History VideoGame / RivalsOfAether

** Absa plays very similarly to ''Project M''[='=]s [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]], focusing on a careful zoning game to provoke and punish her opponent's missteps, especially with her devastating lightning kick sweetspots. She also shares the double-jump cancel mechanics used by characters like [[VideoGame/{{Earthbound}} Ness]] or [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Mewtwo]]. She also has an up special and a couple of Strong Attacks that are nearly a carbon-copy of [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pikachu's]].

* HolidayMode: roughly every 3 months the game switches to one of four skins the main cast can all use, one each for Valentine's Day, [[BeachEpisode summer time]], {{UsefulNotes/Halloween}}, and {{UsefulNotes/Christmas}}.

** The same can be used to unlock all Runes for Abyss Mode related content [[spoiler: and replacing the equivalent to Start at the end with the Equivalent to B also removes the point restiction system runes normally have.]]

* MercyInvincibility: After being KO’d, characters gains a few seconds of invulnerability when they respawn.

** Forsburns can hide in each others smoke and absorb it for their down special/clone detonation.

** Zetterburn's Shine premium skin is named after the[[invoked]] FanNickname for [[VideoGame/StarFox Fox]]'s Reflector move in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. It gives Zetterburn's neutral special the same hexagonal visuals as Fox's shine, and lets him emulate Fox's taunt from ''Melee''. The official artwork for the skin is even [[https://twitter.com/Punky0128/status/882778840900218881 modeled after one Fox's victory poses from ''Melee'']].

** Its alternate skin the Frozen Gates uses a similar set up, but with an entirely different track and a much more dramatic shift in visuals.

* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler: After the credits are done and "The End" appears on screen, it's followed by an ominous ellipsis and question mark, and your character is thrust into the Abyss, a game mode that has no end.]]

** The Switch version has an actual opening movie unlike the PC version. While the opening movie is present in the PC versions files (and even played in previous builds) and its music is present on the official soundtrack and in-game sound test in both versions, the opening movie does not play in the PC version due to the devs having issues getting video files to work properly in the the game's engine (at least on PC).

''Rivals of Aether'' is an {{Indie|Game}} FightingGame heavily inspired by Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s PlatformFighter franchise ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. Developed by Dan Fornace, the game takes place on the planet Aether, where four [[ElementalNation warring civilizations themed}} after the ClassicalElements of fire, water, earth, and air use the powers of their respective elements to do battle.

''Rivals of Aether'' is an {{Indie|Game}} FightingGame heavily inspired by Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s PlatformFighter franchise ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. Developed by Dan Fornace, the game takes place on the planet Aether, where four [[ElementalNation warring civilizations themed after the classical]] [[FourElementEnsemble elements of fire, water, earth, and air]] use the powers of their respective elements to do battle.

* NoPronunciationGuide: The "A" is silent in "Aether," making the pronunciation of it being ''/ˈēTHər/''. While this seems like a minor one, most spellings of the word (especially in video games) usually drop the ''_a'' altogether, leading to some pronouncing it as ''/A_THər/'' instead.

[[caption-width-right:350: War has arrived.]]

* ''VisualNovel/LoversOfAether'' (2019, Steam/iOS/Android) -- a free DatingSim meant to be an AprilFools joke, involving the canon cast of characters in a HighSchoolAU. A follow-up to it, with the characters now in university, was used as the basis of Rivals Direct 3 in 2021. {{Tropes}} exclusive to this spin-off can be found at the bottom of this page.

!Tropes present in ''Lovers of Aether'':
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lovers_of_aether_header.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Clairen, the mysterious NewTransferStudent.]]
* AdaptationalJerkass: The ''Lovers'' version of Maypul is a [[ClassRepresentative Class President]] who's gone full dictator. Literally: she wants to declare war on other schools, insists on a "fair and democratic election" in which she blackmails the class, co-opts the player into "eternal servitude" to her if given the chance, and even wears some sort of merit badges as a ChestOfMedals. Eventually it's revealed that [[spoiler:she's being tutored by Principal Loxodont]], which explains it.
* AmbiguousGender: The player's. The game avoids using pronouns to refer to you at all, and you can date any of the 12 non-guest characters without issue.
* AnthropomorphicShift: Everyone but Elliana either wears more clothing and/or is made bipedal to fit the high school setting, which gets lampshaded heavily.
* ArtShift: This game almost exclusively uses illustrations by the character designer for the 4 canonical DLC characters, rather than pixel art like the fighting game does.
* DatingSim: The player's goal is to successfully ask someone to the Homecoming Dance.
* EmoTeen: This version of Forsburn, complete with angsty poetry about how "Dads just don't get it".
* HelloInsertNameHere: The player chooses their name at the start of a run.
* HighSchoolAU: The setting of the story is Aether Academy, which all of the main ''Rivals'' characters attend as students, with more minor characters playing other students or instructors. It's very clearly a parody of the trope, however, with the characters (themselves [[CharacterExaggeration exaggerated]]) fitting neatly into clichés the setting is known for (Forsburn is an EmoTeen who writes moody poetry, Maypul goes from mere confident self-appointed defender of her home to an AcademicAlphaBitch, Wrastor is an arrogant BigManOnCampus, etc.) and in general playing all these clichés up to eleven for a laugh.
* MythologyGag: Orcane at one point takes the blame for something he wasn't responsible for. Again.
* NewTransferStudent: Clairen.

* EverythingsBetterWithPlushies: [[https://www.amazon.com/Rivals-of-Aether-Orcane-Plush/dp/B01BWJL1GO Orcane]] and [[https://www.symbiotestudios.com/product-page/etalus-plush-dlc Etalus]] have official plush dolls for sale.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Many concepts and even the engine the game is built on comes directly from Dan Fornace's previous game, ''VideoGame/SuperSmashLand''.

* ''VideoGame/DungeonsOfAether'' (2022) -- a {{Roguelike}} RPG with development helmed by [[https://ampersandbear.com/ Ampersandbear]] and a Story Mode written by Ian Flynn starring new protagonist Fleet and three other characters, focusing on their explorations of the caverns below the city of Julesvale. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyOPt3iH1Mg Developer preview here.]]

** Kragg's up special summons a giant pillar of solid rock to act as a platform. It can be instantly destroyed by any projectile, including Maypul's seed, which only does ''[[UpToEleven 2% damage and deals no knockback whatsoever.]]''

* HighSchoolAU: The setting of the story is Aether Academy, which all of the main ''Rivals'' characters attend as students, with more minor characters playing other students or instructors. It's very clearly a parody of the trope, however, with the characters (themselves [[CharacterExaggeration exaggerated]]) fitting neatly into clichés the setting is known for (Forsburn is an EmoTeen who writes moody poetry, Maypul goes from mere confident self-appointed defender of her home to an AcademicAlphaBitch, Wrastor is an arrogant BigManOnCampus, etc.) and in general playing all these clichés UpToEleven for a laugh.

** Forsburn's animations when swinging his dagger resemble [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Marth]]'s or [[Franchise/{{Kirby}} Meta Knight]]'s sword swings, and has some shades of [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Sheik]] in terms of his combo game and ability to relentlessly chase the opponent while they try to escape.

* ''Lovers of Aether'' (2019, Steam/iOS/Android) -- a free DatingSim meant to be an AprilFools joke, involving the canon cast of characters in a HighSchoolAU. A follow-up to it, with the characters now in university, was used as the basis of Rivals Direct 3 in 2021. {{Tropes}} exclusive to this spin-off can be found at the bottom of this page.
* ''Creatures of Aether'' (2020 for iOS/Android, 2021 for Steam) -- with additional development by [[VideoGame/CandiesNCurses Tako Boy Studios]], ''Creatures'' is a free-to-play CardBattleGame where the player collects and battles with Aether's creatures and inhabitants. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9MQzz0pSZg Steam reveal trailer here.]]
* ''Tales of Aether'' (2021, comic book) -- created by ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' alumni Creator/IanFlynn, Jack Lawrence and Matt Herms, the first saga of this comic series will focus on Clairen's backstory, and how she became the time-travelling warrior she is in the game. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW1ESznI6Kc Trailer here.]] [[https://www.comixology.com/Tales-of-Aether-1/digital-comic/941132 Comixology link here.]]
* ''Dungeons of Aether'' (2022) -- a {{Roguelike}} RPG with development helmed by [[https://ampersandbear.com/ Ampersandbear]] and a Story Mode written by Ian Flynn starring new protagonist Fleet and three other characters, focusing on their explorations of the caverns below the city of Julesvale. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyOPt3iH1Mg Developer preview here.]]
* ''Rivals 2'' (2024) -- a fighting game using 3D models, and the first title to be developed under the "Aether Studios" banner. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdeE-SJJOYg Teaser here.]]

* Unknown 3D project (2023) -- a fighting game using 3D models, and the first title to be developed under the "Aether Studios" banner. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdeE-SJJOYg Teaser here.]]

* DoubleJump: As is a staple of a PlatformFighter. Interestingly, the three Air characters have different takes on this: Wrastor has a quadruple jump, Absa can rapidly float upwards instead, and Elliana uses limited on-demand flight.

** The Switch version has an actual opening movie unlike the PC version. While the opening movie is present in the PC versions files and its music is present on the official soundtrack and in-game sound test in both versions, the opening movie does not play in the PC version due to the devs having issues getting video files to work properly in said version.

* BadFuture: The timeline Clairen is from is one where, due to Renburn's murder and [[spoiler:his sons, Zetterburn and Forsburn's subsequent disappearance into the Abyss]], Loxodont, a governor who was close friends with the king, takes over, is transformed into an immortal cyborg, and rules the known world with an iron fist. Even the relatively nicer parts of the future, like Neo Julesvale, are indicative of[[BigBrotherIsWatchingYou the timeline's police state.]] Clairen's backstory is entirely concerned with her returning to the past to prevent it.

* BadFuture: The timeline Clairen is from is one where, due to Forsburn and Zetterburn's father's murder and [[spoiler: their subsequent disappearnce into the Abyss]], Loxodont, a governor who was close friends with the king, takes over, is transformed into an immortal cyborg, and rules the known world with an iron fist. Even the relatively nicer parts of the future, like Neo Julesvale, are indicative of[[BigBrotherIsWatchingYou the timeline's police state.]] Clairen's backstory is entirely concerned with her returning to the past to prevent it.

** Both [[VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest Ori and Sein]] and VideoGame/ShovelKnight appears as {{Guest Fighter}}s, and have accompanying stages based after one of the locations from their games.
** Definitive Edition added Caesar from ''VideoGame/{{Wargroove}}'' as a buddy character.

* KonamiCode: As of the Definitive Edition update, players can input the Konami Code on the Milestone screen to unlock all milestone rewards for one play session.

** Premium skins like Tuxedo Ranno, Ragnir Maypul, Spangled Wrastor, the Arcade skins for Maypul and Elliana, the various Tournament themed skins, the Game Boy-themed Early Access skins, and the Infamous skins are all only available on the PC version. The Champion skins, which have semitransparent colors, are unlocked by default on Switch, however.

** While the new Workshop Character Pack stages have new songs to go along with them in the Switch version, the PC version as of the current Rollback Open Beta (which added the Workshop Character Pack characters) simply uses existing songs for these stages. Curiously, these new songs have not been added to the game's sound test in either version.
** The singing Pomme hologram in the Neo Julesvale stage is also not present in the Rollback Beta PC version regardless of whether Pomme herself is present in a match or not, unlike the Switch version. Her unique stage intro animation that plays at the start of a match on Neo Julesvale on Switch isn't present on the Rollback Beta PC version either.

** The Switch version will also not have rollback netcode unlike the PC version, which has been stated by the dev team to be due to hardware limitations.

** Premium skins like Tuxedo Ranno, Ragnir Maypul, Spangled Wrastor, the Arcade skins for Maypul and Elliana, the various Tournament themed skins, the Game Boy-themed Early Access skins, and the Infamous skins are all only available on the PC version.

** Forburn's fully charged down special, one of the best KO moves in the game, can be interrupted and have its charge wasted by something as weak as Wrastor's finger-poke.

** Definitive Edition added Caesar from VideoGame/{{Wargroove}} as a buddy character.

* ColorCodedElements: Each elemental group (grouping sub-elements under the classical ones) has a specific color that is used in the fighter select screen and incorporated into the designs of each rival in the group.