History VideoGame / Pandemonium

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vpbefiirf3a51.jpg]]

''Pandemonium!'' is a 1996 platform game, published by Creator/CrystalDynamics, originally for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and later ported to the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and PC. It features Fargus, a joker, and Nikki, a young sorceress, who unwittingly casts a spell that destroys the town. The goal of the game is to reach the Wishing Engine, where they can wish the town back to normal. For each level, the player can choose which character to be. Each has a special move -- Fargus can deliver a special spinning attack by throwing his talking stick-puppet called Sid, and Nikki can double jump.

A sequel, ''Pandemonium 2'' was released in 1997, for UsefulNotes/PlayStation and PC. This one features the characters dashing to the ''Comet of Infinite Possibilities'' to make their wish. However, the evil Queen Zorrscha has set her sight on the comet as well, and it is up on our characters to defeat her.

In the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn versions, rather than using a memory card as in most games released at the time, progress is saved using the older password system.

!!This game series contains examples of:

%%* ActionGirl: Nikki. Her counterpart in ''Magical Hoppers'' is Guppy.
* AcidTripDimension: While for the most part the levels in both games are not ''that'' strange like the name would imply, the things you see in the last world (notably first two levels) in the sequel are not, for lack of better term, from this world.
* BareYourMidriff: Nikki in both games.
* BlowYouAway: Both ''Honcho's Airship'' and ''Storm Temple'' feature some annoying wind currents you need to pass through.
* BonusLevel: Collect enough of treasure in the level and you get to play a special bonus level afterwards (surfing game or a pinball version) that allows you to get some extra lives.
* TheCameo: Nikki appears, in her ''Pandemonium 2'' incarnation, in the ending of ''VideoGame/{{Gex}}: Enter the Gecko''.
* {{Cap}}: The sequel caps the number of lives to 32. The maximum HP you can have is also capped, obviously. Strangely enough the cheat code in the sequel gives you 8 HP more than you can get via normal playthrough.
* CloudcuckooLander: Fargus, in the sequel.
* CollisionDamage: Pretty much anything that moves and is not a platform (and sometimes even them).
* DoubleJump: Nikki only, which is why she is seen as superior to Fargus.
* DeadpanSnarker / ServileSnarker: Sid.
* DubNameChange: The Japanese version of the first game was published there by Bandai who also changed the two main characters, as well as the game's title to Magical Hoppers.
* EarlyGameHell: The first game can get pretty frustrating while you're struck with only two hearts and two lives. The sequel too until you pick some health upgrades.
* EvilLaugh: Zorrscha, every time she appears as a miniboss.
* EternalEngine: Most of the third world in the sequel qualifies.
* EverythingTryingToKillYou
* EyesDoNotBelongThere: ''Lick The Toad'' from the sequel has a ''path from the eyes''.
* FacelessEye: The Wishing Engine. Also the eyes in ''Lick The Toad'' from the sequel that form ''floor''.
* FakeBalance: There's really no reason at all to use Fargus in the first game, as Nikki's mobility is far more advantageous in every scenario.
* FreezeRay: One of the power-ups, that allows to [[LiterallyShatteredLives shatter frozen enemies]].
* GimmickLevel: The first game transforms you into some creature like a frog on some occasion. The sequel lets you control a tank, a turret and a giant mech in some occasions.
* GoombaStomp: A common way of dispatching enemies, especially by Nikki.
* GoombaSpringboard: Most of enemies and also those weird eggs in the sequel, which also make funny 'Yay' sound every time you jump on them.
* HereWeGoAgain: The ending of the first game, to an extent. "Oh boy, I think we're gonna need another wish!"
* HotWitch: Nikki. Which version of her is hotter varies from person to person.
* HPToOne: What [[OurMonstersAreWeird mouse-like-and-not-wizard-enemy]] does. As collision damage.
* KillItWithFire: Nikki's power she can pick in the sequel.
* MarketBasedTitle: ''Pandemonium!'' and its sequel were imported to Japan by Bandai under the titles ''Magical Hoppers'' and ''Miracle Jumpers'', the former also receiving something of a Cut-and-Paste Translation.
* MadBomber: Fargus, but only in the sequel.
* MarathonLevel: The penultimate level of the sequel, ''The Bitter End'', which is both sprawling and full of backtracking.
* TheMaze: ''The Bitter End'' again.
* MultipleEndings: The ending of the second game depends on which character the player uses to complete it.
* NintendoHard: Stages can be really damn long, the [[CameraScrew camera often goes a little wild and easily disorients the player]], or zooms too far in so that the player can't see oncoming enemies, and extra lives are prohibitively expensive (''300'' gems per life.)
* NoOSHACompliance: The EternalEngine levels in the sequel. Yeah, run through the fans, [[SarcasmMode that seems safe]].
* OurMonstersAreWeird: Seriously, what some of the creatures in the both games are supposed to be?
* ProgressivelyPrettier: In the first game, Nikki is fairly plain-looking and innocent. In the sequel, she has become HotterAndSexier, sports a completely different hairstyle (not to mention a different face), and a new, more ruthless, personality.
* PyroManiac: Nikki in the sequel, according [[AllThereInTheManual to the manual]].
* ScreenCrunch: The N-Gage port had bad draw distance and low frame rates on top of the screen problems.
* ShrinkRay: One of the power-ups, that allows to even kill {{Invincible Minor Minion}}s by stomping on them.
* ShockAndAwe: ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Storm Temple]]''. There are also Plasma Balls in ''Zorrscha's Lab'' and Lightning power for Nikki in the sequel.
* SlippySlideyIceWorld: The aptly named ''Ice Prison''.
* TankGoodness: ''Hate Tank'' level in the sequel lets you control a tank not far into the level.
* TimedMission: In the sequel, there is race for a health upgrade and for the level's end.
* TwoAndAHalfD: The first game has 2D mechanics in a 3D environment. Most of the sequel qualifies as well.
* UnexpectedShmupLevel: Some parts of ''Collide-O-Scope'' and the battle with ''Mr. Schneobelen''
* WeakenedByTheLight: ''Storm Temple'' features the demons that are lethal in the darkness, but become completely harmless should you light the lamp that is (hopefully) nearby.
----

* TheJester: Fargus, both in costume and personality.

''Pandemonium!'' is a 1996 platform game, published by Creator/CrystalDynamics, for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and PC. It features Fargus, a joker, and Nikki, a young sorceress, who unwittingly casts a spell that destroys the town. The goal of the game is to reach the Wishing Engine, where they can wish the town back to normal. For each level, the player can choose which character to be. Each has a special move -- Fargus can deliver a special spinning attack by throwing his talking stick-puppet called Sid, and Nikki can double jump.

* MarketBasedTitle: Pandemonium! and its sequel were imported to Japan by Bandai under the titles Magical Hoppers and Miracle Jumpers, the former also receiving something of a Cut-and-Paste Translation.

* ActionGirl: Guess who.

* NoOSHACompliance: The EternalEngine levels in the sequel. Yeah, run through the fans, [[SarcasmMode that seems safe]].

* NoOSHAComplaince: The EternalEngine levels in the sequel. Yeah, run through the fans, [[SarcasmMode that seems safe]].

A sequel, ''Pandemonium 2'' was released in 1997, for UsefulNotes/PlayStation and PC.

* EternalEngine: Most of the third world in the sequel qualifies.

* MarathonLevel: The penultimate level of the sequel, "The Bitter End", which is both sprawling and full of backtracking.

* FacelessEye: The Wishing Engine.

* ShockAndAwe: ''[[Storm Temple ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin]]''

* EarlyGameHell: The first game can get pretty frustrating while you're struck with only two hearts and two lives.

* GoombaStomp: A common way of dispatching enemies.

* TwoAndAHalfD: The first game has 2D mechanics in a 3D environment.

''Pandemonium!'' is a 1996 platform game, published by Crystal Dynamics, for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and PC. It features Fargus, a joker, and Nikki, a young sorceress, who unwittingly casts a spell that destroys the town. The goal of the game is to reach the Wishing Engine, where they can wish the town back to normal. For each level, the player can choose which character to be. Each has a special move -- Fargus can deliver a special spinning attack by throwing his talking stick-puppet called Sid, and Nikki can double jump.

A sequel, ''Pandemonium 2'' was released in 1997, for PlayStation and PC.

In the PlayStation and Saturn versions, rather than using a memory card as in most games released at the time, progress is saved using the older password system.
----

''Pandemonium!'' is a 1996 platform game, published by Crystal Dynamics, for the PlayStation, SegaSaturn and PC. It features Fargus, a joker, and Nikki, a young sorceress, who unwittingly casts a spell that destroys the town. The goal of the game is to reach the Wishing Engine, where they can wish the town back to normal. For each level, the player can choose which character to be. Each has a special move -- Fargus can deliver a special spinning attack by throwing his talking stick-puppet called Sid, and Nikki can double jump.

* ProgressivelyPrettier: In the first game, Nikki is fairly plain-looking and innocent. In the sequel, she has become HotterAndSexier, sports a completely different hairstyle (not to mention a different face), and new, more ruthless, personality.

* TheCameo: Nikki appears, in her ''Pandemonium 2'' incarnation, in the ending of ''{{Gex}}: Enter the Gecko''.