Line #148 VideoGame/PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/psasbr_na.png]]
2	%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
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4	-> ''"Power is an illusion. Absolute power is a seamless illusion."''
5	-->-- '''The FinalBoss'''
6
7	''[=PlayStation=] All-Stars Battle Royale'' is a MassiveMultiplayerCrossover MascotFighter developed by [=SuperBot=] Entertainment, which joins a cast of characters representing Creator/SonyComputerEntertainment's intellectual properties to beat the hell out of each other for RuleOfCool. To the speculation of many, the game's existence was foreshadowed when Sony launched their wildly successful [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22HXIMASkZo ''Michael'']] ad campaign in the fall of 2011. Initially known by the code name "Title Fight", the game was leaked by the [[http://paulgalenetwork.com/home/2011/10/30/big-playstation-3-game-announcement-tomorrow-exclusive-to-paul-gale-network/ Paul Gale Network]] before being officially announced by [=GameTrailers=] TV and on the [=PlayStation=] Blog on April 26th, 2012. Following that, it released in North America on November 20th, 2012.
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9	The game avoids the usual approach to {{fighting game}}s to use [[HitPoints health]] or a {{life meter}} (or even [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros a damage counter]]) in lieu of a [[ManaMeter Super Meter]] which increases when a fighter connects an attack. Filling this meter gives the fighter access to a specialized, [[OneHitKill instantly killing]] [[LimitBreak super attack]], and points are determined by how many of these attacks can connect. If the Super Attacks go unused, players can continue building to an easier-to-connect Level 2 Super, or even a show-stopping Level 3 Super. By default rules, players score 2 points per kill minus 1 point per death, with standard matches lasting for 3 minutes before declaring a winner; alternate rules include "stock" matches (limited [[VideoGameLives lives]], last player standing wins) and "kills" matches (first player to score a set number of kills wins). The game supports matches of up to 4 players in 3v1, 1v1, 2v2, or free-for-all.
10
11	Many of the characters' fighting styles and techniques/abilities closely mirror or at least maintain the flavor of how they would play inside their own series, and nearly the entire cast has their most iconic voice actors [[RoleReprise reprising their roles]]. Stage interaction and items play a part in game-play, with many of them damaging built AP or causing a {{Status Effect\|s}}. Stages are notable for mashing up at least two franchises, with one universe hosting the battle while the other invades, while the items frequently feature some of the more iconic Platform/PlayStation props/weapons. The game's story has the AnthropomorphicPersonification of the [=PlayStation=]'s power bringing the fighters and their worlds together [[ExcusePlot for various reasons]].
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13	On February 4, 2013, it was announced that Sony has "amicably" ended its relationship with [=SuperBot=] Entertainment, passing future content development of the game off to parent developer Sony Santa Monica Studios. Sony Santa Monica have said that there are no plans to make more [=DLC=], [[http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/PlayStation-All-Stars-Battle/Official-Support-Update-Costumes-Patch-Leaderboard/m-p/41178891 but in August of 2013 would go on to promise a final balance patch]] to fix all the game's outstanding competitive issues. Over a year after the game's apparent abandonment, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdRW8JW8Drw this patch containing over 100 changes would arrive on April 8, 2014]] to the fanbase's delight.
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15
16	!![[Characters/PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale Playable Roster]]:
17
18	'''1st-Party Characters''':
19	* ''VideoGame/ApeEscape'': Spike
20	* ''VideoGame/DokoDemoIssyo'': Toro Inoue
21	* ''VideoGame/FatPrincess'': Fat Princess (aka Princess Plump)
22	* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': Kratos, Zeus (DownloadableContent)
23	* ''VideoGame/GravityRush'': Kat (DownloadableContent)
24	* ''VideoGame/HeavenlySword'': Nariko
25	* ''VideoGame/{{inFAMOUS}}'': Cole [=MacGrath=], Evil Cole [=MacGrath=]
26	* ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'': Jak and Daxter
27	* ''VideoGame/{{Killzone}}'': Colonel Mael Radec
28	* ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet'': Sackboy
29	* ''VideoGame/{{MediEvil}}'': Sir Daniel Fortesque
30	* ''VideoGame/PaRappaTheRapper'': [=PaRappa=]
31	* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'': Ratchet and Clank
32	* ''Franchise/SlyCooper'': Sly Cooper
33	* ''VideoGame/{{Starhawk}}'': Emmett Graves (DownloadableContent)
34	* ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'': Sweet Tooth (aka Needles Kane)
35	* ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'': Nathan Drake
36
37	'''[[GuestFighter 3rd-Party Characters]]''':
38	* ''VideoGame/BioShock'': Big Daddy
39	* ''Franchise/DeadSpace'': Isaac Clarke (DownloadableContent)
40	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'': Dante (with his appearance from ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'')
41	* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'': Raiden (with his appearance from ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance Revengeance]]'')
42	* ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'': Heihachi Mishima (with his appearance from ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'')
43
44	!! Can you survive the mind-melting list of tropes?
45
46	[[foldercontrol]]
47
48	[[folder:Tropes A-D]]
49	* AbsurdlyCoolCity: Metropolis, until the Hydra shows up.
50	* AbsurdlyHighLevelCap: Each character's level can go up to 999. The final unlockable for each character is at level 300.
51	* AchievementSystem: The game (in addition to the [=PS3=] Trophy system) allows the player to select a variety of icons and backgrounds for their in-game profile and customize each character's intro/outro lines or Minion, which are unlocked primarily by accumulating enough points with specific characters (a few others are purchasable DLC).
52	* AdaptationalBadass: Effectively the entire cast are in some way more powerful than in their own games; the Big Daddy can use Plasmids, Sly [[TeleportersAndTransporters teleports]] (though this might just be the Time Stopper gadget at work), and Nathan Drake manages to create environment pieces from his home series. Even Kratos has access to some weapons that he's never held all at once.
53	** Extra points to Fat Princess, who not only didn't fight in her game, but is best known for looking quite immobile!
54	*** Same goes for Sackboy, to some extent.
55	** There's actually a bit of in-story justification for it: All-Star Power (AP) is [[spoiler:implied in the character endings to make the user vastly stronger than they've ever been. It's possible AP started being distributed among the Playstation inhabitants after Polygon Man fused the universes]].
56	*** Some characters don't get the nifty abilities they get in their own game to the same power, such as Ratchet. Carrying a truckload of weapons and portable black hole launchers would be too much.
57	* AndTheAdventureContinues: A few characters' Arcade Mode endings, such as Ratchet and Clank's, have them using or planning to use the power they gained from defeating the FinalBoss in their subsequent adventures.
58	* ArtShift: Each playable character will be rendered in their respectable series' distinctive art style. Even Parappa, [[PaperPeople who's two-dimensional-ish!]]
59	** Also, each character's story mode intro and ending cutscenes are animated in their respective art styles. For example, Parappa's cutscenes look like the Parappa the Rapper anime, while Kat's are told in a 2-D {{comic book}} style like in ''VideoGame/GravityRush''.
60	* TheAllSeeingAI: There’s a pretty good chance that if you try to use your Countering abilities on a computer opponent, that they’ll decide to attack ''just'' as your counter is ending.
61	* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: This should be obvious. Interestingly, this game is being released late in the life-cycle of Sony's third major console generation. [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Sound familiar?]]
62	** One odd aspect of the two games' approach to note is that Smash Bros is Japanese-developed and is primarily focused on ring-outs, while the American-made PSASBR works with flashy supers. Kind of like sumo wrestling as opposed to ProfessionalWrestling.
63	* AndYourRewardIsClothes: Real-life example: The pre-order incentive was alternate costumes for every character.
64	** The in-game alternate outfits are unlocked by leveling the character.
65	* AntiAir: Since the game is [[PlatformFighter more air-based than most fighters]], most of the characters have at least one answer to opponents approaching from above.
66	* AscendedExtra: Polygon Man went from being an advertising mascot to the FinalBoss.
67	* AttackDrone: The Killer Bees fire weak lasers to help lengthen combos. Or shortens them, depending on your point of view (Dante-players in particular don't seem to avoid them).
68	* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever:
69	** The [=PaRappa=] level features the MAWLR from ''VideoGame/{{Killzone}}'', a [[HumongousMecha Humongous]] [[GiantSpider Spider]] [[HumongousMecha Mecha]] in the background, firing missiles at the players (the mecha can be seen outside the dojo window before the walls actually come down). Like in the Dojo level of ''[=PaRappa=] The Rapper'', Chop Chop Master Onion will later reappear as a giant in the background in order to fight the mech. The Time Station has a Satan Chimera break through the portal, lobbing acid spit on the floor.
70	** Several supers increase the character's size, sometimes to screen-filling degrees.
71	* BackgroundMusicOverride: Goes hand in hand with the crossover stages. On Hades, the Patapon will override the stage's theme with their own jingle while The End Begins plays when the Hydra invades Metropolis.
72	* BadassBoast: Many characters after completing a successful Super.
73	* BattleAura: Characters show this when they fill their AP bar or respawn. It bears a striking resemblance to the wavy ribbon that appears on the Platform/PlayStation3's default XMB.
74	* BattleInTheRain: The latter part of the Metropolis level, after the Hydra appears.
75	* BattleIntro: Every character can earn 4 of them, as well as four victory poses.
76	* BeehiveBarrier: The Gravity Shield from ''VideoGame/{{Wipeout}}'' is a usable item. It'll make your character ImmuneToFlinching for up to 200 AP, and will even protect against an offending Super.
77	* {{BFG}}:
78	** The always-powerful RPG-7 from ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'' appears as a usable item. It holds 3 shots, like in its home series (though the reload doesn't seem especially long).
79	** Radec's plasma cannon, the Sweet Bot's [[GatlingGood Gatling gun]], Nathan's GrenadeLauncher, Ratchet's RYNO V and Nariko's cannon.
80	* BigBoosHaunt: The Graveyard.
81	* BilingualDialogue: In the cutscene preceding Kat and Emmett's rival battle, the two converse without any difficulty understanding one another, despite the fact that she's speaking French/Japanese and he's speaking English.
82	** In the Japanese version, it is played out with Dante (vs. Nariko) and Parappa (vs. Spike), as they remain the only two characters to retain their original English dub. In the case of Dante, it could be a ShoutOut to how the main ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' titles (in addition to the Western reboot) have never been dubbed in Japanese. Isaac gets this treatment as well, since the ''Dead Space'' games have never been to Japan.
83	** This actually causes a LostInTranslation moment for Spike and Parappa. In the former's cutscene, the latter still refers to him as Spike, despite [[DubNameChange being named Kakeru]] in Japan, although it may be a jab towards his spike-y hair.
84	* BladeLock: Several characters lock blades in the intro cutscene. Sir Daniel's sword meets Radec's combat knife before Radec completely overpowers Sir Daniel, and Kratos' blades clash with Sweet Tooth's machete twice before Kratos kicks Sweet Tooth away.
85	* BloodlessCarnage: Just another reason the game earns a T-Rating.
86	* BookEnds: Ratchet and Clank begin and end their Story Mode searching for Gold Bolts.
87	* {{Bowdlerise}}: The characters from M-rated games (Kratos, Sweet Tooth, Radec, Big Daddy, Dante, Raiden, Zeus, and Isaac) have been toned down with regards to being gory or violent. Despite this, some of them still remain faithful to their franchises by possessing arguably the most brutal-looking movesets and [[BloodKnight making]] [[IllKillYou similarly]] [[BadassBoast badass]] [[HarbingerOfAsskicking threats,]] especially Kratos, Sweet Tooth, Radec, and Raiden.
88	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Most of the roster's select screen dialogue seems to do this both obviously and subtly when they're selected. Some of them are merely LeaningOnTheFourthWall (Kratos saying "Let's see what you can do!") while others seem to blatantly address the player (Sweet Tooth's "Right choice" select quote).
89	* BribingYourWayToVictory: Almost definitely completely by accident unlike most examples, but Kat and Isaac Clarke, each available in one of the two character DLC packs, are [[GameBreaker widely considered to be the game's S-Tiers]].
90	* BringIt: Just about all the taunts are this essentially.
91	* BrutalBonusLevel: The combat trials, while necessary for a few obscure goals, can otherwise be avoided (it could be argued that some of them provide perspective on how to properly use a character). The later ones on All-Star difficulty can be terrifying.
92	** One exhausting series of trials forces the player to fight a {{mirror match}} against an opponent with an unlimited Super Meter. The goal is to dodge the entire Level 3 Super, doing so ''3 times'' on All-Star difficulty.
93	* BulletHell: The Sandover Village/19th Hole stage becomes this later on... with golf balls.
94	* {{Cap}}: Each character's XP level caps out at 999 - considering the last unlockable associated with that character is unlocked at level 300, you'll have to do a lot of grinding and online matches to reach 999.
95	* CastHerd: Within the story, the roster-members never associate with each other. Outside of it, on the other hand, they're required to be grouped in fours so DLC bundles can be made about them (such as costumes or themes). The descriptions for these can be pretty vague.
96	** The Bad Dudes Pack: Kratos, Sweet Tooth, Radec, and Evil Cole.
97	** The Classic Pack: Jak, Ratchet, Spike, and Sly.
98	** The Heroes Pack: Nathan Drake, Sackboy, Sir Dan, and Good Cole.
99	** The Fun Pack: [=PaRappa=], Toro, Fat Princess, and Nariko
100	** The Heavy Hitters Pack: Dante, Raiden, Heihachi and Big Daddy.
101	* ChargedAttack: Relatively common among the roster. Originally it was Spike who made the most use of it until Zeus came along, who can charge literally every single attack at his disposal.
102	* {{Combos}}: Being held as a distinctive characteristic of the game to distance it from ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Smash]]'' (whose combos are created by the competitive players, rather than partially designed by the developers) by instead following the ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' philosophy of combo-stringing (though the combos in PSASBR will be comparatively less lengthy than a standard ''[=MvC=]'' combo).
103	** Thanks to the 24+ move-set per character, the game will allow for a vast number of unique, character-specific combos. Dante and Raiden, however, take a more traditional approach to combos, [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 thanks in no small part to Dante's last appearance]]. This is because of their unique magic series (read: a combo string for fighting games, like Light to Medium to Heavy in ''Marvel Vs. Capcom'') for combos.
104	** Also, unlike ''Smash'', this game has no directional influence (read: an advanced ''Smash'' technique that allows the player being attacked to alter the direction and intensity of his/her knockback), nor damage percentage (a variable in ''Smash'' that affects knockback, and therefore, combo consistency), so the combat of this game is truly much more like traditional fighters' than ''Smash''[='=]s.
105	* ColorContrast: A pretty major part of ''The Unfinished Swan'''s aesthetic.
106	* ComboBreaker: A mechanic similar to VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}' Infinite Prevention System has been implemented. Once a combo has yielded AP-gain past a certain point, the victim will enter an invincible state in which not even Supers can hit them. This was done for balancing reasons and to prevent infinite loops. Gradual Grinders like [=PaRappa=] will be able to string very long combos thanks to their low AP-gain, while bruisers like Sweet Tooth will typically have the lowest combo-potential. Most top-level combos are meant to hit the IPS limit, to maximize AP gain.
107	* CompositeCharacter: The cast will frequently draw various elements from their home series that don't generally make sense with that series' continuity. Some notable examples:
108	** [=BioShock=] is an example of a composite franchise; the character representing the series (Big Daddy) hails from the original games, while the stages and items representing it are from ''Videogame/BioshockInfinite''. The icons and backgrounds are a mix of both the Rapture games and Infinite.
109	** Kratos's portrayal is clearly supposed to take place after ''VideoGame/GodOfWarII'' but before the events of ''VideoGame/GodOfWarIII'', yet his moveset includes weapons he only obtained in the latter game like Apollo's Bow and the Head of Helios.
110	* TheComputerShallTauntYou:
111	** A CPU character does this often when all of the characters but them are killed.
112	** Standard fare for ''VideoGame/{{MediEvil}}'''s [[DeadpanSnarker Gargoyles]] in the Graveyard, and a part of Buzz's shtick in Dreamscape.
113	* CoolVersusAwesome: Matchups such as [[VideoGame/GodOfWar the guy who killed Ares]] fighting [[VideoGame/TwistedMetal a psychopathic clown killer]], as well as [[VideoGame/FatPrincess an obese princess]] and [[Franchise/SlyCooper a raccoon thief]] fighting [[VideoGame/BioShock a freak of nature trapped in a scuba suit]], [[Franchise/{{Tekken}} an old man who literally refuses to die]], and [[VideoGame/{{Uncharted}} an adventurer who possesses luck that is equal parts rotten and godly]].
114	* CounterAttack: Usually mapped to neutral circle, and common for melee-heavy characters to give them an edge inside their specialized range; none of them are completely alike (varying by hit-reaction, space affected, user-reaction, and even whether they can [[CatchAndReturn return projectiles]]). They're used by Kratos, Nariko, Heihachi, Raiden, Dante, and Sly, who instead uses his to stay unpredictable by teleporting around the screen and to protect himself due to his lack of a block or dodge.
115	* CrateExpectations: Occasionally, Nanotech glass crates from ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'' (which usually function as a HeartContainer) will appear on the screen, giving away AP when broken.
116	* CreepyCrows: The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Murder of Crows]], which [[InterfaceScrew confuses the victim's controls]] while steadily chipping away AP.
117	* CuteMachines: The Sackbot has [[WingdingEyes heart-shaped eyes]] and will hop around trying to hug one of the players besides the one who threw it, slowing them down substantially.
118	* DividingByZero: Picking up a second Boots of Hermes just deletes the one you’re already wearing (this presumably applies to every other passively-held item). So no SuperSpeed mode, unfortunately.
119	* CriticalExistenceFailure: Characters hit with a Super merely explode into a splash of All-Star Energy and [[SigilSpam Playstation symbols]]. This is probably for the best anyway, since many of them can have some particularly grisly after effects (Radec's Level 2 Super is designed to explode opponents into a red mist, and Raiden's would have some pretty visceral results if used [[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance accurately]]).
120	* DamnYouMuscleMemory: The Vita version, for a lack of L or R2, instead maps Supers to R1, where by comparison the console version has this button as the Item Pick-Up button. Yes, this can become confusing.
121	* DashAttack: The game lacks sprinting or quick dash-in options like other fighters, so these are pretty common to make up for it.
122	* DemographicDissonantCrossover: Unlike ''Smash Bros.'', this fighter mostly drew characters from games aimed at teenagers and adults, such as Metal Gear and God of War, and which are varying degrees of violent and gory. However, a few of the games represented, such as Ape Escape, [=PaRappa=] The Rapper, and [=LittleBigPlanet=], are targeted toward preteens or even younger audiences. The violence in those games rarely goes beyond cartoonish slapstick, which creates quite a contrast when Sackboy is slapping Kratos around.
123	* DesignatedGirlFight: Averted in the game itself with Fat Princess, Nariko, and Kat all having male rivals, but played straight in Kat's intro trailer where she starts off fighting Nariko one-on-one.
124	* DevelopersForesight: On the very rare chance you have enough All-Star Power to perform another Super when the FinalBoss makes himself vulnerable to attacks (since you need to defeat all his minions first before you could hurt him, which itself, requires the use of Supers in order to get rid of), it's possible to use said Supers to deal heavy damage to him (although it won't automatically kill him outright).
125	* DisproportionateRetribution:
126	** Sweet Tooth is admiring his 'perfect' ice cream. Kratos comes and knocks it out of his hands. Kratos then dies a horrible death.
127	** Sackboy comes in and instantly becomes the Little Sister's new best friend. A seemingly jealous Big Daddy then destroys the little sackperson.
128	* DownloadableContent: There's plenty of it available, in the form of new characters, stages, costumes and minions.
129	* DynamicEntry: Kratos suffers one of these at the hands (or feet) of Parappa while shouting "You gotta believe!" in the early tech-demo shown by [=SuperBot=] at San Diego Comic-Con. Fat Princess then outdoes even this by body-slamming both of them.
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder:Tropes E-I]]
133	* EdibleBludgeon: The Sturgeon from Uncharted.
134	* EssenceDrop: AP is treated this way. It was inspired by the red orbs from ''VideoGame/GodOfWar''.
135	* EverythingTryingToKillYou: The stages will feature many environmental hazards, such as [[VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy Sandover Village]], which has a giant [[http://jakanddaxter.wikia.com/wiki/Shark Lurker Shark]] swimming beneath the stage who will eat players too slow to get back to the main platform. The Metropolis stage has the [[SeaMonster Hydra]], which will periodically attack the players as well. In the Dojo stage, a Helghast MAWLR will open fire on Master Onion's dojo, and may end up hitting the fighters. The players may get involved in the crossfire between the Songbird/Vox Populi fight on Stowaways.
136	* ExplodingBarrels: The Invasion stage has several that drop AP when destroyed.
137	* FeedbackRule: [[VideoGame/PaRappaTheRapper PaRappa]]'s microphone attacks (forward and neutral Circle) all give off a quick feedback squeal to indicate [[ImprobableWeaponUser what he's using as a weapon]]... despite not being connected to anything.
138	* FinalBoss: [[spoiler:Polygon Man]] is the one responsible for bringing the fighters together.
139	* FinalExamBoss: The Boss Arena calls back a number of the previous levels' hazards for the sake of making a non-predictable challenge (and forcing the player to remember how to deal with them).
140	* FinishingMove: Level 3 Supers are extremely easy to land several kills with, and they also prevent the other players from using their own Supers while active. They come in about 4 varieties:
141	** SuperMode: Kratos, Jak and Daxter, Sweet Tooth, Nariko, Evil Cole, and Kat. These tend to make the player bigger, and their attacks change to usually 3 hugely-effective moves mapped to the three buttons.
142	** First-person Shooter Mode: Radec, Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, and Cole [=McGrath=]. Most of these involve an UnexpectedGameplayChange that turns the entire screen into a shooting gallery.
143	** Negative Penalty: Nathan Drake, Sackboy, Raiden, and Big Daddy. These basically slow down or impair the other players in some way, but the character's controls remain (mostly) the same.
144	** Cinematic: [=PaRappa=], Spike, Toro, and Heihachi. These are the lowest-costing Level 3's, and act as [[UnblockableAttack Unblockable]] [[AlwaysAccurateAttack Always Accurate]] {{Smart Bomb}}s, letting them clear the screen but remain limited to 3 kills at a time.
145	** Unique: Fat Princess' Level 3 is automated like a cinematic, but doesn't guarantee any kills (in exchange, it can potentially get more kills if the other players are slow enough). Sir Dan's Level 3 involves hunting the other players down, but doesn't impair them and in fact limits Dan to just moving. Dante's Level 3 is a hybrid of SuperMode and a Negative Penalty, by its ability to increase his speed while slowing all other players to a crawl for 6 seconds.
146	*** The DLC fighters have pushed this category even harder: Emmett's Level 3 functions normally as a SuperMode, but can be ended to instead perform a carpet-bombing across the stage, with this move's power-output determined by how many kills he got before using it (making it essentially two different Supers). Isaac essentially forces the opponents to play the asteroid in a game of ''VideoGame/{{Asteroids}}'', while Zeus is a glorified game of Whack-a-Mole.
147	* FixedFloorFighting: The All-Stars Arena and a few of the practice mode stages.
148	* {{Foreshadowing}}: In the background of the Rival Arena, behind the XMB-style waves, there are flashes of purple lightning. In Arcade Mode, you fight in the Rival Arena prior to the final boss fight with the purple-colored Polygon Man.
149	* FreeFloorFighting:
150	** The Dreamscape level is constantly being built, adding extra platforms and occasionally lowering ground. This is just one example.
151	** Alden's Tower is the greatest example, forcing the players to climb the stage periodically.
152	* FullNameBasis: The Announcer uses full names for characters that have them, so it can be a little jarring to go from "Sir Daniel Fortesque" to simply [[OneNameOnly "Spike"]].
153	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Since the stages will focus on one "host" stage being invaded by another [=PlayStation=] world, this will happen frequently. In Sandover Village, aboard the Rift Rider, Samos and Keira (along with much of the local scenery) get sucked into a Rift Gate before a number of Hot Shots Golfers, their buggies, equipment, and a sign saying "19th Hole" start pouring out of it. Later on, in the Metropolis stage, Captain Qwark, having survived the [[SeaMonster Hydra's]] onslaught, ends up becoming an unlikely HeadPet, riding away atop the creature as the match ends. In the Dojo level, Chop Chop Master Onion is attempting his usual training regiment and wondering why the players are more interested in fighting instead of following his words (before he has to go deal with the pressing matter of the MAWLR rampaging outside).
154	* FunSize: The Minions are all characters from various games, [[MiniMe but smaller!]]
155	* GameplayAndStorySegregation: The attract trailer depicts Radec overpowering Sir Dan in close-combat, when the opposite would be more likely in the actual game.
156	* GiantEnemyCrab: [[VideoGame/{{Genji}} Not the one you were thinking of]]. One of the crab bosses from ''Patapon'' is just another of the Playstation oddities summoned by Specter in the Time Station.
157	* GimmickLevel: Alden's Tower is the game's only AutoScrollingLevel, and it forces a gameplay style not all the characters are equipped for.
158	* GrappleMove: Has the abnormal placement on the right stick, and is directable in 3 different ways with said right stick (side, up and down as usual). As can be imagined, "Up+Throw" is usually a full launch or some kind of lifting/bouncing motion, "Side+Throw" sends victims flying or rolling away, while "Down+Throw" tends to cause a face-plant; only a few odd cases don't follow this behavior.
159	** Everyone's grabbing motion is the same for the most part, except Ratchet's allows him to carry his victim around with him using his Suck Cannon (while leaving him very open during said grabbing motion). Kat can grab on both sides of herself while sacrificing range/cool-down for this, while Isaac can {{catch and return}} projectiles with his.
160	* GravityScrew: The Time Station, occasionally.
161	* GroundPound: Exceedingly common across all move-sets, and almost always activated with down + square (they don't necessarily have to hit directly beneath the character either). Some of them [[ShockwaveStomp even create shockwaves]].
162	* GuestFighter: [[VideoGame/BioShock Big Daddy]], [[Franchise/{{Tekken}} Heihachi Mishima]], [[VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry Dante]], [[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance Raiden]], and [[Franchise/DeadSpace Isaac Clarke]] later on as DLC.
163	* GuideDangIt: The entire cast has a series of variable values which designate how much AP is required for them to pull off any given Super, most of them balanced by ease of use and effectiveness. This is mentioned nowhere in the game, but is brought up in great detail in the official guide.
164	* HailfirePeaks: Every stage will smoosh together environments from completely different games for unique mash-ups (which includes mash-ups remixing the original game's music). In terms of story-justification, the developers describe the [=PlayStation=] locales as being invaded by other universes.
165	** The [[VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy Sandover Village]] stage will have several [[VideoGame/HotShotsGolf Hot Shots Golfers]] in the background sending golf balls onto the stage for low AP-loss to those struck with them.
166	** Buzz! will stand in the background of the slowly-morphing VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet stage to occasionally quiz the players.
167	** Later in the [[Franchise/RatchetAndClank Metropolis stage]], [[VideoGame/GodOfWarI the Hydra]] will appear, shortly after attacking/eating Captain Qwark.
168	** Probably the strangest one is a stage that combines the underworld of ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' with ''VideoGame/{{Patapon}}''.
169	** One stage is set in [[VideoGame/PaRappaTheRapper Chop Chop Master Onion]]'s dojo, which will lose its walls eventually to reveal a [[VideoGame/{{Killzone}} MAWLR]] stomping around [=PaRappa=]'s world.
170	** "Stowaways" is set in the cargo plane from ''VideoGame/Uncharted3DrakesDeception'' which finds itself in the middle of a battle between [[Videogame/BioshockInfinite Songbird and a Vox Populi blimp (with Columbia itself far in the background)]].
171	** "[[VideoGame/{{inFAMOUS}} Alden's Tower]]" receives an unexpected visit from [[Franchise/SlyCooper Carmelita Fox]].
172	* HappyDance: The minions engage in this when the player using them performs particularly well by getting a bunch of kills at once.
173	* HarmlessFreezing: The Freeze Missile from ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'' is a usable item. It doesn't deplete AP, but it comes with a freezing effect that slows anyone hit with it to a crawl.
174	* HarpingOnAboutHarpies: You can find one from ''God of War'' carrying a monkey around in the Time Station.
175	* HighAltitudeBattle: Stowaways and Alden's Tower, eventually.
176	* HomeStage: Most of the characters have a stage representing their specific games series, as explained above. Interestingly, ''All-Stars'' plays with this concept as other series' take over the stage, meaning a few franchises can "share" a level.
177	** Dante, Fat Princess, Heihachi, Toro, Kat, Emmett Graves, and Isaac Clarke avert this by not having their franchises represented in a stage at all.
178	* HostileShowTakeover: Hostile ''Stage'' Takeover. It's kind of the point of the invading universes.
179	** [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Hades]] begins in the Underworld with the God of the Dead himself standing in the background attacking the fighters, until suddenly an army of VideoGame/{{Patapon}} drop in behind him and begin singing cheerily as they attack and defeat Hades.
180	** [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank Metropolis]] takes place on floating platforms in the titular city with Captain Qwark standing in the background, until it begins raining and the Hydra from ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' bursts through the platforms and begins attacking as Qwark awkwardly attempts to fight it.
181	** [[VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet Dreamscape]] is a calm and cute stage where the Popit menu can be seen actively editing a level, until suddenly the atmosphere changes to a lively game show as ''Buzz!'' rises up on a platform in the background and begins quizzing the fighters with [=PlayStation=] trivia as the Popit attempts to remove him.
182	** [[VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy Sandover Village]] sees the players from ''VideoGame/HotShotsGolf'' being shot out of a Precursor Gate and starting a game of golf that occasionally interferes with the match.
183	** [[VideoGame/{{Killzone}} Invasion]] involves a battle between the Helghan and the ISA that is suddenly interrupted by Specter from ''VideoGame/ApeEscape'' arriving in the Goliath mech and laying waste to the two armies, accompanied by a legion of Piko Monkeys.
184	** [[VideoGame/InFamous Alden's Tower]] is a vertically scrolling stage that, when it reaches the top, sees [[Franchise/SlyCooper Carmelita Fox]] arrive in a helicopter to try and arrest the fighters.
185	** [[VideoGame/Uncharted3DrakesDeception Stowaways]] recreates the iconic scene from ''Uncharted 3'' and has the fighters brawling on an open cargo plane that suddenly flies by [[VideoGame/BioShockInfinite Columbia]] and gets attacked by Songbird and the Vox Populi.
186	** [[Franchise/SlyCooper Paris]] takes place on a rooftop in the middle of the night when the Negativitron from ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet2'' arrives to suck everything up.
187	** [[VideoGame/PaRappaTheRapper Dojo]] starts in Chop Chop Master Onion's karate school until he hears something outside and kicks the walls away, revealing that the MAWLR from ''VideoGame/{{Killzone}}'' is attacking [=PaRappa=] Town until a giant-sized Chop Chop Master Onion arrives to destroy it with a PUNCH!
188	** [[VideoGame/ResistanceFallOfMan San Francisco]] begins in a post-apocalyptic version of the famous city overrun with Chimera until the stage is suddenly ripped from the earth and launched into space by [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank Dr. Nefarious]], who unleashes the [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler]] on them.
189	** [[VideoGame/ApeEscape Time Station]] features Specter in the background messing with the titular machine and summoning a number of things, including a [[VideoGame/{{Patapon}} Cikona]], [[VideoGame/GodOfWar a Harpy]], [[VideoGame/JakAndDaxter a Lurker Shark]], [[VideoGame/TwistedMetal a Vermin Truck]], and a ''VideoGame/{{Warhawk}}'' ship before finally summoning [[VideoGame/{{Resistance}} the Satan Chimera]] to wreak havoc.
190	** [[VideoGame/LocoRoco Franzea]] begins in a bright and cheerful puzzle game world until [[VideoGame/MetalGear Metal Gear RAY]] rips through the background and begins attacking... until it's defeated unexpectedly by the [=LocoRocos=].
191	** [[VideoGame/BioShockInfinite Columbia]] takes place in the titular city in the sky, which is eventually invaded by [[VideoGame/TwistedMetal Baby Doll's mech]].
192	** [[VideoGame/TwistedMetal Black Rock Stadium]] has a typical ''Twisted Metal'' death match suddenly overrun by [[VideoGame/JakAndDaxter Baron Praxis and his army]].
193	** [[VideoGame/HeavenlySword Fearless]] takes place in an ancient ground that is suddenly run through with a ''VideoGame/WipeOut'' track.
194	** [[VideoGame/MediEvil The Graveyard]] features the whimsically gothic atmosphere of ''[=MediEvil=]'' being interrupted by inkblots raining from the sky and transforming it into the artistic world of ''VideoGame/TheUnfinishedSwan''.
195	* IAmNotShazam: [[InvokedTrope Used]] by [=SuperBot=] with one character. "Sweet Tooth" should normally be named "Needles Kane"[[note]]Sweet Tooth is the name of his ice cream truck[[/note]] (though his own series has taken to calling him Sweet Tooth as well).
196	* IAmNotWeasel: Played straight with [[VideoGame/JakAndDaxter Daxter]], after [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank Clank]] calls Daxter a weasel creature. This seems to be Daxter's [[BerserkButton Berserk Button]], as it is what eventually leads to Jak and Ratchet battling.
197	-->'''Clank:''' Did that... weasel... creature just call me a "sidekick?"\
198	'''Daxter:''' WEASEL CREATURE?\
199	'''Jak:''' Maybe it's time someone taught you some manners! ''(Daxter hands Jak his gun, as Ratchet draws his Omniwrench)''
200	* IconicSequelOutfit: The first-party characters' designs are mostly taken from the most successful game in their series. For example, Ratchet's design is from ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction'', while Nathan Drake's is from ''VideoGame/Uncharted2AmongThieves''.
201	* IdiotBall: In Cole's story, he tries to look for allies to help rebuild Empire City, yet his rival battle has him attacking Raiden simply because he didn't want to help. To the surprise of no one, he completely fails to recruit any allies in the end.
202	* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum: [[spoiler:This depends heavily on to what degree Polygon Man could be described as "alien." Many of the endings have the winner glowing translucent blue, having taken control of All-Star Power (seemingly gained from Polygon Man [[VictorGainsLosersPowers after he explodes]]) and utilizing it for their own purposes. Spike declares he's ready to take on whatever EvilPlan Specter has since cooked up, while Drake uses it to power Sully's plane to head off to another adventure. Some characters come up with their own explanations for it, such as Jak entering Battle Royale thinking AP is a new form of Eco (which he continues to believe after winning) while Heihachi writes off his new-found abilities as a side-effect of the [[FountainOfYouth youth serum]].]]
203	* InexplicableTreasureChests: ''God of War'''s Red Orb chests appear in Metropolis.
204	* InterestingSituationDuel: One level has [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Hades]] trying to attack the players while fending off a band of invading VideoGame/{{Patapon}} warriors.
205	** The Dreamscape level actually manages to have a duel BETWEEN BUZZ AND THE POPIT MENU! It starts out when the Popit Menu deletes the platform Buzz is standing on, causing him to fall. When he rises back up again, he uses a remote control to electrocute the Popit Menu. Seconds before the match ends, the Popit Menu actually deletes Buzz himself from the stage.
206	** Have you ever wanted to see [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty Metal Gear RAY]] get crushed by VideoGame/{{Loco Roco}}s? Probably not, but there you go.
207	* ItemGet: Each character has a special line of dialogue for picking up an item.
208	[[/folder]]
209
210	[[folder:Tropes J-P]]
211	* KickTheDog: Before their rival fight, Kratos knocks over Sweet Tooth's ice cream cone for no reason. Sweet Tooth was being plenty reasonable beforehand, only demanding that Kratos pay and retaliating during the actual fight.
212	* KillSat: The Dohvat Laser Designator looks quite a bit like this, but it actually marks an area for artillery fire.
213	* KneelPushTrip: This is [[VideoGame/ApeEscape Spike]]'s Down Throw where one of [[MascotMook the infamous monkeys]] from his game series waits behind the victim.
214	* LaserBlade: The Razor Claws from ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction'' can be picked up.
215	* LaughTrack: The Buzz portion of Dreamscape has one.
216	* LauncherMove: More than likely to be used with up + square, these are handed out like candy to any character planning to fight up close, and always have a useful follow-up somewhere on the control-scheme; others, like Kratos and Dante, can quickly cancel their launchers with jumps to continue combos.
217	* {{Leitmotif}}: Every character gets two brief unlockable themes that play when they're victorious. They range heavily in genre from Heihachi and Spike's electronic sound, the orchestral scores provided for Radec and Kratos to the heavy metal riffs used by Sweet Tooth and Dante. Most of them draw on [[BootstrappedTheme the theme music of their respective series]], such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgcq_ZtqbO0 Nate's Theme]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILUMFISGm8s The Rage of Sparta]].
218	* LetsYouAndHimFight: The Rivalry cutscenes have ''maybe'' 30-45 seconds to justify the oncoming battle. Few of them manage to give much of a reason for it. Compare Drake and Sly fighting over a treasure map (which are also pages of the ''Thievius Raccoonus'') to Heihachi being "disrespected" by Kuro.
219	** Kratos mistakes Sweet Tooth for one of Olympus's minions and knocks over his ice cream cone. Sweet Tooth demands Kratos pay for it, one way or another.
220	** Fat Princess asks Evil Cole for cake, who is obviously not the most generous soul. He quickly grows agitated with the woman and attacks her.
221	** Nathan had stolen some pages from the ''Thievius Raccoonus'' prior to the game's arcade mode, with Sly giving chase. The latter finally catches up to the former in their rival cutscene and demands the pages back. Nathan refuses and dares Sly to try and take them from him.
222	** Radec gets frustrated with Sir Daniel's inability to speak coherently and decides to pick a fight with him to entertain himself.
223	** Spike is chasing a monkey when Parappa stops him. Spike assumes he's working for Specter and attacks.
224	** The Little Sister that the Big Daddy is accompanying plays with and befriends Sackboy, which makes the Big Daddy jealous. When the Little Sister attempts to tell him off, Big Daddy grows angry and attacks.
225	** Toro [[VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken recognizes Heihachi]] and approaches him with questions, only for Heihachi to feel disrespected by their questions about his age and attack.
226	** Ratchet and Clank accidentally offend Jak and Daxter, leading the two parties to quickly come to blows.
227	** Cole asks Raiden if he's a Conduit or has seen any, only for Raiden to rebuff him. Cole then decides that if Raiden isn't his friend, he's his enemy.
228	** Dante mistakes Nariko for a demon and moves to take her out.
229	** Emmett notices Kat is having difficulty controlling her powers and tries to bring her in line, only for Kat to declare him a villain for trying to stop her from using her powers for good.
230	** Isaac's distate for authoritarians and god complexes and Zeus's low tolerance for blasphemy puts the two at odds with one another.
231	* LimitBreak: The game is based around these, as the only way to score points is to hit opponents with one. Each character is given a meter that fills as they pummel their opponent, allowing them to use up to 3 levels of Super moves. The main reason for attacking normally is to build AP to fill that meter. Level 1 Supers are usually brief, affect a small area, and tend to be the easiest to interrupt, Level 2 Supers last longer and can potentially take out multiple opponents over a wide area, while Level 3 Supers will likely annihilate the opposition. [=SuperBot=] wants there to be a tactical approach to Supers, such as when to use them or how to counter them. For instance, Level 2 Supers which don't activate instantly or fire some type of projectile tend to transform the user in some way (Raiden, Big Daddy, Fat Princess) or give them a new control-scheme (Nariko, Sly, [=PaRappa=]); they aren't immune to other Supers in this state. This means it's possible to waste an opponent's Level 2 Super with a Level 1 if the player has proper timing (there's also the option to dodge by pressing Block + Left Stick). More importantly, tossing out many difficult-to-land Level 1 Supers has been described as the ideal strategy, with Level 3 Supers primarily being CoolButImpractical. As a for-instance, Toro, Heihachi, and Parappa's Level 3 Supers are [[UnblockableAttack Unblockable]] [[AlwaysAccurateAttack Always Accurate]] {{Smart Bomb}}s, but this limits them to only being able to get 3 kills per use, whereas other Level 3 Supers could potentially get 5 or even 6 (one representative from [=SuperBot=] said that with the tools they've given the cast, in the time it took your opponent to build that Level 3 meter, you should've killed them several times over, and if it still reaches that point, you have only yourself to blame).
232	** Some Supers are specifically made to be situational or require heavy set-up, yet they'll give heavy pay-off at their full potential. Heihachi's Level 1, for instance, is meant to be disguised as a low-key, simple-looking — if somewhat slow — punch that can easily be slipped by or worked into his usual combo-grinding. Meanwhile, Nathan Drake's Level 1 Super leaves a large explosion relative to other Supers, but requires concentration and awareness of your enemy's presence (so as not to be interrupted) thanks to the speed at which the [[ShootTheFuelTank propane tank]] falls. [=SuperBot=] has tried to create a balance between risk and reward relative to difficulty or ease of use. Kratos and Fat Princess' Level 1 Supers come out fast but are predictable, while Sweet Tooth's Level 1 is hard to set up, but if used properly alongside his space-controlling gameplay, can work like a faster version of Drake's propane tank. Level 2 Supers tend to have even more wild variations.
233	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXLQqgMoZHI SuperBot made a video]] showing several ways to escape or defend against a Super, further proving that they can't reasonably be spammed or tossed out without thought.
234	* LifeDrain: The Leech Beam, true to its name, can suck AP away from anyone the user gets close to. Most players found it annoying enough to declare it worthy of Epic Item status, and so patch 1.12 changed its drain-rate to 100 AP at the most over 140.
235	* MickeyMousing: Utilized a bit in the character trailers.
236	* MilitaryMashupMachine: Metal Gear RAY.
237	* MiniMe: The Minions are cartoony, super-deformed versions of supporting characters from various games who act as "cheerleaders" for the playable ones. However, with the exception of Young Drake, none of them are playable characters.
238	* MirrorMatch: Every character has a Combat Trial where the player has to win in a timed match against a level 5 (the max level) computer of the same character.
239	* MoodDissonance: Intentionally invoked. Superbot wants there to be a charm in the juxtaposition of setting lighthearted E-rated characters against M-rated murderers in stages that jump between tone and theme routinely.
240	-->"''In terms of integrating them all into the same world, part of this is supposed to feel like a mash up. We're not just trying to sanitize everything, we kind of want them to stand apart from one another — that's where the irreverence and the humour comes from. It's a challenge, but ultimately we've found a pretty decent balance of getting them all to live in the same world.''"
241	-->-Producer Chan Park, [[http://kotaku.com/5905634/our-first-punches-with-playstation-all+stars-battle-royale Kotaku interview]]
242	* MultiSlotCharacter: The game has both Cole and Evil Cole in the roster, which reflects the two possible ways the Cole's powerset and personality can be shaped by the player in ''VideoGame/InFAMOUS2''.
243	* MythologyGag:
244	** [[VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken Heihachi's rival battle is against Toro and Kuro. They even comment on how he looks younger.]]
245	** Polygon Man's intro line about role-playing games comes from an old magazine ad for ''VideoGame/BattleArenaToshinden''.
246	* NostalgiaLevel: Plenty.
247	* NonstandardGameOver: If you lose against the final boss, you are treated to a cutscene where your character gets turned into one of the minions that you fight during the battle.
248	* OhCrap: Any time a character has suffered a Super, they're given a respawn quote that usually falls under this (Nathan Drake [[CatchPhrase naturally]] says the trope title).
249	* OneHitKill:
250	** Without HitPoints to deplete or edges of the arena to [[RingOut fall out of]][[note]](very much unlike ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'')[[/note]], the ''only'' way to score a KO (and thus win a match) in this game is to successfully land a Super attack on your opponent. If it connects, it kills, end of story.
251	** Medusa's Gaze, the only item of its kind that can do this. Like in ''God of War'', excessive mashing can save the victim before they're [[LiterallyShatteredLives crushed to dust]].
252	* OneHitPolykill: The intention with most ranged Supers. Sadly not the case with Radec's Level 1, which has no drop-off range but will explode on contact with its first target.
253	* OurZombiesAreDifferent: The ones in the Graveyard level mainly shamble about harmlessly and will even explode into a shower of AP.
254	* PaddedSumoGameplay: The game is heavily based around chaotic, highly offensive, yet mostly ineffectual combat (spread across at least 24 attacks per character). No amount of combos will kill a character, and moves which drain AP are rare (item attacks, environmental hazards, throws, and Sly's invisible strike). Even hazards offer a comparatively small consequence in AP drain, if they lower AP at all (some of them merely stun briefly). Attacks exist specifically to build meter, and built meter remains the same even when a character dies. The game's lack of a health bar can make it seem like this.
255	* PlanetHeck: Hades, sort of (Tartarus would be more accurately compared to hell, but the look is similar enough to count).
256	* PopQuiz: Buzz will quiz the players with random [=PlayStation=] trivia in the Dreamscape level, with incorrect answers being punished by AP-Draining [[PieInTheFace pie thrown from off-screen]]. The four answers are attached to a random platform and the players have to be standing with their feet firmly planeted on that platform, turning this into something of a king-of-the-hill skirmish.
257	* PowerCreepPowerSeep: Invoked when you take Parappa, who fights with music and karate, and pit him against Radec, who is a cold-blooded ColonelBadass that owns a lot of heavy firepower. Right now, taken to its logical extreme with [[VideoGame/{{Uncharted}} Nathan]] [[BadassNormal Drake,]] who hails from one of the more realistic (sort of) series featured in-game and has no powers whatsoever.
258	-->"''While no one doubts Fat Princess' moxy, she probably wouldn't fare too well against Kratos' homicidal rages and penchant for ripping the heads off of enemies. Balance is key.''"
259	-->-[[http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sony-unveils-playstation-all-stars-battle-royale-and-we-go-hands-on/ Digital Trends]]
260	** Unexpectedly, Kratos is designed to be a beginner-friendly character with high combo-potential while [=PaRappa=] and Fat Princess are made to build meter quickly and create complex villager-rush set-ups respectively. Lead designer Omar Kendall [[http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/6/11/3078641/drilling-into-big-daddys-playstation-all-stars-battle-royale-cameo makes a small joke]] referencing his [[CharacterTiers tier standing]].
261	-->'''Kendall''': You’re gonna see characters like [=PaRappa=] the Rapper, who got his start in a {{rhythm game}} on the [=PlayStation=] 1, fighting your [[ActionGame traditional action]] heroes like Kratos from the God of War series.
262	-->'''Interviewer''': That seems unfair.
263	-->'''Kendall''': I do feel a little bit sorry for Kratos, but he does put up a good fight.
264	** There's the general effectiveness of the weaponry; in his own [[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance game]], Raiden could use his sword to cut through pretty much anything with ease. In ''All-Stars''... well, it's unclear [[SetSwordsToStun exactly what his sword is doing]], but it certainly isn't chopping his enemies into pieces.
265	** And then there's speed... Big Daddy's level 2 Super turns him into a InstantDeathRadius colored Red: the speed boost, though? [[LightningBruiser That's just returning what he had in the first place.]]
266	* PowerGlows: Epic items, the strongest items of them all, are signified by their taking several seconds to appear, in which they're obscured by a glowing cloud of purple vapor.
267	* PreAssKickingOneLiner: The majority of characters have some good ones in the Rival Cutscenes.
268	-->'''Kratos''': The Ghost of Sparta bends to no mortal!
269	-->'''Sweet Tooth''': Dunno if you got any money in that skirt of yours... But one way or the other, you're paying for it.
270	-->'''Radec''': Let's hope this provides more than a momentary diversion, though somehow I think it won't.
271	-->'''Cole''': You're either gonna help me, or I'm gonna stop you... here.
272	-->'''Evil Cole''': Okay, Princess! How about instead of cake, I stuff my foot in your mouth!
273	-->'''Ratchet''': I think this is plenty reasonable. Let's settle this.
274	-->'''Jak''': Maybe it's time someone taught you some manners!
275	-->'''Dante''': Just remember when the blade's at your throat, I gave you a chance to walk away.
276	-->'''Heihachi''': You should have listened to your friend. Now I'll give you a lesson in respect you won't forget!
277	-->'''Nariko''': Then I'm afraid you won't be walking away from here at all.
278	-->'''Spike''': Well, I'm not going to wait around to find out!
279	-->'''Kat''': It's not going to be today!
280	-->'''Emmett''': I knew it would come to this. You keep your feet on the ground, girlie, and I'll try not to drop a building on you.
281	-->'''Zeus''': You will pay with your life for your insolence.
282	-->'''Isaac''': I know the dangers of men convinced they're gods. If I'm what stands between you and the rest of civilization, I'll put an end to this... now!
283	* ProductPlacement: A number of the characters in the game seem to be here for promotional reasons, especially the 3rd party characters. Big Daddy and the Columbia stage are promoting ''Videogame/BioshockInfinite'', the Reboot Dante is promoting ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'', young Heihachi is promoting ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'', and Raiden is promoting ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''. This has now extended to DLC characters, as Isaac Clarke was added shortly after ''VideoGame/DeadSpace3'' came out, and Zeus was added shortly before the release of ''God of War: Ascension'', and you'll get him and Isaac for free if you get that game.
284	* ProductionForeshadowing: Sony's "Love Live Play (Michael)" commercial created quite a bit of buzz over a potential {{Crossover}}. Jack Tretton specifically brought up the commercial while introducing the game during Sony's E3 press conference.
285	* {{Pun}}: The titles earned for completing an online season with enough belt points. Along with a bunch of {{Shout Out}}s, they include such witticisms as:
286	** [[{{Unmentionables}} Victorious Secret]]
287	** [[Literature/SnowWhite Seven Bad]] [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Hobbits]]
288	** [[WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow Happy Happy Joy Joy]]
289	** [[Series/AmericanIdol American Idles]]
290	** [[Series/{{Dexter}} Dark Passengers]]
291	** [[Literature/{{Jabberwocky}} Vorpal Blades]]
292	** [[Series/{{The Outer Limits\|1963}} Otter Limits]]
293	** [[Film/TeenWolf Teenage Werewolves]]
294	** [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Lords of the Bling]]
295	** [[Music/ModestMouse Modest Mice]]
296	** [[Film/TheMatrix Blue Pill and Red Pill]]
297	** [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie Spider Pigs]]
298	** [[VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw Chainsaw Cheerleaders]]
299	** [[VideoGame/CastleCrashers Castle Thrashers]]
300	** [[VideoGame/BattleToads Battle Frogs]]
301	** [[VideoGame/MetalGear Revolving Ocelots]]
302	** [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Soul Hid Snakes]]
303	** The Music/{{Motorhead}}
304	** Series/TheCloser
305	** Film/TheOne
306	** [[Film/InTheMouthOfMadness The Mouth of Madness]]
307	** [[Series/SaturdayNightLive The]] [[Creator/ChristopherWalken Endless]] [[Music/BlueOysterCult Cowbell]]
308	** [[Music/{{Megadeth}} The]] [[Music/{{Pantera}} Black Tooth Grin]]
309	** [[Franchise/KingdomHearts The Heartless]]
310	[[/folder]]
311
312	[[folder:Tropes R-Z]]
313	* RashomonStyle: When a character meets their rival in arcade mode, the ensuing cutscene is different depending on which character you're controlling with varying dialogue.
314	* RemilitarizedZone: Helghan, seen in Invasion.
315	* RiseToTheChallenge: Alden's Tower.
316	* TheRival: Every character has a rival matchup in the arcade mode, most of which, if not all, have a specific reasoning. The opening movie showcases them in the following order (save for DLC).
317	** Jak and Daxter vs. Ratchet and Clank. Both are duos. Developers Naughty Dog and Insomniac are "friends", and these two [=IP=]s are often considered rival platformer/shooter counterparts.
318	** Sly Cooper vs. Nathan Drake. Both are treasure hunters; however, while Drake takes from ancient ruins, Sly steals from other thieves. Also, they both have it in their respective families; Nathan is a [[spoiler:self-proclaimed]] descendant of Sir Francis Drake, while the Cooper clan's line of thieves goes on for centuries. Both also grew up as orphans and had a game named after the idiom "honor amongst thieves".
319	** Evil Cole [=MacGrath=] vs. Fat Princess Both are rather greedy; for Evil Cole, it's for power, for Fat Princess, it's cake. Gameplay-wise, both ''[=inFAMOUS=]'' and ''Fat Princess'' rely heavily on duality, with the colors red and blue representing different sides. In ''Fat Princess'', you can choose either the Red Kingdom or the Blue Kingdom, and in ''[=inFAMOUS=]'', Cole can become either Hero Cole, who is represented by the color blue, or Evil Cole, who is represented by the color red.
320	** Sir Daniel Fortesque vs. Colonel Mael Radec. Both are commanding soldiers [[spoiler:who are also dead]]. SCE Cambridge made the ''VideoGame/MediEvil'' games and helped with the development of ''Killzone 2''.
321	** Big Daddy vs. Sackboy. Both are silent characters who have others do their speaking for them, Andrew Ryan/Little Sister for Big Daddy and Creator/StephenFry for Sackboy. Both ''VideoGame/BioShock'' and ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet'' place emphasis on the player's choices — moral and ethical choices for ''[=BioShock=]'', and level and character designs for ''LBP''. Big Daddy and Sackboy also come in many different varieties. It could also be a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin big vs. little]] motif.)
322	** Dante vs. Nariko. Both have a game developed by Ninja Theory that focus on fast, hack n' slash gameplay. Both carry magical weapons tied to their souls, passed down from their respective fathers. Both also suffer hatred in their native worlds for all they do to protect them — Nariko because she is female when the prophecy specified a male hero, Dante because he's being hunted by the demonic conspiracy that runs the world for being an angel/demon hybrid.
323	** Heihachi Mishima vs. Toro. Both are Japanese-speaking characters, and were in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken'', which might explain why Toro recognizes Heihachi. They also are related to cats: Toro is a cat, and the back of Heihachi's gi has a tiger head.
324	** Parappa vs. Spike. [[invoked]] Both are from colorful, quirky Japanese franchises. Both also have anime that [[NoExportForYou never made it outside of Japan]].
325	** Cole [=MacGrath=] vs. Raiden. Both have [[ShockAndAwe electric powers]]. Both have also have electricity-themed [[PunnyName names]]; "Coal" is burned to produce electricity, while "Rai" and "Den" are the Japanese words for "Thunder" and "Lightning", respectively.
326	** Kratos vs. Sweet Tooth. Both are from popular Sony franchises directed by David Jaffe. Both characters were even created by him, have BloodKnight tendencies and both of them [[spoiler:killed their own families. Kratos [[PetTheDog genuinely loved them]] and was tricked into their murders, while Sweet Tooth despised them and slaughtered them of his own free will]].
327	** Kat vs Emmett Graves. Both have a ScarfOfAsskicking and PowerGlows. Also, both have been touched by cosmic forces, but whereas Kat's is beneficial, Graves has to suppress his lest he turn into an Outsider. Said cosmic forces power their games' main enemies.
328	** Isaac Clarke vs Zeus. Zeus is a deity with a desire for absolute control, while Isaac has had problems with both religion (Unitology) and authority figures ([=EarthGov=]). Also, both are from franchises that ''love'' brutal dismemberment. Also, note that Zeus is a god who hails from a mythological setting while Isaac is a regular human from a futuristic setting. Also, both character's final LimitBreak transports enemies to another battlefield; for Zeus, it's the Summit of Sacrifice, while for Isaac, it's the Sovereign Colonies ship graveyard/minefield outside of Tau Volantis.
329	* RockBeatsLaser: [[VideoGame/PaRappaTheRapper Chop Chop Master Onion]] defeats the [[VideoGame/{{Killzone}} MAWLR]] by giving it a karate chop, while [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty Metal Gear Ray]] gets {{Goomba Stomp}}ed by the VideoGame/{{Loco Roco}}s.
330	* RuleOfCool: Much of the game's low level of sense can be chalked up to this.
331	* ScreenShake: Whenever a character is hit with a Super.
332	* SecretCharacter: [[AvertedTrope The game has none]]. However, the DLC characters are actually labelled as "Secret" characters in the game itself, with their portrait in the character select screen being darkened and marked with a padlock. Bonus points that they have a "Press X to Unlock" label, and selecting it sends you to the PS Store where you can buy them.
333	* SeriesMascot: Many, but special mention goes to Toro Inoue, a ''company'' mascot.
334	* SidelinedProtagonistCrossover: The different series sometimes had the most iconic character rather than the main one.
335	** Colonel Radec is the BigBad of ''VideoGame/{{Killzone}} 2'', representing the Helghast as whole.
336	** Big Daddy, MascotMook from ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}''. Also notably has Subject Delta, the Big Daddy protagonist of ''VideoGame/Bioshock2'''s Plasmid powers but not his design.
337	** ''VideoGame/FatPrincess'' is a LivingMacGuffin from her original video game but she's PromotedToPlayable here, with the actual PlayerCharacters serving as different attacks of hers.
338	** Raiden, BreakoutCharacter from ''VideoGame/MetalGear''.
339	** Heihachi, original BigBad of ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'', as opposed to then protagonist Jin Kazama.
340	* SigilSpam: The Boss/Rival Arena has the Playstation's distinctive Crosses, Triangles, Squares, and Circles filling the background in flowing streams of All-Star Power.
341	* SinisterScythe: The Great Mighty Scythe can [[BlowYouAway send powerful Tornadoes]] which do massive AP-Damage when used in the air, and leave victims in a confused daze. On the ground, one swipe causes any of four random status effects, all indicated by the scythe's color.
342	** Blue = freeze
343	** Purple = confusion
344	** Green = float (sort of like Jak's Mass Inverter)
345	** Yellow = slow (much like Drake's Tranquilizer Dart Gun)
346	* SoundtrackDissonance: The dark, moody score to the Hades level fits well with Hades himself laughing manically in the background. This trope comes into effect when the Patapon warriors start attacking, their upbeat tune replacing the original while Hades continues overlooking the arena.
347	** Also, during the Stowaways stage. The pacific and appealing main theme of Uncharted 3 barely fits with the punch-fest this game is.
348	** When a character activates their Level 3 on a stage that doesn't fit. Try listening to Dante's metal-ish theme kick in while playing on Dreamscape.
349	* SpaceZone: The later half of San Francisco takes place in space.
350	* SparedByTheAdaptation: Several characters who died in their home games like [[spoiler:Sweet Tooth, Radec, Nariko and Zeus]] are not only alive, but fully playable.
351	* SprintShoes: The Boots of Hermes from ''VideoGame/GodOfWarIII'' are a usable item, making even the slowest characters extremely quick. It also allows for a [[VideoGameDashing Hermes Dash]] by hitting the item button while holding left or right on the D-pad.
352	* StatusEffects:
353	** Some of the stage hazards mimic status effects pretty closely. The Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler in San Francisco mainly immobilizes the players and the poison spit by the Satan Chimera steadily drains AP (like any video game poison).
354	** Items which don't directly damage AP on hit will often cause such an effect. They include:
355	*** Poison/Bleed: The Murder of Crows and Sackbot chip away at the AP of their victims.
356	*** Paralysis: The Sonic Rift, though nearly any attack using electricity can do this as well.
357	*** Freeze: The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Freeze Missile]] even slows ''falling'' to a crawl.
358	*** Petrification: Medusa's Gaze, [[OneHitKill scarily]].
359	*** Meta-Effect: The Murder of Crows can also reverse the victim's controls.
360	*** Silence: The Hedgehog Grenade and LR-3 Railgun prevent the victim from using their Super moves.
361	*** Slow: The Sackbot works like a massive weight when it hugs a player, turning whatever maneuverability they had into a non-issue until they can shake the little annoyance off.
362	* StuffBlowingUp: To be expected from a Twisted Metal level like Black Rock Stadium. The Turbo Cannons which show up later rain explosive fire later on.
363	* SuckingInLines: Anyone using a Level 1 or 2 Super will do this beforehand. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVrA-OldKFc Exemplified especially well by this (very loud) Toro glitch]].
364	* SuperDeformed: The minions are rendered like this. You'll never look at [[VideoGame/{{Uncharted}} Sully]] or [[VideoGame/{{Killzone}} The Helghast]] the same way again after seeing them chibi-fied. This actually does little to distort the VideoGame/ApeEscape monkeys, who always look like this.
365	* SuperMode: Many Supers will transform the character while often giving them a new control scheme, such as Sweet Tooth and Kratos. They'll offer protection from certain Supers as well.
366	* SuperMovePortraitAttack: A subtle example. While the Level 3 Supers usually feature a TransformationSequence or a LockAndLoadMontage, the Level 2 Supers will always pause the action to close in on the user, occasionally striking an AssKickingPose while giving the victims a [[OhCrap few milliseconds to comprehend their fate]].
367	* TakenForGranite: Medusa's Gaze, combined with LiterallyShatteredLives (in which even stage hazards become deadly) for a OneHitKill.
368	* ThemeMusicPowerUp: Each character gets this during their Level 3 Super.
369	* ThrowTheMookAtThem: The Sackbot's utility.
370	* TiebreakerRound: Going into Overtime mode causes everyone to earn AP twice as fast. An interesting part of the game's Sudden Death mechanic is that all participating fighters (not just the ones who force Overtime) will participate in the final battle, allowing for come-from-behind victories. If the game is still tied after Overtime, the AP rate is multiplied by 3. It can eventually go up to 4.
371	* ToHellAndBack: The Patapon soldiers invade the Hades stage midway through.
372	* TournamentPlay: Though this game is shown at the press conferences as a party-fighter, [=SuperBot=] tried to make sure it was viable as a hardcore competitive fighter:
373	** Items and stage hazards can be turned off optionally, and several battle modes (such as stock and kill limit (a.k.a. reverse-stock)) have been included to suit hardcore play.
374	** Along with the in-game online tournament mode, [=SuperBot=] confirmed it would regularly support competitive play during the days when the game's online was still active.
375	* TrainingStage: The game provides several of these, each with different sizes and platform layouts, but all with the same basic aesthetics and general idea.
376	* TwoGirlsToATeam: There are eighteen male characters and two female characters in the base game, [[VideoGame/HeavenlySword Nariko]] and VideoGame/FatPrincess. Subverted later with [[VideoGame/GravityRush Kat]] as DownloadableContent.
377	* UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny: The main premise of the game. The games allow for many dream matches, like Kratos vs. Sweet Tooth, Nathan Drake vs. Jak and Daxter, and Sly Cooper vs. Cole [=MacGrath=]. This does not just apply to Sony, but for other companies as well. Come on, where else are we going to see a Big Daddy go head-to-head with Heihachi Mishima?
378	* VictoryPose: The Victor during the [[ScoreScreen match-end screen]] does this. The results screen also features the winner with a celebratory grin or some other triumphant pose.
379	* ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld: Flying in the background of Metropolis and in the later section of Stowaways.
380	[[/folder]]

Context VideoGame / PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale