History VideoGame / GoneHome

* [[spoiler: ButchLesbian: Lonnie. Sam's more of a mixed example; she has some masculine traits but isn't nearly as butch as Lonnie.]]
* [[spoiler: ButNowIMustGo: Lonnie, to basic training. She quits it and tearfully calls Sam to come get her at a Salem bus stop, leading to them both running away.]]
* [[spoiler: ComingOutStory: Mostly.]]

* [[spoiler: RedHerring: Oscar ends up having very little to do with the plot and is quietly "exorcised" near the end]].

* [[spoiler: TransparentCloset: Sam admits she's in one, saying she and Katie have "known since [[SheRaPrincessOfPower She-ra]]". She briefly mentions too that it's pretty apparent to other students, and Lonnie apparently picked up on it quickly.]]
* [[spoiler: WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Nothing is made of Terry's review work after it's revealed to be declining in quality, as well as his problems with his father. Likewise Jan's interest in Richard is abruptly smashed with a wedding invitation and her meeting with Carol isn't brought up afterwards]].

** [[spoiler: Daniel, the boy trying to get his Street Fighter cart back, gets no mention after the beginning of the second floor.]]

* [[spoiler: BittersweetEnding: Sam and Lonnie leave town to be together in a new life, and Terry's found acceptance as a writer. However Jan, Terry and Katie are likely to be heartbroken by Sam's departure and Jan and Terry's marriage is already rocky. Moreover, Sam ''stole'' everything of value before leaving.]]

* [[spoiler: ButchLesbian: Lonnie. Sam's more of a mixed example.]]

* DecoyProtagonist: [[spoiler: The story is about Katie's family and those around them. But it's more about Sam and Lonnie than anyone else. Katie herself receives less characterization than any of the other characters though.]]

* HardWorkHardlyWorks: [[spoiler: Katie's father was inspired by OliverStone's, ''{{Film/JFK}}'', and decides to write a fictional novel surrounding the events of the assassination. Though published, his novel sells poorly. He writes a sequel novel, only for that one to sell ever worse, causing the publishing company to drop him. It's implied he went though some depression afterwards.]]

* [[spoiler: TransparentCloset: Sam admits she's in one, saying she and Katie have "known since [[SheRaPrincessOfPower She-ra]]".]]
* [[spoiler: TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Lonnie's tomboy to Sam's GirlyGirl.]]

** [[spoiler: Sam's creative writing is dropped around the time of the basement, being brought up a final time only to bring about the ButNowIMustGo part of the plot.]]

** [[spoiler: For her part, Sam finds the military's policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell ridiculous. Also, she's infuriated when her parents can't accept her sexuality, who chalk it up as a "phase" and refusing to discuss it further with her]].

** [[spoiler: For her part, Sam finds the military's policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell ridiculous and is infuriated when her parents can't accept her sexuality]].

* CreepyUncle: The reclusive uncle Oscar's mansion is so spooky it has gained reputation as the "psycho house" throughout the community. More darkly, [[spoiler: several clues suggest that Oscar abused his nephew -- Sam and Katie's father, Terry -- as a young boy. [[http://clockworkworlds.com/post/58411117679/the-transgression-you-can-do-better]] WordOfGod confirms it.]]

* GenreShift: Invoked intentionally. You'd be forgiven for thinking the story is a psychological horror, given the dead of night, extreme weather, and the frantic messages of your parents, [[spoiler: but it's actually a love story]].
* HardWorkHardlyWorks: [[spoiler: Katie's father was inspired by OliverStone's, ''{{Film/JFK}}'', and decides to write a fictional novel surrounding the events of the assassination. Though published, his novel sells poorly. He writes a sequel novel, only for that one to sell ever worst, causing the publishing company to drop him. It's implied he went though some depression afterwards.]]

* TheVoiceless: All of the major characters get at least a few notes, but Terry, Richard, Carol, and Oscar don't have any vocal work; justified for Oscar in that he's dead.

* HardWorkHardlyWorks: [[spoiler: Katie's father was inspired by OliverStone's, ''{{Film/JFK}}'', and decides to write a non-fiction novel surrounding the events of the assassination. Though published, his novel sells poorly. He writes a sequel novel, only for that one to sell ever worst, causing the publishing company to drop him. It's implied he went though some depression afterwards.]]

* GenreShift: Invoked intentionally. You'd be forgiven for thinking the story is a psychological horror, given the dead of night, extreme weather, and the frantic messages of your parents, [[spoiler: but it's actually a love story]].

* [[spoiler: TransparentCloset: Sam admits she's in one, saying she and Katie have "known since [[SheRaPrincessOfPower She-ra]]".]]

* [[spoiler: BittersweetEnding: Sam and Lonnie leave town to be together in a new life, and Terry's found acceptance as a writer. However Jan is heartbroken by Sam's departure and Jan and Terry's marriage is already rocky. Moreover, Sam ''stole'' everything of value before leaving.]]

* [[spoiler: TransparentCloset: Sam admits she's in one, saying she and Katie have "known since [[SheRaPrincessOfPower She-ra]]". Katie still is a little shocked by her PornStash though, so it could just be Sam projecting.]]

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: [[spoiler: Part of the reason that Terry and Jan's marriage is falling apart is because Terry apparently pressured Jan to drop dancing and bowling lessons in favor of cooking, as well as more feminine pursuits such as painting and sewing]].

* [[AloofBigBrother AloofBigSister]]: Zigzagged. Katie is an ace student while Sam has disciplinary problems, but Sam and Katie still seem to have a close relationship. [[spoiler: So much so that Katie is the only one Sam tells about her departure and the full truth of her relationship with Lonnie; though in light of other evidence, Sam may just be projecting onto Katie.]]

* [[spoiler: WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Nothing is made of Terry's review work after it's revealed to be declining in quality, as well as his problems with his father. Likewise Jan's hinted affair doesn't get any closure unlike Terry's writing, being left hanging with a meeting with Carol planned for the future]].

** [[spoiler: Dannie, the boy trying to get his Street Fighter cart back, gets no mention after the west side of the first floor.]]

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: [[spoiler: Part of the reason that Katie's parent's marriage is falling apart is because Terry apparently pressured Jan to drop dancing and bowling lessons in favor of cooking, as well as more feminine pursuits such as painting and sewing. Jan's an excellent forest ranger, who's upset with such stereotypical notions]].

* EatingUpTheEyeCandy: [[spoiler: Carol makes some reference to Katie's mother doing this, and gleefully encourages her.]]

* ShownTheirWork: Prescribed burns are a real technique, and began to be used around the time of the story. They can be very risky as well, hence the request for additional personnel.

* [[spoiler: WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Nothing is made of Terry's review work after it's revealed to be declining in quality, as well as his problems with his father. Likewise Jan's hinted affair doesn't get any closure unlike Terry's writing, being left hanging with a meeting with Carol planned for the future. ]].

* [[spoiler: ButNowIMustGo: Lonnie, to basic. She quits it and tearfully calls Sam to come get her at a Salem bus stop, leading to them both running away.]]

* DecoyProtagonist: [[spoiler: The story is about everyone. But it's more about Sam and Lonnie than anyone else. The player character's backstory is mentioned, but the story is hardly about her.]]
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: [[spoiler: Part of the reason that Katie's parent's marriage is falling apart is because Richard apparently pressured Katie's mother to drop dancing and bowling lessons in favor of cooking, as well as more feminine pursuits such as painting and sewing. She's an excellent forest ranger, who's upset with such stereotypical notions]].

* [[spoiler: RedHerring: Oscar ends up having nothing to do with the plot, and the house was probably never haunted in the first place.]]
** [[spoiler: Actually, a few clues imply Oscar sexually abused his nephew Terry (Sam and Katie's father) as a young boy, later confirmed by WordOfGod. [[http://clockworkworlds.com/post/58411117679/the-transgression-you-can-do-better]]]]

** In the more literal sense, while Sam's story is the main thread, you can also learn about Katie's mother and father, and their personal struggles, by reading letters.

* [[spoiler: WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Nothing is made of Richard's review work after it's revealed to be declining in quality, as well as his problems with his father. Likewise the mother Jan's hinted affair doesn't get any closure unlike Richard's writing]].
** [[spoiler: Sam's creative writing is dropped around the time of the basement, being brought up a final time only to bring about the ButNowIMustGo part of the plot.]]

* CreepyUncle: The reclusive uncle Oscar's mansion is so spooky it has gained reputation as the "psycho house" throughout the community. More darkly, [[spoiler: several clues suggest that Oscar abused his nephew -- Sam and Katie's father, Terry -- as a young boy. WordOfGod confirms it.]]

** [[spoiler: Actually, a few clues imply Oscar sexually abused his nephew Terry (Sam and Katie's father) as a young boy, later confirmed by WordOfGod.]]

* DecoyProtagonist: [[spoiler: The story is about everyone ''but'' Katie.]]

* BeautifulVoid: While the home is interesting, detailed, and populated by bric-a-brac, but nary a sign of life present.

** Though it does keep you on your toes, [[spoiler: especially when the only lightbulb in a secret hallway burns out right as you pick up a creepy crucifix]].

* [[spoiler: TransparentCloset: Sam admits she's in one, saying she and Katie have "known since She-ra". Katie still is a little shocked by her PornStash though, so it could just be Sam projecting.]]
* [[spoiler: WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Nothing is made of Richard's review work after it's revealed to be declining in quality, as well as his problems with his father. Likewise the Mother's (name eludes me) hinted affair doesn't get any closure unlike Richard's writing]].
** [[spoiler: Sam's creative writing is dropped around the time of the basement, being brought up a final time only to bring about the ButNowIMustGo part of the plot.]]

* [[spoiler: ButchLesbian: Laurie. Sam's more of a mixed example.]]
* [[spoiler: ButNowIMustGo: Laurie, to basic. She quits it and tearfully calls Sam to come get her at a Salem bus stop, leading to them both running away.]]

* HypocriticalHumor: [[spoiler: Laurie is very anti-authoritarian yet wants to join the Army. When Sam calls her out on this, she doesn't have an answer. There's even mention made of the (now abolished) policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and Sam finds it hard to grapple with.]]

** [[spoiler: Not to mention all the mysteriously missing electronics are just that, mysteriously missing and nothing else, though Sam may have stolen them to help her and Laurie run away.]]

* [[spoiler: StraightGay: Sam, probably Laurie.]]

** [[spoiler: Not to mention all the mysteriously missing electronics are just that, mysteriously missing and nothing else, though Sam may have stole them to help her and Laurie run away.]]

* [[spoiler: WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Nothing is made of Richard's review work after it's revealed to be declining in quality, as well as his problems with his father. Likewise the Mother's (name eludes me) hinted affair doesn't get any closure unlike Richard's writing]].

** [[spoiler: Not to mention all the mysteriously missing electronics are just that, mysteriously missing and nothing else.]]

* [[spoiler: TransparentCloset: Sam admits she's in one, saying she's "known since She-ra". Katie still is a little shocked by her PornStash though, so it could just be Sam exaggerating.]]

* NothingIsScarier: Something very suspenseful about an empty house, on a dark and stormy night, after midnight, with nothing to keep you company but the sound of rain, thunder, and the creaking floorboards of an old house.
* StoryBreadcrumbs: As you progress through the house, notes, and occasional journals from your sister fill in what happened while you were gone.