History YMMV / TheHalloweenHack

* AdaptationDisplacement: Varik is far more well known for this game than [[VideoGame/{{Brandish}} his source material]], while on the recieving end, ''Megalovania'' is more well known for ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', [[MemeticMutation moreso the latter than the former]].

* AdaptationDisplacement: Varik is far more well known for this game than [[VideoGame/{{Brandish}} his source material]], while on the recieving end, ''Megalovania'' is more well known for ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''.

* AdaptationDisplacement: Varik is far more well known for this game than [[VideoGame/{{Brandish}} his source material]].

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: While still famous for its creepy and depressing nature and story, and being the first major non-simple sprite swap hack created, a lot of people admit this hack is really starting to show its age, especially alongside far more technical overhaul ones like ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/{{Unearthed}}'' hack. To some people, even those who are aware it's being [[InvokedTrope invoked]] in the beginning, certain areas can look a bit lazy. This is not because the hack creator didn't care, mind you, but more so because that's all hacking tools for ''[[VideoGame/EarthBound1994 EarthBound]]'' [=ROMs=] were capable of back then. Another major thing people complain about is its [[NintendoHard brutal difficulty]], thanks to a steadily growing backlash against [[GameMod ROM Hacks]] that are brutally hard for the sake of being brutally hard in most ROM Hacking communities.

** Fans refer to the version of Megalovania used for the hack's FinalBoss as "[[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]]'s Rage". While the nickname predates ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', it's still popularly used to differentiate the ''Halloween Hack'' and ''Undertale'' versions of the song).

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: While still famous for its creepy and depressing nature and story, and being the first major non-simple sprite swap hack created, a lot of people admit this hack is really starting to show its age, especially alongside far more technical overhaul ones like ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/{{Unearthed}}'' hack. To some people, even those who are aware it's being [[InvokedTrope invoked]] in the beginning, certain areas can look a bit lazy. This is not because the hack creator didn't care, mind you, but more so because that's all hacking tools for ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' [=ROMs=] were capable of back then. Another major thing people complain about is its [[NintendoHard brutal difficulty]], thanks to a steadily growing backlash against [[GameMod ROM Hacks]] that are brutally hard for the sake of being brutally hard in most ROM Hacking communities.

* {{Squick}}: Even if you're attracted to guys, the "NO! NO! NO!" boss will likely be this, due to focusing on some rather… ''exaggerated'' parts of the male body. [[InvokedTrope Naturally,]] [[IntendedAudienceReaction this reaction was likely intentional.]]

* NightmareFuel: Remember how we said that in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', the final boss, [[EldritchAbomination Giygas]], ''was'' the background for his battle? He returns in [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts' battle as the background]]. Fitting, as said FinalBoss was encountered in the exact same machine that Giygas was stored in.

* FandomRivalry: Shares one with the ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' hack. Many people who prefer ''Hallow's End'' often cite it as "the Halloween ROM Hack done ''right''", with humor and themes often more fitting of the original ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' compared to ''The Halloween Hack'', of which people often compare to a [[CanonDefilement bad fanfic]] pile of {{Narm}}, in addition to being far more balanced gameplay-wise by comparison. Meanwhile, those who prefer ''The Halloween Hack'' often like how it tries to have [[DarkerAndEdgier darker themes]] than the original ''[=EarthBound=]'', and point out how the endgame of ''Hallow's End'' [[DisappointingLastLevel also devolves into bad fanfic territory as well]], in addition to the difficulty reaching [[NintendoHard batshit levels]]. Really, there are many things people prefer when comparing the two games, and that isn't even going into [[spoiler:how ''The Halloween Hack'' treats Dr. Andonuts…]]

* HarsherInHindsight: The Remnants, who are pretty much zombie Starmen, are shown to be melting. It's likely they can relate to [[VideoGame/{{Undertale}} Undyne and Undertale's Amalgamates]].
* HilariousInHindsight:
** Borderline this, borderline HarsherInHindsight. In ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'', the concept of [[spoiler:the Amalgamates]] returns, only this time with terrifying lore. A talking yellow flower in this game also mentions something about [[spoiler:being used in science experiments]], foreshadowing Flowey greatly.
** Megalovania originating here becomes this now that it's made it into ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.

* {{Narm}}: While this game does do a rather good job of telling the tragic tale of [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]], there are some notable narm-ish moments.

** [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] [[ClusterFBomb cluster swearing]] VillainousBreakdown. While it fits considering everything we've seen so far, and [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope his mental state]] is pretty far gone at that point, there's still a few who can't get over the fact that it's [[spoiler:''[[AbsentMindedProfessor Dr. Andonuts]]'']] swearing up a storm like a drunken sailor. Some even go as far as to say it kills the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief the game did a good job of keeping up until then. [[OldShame Even Toby Fox himself has indicated that he in hindsight very much agrees with this criticism.]]

* FanNickname: "Push the B-Button, Stupid!" for the game as a whole; [[spoiler:"Dr. Andonuts's Rage" for the hack's version of "Megalovania" (the nickname predates ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', but is still popularly used to differentiate the ''Halloween Hack'' and ''Undertale'' versions of the song)]].
* FridgeBrilliance: The Anxiety Attack enemies. When you first encounter them, they're DemonicSpiders because of their ability to spam statuses that block magic[=/=]PSI as well as cause characters to freeze, in addition to the fact that Varik is likely the only one you have in the party at that point. As you progress through the game and get more party members, they become much easier to deal with. While from a technical stand point it's because you're slowly leveling up and having more party members to fight with, from a meta-stand point, it also makes sense. When you have an anxiety attack in real life, it's much easier to deal with when you have friends around you to help you calm down.