History VideoGame / Waxworks1992

* TrialAndErrorGameplay: Some puzzles cannot be solved except through trial and error. For example, the mine level will become unwinnable if you stop the mine cart in the wrong place (you can't move it further or go around it). But you can't know that unless you have prior knowledge of the mine's layout.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The prologue states that the first evil twin born after the witch curses the bloodline became known as Vlad IV, later known as [[UsefulNotes/VladTheImpaler Vlad the Impaler]].[[note]]The real Vlad the Impaler was Vlad III.[[/note]]

* TrialAndErrorGameplay: You WILL die. A ''lot''.

* ZeroEffortBoss: The High Priest of Anubis from the Pyramid waxwork. He's no harder to defeat than his servants, and by the time you fight him you should have a spear, the strongest weapon in that waxwork.

The storyline was fairly simple: After the death of your uncle, he leaves you his wax works, a crystal ball, and a letter telling you that you must rid the family of a curse put upon it by Ixona, an evil witch from the distant past, which has affected them whenever twins were born. One twin turns out good, and the other evil. To defeat each evil twin, you must use your uncle's wax works to go back in time to four periods and locations: An Ancient-Egyptian pyramid, Victorian London -- in which the evil twin is none other than UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper -- a cemetery teeming with zombies, and a vast mine shaft filled with plant mutants. If you can destroy the evil twin from each stage, you will be able to enter one final wax work, the Witch's lair, and rid the family of its curse for good. If you need assistance, you can speak to your uncle through the crystal ball for clues and tips.

* DaylightHorror: The only waxworks that take place during the day are the Mine and Witch scenarios. Both the Graveyard and London ones are set at night, and the Ancient Egypt one takes place during a single night. The sun sets just as you enter the pyramid, and rises as you leave.

* ZeroEffortBoss: The High Priest of Anubis from the Pyramid waxwork. He's no harder to defeat than his servants, and by the time you fight him you should have a [[BladeOnAStick spear]], the strongest weapon in that waxwork.

->'''PARENTAL WARNING!! Intense Graphic Violence!''' - A sticker on the game box (They MEAN it)

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The prologue states that the first evil twin born after the witch curses the bloodline became known as Vlad IV, later known as [[UsefulNotes/VladTheImpaler Vlad the Impaler]].[[note]]The real Vlad the Impaler was Vlad III[[/note]]

* NamedInTheSequel: Or rather, Named in the ''Remake''. The player character, who was nameless in the original, receives the name of Adam.

* NotHisSled: The remake ''completely'' changes the finale. [[spoiler: Instead of going in a final waxwork to kill the witch before she can cast the curse, her ghost comes out from it to deal with you personally, forcing you to fight her in the waxworks building. When you kill her once and for all, she burns the building in a last ditch attempt to kill you, and you need to drag a catatonic Alex outside to escape a firey death. And worst of all, there's no "YOU were the EvilTwin!" reveal this time!]]

* DeathByIrony: UpToEleven according to the prologue. After the witch places the curse, she is later killed by the first evil twin for refusing to lift the curse. [[spoiler: [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale The irony then goes up to infinity and beyond]] in the ending after it is revealed ''you've been playing as the evil twin all along and Alex is actually the good twin''. That means ''the last evil twin got to her before she was even able to cast the curse to begin with''.]]

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: For many players, the vicious brutality they inflict on [[spoiler: the witch at the climax]] is payback for the many gruesome deaths they undoubtedly suffered up to that point. Also character-wise, as it is your twin you're trying to save and the game makes it very clear ''nothing'' is going to stop you from doing so. [[spoiler:UpToEleven and then some if you consider you're trying to save ''the good twin''.]]

* MenacingMuseum: Takes place inside a waxworks museum bequeathed to you by your late uncle. By itself, it's not actually dangerous, though it's undeniably disturbing thanks to the morbid historical displays and the creepy butler patrolling the building. But because of your uncle's mission to stop the Evil Twins of the family, the museum's exhibits become portals through time, leading you to mediaeval graveyards infested by the undead, booby-trapped Egyptian pyramids, Whitechapel at the height of Jack the Ripper's reign of terror, and a mine plagued by mutant BodyHorror.

* NintendoHard: Just like the ''Elvira'' games, ''Waxworks'' is '''very''' difficult.

* UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper: In this game, he is presented as one of the evil twins you must vanquish.

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown / CurbstompBattle: [[spoiler:The final boss fight with the witch.]]

* AllThereInTheManual: The game came [[https://mocagh.org/miscgame/waxworks-manual.pdf with a short novel]] that served as both exposition and prologue. It also reveals the witch's name as Ixona, which is never mentioned in the game. Uncle Boris does encourage the player to read it at the beginning of the game instead of jumping right in.

* AllThereInTheManual: The game came with a short novel that served as both exposition and prologue. It also reveals the witch's name as Ixona, which is never mentioned in the game. Uncle Boris does encourage the player to read it at the beginning of the game instead of jumping right in.

After the success of their [[VideoGame/{{Elvira}} Elvira-based adventure games]], [=HorrorSoft=] followed them up in 1992 with another point-and-click horror/adventure in the original IP ''Waxworks'', which is so similar to the ''VideoGame/{{Elvira}}'' games that it's often considered a spiritual sequel.

* KingMook: As in the original game, the High Priest of Anubis fights just like a regular enemy and isn't noticeably tougher.