Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context VideoGame / PierSolarAndTheGreatArchitects

Go To

1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7487ae9176f68f26baa8ce6f2b6a72cb.jpg]]
2
3''Pier Solar and the Great Architects'' is an EasternRPG developed and published by [=WaterMelon=], chiefly notable for being the only game so far that was developed in the 21st century for Platform/SegaGenesis (a few games were published on it after 2000, like the ''VideoGame/BeggarPrince'', ''VideoGame/LegendOfWukong'' and ''VideoGame/StarOdyssey'', but all of them started development in the 1990s). It was originally planned to be released in 2008 for the Mega Drive's 20th anniversary, but development issues postponed its release to December 2010.
4
5Afterward, it received an [[UpdatedRerelease HD remake]], which was ported to Platform/PS3, Platform/PS4, Platform/WiiU, Platform/XboxOne, and [[Platform/MicrosoftWindows Windows PC]] through Platform/{{Steam}} in 2014. A Platform/SegaDreamcast version was released as well.
6
7!!This game provides examples of:
8* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: Played straight with better weapons, armor, accessories, and medicines. A stay at the inn is always 10 gold coins though.
9* BehindTheBlack: It's where chests, switches, or platforms are hidden.
10* BiggerOnTheInside: Typical for an {{Eastern RPG}}.
11* BlackoutBasement: The maze under [[spoiler:Ludon city]].
12* BlindIdiotTranslation: Roberto Bechtlufft of ''Gagá Games'' fame translated most of the game to Portuguese, but had to leave the project and someone else (who isn't credited) finished the job. To his surprise, a few awkward Portuguese spelling errors appeared and he had to [[http://www.gagagames.com.br/?p=26419 explain what happened.]]
13* BottomlessMagazines: Played straight with Alina's bow/crossbow/speargun that never runs out of arrows/quarrels/spears. Averted with Edessot's thrown weapons that are in limited supply, take room in your limited inventory, and can (usually) only be found in limited chests, not bought.
14* BountyHunter: You meet one early in the game. [[spoiler:Zellini]] also disguises as one at some point in the game.
15* CriticalExistenceFailure: Whether at full health or nearly dead, the characters perform just as good. However, their combat portrait and sprite will reflect their condition.
16* CrossPoppingVeins: Alina gets these sometimes.
17* CombatMedic: Alina (see Staff Chick too). In Kruller's case, this trope is both played straight (he can only heal DURING combat) and subverted (he can't heal without ''gathering'' first, and his non-magic attacks are rather weak). He's more of a mage with some healing abilities.
18* CompetenceZone: Averted. While Hoston, Alina, and Edessot are teens and often considered as children, they are accompanied by adults who are more able due to their higher starting level only. It evens out during play.
19* CoolBigSis: Alina to Edessot.
20* DistressBall: Subverted. Early in the game, Alina leaves to go forth on her own, but Hoston and Edessot quickly catch her up, and she did not need to be rescued either.
21* DubNameChange: The game has a reference to ''Phantasy Star'''s Gamer Miki in the form of a character named Mikomi. The Portuguese translation names her Miki because "Mikomi" sounds like the Portuguese words for [[AccidentalInnuendo "eat me"]].
22* DyingRace: The Goaman (Goamen ?).
23* ElementalPowers: Enemies and characters alike can have elemental (fire, water, earth, and air) attacks, magics and/or resistances. Typically, Hoston's and Rudy's attacks are earth-based, Alina's water-based, Edessot's and Zellini's fire-based, and Kruller's air-based. Equipping accessories can give elemental resistance, while only enemies can have elemental weaknesses.
24* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The city of Oasis.
25* {{Hammerspace}} (Game type): This is where your inventory is stored, although you're limited in the number of ''different'' items you can have. Edessot seems to have his own hammerspace (basic type) as well to store his recon robot Lossa.
26* GadgeteerGenius / ScienceHero: Edessot, who lives in a workshop, assembles and disassembles robots, can repair trains, and fights with tools.
27* GlobalCurrency: Gold seems to be that; merchants accept it everywhere, enemies carry gold coins, while chests can contain gold coins, blocks, bars... or "metal coins" (no amount stated), worth... ONE gold coin!
28* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:Hoston]] suffers one of these shortly after [[spoiler:Rudy, his father, dies in front of him after taking a fatal attack from Kloneo.]] It doesn't last very long, before [[spoiler:Alina and Edessot]] get him back on his feet.
29* HopelessBossFight: After you defeat his soldiers, [[spoiler:Ironhart]] jumps into the fight, and then you're doomed to lose. [[spoiler:Happens at least twice in the game...]]
30* HubCity: Verahansa may be the biggest city of all 16-bit [=RPGs=].
31* ImprobableWeaponUser: Edessot's weapons are tools (ranging from lighters to chisels to saws...), while Kruller's attack animation pictures him fighting with... juggling balls!
32* IdenticalGrandson: Subverted. Some people notice that Hoston looks like his father Rudy, but no one ever mistakes them.
33* InexplicableTreasureChests: Of course, there are treasure chests hidden in forests, jungles, mountains, etc. And their content will never be spoiled or rotten either, however long they've been stored there...
34* InnSecurity: Subverted. Some stays in inns are mandatory to advance the plot, but that does not mean you won't get your usual rest either. Not sure if they are always free, though. See also Trauma Inn below.
35* KleptomaniacHero: And how! A Timpo citizen even blames you for this, but without consequence.
36* LevelGrinding: Leveling up is slow and hard at first, but it gets better.
37* LifeDrain: Kruller has such a spell that targets all enemies.
38* LimitBreak: During battles, each character has a 5-level ''Gather'' gauge, which can be filled up by using a "Gather"/"Send Gather" action or an item. Gather levels add a multiplier to the character's attacks and spells (up to x4) and allow him/her to use more powerful attacks and spells. Gather does not decrease after using a power, but when hit by some heavy attacks, sending it to another character, or after a round or two if it was at max level.
39* LimitedWardrobe: Played straight, though Alina tears a part of her jacket at some point. That doesn't show anywhere.
40%% * MightyGlacier / TheBigGuy: Rudy.
41* MiniGame: There are some in the game. Played with when you're getting ready to help a farmer harvest watermelons, but eventually... not.
42* MoneySpider: Most enemies are animals, yet you still earn gold when you defeat them. Subverted with Ryan the lion, since it's an arena bet.
43* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler:Towards the end, Hoston is given a choice between using the Piers Solar to rewrite history to avert all the horrible events of the game, at the cost of his own existence, or to continue to see his journey to the very end.]]
44* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Ironhart does not sound like a very nice, caring person indeed.
45* OptionalBoss: Defeating [[spoiler:Ryan the lion in Assac's arena]] is hard and optional but gets you some always-useful cash and more importantly, an item that opens late-game access to a unique piece of equipment.
46* PaletteSwap: For some enemies. They keep the same name though, only their stats change.
47* PamphletShelf: Bookshelves are neither overly common nor contain lengthy texts, but they may be critical to the plot's advancement. Some spell books can be bought in stores, read, then sold.
48* ParentalAbandonment: Averted in Hoston's case: finding a cure to his father Rudy's illness despite his mother's advice is what starts the whole plot, Not to mention that [[spoiler:Rudy will later join the party... and more]].
49* PermanentlyMissableContent: Some items can't be gotten past a certain point if you're not careful enough, as several places can only be visited once and/or before a certain point in the plot. Made worse by the fact that some chests can only be opened by backtracking to them much later in the game once you have the necessary skill/key to open them... and they contain some of the most important treasures.
50* RandomEncounters: Yup. Exceptions (fights YOU can decide to start) are very rare.
51* ShoutOut: Lots:
52** Rudy's ''Hector Hammer'' attack is a reference to Sir Hector, the Mascot of the heavy metal band {{Music/Hammerfall}}.
53** Kruller's ''Wind of Change'' spell is a reference to Music/{{Scorpions|Band}}.
54** Zellini's ''Bright Mind'' spell is learned by reading ''Slade's Guide'', which is a reference to Slade, the thief who started the plot in VideoGame/ShiningForceII.
55** One familiar merchant says “Later, ace!” when the party leaves, referencing ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII''. [[DevelopersForesight The Portuguese version of the line uses what Tectoy did when they translated that game.]]
56** You can find ingame Mega Drive/[[Platform/SegaGenesis Genesis]] cartridges of ''VideoGame/AlienSoldier'' and ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV''.
57** At some point in the game, if you play with the cartridge inserted into a Platform/Sega32X, someone will give you [[spoiler:Franchise/{{Sonic|TheHedgehog}}'s Shoes]]. Doubles as an EasterEgg.
58* SideQuest: There are some of them in the game, with varying degrees of complexity. Examples include delivering a letter, grabbing bunnies in [[spoiler:Reja forest]], collecting some stuff for a bounty hunter, fighting a lion for a prize in an arena, and navigating a maze in [[spoiler:Ludon city]].
59* SteamPunk: Steamboats, trains, robots, and 19th-century-style factories in a swords and bows world.
60* TraumaInn: Usually one per village. Some other places also allow you to rest, either one time or at will (e.g. the Goaman's hut, a given spot while climbing up Meho mountains, or the Ice Castle), while some others do NOT have any while you could really use one (Hunting Lodge anyone?). Sleeping at or visiting the inn is sometimes needed to advance into the plot.
61* UniversalDriversLicense: Averted. Only Edessot barely knows how to drive the train he just repaired... and even fails the first time he tries!
62* UrbanSegregation: The Timpo district of Verahansa is poor, while another district gathers the noble folk.
63* WeBuyAnything: Except plot-critical quest items, of course. Price may change according to the buyer, though.
64* WelcomeToCorneria: Downplayed. The programmers usually made the effort that [=NPCs=] get two or three different things to say before starting again. What they have to say may even be real-life information or hint.
65* WeSellEverything: Subverted. Smaller hamlets may have only one or few shops, but bigger cities have several shops or market merchants that may sell the same goods at different prices. Shops are usually specialised in weapons, armor, or accessories/potions/miscellaneous stuff.

Top