History VideoGame / TheSmellyMystery

* {{Nerd}}: Jerry Bombanat. [[spoiler:If he is the Smell Switcher, he'll claim the reason he did it was for a scientific experiment]].

* {{Abandonware}}: This game has been out of print for a long time now, and will not work on any operating systems higher than Windows XP or Mac OS 9. Mercer Mayer uploaded [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHtMkGT9bNw the first three pages of this game]] onto his Website/YouTube channel, but nothing else official relating with this game has been done since. You can still see amateur play-throughs of it on Youtube, however.

* PrinceOfPranksters: Again, Little Laff.

''The Smelly Mystery: Starring Little Monster Private Eye'' is a point-and-click children's game made by Creator/GTInteractiveSoftware in 1997. It stars Little Monster [[PrivateDetective Private Eye]] and his [[GratuitousAnimalSidekick faithful talking Kerploppus]] that is simply called "Detective Kerploppus," created by Mercer Mayer (whom also created Literature/LittleCritter). It is known for being a combination AdventureGame and an interactive animated storybook, also including a mini-game. It is loosely based off the 1980 book "Little Monster's Scratch-n-Sniff Mystery", but with [[AdaptationExpansion numerous changes made]]

* {{Abandonware}}: This game has been out of print for a long time now, and will not work on any operating systems higher than Windows XP or Mac OS 9. Mercer Mayer uploaded [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHtMkGT9bNw the first three pages of this game]] onto his Website/YouTube channel, but nothing else official relating with this game has been done since.

* AdaptationExpansion: Some of the storyline was changed from the original book. The sleepover Little Monster attended at Yally's house was exclusive to the game, along with the whole MultipleEndings scenario (in the book, [[spoiler:Little Monster and Little Laff actually set it all up as an innocent game they were playing, with Little Laff in the role of the Smell Switcher. The game ends when Little Laff's mother calls him to come home.]] )
* AdaptedOut: In the original book, Little Monster's detective nickname is "Mystery Monster," and he also actually hires a Kerploppus to be his partner. An additional scene also took place in the city park where everything smelled like garbage.

* ConspicuousTrenchcoat: The Evil Smell Switcher's disguise consists of a trenchcoat and fedora hat, and his face is presumably hidden [[CoatHatMask by a black mask]].

* SurferDude: The TotallyRadical Ickky, who acts and talks like this through and through. If you click him on Page 1, he even has an ImagineSpot in a thought bubble of impressing girls while surfing and exclaiming his CatchPhrase "Radical!"

* MayTheFarceBeWithYou: On Page 4, if you click the globe in Little Monster's office, it morphs into a [[Franchise/StarWars Death Star]] parody as the rest of the background changes into a space scene in a parody of the [[Film/ANewHope destruction of the Death Star]].

* BatmanParody: Numerous instances, all referencing the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV show

Although the characters had previously appeared in the VideoGame/LivingBooks game "Little Monster at School," the characters themselves [[InNameOnly are the only thing both games have in common]].

* ShoutOut / ParentalBonus: SO MANY. A number of them are triggered as clickable hotspots.
** The opening, as mentioned, spoofs the ''Film/JamesBond'' series of films, along with the theme music.
** There are [[BatmanParody numerous references]] to the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV show, such as the Private Eye Mobile's theme song being a [[SuspiciouslySimilarSong spoof of the show's theme song]]. Additionally, on the first page, there is a drawing of a Batman-esque monster that performs a dance similar to the Batusi when clicked, and on the seventh page, a lighthouse can display something similar to the Bat-Signal (with the silhouette of Little Monster), and on the eleventh and twelfth pages, parodies of the 60s Batman and Robin can be seen via click spots.
** On the first page (Yally's bedroom during the sleepover), there is a kite that does an impression of [[Creator/PaulReubens Pee-Wee Herman]], a spoof of the IGotARock scene in ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', a teddy bear that is [[Literature/{{Frankenstein}} struck by lightning and brought to life as a monster]], and a pet fish in a bowl that impersonates Rick James.
** On the second page (en route to Yally's place), Detective Kerploppus can call the [[Film/{{Grease}} Grease Monkeys]] to fix their Private Eye-Mobile if it breaks down, there's a [[Film/TheWizardOfOz wicked witch that threatens to get Little Monster]] [[AndYourLittleDogToo and his little Kerploppus too]], a mailman that mumbles like [[WesternAnimation/WackyRaces Muttley]], and an appearance by an Ed Mcmahon-type character presenting a GiantNoveltyCheck.
** On the third page (Yally's kitchen), a coffee pot and toaster [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} turn into robots and fight each other]]. Inside the refrigerator, spoofs of the Creator/MarxBrothers and Music/ZZTop can be found, along with a honeybee that spoofs Dunkin' Donuts's Fred the Baker.
** On the fourth page (Little Monster and Kerploppus's office), a globe can act as a [[Franchise/StarWars Death Star to be destroyed by Rebel ships]], an Creator/AlfredHitchcock {{Expy}} appearing in a small mirror, along with spoofs of ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'' and ''Series/TheXFiles''.
** On the fifth page (the hallway outside Little Monster's room), there's a ''Series/{{Dragnet}}'' parody where a Joe Friday-esque lamp interrogates a phone, and pieces of trash in a wastebasket act like [[Series/AllInTheFamily the Bunkers]],.
** On the sixth page (the grocery store), two female customers perform a parody of the theme song to ''Series/LaverneAndShirley''.
** On the seventh page (the fish market), Detective Kerploppus can [[Series/{{Baywatch}} rescue a beautiful female swimmer in danger]], and spoofs of [[Series/GilligansIsland Gilligan and the Skipper]] can appear on the docked boat preparing for their three-hour tour.
** On the eighth page (the flower shop), Little Monster and Kerploppus reference ''Series/{{Kojak}}'', ''Series/MagnumPI'' and ''Series/MiamiVice''. There are also flowers that talk like Music/TheBeatles, and an Creator/OrsonWelles {{Expy}} that says "[[Film/CitizenKane Rosebud... rosebud...]]".
** On the tenth page (the garbage dump), there's a Franchise/{{Godzilla}}-esque dinosaur looking for his mom while stomping around the city, and Detective Kerploppus will also do an imitation of [[WesternAnimation/FatAlbertAndTheCosbyKids Fat Albert]].
** On the eleventh page (downtown Monsterville), there's a ComicBook/SpiderMan-esque monster that tries swinging from a building (resulting in an OffScreenCrash), [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries three space officials that are beamed down from an ''Enterprise''-esque spaceship]] to investigate the surroundings, a ''Film/ReservoirDogs''-esque scene with a coffee cup and three hot dogs, a [[Film/TheGodfather Godfather expy]] that ends up bringing home vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate, a [[Film/RearWindow guy in a wheelchair and with a camera with telescope lens]] peeking out his apartment window, and a [[Series/HappyDays Fonzie expy]] that thinks the traffic light is busted and hits it with his fist to get it to change. There is also a Creator/SammyDavisJr expy living in one of the apartments. Clicking on Kerploppus will also make him do an imitation of Music/FrankSinatra.
** On the twelfth page (Yally's living room), Yally will try to escape by donning a LatexPerfection -style disguise resembling [[Series/MissionImpossible Jim Phelphs]] (it doesn't fool Little Monster), and Jerry will attempt to escape by pretending to be a ComicBook/{{Superman}} expy (although he is unable to actually fly). Clicking a log with also make it become a totem pole in the likeness of Film/TheThreeStooges, and Little Monster can also do an impersonation of Music/JimiHendrix.
* SuddenlyVoiced: Little Monster's pet Kerploppus, whom only makes dog-like sounds in some early books and in the 1994 "Little Monster at School" game, is able to talk here and is given a [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Sean Connery-esque voice]]. In the original book, he does have some dialogue, which is also a first in the Little Monster book series.

** There are numerous references to the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV show, such as the Private Eye Mobile's theme song being a [[SuspiciouslySimilarSong spoof of the show's theme song]]. Additionally, on the seventh page, a lighthouse can display something similar to the Bat-Signal (with the silhouette of Little Monster), and on the eleventh and twelfth pages, parodies of the 60s Batman and Robin can be seen via click spots.

* WannabeSecretAgent: Yally Yalapappus, as revealed when Little Monster and Detective Kerploppus go over the suspects. [[spoiler:If he is the Smell Switcher, he'll claim the reason he did it was because [[WhatAnIdiot he saw it in an old spy movie]] and [[DontTryThisAtHome decided to imitate it]]. ]]

** On the tenth page (the garbage dump), there's a Franchise/{{Godzilla}}-esque dinosaur looking for his mom while stomping around the city.

* AdaptationExpansion: Some of the storyline was changed from the original book. The sleepover Little Monster attended at Yally's house was exclusive to the game, along with the whole MultipleEndings scenario (in the book, [[spoiler:Little Monster and Little Laff actually set it all up as an innocent game they were playing, with Little Laff in the role of the Smell Switcher. The game ends when Little Laff's mother calls him to come home.]]
* AdaptedOut: In the original book, Little Monster's detective nickname is "Mystery Monster," and he also actually hires a Kerploppus to be his partner. An additional scene also took place in the city park where everything smelled like harbage.

* InstantCostumeChange: Little Monster and Detective Kerploppus are both capable of doing this, going into a tornado-like spin and stopping in a different outfit that is usually parodying someone or something (both demonstrate this ability when imitating the characters from ''Series/{{Kojak}}'', ''Series/MagnumPI'' and ''Series/MiamiVice''.

** On the third page (Yally's kitchen), a coffee pot and toaster [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} turn into robots and fight each other]]. Inside the refrigerator, spoofs of the Creator/MarxBrothers and Music/ZZTop can be found.

* BigWhat: The suspects will all do this on the third page after Little Monster tells them that they're all suspects in the crime.

** On the sixth page (the grocery store), two female customers perform a parody of the theme song to Series/LaverneAndShirley.

** On the eleventh page (downtown Monsterville), there's a ComicBook/SpiderMan-esque monster that tries swinging from a building (resulting in an OffScreenCrash), [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries three space officials that are beamed down from an ''Enterprise''-esque spaceship]] to investigate the surroundings, a ''Film/ReservoirDogs''-esque scene with a coffee cup and three hot dogs, a [[Film/TheGodfather Godfather expy]] that ends up bringing home vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate, a [[Film/RearWindow guy in a wheelchair and with a camera with telescope lens]] peeking out his apartment window, and a [[Series/HappyDays Fonzie expy]] that thinks the traffic light is busted and hits it with his fist to get it to change. Clicking on Kerploppus will also make him do an imitation of Music/FrankSinatra.

* ConspicuousTrenchcoat: The Evil Smell Switcher's disguise consists of a trenchcoat and fedora that completely covers him, and hides what's visible of his face in a shadow.

* AdaptationDyeJob: In the original book, Little Monster wore a brown trenchcoat, and Detective Kerploppus wore a green one. For the game, their colors were switched. Additionally, in the book, the Evil Smell Switcher wears a blue fedora (to match his blue trenchcoat), though in the game he wears a brown one (though his trenchcoat is still blue.)

** On the fifth page (the hallway outside Little Monster's room, there's a ''Series/{{Dragnet}}'' parody where a Joe Friday-esque lamp interrogates a phone, and pieces of trash in a wastebasket act like [[Series/AllInTheFamily the Bunkers]],.

* SuddenlyVoiced: Little Monster's pet Kerploppus, whom only makes dog-like sounds in the books and in the 1994 "Little Monster at School" games, is able to talk here and is given a [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Sean Connery-esque voice]].

->'''Little Monster:''' Detective Kerploppus, to the Private Eye Mobile on the double!\\

** On the first page (Yally's bedroom during the sleepover), athere is a kite that does an impression of [[Creator/PaulReubens Pee-Wee Herman]], a spoof of the IGotARock scene in ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', a teddy bear that is [[Literature/{{Frankenstein}} struck by lightning and brought to life as a monster]], and a pet fish in a bowl that impersonates Rick James.

[[caption-width-right:350:some Little Monster, Private Eye here.]]

** On the twelfth page (Yally's living room), Yally will try to escape by donning a FullBodyDisguise ala ''Series/MissionImpossible'', and Jerry will attempt to escape by pretending to be a ComicBook/{{Superman}} expy. Clicking a log with also make it become a totem pole in the likeness of Film/TheThreeStooges, and Little Monster can also do an impersonation of Music/JimiHendrix.

* VocalDissonance: Even though Little Monster is presumably a kid, he has a low-pitched adult man's voice, and it sounds quite jarring. Other kid characters in the game also sound much older than they really look, with the possible exception of Little Laff, who's given a high falsetto.

** On the eleventh page (downtown Monsterville), there's a ComicBook/SpiderMan-esque monster that tries swinging from a building (resulting in an OffScreenCrash), [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries three space officials that are beamed down from an ''Enterprise''-esque spaceship]] to investigate the surroundings, a ''Film/ReservoirDogs''-esque scene with a coffee cup and three hot dogs, a [[Film/TheGodfather Godfather expy]] that ends up bringing home vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate, a [[Film/RearWindow guy in a wheelchair and with a camera with telescope lens]] peeking out his apartment window, and a [[Series/HappyDays Fonzie expy]] that thinks the traffic light is busted and hits it with his fist to get it to change.
** On the twelfth page (Yally's living room), Yally will try to escape by donning a FullBodyDisguise ala ''Series/MissionImpossible'', and Jerry will attempt to escape by pretending to be a ComicBook/{{Superman}} expy. Clicking a log with also make it become a totem pole in the likeness of Film/TheThreeStooges.

** On the twelfth page (Yally's living room), Yally will try to escape by donning a FullBodyDisguise ala ''Series/MissionImpossible'', and Jerry will attempt to escape by pretending to be a ComicBook/{{Superman}} expy.

* ShoutOut: SO MANY. A number of them are triggered as clickable hotspots.

** On the fourth page (Little Monster and Kerploppus's office), a globe can act as a [[Franchise/StarWars Death Star to be destroyed by Rebel ships]], an Creator/AlfredHitchcock {{Expy}} appearing in a small mirror, along with spoofs of ''[[Film/TheMalteseFalcon]]'' and ''[[Series/TheXFiles]]''.

** On the eleventh page (downtown Monsterville), there's a ComicBook/SpiderMan-esque monster that tries swinging from a building (resulting in an OffScreenCrash), [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries three space officials that are beamed down from an ''Enterprise''-esque spaceship]] to investigate the surroundings, a ''Film/ReservoirDogs''-esque scene with a coffee cup and three hot dogs, a [[Film/TheGodfather Godfather expy]] that ends up bringing home vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate, a [[Film/RearWindow guy in a wheelchair and with a camera with telescope lens]] peeking out his apartment window, and a [[Series/HappyDays]] Fonzie expy that thinks the traffic light is busted and hits it with his fist to get it to change.

* BigEather: Errg. [[spoiler:If he is the Smell Switcher, he'll claim the reason he did it was to try and make all the foods smell like his favorite food, cheese]].

* TotallyRadical: Ickky. His CatchPhrase is even "Radical!"

** There are numerous references to the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV show, such as the Private Eye Mobile's theme song being a [[SuspiciouslySimilarSong spoof of the show's theme song]].

** On the fourth page (Little Monster and Kerploppus's office), a globe can act as a [[Franchise/StarWars Death Star to be destroyed by Rebel ships]], along with spoofs of ''[[Film/TheMalteseFalcon]]'' and ''[[Series/TheXFiles]]''.
** On the fifth page (the hallway outside Little Monster's room, there's a ''[[Series/{{Dragnet}}]]'' parody where a Joe Friday-esque lamp interrogates a phone, and pieces of trash in a wastebasket act like [[Series/AllInTheFamily the Bunkers]],.

''The Smelly Mystery: Starring Little Monster Private Eye'' is a point-and-click children's game made by Creator/GTInteractiveSoftware in 1997. It stars Little Monster [[PrivateDetective Private Eye]] and his [[GratuitousAnimalSidekick faithful talking Kerploppus]] that is simply called "Detective Kerploppus," created by Mercer Mayer (whom also created Literature/LittleCritter). It is known for being a combination AdventureGame and an interactive animated storybook, also including a mini-game.

* ShoutOut: SO MANY...

* VocalDissonance: Even though Little Monster is presumably a kid, he has a low-pitched grown man's voice, and it sounds quite jarring. Other kid characters in the game also sound much older than they really look, with the possible exception of Little Laff, who's given a high falsetto.