History VideoGame / WonderProjectJ

* ContinuingIsPainful: A permanent {{Game Over}} is rare, but repairing Pino is costly and can result in a Game Over by bankruptcy. If Pino's health or energy dips below zero, it costs 3000 bucks to revive him. Add to that the annual cost of Pino's sleep, and Tinker can wind up ''deep'' the red if you're not careful.

* TrapIsTheOnlyOption: Messala's invitation to meet him at the castle in th game's climax. Tinker thinks it's a bad idea, but Pino (displaying newfound maturity) isn't about to run away.

** All of Messala's plans hinge on Pino completing his objectives, though. Lose in the Colosseum, and Messala enjoys the rare experience of egg on his face.

This is the story of a eccentric craftsman who built himself a boy. But this wasn't a real boy; he was manufactured. His 'conscience' would [[{{Disney/Pinocchio}} follow him around and help out when needed]], and together they would eventually embark on a great adventure when the boy's creator-father is taken away. This might sound [[PinocchioSyndrome awfully familiar]] by now. But then the boy starts [[DerailedFairyTale kicking your dog, eating plates of food whole, blowing on a trumpet to try and call the turtle god forth, and worshiping gardening tools]]. And suddenly you're completely overwhelmed, and nearly broke from repair costs, since the little deviant can't help but jump into the wishing well for no explicit purpose...

This is the story of a eccentric craftsman who built himself a boy. But this wasn't a real boy; he was manufactured. His 'conscience' would [[{{Disney/Pinocchio}} follow him around and help out when needed]], and together they would eventually embark on a great adventure when his creator-father is taken away. This might sound [[PinocchioSyndrome awfully familiar]] by now. But then the boy starts [[DerailedFairyTale kicking your dog, eating plates of food whole, blowing on a trumpet to try and call the turtle god forth, and worshiping gardening tools]]. And suddenly you're completely overwhelmed, and nearly broke from repair costs, since the little deviant can't help but jump into the wishing well for no explicit purpose...

This is the story of a eccentric craftsman who built himself a boy. But this wasn't a real boy; he was manufactured. His 'conscience' would [[{{Disney/Pinocchio}} follow him around and help out when needed]], and he would eventually have a great adventure when his creator-father is taken away. This might sound [[PinocchioSyndrome awfully familiar]] by now. But then the boy starts [[DerailedFairyTale kicking your dog, eating plates of food whole, blowing on a trumpet to try and call the turtle god forth, and worshiping gardening tools]]. And suddenly you're completely overwhelmed, and nearly broke from repair costs, since the little deviant can't help but jump into the wishing well for no explicit purpose...

** Late in the game, there are moments where you need to "unteach" various actions by scolding the poor Pino for doing something previously taught as correct. For example, whereas an early task requires he master throwing a ball, later on he needs to unlearn this otherwise he'll [[spoiler:throw it at a policeman]] with disastrous results.

* GuideDangIt: Geppetto wasn't kidding when he said to always check your stats. Otherwise, players will be floundering trying to figure out how to boost Pino's more obscure skills, like luck or confidence.

* NintendoHard: The boss battles, particularly the duel with Gardy, require that all of Pino's stats and health are maxed out. And even then, there's luck involved.

This is the story of a eccentric craftsman who built himself a boy. But this wasn't a real boy; he was manufactured. His 'conscience' would [[{{Disney/Pinocchio}} follow him around and help out when needed]], and he would eventually have a great adventure when his creator-father is taken away. This might sound [[PinocchioSyndrome awfully familiar]] by now. But then the boy starts [[DerailedFairyTale kicking your dog, eating plates of food whole, blowing on a trumpet to try and call the turtle god forth, and worshiping gardening tools]]. And suddenly you're totally befuddled, and nearly broke from repair costs, since the little deviant can't help but jump into the wishing well for no explicit purpose...

** Speaking of which, the Ginji dragon lurking in the mine is named Giryuu. This is similar to Kiryu, known to the west as Mecha Godzilla.

* EvilCounterpart: [[spoiler:Messala was Geppetto's original attempt]] to build a Ginjin who looks exactly like a human. His initializer is a giant replica of the version found in Geppetto's lab.

* EvilCounterpart: [[spoiler:Messala was Gepeto's original attempt]] to build a Ginjin who looks exactly like a human. His initializer is a giant replica of the version found in Geppetto's lab.

* LostForever: If you let Pino gobble up Gepetto's cat. The same goes for the hen. (Though you don't incur a penalty if this happens.)

* ThePlan / TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: Once the human-Ginji civil war is underway, Messala plans to use to a giant version of Gepetto's amplifier to send out a signal to all Ginjin, [[spoiler:changing their parameters to all-Red and driving them into a killer frenzy]].

* YouAreNumberSix: Each of the Gijin are designated by their number. In the prologue, Dr. Gepetto has just finished his latest creation, Gijin #4649 -- otherwise known as Pino. [[spoiler:Messela eventually reveals himself as Geppetto's original model, #4646]].

This is the story of a eccentric craftsman who built himself a boy. But this wasn't a real boy; he was manufactured. His 'conscience' would [[{{Disney/Pinocchio}} follow him around and help out when needed]], and he would eventually have a great adventure when his creator-father is taken away. This might sound [[PinocchioSyndrome awfully familiar]] by now. But then the boy starts [[DerailedFairyTale kicking your dog, eating plates of food whole, blowing on a trumpet to try and call the turtle god forth, and worshiping gardening tools]]. And suddenly you're completely lost, and nearly broke from repair costs, since the little deviant can't help but jump into the wishing well for no explicit purpose...

''Wonder Project J: Mechanical Boy Pino'' is a [[PointAndClickGame point-and-click]] {{raising sim}} utilizing 2D art, a strong OsamuTezuka-inspired aesthetic, plus a bit of StudioGhibli thrown in for good measure. Neither this game nor its sequel were [[NoExportForYou officially released outside of Japan]], but both have been [[FanTranslation fan-translated]] into English.

''Wonder Project J: Mechanical Boy Pino'' is a [[PointAndClickGame point-and-click]] {{raising sim}} utilizing 2D art, a strong OsamuTezuka-inspired aesthetic, plus a bit of StudioGhibli thrown in for good measure. Neither this game nor its sequel was [[NoExportForYou officially released outside of Japan]], but both have been [[FanTranslation fan-translated]] into English.

Developed by former Technos staff who were also responsible for ''VideoGame/EVOSearchForEden'', ''Wonder Project J'' has you controlling a fairylike robot, Tinker, to look after another young robot (known as a Gijin) and teach him what it means to be human. In order to raise the mechanical boy to be more human-like, you need to improve his stats. Similarly to the ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker'' games, different actions will raise some stats while lowering others; for example kicking a football is great for leg power, but lowers intelligence. You have to be sure to tell Pino if he's doing the right thing or not, by either praising or scolding him. If extreme action is necessary, Tinker is armed with a ''correctional'' device. [[HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood Which happens to be hammer shaped]]. And to think this was never localized!

* AIIsACrapshoot / GoodIsDumb: Geppetto made a mistake in [[spoiler:concentrating on Messala's intelligence first, rather than teaching him love]]. The result was [[spoiler:a Ginjin driven entirely by his pursuit of power]].

* NintendoHard: The boss battles, particularly the duel with Gardy, require that all of Pino's stats and health are maxed out. And even then, there's luck involved.
* GuideDangIt: Geppetto wasn't kidding when he said to always check your stats. Otherwise, players will be floundering trying to figure out how to boost Pino's more obscure skills, like luck or confidence.

* BadassCape: Pino wears a billowing red hood tied around his neck.

* WeCanRuleTogether: Messala, at a loose end, offers Pino a chance to rule alongside him in the upcoming [[spoiler:Ginji empire]] (To which Pino retorts with a BigNever).

* EvilCounterpart: [[spoiler:Messala was Gepeto's original attempt]] to build a Ginjin who looks exactly like a human.

* FauxAffablyEvil: Messala is impeccably polite and never loses his cool, even when he's placed under arrest.

* XanatosGambit: Messala is very difficult to thwart, with numerous contingency plans filed away in case of any setback. He also has a number of bribed guards and [[spoiler:a weaponized airship]] on stand-by.
** All of Messala's plans hinge on Pino completing his objectives, though. Lose in the Colosseum, and Messala enjoys the rare experience of egg on his face.

* DynamicEntry: During Pino's rescue of Mimi, Messala corners him in a cell and proceeds to gloat. Luckily, Lynx (who had been tangling with guards at the castle case), is ready with a SmokeOut.

* PrisonerOfZendaExit: Lynx and Pino elude Messala in the prison by jumping from the nearest spire. Rob and Ber catch them with their plane.

For a setting which starts out light-hearted, it has some dark undertones. For the last 50 years humans and Gijin have lived uneasily together, with [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman increasing bigotry directed at the robots]]. Gijin sympathizers are arrested, members on both sides are murdered, and the King even orders our boy sentenced to death because of his origin.

* SurpriseCreepy: The Ginji and humans who were rounded up by Messala (including [[spoiler:Mimi]]) are [[AnyoneCanDie never heard from again]]. Pino hears their voices calling out to him in the finale, implying that they're all dead.

* ExpositionFairy: Tinkey, a fairy that you control directly. In effect, an anthropomorphic mouse-pointer.

This is the story of a eccentric craftsman who built himself a boy. But this wasn't a real boy; he was manufactured. His 'conscience' would [[[[{{Disney/Pinocchio}} follow him around and help out when needed]], and he would eventually have a great adventure when his creator-father is taken away. This might sound [[PinocchioSyndrome awfully familiar]] by now. But then the boy starts [[DerailedFairyTale kicking your dog, eating plates of food whole, blowing on a trumpet to try and call the turtle god forth, and worshiping gardening tools]]. And suddenly you're completely lost, and nearly broke from repair costs, since the little deviant can't help but jump into the wishing well for no explicit purpose...