Line #50 VideoGame/DualHearts


1	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dualhearts.jpg]]
2
3	->''"Eating is my one true destiny."''
4	-->-- '''Tumble'''
5
6	''Dual Hearts'' is a 2002 ActionRPG, developed for the Platform/PlayStation2 by Matrix Software.
7
8	It just happened that the game was situated around some pretty turbulent circumstances, mostly owing to its rather unfortunate choice of title; the bigger-budgeted and better-hyped blockbuster ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' was released in the same year, along with the cult classic ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts''. A little lack of creativity that cost dearly, moreso when you realise that the phrase is somewhat [[WordSaladTitle word salad-ish]] anyway.
9
10	That being said, ''Dual Hearts'' is often considered to be the SpiritualSuccessor of the original ''VideoGame/{{Alundra}}'', revolving around the similar premise of [[JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind exploring people's dreams]] (It helps that the developers behind this game ''are'' the same developers behind ''VideoGame/{{Alundra}}''). Rumble the feisty treasure hunter set out to the tiny isle of Sonno, eager of discovering the fabled relic, [[MacGuffin the Dream Stone]]. Meanwhile, Tumble the Baku was sent by the Queen of the Dreamworld to collect [[MacGuffin the nine keys of the Holy Instruments]], in her preparation of repelling a [[PropheciesAreAlwaysRight prophesied impending doom]]. And the story began thusly.
11
12	The mechanisms of ''Dual Hearts'' might remind people of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime the Ocarina of Time]]''. Rumble and Tumble dwelt in the peaceful island of Sonno, waiting for people to fall asleep, and dashed into their dream realms, where the battles would occur. It is a well-polished game with gameplay elements that are simple, yet solid; and a light plot, but with quite endearing characters. One of those games without any particularly strong area, but executed beautifully and merits a better score than the sum of its parts.
13	----
14	!!This game provides examples of:
15
16	* AwesomeButImpractical: The Baku Shield grants you invulnerability, and allows you to run into enemies for good damage. The speed at which it drains your MP, however, is too much to handle even at the maximum possible capacity of 50. May be redeemed with the Ultimate Esamon (see below), but then it's BraggingRightsReward.
17	* {{Baku}}: Tumble is one. He's often mistaken for a pig, much to his chagrin.
18	* BigEater: Tumble.
19	* BlockPuzzle: You have to solve these in the Temple of Dreams.
20	* BonusDungeon: Parfait's, Phoebe's, Sarti's and Penne's dreams are all optional.
21	* BossRush: In Sarti's dream.
22	%%* CameraLockOn
23	* ChekhovsGun: {{Averted}}. [[spoiler: Val's bells. The supposedly no-nonsense Rumble keeps it in his pocket at all times. Kept building up. Nothing happened.]] Could have been an AbortedArc.
24	* CosmeticAward: Collecting 500 Dream Rings grants you a strong, albeit MP-draining weapon. Collecting 1,000 gets your defense doubled. Collecting all 1,500 allows you to... change Tumble's skin/fur colour. There's not even a good colour scheme.
25	* DefrostingIceQueen: [[spoiler: Val and Chiffon, albeit only vaguely. Textbook example goes to Rumble, the bona fide Defrosting Ice King.]]
26	* ElementalRockPaperScissors: The Draw Card(s).
27	%%* FinalBossNewDimension
28	* {{Emo}}: Chiffon.
29	* FakeDifficulty: Normal challenges + time limit = NintendoHard.
30	* FriendToAllLivingThings: Lilian.
31	* GimmickLevel: Most of the levels have this. One dream is an underwater level, Santa's dream is an ice themed level. Parfait's dream is a stealth level, Sarti's dream is a fighting level where you can have a BossRush, etc.
32	* GrandTheftMe: [[spoiler: The Queen.]]
33	* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits: Dream Mentor.
34	* HeroicSacrifice: Some random sheep in Lilian's dream went to put out a forest fire. Then he died. Considering the tone of the scenes up to the point, that was rather shocking.
35	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Yars and Tucker.
36	* InfinityPlusOneSword: The Mystic Esamon item allows free and instantaneous full MP recharge. Would have been rather useful if only you can acquire it sooner.
37	* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: as stated in the summary.
38	* JumpPhysics: {{Justified\|Trope}} as it can only be done in the dreamworld.
39	* LivingStatue: Statue Knight.
40	* MacGuffin: The Dream Stone, and to a lesser extent the Holy Instruments.
41	* MinigameZone: The {{Bonus Dungeon}}s.
42	%%* MirrorBoss
43	* MirrorWorld: [[spoiler: Val's dream.]]
44	%%* OneHundredPercentCompletion
45	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Tumble has a ''very'' long name. It's so long that Rumble insists on calling him Tumble instead.
46	* OverlyLongName: We don't hear all of it, but in-game, Tumble's mostly full name is Bakstein Freidrich Maximus Buffon Visconti Maharaya Medici de Bondarchuck Alexander Ludwig Stradivari Richmond Godfrey.
47	%%* PuzzleBoss
48	%%* RemixedLevel
49	* RuinsForRuinsSake: Yuri's and Toma's dreams.
50	* SantaClaus: One of the characters whose dream you can enter is an old man. He later turns out to be Santa Clause, apparently on a vacation since it's not Christmas season.
51	%%* SequentialBoss
52	* SpiritualSuccessor: To VideoGame/{{Alundra}}.
53	* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Justified, as it's only in the dream world.
54	* SympathyForTheDevil: Tumble states that he feels sorry for the evil snowman in Santa's dream.
55	* TakeUpMySword: [[spoiler: [=McTuve=] is the Sage.]]
56	* {{Tsundere}}: [[spoiler: Both Rumble and Val.]]
57	* {{UST}}: [[spoiler: That's how it ends? Such buildups and the ending was an all-out bromance.]]
58	* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Watching Rumble falling from great height and Tumble frantically choking is... amusing.
59	* WordSaladTitle: Just what does it mean anyway. The closest it gets would be [[spoiler: Val's dream, with its dual appearance]]. Otherwise it would be very vague and loose.

Context VideoGame / DualHearts