History VideoGame / ElementalGearbolt

* GrayAndBlackMorality: There's only one character with no redeeming traits: King Jabugal.

* TheKingdom: The game's setting is identified simply as "the small kingdom." After the events of the game, [[ThrowawayCountry it seems doomed to be wiped off the map]].

* YouHave48Hours: This is the limit of Nell and Seana's unlife. They have a HealingFactor for the first 24 of it.

'''''Elemental Gearbolt''''' is a UsefulNotes/PlayStation LightGunGame that was developed by Alfa System in 1997 and localized by Creator/WorkingDesigns in 1998. It defies a number of light gun genre conventions simply by telling a pretty effective tragic fantasy story. And then caps it off with exceptionally atmospheric music and art.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to most [[LightGunGame Light Gun Games]].

'''''Elemental Gearbolt''''' is a {{PlayStation}} LightGunGame that was developed by Alfa System in 1997 and localized by Creator/WorkingDesigns in 1998. It defies a number of light gun genre conventions simply by telling a pretty effective tragic fantasy story. And then caps it off with exceptionally atmospheric music and art.

Let's get a bit more in-depth. The game world is rife with FantasticRacism. The Sulunakan, a race of peaceful {{Magitech}} masters, are oppressed by Audo overlords who invaded their world long ago. [[LaResistance The Sulunakan do fight back]], but they are no match for the Audo. In a chance meeting, Bel Cain, a young prince (secretly a half-breed,) meets Nell and Seana, half-breed daughters of a Sulunakan resistance leader. They promise to meet again, but they never do (in the strict sense, at least).

** The subtitles are not so simple in the Japanese version -- for example, the Act 1 boss "Wardam" is "Fortress-Capturing Super-Heavy Infantry Wodan" in Japanese. Almost all the boss names are references to NorseMythology, [[note]]Other inclusions: Midgard, Nidhogg, Idun and Mardöll,[[/note]] but this was [[LostInTranslation somewhat obscured]] in the WD version.

* ModularFranchise: Alfa System staff members remark in the interviews in the manual that they wanted to expand on the world they created in ''Elemental Gearbolt''. Well, they actually did just that. This game became the first entry in a [[TheMultiverse multiverse]] "Nameless Worlds Setting," and a number of original properties developed by Alfa System since ''Elemental Gearbolt'' tie into Nameless Worlds -- namely ''VideoGame/GunparadeMarch'', the ''VideoGame/CastleOfShikigami'' series, and ''[[MarsDaybreak Kenran Butousai]]''.[[note]]Some ''Castle of Shikigami'' games have left Japan, but the others are only known in the west by the [[AnimeOfTheGame anime series based on them]].[[/note]]

* DownerEnding: It was inevitable. The protagonists are already dead, Bel Cain and his kingdom are doomed, and even Tagami [[spoiler:is unable to leave World 4 in the aftermath.]]

* ModularFranchise: Alfa System staff members remark in the interviews in the manual that they wanted to expand on the world they created in ''Elemental Gearbolt''. Well, they actually did just that. This game became the first entry in a [[TheMultiverse multiverse]] "Nameless Worlds Setting," and a number of original properties developed by Alfa System since ''Elemental Gearbolt'' tie into Nameless Worlds -- namely ''VideoGame/GunparadeMarch'', the ''VideoGame/ShikigamiNoShiro'' series, and ''[[MarsDaybreak Kenran Butousai]]''.[[note]]Some ''Shikigami no Shiro'' games have left Japan, but the others are only known in the west by the [[AnimeOfTheGame anime series based on them]].[[/note]]

But wait, there's yet another plot layer to be found in the game's unlockables which casts the events of the game in a different light. A different light of forbidden knowledge, {{eldritch abomination}}s and [[OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness shadowy extra-dimensional organizations]]... and the possibility that maybe not everyone died after all.

Let's get a bit more in-depth. The game world is rife with FantasticRacism. The Sulunkan, a race of peaceful {{Magitech}} masters, are oppressed by Audo overlords who invaded their world long ago. [[LaResistance The Sulunkan do fight back]], but they are no match for the Audo. In a chance meeting, Bel Cain, a young prince (secretly a half-breed,) meets Nell and Seana, half-breed daughters of a Sulunkan resistance leader. They promise to meet again, but they never do (in the strict sense, at least).

Years later, Bel Cain becomes crown prince and resolves to create a new world order with super advanced Magitech, all managed by a [[BrainInAJar computer made from human brains]]. Bel Cain doesn't realize that the computer hates its existence so much that it has created weapons capable of finding and destroying it... using the corpses of Nell and Seana (who joined the Sulunkan resistance only to be killed and taken as trophies). The things that used to be Nell and Seana they tear across the countryside, destroying Bel Cain's advanced technology, culminating in a sad, one-sided reunion... [[KillEmAll and they all die]].

* ArmCannon: The Holy Guns that Nell and Seana host are {{BFG}}s that completely encase one of their arms.

** The subtitles are not so simple in the Japanese version -- for example, the Stage 1 boss "Wardam" is "Fortress-Capturing Super-Heavy Infantry Wodan" in Japanese. Almost all the boss names are references to NorseMythology, [[note]]Other inclusions: Midgard, Nidhogg, Idun and Mardöll,[[/note]] but this was [[LostInTranslation somewhat obscured]] in the WD version.

* DownerEnding: It was inevitable. The protagonists are already dead, Bel Cain and his kingdom are doomed, and even Tagami [[spoiler:is unable to leave World 5 in the aftermath.]]

* TheEndingChangesEverything: The mission report interspersed in the credits reveals that [[spoiler:Tagami planned the whole incident.]] The unlockable glossary provides additional context -- [[spoiler:namely, Tagami works for an agency that opposes an inter-dimensional cartel called the Septentrion.]]
* FacialMarkings: The Sulunkan race has internalized spirit circuits in their bodies, but they aren't ordinarily visible. However, Audo/Sulunkan half-breeds aren't so lucky. Their circuits show through their skin.

* HalfBreedDiscrimination: It is not really a part of the main narrative, but Bel Cain's claim to the throne is dubious on account of his half-breed status.

* TheKingdom: The game's setting is identified in Tagami's report simply as "the small kingdom." After the events of the game, [[ThrowawayCountry it seems doomed to be wiped off the map]].

* MementoMacGuffin: Nell breaks her necklace in two and gives part of it to Bel Cain as a symbol of their promise to reunite.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Bel Cain and Ialu.

* SchizoTech: [[AllThereInTheManual According to the supplemental material]], the gun Bel Cain uses [[spoiler:to kill his father]] is a [[GunPorn Beretta M92FS]]. This is a literal SmokingGun [[spoiler:revealing the involvement of the Septentrion, the group supplying Bel Cain with technology from other dimensions. He got the Neural Network Computer from them too.]]

* [[YouHave48Hours You Have 24 Hours]]: This is the limit of Nell and Seana's unlife.

* ArmCannon: The Holy Guns that Nell and Seana host are {{BFS}}s that completely encase one of their arms.

* DeathSeeker: The Neural Network Computer.

* DownerEnding

* ICannotSelfTerminate: The Neural Network Computer, again.

The game opens with a scene of a ruined city and a person dressed black who's trying to sort out what went wrong. It turns out that the trouble began when two dead girls were suddenly transformed into {{implacable|Man}} magical war machines. In a nutshell, they tear across the countryside, destroying a WellIntentionedExtremist prince's advanced technology and spoiling his AssimilationPlot. Everyone dies; the end.

* RoyallyScrewedUp: King Jabugal murdered Bel Cain's mother, but keeps her remains in a jar? And still has Bel Cain as his successor? It's a perfect storm of depravity and short-sightedness.
** To be precise, King Jabugal killed Bel Cain's mother in a fit of rage, but preserving her body in a jar? [[AllThereInTheManual That was Bel Cain's idea,]] who harbored deep hatred towards his father because of this. [[spoiler:As a result, Bel Cain finally kills his father at the cinematic for Act 4 and reveals his plans to his subjects.]]

A PSOne LightGunGame that was developed by Alfa System in 1997 and localized by WorkingDesigns in 1998. It defies a number of Light Gun genre conventions simply by telling a pretty effective tragic fantasy story. And then caps it off with exceptionally atmospheric music and art.

''Elemental Gearbolt'' opens with a scene of a ruined city and a person dressed black who's trying to sort out what went wrong. It turns out that the trouble began when two dead girls were suddenly transformed into {{implacable|man}} magical war machines. In a nutshell, they tear across the countryside, destroying a WellIntentionedExtremist prince's advanced technology and spoiling his AssimilationPlot. Everyone dies; the end.

Let's get a bit more in-depth. The game world is rife with FantasticRacism. The Sulunkan, a race of peaceful {{Magitech}} masters, are oppressed by Audo overlords who invaded their world long ago. [[LaResistance The Sulunkan do fight back]], but they are no match for the Audo. In a chance meeting, Bel Cain, a young prince (secretly a half-breed,) meets Nell and Seana, half-breed daughters of a Sulunkan resistance leader. They promise to meet again, but they never do (in the strict sense, at least.)

Years later, Bel Cain becomes crown prince and resolves to create a new world order with super advanced Magitech, all managed by a [[BrainInAJar computer made from human brains]]. Bel Cain doesn't realize that the computer hates its existence so much that it has created weapons capable of finding and destroying it...using the corpses of Nell and Seana (who joined the Sulunkan resistance only to be killed and taken as trophies). The things that used to be Nell and Seana they tear across the countryside, destroying Bel Cain's advanced technology, culminating in a sad, one-sided reunion... [[KillEmAll and they all die]].

But wait, there's yet another plot layer to be found in the game's unlockables which casts the events of the game in a different light. A different light of forbidden knowledge, {{eldritch abomination}}s and [[OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness shadowy extra-dimensional organizations]]...and the possibility that maybe not everyone died after all.

'''This game contains examples of:'''

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/egear_7806.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:250:Purposed to Perish]]

But wait, there's yet another plot layer to be found in the game's unlockables which casts the events of the game in a different light. A different light of forbidden knowledge, {{eldritch abominations}} and [[OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness shadowy extra-dimensional organizations]]...and the possibility that maybe not everyone died after all.

Years later, Bel Cain becomes crown prince and resolves to create a new world order with super advanced Magitech, all managed by a [[BrainInAJar computer made from human brains]]. Bel Cain doesn't realize that the computer hates its existence so much that it has created weapons capable of finding and destroying it...using the corpses of Nell and Seana (who joined the Sulunkan resistance only to be killed and taken as trophies). The things that used to be Nell and Seana they tear across the countryside, destroying Bel Cain's advanced technology, culminating in a sad, one-sided reunion...and they all die.

Let's get a bit more in-depth. The game world is rife with FantasticRacism. The Sulunkan, a race of peaceful {{Magitech}} masters, are oppressed by Audo overlords who invaded their world long ago. [[LaResistance The Sulunkan do fight back]], but their resistance groups are no match for the Audo. In a chance meeting, Bel Cain, a young half-breed prince, meets Nell and Seana, half-breed daughters of a Sulunkan resistance leader. They promise to meet again, but they never do (in the strict sense, at least).

Years later, Bel Cain becomes crown prince and resolves to create a new world order with super advanced Magitech, all managed by a [[BrainInAJar computer made from human brains]]. Bel Cain doesn't realize that the computer hates its existence so much that it has created weapons capable of finding and destroying it...using the corpses of Nell and Seana (who joined the Sulunkan resistance only to be killed and taken as trophies). The things that used to be Nell and Seana they tear across the countryside, destroying Bel Cain's advanced technology, culminating in a sad, one-sided reunion...and they all die. Or do they?

* AdiposeRex: King Jabugal is one, of the hedonistic VillainousGlutton variety.