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4%%%% This page has been alphabetized. Please put examples in the correct order. Thanks!
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7[[quoteright:300:[[Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Plot_Coupon_9082.jpg]]]]
8[[caption-width-right:300:A somewhat more literal case than most.]]
9
10->''DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Michael, I found out that Ralph Fiennes split his soul into 7 pieces and scattered them around the world. And yes, this really is what I learned, not the set-up to an RPG on Super Nintendo.''
11-->-- '''Rod Hilton''', ''[[http://www.the-editing-room.com/harrypotterhalfblood.html Abridged Scripts]] for Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince''
12
13A thing that a character needs to obtain in order to cash it in later for a {{Plot}} resolution.
14
15For example, let's say that our intrepid hero must steal a key, then find the Treasure Chest of Galumphry that the key will open, then remove the Orb of Power from the chest and use it to banish the BigBad. The key, the chest, and the Orb are all plot coupons. Extremely common in video games, where collecting these coupons is known as a FetchQuest, it is often presented as [[GottaCatchThemAll collecting several pieces]] of a [[DismantledMacGuffin lost artifact]] or gaining recognition from several factions.
16
17A plot coupon might just as easily be one item in a series of {{MacGuffin}}s, where the things themselves are not important, it is the ''seeking'' of them that moves the story along (indeed, the two terms often get used interchangeably). See also PlotCouponThatDoesSomething, and SwordOfPlotAdvancement for when the Plot Coupon is a weapon or a piece of armor.
18
19If the items in and of themselves are useless and only become valuable in hindsight, see ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest.
20
21If the goal of the mission is to obtain an item that turns out to be less valuable than the finding of it, ItsTheJourneyThatCounts.
22
23Coined by Nick Lowe[[note]][[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Lowe_%28classicist%29 the writer]], not [[Music/NickLowe the musician]][[/note]] in a science fiction convention talk, later printed as an article ''[[http://news.ansible.co.uk/plotdev.html The Well-Tempered Plot Device]]'' in the fanzine ''Ansible'' and popularized by the [[http://www.sfwa.org/2009/06/turkey-city-lexicon-a-primer-for-sf-workshops/ Turkey City Lexicon.]] (The joke being that once you gather enough plot coupons, you can cash them in for a plot resolution.)
24
25!!Subtropes and Related Tropes:
26[[index]]
27* PlotCouponThatDoesSomething (affects in-story mechanics)
28** SwordOfPlotAdvancement (necessary for hero advancement)
29** CosmicKeystone (artifact regulating the universe)
30* FetchQuest
31** BonusStageCollectables
32** FreeSamplePlotCoupon
33** GottaCatchThemAll
34** TwentyBearAsses
35* GoldenSnitch
36** AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome
37** ArtifactOfDoom
38** ArtifactOfHope
39* GottaRescueThemAll
40* ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest
41** WithThisHerring
42** YouWillKnowWhatToDo
43* ItsTheJourneyThatCounts
44** AllThatGlitters (compare WorthlessYellowRocks)
45** [[MagicFeather The Magic Was Inside You All Along]] (MagicFeather)
46* MacGuffin
47** DismantledMacGuffin (the pieces must be reassembled)
48** MacGuffinEscortMission (the object must be taken deep into X, and...)
49** ImDyingPleaseTakeMyMacGuffin
50* APlotInDeed
51** SetBonus
52** StarShapedCoupon (because it is always stars)
53[[/index]]
54
55----
56!!Examples:
57
58[[foldercontrol]]
59
60[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
61* ''.hack//ROOTS'' initially has a set of items that the Twilight Brigade were collecting because they think it will lead to the [[CosmicKeystone Key of Twilight]]. Ovan claims that the items are leftover data from the previous iteration of The World and [[MacGuffin have no in-game purpose]] anymore. [[spoiler:They turn out to be the breadcrumb trail for a trap laid by Yata but there's also no reason to assume Ovan's explanation is wrong since he had to fool Yata about not recognizing the trap but being interested in the items.]]
62%%* The Clow Cards in ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura.''
63%%* The Crests in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure.''
64* The Dragon Balls in ''Manga/DragonBall''. In its sequels, the plot is resolved more by fighting, and they become used to enforce status quo.
65%%* The Philosopher's Stone from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''.
66* ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'':
67** In the original, there are the Shinzahou. They're mystical objects that allow for the summoning of the Gods ''without'' going through the specific rituals.
68** In the ''Manga/FushigiYuugiByakkoSenki'' prequel, [[spoiler: Suzuno's two {{tragic keepsake}}s (her mom's kimono and her dad's compass)]] become this after [[spoiler: the local BrokenBird Neiran uses them to [[FakeKing pretend that she is the Priestess of Byakko]] after Suzuno is sent back to the real world.]]
69%%* Shards of the Shikon Jewel in ''Manga/InuYasha''.
70* The ''Franchise/LupinIII'' series makes liberal use of them, usually as the catalyst, ChekhovsGun, and the eventual resolution of each caper.
71%%* [[UltimateBlacksmith Shikizaki Kiki's]] twelve Perfected Deviant Blades in ''Literature/{{Katanagatari}}''.
72** ''Anime/TheCastleOfCagliostro'': The sigil and the inscription on Clarisse's ring set the adventure in motion because it's how Lupin realizes Clarisse is the crown princess. Later in the film, Lupin tells Jigen and Walter that it also reminded him that [[spoiler: he first saw Clarisse when she was a child because she was wearing the ring at that time]].
73** ''[[Anime/LupinIIITheSecretOfTwilightGemini The Secret of Twilight Gemini]]'' begins with Dalune giving Lupin his half of the titular diamond. However, he tells Lupin that the diamond itself is merely "the key" to a much bigger prize: the hidden treasure of the Geltic Tribe, that was lost over 300 years ago. Finding the treasure would require him to find [[TwoHalvesMakeAPlot the Twilight's missing half]], which Dalune says is somewhere in [[CityOfAdventure Morocco.]]
74%%* The Jewel Seeds in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', and season 3 has the very-similar Relics.
75* Every StoryArc of ''Anime/SailorMoon'' had one or more of these. Most notable are the Seven Rainbow Crystals...especially since they weren't in the original [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]] and were created by the anime specifically to extend the storyline. In the manga they're just looking for one big crystal; in the anime, it breaks into seven color-coded pieces so the senshi have to spend that much longer trying to find them.
76* The five Weapons of Light in the third season of ''Literature/{{Slayers}}''; most of the time, the one we see is the Sword of Light wielded by [[IdiotHero Gourry]]. And it isn't just for the third season either, the Sword of Light is the key to a lot of storyline events.
77%%* The Cyber Planet Keys and Omega Lock in ''Anime/TransformersCybertron.''
78%%* The feathers in ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle''.
79[[/folder]]
80
81[[folder:Comic Books]]
82* ''ComicBook/RedSonja'': ''The Art of Blood and Fire'' has Sonja collecting six artisans to showcase their skills at an emperor's farewell party.
83* ''ComicBook/{{Swordquest}}'' has one for each realm, and they are used to take the heroes to the next world in their quest.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
87* The whistle in "Literature/JesperWhoHerdedTheHares".
88[[/folder]]
89
90[[folder:Fan Works]]
91* ''FanFic/CrownsOfTheKingdom'' has the titular crowns, each one representing an era of Disneyland.
92* ''Fanfic/KeysToTheKingdomKingdomHearts'': Sora's quest is to find the "Thirteen Keys" to Kingdom Hearts, scattered across different worlds.
93* ''[[Fanfic/PokemonMysteryDungeonReflectingBalance Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Reflecting Balance]]'' has the eight Axis Tower crystals, which were stolen from said tower and need to be returned there.
94* ''FanFic/SonicGenerationsFriendshipIsTimeless'' combines the plot coupons from [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations both]] [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic works]], for a grand total of 13: the 7 Chaos Emeralds and the 6 Elements of Harmony.
95* ''WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ'' has the Chaos Emeralds, as you would expect from a crossover with the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise and a story based on ''Franchise/DragonBall.''
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
99* In ''WesternAnimation/RankinBassJackFrost,'' Father Winter agrees to turn the title character into a human, but he can only remain that way if he collects "the four human essentials" by spring: a house to live in, a horse to carry him, a bag of gold to sustain him, and a wife to make it all worthwhile. [[spoiler:He literally gets EverythingButTheGirl]].
100* The hero's medal in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph''. Ralph needs it to win a modicum of respect among the Nicelanders, and the first major plot point is his adventure through ''Hero's Duty'' to retrieve it (within ''Hero's Duty'', it's a {{MacGuffin}}). Unfortunately, it gets stolen by someone who cashes it in for almost exactly the same reason. Then the main plot starts.
101[[/folder]]
102
103[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
104* ''Film/EnemyOfTheState'': The tape, which has recorded the murder of a congressman by a group of corrupt NSA agents. Logically, the tape is being coveted by them to destroy the evidence that would expose their guilt.
105* TheArkOfTheCovenant, the Sankara Stones, the HolyGrail, and the CrystalSkull in ''Franchise/IndianaJones''. Also the headpiece of the Staff of Ra, Grail Diary and Grail Markers.
106* ''Film/LaraCroftTombRaider'' had the pieces of the Eye of the Illuminati.
107* Subverted in ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'' when Trinity provokes a Mexican standoff rather than fetch "the eyes of the oracle" in order to save Neo from the Merovingian.
108* The Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse centers around the Infinity Stones, six gems that control various aspects of the universe. Whoever brings all six together would essentially become the most powerful being in the universe. Thanos, the GreaterScopeVillain of the MCU, wants the Stones for his own purposes, and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' sees the Avengers and their allies fighting to stop Thanos from obtaining them all.
109* ''Film/MenInBlack'' has the Galaxy "on Orion's Belt" [[spoiler:or rather, on the cat Orion's collar]].
110%%* The floppy disk in ''Film/TheNet1995''.
111* The ''Film/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians: The Lightning Thief'' movie features the titular character, [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Percy Jackson]], and his friends [[PluckyComicRelief Grover]] and [[FauxActionGirl Annabeth]] following a [[MacGuffin magical map]] given to them by a guy who's [[TheUntwist clearly very trustworthy]] to find three magical pearls that will let them escape from the underworld. In the books, the three pearls are given to Percy by some water Nymphs, via his father. In contrast to the book, the movie seems to [[LostAesop miss the lesson]] the books set up by having Percy [[spoiler: leave Grover, his best friend in the underworld, abandoning him.]] Then again, it's clear that no one making the movie had actually READ the book, so that's not much of a surprise.
112* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' had this in each movie. The cursed coins of Cortez needed to lift the curse in the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl first]], the key to open Davy Jones' chest in the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest second]], and the Pieces of Eight in the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd third]]. And the [[spoiler: [[SwissArmyTears mermaid's tear]], Ponce de Leon's [[ArtifactOfDoom chalices]]]] in ''[[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides On Stranger Tides]]'' and Trident of Poseidon with the Diary of Galilei in ''[[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales Dead Men Tell No Tales]]''.
113* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
114** The Death Star plans in ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope''. Luke's original quest was to get them into the hands of the rebels.
115** Similarly, the map leading to Luke Skywalker in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' is an example.
116* ''Film/SuckerPunch'': To escape the [[BedlamHouse insane asylum]]/brothel, Baby Doll and the other girls must collect a map, fire, a knife, a key and [[spoiler:a [[HeroicSacrifice distraction]]]].
117[[/folder]]
118
119[[folder:Literature]]
120* ''Literature/TheAdversaryCycle''. In ''Nightworld'' the protagonists have to assemble a sword of the kind used to defeat Ransolm in ''The Keep'', using the broken parts of prior magic artifacts. This is made more difficult than usual given that TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt is happening and giant flesh-eating monsters are roaming the earth gobbling up anything that moves, [[GiantFlyer including aircraft]].
121* In ''Literature/TheAncestralTrail'', the pods and, later, omni pieces.
122* Justified in ''Literature/BridgeOfBirds'' by Barry Hughart -- the story is structured as an elaborate, carefully-scripted quest, and it turns out that there's a reason why it's structured that way.
123* In Creator/TeresaEdgerton's ''[[Literature/{{Celydonn}} The Grail and the Ring]]'', the titular grail. (It is not the Holy Grail, but a grail carved out of a single large sidhe-stone, a substance that grants it magical powers.) Subverted in that [[TheWisePrince Prince Tryffin]], when tracing the object's history in [[AlternateUniverse the Inner Celydonn]], [[spoiler:actually collects a "shadow" of the grail, not the original]]. It's strongly implied that [[TheWatcher Dame Ceinwen]] [[spoiler:disposed of the original in the Marches-Between-Here-and-There to keep it from making any more trouble, then couldn't find it again when it might have been useful]].
124* The image above is of a Golden Ticket from ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory''. In the opening stretch of the novel, virtually everyone in the world wants to find one of these -- there are only five, each of which is hidden beneath the wrapper of a Wonka chocolate bar. A ticket will grant its finder a tour of the titular, long-closed-to-the-public (and seemingly people in general as no one ever sees workers enter or leave it) factory chaperoned by LivingLegend / ReclusiveArtist Willy Wonka himself, along with a lifetime supply of sweets. PinballProtagonist Charlie is lucky enough to find the last of these tickets, kicking off the rest of the novel.
125* ''Literature/{{City of Bones|1995}}'' by Creator/MarthaWells: The main characters and the villains are both searching for a set of three relics that they hope will fit together to activate a piece of Ancient {{Magitek}}.
126* ''Literature/{{Coraline}}'' had to recover the souls of three dead children as part of the game to escape the Other World.
127* Each volume of Susan Cooper's ''Literature/TheDarkIsRising'' requires tracking down one or more Plot Coupons, all of which are named in a poem presented in the second volume.
128** ''Literature/OverSeaUnderStone'' is the hunt for the grail (not the Holy Grail, though).
129** Volume 2, ''The Dark is Rising'', involved a hunt for six similar, elementally-themed discs known as The Signs of the Light.
130** In ''Literature/{{Greenwitch}}'', the protagonists had to retrieve a cipher key for the inscription on the grail.
131** ''Literature/TheGreyKing'' involved winning the golden harp (clues having been provided by the grail), then using it to wake the Sleepers.
132** ''Literature/SilverOnTheTree'' had a mini-Plot Coupon sequence to retrieve the actual Plot Coupon (the crystal sword), the user of which had to be protected by the Signs.
133* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Literature/DeathByCliche'' by Robert J Defendi; only, it's the bad guy who's been collecting them.
134* Emily Rodda's ''Literature/DeltoraQuest'' series and its magic gems (plus other random broken pieces of something in the sequels.)
135* The Eye of Rom, the single ruby earring used in Haldane empowering rituals, becomes one of these in ''[[Literature/{{Deryni}} Deryni Rising]]''. During their preparations for Kelson's ritual, Morgan and Duncan learn from Kelson that it was buried with his father. The trio has to pay a visit to the royal crypt to retrieve it before they can begin the ritual sequence. [[RuleOfDrama Of course, it isn't as simple as that...]]
136* Inverted in Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/ForeverAfter'', in which the group of heroes who originally gathered the five sacred weapons/armor pieces, must return them to hiding, to keep the world from tearing itself apart from the strength of the combined energy.
137* Helen Hawthorn, the narrator of Ni Claydon's ''Literature/HandOfMercy'', is increasingly annoyed when she realises that the [[DismantledMacGuffin scattered bones of Clem's severed hand]] are effectively Plot Coupons.
138* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'', Harry has to track down ''two'' sets of Plot Coupons before he can finish off [[BigBad Voldemort]]. The first set is Horcruxes, of which five remain after two were destroyed, respectively, during ''Chamber of Secrets'' and right before the events of ''Half-Blood Prince''. The second set is the titular Deathly Hallows, of which there are three, and it's an optional quest until Voldemort starts looking for one of them. [[spoiler: Harry has had one of the latter since the first book: his father's invisibility cloak.]]
139* In ''Literature/KeysToTheKingdom'', there are parallel sets of Plot Coupons such that one of each set must be retrieved in each book: the Key held by that day's Trustee, and the [[DismantledMacGuffin portion of the Will of the Architect]] being held prisoner by said Trustee.
140%% * ''Literature/TheLandOfStories'':
141%% ** The items needed for the Wishing Spell.
142%% ** As well as those for the Wand of Wonderment.
143* Elijah spends a good part of ''Literature/LastMage'' locating and securing the mage towers against the BigBad. [[spoiler: JustAsPlanned]].
144* ''Literature/TheMermaidChronicles'': In ''Quest for Atlantis'', the protagonists track down two diamonds, one in a mountain in Washington and one at the bottom of the Marianas Trench, which will allow them to open the portal to Atlantis.
145* ''Literature/RaceToTheSun'': The three main characters need to collect four objects (a perfect shell, jet, turqouise and abelone) from the four sacred mountains of the Navajo to give to Spider Woman because otherwise she won't help them find the Rainbow Road. And they need to find the road to go to the House of the Sun to get weapons to fight monsters.
146* EVERY book in the ''Literature/RainbowMagic'' series has one of these. No exceptions. For example, whatever items Jack Frost stole are these.
147* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in Charles Stross' ''Literature/SaturnsChildren'' via a particularly egregious pun:
148-->"Don't get cute." He grinds the gun barrel against the back of my neck. "The encapsulated bird your conspirators sent you to fetch. The sterilized male chicken with the Creator DNA sequences. The plot capon. Where is it?"
149* In Austin Grossman's ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible'', [[MadScientist Doctor Impossible]] must collect three of these to construct his latest DoomsdayDevice.
150* Zelazny's ''Literature/TheChangelingSaga'' had the hero going on a quest to find the three pieces of his father's magical staff, the only tool powerful enough to defeat the villain.
151* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and double-subverted in ''Literature/UnLunDun'' by Creator/ChinaMieville. The book of prophecy claims that, in order to defeat the BigBad, they must collect a chain of these. The initial subversion comes when the protagonist decides this will take too long, and skips to the last link in the chain. The double-subversion comes when she realizes that she actually ''needed'' the Plot Coupons after all. Fortunately, she is able to TakeAThirdOption to get around this.
152* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': The fragments of the Spectrum Key. Every one's needed to move the plot forward, i.e. opening up the Dark Gate again to save the world.
153* Literature/WhateleyUniverse: there is a 'fad' among mystics for something called a Great Quest, in which considerable magical power could be achieved by successfully divining the location of several otherwise normal objects which hold 'shards' of the quest objective, with each of these Plot Coupons leading to the next. As part of the Quest, the force of Magic itself creates increasingly dangerous challenges which stand in the questor's way. In a twist, it seems that most of those who voluntarily initiate such quests are supervillains, with the heroes (or at least [[VillainProtagonist protagonists]]) acting as part of the challenge.
154[[/folder]]
155
156[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
157* ''Series/{{Alias}}'': Just about every Rambaldi artifact (very evident in season one).
158* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Mocked in "Reprise", wherein Angel is told that to get to the BigBad, he needs a ring; to get the ring, he needs to kill a certain demon; to kill the demon, he needs a magic glove. Angel cuts off his informer with, "Okay, now you're making this up."
159* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
160** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E10Blink "Blink"]]: The 17 [=DVDs=] not only contain the EasterEgg with the Doctor's message to Sally, but they're also authorized control discs for the TARDIS.
161** Subverted in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E13LastOfTheTimeLords "Last of the Time Lords"]]. The Doctor's companion Martha spends an off-screen year assembling a super-gun and set of super-bullets that can kill a Time Lord permanently. As soon as she's done it, the Master captures her and destroys it; Martha later laughs at him for believing in such an obvious plot device and reveals that her search was just a cover for her real mission.
162* ''Series/TheLegendOfDickAndDom'': The protagonists need to make a magic potion, and hunt down an ingredient OncePerEpisode. The ingredients vary in difficulty (The Eye of the Beholder, which requires a Literature/JourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarth! ... A Pint of Milk!) which allows more time to be spent on adventuring or comedy, as required.
163* ''Series/TheLostRoom'': The Objects.
164* ''Series/{{MASH}}''
165** In one episode Hawkeye engineers a complicated series of trades and favors in an attempt to get a replacement pair of boots. It unravels and he winds up wearing a golf bag.
166** In another episode Radar initiates a series of swaps after he sees how much Col Potter enjoys tomato juice. He succeeds only for Potter to reject it, having forgotten how allergic to tomato juice he is.
167* ''Series/OurMissBrooks'': In "Phonebook Follies", Miss Brooks must find the copy of last year's phonebook that Mrs. Davis lost. Miss Brooks and Mrs. Davis are ineligible to receive a new phonebook otherwise.
168* ''Series/PrisonBreak'' uses this repeatedly, with varying effectiveness. Coupons range from a specific bolt to all sorts of evidence about [[TheConspiracy the Company]] to the five million dollars that [[spoiler: DB Cooper stole and buried in Utah]].
169* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In one episode, Jake and Nog end up trading one plot coupon for another in a seemingly endless chain. 5000 wrappages of yamok sauce, for 100 gross of self-sealing stem bolts, for seven tessipates of land...
170* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
171** They spend a lot of time looking for the Colt, first to kill the Yellow-Eyed Demon and then to kill Lucifer.
172** Later, they must find the blood of the 3 fallen in order to make a weapon to kill the Leviathan.
173** There are also the tablets that represent the word of God.
174** [[spoiler: The four rings from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse form a key that will allow Sam and Dean to re-imprison Lucifer.]]
175* ''Series/TBag'', a long-running series whose 9 series and 4 specials consisted of nothing except chasing plot coupons (first letters, then numbers, then whatever arbitrary things the writers came up with). And [[LampshadeHanging hanging lampshades]] on them.
176[[/folder]]
177
178[[folder:Pinballs]]
179* Both ''Pinball/{{Corvette}}'' and ''Pinball/MustangStern'' require the player to collect the various automobiles before reaching the final WizardMode.
180* The premise for the ''[[Pinball/GilligansIsland Gilligan's Island]]'' pinball is to have Gilligan collect seven different ingredients (coconuts, turtle eggs, a shrunken head...) so the Professor can make some Lava Seltzer and [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod stop Kona the Volcano God from erupting.]]
181* ''VideoGame/JinniZeala'' requires the player to collect various objects before he can visit the Flying Harem.
182* In ''VideoGame/LoonyLabyrinth,'' the player must collect five Galopetra Stones to activate the TimeMachine.
183* In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimePinball'', you must collect twelve Chozo Artifacts to reach the final two boards.
184* ''[[VideoGame/ProPinballFantasticJourney Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey]]'' requires the player to collect four special Crystals in order to attack the evil General Yagov's island base.
185* ''[[VideoGame/ProPinballTimeshock Pro Pinball: Timeshock!]]'' has Tachyonium, which are needed to travel in time, and the Time Crystals, which are needed to prevent the destruction of all of existence.
186* In the VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams table of ''VideoGame/SonicPinballParty'', players must collect Ideyas before he can challenge the Nightmaren of that level.
187* Creator/DataEast's ''[[Pinball/StarTrekDataEast Star Trek]]'' pinball requires the player to collect Dilithium Crystals to power the transporter.
188* Creator/WilliamsElectronics' ''Pinball/TalesOfTheArabianNights'' features seven magic jewels, which must be collected before the player can confront the evil genie who's kidnapped the princess.
189[[/folder]]
190
191[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
192* Jim Henson's ''Film/TheDarkCrystal'' has a missing piece of the titular crystal.
193[[/folder]]
194
195[[folder:Radio]]
196* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Bartering With Chief Thundercloud", Miss Brooks needs Mrs. Davis to give her an old lamp. This would set off a chain of trades that will allow Miss Brooks to barter for a new coat.
197[[/folder]]
198
199[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
200* ''TabletopGame/MysteryDate1965'' used outfit pieces as the coupon. If you have the three cards in a set, and it matches the date showing up, you win.
201[[/folder]]
202
203[[folder:Video Games]]
204* In ''VideoGame/{{Albion}}'', a long quest revolves around finding (of all things) a virility amulet for a tribal king (and saving the guy who made it, who got lost in a big dungeon). Then there's the Metal-Magic Scroll and the High Knowledge which are required for a spell that is the only thing that can defeat the Big Bad.
205* The Jiggies in ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'', which are used to complete the jigsaw puzzles in Gruntilda's Lair to open new worlds. Used again in ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie'' as proof that you are worthy to complete the challenges of Jiggywiggy, who seems to be the master of all things Jiggy, whose completion opens new worlds. They return in ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooieNutsAndBolts'', and are gained during the challenges settled by the Lord of Games.
206* Most Bioware games are, to a large extent, about retrieving plot coupons rather than the plot itself:
207** In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'', many quests can be completed only after retrieving particular artifacts. Alternatively they are optional, but you are HIGHLY suggested to get them, otherwise the challenge will be too hard. Some examples: before facing the Shade Lord that plagued Imnesvale, you have to pass past a shadow dragon, which can be difficult at the beginning of the game, so you must first find a magical gem that makes you undetectable by him (unless you deliberately decide to attack anyway); in order to destroy the Cult of the Eyeless, you must retrieve the two pieces of a magical rod and assemble it to decisively weaken the final boss, an elder beholder that could slaughter your party otherwise.
208** The plot itself of ''Baldur's Gate II'' requires you to get a certain high amount of money before being able to pursue the villain. Doing quests for business is your main way to earn money - the other being selling any item you find meanwhile.
209** In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', the player has to find all Star Maps to get behind the villain's military strength; to retrieve these Maps, he/she always has to do something that involves finding out about the game's background and/or solving problems unrelated to the actual plot, like a Wookiee civil war or a conflict with Tusken raiders. The main plot will only go on after finding one of these coupons.
210** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has the player finding a few rather large coupons in the form of allied armies - to get these, he, just like in KOTOR, has to solve several local problems unrelated to the main plot.
211** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', most of the game revolves around finding living breathing coupons aka squad members - the actual plot is few and far between and only moves on after gathering a certain amount of members.
212** In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'', the game is divided into chapters which are all about collecting different plot coupons as the situation warrants. Chapter 1 has you tracking creatures who are needed to cure the Wailing Death plague, in chapter 2 you have to collect evidence that the villains are operating out of Luskan and in chapter 3 you must collect the artifacts known as the "Words of Power" that the villain needs to enact her plan of world domination. As with KOTOR and Dragon Age, the player must often solve problems often unrelated to the main plot before getting the coupon.
213* The parts of Dracula's body in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest'', again in the inverted castle portion of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'', and a third time in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDissonance''.
214* ''Videogame/CrashBandicoot'': The second game and the third have the Power Crystals.
215** In the second, Cortex asked Crash to help him gather the crystals so that he can avert a cosmic disaster; N. Brio (Cortex's former underling), however, wants Crash to collect the gems instead, and swears to stop Crash if he goes after the crystals. Collecting the crystals is more necessary as you'll need them to advance to the later levels, while the gems seem like a CollectionSidequest at first; but to achieve 100% completion you have to gather the gems as well. [[spoiler:Turns out, there's a good reason Brio tries to stop you: as Crash's sister Coco reveals at the climax, [[MacguffinDeliveryService Cortex has been duped Crash the whole time]] as he wants to use the crystals to power his MassHypnosis satellite to brainwash the entire earth. Cue Crash chasing Cortex in space to prevent him from escaping with the crystals. The gems, meanwhile, get used to power Brio's laser cannon, which he and Crash then uses to blow Cortex's space station to smithereens.]]
216** The third game has Cortex and his boss, a magical sentient mask named Uka-Uka, planning to gather crystals from the past and future, and their newest colleague N. Tropy builds a TimeMachine for that purpose. Uka-Uka's good twin, Aku-Aku, brings Crash and Coco to the time machine to gather the crystals (and gems, and time relics) before the baddies could do so.
217** ''Videogame/CrashTeamRacing'', in its Adventure Mode, has the trophies, then the boss keys, CTR Tokens, the Relics, and the 5 gems. You'd need the trophies from the race tracks to race the boss, which grants you the boss key if successful, which lets the player access new worlds with more race tracks and new bosses. All 4 keys are needed to race the FinalBoss, Nitros Oxide. But after you won, Oxide demands you to gather the relics and then race against him again if the people of the earth wants him to go away (he's an alien); so now you have to gather the Tokens and Relics from the same tracks you played before, which also unlocks the Gem Cups that give you the gems necessary to open the last secret track to get one extra relic.
218* In ''VideoGame/CrystalsPonyTale'', the titular character needs to gather seven crystals to save his friends.
219* ''VideoGame/CommanderKeen'': Used in three of the seven episodic games (ship parts in ''Marooned on Mars'', guardians in ''Secret of the Oracle'', and bombs in ''Keen Dreams''). The second and fifth episodes gauge your progression with the destructive machines you ''disable'' (Tantalus Ray Cannons in the former, energy sources for the Armaggeddon Machine in the latter), while the remaining two simply avert the trope in every way.
220* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' has the Bells of Awakening, that must be rung to reveal the purpose of the Undead. And then, after that, [[spoiler: you retrieve the Lordvessel and then kill some gods for their Lord Souls.]]
221* Used repeatedly in ''VideoGame/DiabloII'':
222** In Act II, you must collect the Viper Amulet, the Staff of Kings, and the Horadric Cube to assemble the Horadric Staff, which acts as a key to open the tomb of Tal Rasha.
223** In Act III, you must collect Khalim's Relics; combined, they act as a key to open the Durance of Hate.
224* ''VideoGame/DiddyKongRacing'':
225** The four pieces of the Wizpig amulet in order to unlock the DiscOneFinalBoss race with Wizpig.
226** The Silver Coins from the challenge of the same name in order to unlock the Trophy Races, which leads to...
227** Four 1st Place Trophies in order to unlock Future Fun Land and race Wizpig again as a TrueFinalBoss.
228%%* ''VideoGame/{{The Dig|1995}}''
229* In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'' and sequels, the player must collect the 4 legendary armaments (sword, shield, helmet, and armor). Only the hero may wear them, and by the time the player acquires these, his hero likely already has better equipment.
230* In the flagrant DolledUpInstallment ''VideoGame/DragonsLair: The Legend'', Dirk quests to collect the Lifestones to awaken a sleeping giant knight. Specifically, 194 of them. It's as much fun as it sounds.
231* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'' has several:
232** 201 Golden Bananas, with 25 available per level: Four bananas per each of the five Kongs, plus one per Kong from "Blueprints", which themselves are also Plot Coupons due to not only being traded for Golden Bananas sometime after collection, but also for their usefulness to gain extra time during the TimedMission of the final world. The special 201st Banana is obtained after rescuing all Banana Fairies in the worlds. A minimum of 100 is required to clear the game.
233** There are also "DK Coins", which feature heavily in minigames and races. While not traded directly, the races / [[MinecartMadness minecart sections]] require a certain number of these to be in your possession by the end of the section to receive the Golden Banana; so even if you win the race or make it out alive through the minecart ride, [[DoubleUnlock you won't be rewarded if you don't have enough coins]].
234* The first half of ''VideoGame/Fallout1'' concerns itself with the [[PlayerCharacter Vault Dweller]] being tasked with locating a water chip to replace that of Vault 13, which has broken irreparably. The game is on a strict 150-day time limit until it's found and returned to the Vault.
235* In the fourth episode of ''VideoGame/FarnhamFables'', Theresa has to collect six Rainbow Keys to create a bridge so she can cross the peanut butter river and meet her friend Andrew (it's a DreamEpisode, in case you're wondering how any of that makes sense).
236%%* Elemental crystals in many ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games.
237* ''VideoGame/GarfieldsNightmare'': The gold-colored alarm clocks, which Garfield needs to collect in order to wake up from his prolonged nightmare. Each clock is guarded by a boss in a specific world.
238* ''VideoGame/GrappleDog'': The Cosmic Gems, purple well-cut gems that Pablo has to use to unlock boss levels [[spoiler:And the three trial levels in world 6.]]
239* The music notes of ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonMagicalMelody'' and the harvest sprites of ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonDS''.
240* ''[[Videogame/HarmoKnight HarmoKnight]]'' has you hunting for Royal Notes, 53 in all. These are only required to progress further ''twice'' throughout the entire game, the third time to [[spoiler: unlock the level Birdwatching.]]
241* In the NES adaptation of ''Film/{{Hook}}'', you need to get four items to proceed past certain areas. Of particular note is Peter Pan's magic sword: it does absolutely nothing combat-wise, but Tinkerbell tells you that [[InformedAbility you'll need it to defeat the dangers that await you after the game's midpoint]].
242* ''VideoGame/HypeTheTimeQuest'' has the Jewels, which each allow Hype to move to the next Era.
243* ''VideoGame/JetForceGemini'' has the missing twelve pieces of the ancient Tribal spaceship. It has to be rebuilt to intercept Mizar before his asteroid impacts Earth.
244* ''VideoGame/Killer7'': In many chapters, you have to collect Soul Shells and deliver them to someone in the Vinculum Gate to access the whereabouts of the next boss (though this changes in the penultimate chapter: the first delivery takes you to someone telling you that your next target went elsewhere, and the the second delivery[[note]]which is also the final one in the game, since the last chapter has no collectibles[[/note]] is only the first of many steps necessary to access that level's boss).
245* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games generally have a set of special stars (or Crystal Shards in [[VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards the game with that title]]) that you must collect to actually face the real BigBad -- who will only show himself after you complete everything else. However, these items are generally used to make the [[EleventhHourSuperpower weapon]] he needs in the final fight.
246* ''VideoGame/LegacyOfTheWizard'' has the four Crowns and the Dragon Slayer sword required to kill [[BigBad Keela]], as well as many must-have, rare items such as the High Jump Boots and the Mattock.
247* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' and its various sequels are the namesake for this trope. In later games, there are often two sets of coupons, the first usually being three items (pendants, pearls, etc.) needed to claim the Master Sword, rewarded halfway through. The second act then has a set of more items (medallions, pieces of a mirror, etc.). Another is simply eight items (essences, pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom) without any distinct midpoint
248** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'': Eight Pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom. They grant access to the final dungeon.
249** ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'': The Six Crystals, or rather the six statues to put the crystals in (you have the crystals at the outset, and the objective is to [[ProductDeliveryOrdeal place them into the statues]]). They dispel the barrier that protects the entrance of the Great Palace.
250** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': Three Pendants of Virtue first, then the Seven Maidens. The Pendants allow Link to claim the Master Sword, while the Maidens dispel the force field that protects the entrance of Ganon's Tower. Zelda is actually one of the second set of plot coupons you have to collect and you can see her in your inventory screen in a crystal.
251** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'': Eight Instruments of the Siren. They're necessary to awake the Wind Fish.
252** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': Three Spiritual Stones followed by the Six Medallions. The Spiritual Stones grant access to the chamber of the Master Sword in the Temple of Time, while the Medallions symbolize the freed power of the Sages (who help Link enter Ganon's Tower in the end). In a more literal (yet minor) example of this trope, Zelda also gives you a letter that allows you to pass by a certain guard.
253** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'': Four Mask Remains. They keep the power of the bosses sealed, and upon collecting them Link manages to free the Four Giants (the only ones capable of stopping the Moon).
254** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'': Eight Essences of Time (''Ages'') and Nature (''Seasons''). Collecting the full set of eight in each case nets you the Huge Maku Seed needed to dispel the magic protecting the final dungeon.
255** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords'': Three Great Keys. Note that there are 3 types of Keys (Silver, Golden, and Hero), and to fully complete the game, the player must collect a total of ''nine'' keys. However, you only need 3 of a kind to fight Vaati.
256** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'': Three Goddess Pearls to unveil the Tower of the Gods (which holds the secret to access the whereabouts of Hyrule), then the blessing of two temple Sages to empower the Master Sword, and finally the eight pieces of the Triforce of Courage to return to Hyrule.
257** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures'': Seven Shrine Maidens (including Zelda), and Four Royal Jewels.
258** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'': Four Elements to restore the Four Sword and gain the power to both save those who were cursed by Vaati's petrifying magic (including Princess Zelda) and defeat Vaati himself.
259** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'': Four Fused Shadows, then the four fragments of the Mirror of Twilight. The Fused Shadows are initially collected so Midna can confront Zant; when that doesn't work (Zant even ends up taking them away from her), she and Link have to retrieve all fragments of the Mirror to repair it and access the Twilight Real, defeat Zant, and then use the Fused Shadows to destroy the barrier protecting Hyrule Castle.
260** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'': Three Spirits, then the three Pure Metals. The Spirits allow Link to access the Ghost Ship to rescue Tetra ([[TakenForGranite or what's left from her]]), while the Pure Metals are used to forge the Phantom Sword, capable of defeating Bellum.
261** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'': Four colored Force Gems (which are needed to assemble the chunks of the Tower of Spirits together, followed by the Bow of Light to defeat Malladus, and then the Compass of Light to access his whereabouts (the Dark Realm).
262** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'': The three Ancient Tablets to access the areas of the surface, the three Sacred Flames to empower the Goddess Sword and turn it into the Master Sword, and the four parts of the Song of the Hero to unlock the whereabouts of the Triforce.
263** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'': The three Pendants to claim the Master Sword, and then the paintings of the Seven Sages to dispel the barrier blocking the entrance to Lorule Castle.
264** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'': The four [[AnimalMecha Divine Beasts]] (and, by extension, the sacred skills given to Link by their former Champions), as well as the 12 captured memories. In a twist, however, thanks to the game's [[SequenceBreaking nonlinear structure]] you can actually skip collecting these. After the introductory level, it's entirely possible to head straight to the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon final dungeon]] and take out the BigBad. Doing so requires [[NintendoHard tremendous skill]] and good equipment though so the game actively encourages you to seek these out first.
265** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'': The five Secret Stones which are needed to be collected upon clearing the respective dungeons in order to awaken the characters associated with them in order to stop Ganondorf. Much like with the Divine Beasts in the previous game, getting the first four secret stones can be tackled in any order. However, [[spoiler:the fifth sage being Mineru requires much more of a throughout search and a bigger sidequest to even unlock her has the fifth and final sage (though she can be acquired even earlier with the right amount of setups). There are technically seven Secret Stones in total but one is held by the deceased [[BigGood Rauru]] until Zelda manages to take his and the other is held by Queen Sonia, Rauru's wife. However, she is killed by Ganondorf who promptly steals hers for himself.]]
266* ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' has the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Infinity Stones]]. [[BigBad Ultron-Sigma]] has two, leaving the heroes to find the remaining four in order to defeat him.
267* Each game of the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' has a set of items that must be collected in order to access the final level. 12 Chozo Artifacts in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', 9 Sky Temple Keys in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'' (plus, for each individual temple in Dark Aether, 3 Dark Temple Keys), and at least 5 out of 9 Energy Cells in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption''. Note that you're not told about their importance until the right moment comes, so you can occasionally find one of them while doing something else to have less work remaining by the final act. The big exception here are the Octoliths in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'', of which there are eight, as you must start finding them one by one as soon as the game starts, and do so at very specific plot points and in a specific order.
268* The ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'' series has several games with plot coupons
269** The third game, ''Isles of Terra'' has the Ultimate Power Orbs. There are 31 of them in total, and the player needs to give 11 of them to either King Zealot, Tumult, or Malefactor in order to get the Blue Priority Pass Card to open the final dungeon. To activate the escape pod to win the game, the player has to pick up the six Hologram Sequencing Cards found in the 6 major dungeons: The Dark Warrior's Keep, the Halls of Insanity, The Fortress of Fear, the Tomb of Terror, the Cathedral of Carnage, and the Maze from Hell
270** The fourth game, ''Clouds of Xeen'' have the King's Megacredits. 5 of them are needed to purchase the town of Newcastle, 5 more are needed to renovate the place and turn it into a town, and 5 further are needed to open the basement and gain the SwordOfPlotAdvancement called the Xeen Slayer, to kill the final boss
271** The fifth game, ''Darkside of Xeen'' has the Energy Disks, which are given to the wizard Ellinger to restore Queen Kalindra's castle. 5 of them restore one floor, and there are four floors. After this, the player needs the Songbird of Serenity and finally Queen Kalindra's royal crown.
272** If ''World Of Xeen'', obtainable by installing both ''Clouds'' and ''Darkside'', are there, the player's final quest requires the Scepter of Temporal Distortion (which is found by killing Xeen) and the Cube of Power (found after killing Sheltem), and then the various ID tags that allow the player to save Prince Roland from his imprisonment.
273* Each game in the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series features Plot Coupons. However, only the first game actually had you collect anything, and that's in the loosest sense of the word.
274** ''VideoGame/EarthboundBeginnings'' features the ''Eight Melodies'', or the 8 parts of a song that the mysterious Queen Mary of {{Magicant}} has forgotten. The Melodies aren't actually items. Instead, various [=NPCs=] or Items sing them to you, [[spoiler:you even get one melody from a cactus.]] In order to proceed to the BigBad, you have to sing all eight melodies to Queen Mary. [[spoiler:It turns out that Mary is actually Maria, Ninten's great-grandmother, who was abducted by aliens. Gigyas was a baby she volunteered to raise, and the song you have spent the whole game learning is a lullaby she used to sing to him. Singing the lullaby to Gigyas is the only way to actually defeat him.]]
275** ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'' features ''Your Sanctuaries'', eight locations where Earth's Power was the strongest. Each also had a melody associated with it, and when Ness uses the Sound Stone to play them all back, he goes to his own version of {{Magicant}}. [[spoiler:Unlike the first game, however, the eight melodies, nor the power of Magicant are used against Giygas. Paula has to pray nine times instead.]]
276** ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' features Seven Needles scattered across the Nowhere Islands, which require the use of PK Love to be pulled out. Pulling out all seven [[spoiler:awakens a sleeping dragon that the islands rest upon, who will only listen to the person who pulls out the seventh and final needle.]] The BigBad eventually reveals a mysterious masked general who can use PK Love as well and uses him to try and pull out the seventh and final needle. [[spoiler:The Final Battle takes place at the site of the final needle.]]
277* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'': The Serpent Crystal (ultimately claimed and used by Waka), and the Tube Foxes (collected by you, but given to and used by Rao, [[spoiler:the fake one]]).
278* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has, in nearly all mainline games, the Eight Gym Badges in each Generation. In each case, they're required to challenge the Elite Four and the region' current Champion.
279* ''VideoGame/{{Robopon}}'' has the X-Stones of the second game. Each one is required to challenge a ranked competitor, and people will go to obscene lengths to hide them and keep their rankings.
280%%* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice''
281* In ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxHitTheRoad'', the final puzzle involves collecting four wildly different items to complete a spell for the Bigfoots, some of which you might have already gathered if you follow the old adventure game maxim of [[KleptomaniacHero "pick up everything that isn't nailed down"]]: [[spoiler: a filled snow globe from the Mystery Vortex, Conroy Bumpus's hair-tonic-drenched pillow from Bumpusville, a T-rex tooth from the Mt. Rushmore Dinosaur Park, and a zucchini in the shape of John Muir from the Celebrity Vegetable Museum.]]
282* ''VideoGame/SkyOdyssey'' has the four pieces of the Lost Map, hidden in ruins scattered throughout the Islands of the Dark Sea. The player needs to find these map pieces in order to discover the only way into the Tower of Maximus, the games final level.
283* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
284** Almost every game has used the Chaos Emeralds (or "Time Stones" in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'') as plot coupons, often sought by Dr. Eggman or any other antagonist as a power source. In the earlier games, they were not necessary to complete the game, they just made it easier and gave you the good ending. However, since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', they have, in nearly every game, been necessary elements of the plot, often being the goals for completing the level.
285** [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' where Sonic has all the Chaos Emeralds from the start and has to place them in temples across the world to reassemble Earth.
286%%* ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest''
287* In ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom'', Golden Spatulas are needed in order to progress to further parts of the game. At least they have the decency to [[LampshadeHanging hang a lampshade on it:]]
288-->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': Say, Bubble Buddy, why do I have to collect all of these golden spatulas for these toll booths?\
289'''Bubble Buddy''': Because, [=SpongeBob=].\
290'''[=SpongeBob=]''': Well, that just about works for me.
291* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsSuperSponge'' features an item at the end of every level that you must collect in a series of levels in order to fulfill Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy's tasks. An example would be searching all over Bikini Bottom for ingredients to make a sandwich for them.
292* ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' has the Spellsstones (4) and the Krazoa Spirits (6). The Spellstones are needed to stop the ongoing instability of planet Sauria's internal energy, while the Krazoa Spirits are needed to put back the regions of the planet that separated from it as a result of the instability.
293* ''VideoGame/SuperKiwi64'': The game tasks the player to collect amethyst gems that serve as power cells to refuel the airplane that got stranded in the island where the kiwi and a friendly pilot are now. The ''Doomsday'' campaign has differently-shaped gems that are instead used to dispel the barrier that blocks the entrance to the final level.
294* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
295** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'' has the eponymous large coins, each with an engraved icon representing the world where they're found. These are special coins from boss battles, not the normal kind found in ?-Boxes. Collecting all six of them is necessary to unlock the last, single-level world (Wario's Castle).
296** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' set the tradition in itself and subsequent 3D ''Mario'' platformers of emploiyng a FractionalWinningCondition to progress by collecting a specific type of item, usually replacing the LevelGoal format seen in the 2D games. ''Super Mario 64'' itself, as well as the two ''Galaxy'' games, all have you looking for 120 Power Stars (the minimum required to unlock the last level is 70 in two cases, and 60 in the other). In ''Super Mario 64'', the Power Stars are the energy that protect Princess Peach's castle, hence why Bowser hides them in the various playable courses in order to overtake the castle (though certain Stars remain hidden in the Castle itself, something Bowser comes to lament when he's defeated in the final battle).
297** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'' replaces the stars with Shine Sprites, which retain the purpose of collection and are justified in-game for being the source of solar energy in Isle Delfino. Instead of a specific number of them, what unlocks the last level is the collection of the Shine Sprites guarded by Shadow Mario, one per world, and in turn you must have collected the Shine Sprites of the preceding episodes to unlock the Shadow Mario episodes themselves.
298** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'': The game introduces Grand Stars, a higher tier of Power Stars within the total of 120 Plot Coupons alongside the regular kind. The Grand Stars provide enough energy to activate the sections of the Comet Observatory in the first game, from which Mario can access to further galaxies. In turn, each galaxy can only be accessed when a certain number of Power Stars is retrieved, as they serve as fuel to the Observatory. Three Power Stars are green-colored, and though they can still count for the minimum total it takes to unlock the last level (60), they're optional otherwise as they have a different primary purpose. In the long run, [[spoiler:you even have to get them all a second time with Luigi to unlock the ''121st'' star (for both characters) for the 100% completion]].
299** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'': Power and Grand Stars make a return to play this trope's role, but their justification is different. While they still serve as fuel, in this case to the Faceship, the Power Stars are only required to open the path in certain world maps, usually near the major boss level of a world. Then, every time a Grand Star is obtained, the Faceship will be able to reach a new galaxy cluster. To achieve 100% completion, you also have to collect [[spoiler:120 green-colored stars to unlock the Grandmaster Galaxy, which has the last two stars, leaving you with a grand total of 242 stars]].
300** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'': The game wants you to collect 1,000,000 coins (regular coins) for no apparent reason. If this is achieved, it then challenges you to find 99,999,999 coins (enough to fill the coin meter with all 9's, basically). You are then rewarded with [[spoiler: a new title screen]].
301** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' has Power Moons, of which there are 880 unique samples in total (more Moons can be eventually bought in the shops). The game justifies the Power Moons as being a fuel source for the Odyssey (New Donk City is even powered by a seemingly-endless supply of them). Some of the moons come in groups of three, and are called Multi-Moons; they're either guarded by bosses or obtained by completing certain special objectives (collecting them is also necessary to complete the individual side stories of the Kingdoms).
302** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'': The Wonder Seeds are collected in levels by completing the challenges of the Wonder Flower effects as well as reaching the respective {{Level Goal}}s, and used to purify areas that have been taken over by Piranha Plants. Meanwhile, the Royal Seeds are collected at the end of the worlds and used to gradually dispel the Piranha Plant barrier that is protecting Castle Bowser.
303** ''VideoGame/MarioParty'':
304*** The majority of home console installments (namely ''1'' to ''8'', ''Super'' and ''Superstars''), plus ''VideoGame/MarioPartyDS'', have Stars which the characters strive to get as they play in the boards in order to fight for the title of Super Star. ''VideoGame/MarioPartyTheTop100'', due to its near-total focus on minigames instead of boards, only has Stars in one mode (Minigame Match). ''VideoGame/MarioParty9'', ''[[VideoGame/MarioParty10 10]]'' and one of the boards in ''[[VideoGame/MarioPartyIslandTour Island Tour]]'' use white-colored Mini-Stars instead, though they're still fought for by the characters in their race to become the next Super Star.
305*** ''VideoGame/MarioParty3'' has Star Stamps, which the characters strive to collect so one of them becomes the next Superstar. There are seven Stamps in total.
306*** ''VideoGame/MarioPartyDS'': As narrated in the Story Mode, the Sky Crystals fell from the sky and are now in hands of different characters. Mario and his friends receive the first four Crystals as reward for helping them, while the fifth is retrieved from Bowser.
307*** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioParty'' has the Gems awarded for completing all the main modes in the game. Each Gem represents a virtue: Tenacity, Spirit, Love, Courage and Passion; and placing them all in the Super Star's ceremony plaza unlocks the game's ending.
308** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars'' has you locating the seven pieces of the broken Star Road.
309** ''VideoGame/{{Paper Mario|64}}'' makes you rescue the seven Star Spirits. Unlike most examples, the Star Spirits actually unlock usable moves in standard gameplay.
310** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' has you locating seven Crystal Stars. Like the original, the Crystal Stars also unlock moves. [[spoiler: Peach is also a MAJOR plot coupon, but for a different reason. A bad one.]]
311** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' mixes it up a little, you need ''eight'' Pure Hearts. [[FreeSamplePlotCoupon You're given one when you start the game,]] though, so you still only actually need to find seven.
312** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'' has you hunting down shards of the Sticker Comet and the six Royal Stickers that came from it. Comet pieces open up paths to new levels, while Royal Stickers add a page to your sticker album. Unfortunately, the Royal Stickers are also empowering the game's bosses, so you have to deal with them first.
313** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'' has you locating Paint Stars, which come in Mini and Big flavors. The Mini Paint Stars open up paths to new levels, just like the comet pieces from ''Sticker Star''. The six Big Paint Stars each clear out a major obstacle, clue you in on what happened before you arrived on Prism Island, and toss you a health upgrade.
314** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'': There are five streamers that cover Princess Peach's Castle, but unlike the other games, you're actually trying to ''destroy'' the Plot Coupons rather than collect them. Since they're blocking the way to Peach's Castle and thus the BigBad, they're also guarded by the game's bosses.
315** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'' has you collect the four pieces of the Beanstar after it shatters.
316** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime'' has you collecting the six pieces of the shattered Cobalt Star. Played for laughs in this one, as the number of shards you have goes up and down wildly throughout the game, until you get them all [[spoiler:which is worse than useless; it actually ''frees'' the FinalBoss]].
317** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'' has the three Star Cures.
318** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' has the five Ultibed parts and the Dream Stone. The villains steal the last one before you get there though.
319** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'' has the Paper Toads scattered across the Mushroom Kingdom. In this case, you really just need them for free labor so Toadette can build the papercrafts you need to fight Bowser's creations.
320** ''VideoGame/WarioMasterOfDisguise'': The Wishstone pieces are the main driving force of the plot. Wario and Goodstyle travel around the world to reunite the pieces (two of which, in fact, are won from the antagonists Cannoli and Carpaccio respectively), because reuniting them is believed to grant a wish. [[spoiler:This wish is to restore the power to Terrormisu, who is revealed to be the GreaterScopeVillain]].
321* ''VideoGame/TalesOfMonkeyIsland'' by Creator/TelltaleGames:
322** The second episode, "The Siege of Spinner Cay", did some LampshadeHanging with this with a local bait shop that will ONLY accept literal coupons to purchase bait. One of these three coupons leads to a (literal) RedHerring, but the other two are quite essential to progress in the plot.
323** "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" has the ingredients for the Feast of the Senses, which are needed to power up La Esponja Grande. After [[spoiler: [=LeChuck=]]] steals it in "Rise of the Pirate-God", you need to de-power it again by gathering ingredients for a Diet of the Senses.
324* In ''VideoGame/ATinyStickerTale'', there are five medallions that the player can obtain by helping residents across the island, representing Joy, Love, Safety, Self-confidence, and Perseverance. Collecting all of them allows you to view the ending.
325* Most ''VideoGame/UncleAlbert'' games have objects that the player must collect to advance.
326** In ''Uncle Albert's Magical Album'', the player must collect statuettes to gain access to Tom and the treasure.
327** In ''Uncle Albert's Fabulous Voyage'', the player must collect six pieces of parchment to discover the game's solution. It's actually possible to finish the game without completing the parchment, but you wouldn't know how.
328** In ''Uncle Albert's Mysterious Island'', the player must collect three jewels to open Pachacamac's mask and collect three pieces of steles to repair the sacred stele telling the code that would also open the mask. You can input the code without the stele, but you have no way to know the combination otherwise.
329** In ''La Statuette Maudite de l'Oncle Ernest'', the player must collect three jewels which are used to unlock a perchment that shows the location of an island. Then the player must find the Eye of Shiva which was divided into three parts.
330* The Grand Scores in ''VideoGame/UncommonTime'', though only for the first part of the game. They're necessary to perform the ritual that will SaveTheWorld and are guarded by elemental spirits at significant locations in the journey.
331[[/folder]]
332
333[[folder:Web Animation]]
334* The relics in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. An interesting variation, in that the ''villain'' is trying to use them for their intended purpose, while the heroes are trying to keep them safe. [[spoiler:Salem hopes that if she brings the relics together before humanity is reunited, the gods will return and destroy the world, granting her death at last. The heroes don't want this happening, for obvious reasons]].
335[[/folder]]
336
337[[folder:Western Animation]]
338* The Treasures of Rule from ''WesternAnimation/ThePiratesOfDarkWater''. Assembling the first half of the set actually brings the rest of them ''[[LiveItem to life]]''.
339[[/folder]]

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