the arena tournament in Vol 1, Silabus asks if Haseo knows any Clerics; there's a fair chance you'd already taken him off adventuring with Atoli.

* SmallAnnoyingCreature: In-universe example: Haseo regards Death Grunty as one. Which is hilarious, given that Death Grunty is based on himself.

* AGodAmI: [[spoiler:Sakaki]]. It doesn't last.

* TheUnfought: Sometimes chaotic [=PKs=] get [=PKKed=] before Haseo can begin his BountyHunter {{Sidequest}}. This results in them being removed from the blacklist. Three examples include Pyro 2 the Mud-Eater, Miku the Liar, and Explosive Gia, so Haseo never fights these.

* TheUnfought: Sometimes chaotic [=PKs=] get [=PKKed=] before Haseo can begin his BountyHunter {{Sidequest}}. This results in them being removed from the blacklist. Two examples include Pyro 2 the Mud-Eater and Miku the Liar, so Haseo never fights these.

* Volume 4: Reconnection (HD Remaster Only)

** Twin Blades' regular attacks cannot easily hit high-altitude flying enemies, so they must use their Sparrow Counter art, magical items, or BlackMagic that they learn from a magic shop's scrolls to take fliers.
** Characters that have learned attack spells from magic scrolls and [[BlackMage shadow warlocks]] are great against flying enemies.

* BitterSweetEnding: [[spoiler: In Reconnection. The World has lost popularity in the years since Redemption and it's servers are going to be shut done soon. However Piros unintentionally reveals that the game team are already working on the Third version of the World.]]

* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: Endrance and Saku turn their backs on Haseo and join Taihaku in the Sage Palace Tournament. Subverted when it turns out to have been a ReverseMole ploy on Endrance's part, but Saku wasn't aware of it, so hers was real. Realizing that she had no real reason to change sides beyond simply following "Master En" forces her into a massive existential crisis and leads to the point where she may potentially disappear from Bo's consciousness]].

** When one performs a CounterAttack in the arena, the English PlayStation 2 version mistakenly calls it a rengeki which means combo attack, when it really should be a hangeki which means counter attack. It also shows the kanji for rengeki (連撃) in the background instead of the kanji for hangeki (反撃) by mistake. Volume 1 also plays the sound for rengeki as well. Volumes 2 and 3 play the correct sound for hangeki, but display the graphics for rengeki. The Windows version fixes this by displaying the correct graphics and playing the correct sound.

** Played with as of "Last Recode". While most anime versions tend to show a controller similar to that of a PlayStation controller - and in contrast with the originals - "Last Recode" mutes the voices whenever a button is mentioned, so the subtitles will say a button but the character might be saying something else to fit the actual controller they're using. Silabus in certain email chains also mentions using the portable virtual reality device called an [=M2D=] to play as well, which looks more like a cross between a joystick and a gaming mouse, making for probably radically different controls.

* CounterAttack: Counter attacks are big in the combat system of this game. Either a skill or a charge attack can be used to counter a skill or item use in progress and interrupt or cancel it. If one performs a counter attack in the arena using a skill, it is called a hangeki (反撃) attack, raises your party morale as long as your other party members are alive, and decreases the enemy party's morale. They do not double the damage of a skill, unlike rengeki attacks. In the PlayStation 2 version, hangeki attacks are mistakenly called rengeki attacks. This is fixed for the Windows version.

* InevitableTournament: There's one for each game. However with each passing game the stakes gets bigger and bigger...

* HumansAreBastards: Within "The World's" history, which can be accessed on its website before logging into the game proper. Humans were once the majestic elves, blessed by the gods (see OurElvesAreBetter below), but they got too proud and were "cursed" with humanity. They quickly deteriorate in morality and take up war and domination, which quickly becomes humanity's defining characteristic. [[FromBadToWorse The history gets worse from there]] and it's implied that the constant warring will [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt cause the end of The World]].

* OurElvesAreBetter: The backstory of "The World" reveals that elves were created in the image of its god, the Elder Deity called Sol, who loved them so much that he and every other deity and creature blessed them (except for Cernunnos, the Lord of the Dead, created from the spirit the Elder Deity's deceased younger brother, who withheld his blessing). The blessings essentially made the elves into demigods. Unfortunately, [[AndManGrewProud they grew]] [[{{Pride}} proud]] and demanded to become true gods. In response, Sol furiously took away all the elves' blessings, turning them into [[HumanityEnsues humans]].

* CutsceneIncompetence: Played very straight in the fight against Alkaid in Volume 1. Depending on your level, this can also happen with Bordeaux in the same volume.

** In Last Recode, the enemy has a stun meter displayed. When it is emptied, the enemy is stunned, and is vulnerable to being slashed. Emptying this meter is the only way to stop an enemy avatar from hitting you with a Data Drain.

* AscendedExtra: Four of the main characters's players were active in R1, but were much lesser players of varying degrees.

** [[spoiler: Natsume gained a SplitPersonality embodying this towards Kite, given her continued obsession over him and anything related to him even seven years after, even apparently stalking him, according to Piros]].

* TheUnfought: Sometimes chaotic [=PKs=] get killed before Haseo can begin his BountyHunter {{Sidequest}}. Two examples include Pyro 2 the Mud-Eater and Miku the Liar, so Haseo never fights these.

* BreakMeter: Armored and high-flying enemies have this. This meter represents the durability of the enemy's armor or whatever allows them high-altitude flight. Armored enemies are weak against a {{BFS}}, while flying enemies often are weak against a SinisterScythe.

* BreakMeter: Armored and flying enemies have this. This meter represents the durability of the enemy's armor or wings. Armored enemies are weak against a BFS, while flying enemies are weak against a SinisterScythe.

* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: Despite being an MMO, when Haseo bites it, the game is over. Also the Arena rules: take out the Leader, you win the battle.

%%* BunnyEarsLawyer:
%%** Gabi, the leader of Kestrel.
%%** Minor NPC Ninjato is actually one of the graphics designers for "The World R:2." You probably better know him as that guy who is obsessed with [[{{Miko}} shrine maidens]].