History VideoGame / SphinxAndTheCursedMummy

* ArtMajorBiology: Smiling Burbles, as a species, have been wearing their hats for so long that they're now born wearing them.

* PettingZooPeople: Sphinx himself. He's got lion-like facial features, a short tail, and a claws on his hands and feet.

* DummiedOut: There are a large number of unused items in the game code, leftover from features that were cut from the final game. A GameMod for the PC version, [[https://www.moddb.com/mods/sphinx-and-the-shadow-of-set Sphinx and the Shadow of Set]][[labelnote:*]]which was the game's original name before the Mummy became a larger part of the game due to positive reactions[[/labelnote]], restores a lot of these features, due to unused content being included with the modding tools.

* DummiedOut: There are a large number of unused items in the game code, leftover from features that were cut from the final game.
** There are a number of unused Portal Amulets for locations that were scrapped - including an underwater city called Akaria, a jungled region called Sakkara. The amulets are non functional, though, and the game will hang if you try to use them.

In late 2016, [[Creator/{{THQ}} THQ Nordic]] purchased the rights to the game, having expressed an eagerness in how well it matches the likely audience for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. In November 2017, it released on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, and sure enough, a [[https://gematsu.com/2018/11/sphinx-and-the-cursed-mummy-the-book-of-unwritten-tales-2-and-the-raven-remastered-coming-to-switch-in-early-2019 Switch version has been announced for an early 2019 release.]]

* FunnyAnimal: Most of them are either birds (Horus, and most residents of Abydos) or cats. However, there are also crocodiles, aardvarks, and, in one instance, a tapir. Also dogs, maybe a jackal (Anubis), and even a baboon (Imhotep). Sphinx doesn't himself count as his only animal elements are somewhat pointed ears and a short, tufted tail (plus his animal-esque button nose).

* FunnyAnimal: Most of them are either birds (Horus, and most residents of Abydos) or cats. However, there are also crocodiles, aardvarks, and, in one instance, a tapir. Also dogs, maybe a jackal (Anubis), and even a baboon (Imhotep). Sphinx doesn't himself count as his only animal elements are somewhat pointed ears and a short, tufted tail.

In late 2016, [[Creator/{{THQ}} THQ Nordic]] purchased the rights to the game, having expressed an eagerness in how well it matches the likely audience for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. In November 2017, it released on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, and sure enough, a Switch version has been announced for an early 2019 release.

In late 2016, [[Creator/{{THQ}} THQ Nordic]] purchased the rights to the game, having expressed an eagerness in how well it matches the likely audience for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. In November 2017, it released on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}.

Though it remains perhaps Eurocom's only original IP, [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames this isn't a bad thing]]. The plot concerns Sphinx, a demigod in a kind of AlternateHistory ancient Egypt where there are {{Funny Animal}}s. He's out training with his [[TheRival rival]] Horus one day when he stumbles into a plot by the evil god Set to use the mystical Castle of Uruk to do the bad-guy thing and TakeOverTheWorld. Meanwhile, Prince Tutankhamen--yep, that one--is preparing for his birthday celebration and his betrothal to his girlfriend. He gets stuffed in a sarcophagus, StrappedToAnOperatingTable by his older brother, and turned into a mummy. He's OnlyMostlyDead, though, and Sphinx stumbles into him and helps revive him with a canopic vase. The two then work together to help put a stop to Set's schemes to rule Egypt.

* AdventurerArchaeologist: You free one from the Cursed Palace -- and yes, he even has a pith hat. In ancient Egypt. [[BellisariosMaxim You probably shouldn't think about it too hard.]]

* {{Anticlimax}}: [[spoiler:For those who finished the game, it's likely one of the most notable anticlimaxes they've ever seen in a video game. Poor Tutankhamen apparently trips over thin air and breaks the last jar-a ''very'' lazily written means of keeping him a mummy for future games, and one hell of a PlayerPunch, too.]]
* AmusingInjuries: All of the Mummy's powers are based on inflicting some form of severe harm on him--you know, things that would kill a living being. Fortunately for him he's technically dead already, but judging by his reactions it is still painful.

* BittersweetEnding: The BigBad is beaten but [[spoiler: the last canopic jar is broken by the Mummy's bumbling clumsiness]]. But one of the characters says to not give up hope and that there may be another way to bring him back to life. Sadly a sequel to emphasize on this was never made.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: Italian dub. "Cursed" was translated as "pasticciona" (clumsy) and the "Game Over" was translated as "Gioco Su". Sooo pitiful...

* CallASmeerpARabbit: Bipedal "frogs" with scales and red crests, skull-faced, spiny "rats" and... [[MisplacedWildlife "armadillos"]], "electric eels" with anglerfish-like lures... The list goes on.

* TheChewToy: Does ''anything'' good ever happen to the Mummy? Ever? Maybe ''that's'' what the title means when it calls him "cursed"...

* CorridorCubbyholeRun: TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon is short, and requires you to navigate an open field without getting hit by a DeathRay. In other words, you'll have to limit how long you run down the canyon before run for cover. (Fortunately, hanging from ledges can also be used as cover.)
* CutsceneIncompetence: When the young prince [[spoiler: trips over and breaks the final jar]]. It doesn't get more idiotic or contrived. Imhotep then mentions there ''may'' still be another way. Despite not thinking to ask Anubis, ''[[ForgotAboutHisPowers Guardian of the Dead]]'', standing not two feet away.
* DeathIsCheap: As long as Sphinx has enough [[HitPoints Life Ankhs]], he can survive being struck by a deadly laser (see below) and falling into lava/ a nearly bottomless pit and will reappear a safe distance away. The Mummy however, due to not relying on Ankhs, can survive the aforementioned pit an infinite amount of times-even when still fully alive!

* Myth/EgyptianMythology

* HollywoodAcid: The Acid Dart can eat through several feet of solid iron in a couple seconds. Granted, it's magic but still, it's a tiny bit of acid!
* IdiotBall: When Sphinx goes to retrieve the crown from the Pharaoh's throne room, he doesn't simply lift the crown and leave. He needs to release the Pharaoh first. The fault isn't his, however, as neither Anubis nor Imhotep felt the need to tell Sphinx [[spoiler: he was evil]], so one of them was definitely carrying the ball.

* MisplacedWildlife: ...''Chihuahuas?'' InNameOnly, even. They more closely resemble Bull Terriers alive while the mummified versions appear to be undersized Boston Terriers, ''before Boston''. Wrap your head around that.

* MouthFlaps: A very bizarre ''inversion''. The game has (for its time) very well-animated mouth movements, but the characters are absolutely silent; all the dialogue is via text.

* NonLethalBottomlessPits: Sphinx takes a point of damage if he falls into one; the Mummy is put back unharmed (having no HitPoints to lose)

* ObviousTrap: Oh, what's that? [[spoiler: Using "The ''[[DarkIsEvil Dark Stone]]'' of Invisibility"]] has unforeseen dangers. Thank the gods you've arrived to stop me!

* PermanentlyMissableContent: In the NTSC version of the game, Smiling Burbles were unable to respawn, making them unable to be captured if all were killed in their encounters, rendering HundredPercentCompletion impossible. The PAL version fixes this bug, though. However, this is no longer the case in THQ Nordic's release of the game in 2017, in which this monster can respawn.
* PlotCoupon: Canopic Vases (which marks the transition from Sphinx to a Mummy level), the stolen Abydos Jewels (which the Mummy collects), and the four Sacred Crowns (to fulfill an ancient prophecy). Not to mention the assortment of other quest-related items Sphinx will acquire along the way.

* PowerAtAPrice: [[spoiler: The Dark Stone Of Invisilibity grant the user invisibility in exchange for their life. Not very useful for Sphinx, but as for the already-undead Mummy...]]
* PuzzleBoss: You can't just slash away at bosses with your sword. You'll need to find something else in the arena to either damage them for you, or stun them so you can attack (and even then, you can only land one hit before having to repeat the process). The FinalBoss is an exception, however, its challenge is in simply getting within range to land that hit in the first place.

* SequelHook: The game ends with an obvious one, which unfortunately, given the lack of commercial success for the game, as well as both THQ and Eurocom having gone bankrupt, will never happen.
* ShaggyDogStory: [[spoiler: The Prince's side of the story.]]

* SilenceIsGolden: Sphinx and the Mummy have no dialog whatsoever, and as chatty as other characters are, their dialogue isn't voice-acted either; rather, you have their text accompanied by sound effects (voice grunts, etc.) to imply what their voice should sound like.

* StockVideoGamePuzzle: Played straight in some of the puzzles the Sphinx comes across (switches and levers, a few pressure plates, blocks, etc.); the Mummy will have to deal with these too. On the other hand, then there are the mummy's ... unique means of solving puzzles...
* TakenForGranite: What Anubis did to the inhabitants of the Cursed Palace in Heliopolis. Why? [[spoiler:To stop their Pharoah from handing over the Crown of Heliopolis to the evil god Set]].

* {{Unwinnable}}: A single GameBreakingBug in the second Mummy level can leave the game in this state, leaving you trapped behind a locked door forever. After the cutscene with Set, do NOT save at the save point, or you'll be trapped for good. Another rare problem encountered was when you're supposed retrieve the Abydosian Crown and give it to Anubis. Anubis wouldn't acknowledge that the crown had already been retrieved and put into the inventory, thus making further progress impossible--a rage-inducing experience since that's past the halfway point of the game.

** The sorcerer and right-hand-man of Set, ''Menes'', is with Set when they discover that the Mummy is the intruder in the cutscene in the last Castle of Uruk visit as the Mummy ... but he was not seen after this. It was possible that this was intentional, and he wold be set up as a major antagonist in the sequel, but sadly we'll never know.

* LostForever: In the original release of the game, Smiling Burbles were unable to respawn, rendering them unable to be captured if all were killed in their encounters. However, this is no longer the case in THQ Nordic's release of the game in 2017, in which this monster can respawn.

* PermanentlyMissableContent: In the NTSC version of the game, the Smiling Burble monster can easily become this, rendering HundredPercentCompletion impossible. The PAL version fixes this bug, though.

In late 2016, [[Creator/{{THQ}} THQ Nordic]] purchased the rights to the game, having expressed an eagerness in how well it matches the likely audience for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. In November 2017, it released on UsefulNotes/Steam.

''Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy'' is a 2004 multi-platform [[ActionAdventure Zelda clone]] made by Eurocom that takes ''extreme'' liberties with both Egyptian history and mythology, rife with [[AnachronismStew anachronisms]], FridgeLogic, RuleOfCool [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot taken too far]], and [[FantasyKitchenSink random fantasy elements]] despite being ostensibly based on Egyptian history. Considered a "hidden treasure" of the sixth console generation, it's well worth a look.

In late 2016, [[Creator/{{THQ}} THQ Nordic]] purchased the rights to the game, having expressed an eagerness in how well it matches the likely audience for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch In November 2017, it released on UsefulNotes/Steam.

In late 2016, [[Creator/{{THQ}} THQ Nordic]] purchased the rights to the game, having expressed an eagerness in how well it matches the likely audience for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

** There are a number of unused Portal Amulets to locations that were scrapped - including an underwater city called Akaria, a jungled region called Sakkara. The amulets are non functional, though, and the game will hang if you try to use them.

* GlobalCurrencyException: The decidedly paranoid shopkeeper in Heliopolis only accepts Onyx Scarabs as payment, which only the Mummy can collect. Since they can be difficult to find (typically requiring fire to obtain), and you only get a limited amount of time to play as him, some of the stuff he sells can become LostForever if you didn't collect them all. (Fortunately, there's a small excess of Onyx Scarabs in the game, so you do not have to collect literally all of them.)

* LostForever: In the NTSC version of the game, the Smiling Burble monster can easily become this, rendering HundredPercentCompletion impossible. The PAL version fixes this bug, though.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: After his attempt to kill Sphinx with the [[spoiler:Dark Stone of Invisibility]], Horus then reports to Set... and is never seen or heard from again.
** Similarly, the sorcerer and right-hand-man of Set, ''Menes'', is with Set when they discover that the Mummy is the intruder in the cutscene in the last Castle of Uruk visit as the Mummy ... but he was not seen after this. It was possible that this was intentional, and he wold be set up as a major antagonist in the sequel, but sadly we'll never know.

In late 2016, THQ Nordic purchased the rights to the game, having expressed an eagerness in how well it matches the likely audience for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

A multi-platform [[FollowTheLeader Zelda clone]] released in 2004 that takes ''extreme'' liberties with both Egyptian history and mythology, rife with [[AnachronismStew anachronisms]], FridgeLogic, RuleOfCool [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot taken too far]], and [[FantasyKitchenSink random fantasy elements]] despite being ostentiably based on Egyptian history.

In other words, ''hell yeah'' '''''this is freakin' awesome!'''''

In actuality, ''Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy'' is a ''very'' nice little ActionAdventure game made by Eurocom, and it remains perhaps their only original IP. [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames This bodes poorly]], but the actual game is remarkably fun, even if it makes absolutely no sense. The plot concerns Sphinx, a demigod in a kind of AlternateHistory ancient Egypt where there are {{Funny Animal}}s. He's out training with his [[TheRival rival]] Horus one day when he stumbles into a plot by the evil god Set to use the mystical Castle of Uruk to do the bad-guy thing and TakeOverTheWorld. Meanwhile, Prince Tutankhamen--yep, that one--is preparing for his birthday celebration and his betrothal to his girlfriend. He gets stuffed in a sarcophagus, StrappedToAnOperatingTable by his older brother, and turned into a mummy. He's OnlyMostlyDead, though, and Sphinx stumbles into him and helps revive him with a canopic vase. The two then work together to help put a stop to Set's schemes to rule Egypt.

Considered a "hidden treasure" of the sixth console generation, it's well worth a look. Each version should work just fine in the corresponding system of this generation.

In actuality, ''Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy'' is a ''very'' nice little ActionAdventure game made by Eurocom, and it remains perhaps their only original IP. [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames This bodes poorly]], but the actual game is remarkably fun, even if it makes absolutely no sense. The plot concerns Sphinx, a demigod in a kind of AlternateHistory ancient Egypt where there are {{Funny Animal}}s. He's out training with his [[TheRival rival]] Horus one day when he stumbles into a plot by the evil god Set to use the mystical Castle of Uruk to do the bad-guy thing and TakeOverTheWorld. Meanwhile, Prince Tutankhamen--yep, that one--is preparing for his birthday celebration and his betrothal to his girlfriend. He gets stuffed in a sarcophagus, StrappedToAnOperatingTable by his older brother, [[spoiler:(an evil impostor, you see)]], and turned into a mummy. He's OnlyMostlyDead, though, and Sphinx stumbles into him and helps revive him with a canopic vase. The two then work together to help put a stop to Set's schemes to rule Egypt.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: If you have even a passing knowledge of ancient Egpyt and its culture, it's much easier to accept this as simply a land loosely based on it.