History VideoGame / Hammerfight

In 2016, Konstantin revealed work on a new game billed as an "ideological prequel" to ''Hammerfight''--''Highfleet'', updates to which are available on his [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsylHeEcsD6njr8kABjouvQ YouTube]] channel and [[https://twitter.com/highfleetgame Twitter]] account. Konstantin has also expressed interest in making a direct sequel to Hammerfight in the game's [[https://steamcommunity.com/app/41100/discussions/0/598198356176130728/#c1621724915798362129 Steam discussion]] forums.

* XanatosGambit: The whole of the game's plot was enacted by Emperor Bharat-al-Maravi. [[spoiler: He purposely invoked the oath of Cyrus Arguseed to exterminate the House of Gaiar, but not because he wanted to fulfill the oath. Rather, he hoped the resulting war would turn up a vengeance-driven warrior who could be manipulated into taking out his political rivals and thus allow him to collect the Singing Stones held by all three houses. He also needed someone skilled enough to destroy Seraph.]]

* XanatosGambit: The whole of the game's plot was enacted by Emperor Bharat-al-Maravi. [[spoiler: He purposely invoked the oath of Cyrus Arguseed to exterminate the House of Gaiar, but not because he wanted to fulfill the oath. Rather, he hoped the resulting war would turn up a vengeance-driven warrior who could be manipulated into taking out his political rivals. He also needed someone skilled enough to destroy Seraph.]]

* XanatosGambit: The whole of the game's plot was enacted by Emperor Bharat-al-Maravi. [[spoiler: He purposely invoked the oath of Cyrus Arguseed to exterminate the House of Gaiar, but not because he wanted to fulfill the oath. Rather, he hoped the resulting war would turn up a warrior skilled enough to not only oppose House Kadish, but also to destroy Seraph.]]

A 2009 physics-based action game (previously known as ''Hammerfall'') made by Konstantin Koshutin, ''Hammerfight'' follows a young member of the House of Gaiar as he begins his training as a Rider--those who can pilot flying machines, especially for the purpose of war. The young Gaiar has many life-changing ordeals ahead of him--starting with TheEmpire declaring a war of extermination on the his people in order to fulfill an ancient oath by Cyrus Arguseed ...

** Several of the epigraphs detailing the history of the Helaat--that is, Hammerfight's setting--are said to be from the Annals of House Kelete. Particularly those found on the game's website.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The name for your character's profile is used as their first name--particularly in the Arena--but he'll most often be called "Gaiar" in the story.

* ArtisticLicensePhysics: {{Justified|Trope}} by an explanation by [[spoiler: Seraph]]. Let's just say that the {{Giant Flyer}}s and {{Floating Continent}}s should be your first clue the world of Hammerfight isn't reality as ''you'' know it, rather than complaining how unrealistic it all is.

** Several of the epigraphs detailing the history of the Hammerfight world, particularly on the game's website, are said to be from the Annals of House Kelete.

* HelloInsertNameHere: Your profile name is used off and on, but your character is just as likely to be addressed as Gaiar.

* TheVirus: [[spoiler:The Family, mentioned by Seraph--a "heterogeneous polymorphous race" that can assimilate other species. They had all but beaten the civilization that created Seraph and other "assault complexes" like it, whose purpose is to break apart the Family by banishing pieces of it to other realities. The "beasts of firmament" are one of those pieces.]]

* UnusualUserInterface: According to [[spoiler:Seraph]], some of the Singing Stones are supposedly part of a control system for ... something. Something ''very'' important.

A crazy physics-based action game (previously known as ''Hammerfall'') made by Konstantin Koshutin, ''Hammerfight'' follows a young member of the House of Gaiar as he begins his training as a Rider, those who are capable of piloting flying machines, especially for the purpose of war. As the young Gaiar will soon find out, he has many life-changing ordeals ahead of him--starting with TheEmpire declaring a war of extermination on the Gaiar's people, to fulfill an ancient oath by Cyrus Arguseed ...

And just what does a rookie rider take into battle? A ''giant rock on a chain''--and that's just the ''starter'' weapon.

* ActionBomb: Some enemies will explode when destroyed. The first of these types of enemies are introduced during an escort mission, where you need to keep them away from the person you're escorting and take them out with a precise cut to the head. Later ones tend to [[TakingYouWithMe taunt you into killing them]] when they are severely damaged (where anyone else, usually, would just surrender).

* BulletTime: Land a particularly good strike, and you get a few seconds of slow-motion, during which you can move a whole lot faster than anyone else. It does, however, turn into a bit of a DeathOrGloryAttack, depending on the situation, as bullet-time physics get even wonkier than usual, so flying into something will ''wreck'' you, but you can also get some absolutely devastating momentum on your weapon, which can then be given to the nearest enemy to make him fly ''through'' the wall, if he doesn't just explode outright from sheer damage. [[note]][[GoodBadBugs It is not unheard of for this system to cause everything to glitch out, potentially breaking the game and killing you... or killing everything on the screen. It is entirely possible to kill three riders with ''one hit, directed at only one of them'' by complete accident with that.[[/note]]

* CombatCommentator: In certain missions, as well as the Arena mode, a commentator will compare your performance to the warriors of legend... or jeer at you if you take too many hits.

* {{Determinator}}: The young Gaiar has been through a lot - to what some might legitimately call hell (and maybe back), even. He never gives up, though. [[spoiler:Unless you get one of the DownerEnding routes.]]

* EscortMission: In the first chapter, you have to escort your chief, and keep swarms of hornets away from the worm. The second wave starts sending explosive hornets.

* {{Epigraph}}: The splash screen has a strangely-selected quote from Literature/TheBible admonishing one to not sin in [[NintendoHard anger]]. Also, most chapters begin with a quotation from Literature/TheBible, sans verse reference.
* EscortMission: Helping a giant worm-based zeppelin across the sky, and protecting it from bees--especially the [[DemonicSpiders glowing, EXPLODING bees]]--is an exemplary case.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Titles and achievements in, say, the Arena go completely unmentioned in the Story mode, leading to such gems as a chieftain questioning how you can fight like a seneschal... when you ''are'' a seneschal, or even ''outrank'' them.

** Red - Ruby: When charged up and used to strike an enemy with great force, a ruby will restore some of your flying machine's health. One of the most common - and by far the most useful[[note]]to GameBreaker levels[[/note]] - singing stones at your disposal.
** Orange - Topaz: When fully charged, they burst into flame for a few seconds. Wooden objects and enemies will be set on fire if struck, dealing damage over time. Also quite useful in the dark, since they make a lot of light.
** Green - Emerald: The other non-elemental singing stone, Emeralds let the wielder temporarily ''phase'' through attacks. Movement is slower, and your weapon is phased as well, making attacking impossible. The page image shows an enemy phasing to avoid the player's attack. [[CaptainObvious Dephasing inside a weapon will reduce your health, and de-phasing with your weapon inside someone else will do pretty much the exact same to them.]]
** Blue - Sapphire: The rarest of the lot (on par with Emeralds) but quite effective. If they strike an enemy weapon when charged, they'll coat it in ice crystals, freezing it. Frozen weapons and armour are made more brittle, and therefore, are [[BreakableWeapons much easier to break]].
** Purple - Amethyst: Terrifyingly effective against metallic enemies, these unleash vicious electrical shocks. If fully charged, any enemies that get too close to the gem will be shocked ''without'' releasing the main charge. Additionally, striking an enemy with a fully charged Amethyst will unleash an additional shock that amplifies the force of an attack, making it easier to smash through armour and send your foe flying.

* ImprobableWeaponUser: You and just about everyone else. Weapons vary from fairly normal swords, axes and hammers to a circular sawblades on a chain, repurposed pickaxes, pickaxe heads ''on a chain'', steampunk guns, a crude ball of iron '''''[[RunningGag on a chain]]'''''... and ''more''.

* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits: Subverted - the machines are controlled in-universe ''with a mouse'', thus the tutorial instructions are justified.

* [[InfinityPlusOneSword Infinity Plus One]] EpicFlail: The ''Colossus'', shown in the page image. Imagine if you were to affix a circular saw blade to the end of a long chain, which also has several spikes on it. Allow said saw blade to rotate freely upon the end of that chain, with razor-edged, razor-tipped blades that can slice through beast-flesh and enough weight to smash armour like tinfoil. According to the weapon's backstory, just a single rider with one of these mighty weapons could cause an ''entire army'' to turn and run, and it's not hard to see why.
* IShallTauntYou: Shaking the mouse back and forth makes your character [[BerserkButton swing jauntily back and forth, laughing.]] [[DisproportionateRetribution You had better be ready]] for the [[UnstoppableRage sheer onslaught]] of [[GangUpOnTheHuman sharp objects propelled your way.]]
* JigsawPuzzlePlot: You will ''never'' really get to see the big picture without playing through the game's various endings. The plot itself is a loose jigsaw of UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}} and [[UsefulNotes/TheMiddleEast Middle Eastern culture]].
** It also becomes easier to understand the plot when the chapter prologues are read as pieces of the game's prologue.

* KillItWithFire: Weapons with fire gems slotted into them, when used against beasts, will make for ''instant barbecue''.

* MacGuffin: The Emperor wants the gems that each Great House holds, but this fact is not revealed until very late in the story, and what they do is not clearly explained. It is vaguely implied that they grant some sort of RealityWarper power to the wielder.
* MoreDakka: The ''Tribune'', a massive rapid-fire gun that holds 40 rounds at a time, expelling them rapidly. The second highest, the Assault Arquebus, holds 20. Tied for third highest are the Arquebus [[ShortRangeShotgun Shotcannon]] and Whisper Grenade Launcher with 3 each.

* SkippableBoss: You are given the option to fight a boss just after someone tries buying you. If you decide to do so, you're commited to defeating the sophit as you can't revert prior to the current mission. You do, however, get rewarded for your trouble, and the sophit isn't ludicrously difficult (and you're forced to fight it regardless of what happens beforehand, possibly with the exact same weapon).
* SocketedEquipment: There are three sizes; small, medium, and large. Most weapons (bar the guns) have at least one small slot for GreenRocks, whilst the higher-tier swords tend to have several. The gems cannot be removed once inserted into a socket and may only be recovered by ''destroying'' the weapon, which is only really possible if an ice-gemmed weapon is used to make them brittle enough to smash easily.

* TheVirus: [[spoiler:The Family, mentioned by Seraph - a "heterogeneous polymorphous race" that can assimilate other species. They had all but beaten the civilization that created Seraph and other "assault complexes" like it, whose purpose is to break apart the Family by banishing pieces of it to other realities. The "beasts of firmament" are one of those pieces.]]

* TooAwesomeToUse: Siege Bombs are fairly expensive, but are utterly devastating. The AI tosses them around like candy sometimes. You'll probably want to hang on to yours if you bother with them at all.
* UnusualUserInterface: According to [[spoiler:Seraph]], some of the Singing Stones are supposedly part of a control system for... something. Something ''very'' important.

** Green - Emerald: The other non-elemental singing stone, Emeralds let the wielder temporarily ''phase'' through attacks. Movement is slower, and your weapon is phased as well, making attacking impossible. The page image shows an enemy phasing to avoid the player's attack. [[CaptainObvious Dephasing inside a weapon will reduce your healh, and dephasing with your weapon inside someone else will do pretty much the exact same to them.]]

* ShoutOut: What [[spoiler:Seraph]] has to say concerning his origins is a big reference to backstory and setting of ''VideoGame/{{Vangers}}''. That's a Russian video game from 1997, and Konstantin Koshutin was one of the developers.

* ShoutOut: To ''VideoGame/{{Vangers}}'', a Russian videogame from 1997. Not surprising considering the developer worked on it.

Not related to [[MCHammer Hammertime]], although it could hurt you just as bad.

* ShoutOut: To {{Vangers}}, a Russian videogame from 1997. Not surprising considering the developer worked on it.

* {{Badass}}: Several of the characters.

* JigsawPuzzlePlot: You will ''never'' really get to see the big picture without playing through the game's various endings. The plot itself is a loose jigsaw of {{Hinduism}} and [[UsefulNotes/TheMiddleEast Middle Eastern culture]].

** ''Mortar'', the... uh... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mortar]]. Sometimes it misfires, and it can have some undesirable recoil (particularly if you're next to a wall, the bounce can stun you for a bit), but other times you can ''[[BlastingItOutOfTheirHands disarm an enemy]]'' with the force of the shot, smash through armour and inflict MassiveDamage, or simply [[BlownAcrossTheRoom send them hurtling offscreen into the nearest solid object]].

* ForMassiveDamage: Weapons with fire gems slotted into them, when used against beasts, will make for ''instant barbecue''. Weapons with lightning gems slotted are almost as useful against machines, especially after you charge them up through a bit of spinning, which will turn your next strike into just about the biggest stun you can achieve.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Many of the weapons, especially the guns, though with practice they tend to become AwesomeButPractical instead.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Many of the weapons, especially the guns, though with practice they tend to become AwesomeYetPractical instead.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Many of the weapons, especially the guns.

* BlastingItOutOfTheirHands: It's very possible to whack an enemy rider so hard their weapon falls right off their machine. It's ''also'' possible to loot these weapons.

* BreakableWeapons: Weapons ''can'' break, if abused. If struck repeatedly with an ice-enchanted weapon, they also become more brittle and easier to break. Armour can also be smashed through; the better stuff is heavier and more expensive, but tends to be very resilient and will only shatter if it takes a seriously solid hit from a heavy weapon like the Colossus or Iblis' Claw.
* BulletTime: Land a particularly good strike, and you get a few seconds of slow-motion, during which you can move a whole lot faster than anyone else. It does, however, turn into a bit of a DeathOrGloryAttack, depending on the situation, as bullet-time physics get even wonkier than usual, so flying into something will ''wreck'' you, but you can also get some absolutely devastating momentum on your weapon, which can then be given to the nearest enemy to make him fly ''through'' the wall, if he doesn't just explode outright from sheer damage.
* BullfightBoss: Sophits (and some other enemies) will charge at you. The best strategy is to sidestep, swing your weapon around, and let them slam into it at top speed, dealing massive damage.

** PlayingTennisWithTheBoss: If it's not an explosive, it's usually easier to just swat it back at your foe.
* CombatCommentator: In certain missions, as well as the Arena mode, a commentator will compare your performance to the warriors of legend ... or jeer at you if you take too many hits.

* {{Determinator}}: The young Gaiar has been through a lot--to what some might call hell (and maybe back), even. He never gives up, though. [[spoiler:Unless you get one of the DownerEnding routes.]]

* EpicFlail: The basic flails are giant balls of rock or iron on chains ... and then you've got monsters like ''Iblis' Claw'' and ''Colossus''.

* ExpendableAlternateUniverse: [[spoiler:Seraph]] and the civilization that [[spoiler: created him]] hold views like this.

** Red - Ruby: When charged up and used to strike an enemy with great force, a ruby will restore some of your flying machine's health. One of the most common - and by far the most useful - singing stones at your disposal.

** Green - Emerald: The other non-elemental singing stone, Emeralds let the wielder temporarily ''phase'' through attacks. Movement is slower, and your weapon is phased as well, making attacking impossible. The page image shows an enemy phasing to avoid the player's attack. [[CaptainObvious Dephasing inside a weapon will reduce your health]].

* GuideDangIt: Some missions, but the storyline branches in particular can be confusing. One particular path ends up presenting two choices at a certain point, one whose dialogue beforehand would make some players go, "Oh, I definitely want THIS choice." However, the description of neither choice clearly talks about why you're going there--just some background on the places. While weapons are sometimes awarded after certain levels, apart from buying common varieties from the randomly-stocked store, it's never clearly stated that [[BlastingItOutOfTheirHands disarming foes]] is the only way to get certain weapons. (Good luck getting that nifty sword!)

* [[InfinityPlusOneSword Infinity Plus One]] EpicFlail: The ''Colossus'', shown in the page image. Imagine if you were to affix a circular saw blade to the end of a long chain, which also has several spikes on it. Allow said saw blade to rotate freely upon the end of that chain, with razor-edged, razor-tipped blades that can slice through beast-flesh and enough weight to smash armour like tinfoil. According to the weapon's backstory, just a single rider with one of these mighty weapons could cause an ''entire army'' to turn and run.

* LastOfHisKind: After the attack on the House of Gaiar's realm, [[spoiler: the player is taken prisoner and is essentially the last of the Gaiar left alive]]. Depending on choices made, however, [[spoiler: [[{{Subverted}} you'll find out otherwise]]]].

* MacGuffin: The Emperor wants the gems that each Great House holds, but this fact is not revealed until very late in the story, and what they do is not clearly explained.

*** 2a: [[spoiler:Accept Seraph's offer and return to the sky leading an army of the machines against the beasts.]]

* OlderIsBetter: The ''Colossus'' weapon's backstory mentions that none have been forged for ''centuries'', but it is by far one of the best flails in the game.

* RegeneratingHealth: Used only during the Hammerball league, but in this case you and your opponents are also invulnerable, with your objective being to knock the ball into the goal. Taking damage means you're simply easier to stun rather then dying.
* RushBoss: [[spoiler:Seraph. Either you get snipped and zapped into oblivion by the thing's electrotentacles, or you smash its head off in three well-aimed swings or so, but the battle won't go past a minute unless you deliberately take longer]].
* ScavengerWorld: As mentioned in the OpeningNarration, the flying machines are repaired or modified from broken machines found in the Abyss. It's unclear if anyone [[spoiler: outside of Seraph's minions]] has the capability to build them from scratch.

* SkippableBoss: You are given the option to fight a boss just after someone tries buying you. If you decide to do so, you're commited to defeating the sophit as you can't revert prior to the current mission.

* TheVirus: The Family, mentioned by [[spoiler: Seraph]]--a "heterogeneous polymorphous race" that can assimilate other species. They had all but beaten the civilization that created [[spoiler: Seraph]] and other "assault complexes" like it, whose purpose is to break apart the Family by banishing pieces of it to other realities. [[spoiler: The "beasts of firmament" are one of those pieces.]]

* ActionBomb: Some enemies will explode when destroyed. The first of these types of enemies are introduced during an escort mission, where you need to keep them away from the person you're escorting and take them out with a precise cut to the head. Layer ones will [[TakingYouWithMe taunt you into killing them]] when they are severely damaged (where anyone else would surrender).

** In order to use guns, the player must link them to another weapon. Aiming is a matter of swinging the other weapon until the gun is pointed in the right direction, and firing the gun requires "using" it while it's selected in the cargo hold. In short, using guns becomes a game of roulette. Enemy riders, however, do not need to link their guns to another weapon ''and'' can manually aim their guns however they like.

* ForMassiveDamage: Weapons with fire gems slotted into them, when used against beasts, will make for ''instant barbecue''. Weapons with lightning gems slotted are almost as useful against machines.

* CombatCommentator: In the Arena mode, a commentator will compare your performance to the warriors of legend ... or jeer at you if you take too many hits.

* SchmuckBait: Some enemies will explode when destroyed. If they are severely damaged (where anyone else would surrender), they will instead [[TakingYouWithMe taunt you into killing them.]]

** To damage enemies, the player must build up momentum in his weapons before striking. However, the player can take a lot of damage just by bumping into an enemy's weapon (or most parts of a monster). Even if the enemy is stunned and idle on the ground, grazing their weapon will cause considerable damage.

* RushBoss: [[spoiler:Seraph. Either you get snipped and zapped into oblivion by the thing's electrotentacles, or you smash its head off in three well-aimed swings or so, but the battle won't go past a minute]].

** ''Mortar'', the... uh... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mortar]]. Sometimes it misfires, but other times you can ''[[BlastingItOutOfTheirHands disarm an enemy]]'' with the force of the shot, or smash through armour and inflict MassiveDamage.

* AIIsACrapshoot: [[spoiler:Seraph, potential end-boss of the game.]]

* WreakingHavok: Physics-based gameplay, 'nuff said.