History VideoGame / Holdover

* UnwinnableByMistake: If you have less than 400 hearts, although you are still able to enter the administration section after unlocking Network Room B, you won't be able to exit it due to insufficient oxygen.

Thus goes ''Holdover'', a surprisingly good, timing-based 2009 {{freeware}} PlatformGame by a DoujinSoft circle known as Creator/FoxEye, with plenty of girl-running-around-completely-naked action, {{Metroidvania}}-based navigation, and a large emphasis on maintaining an OxygenMeter. Find its website [[http://www.foxeye.squares.net/product/holdover/index.htm here]].

* WalkDontSwim: Marie is known to be the first and only Fox Eye heroine that can't swim, not because she never learned how to, but because she ''literally can't'' [[RealityEnsues due to the weight of the devices on her ankles]]. As stated above, she is forced to walk, crawl, jump, and sink her way through submerged passageways, burning quite a bit of oxygen doing so.

* WalkDontSwim: Marie is known to be the first and only Fox Eye heroine that can't swim, not because she never learned how to, but because she ''literally can't'' [[RealityEnsues due to the weight of devices on her ankles]]. As stated above, she is forced to walk, crawl, jump, and sink her way through submerged passageways, burning quite a bit of oxygen doing so.

* {{Retraux}}: The game's graphics were intentionally made to resemble the graphics of computer games of TheEighties and TheNineties, such as what can be found on the UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}. This also extends to the ambient music that plays through nearly the whole game, as it wouldn't sound too out of place from ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid''. [[WordOfGod Fox]] even stated that that the game was designed to be as if it were made in 1994, the same year that ''Super Metroid'' made its debut and further [[TropeCodifier codified]] the {{Metroidvania}} sub-genre it established that ''Holdover'' bases itself on.

* WalkDontSwim: Due to the weight of devices on her ankles, Marie is known to be the first and only Fox Eye heroine that’s completely incapable of swimming. As stated above, she is forced to walk, crawl, jump, and sink her way through submerged passageways, burning quite a bit of oxygen doing so.

** Due to the game being an atmospherically-dark {{Metroidvania}}, others imagine that Marie is what would happen if [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Zero Suit Samus]] was younger and completely unarmed.

* DubText: [[invoked]] There is an option within the game's folder to change all of the dialogue in the game and its font, which can range between the player fixing any further instances of GoodBadTranslation to completely rewriting the game's script from scratch. This also allows you to change Marie's expressions during the dialogue and temporarily change the game's music through the use of Tanner's hologram portrait or that of an unknown, unseen person that he speaks to during some of the holograms.

* FrickinLaserBeams: There are 2 types of security robots with this weapon in the game, and make up one-third of the game's hazards (the other two thirds being the SpikesOfDoom and maintaining the OxygenMeter while underwater). One type of security robot has an active laser that hits Marie the moment she moves into its line of sight. The second type uses a yellow cone of light that shoots Marie with greater precision should she touch the light. Some rooms contain switches that allow you to turn off these lasers for a limited time in order to get through areas that would've been otherwise impossible to do without getting vaporized.

* MortonsFork: Much of the game’s high difficulty is due to it being very timing-based to keep you on your toes of having to avoid more than one form of death simultaneously. For example, there’s a room where Marie has to crawl underwater in order to avoid a long row of searchlights from security lasers. [[OxygenMeter If she keeps her head underwater for too long, she’ll drown]], but if she chooses the wrong time to bring her head above water to catch a breath, she gets vaporized by FrickinLaserBeams, instead.

** The Japanese version of the game, including [[https://image.ibb.co/cRct2A/next-projs.jpg this Japanese pre-release image]], outright states that this swimsuit is just for medical purposes and is completely useless for protection, at least against the SpikesOfDoom and FrickinLaserBeams, that is. Better than sticking with the white swimsuit, at least, as Marie is just otherwise instantly stripped naked upon [[OneHitpointWonder a just-as-instant death]].

* AllThereInTheManual: According to [[https://image.ibb.co/cRct2A/next-projs.jpg a Japanese-only pre-release image]], Marie's full name is Marie Annette. However, her last name is never brought up in the game proper.

* HairDecorations: Marie has a [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde ponytail]] through a pink ribbon. This, along with her locks in the front, ends up making her heavily resemble [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Roll]], who has a similar hairstyle with a green ribbon, instead.

* BloodyHorror: Marie splats out blood whenever she is killed by lasers or spikes. The blood splat stay even after reloading the game and any saved slots. You can either toggle it off, or remove it permanenly by removing the entire game from your computer.

* DarkerAndEdgier: A darker game compared to Fox Eye's previous fare at the time, such as the [[{{Moe}} cutesy]] [[WidgetSeries widget]] PuzzlePlatformer ''VideoGame/AquaCube'', and the SliceOfLife [[BeachEpisode Summer]] AdventureGame that is ''Blue Port''. This game in contrast is a BadFuture SciFi {{Metroidvania}} with gloomy, decayed environments and a sense of loneliness and isolation for its protagonist throughout its entirety, hence its title. Also, besides [[AuthorAppeal drowning]], other things that can kill Marie include being impaled by spikes and shot by security lasers, both of which leave a blood splat behind right as she gets fatally hit. All blood spawned from these violent deaths will stay until the game is completely removed from the player's computer, but it can be toggled off, however. [[spoiler: The ending of the game also has Marie describe some rather bleak notes of what has happened to the world during her slumber, but she nonetheless finishes off on an encouraging, if not somewhat [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] note.]]

** Several fans can't help but admit that Marie heavily resembles a slightly older human [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Roll]] wearing one of her one-piece swimsuits. Marie and Roll both also have scientist fathers that eventually [[DisappearedDad disappear]] during a distant future and [[VideoGame/MegaManX leave behind several holographic messages for specific people they’re related to to find and read]]. Due to the game being a {{Metroidvania}}, others imagine that Marie is what would happen if [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Zero Suit Samus]] was younger and completely unarmed. Check the page image at the top for a reference.

* IllGirl: Marie, herself. The reason she was put into the facility in the first place was that so her father could cure her from an accident that put her in a coma 10 years ago. Even after she wakes up in the beginning of the game, she has to wear heavy computer anklets that are meant to repair her organs, and her motor skills have suffered due to being in her sleeping capsule for so long, giving her numb legs and stiff arms that limit her ability to jump and climb. The weight of the anklets also make Marie the only Fox Eye protagonist that [[WalkDontSwim can’t swim]], as well as her having the worst OxygenMeter length of any other heroine in the circle. Even after it has been fully upgraded, it still drops at a faster rate compared to other Fox Eye games while moving underwater. Collecting blue hearts, [[spoiler:as well as finding certain upgrades for her legs and arms]], improve Marie’s condition in different ways.

* PointOfNoReturn: After the [[spoiler:UnexpectedShmupLevel]], you can't go back to most rooms.

** The Japanese version of the game, including [[https://image.ibb.co/cRct2A/next-projs.jpg this Japanese pre-release image]], outright states that this swimsuit is just for medical purposes and is completely useless for protection, at least against the SpikesOfDoom and FrickinLaserBeams, that is. Better than sticking with the white swimsuit, at least, as Marie is just otherwise instantly stripped naked upon death.

* BlessedWithSuck: You know, for devices intended to keep Marie alive, those heavy, buoyancy-killing computer anklets sure end up killing her a lot in the now-flooded installation. [[spoiler:However, this was likely an inconvenience to her and an oversight for Tanner when he installed those anklets onto her, as the future Marie lives in has the facility's flooding being caused by rising ocean levels.]]

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Somehow a dark-blue swimsuit is supposed to qualify for armor. A swimsuit that gives way at the slightest bit of damage, leaving the user completely naked. ''[[SarcasmMode Yeaaaaaaah]]''. Upon putting it on and reading its details, Marie [[LampshadeHanging even has the foresight to question]], [[ThisIsGonnaSuck if not outright doubt]], the sturdiness of the "armor", herself.
--> '''Marie (in Japanese):''' Is it really okay?
--> '''Marie (in English):''' Hmm... I'm not so sure this will protect me...

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Somehow a dark-blue swimsuit is supposed to qualify for armor. A swimsuit that gives way at the slightest bit of damage, leaving the user completely naked. ''[[SarcasmMode Yeaaaaaaah]]''. Upon putting it on, Marie [[ThisIsGonnaSuck even has the foresight to question the practicality of the "armor", herself.]]
--> '''Marie''': Hmm... [[LampshadeHanging I'm not so sure this will protect me...]]

* ClothingDamage: Initially, you can only take one hit, which will vaporize your white swimsuit and leave you naked (and dead). The first upgrade obtained upgrades your swimsuit, letting it take the damage instead of you, at the cost of that half getting vaporized. Marie proceeds to run around topless, bottomless or completely naked, seemingly without giving a care. This is actually a deliberate part of the gameplay - Marie will often have to let the swimsuit take a hit for her so she can run past various obstacles with the only loss being her dignity. As such, as fun as it is, running around naked can be counter-productive. As a bonus, the image of Marie that shows up whenever she speaks also reflects her current clothing status. Even the ending image changes depending on whether she still had a swimsuit or burst out of the facility in the buff, although the ending itself remains the same.

Thus goes ''Holdover'', a surprisingly good, timing-based 2009 PlatformGame by a DoujinSoft circle known as Creator/FoxEye, with plenty of girl-running-around-completely-naked action, {{Metroidvania}}-based navigation, and a large emphasis on maintaining an OxygenMeter. Find its website [[http://www.foxeye.squares.net/product/holdover/index.htm here]].

* MortonsFork: Much of the game’s high difficulty is due to it being very timing-based to keep you on your toes of having to avoid more than one form of death simultaneously. For example, there’s a room where Marie has to crawl underwater in order to avoid a long row of searchlights from security lasers. [[OxygenMeter If she keeps her head underwater for too long, she’ll drown]], but if she brings her head above water to catch a breath at the wrong time, she gets vaporized by FrickinLaserBeams, instead.

** Several fans can't help but admit that Marie heavily resembles a slightly older [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Roll]] if Roll was a human in a white or dark blue leotard. Marie and Roll both also have scientist fathers that eventually [[DisappearedDad disappear]] during a distant future and [[VideoGame/MegaManX leave behind several holographic messages for specific people they’re related to to find and read]]. Due to the game being a {{Metroidvania}}, others imagine that Marie is what would happen if [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Zero Suit Samus]] was younger and completely unarmed. Check the page image at the top for a reference.

* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Marie is one of the earliest examples of this within Fox Eye's [[AuthorAppeal rather-long list of blonde heroines]], though this is initially [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] due to her [[IllGirl recovering illness]] and [[EverythingIsTryingToKillYou the nature of her adventure]] making her feel hopeless and wary at first.

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Somehow a dark-blue swimsuit is supposed to qualify for armor. A swimsuit that gives way at the slightest bit of damage, leaving the user completely naked. ''[[SarcasmMode Yeaaaaaaah]]''. Upon putting it on, Marie even has the foresight to question the practicality of the "armor", herself.

* {{Expy}}: Several fans can't help but admit that Marie heavily resembles a slightly older [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Roll]] if Roll was a human in a white or dark blue leotard. Marie and Roll both also have scientist fathers that eventually [[DisappearedDad disappear]] during a distant future and [[VideoGame/MegaManX leave behind several holographic messages for specific people they’re related to to find and read]]. Due to the game being a {{Metroidvania}}, others imagine that Marie is what would happen if [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Zero Suit Samus]] was younger and completely unarmed. Check the page image at the top for a reference.

* HandOrObjectUnderwear: If Marie loses the top half of her swimsuit (or the entire thing at once) she conveniently changes her CG pose so her chest gets covered by her arms.

* OneHitpointWonder: Initially played completely straight when you start out in the white swimsuit, but tossed out the window when you get the upgraded dark blue suit. Running around naked leaves you as one of these, however. [[spoiler:Unsurprisingly played straight in the shooter segment.]] Slightly subverted in that you do have a health bar, but it drains ''very'' quickly when you come into contact with a hazard. Thus, Marie (and her upgraded swimsuit) can survive brief brushes with hazards, but not much more than that.

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Somehow a dark-blue swimsuit is supposed to qualify for armor. A swimsuit that gives way at the slightest bit of damage, leaving the user completely naked. ''[[SarcasmMode Yeaaaaaaah]]''. She even questions the practicality of the "armor", herself.

* TrialAndErrorGameplay: The game is rather short, but its short length is compensated by its [[PlatformHell high difficulty]] and [[SaveScumming the frequent use of its Quicksave function]] to undo the many deaths you're expected to face. Not thinking ahead of what's in front of you tends to end badly, such as running or falling straight into a line of spikes. Since Marie's oxygen runs out faster while maneuvering underwater, taking the wrong turn, jump, or crawl while submerged may already be enough to drown her before she backtrack to get air. Much of the challenge of this game involves memorizing layouts and figuring out the safest way to get through them.

** As [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] and [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] by [[WordOfGod Fox]] in [[https://image.ibb.co/bM8PGy/F12276_E2_782_F_4471_A94_F_31_D8_A93514_B5.jpg crossover artwork]], Marie (with some minor ArtEvolution since ''Holdover''[='=]s release) also resembles a previous [[InnocentBlueEyes blue-eyed]], [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde-haired]], pony-tailed Fox Eye heroine: Rico from the original ''Blue Port''. Natica, from an 18+ mini-animation called ''Underwater Pinch of Natica!'', likewise resembles both of the former two, but then ends up looking ''even more'' like Marie when she gets her own blue one-piece swimsuit in ''VideoGame/NaticaAndSandyUnderwaterRescue''.

* {{Expy}}: One can't help but admit that Marie looks a lot like [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Roll]] if Roll was a slightly aged-up human and wore a white or dark blue leotard. Both Marie and Roll have scientist fathers that eventually [[DisappearedDad disappear]] during a distant future and [[VideoGame/MegaManX leave behind several holographic messages for specific people they’re related to to find and read]]. Due to the game being a {{Metroidvania}}, others imagine that Marie is a younger, unarmed [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Zero Suit Samus]]. Check the page image at the top for a reference.
** As [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] and [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] by [[WordOfGod Fox]] in [[https://image.ibb.co/bM8PGy/F12276_E2_782_F_4471_A94_F_31_D8_A93514_B5.jpg crossover artwork]], Marie (with some minor ArtEvolution since ''Holdover''[='=]s release) also resembles a previous [[InnocentBlueEyes blue-eyed]], [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde-haired]], pony-tailed Fox Eye heroine: Rico from the original ''Blue Port''. Natica, from an 18+ mini-animation called ''Underwater Pinch of Natica!'', likewise resembles both of the former two, but then ends up looking ''even more'' like Marie when she gets her own blue one-piece swimsuit in ''[[VideoGame/NatikaAndSandysSinkingAndRescuingOperations Natica and Sandy: Underwater Rescue]]''.

** As [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] and [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] by [[WordOfGod Fox]] in [[https://image.ibb.co/bM8PGy/F12276_E2_782_F_4471_A94_F_31_D8_A93514_B5.jpg crossover artwork]], Marie (with some minor ArtEvolution since ''Holdover''[='=]s release) also resembles a previous [[InnocentBlueEyes blue-eyed]], [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde-haired]], pony-tailed Fox Eye heroine: Rico from the original ''Blue Port''. Natika, from an 18+ mini-animation called ''Underwater Pinch of Natika!'', likewise resembles both of the former two, but then ends up looking ''even more'' like Marie when she gets her own blue one-piece swimsuit in ''VideoGame/NatikaAndSandysSinkingAndRescuingOperations''.

* HairDecorations: Marie has a [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde ponytail]] through a pink ribbon. This ends up making her heavily resemble [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Roll]], who has a similar hairstyle with a green ribbon, instead.

* LeotardOfPower: Marie's upgraded dark blue swimsuit literally becomes this. It has its own thin light-blue meter that's split into two halves representing the swimsuit's own top half and bottom half. Taking damage in either half will only [[ClothingDamage tear off that section]] without killing Marie, but taking too much damage in the same exposed area quickly drains her LifeMeter and kills her, anyway, even if the opposite half of the swimsuit was still intact. As such, if Marie loses the entire "armored" swimsuit and becomes naked, surviving against lasers and spikes from any angle [[OneHitpointWonder won't be any different from her sticking with her original white swimsuit]].

* OxygenMeter: [[AuthorAppeal The cornerstone of the developer's]] SignatureStyle. At the beginning of the game, Marie starts out with the shortest, and fastest-dropping one out of all of Fox Eye's protagonists due to her [[IllGirl condition]], and it's completely separate from her [[OneHitpointWonder very fragile]] LifeMeter. If it gets too low while she's underwater, Marie will struggle to hold her breath and move at a slower rate until she drowns or reaches a spot to breathe in. Getting enough blue hearts upgrades the meter, and makes it easier to progress further through the game. This is the most important feature of the game, as she spends ''a lot'' of time underwater.

* {{Retraux}}: The game's graphics were intentionally made to resemble the graphics of computer games of TheEighties and TheNineties, such as those that can be found on the MS-DOS, UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}, and the UsefulNotes/PC98. This also extends to the ambient music that plays through nearly the whole game, as it wouldn't sound too out of place from ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid''. [[WordOfGod Fox]] even stated that that the game was designed to be as if it were made in 1994, the same year that ''Super Metroid'' made its debut and further [[TropeCodifier codified]] the {{Metroidvania}} sub-genre it established that ''Holdover'' bases itself on.

* TrialAndErrorGameplay: Not thinking ahead of what's in front of you tends to end badly, such as running or falling straight into a line of spikes. Since Marie's oxygen runs out faster while maneuvering underwater, taking the wrong turn, jump, or crawl while submerged may already be enough to drown her before she backtrack to get air. Much of the challenge of this game involves memorizing layouts and figuring out the safest way to get through them.