Line #20 Main/ExpositionFairy


1	%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1326680108009680100
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3	[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/FiComicJ_5511.jpg]]]]
4	[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword She's only trying to be helpful.]]]]
5
6	->''"Who the hell is this guy? 'Hail fellow adventurer!' Terry the Adventurer? His name is Terry? Who the fuck is Terry? Seriously! ''Who?'' What the fuck is Terry doing here? ''How'' did Terry get here? ''Why'' did Te -- [laughs] Is Terry here to rescue the Mayor, too? I mean, he's gotta be, right? Why else i... Did Lord British hire Terry? I mean, he should, because this guy is awesome! I mean, he got here first; he's better than me, looks like. Shit, Terry, looks like you got this one handled, man. Honestly, I think I'd just get in your way."''
7	-->-- '''[[WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment Noah Antwiler]]''' on ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}: Runes of Virtue''
8
9	A recurring or sidekick character whose purpose is to [[MrExposition fill you in]] on elements of the interface and your abilities. Sometimes, they will also offer hints or help players in the form of NoticeThis. Some sidekicks have a tendency to do this ''too'' often, at which point the player is likely to shout, "[[AnnoyingVideoGameHelper Stop Helping Me!]]"
10
11	Many more recent games with {{Heroic Mime}}s use this so the game has a character who can actually have reactions to the plot, and [[VoiceForTheVoiceless engage in dialogue]] with other {{NPC}}s. In this case, they not only act as a tutorial of sorts, but keep track of the story and help [[ContinueYourMissionDammit move it along]].
12
13	Frequently a FairyCompanion, hence the name. For modern-day humanoid variants, see MissionControl and VoiceWithAnInternetConnection. See also PetInterface. Can overlap with ExpressiveHealthBar if they let you know you're low on health. SubTrope of MrExposition.
14	----
15	!!Examples:
16
17	!!Video Game Examples
18
19	[[AC:Creators]]
20	* Creator/BruceCampbell provides his vocal talents as the Narrator/EF in the video game adaptations of the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' films with his trademark dry humor.
21	* Creator/HideoKojima’s games are notorious for having multiple due to the exposition-heavy nature of his games. [[spoiler: [[InvertedTrope Some of these, if not most, even deliberately mislead the player.]]]] The main and most notorious ones include:
22	** Big Boss in ''VideoGame/MetalGear''.
23	** Metal Gear Mk. II in ''VisualNovel/{{Snatcher}}''.
24	** Colonel Campbell in ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake'', ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty''.
25	** Major Zero in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''.
26	** Otacon in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots''.
27	** Kaz in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV''.
28	*** Ocelot also in ''V''.
29	** Die-Hardman in ''VideoGame/DeathStranding'', possibly the most disliked example thus far.
30
31	[[foldercontrol]]
32
33	[[AC:Genres]]
34	[[folder:Action]]
35	* Your AI sidekick Arthur in the second and third ''VideoGame/TheJourneymanProject'' games offers hints and color commentary.
36	** The first game sort of has one as well, in a text message window that occasionally pops out of the HUD to give you warnings and such. The remake, ''Pegasus Prime'' swaps that out for an AI Biochip that serves the same purpose, but is nowhere near as funny as Arthur.
37	* In the Xbox ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' game, Ayane will occasionally toss kunai with notes written on them to help Ryu Hayabusa get through his quest. She, being a {{ninja}}-in-training, does all of her work from the shadows.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Action Adventure]]
41	* Pey'j and Double H from ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil'' frequently fill these roles, offering advice on where to go, what to do, and information on the world, from time to time. Most of their more detailed advice is optional--but Double H has the habit (moreso than Pey'j) of [[CaptainObvious shouting out the completely obvious unbidden.]] "There's the secret passageway we need to get in!"
42	* ''VideoGame/BloodRayne'' has Mynce, another dhampir who explains your strengths and weaknesses during cutscenes as well as dragging you through the tutorial.
43	** ''VideoGame/BloodRayne2'' has Severin, a Brimstone agent who performs [[MissionControl pretty much the same role,]] but with whom [[DeadpanSnarker Rayne has a different relationship.]]
44	* ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}''
45	** The Watcher in ''VideoGame/DarksidersI'' is bound to War's artificial arm by the Council in the first game to ensure that War does his duty. He is probably one of the most dickish examples of this trope ever, constantly treating War like a dog on a leash. He occasionally has some good advice, especially during boss fights, but that doesn't make up for being a {{Jerkass}}. [[spoiler: It's pretty satisfying to see War pop the Watcher's head like a grape when he loses his power over War.]]
46	** ''VideoGame/DarksidersII'' has Dust, Death's crow {{Familiar}} and formerly one of many belonging to [[KnowledgeBroker The Crowfather]]. His main purpose is to help find paths in the environment and to give Death clues to various puzzles (using NoticeThis style glowing), but he doesn't actually speak. The ''Abomination Vault'' novel shows he [[SilentSnarker has a deadpan manner about him despite being unable to speak]] and can communicate with Death via telepathy with images or connect him to the Crowfather.
47	* The Heart from ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'' plays with this trope as, unlike most fairies, it only provides exposition on demand, but also averts the usual irritating nature of this trope by being ''[[DissonantSerenity creepy]] [[SoulJar as]] [[FateWorseThanDeath hell]]'' - literally a human heart carried around in Corvo's hand that beats when close to an upgrade and whispers disturbing secrets to him in his mind. To make it especially charming, the Heart was ripped from the chest of the [[spoiler:murdered Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, the woman he had sworn to protect with his life, who may have been Corvo's lover and whose death prompted his vengeful rampage.]] And in [[VideoGame/Dishonored2 the sequel]], you have to delete the personality inside, who will either go peacefully while you're forced to watch or call you out for desensitizing them to violence before making their existence pointless.
48	* The first ''VideoGame/GodOfWarI'' was originally supposed to have one of these at the start of the first game to explain the controls and such. And then just for the hell of it (combined with a heavy dose of 'didn't see this coming, did ya'), it was going to be killed by that first Hydra head that surprises you on the boat.
49	** Athena talks far more in III, commenting on equipment stolen from the Gods themselves. [[spoiler:Except it's not Athena - at least, not the Athena Kratos knew before she died - and she tries to enslave the world after Kratos has killed all the physical gods. Kratos decides to spite Not-Athena by splitting most of his divinity into tiny pieces for the surviving humans to 'share' (i.e. kill each other over), and fucks off to live in obscurity with the Vikings.]]
50	** The Norse games play the trope straight with Mimir, who Kratos and Atreus free from his 109-winters-long imprisonment by cutting off, and reanimating, his head. From that point forward, Mimir acts as your guide to the Norse mythology, telling the history and stories of the Aesir and other creatures of the Realms while the player is traveling. He also gives players a hand in battle by warning about enemy attacks from behind, and warning you when your health is low. Most of all, in-story he’s the one to give Kratos advice about Atreus, and whom Kratos opens up to over the course of two games.
51	* In ''VideoGame/TheHauntedMansion'' video game, Madame Leota becomes one of these, riding in [[HeroicMime Zeke's]] bag and giving advice.
52	* The ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' series:
53	** In the beginning of ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy'' [[TeamDad Samos]] will fill you in.
54	** In ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'' this is [[WeaselMascot Daxter]]'s job.
55	** In ''VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander'' [[EmbarrassingFirstName Pecker]] tells you the basics.
56	** Throughout all games Daxter will give helpful hints on things the player may have overlooked, for example how to beat a boss after getting hit/dying several times.
57	* Iwazaru of ''VideoGame/{{Killer 7}}'' drops into view on occasion (he hangs from a bungee cord) and informs the title assassins of what they need to do next, often by insulting them (for example, when he complains about MASK DE Smith, you have to switch to MASK to advance). The ending [[spoiler:reveals that Iwazaru is Kun Lan in disguise, explaining why someone supposedly loyal to the Smiths has so little respect]]. Aside from the gimp, the Smiths travel with an entire retinue of 'quirky' exposition ghosts. Easygoing Travis also offers hints and is generally more trustworthy, Kess Bloodysunday is a shell-shocked [[UndeadChild ghost kid]] who tells you how to beat the bosses, and severed head Susie... [[AxCrazy the less said the better]].
58	* The gargoyles in ''VideoGame/MediEvil'' alternate between being MrExposition, mocking FakeUltimateHero Dan Fortesque, and telling you how to go about getting through the level.
59	* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
60	** ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'': Adam, Samus's AI advisor. She has no choice but to listen to him, as he was part of the deal that got her a replacement spaceship. [[spoiler: He's eventually revealed to be part of a GovernmentConspiracy, but pulls a HeelFaceTurn in the closing moments of the game]].
61	** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'': Samus's CoolShip occasionally sends hints on where to go next.
62	** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'': Fleet Admiral Dane and Aurora Units 242 and 217 serve this role, each at different points of the story: Dane when Samus aims to destroy the incoming Leviathan in Norion and later when she's looking for a way to disable the planetary shield in Pirate Homeworld to prepare the Federation's assault, AU 217 while Samus is in Elysia in her quest to gain access to that planet's Leviathan, and AU 242 in the rest of the game.
63	** ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' has you meeting the living Adam on whose personality the above-mentioned AI is based. He serves primarily as MissionControl, but he's on your ear piece through most of the game guiding the player through the story.
64	** ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'': Adam's AI form returns as the ship's computer and general MissionControl for Samus. [[spoiler:Except, save for the opening and closing cutscenes, it's not Adam at all, but [[BigBad Raven Beak]], who notably exposits about things Adam ''should not know'', such as the exact components of Samus' Chozo DNA and how it interacts with her Metroid DNA.]]
65	* In the ''Soul Reaver'' installments of the ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'' series, the (usually disembodied) voice of the Elder God serves this function--mostly.
66	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
67	** Starting with''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'', Link is assisted by a character, who mainly serves as this role. Need help? Touch a special tile on the walls of dungeons and Sahasrahla is always there to help. You don't even need to be in the same world as him to do this!
68	** In the ''[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast1992 A Link to the Past comic adaptation]]'', Link is accompanied by Epheremelda who offers him the lay of the land in the Dark World. This is before ''Ocarina of Time'' introduced Navi as the first canon Fairy sidekick.
69	** Navi from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' is the most notorious of these, because of the frequency with which she hints the player. The TropeCodifier, to the point where Exposition Fairies in subsequent Creator/{{Nintendo}} games are often called "Navi" internally.
70	** Though the owl from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'' was there first, for most ''Zelda'' fans the "owl helper" trope is ingrained with Kaepora Gaebora, who followed child Link through Hyrule in ''Ocarina of Time just'' so he could give you all the advice Navi didn't. Hoot! [[ShallIRepeatThat Do you want to hear what I said again?]]
71	--->''Yes'' ←\
72	''No''
73	** Tatl from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' is a lot like Tinker Bell: particularly memorable for [[DeadpanSnarker her snark]], [[{{Tsundere}} poor attitude]] and general non-helpfulness. Fortunately, her audio comments are limited to a fairly inoffensive jingly sound. She was also unhelpful since she would just chide Link for not knowing how to fight enemies from ''Ocarina of Time'' instead of telling him how, at most giving you a vague hint. This was changed in the 3DS remake, since the game no longer assumes you've played the previous game.
74	--->'''Tatl''': [[CaptainObvious If you get close, you'll be beaten! Do you understand me?]]
75	** The King of Red Lions [[spoiler:a.k.a. King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule]] from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'', who also serves as your main means of travel through the Great Sea. He keeps in touch while you're on land via a magic stone given to you by Tetra, who fills this role during your first visit to the Forsaken Fortress (the fact they can both use the stone is a plot point).
76	** Ezlo from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap Minish Cap]]'' who, in addition to being your nice hat, also serves as a means to shrink down to [[LittlePeople Minish]]-size.
77	** Midna from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' offers helpful services the others didn't (such as warping), but her expository knowledge is limited to the dark world. Her poor attitude doesn't help much either, but makes part of [[{{Tsundere}} her charm.]] Also, she doesn't bug you as often[[note]]you usually have to explicitly ask for her help[[/note]] and her alert sound is a few quiet words in [[SpeakingSimlish Simlish]] rather than a shrill yell.
78	** Ciela from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]]''. At least she also acts as a cursor, bugs an NPC instead of you, and she actually helps in battle...when you have enough courage orbs anyway. The fact that she uses the same "Hey!" as Navi is [[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=244 bound to send shivers down your spine upon first meeting her,]] though. In a bit of irony, when you unlock the hammer, Ciela will wield it and Link will point her where to hit, giving him the chance to be the annoying one (if he wasn't mute anyway).
79	** Princess Zelda herself serves as Link's Exposition Fairy in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]''.
80	** The Exposition Fairy of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' is Fi, the [[SpockSpeak Spock-Speaking]] spirit of your sword. She can give the most info of any Exposition Fairy in the series. If you can lock onto it, friend, foe, random critter or dungeon device, she has info on it. At the tap of a button she'll analyze boss moves (as well as the arenas in which you fight them) to give you strategies, provide a recap of what's happened recently, remind you of [[NowWhereWasIGoingAgain what you should do next]], tell you how many times you've killed a monster in addition to your previous record when it comes to fighting that monster, has a ton of helpful rumors and hints, will provide info on your current location and how suited the items you have in your pack are to your current location/situation, keeps track of how long you've played during the current session and overall...and this is just a ''summary'' of what she can tell you ''when you ask.'' It's the amount of info she dispenses when you ''don't'' ask that draws ire.
81	* The wolf's spirit companion in ''VideoGame/LostEmber'' acts as this if the player enables spoken dialogue, providing additional context through commentary on the locations they visit and narrating the events playing out in the holographic memories.
82	* Kliff serves as this in ''VideoGame/NoStraightRoads'', giving Mayday and Zuke information on NSR's artists and various other things throughout the game. [[spoiler:Rather idiotically, he continues doing this to an extent even ''after'' getting exposed as the BigBad.]]
83	* In ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones'', the Prince gets one in the form of the Dark Prince, his own bloodthirsty alter ego, who first manifests as a gruff but helpful voice in his head.
84	* In ''VideoGame/{{Primal}}'' Jen can ask Scree for help. In Count Raum's Mansion in Aetha an array of severed heads serve this purpose in a cutscene. In the mansion proper various severed heads randomly hanging around shout advice and encouragement.
85	* Issun from ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', acting in a role similar to that of Link's sidekicks, providing exposition, tutorial information, and acting as the supplement mouthpiece for the silent hero.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder:Adventure]]
89	* In ''VideoGame/DisneyPrincessEnchantedJourney'', the heroine has a pixie friend to give advice and explain the story.
90	* In VideoGame/TheDogIsland we have Petashi, a cute little...err...something that only the player can see --and hear, for that matter-- who follows you all through the game, providing advice and pushing you into plot-important actions. He even goes as far as appearing as cursor in the Menu. Unfortunately, all characters in the game are mute, so we never get to actually hear his funny remarks.
91	* ''VideoGame/EverybodysGoneToTheRapture'' has the balls of light. Activating them shows scenes related to the townsfolk and their doings just before the Rapture. They even seem to be intelligent, seeming to guide you to these moments and places at certain points.
92	* Ithena in ''Liath''.
93	* ''The Lost Islands of Alabaz'' has your best friend Trig, who helpfully explains how to play an InteractiveFiction game.
94	* Puck, the six-inch Shakespearian robot in the video game adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's ''VideoGame/{{Rama}}'' series, was created by Dr. Richard Wakefield specifically to help you explore the titular alien spaceship, having been programmed with the team's initial survey data to do so. His most useful comment is "There appears to be an object of some interest lying on the ground."
95	* In ''VideoGame/ReturnToZork'' a crystal-ball looking item called a teleorb can summon a guy in a turban who gives you useful advice once you replace his batteries.
96	* Parodied in episode 5 of ''VideoGame/StrongBadsCoolGameForAttractivePeople'', "8-Bit Is Enough", where Homestar is turned into one of these after the video-game world and Free Country USA start blending together.
97	** He even says [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime "Hey! Listen!"]].
98	** The only reason Strong Bad even agreed to disentangle the worlds was to stop Homestar from popping up everywhere.[[note]]Granted, the burnination of Strong Badia played a part, but it was mainly Homestar.[[/note]]
99	* ''VideoGame/UniversalStudiosThemeParkAdventure'' features WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker, who acts as your guide throughout the game. He explains the game's objective at the park entrance, and provides instructions for each of the park's attractions.
100	* In ''VideoGame/ZorkGrandInquisitor'', you receive advice and companionship from a lantern possessed by the spirit of Dungeon Master Dalboz.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Edutainment]]
104	* The hovering camera droid, Holocam-E, AKA, "Cammy" is this in ''VideoGame/StarWarsDroidworks''. She serves to track the audio/visual feed of the droid you've built and sent out on missions, and for some reason speaks in a southern accent. Unlike most examples, Cammy can actually be muted in-game (and is even compassionate about that if you examine the mute button).
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:First-Person Shooter]]
108	* Alyx Vance from ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' and episodes, serving as a counterpart to the player's HeroicMime and a genuine ActionGirl.
109	* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' generally has [=AIs=] fill this role:
110	** Cortana for the Chief in the mainline games.
111	** 343 Guilty Spark sometimes does this.
112	** Auntie Dot in ''VideoGame/HaloReach''.
113	** Serina in ''VideoGame/HaloWars''.
114	* In ''[[VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh Tron 2.0]]'', Jet gets a Byte (an upgrade from the simple Bit of [[Film/{{Tron}} the movie]]) to instruct and acclimate him to the Electronic World.
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Platformer]]
118	* In ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfLomax'', The Old Wise Lorock. Touch his floating hat to make him appear and share some gameplay tip.
119	* Bottles and his relatives play this role in the ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' games. That and being the butt of Kazooie's endless torrent of insults and cynical remarks to which they act accordingly. Which means "insult her back at every opportunity".
120	* Chao of the ''VideoGame/DistortedTravesty'' series acts as MissionControl alongside her brother Jeremy. She seems to have more free reign than Jeremy does, however, and so is able to take on a form similar to that of [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Navi]] to be used as an enemy scanner (to provide information about attack patterns and weapon weaknesses). In the third game, she gets kidnapped when the party travels [[spoiler:into the Vault]], thus rendering the player unable to scan enemies for a time.
121	* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'': Professor Chops shows you how to use the controller via bubbles on-screen, offers you checkpoints throughout a level, and offers the Super Guide ''when'' you die enough times.
122	* Gus Gremlin from an unmade UsefulNotes/WW2 Disney movie, serves this role in ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'' in a Jiminy Cricket style.
123	* Being a digital record of a dead inventor, the Architect from ''VideoGame/{{Ghostrunner}}'' can only help you by telling you information about the levels you're in (all of which he built), the main villain and her {{Mook}}s (who he used to employ), and your many abilities (which he designed when creating you). He is particularly talkative during the tutorial sections you go through in {{Cyberspace}} after unlocking a new power.
124	* In ''VideoGame/LostWinds'', the Exposition Fairy also serves as the Wii remote pointer, and the source of your wind-related powers. Pushing a button causes her to offer up a hint, and moving the pointer while holding A or B will make her summon gusts or slipstreams, respectively (once you gain those abilities, anyway). She occasionally speaks to other characters as well.
125	* VideoGame/JettRocket has helpful droids to give him advice. They also activate certain cannons for him.
126	* ''Franchise/MegaMan:'' Characters who provide this function are typically called Operators and often double as MissionControl.
127	* ''VideoGame/KaoTheKangaroo'':
128	** ''Round 2'' has glow-worms that give you tutorial tips.
129	** ''Mystery of the Volcano'' has the Shaman's totem that does the same, though he's restricted only to the training level.
130	** The ''Rock Man [[UpdatedReRelease Complete Works]]'' games feature the Navi Mode, where various characters provide Mega Man with hints and instruction about the challenges he faces. The Navi Mode characters, Dr. Light, Roll, Proto Man, Kalinka and Dr. Cossack, reprise their role in ''Mega Man Anniversary Collection''.
131	** In the later ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, you're helped by "Navis" (natch), female reploid operators who explain some of the perils you encounter in the game. Much like ''Zelda'''s Navi, they bug the player with an alarming frequency, and during their first appearance, you could ''not'' just ignore them and move on. They became ''much'' more helpful in ''X8'', where they can be unlocked as hidden playable characters.
132	** ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' localizes the Operators with the term Spotters. Roll and Tron Bonne respectively spot for Mega Man on the one hand and Tiesel Bonne and the Servbots on the other.
133	** Exaggerated in the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series, where "Network" Navigators and their Operators occur in pairs, providing this function for each other. Lan Hikari can consult [=MegaMan.EXE=] for advice and instruction when being controlled by the player, while Mega can consult Lan while he's being controlled.
134	** ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' reprises the Navigator-Operator relationship with EM Beings and the humans they partner with. Geo can consult Omega-Xis for instruction just like Lan consulting Mega.
135	* In ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'', there is Wes' sidekick Rui. After he rescues her, she follows him around, and is able to see Shadow Pokemon for what they are, pointing them out whenever an enemy uses one in a Pokemon battle. (This is why the villains were trying to kidnap her in the first place.)
136	* Ford Cruller in ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' offers you hints on where to go, information on enemies, and has a few other services he can provide for you (such as instantly [[WarpWhistle teleporting you to his lab]]). You can summon his services by waving a piece of bacon around. He rarely pops in to provide information unbidden.
137	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
138	** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' introduces Tikal, a SparkFairy who provides instruction when approached by the characters.
139	** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' introduces Omochao, a RobotMe Chao knockoff who will fly circles around you while explaining things. Unlike Tikal, Omochao can take damage from both enemy and player attacks. Omochao returns in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' but now with a setting to turn off his help in the game.
140	** There's always someone helping you in ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''. If Shadow is currently doing a Dark Mission, it's either "Doom's Eye" (an extension of Black Doom) or Dr. Eggman; if he's doing a Heroic Mission, it's one of the heroes of the franchise, like Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, and others. While Shadow can run into them in the level itself, he can choose between assistants in the menu at will or even get both of them to disappear (although there are certain points in which one or the other will automatically rejoin you); in this case, Shadow will [[ThinkingOutLoud talk to himself]] upon coming across a puzzle.
141	** This is continued in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' with Chip, who usually sticks to cutscenes and not actual gameplay but still remembers quite a lot of information despite losing his memory [[spoiler: and having been asleep in the centre of the planet for millions of years]].\
142	\
143	Chip doesn't narrate anything when triggered in the [=PS360=] version of the game, however in the [=WiiS2=] version he appears during the tutorial levels and the final boss, narrates things, and this is out of your control.
144	** VideoGame/SonicColors features no one but Tails himself. Much like Tikal, Omochao, and Chip, Tails only talks when you touch a "?" circle, and his text can be skipped. When facing the final boss: There's a "?" at the start, but Tails' voice is replaced with static, so he can't help.
145	** Other characters to fill the role throughout the series include [[VideoGame/SonicShuffle Lumina]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Shahra, Merlina and Caliburn]].
146	* ''VideoGame/{{Rayman}}'': Murfy:
147	** In ''VideoGame/Rayman2TheGreatEscape''
148	** In ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc'' as well. He seems to have picked up a knack for [[DeadpanSnarker snarking]] somewhere along the line.
149	* Tinker from ''VideoGame/RocketRobotOnWheels'' will give you tutorials, as well as upgrades once you [[PlotCoupon have enough tickets.]]
150	* ''Franchise/SpyroTheDragon'' usually had a dragonfly named Sparx to help him out. But for anything beyond this little insect's ken, he also had the fairy Zoe and the Dragon Elders that helped him. In the RetCon, Sparx's role has shifted from this to being pretty much resident DeadpanSnarker. The role has been taken up almost entirely by the Dragon Elders.
151	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
152	** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' introduces Tip Blocks shaped like speakers that only activate when hit from below. Tip Blocks appear later in the ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' series, where they're scattered more frequently throughout the landscape, and provide useful info to the Yoshis when these hit them.
153	** ''VideoGame/WarioMasterOfDisguise'': Goodstyle is a sentient, mustached wand with magical attributes that help Wario gather the fragments of the Wishstone before Cannoli and Carpaccio do. During the game's ending, he's revealed to be [[spoiler:the original member of the Cannoli clan, and the one who originally sealed Terrormisu. He guides Wario to reassemble the Wishstone so he can defeat Terrormisu for good]].
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Role-Playing Game]]
157	* The Cheshire Cat, in ''VideoGame/AmericanMcGeesAlice'', serves this role, giving you somewhat cryptic clues to solve puzzles. You can summon him up, as well, but most of the time his advice is unhelpful and rather disturbing. Why, oh why, are you telling me "Only the insane equate pain with success" or "There's an ugly name for those who do things the hard way"?
158	* Fatima from ''VideoGame/{{Anachronox}}'', who is not only the game's actual mouse pointer, but also powers one of Boots' skills.
159	* Hilariously, these are '''actual''' fairies in the ''VideoGame/AtelierSeries''; you run into one in the first game who explains how the fairies can be used to help around the workshop, and in''VideoGame/AtelierIrisEternalMana'' and ''VideoGame/AtelierAnnieAlchemistsOfSeraIsland'', you have a fairy as part of the party whose primary purpose is to explain almost all game mechanics.
160	* "Pluffy the Fairy" in ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' is a parody/subversion. He shows up in Chapter 6, eager to help the party break the seal on the third [=PasSWORD=] shard... [[spoiler: except he's actually One_Wing, an ancient troll king whose power was sealed away in the same room. He's manipulating you to get his former strength back, and when he does, all hell breaks loose.]]
161	* Airy from ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', [[spoiler: is feeding the party lies the entire game]]. She lets the player know the role of the crystals and guides them to the proper locations to awaken them, [[spoiler: but her role as TheDragon means she embellishes what she must to achieve her goal, which is awakening her OmnicidalManiac, EldritchAbomination of a boss]].
162	* In ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'' this is the Encyclopedia skill's specialty. If high enough, it will inform you on the lore of the world when you hear terms that don't exist in the real world. If ''too'' high it will bombard you with useless trivia that is not particularly relevant, and may compel the PlayerCharacter to brag about this information or correct others, make him become an InsufferableGenius.
163	* Stella in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX''. After all, they need ''someone'' to speak in a game where all protagonists are [[SilentProtagonist silent]].
164	* In the ''{{VideoGame/Fairune}}'' series, the Ancient Codex takes this task, providing the player with the backstory of the game as well as a short tutorial on how to make {{CheckPoint}}s, as well as which enemies should be hunted for next.
165	* Mog in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''. As if the Datalog wasn't enough.
166	* Wakey Wakey the alarm Clock from ''VideoGame/FortyWinks''.
167	* ''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar'' has Nall, who looks like a flying cat.
168	* In ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'', an anthropomorphic suitcase serves as both your Exposition Fairy and your inventory menu! He has a bad habit of making up adjectives to describe your situation. Like the [[EvilMinions evil minion]] Fawful from the previous ''Mario and Luigi'', his mannerisms are a parody of bad video game translations.
169	** ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' casts the star sprite Starlow in the same role. Amusingly, she pretends to be a ''different'' Exposition Fairy for Bowser ("Chippy"), directing him to perform Mario-supporting actions and occasionally driving him to [[UnwantedAssistance Stop Helping Me]] levels.
170	** Starlow returns in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam''. Additionally, Prince Dreambert acts as the ''other'' exposition fairy in Dream Team, meaning you've got '''two''' characters who seem to be acting as helpers throughout the adventure, allowing one to take care of dialogue for a pair of [[HeroicMime Heroic Mimes]] in the dream world, while the other manipulates Luigi in the real world.
171	** Starlow also returns in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'', making her the only character who isn't a ''Mario'' series regular to show up in the game. Though she's effectively a regular herself at this point, as far as the sub-series is concerned.
172	* EDI from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' offers advice during missions and while aboard the ''Normandy''.
173	** Joker did most of it in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1''.
174	* Bajarl in ''VideoGame/MonsterRancherEVO'', although he has the distinct mercy of being inside a pot-looking container, so he only gives you hints if you want him to.
175	* Pepe in ''VideoGame/MuppetMonsterAdventure''.
176	* [[TeamPet Kohaku]], Seimei's personal [[AsianFoxSpirit fox]] ''shikigami'' ([[InsistentTerminology who, mind you, is not a dog]]) acts as this at the beginning of ''[[VideoGame/Onmyoji2016 Onmyōji]]''.
177	* Gnarl in ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' explains not only how the controls, but frequently what you should do next. His [[ButThouMust 'advice' is frequent and specific enough]] that it's an accurate piece of LampshadeHanging when he says at then end that if you win he'll "gladly have you back- I mean, serve you again."
178	* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'': In the first two games, Mario allied with an array of partners with unique abilities, where only one was dedicated to explaining things. In later games, the Exposition Fairy role was given to significant central characters.
179	** Goombario of ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'' and Goombella of ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' are explicitly specialists at providing information. Their special ability is giving you hints, and providing flavorful information about the world.
180	** In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', you have a Pixl named Tippi, a butterfly, who identifies objects, gives hints, and, since Mario is a HeroicMime, helps move the dialog along. [[spoiler: She also turns out to be the former loved one of the BigBad. It was his despair at her disappearance that led him to seek the destruction of the multiverse, and therefore, bring about the events of the game.]]
181	** In ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'', Mario has a flying crown sticker named Kersti as his companion.
182	** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'' has a sarcastic Exposition Paint Bucket named Huey.
183	** And ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'' presents the naive but also sweet, friendly, and innocent origami girl Olivia.
184	* Gouto in ''VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy'' acts as a helping hand to what the player must do, and also acts as Raidou's 'voice' when it comes interacting with other characters--with Raidou being one of [[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei MegaTen]]'s many [[HeroicMime Silent Protagonists]]. [[spoiler: Gouto is in reality the first of the Raidou Kuzunoha Devil summoners, and thus has a personal interest in making sure the current Raidou is doing his job correctly.]]
185	* Dr Polito's role in ''VideoGame/SystemShock2''. [[spoiler: Or so you thought. It's actually SHODAN masquerading as Dr Polito, followed by several levels as your VoiceWithAnInternetConnection, and she finally finishes as the final boss.]]
186	* ''VideoGame/YokusIslandExpress'' has Kickback, a creature who sporadically chimes in to remind you how much progress you've made through the main plot while also blocking the gaps at the bottom of each {{pinball}} "table" to keep you from dropping through.
187	[[/folder]]
188
189	[[folder:Shoot-Em Ups]]
190	* In ''VideoGame/{{CarnEvil}}'', Umlaut, a MonsterClown skull, gives you a taunting rhyme on the nature of each area. [[spoiler:In the final boss battle, you get to kill him.]]
191	* ''VideoGame/CryptKiller'': Right at the start of the game, you're greeted by Galazon, a spirit head that guides you on proceeding with your adventure, firstly by warning you the consequences of entering the monster-infested crypt, and at the end of each level throw hints at you on which two doors to choose in order to proceed.
192	* Peppy Hare of ''Franchise/StarFox'' fame, of course. It's pretty much his entire role: "[[DoABarrelRoll To Barrel Roll]], press Z or R twice!". ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' also has a raccoon mechanic that fulfills this role in the training stage.
193	[[/folder]]
194
195	[[folder:Simulator]]
196	* ''VideoGame/FantasyLife'' inverts this -- Flutter, by being clueless of Life in Reveria, prompts other [=NPCs=] to explain details that the player character would have already known about.
197	* ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonAnimalParade''[='s=] Finn follows the character (in the form of a Navi-like glowing ball outside of cutscenes) and tells him or her about the plot and prods the character to ring the bells, meet with the Harvest Goddess, and other plot-advancing actions.
198	* ''VideoGame/MyLittlePonyFriendshipGardens'' has a butterfly.
199	* In ''VideoGame/ShepherdsCrossing,'' there's Brammy, a sapient talking duck with a straw hat and a wine bottle. Given that the rest of the game is otherwise fairly realistic, he comes off as especially strange for the setting.
200	* ''VideoGame/{{Starlancer}}'' has Moose, your WSO sitting behind you in the cockpit and giving you (quite timely) warnings about incoming missiles or enemy fighters on your six. He's supposed to be running the fighter's sensors and electronics, so he's pretty much doing his job.
201	* ''VideoGame/{{Starmancer}}'' has Kat, a cat-shaped AI who provides tutorials and is responsible for communicating with other characters.
202	* ''VideoGame/ThemeParkWorld'' has Buzzy, who advises you on how your guests feel about your prices, if one of your rides is broken down, etc.
203	[[/folder]]
204
205	[[folder:Stealth]]
206	* Dr. Ort-Meyer in the first level of ''VideoGame/HitmanCodename47'', [[spoiler: who turns out in the end to be the BigBad]].
207	* The Ninja Butterflies which turn up at key locations in ''VideoGame/RedNinjaEndOfHonor''.
208	[[/folder]]
209
210	[[folder:Survival Horror]]
211	* Throughout the ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' franchise, Phone Guy and Phone Dude act as your fairy, subtly or blatantly explaining the idea of the game and what you're supposed to do. Sometimes they can be misleading, though.
212	[[/folder]]
213
214	!!Non-video game examples
215	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
216	* During a videogame-based plot arc in ''Anime/YuGiOh'', when a faerie appears to the gang, Joey explains that "Games like this always have a faerie or something to explain how the game works."
217	[[/folder]]
218
219	[[folder:Podcast]]
220	* Played with in Podcast/RoleplayRetcon 's re-imagining of ''{{Film/Pixels}}'', in which ArtificialIntelligence Dongle explains the video game-inspired challenges presented to the heroes in a condescending tone.
221	[[/folder]]
222
223	[[folder:Roleplay]]
224	* Sunny, Mezzo's Umbreon in ''Roleplay/WeAreAllPokemonTrainers'', takes this role in an October 2011 sideplot, as a ShoutOut to the exposition fairies in Zelda. Included is the ability to cast portals on the ground, Midna-style, justified in that he's a Dark-type Pokémon. He gives competent advice.
225	[[/folder]]
226
227	[[folder:Webcomic]]
228	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
229	** Aranea is a parody of this type of character, being completely addicted to explaining things that people already know to such an extent that she abandons her much more useful plans just to lug around a ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}''-style Exposition Stand so she can ''pay'' people to listen to her. For bonus points, she has reached god tier and has the insectoid wings that come with it, meaning she literally is a fairy of a sort.
230	*** The fact that she's never been a "playable" character in the comic (i.e. she has never been controllable in a walkaround page, and has never had a command issued to her by the reader) could suggest that she was only created to be a walking exposition dump.
231	** All of the alpha timeline god-tier trolls ([[spoiler:Vriska, Aranea, Aradia, and Meenah]]) show shades of this at one point or another.
232	* ''Webcomic/{{Swords}}'' has the [[https://swordscomic.com/comic/CDLXIX/ Beginner's Blade]], a talking sword that gives advice to newbie adventurers.
233	[[/folder]]
234
235	[[folder:Web Video]]
236	* Parodied in WebVideo/{{Sequelitis}}, in which Creator/{{Egoraptor}} points out that games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era managed fine without them and were just cleverly designed so the player could teach ''themselves'' how to play them. He does a recurring sketch based on if the first ''VideoGame/MegaMan1'' game ''had'' Roll as an Exposition Fairy whose signature call is a high-pitched "Mega Man! Mega Man!" This has since entered MemeticMutation, with many [[LetsPlay Let's Players]] saying "Mega Man! Mega Man!" when they run into an Exposition Fairy.
237	* ''WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ'' parodies Stuffwell from ''Partners in Time'' who will always exclaim "BACK TO ADVENTURE!!!" as he frequently did following monologues in ''Partners in Time''. This eventually prompts Sonic to tell him to shut up.
238	* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' parodied the concept by giving the fairy (see the example in the anime and manga folder) the voice of Navi from ''Ocarina of Time''--namely her constant "Hey! Listen!"--and having Joey turn homicidal towards it.
239	[[/folder]]
240
241	[[folder:Real Life]]
242	* In versions of Microsoft Office from 1997 on, Microsoft included the infamous UsefulNotes/ClippyThePaperclip, who would try and assist the user if it looked like they were doing something. The MemeticMutation line "It looks like you're trying to write a letter", with several options to help, came from this. Clippy and the entire concept were axed after 2003.
243	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ExpositionFairy