Line #11 VideoGame/ChexQuest


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ChexQuest_407.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:Wearing breakfast as armor? [[RuleOfFun Makes perfect sense.]]]]
3
4	->''Doom actually '''does''' teach you how to eat cereal! At least according to General Mills.''
5	-->-- [[WebAnimation/DorklyOriginals Dorkly's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT8SuIGHEKM "TINH: The Raddest Facts About Doom"]]
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7	''Chex Quest'' is a 1996 first-person shooter built from the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' engine. Originally shipped in six million boxes of General Mills brand cereals. The game itself was notable for being the first CD game to be bundled in cereal boxes as a prize. The first game involves the Chex Warrior going down to a colonized planet invaded by a race of aliens called the Flemoids, on a mission to rescue the inhabitants.
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9	In 1997, ''Chex Quest 2'' was released, but instead of being shipped with breakfast cereals, this time it was distributed exclusively on the Chex Quest website. Numerous fansites still distribute the game to this day.
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11	There were rumors of an impending ''Chex Quest 3'', but no such thing ever came to light... until September 2008, more than a decade after ''Chex Quest 2'''s release, when former Digital Cafe employees Charles "Chukker" Jacobi and Scott Holman got together, created a new five-map campaign, and released it for free.
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13	''Chex Quest 3'', which includes all three ''Chex Quest''s in one package, can be downloaded [[http://www.chucktropolis.com/gamers.htm from Charles Jacobi's website]]. (Requires the [=ZDoom=] source port, or a derivative thereof.)
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15	On April 18, 2016, nearly a decade after Chex Quest 3 was released, Chukker announced [[http://www.chexquest.org/index.php?topic=5307.0 a remake of the first game in Unreal Engine 4 was in the works]]. It [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/804270/Chex_Quest_HD/ released]] on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on May 18th, 2020 and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on March 11, 2022.
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17	To tie in with the remake, the anthology comic book, ''Untold Tales of Chex Quest'' was released.
18	----
19	!!This game provides examples of:
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21	* AbortedArc: The reconstructed website contained references to an intro and ending for ''Chex Quest 2'', but they appear to be lost forever.
22	* ActionGirl: ''HD'' has Wheatney Chexworth and Dr. O'Ryen.
23	* AdaptationExpansion: The HD edition gives the original Chex Warrior [[NamedByTheAdaptation a name]] (Fred Chexter), and adds five more playable characters, Wheatney Chexworth, Dr. O'Ryen, Shane 'The Dread' [=McBread=], [=NACL96=], and P.R.E.T.Z.L.
24	* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Several secret terminals in ''HD'' have messages with large amounts of alliteration.
25	* AdvertisementGame: For Chex cereal. The HD remake is more focused on advertising Chex Mix.
26	* AllThereInTheManual: The now defunct Chex Quest website contains background information on the characters and setting.
27	** The initial Flemoid outbreak was the result of a lab experiment GoneHorriblyWrong. The scientist from the intro, Dr. Crispinbowl, was the only one to escape.
28	** The councilwoman, Admiral Wheet, founded the Nutritional Development Center[[note]]as seen in [=E1M1=][[/note]] on Bazoik [[ImprobableAge at the age of 7]].
29	* ApocalypticLog: The Secret rooms in ''HD'' hold terminals with entries from former citizens of Bazoik.
30	* BackForTheFinale: The characters from the intro make a brief cameo in the ending.
31	* {{BFG}}: The LAZ[[note]]Large Area Zorcher[[/note]] Device. Incidentally, given that every weapon is just a reskin of a ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' one, it is functionally identical to the TropeNamer, the [=BFG9000=].
32	* BlandNameProduct: The arcade machines in ''Chex Quest 2'' reference ''VideoGame/PacMan'' and ''VideoGame/{{Asteroids}}'' in all but name.
33	* BloodlessCarnage: Flemoids don't ''die'', they're just sent back to their own dimension. Likewise, when you run out of health, you don't ''die'', you merely get "slimed"[[note]]that is, the player character is no longer able to move[[/note]]. Bloodily averted when you load the ''Chex Quest'' and ''VideoGame/BrutalDoom'' mods together.
34	* CallForward: Flemoid Larvae appear in the Arboretum in ''HD'', which weren't present in the original; only the sequels.
35	-->'''Fred Chexter:''' Ugh! Higher resolution is ''not'' your friend!
36	* TheCameo: [=NaCL=] 96's ending has [[Advertising/MonsterCereals Count Chocula, Boo Berry]], and the Hamburger Helper mascot in the audience.
37	* CanisLatinicus: The Flemoids generally follow this naming convention.
38	* CompilationRerelease: ''Chex Quest 3'' comes with slightly polished versions of the first two games.
39	* ContinuityReboot: ''Chex Quest HD'' follows most of the original plot, but with an Intergalactic Federation of ''Snacks'' instead of Cereals, as the game underwent a minor {{Retool}} to promote Chex Mix instead of Chex cereal.
40	* DamnYouMuscleMemory: Sure, the game is still ''Doom'' at its core, but there's still a lot of changes that veteran players might find hard to get used to.
41	** Most importantly, enemies do not [[SetAMookToKillAMook infight]]. Flemoids suddenly zorching each other probably wouldn't make much sense, so understandably, the mechanic is disabled. This means that trying to use what would be clever setups only results in a waste of time.
42	** In the original two games, splash damage from the Zorch Propulsor could hurt the player exactly like the rocket launcher. This was apparently left in by mistake, as ''Chex Quest 3'' removed the Zorch Propulsor's ability to damage the player. This leads to veteran players trying to give themselves space before using the weapon out of habit, only for it to be unnecessary.
43	* DevelopersRoom: A hidden room in ([=E1M2=]) contains photos of the dev team and a LAZ Device.
44	* EleventhHourSuperpower: In ''HD'', You get the [[{{BFG}} LAZ Device]] just before you reach the final boss.
45	* EmbeddedPrecursor: ''Chex Quest 3'' includes the previous two games, with their maps given slight updates and fixes.
46	* ExcusePlot: Goo aliens are invading this mining planet. Go zap them back to their own dimension and save the hostages. That's it.
47	* FamilyFriendlyFirearms: The zorchers fire beams of energy that don't kill the Flemoids, but teleport them back to their home dimension. They don't look like real guns either, instead looking like weaponized TV remotes.
48	* FantasyCounterpartCulture:
49	** Ralston, the Cereal homeworld, appears to be this for Earth, complete with its own. Bazoik bears some similarity to Mars.
50	** The IFC was founded ~200 years ago[[note]]Chex Quest 1 and 2 appear to be set around 220X[[/note]] at the resolution of the [[SpaceColdWar Cold Cereal Wars]].
51	* TheFederation: The Intergalactic Federation of Cereals (IFC), from whom the Chex Warrior hails.
52	** In ''HD'', they're the Intergalactic Federation of Snacks.
53	* FictionalUnitedNations: [=E3M2=], United Cereals.
54	* FightingForAHomeland:
55	** In ''Chex Quest 2'', the Flemoids have invaded Chex Warrior's home planet.
56	** Ditto in ''Chex Quest 3'', but on a larger scale.
57	* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Flemoid larvae are depicted much smaller in the intro than they are in-game.
58	* HyperactiveMetabolism:
59	** Glasses of water (1%), bowls of fruit (10%)/vegetables (25%) and the supercharge breakfast (100%) all restore your health, de-sliming you instantly. Water and breakfast can also go over the 100% limit, up to 200%, just like their ''Doom'' counterparts (health bonus/soul sphere).
60	** According to the intro and website, Flemoid larvae can mature in seconds from as little as a single drop of milk.
61	* IceCreamKoan: How Dr. O'Ryen speaks.
62	* ImmuneToBullets: Conventional weapons have no effect on Flemoids, as told in the opening cinematic.[[note]]Their slimy constitution likely allows them [[FridgeBrilliance to absorb any impact damage]].[[/note]]
63	* ImprobableWeaponUser: The Chex Warrior's default weapon, the Mini Zorcher, is a TV remote-like device that allows him to teleport Flemoids back to their home dimension. All of his other weapons are implicitly this as well (the intro implies that Zorchers were originally meant to do something besides teleport Flemoids), most obviously the [=BootSpoon=] (a spoon) and the Super [=BootSpork=] (a electric-motorized spork).
64	* InexplicableCulturalTies: Visiting the Cereal Planet in Episode 2 shows that the Chex people have a weirdly similar culture to humans, with Chex equivalents to a number of human pop-culture works.
65	* JumpedAtTheCall: The Chex Warrior.
66	* LargeHam: The Chex Warrior.
67	* LocomotiveLevel: The last part of [=E3M2=] set aboard the Chex Metro.
68	* MediumAwareness: Dr. O'Ryen knows about the FMV's and the events of the original game.
69	* TheMoralSubstitute: It's ''Doom'', but instead of killing the enemies, you're just teleporting them back to their homeworld. Unlike most examples of this trope, it manages to be enjoyable on its own merits.
70	* MythologyGag:
71	** Planet Ralston is named after the company who used to own Chex before it got bought out by General Mills: Good Hot Ralston.
72	** Fred, in his epilogue, says that he's been working since 1996, the year the original game came out.
73	* NamedByTheAdaptation: The Chex Warrior is named "Fred Chexter" in the HD remake.
74	* NostalgiaLevel: ''Chex Quest 3'' has you exploring the space station from the first game's opening cinematic, [[WhereItAllBegan including the conference room]].
75	* PlanetLooters: The Flemoids are implied to be this.
76	* {{Retraux}}: General Mills' promotional site for Chex Quest 3 resembled a crude 90's website.
77	* RidingIntoTheSunset: Shane [=McBread=] tries this in his ending, but rides off into the sun''rise'' instead. He notes that this is a much better thing to ride off into.
78	* SequelEscalation: ''Chex Quest 3'' has a fullscale invasion of Ralston at the hands of the Flemoids.
79	* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: In ''HD'', [[spoiler:Dr. O'Ryen's ending involves her traveling back to 1996 to prevent the first game from being developed.]]
80	* ShoutOut:
81	** Several films in the theater (''Chex Quest 2'') include "Shark", "Minesota Joe", and "Spaceship Potemkin". (''Film/{{Jaws}}'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', and ''Film/TheBattleshipPotemkin'', respectively.)
82	** ''HD'' Features a robot modeled after [[WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987 Gizmoduck]] and Dr. O'Ryen's ending paying homage to the epilogue screens of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''. Fitting, as the original game used the ''Doom'' engine.
83	** The bridge of the spherical ship in ''HD'''s [=E1M1=] bears some resemblance to that of the USS Enterprise, sharing elements from both [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original series]] and [[Film/StarTrek2009 the Kelvin timeline.]]
84	* SuddenlyVoiced: [[spoiler:P.R.E.T.Z.L. uses Text to Speech in his epilogue to speak to the viewer.]]
85	* TauntButton: ''HD'' has a dedicated button for giving taunts.
86	* TeleportGun: Chex Warrior's weapon. Zorchers don't actually kill anything, they're a portal to the Flemoid Dimension contained within a force field bubble, which breaks when it hits a (semi)solid surface.
87	* TheEndOrIsIt: in ''HD'': [[spoiler:After turning his focus from heroism to fatherhood, a Flemoid appears from Fred Chexter's window.]]
88	* TimeSkip: ''Chex Quest 3'' takes place 10 years after the first two games.[[note]]As it was released 10 years after the 2nd game.[[/note]]
89	* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Wheatney's plan to go after the Flemoids on their own homeworld sounds valiant until you realize that the Zorchers don't kill anything and it teleports them to their homeworld... which is where she foolishly chose to dive into]].
90	* TriumphantReprise: The ending features an upbeat version of the leitmotif found in the intro and [=E1M5=].
91	* VideoGameRemake: ''Chex Quest HD'' is a remake of the first game in Unreal Engine 4, featuring reimaginings of the 5 maps of the original game, more playable characters and multiplayer.
92	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We last see Bazoik as it gets overrun by Flemoids, and isn't mentioned again, save for a brief mention in [=E2M1=][[note]]A poster near the final room advertising weekly space tours is listed as canceled[[/note]].
93	* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The HD remake has these for all six castmembers.
94	** Fred went on to [[spoiler:start a family, but then [[TheEndOrIsIt sees a Flemoid invasion happening just outside his window]].]]
95	** Wheatney [[spoiler:decides to take the fight to the Flemoid homeworld, at the risk of never being able to come home.]]
96	** Dr. O'Ryen [[spoiler:tries to stop the original game from being made at all, going back in time to stop it from being developed.]]
97	** P.R.E.T.Z.L. [[spoiler:runs the Social Media account for the Intergalactic Federation of Cereals.]]
98	** Shane [=McBread=] [[spoiler:returns home to be made sheriff, but instead rides off into the sunrise in search for adventure.]]
99	** [=NACL96=] [[spoiler:bombs as a stand-up comic and asks the Admiral if he's going back to Bazoik.]]

Context VideoGame / ChexQuest