Line #45 VideoGame/DiverDown


1	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Diverdown_7607.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:200:Reality is just a memory]]
3
4	->''"A blade can cut\
5	A fire can incinerate\
6	But only a mind can truly destroy."''
7	-->-- '''Chapter Intro'''
8
9	''Diver Down'' is an indie freeware RPG (Available for download [[http://www.grenideer.com/diverdown/_htm/download.htm here]]) in the style of traditional {{Eastern RPG}}s. However, where the game truly shines is its story, where it shows that even freeware games certainly can tell intricate and involving stories, and arguably puts many commercial [=RPGs=] to shame in storytelling.
10
11	!!This game provides examples of:
12
13	* AntiHero: Drek is a PragmaticHero, at times becoming UnscrupulousHero, willing to do anything to survive, but still sympathetic and occasionally heroic.
14	* ArtShift: The artist never finished the final cutscenes.
15	* BadassCape: Drek.
16	* BloodKnight: [[spoiler:Gerret turns into this by the end of Act 2.]]
17	* TheCaligula: King Bester, who is paranoid and entirely unwilling to listen to reason (perhaps justified due to a recent assassination attempt). [[spoiler:Actually, he's a literal puppet of the EvilChancellor.]]
18	* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: [[spoiler:Jherga.]]
19	* CombatPragmatist: Drek in the cutscenes. Setting fire to furniture, stabbing unarmed men, using his enemies as a human shield against explosions... Anything and everything he can do to stay alive.
20	* CutscenePowerToTheMax: Drek, by becoming a CombatPragmatist.
21	* DishingOutDirt: Jea.
22	%%* FragileSpeedster: Malcolm.
23	* TheGoodChancellor: King Bester's chancellor, who appears to support Drek's claims of innocence and tries to convince the King he is not a threat. Not that this helps Drek much, but it's the thought that counts. [[spoiler:[[EvilChancellor Subverted]] in the end, where he turns out to be TheManBehindTheMan, controlling the robot king. He's also the FinalBoss.]]
24	* GuideDangIt: The entire first half of the game is filled to the brim with puzzles that are not only convoluted to solve, but there's effectively ''zero'' hints or explanations for how to even get started on figuring them out, requiring either brute-force trial-and-error or looking up a guide.
25	* HardLevelsEasyBosses: Some dungeons don't even have a boss at all.
26	* IdentityAmnesia: Drek has this in spades. The only clues to his identity are off-hand comments by dying allies and enemies, leading him on a chase across Continents and through countless cities, meeting men who all know him, but who he does not remember in the slightest, all trying to manipulate or kill him. And he still doesn't remember who's who or who to trust.
27	* LevelGrinding: Not enforced and possibly not even expected, but significantly increasing just your HitPoints makes the game unbelievably easier.
28	* LuckBasedMission: Certain dungeons can feel like this, especially in the first act, and generally depends on how frequent the RandomEncounters are. You can either get none for half the dungeon, or one every four steps. [[NintendoHard You are also unlikely to have the resources]] [[FakeDifficulty to survive more than two or three]].
29	** The random encounters themselves often vary wildly in difficulty, as well. You can either get one monster or ''five''. Yes, really. You can breeze through a dungeon as long as you don't get any gigantic encounters, or have to glue yourself to the nearest healing point if you get groups of 4-5. This is on top of the wildly variable chances of getting encounters in the first place.
30	* MagicKnight: [[spoiler:Kraken.]]
31	* TheMedic: Drek has this skillset, oddly enough.
32	** Laurana is a straighter example.
33	%%* MightyGlacier: Gerret.
34	%%* OurElvesAreDifferent:
35	* PoorCommunicationKills: The end of [[spoiler:Act 2]], oh so much. Possible overlap with IdiotBall -- [[spoiler:people should have heard the commotion going on and popped in ''before'' Domino teleported away. The universe seemed to try and contrive the worst situation possible for Drek for no reason there.]]
36	* PoweredArmor: The Shift Guards.
37	* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: The ythpin, to an extent. Rather odd, considering they're the frailest species in the world.
38	* RandomEncounters: Very frequent and difficult to survive in the beginning. You will hate 'em.
39	* SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear: Happens ''all the time''. Save often, and strip everything off your party members if you think they're about to leave.
40	* SquishyWizard: Jea. Oh God, Jea.
41	** Also Laurana, to a lesser extent.
42	* StatusBuff: Gerret specializes in these.

Context VideoGame / DiverDown