History VideoGame / ZettaiHeroProject

Known in Japan as ''Zettai Hero Kaizou Keikaku'', ''Zettai Hero Project'' is a PSP game from NipponIchi which, unlike most of their games, is not an SRPG. This one is a {{Roguelike}}, putting it closer to the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/NetHack'', or ''Mystery Dungeon'' (''ShirenTheWanderer'', ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'') series of games.

** Special attacks. Incredibly flashy and powerful as expected from a NipponIchi game, but the attacks eat up EN, especially the flashier attacks, and you need to maintain as much EN as possible when going through dungeons. They still hit pretty hard, though, when you need to burst down a boss or [=AoE=] his mooks.

* NintendoHard: Considered by far and away NipponIchi's hardest and ''grindiest'' game ''ever.''

* RandomlyGeneratedLevels: Much like {{Makai Kingdom}}s, the entire game is randomly generated, except for boss maps.

** Wait for it. The ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' crew show up in the bonus dungeons. Yes, in a NipponIchi game; shocking, isn't it?

** [[MakaiKingdom Valvoga is in the last bonus dungeon.]] Hey, Mickey did say that they always asked him/them to be a BonusBoss. Now we know who "they" are.

** Like SoulNomad, Baal is noticeably missing. It's mentioned in the game that he's been replaced by Valvolga.

***** Like [[SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters Revya]] in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'', when the Unlosing Ranger is a cameo in [[PhantomBrave Phantom Brave: Hermuda Triangle]], he does not say anything.

** [[MakaiKingdom Valvoga is in the last bonus dungeon.]] Hey, Mickey did say that they always ask him/them to be bonus boss. Now we know who "they" are. (And he's not a fake!)

* BizarroUniverse: There are two Earths, and the fate of characters on one Earth [[{{Synchronization}} affect their fate in the other.]]
** And yes, it's actually called "Bizarro Earth".

* ChekhovsGag: Remember when you obtain the Power of Love with the ''(Probably)'' attached to it? That was no dumb joke by the writers or a RedHerring. [[spoiler:You eventually find out that your Power of Love ''is'' incomplete and go through another dungeon to fix it.]] Etranger [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it, saying she thought it was just another BrakingTheFourthWall joke.

* ChekhovsGun: Remember when you obtain the Power of Love [[spoiler:with the ''(Probably)'' attached to it? That was no dumb joke by the writers or a RedHerring. You eventually find out that your Power of Love ''is'' incomplete and go through another dungeon to fix it.]]

** Jean Noire - A brilliant surgeon that can operate anywhere, any time, and can even bring himself back from near death with scars across half of his face. Yeah, it can only be BlackJack.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: [[BarackObama 45th American President "Brick Oldllama"?]]

Known in Japan as ''Zettai Hero Kaizou Keikaku'', ''Zettai Hero Project'' is a PSP game from NipponIchi which, unlike most of their games, is not an SRPG. This one is a {{Roguelike}}, putting it closer to the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''NetHack'', or ''Mystery Dungeon'' (''ShirenTheWanderer'', ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'') series of games.

* WhoWritesThisCrap:

* DramaticIrony: [[spoiler:"The parents of that fake can't possibly be normal. They're probably freaks of nature."]]

* BoringButPractical: The Appetite Engine. It's a CarrotOnAStick you wear on your head. It only has two effects : halve your stamina loss when worn, and you can eat it (well it IS a carrot) for about the same gain as eating a meat chunk. Those might sound lame compared to the more crazy abilities, but it's a lifesaver, if not a necessity, for the longer dungeons where consistently getting food is fairly improbable.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana Shana]], [[LightNovel/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan Dokuro]], [[SpiceAndWolf Horo]], [[LightNovel/{{Toradora}} Taiga]], [[LightNovel/KinosJourney Kino]], [[LightNovel/GakuenKino Kino]], [[ToAruMajutsuNoIndex Index]], [[LightNovel/OreNoImoutoGaKonnaNiKawaiiWakeGaNai Kirino]], [[LightNovel/{{Baccano}} Firo]], [[Literature/{{Durarara}} Celty]], [[NogizakaHarukaNoHimitsu Haruka]], [[Anime/BoogiepopPhantom Touka]], [[{{Inukami}} Yoko]], [[LightNovel/AccelWorld Silver Crow]], and [[LightNovel/AsuraCryin the Science Club President]] among other anime characters appear in the game.
** [[HilariousInHindsight Funny]] considering [[NipponIchi NIS America]] now owns the license to the ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'' anime in North America. They may be trying for the others, which all share the same publisher in Japan.

* [[spoiler:ArrangedMarriage and WifeHusbandry: At the end, Etranger's mom wants the former between Etranger and the main character, and the latter between the main character and herself [[UnwantedHarem (both at the same time)]].]]

* CowboyBebopAtHisComputer: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TCbheIwCEo This episode of "Today on the Spot"]] claims that this game has you get into peoples' heads to solve their problems, despite the fact that it's actually said in-story that you help the Bizarro Earth counterparts and help people that way. He also forgot to mention that you can level up your employees when you get a special facility.
** Sounds a lot like they mistook the game for a [[VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}} certain other game.]]

* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: The previous Unlosing Ranger took the bullet for the rookie cop Pirohiko, and passed his belt on to him. This was the same incident as the main character's kidnapping.]]

* InformedEquipment: Averted. One of the game's selling points is that everything you equip will visibly change your appearance, to the point where there's a very good chance [[RummageSaleReject you'll look ridiculous]], especially at the beginning of the game where you have little choice but to wear whatever the RandomNumberGod decides to hand you. Enemies' equipped items are also visible, too.
** In one dialogue scene, Etranger suggests that you equip some tank treads so you can avoid the effects of spike traps. Pirohiko tells you not to do it because [[RainbowPimpGear you won't look properly heroic]].

* JerkAss[=/=][[spoiler:JerkAssWoobie]][=/=]JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Etranger goes through all three of these.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana Shana]], [[LightNovel/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan Dokuro]], [[SpiceAndWolf Horo]], [[LightNovel/{{Toradora}} Taiga]], [[LightNovel/KinosJourney Kino]], [[LightNovel/GakuenKino Kino]], [[ToAruMajutsuNoIndex Index]], [[LightNovel/OreNoImoutoGaKonnaNiKawaiiWakeGaNai Kirino]], [[LightNovel/{{Baccano}} Firo]], [[Literature/{{Durarara}} Celty]], [[NogizakaHarukaNoHimitsu Haruka]], [[Anime/BoogiepopPhantom Touka]], [[{{Inukami}} Yoko]], [[LightNovel/AccelWorld Silver Crow]], and [[LightNovel/AsuraCryin the Science Club President]] among other anime characters will be appearing in the game.

* [[spoiler:LegacyImmortality: The Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger is believed to be immortal because they would continually pass the transformation belt on when the current one died. In fact, it's practically tradition to [[TakeUpMySword hand the transformation belt to a random passerby]] that just happens to be in the area when they're dying.]]

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Darkdeath Evilman.

**** [[spoiler:Despite the name, however, he turns out to not be ObviouslyEvil.]]

* [[spoiler:SaveTheVillain]]: It wouldn't be a pastiche of superhero shows if they skipped this one. [[spoiler:This is actually the objective of the Hero Training in the final chapter.]]

* YouSuck: ''Viciously'' {{Deconstructed}}. [[spoiler:As you play through the game, it becomes quite clear that the "helpless {{Otaku}}" protagonist is [[BadAss really]] [[{{Determinator}} doing]] [[IronWoobie nothing]] to deserve his reputation as a wimp. Eventually, it's revealed that his AbusiveParents used him as a scapegoat for all their problems, stifling his development in the process. He probably would have been a good candidate for the Unlosing Ranger under normal circumstances were it not for nobody trusting him to not screw things up.]]

But of course, world's most beloved hero, the Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger, heeds the call to defeat Darkdeath and save the world!

* AbusiveParents: [[spoiler: The protagonist's. His family blames him for all their troubles ever since he and his sister were kidnapped by a MonsterOfTheWeek 8 years ago. They expected a small child to do something against a killer. Bonus points that they didn't bother to ask him anything about what happened to him, even the son was hospitalized before the kidnapping.]]

* [[spoiler: ArrangedMarriage and WifeHusbandry: At the end, Etranger's mom wants the former between Etranger and the main character, and the latter between the main character and herself [[UnwantedHarem (both at the same time)]].]]
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: In true Rudolph fashion, nearly everyone else are dicks until the Unlosing Ranger helps them. Even [[spoiler: the main character's own family had been blaming him for their own problems including wanting a divorce; partly due to his sister's repression of the fact that he was the one who saved her from the Cannibal by occupying it via beating the crap out of the main character enough for the police to arrive.]]

** Special attacks. Incredibly flashy and powerful as expected from a NipponIchi game, but the attacks eat up EN especially the flashier attacks and you need to maintain as much EN as possible when going through dungeons. They still hit pretty hard, though, when you need to burst down a boss or [=AoE=] his mooks.
* BarrierWarrior: Super Baby. She's powerful enough to hold off Darkdeath's attacks by herself, but being a baby she hasn't learned any attacks yet and can't actually beat him.

* BatmanGambit: Part of the conflict in Level 4:[[spoiler: Medea Lass made a deal with Prince Geo that if the Unlosing Ranger loses, she'd marry him.]]
* BeeHiveBarrier: Super Baby. The Gator enemies generate these (and a piece of equipment) if someone attacks from the front. You also have a "Block" command that produces this, nullifying any enemy special that gets casted from in front of you that turn (though it does nothing for regular attacks).

* {{BFS}}: Most bladed weapons, even 'daggers' look huge. Special note to the Unlosing Sword, perhaps the most Egregious BFS in the game.

* BreakableWeapons: All equipment deteriorates as you use it. If an item's durability drops to 0, it's effectively the same as being naked; you lose any of that item's stat boosts and abilities, and if it's something like a spear or a gun, you also lose the ranged attack. However, unlike most games with this feature, broken equipment is not lost, it just loses any special properties and remains in a severely weakened state. It can even be repaired limited times in-dungeon with the proper facility loadout.

** Wait for it. The ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' crew show up in the bonus dungeons. Yes, in a NipponIchi game; shocking, isn't it?

** [[spoiler: Asagi is in it. In fact, she's ''all the other cameo characters''. The entire cameo system was a plot by her to try to replace the other cameo characters with her -- cosplaying as them, anyway..]]
*** Interestingly; Pirihiko's and Etranger's dialogue all indicate that [[spoiler: every series is true; with Earth-like series being set in the same world as theirs; and non-Earth being an AlternateUniverse. Plus Asagi wouldn't want to take over a MutuallyFictional Main Character position, after all.]]

* CombinedEnergyAttack: [[spoiler: The Unlosing Ranger's final technique. The entire Earth cheers him on, which makes him stronger than rest of the cast ''combined'', allowing him to make a HeroicSacrifice.]]
* {{Cosplay}}: Not only can you equip random bits and pieces from every enemy in the game [[spoiler: including the last boss]], beating the Anime cameo dungeons allow you to change your base sprite into the boss of said anime or game cameo dungeon, which actually has stat effects in game.
* CowboyBebopAtHisComputer: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TCbheIwCEo This episode of "Today on the Spot,"]] claims that this game has you get into peoples' heads to solve their problems despite the fact that it's actually said in story that you help the Bizarro Earth counterparts and help people that way. He also forgot to mention you can level up your employees when you get a special facility.

* DeathSeeker: Dangerama

** Special mention goes to [[spoiler: Darkdeath Evilman, who passed his before the story began and kept going after seeing the Unlosing Ranger lose. To the point that [[DrivenToSuicide he even planned on blowing himself up in despair.]]]]
** Also one of the bad endings, in which [[spoiler: you defeat your Bizzaro Earth counterpart during a boss battle instead of your family. Anko, Mitsuo, and Choco merge again, and reject having a fourth family member]].

** It's more than that. This turns out to be the nameless hero's defining trait, discovered in flashbacks when he [[spoiler: stands up to an insane serial killer / rapist / cannibal who had kidnapped him and his sister]]. He's beaten to a bloody pulp (literally so: he's hospitalized afterwards and his sister is traumatized into amnesia after just from seeing it) but continues to keep standing up, long enough to keep the [[spoiler: serial killer]] distracted until help arrived. It transfers to his superhero persona very well.

* DudeWheresMyRespect: The Unlosing Ranger goes from being called a useless fake who's just there to be a nuisance to [[spoiler: gaining enough power to punch a nuke into the sun and eventually earning the respect of people all around the world for his unwavering spirit. This rock solid trust and belief in him causes him to power up into the Unlosing Ranger Omega, culminating in him saving the world.]]
* {{Eagleland}}: Played straight, complete with a quote worthy of ''Team America World Police''... although this is later explained by [[spoiler: Oldllama's mental issues due to her Bizzaro Earth counterpart.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: While you can defeat Darkdeath Evilman early on a second playthrough [[spoiler:the endings you receive end with you dying in possibly the most pathetic way imaginable with everyone calling you a fraud.]] The game pretty much requires that Darkdeath Evilman hands you your ass several times before you can see a real happy ending.
* EasyLevelsHardBosses: The normal dungeons aren't TOO bad. Then you get to a Level 600 boss...For the FIRST bonus Dungeon.

** Pirohiko. Aside from having brown hair and eyes instead of respectively blue and red, is undeniably a flat-out expy of Kamina. With his fiery and optimistic persona, his mentoring of a younger [[spoiler: seemingly]] fail filled guy as his successor, he can be considered [[RecycledInSpace Kamina reincarnated as a Super Hero Otaku!]]. [[spoiler: And further, being motivated by feelings of failure and weakness.]]
** Jean Noire - A Brilliant Surgeon that can operate anywhere, any time and can even bring himself back from near death with scars across half of his face. Yeah, it can only be BlackJack
* FakeUltimateHero: The "Super" Baby is hailed as the world's savior due to being prophesied to save the Earth, but in reality she doesn't actually do much of anything herself and in fact [[spoiler:enlarges DarkDeath Evilman out of jealousy, making the situation much worse.]]
* FinalBattle: The entire game is essentially one massive final battle, although the hero has the opportunity to level grind in another dimension after getting his ass kicked.
* {{Foreshadowing}} / RedHerring: [[spoiler: If you pay attention, you see who is cosplaying what in the cutscenes. In addition, Pirohiko's Bizarro version is a Cadaver. You know, that monster that [[OnlyMostlyDead comes back to life a few turns after you kill it?]]]]
** [[spoiler: If you were paying attention, you'll notice that Darkdeath Evilman begs the Unlosing Ranger to run away when [[strike:he]] his malfunctioning suit starts blowing up cities -- in his real voice.]]

* GenreSavvy: [[spoiler:The final boss attacking Earth has fired blasts of energy all across the globe, destroying entire cities...that have already been evacuated, because they know that those cities are always attacked in movies. Not a single person is killed.]]

** There's also no mention of the existennce of Unlosing Weapons. Anywhere. Not even a hint. There's apparently one for every weapon type, (Unlosing Sword, Unlosing Gun, Unlosing Wand...etc). The only reliable info is that they become findable "somewhere post-lvel 30" of the Mastery Dungeon)
* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler: Medea Lass and Prince Geo in the true ending.]]
* HeadTiltinglyKinky: The DumbBlonde couple. When Mana's water breaks she says that it "hurts worse than a pineapple."

** In the end of the game even Dangerama asks, "Can he even talk?"

* [[spoiler: HeroicSacrifice: The previous Unlosing Ranger took the bullet for the rookie cop Pirohiko, and passed his belt on to him. This was the same incident as the main character's kidnapping.]]

** Etranger: [[spoiler: Is really a psychic manifestation of Super Baby; and is both cynical and naive because of her age; and the things her mother has told her about humanity and herself.]]
** Pirohiko: [[spoiler: Serious case of SurvivorGuilt since the previous Unlosing Ranger died to protect him. Half of the time deeply in denial about his human failings, and half of the time aware of knowing what a hero should be; and ashamed that he couldn't be it.]]
** The Main Character: [[spoiler: Not a case of YouSuck; he has always been a badass that nobody recognized, nobody gave a chance.]]
** Dangerama: [[spoiler: Had to choose between [[SadisticChoice his wife or a lot of innocent people dying.]] He saved the people.]] He wasn't the same since.
** Darkdeath Evilman: [[spoiler: Not a OmnicidalManiac, in reality a super intelligent 8 year old boy attempting [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Hero]]. Seeing the Unlosing Ranger fail in doing so sends him past the DespairEventHorizon.]]

** In NewGamePlus, they're not Hopeless, as if you continue to attack, the last turn will be a random CriticalHit for 999 damage, instantly defeating the boss -- if you want to continue the game as normal, you must hit "flee" the last turn before you lose. Unfortuantely, winning these hopeless battles causes one of the various Bad MultipleEndings, due to the various psychological problems with the other characters not being solved. [[spoiler: To say nothing about poor Darkdeath.]]

* ImDyingPleaseTakeMyMacGuffin: Played straight. [[spoiler: Until Chapter X, wherein Pirohiko ''buys a second MacGuffin.'' A cheap knockoff, at that!]]
* ImportantHaircut: [[spoiler: The nameless hero gains one from pure HeroicSpirit when he learns the special attack "120% Determination", even going so far as to change his portrait in game. This marks the point where he goes from being insulted by just about everyone -- "The Unlosing Ranger (Temp)", "The Fake Unlosing Ranger", etc. -- to actually gaining some respect.]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Again, the protagonist's entire family. How do you say "sorry" for ''eight years of emotional abuse,'' triggered by something that ''wasn't even his fault?'' Level-9's "happy ending" rings hollow in the face of the hell the protagonist's family put him through.]]
** [[spoiler: Though to be fair, Choco did undergo TraumaInducedAmnesia during the whole kiddnapping thing, so she doesn't remember that it was her [[PlayerCharacter big bro]] that saved her. All that she does know is that her parents are sniping at each other because of something he did, so she begins to think that its his fault. YMMV, but she may not be as much to blame. The [[JerkAss parents]], on the other hand...]]
*** [[spoiler: at least the dad gets his lunch forcefully donated to the main character in case he gets hungry in the ending]]
* KillSat: You can get this as a facility after triggering a KillSat trap in a dungeon

* LevelGrinding: Wouldn't be a N1 game without it. This one has the bonus effect of having LevelDrain as a gameplay mechanic, however. The trailer even ''brags'' about it. "The most soul crushing grindfest EVER!" However, in the late game Item Synthesis and Shadowgram optimization are more important than levels.
* LongTitle: Even with the "Zettai Hero Project" bit reduced to an initialism it's still a mouthful.

* MetalSlime: Metal Cacti. [[spoiler: They completely fill up the "Makai Wars" stage; only unlocked when you beat all the Dengeki stages.]]
* MoodWhiplash: Very often. The ending is especially guilty of this. [[spoiler:The heroes chase after the self-destructing Darkdeath Evilman to save him, at which point, he finally agrees to believe in heroes and begs to be saved. This is followed up with Pirohiko, Dangerama, and Etranger taking turns trying to push Darkdeath Evilman's robotic exoskeleton into the sun with all of them snapping at each other for failing until Darkdeath Evilman tells them that the smart thing to do is for them to push it together. Then, the main character gains the strength to push it by himself and sacrifice his life in process.]]

* MundaneUtility: Etranger capts radio waves from Earth and trasmits them to your retinas allowing you to see what's going on Earth. Pirohiko suggests they could watch satellite TV for free!
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning: A rare heroic version. Disgaea's reincarnate system makes a return. In addition, ''you can't not trigger it.'' The plus side is this means that even as you lose you get stronger. The minus side is this means they've basically shot the difficulty up to 11.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Played completely straight when Etranger [[spoiler: uses her powers to make Darkdeath a ''giant'' -- in a ShoutOut to ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' -- in order to prevent a rival hero from saving the day. Then it doesn't wear off, making Darkdeath an infinitely worse danger than before. Er, whoops.]]

* NoodleIncident: Nao's past. [[spoiler: She was apparently in love with the Unlosing Ranger who Pirohiko replaced, but this is never fully explained.]]
* NoFourthWall: Etranger gets really upset when she discovers a fourth wall (which she actually calls by name) breaking joke earlier actually had a purpose: [[spoiler: Since the main character's home life is so horrible, he can't fully understand love, which hinders his power as a superhero.]]
* NuclearWeaponsTaboo: Completely and utterly avoided, when Oldllama [[spoiler: gives up on the Unlosing Ranger, deciding to nuke Japan rather than face Darkdeath Evilman.]] Then she backs out of it, after [[spoiler: you fix her mind, making her realize that sacrificing an entire country is a cowardly thing to do.]] Then while practicing her apology she [[spoiler: bows, headbutting the freakin' launch button.]] All combined with a heavy handed political message about Japan's subservience to America, America's {{Eagleland}} persona, etc etc etc. ''What. The. Hell.''
** It does lead to a CMOA (the first for the new Unlosing Ranger) when he [[spoiler: punches the goddamned nuke away literally as it hits him. He punches it STRAIGHT TO THE SUN.]]

* ObviouslyEvil: Darkdeath '''Evilman.''' [[spoiler: ... Not so much, actually.]]

* PhlebotinumBreakdown: Darkdeath Evilman [[spoiler:'s suit malfunctions due to an early attack, which is why he spends most of the game standing around -- he's inside, trying to get the stupid thing fixed.]]

** The cameo dungeons are ''filled'' with random bits and pieces from their respective games and shows, as well. In addition, they count as Rank 6 items -- which means they're expensive to repair, but can be leveled up to absurd power
* PuzzleBoss: (Nearly) every boss has some sort of gimmick that you need to figure out to defeat. And like classic ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' games, this being lost on the player base inflates it's NintendoHard reputation.

* {{Roguelike}}: One of the softer ones. Not only is a GameOver a functional impossibility, the main character still gains some strength even if he dies since the levels he gained during his run get added to his running total.
* SadisticChoice: [[spoiler: In Dangerama's backstory had to choose between his wife or a lot of people. He chose to save the most people; his sanity hasn't been the same since.]]

* ShopliftAndDie: Ah [=RosenQueen=] and it's security force... of an infinite number of max level ''[[OhCrap Dragons]]!''.

* TakeUpMySword: How the PlayerCharacter gets in the fix in the first place. [[spoiler: And how Pirohiko became the Unlosing Ranger when the last one died saving the Main Character and his little sister eight years ago.]]

* ThePowerOfLove: Earned by the Unlosing Ranger as one of the qualifications of being a hero. He was able to demonstrate the selflessness and purity of love to Bizzaro Geo. [[spoiler:His understanding of love is still incomplete however because of his abusive home life. Familial love is what powers him up into the True Unlosing Ranger.]]
* ThePowerOfTrust: [[spoiler:By the end of the game The Unlosing Ranger has gained the trust and respect of all his naysayers along with the rest of the world. Their trust in him powers him into The Unlosing Ranger Omega, and grants him his final technique]]
** All the more awesome because in the final battle, it manifests as a Spirit Bomb [[Franchise/KamenRider RIDER KICK]]

* [[TookALevelInBadass Grinding Levels In Badass]]: The entire game is this for the Unlosing Ranger. In a single day he goes from a useless, spineless bystander, to [[spoiler: saving the world and [[strike: beating]] saving the last boss against all odds.]]
* TragicVillain: Most of the Bizzaro Earth bosses. [[spoiler: Darkdeath Evilman gets a special mention here -- he was a super genius kid who was kidnapped by an evil organization, and prayed for a hero to save him. [[TheWoobie No one did.]]]]

* VariableMix: The music in the Mastery Caves change by section based on your equipment. The variations include: Default (No Gear and Unlosing Cape), Hero (???), Sexy Witch (Oddly enough, Fluffy Tail counts as this..., else something a Magical Girl would use), 8-Bit ("classic" items like Daggers and Longswords), Junk (Random parts), Super Robot (Super Robot Mainstays such as Tank Treads and Rocket Punch), Euro/American View ("Steriotypical" equipment), Dark Hero ("Villinous" stuff like the Dark Mask), Animal ("Beastrial" gear), and Last Boss ([[spoiler: Darkdevil Evilman's Gear]])... yeash!

* WakeUpCallBoss: Bizzaro Geo. Prior to this, Boss battles consisted of pushing through a small army of mooks and then pounding down the Boss. Starting from Geo, a PuzzleBoss element is added. You now have to solve this puzzle BEFORE you can attack the boss(or expose and AttackItsWeakPoint ForMassiveDamage), all while still dealing with hordes of infinitely-spawning mooks, a level that is going to take much longer to solve than previous boss battles (meaning starvation becomes an issue), and a puzzle mechanic that injures you if you mess up.
* WhamEpisode: Arguably, Chapter 9- [[spoiler: That family you've been seeing in the montage sequences? Turns out that the main character is the son that they keep complaining about. You also learn that you and your sister were kidnapped as small children, and were saved by the Unlosing Ranger- who wasn't Pirohiko back then. At the time, Pirohiko was simply a policeman- he became the Unlosing Ranger shortly after the incident, as the previous one was mortally wounded while saving you -- by the same serial killer that the then quite normal 8 year old main character was successfully {{You Shall Not Pass}}ing away from his little sister.]]
** If not that, DEFINITELY Chapter X. [[spoiler: Darkdeath Evilman? Not the giant wolf-thing. Darkdeath is the little suicidal 7 year old kid inside it, who is attempting [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Hero]].]]
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Super Baby is foretold to be the world's savior, but her superpowers seem limited to self-levitation, self-protection, and [[spoiler: ''[[MakeMyMonsterGrow turning the enemy into a giant]]'']]. Attempts to get her to do anything ''useful'' end up running into lame excuses. [[spoiler: Eventually subverted, as Etranger becomes capable of teleporting herself and others as well as telekinesis - not to mention giving her physical form a permanent age-up into a teenager.]]
** [[spoiler: in fact, she is the one who helps you guys save the world at the end of the game...]]

* WizardNeedsFoodBadly: All Special Attacks take up EN, you lose EN (for the most part) over time and if you run out, better chow down some meat or else you'll starve... some dungeons seem to be more generous then others though ("Dengeki: Kino's Journey" is an example of why you should use Specials with care: Unless your Facilties are upgraded, food items are very scarce!)
* WouldntHitAGirl: During the final world, the 'troublemaker hero' attempts to invoke it directly before a mid-boss battle on the 8th floor while attempting to convince [[spoiler:Bizarro Darkdeath Evilman]] that you're not a hero. By the way, [[{{CrowningMomentofFunny}} the troublemaker hero is male, you have known he's male for several chapters, and he doesn't even fake a female voice very well. And to top it off, Pirohiko helpfully offers you the same 'Plump Bosom' equipment that the troublemaker hero is using as a helpful loophole.]]
** [[spoiler: You can of course say no... but he gives it to you anyway.]]
* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Think you can beat Darkdeath Evilman just yet? Not before [[spoiler: Etranger transforms him into Giant Darkdeath Evilman.]] How about now, when you have [[spoiler:Dangerama working alongside you with a badass team attack?]] [[spoiler:Not so fast, bucko! He becomes Giga Giant Darkdeath Evilman after that.]] All in all, you fight him a total of [[spoiler:''13 times.'']]

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: [[ShakuganNoShana Shana]], [[LightNovel/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan Dokuro]], [[SpiceAndWolf Horo]], [[LightNovel/{{Toradora}} Taiga]], [[LightNovel/KinosJourney Kino]], [[LightNovel/GakuenKino Kino]], [[ToAruMajutsuNoIndex Index]], [[LightNovel/OreNoImoutoGaKonnaNiKawaiiWakeGaNai Kirino]], [[LightNovel/{{Baccano}} Firo]], [[Literature/{{Durarara}} Celty]], [[NogizakaHarukaNoHimitsu Haruka]], [[Anime/BoogiepopPhantom Touka]], [[{{Inukami}} Yoko]], [[LightNovel/AccelWorld Silver Crow]], and [[LightNovel/AsuraCryin the Science Club President]] among other anime characters will be appearing in the game.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: [[ShakuganNoShana Shana]], [[LightNovel/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan Dokuro]], [[SpiceAndWolf Horo]], [[LightNovel/{{Toradora}} Taiga]], [[LightNovel/KinosJourney Kino]], [[LightNovel/GakuenKino Kino]], [[ToAruMajutsuNoIndex Index]], [[LightNovel/OreNoImoutoGaKonnaNiKawaiiWakeGaNai Kirino]], [[LightNovel/{{Baccano}} Firo]], [[Literature/{{Durarara}} Celty]], [[NogizakaHarukaNoHimitsu Haruka]], [[BoogiepopPhantom Touka]], [[{{Inukami}} Yoko]], [[LightNovel/AccelWorld Silver Crow]], and [[LightNovel/AsuraCryin the Science Club President]] among other anime characters will be appearing in the game.

* {{Expy}}: Choco is our silent protagonist's little sister who has brown hair and GirlishPigtails and is voiced by KarenStrassman. [[{{Persona 4}} Now where else have I seen that combination?]]

* TakeUpMySword: How the PlayerCharacter gets in the fix in the first place.

* AscendedMeme: The description of the Wizard Hat: "I put on my {{robe and wizard hat}}..." And unlike in ''{{Disgaea}} 2'', you can actually see the hat!

* GenreShift: This is a {{Roguelike}} with some elements from ''{{Disgaea}}'' as opposed to an outright SRPG with some {{Roguelike}} elements.

***** Like [[SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters Revya]] in {{Disgaea 3}}, when the Unlosing Ranger is a cameo in [[PhantomBrave Phantom Brave: Hermuda Triangle]], he does not say anything.

* NewGamePlus: It's a NIS game, of course it has this. However, unlike ''{{Disgaea 3}}'', this one is mandatory -- you don't get a chance to avoid progressing to the NewGamePlus mode if you beat the last boss.

** [[ThisIsADrill Drills!]] [[TankGoodness Tanks!]] [[GatlingGood Gatling Guns!]] [[{{Disgaea}} Prinny Hats!]] [[ImprobableWeaponUser Claw Grabbers!]] [[DropTheHammer Hammer Arms!]] Devil Masks! Devil Tails! [[{{Samurai}} Samurai Wigs!]] [[Franchise/{{Robocop}} Robot Cops!]] [[CatGirl Cat Ears!]] [[FishingMinigame Fishing Rods!]] [[CookingDuel Woks!]] And Sexy Jiggly Boobs! And this is just from the trailer.

* {{Cameo}}: Wait for it. The ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' crew show up in the bonus dungeons. Yes, in a NipponIchi game; shocking, isn't it?
** Less expected are [[{{Durarara}} Celty Sturluson]], [[KinosJourney Kino]], and [[BludgeoningAngelDokuro Dokuro]], among others. While you can't play as them, you can unlock their costumes after beating their respective [[BonusDungeon Bonus Dungeons]].

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: [[{{Determinator}} Unlosing Ranger]] vs. [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Darkdeath Evilman]].

* XMeetsY: {{NetHack}} [[XMeetsY meets]] {{Disgaea}}.

** All the more awesome because in the final battle, it manifests as a Spirit Bomb [[KamenRider RIDER KICK]]