Line #54 VideoGame/EtherVapor


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/EtherVaporRemaster_4955.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[AC:'''[[BossSubtitles WARNING!]]''' [[HighSpeedMissileDodge Hi-speed]] [[MacrossMissileMassacre Missiles]] [[VideoGame/{{Darius}} Are Approaching Fast!]]]]]]
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4	''ETHER VAPOR'' is a cinematic ShootEmUp created by Japanese doujin soft developers Creator/{{Edelweiss}} released for Windows PC on August 13, 2007 during Summer Comiket 72. Advertised as a "2.75D" shoot 'em up, it is known for its rapidly changing gameplay, shifting from a vertical shooter, to a horizontal shooter, and even a rail shooter.
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6	[[TheEmpire Chalea]], a small fictional nation, was able to successfully discover Artificial Intelligence. This was found during a project when several of the nation's researchers created an A.I. computer used to solve Chalea's problems. Instead of being controlled manually, it was given an artificial personality through endless enormous databases. Although [[AIIsACrapshoot the computer went insane]], it was used greatly for the Chalean military, where it successfully waged war on other nations with new weapons and technology. In reponse, [[TheAlliance several other nations and rebel forces coupled together]] to create the nation of Lydia. Despite their union against Chalea however, they were already fighting a losing war.
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8	A young boy named Luca Earlgrey then began a personal fight against the powerful nation. With a ship never seen before called the Ex-tio, Luca is determined to crush the Chalean forces and destroy the computer now commonly known as [[BigBad DECIDER]]. On his fight to end the war and free the nation's dependence on the sadistic super-computer, he encounters both allies and enemies, including a young pilot of the Lydian air force named Sana, a cyborg mech-using scientist named Daniel, and new heavily-armed version of DECIDER known as the [[spoiler: APITEX]].
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10	In 2011, it got an UpdatedRerelease known as ''ETHER VAPOR Remaster'', with updated visuals and high-resolution support[[labelnote:*]](however it is still a [[AspectRatio 4:3]] game with resolutions supported only up to 1600x1200; ''Fairy Bloom Freesia'' supports 16:9 and 16:10 resolutions up to 1920x1080)[[/labelnote]], 3D display support, improved sound quality, a third version of Luca's Ex-tio, online leaderboards, easier {{unlockable content}}s, and an optional "Remaster Mode" that allows the game to be played with arcade-styled transitions [[PlayTheGameSkipTheStory without the story dialogue]]. Edelweiss also have released a two-disc soundtrack of ''ETHER VAPOR Remaster'' and ''VideoGame/FairyBloomFreesia''.
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12	Nyu Media has released an English version of the game's re-release on June 29, 2012. Nyu Media's English webpage for the game (and where it can be purchased) can be found [[http://ethervapor.com/ here]]. It is also released on DESURA on September 7, 2012, and then later onto Platform/{{Steam}} on September 27, 2012. As of July 1, 2022, publishing rights to ''ETHER VAPOR Remaster'' has migrated to PLAYISM after the former has ceased operations. Nyu Media also previouly released the original soundtracks of ''ETHER VAPOR Remaster'' and ''Fairy Bloom Freesia'' digitally though their Bandcamp, but their respective soundtracks has since been migrated to Steam following the publisher acquisition.
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14	The old translation and information of the story of the original ''ETHER VAPOR'' is found [[https://web.archive.org/web/20100530051331/http://tlwiki.tsukuru.info/index.php?title=ETHER_VAPOR here]].
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16	See also ''VideoGame/{{Astebreed}}'', ''ETHER VAPOR''[='=]s {{spiritual successor}}.
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18	----
19	!!This game provides trope examples of:
20	* TwoAndAHalfD: Generally movement in the game is 2D, but since the game utilizes a 3D engine, enemies can appear and attack from the background. A Libellulium also demonstrates that attacks from the foreground is possible.
21	* AIIsACrapshoot: DECIDER developed emotions. What kind? Fear and paranoia and those emotions eventually drove it insane.
22	** However, the trope appears to be downplayed since Keime says it's only designed to make directives. So DECIDER may not be completely insane, it's just choosing war as the best option as long as it solves Chalea's problems.
23	* AttackDrone: Your Ex-Tio is outfitted with them.
24	** Keime's Pteryx also uses them that fire laser beams. Tetley's Megarachne sends out drones when she TurnsRed.
25	* AerithAndBob: Luca, Sana, Selva, Keime, Teatree/Tetley, and... Daniel.
26	* TheBattleDidntCount: The [[spoiler:APITEX]] vanishes out of the scene in first stage after you deplete its HP to zero. [[spoiler:There's [[FinalBoss a reason]] for that though.]]
27	* BattleshipRaid: The attack on the battleship in Scene 4 -- Valley.
28	* BayonetYa: The Libelluliums carry a {{shotgun\|sAreJustBetter}} with a blade attached under the barrel.
29	* BigNo: Daniel lets one out when his Archelon blows up.
30	* BeamSpam: Almost every ship on this game is armed with some sort of laser weapon. In fact, a few types of lasers can [[{{Roboteching}} bend and zero in]] on targets.
31	* BerserkButton: Daniel doesn't take kindly to being called "baldy".
32	* BonusStage: Some Scenes contain a shooting gallery where you're taken off the flight controls and brought on the gunnery position. Your first bonus stage is intercepting a MacrossMissileMassacre (see ''ETHER VAPOR''[='=]s page image). Another sends you on a BattleshipRaid.
33	* BookEnds: The first stage [[spoiler: and final stage takes place in the Stratosphere, with a BossBattle with APITEX.]]
34	** Sana tells Luca to identify himself as the first and last stage.
35	* BossOnlyLevel: [[spoiler: The final stage is a rematch against APITEX.]]
36	* BossRush: A Boss Rush mode can be unlocked in v1.03 and above. Edelweiss also released a "[[BossGame Boss Rush-only]]" version of the original the game back in Comiket 74.
37	* ChargedAttack: All weapons are the "hold" types, two of which requires holding the corresponding weapon button while the other charges automatically. The Gatling's charged attack is a penetrating power-shot, the Winder's charged attack creates a temporary [[DeflectorShield anti-field]] to shield you from incoming fire, and the Lock-On's charge shot fires multiple homing lasers at once to create an energy explosion akin to the [[VideoGame/RaySeries R-GRAY's or Wave Rider's]] Hyper Attack.
38	* ChekhovMIA: There's a reason the first boss doesn't get blown up.
39	* ContinuingIsPainful: Using a continue will nullify your high scores. Even if you're just credit-feeding to practice, that shiny new record score you just achieved? Kiss that goodbye.
40	* {{Cyberpunk}}: A country waging war by orders from an A.I. sure puts the setting in this.
41	* DifficultyLevels: Averted. The only form of difficulty levels the game has is how many shield levels you want to start out with, be it at maximum shield levels as possible or by turning the Ex-tio into a OneHitPointWonder. The frequency of extends can also be adjusted to make the game easier or harder.
42	* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler:Daniel guides you to the Decider after beating him twice.]]
43	* DualBoss: Selva and Keime in the Archaeo and Petryx. Sort of; you and Sana fight them during the latter half of Scene 3's boss battle.
44	* EdibleThemeNaming: Luca ''Earlgray'', Sana ''Bergamot''[[labelnote:]]"Earl Grey" is a tea blend that's flavored with oil from the rind of Bergamot citrus fruit[[/labelnote]], and ''Teatree'' ([[DubNameChange renamed]] to ''Tetley'' Einser[[labelnote:]]"Tetley" is a tea company[[/labelnote]] in the English version). Sana's ship, Whittard, is a large tea company referring to Whittard of Chelsea. TheEmpire is also named Chalea.
45	* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Scene 5.
46	* EleventhHourSuperPower: During the first part of the final battle with [[spoiler:APITEX, Luca's Ex-tio goes into its [[SuperMode Overdrive Mode]], turning his [[MoreDakka bullet-spewing weapons]] into [[EnergyWeapon powerful laser cannons]]. The Overdrive Ex-tio can also be unlocked by one-credit clearing the game in the original, or simply clearing the game once in ''ETHER VAPOR Remaster'', but it won't be over-powered like it was in the final battle.]]
47	* TheEmpire: Chalea, an empire of highly advanced technology that is ruling over the country of Lydia.
48	* EnergyWeapon: Many of the enemy fire some laser weaponry, be it a straight beam or HomingLasers. [[spoiler:During the final battle with APITEX, your Ex-tio gets powerful laser weapons of its own, and you can unlock it outside of the final battle.]]
49	* EternalEngine: Scene 6, a stage that takes place in the underground interworking of DECIDER where it controls Chalea.
50	* Every10000Points: By default, you get shield extends for every 1,000,000pts. but it can adjusted to be easier or harder to gain extends. The game however set the easiest extend rate of 600,000pts. from the get-go upon installation as opposed to the game's default setting.
51	* EvilEmpire: Chalea after its dependence on DECIDER.
52	* FightingTheLancer: [[spoiler:You fight Sana when she reveals she had orders to capture DECIDER instead of destroying it.]]
53	* FloralThemeNaming: Some of the boss pilots are named after tree and shrub plants, in particular Selva ''Cypress'', Keime ''Juniper'', ''Teatree'', and [[spoiler:Sana ''Bergamot'']].
54	* GameplayAllyImmortality: Sana, who even picks off some enemies for you. Yes, you still get points for her kills.
55	* GameplayRoulette: You will always be playing a shoot 'em up, that's for sure. The fun lies in that it shifts between a vertical shooter, a horizontal shooter and a rail shooter quite often, even in the middle of a stage or boss battle.
56	* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Daniel decides to help after losing twice and when Luca explains his goals.]]
57	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Daniel finishes off DECIDER after Luca damages it enough. He is then caught in the blast since his mech was damaged by Sana, preventing his escape (he was aware of it though).]]
58	* HighAltitudeBattle: The final battle is fought in Earth's orbit... for no adequately explained reason.
59	* HumongousMecha: A few are found as bosses such as Teatree's Megarachne, Daniel's Archelon and Dunkleosteus, and [[spoiler:the APITEX-EVO in the end]].
60	* HyperspeedEscape: When Luca and Sana are encountered by a huge battleship in Scene 4, Sana suggests they just outrun it. Luca [[DefiedTrope refuses]], and blows it up instead--like hell he'll let the enemy shoot him in the back!
61	* InfinityMinusOneSword: [[spoiler:The unlockable [[SuperMode Overdrive Ex-tio]], outside of the final battle it lacks the amazing firepower it had but you still get to use the enhanced versions of its weapons.]]
62	* JerkAss: Luca is quite the asshole to both Chaleans and Lydians alike. Defiantly refuses to define his affiliation to Sana, calls Daniel "Baldy", and insults Selva's talking.
63	** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: However, when he comes across Tetley, [[spoiler:he doesn't say a word to her until he defeats her. Then he warns her to eject before her exploding mech fries her.]] Justified in that he and Tetley share a common plight: [[spoiler:They're both piloting mind-linked craft and up until meeting her, he thought his was the only such machine.]]
64	* TheLancer: Sana and her ship, the Whittard.
65	* LargeHam: Daniel, who's fond of eschewing scenes at parts of the story.
66	-->"Demeaning someone based on physical characteristics is PERSONAL OPPRESSION!!"
67	* MacrossMissileMassacre: Missiles are often thrown at the Ex-tio, but can be intercepted by guns, shields or, in a bonus mission, lasers.
68	* MetaMultiplayer: ''Remaster'' adds online leaderboards to the game.
69	* MoreDakka: The Ex-tio's Gatling and Winder. [[spoiler:Its Overdrive mode replaces its ballistic weaponry for energy-based ones.]]
70	* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler:APITEX transforms into APITEX-EVO in the final battle.]]
71	* PlayTheGameSkipTheStory: {{Invoked}} in the ''Remaster'' version of the game, which features the ability to replace the dialogue cutscenes with arcade-styled transition between stages when starting a new game. Unlike the default cutscenes, these new transition scenes, while they are brief, they are also unskippable.
72	* RecurringBoss: The Libellulium mechs show up in most of the levels in the game. [[spoiler:Also Daniel, and also APITEX (who is both the first boss and the final boss).]]
73	* RedIsHeroic: [[spoiler:In the ''Remaster'' version of the game, the Ex-Tio gets a red paintjob when its Overdrive mode kicks in during the battle against APITEX and APITEX-EVO.]]
74	* RedOniBlueOni: Selva is red and Keime is blue. Selva simply wants to destroy Luca while Keime tries to handle reason with him diplomatically before resorting to violence.
75	** Then, there's Luca's blue to Sana's red.
76	* RedemptionDemotion: After Sana's [[spoiler:brief FaceHeelTurn]], this trope is averted as she fights using the same powered-up armament she used just before.
77	* {{Roboteching}}: It's a standard for [[BeamSpam spammable lasers]] to curve and guide themselves towards a target like a missile.
78	* RocketPunch: One attack used by Dunkleostus has a drill on the end of its arm shoot forward, then come back on its own.
79	* LaResistance: The remaining unconquered countries currently formed as Lydia.
80	* ScoringPoints: Typically when you destroy an enemy, but there are other possibilities of scoring points. One such way to make extra points is by continuously shooting enemies like the Libellulium mechs while they're in "OVERKILL" state [[ScoreMilking to milk every point from them as possible]] before they explode. Another is shooting up lots of stuff during the bonus segments before it ends, and canceling enemy fire with your Winder's Radiate.
81	* SpaceZone: [[spoiler:The setting for the final battle with APITEX-EVO.]]
82	* SpiderTank: Tetley's Megarachne, which fitting its name being named after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megarachne a prehistoric animal that looked like a giant spider]], is a mecha that looks like a giant spider.
83	* ShutUpHannibal: Luca calls out Daniel for being a {{hypocrite}} in Scene 2.
84	* SuperPrototype: Luca's Ex-tio and also likely Sana's Whittard.
85	** The Ex-Tio is later revealed to [[spoiler:not only have been designed by Luca's father, but also carry information pertaining to the Chalean military and DECIDER]].
86	* StuffBlowingUp: Constantly happening as you mop the skies with the enemies you destroy. Some of the bosses are known to have [[ImpressivePyrotechnics flashier]] explosions.
87	* ThisIsADrill: Daniel seems to enjoy using drills on his mechs. His Archelon mech even has a drill for its head.
88	* TomatoSurprise: [[spoiler:Luca's Ex-Tio is a mind-controlled fighter that was developed by his father, who also had a major hand in developing DECIDER.]] He doesn't reveal this until Scene 4 onwards.
89	* TurnsRed: Daniel's Archelon goes from a stout mecha with a {{BFG}} for an ArmCannon to a flying drill with legs as it gets closer to defeat.
90	* UpdatedRerelease: ''ETHER VAPOR Remaster'' spices up the visuals, improved the sound quality, gives you the option to skip all of the story sequences in place of arcade-styled transitions, added online leaderboards, and made unlocking stuff easier than the original. You also get a Bonus Fighter that has [[DifficultButAwesome stronger but tricky-to-use]] weapons for beating the Boss Rush mode.
91	* WaveMotionGun: [[spoiler:The Gatling's charged shot becomes one in Overdrive Mode.]]
92	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We do not exactly know the fate of some of the boss characters. Selva was killed when his ship was destroyed by Sana, but Keime's was just disabled by Luca. Teatree's fate is also not revealed whether she died in her mech or ejected safely.
93	** ''Remaster''[='=]s English localization makes it clear that Keime dies; he laments that he won't be around to see DECIDER's destruction.

Context VideoGame / EtherVapor