Line #22 VideoGame/PuLiRuLa


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pulirula_cover.jpg]]
2	%%[[caption-width-right:300:some caption text]]
3	->Here is a wonderland called "Radishland". In each town, under a keeper's control, the time flow was correctly kept with a time key. But, a bad man appeared and stole the time key to stop the time flow. The towns were attacked one by one, the time flow was stopped and they received damage. An old man was impressed with a sense of danger and he called Zac and Mel. And he entrusted them with his invented magic stick in order to defend their town.
4	-->-- '''Opening Narration'''
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6	''[=Pu·Li·Ru·La=]'' is a surreal [[UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame arcade]] [[BeatEmUp beat 'em up]] created by Creator/{{Taito}}, first released in 1991. It was ported to Platform/PlayStation and Platform/SegaSaturn in 1997, and the game was included in ''Taito Memories'' for [=PlayStation=] 2 and ''Taito Legends'' for [=PlayStation=] 2, Xbox, and Windows.
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8	The story of ''[=Pu·Li·Ru·La=]'' revolves around the magical kingdom of Radishland, where the flux of time is kept in check to ensure its everlasting peace. When a sinister figure steals the "Time Key" that controls the flow of time, the landscapes of the kingdom are distorted beyond recognition. A noble old man gives magic rods to two children, Zac and Mel, and subsequently tasks them with recovering the keys to restore the kingdom back to its normal state. They accomplish this by running around now wacky places of Radishland, encountering enemies packed with FunnyAnimal, MindScrew, OutsideGenreFoe, and many others.
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10	!!This game provides examples of...
11	* AlienGeometries: The backgrounds in stage 6 are a ShoutOut to Creator/MCEscher.
12	* AllThereInTheManual: The final boss has a name, "Jack O' Colson".
13	* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: During the first fight with Jack O' Colson, the stage suddenly shifts to a bizarre dimension that not only has blocks that look more like a grid filled with holes than something you could stand on, and when Jack uses one of his fire attacks, the black background lights up, revealing the wall is covered with eyes.
14	* ArtShift: The third level has several digitized photos of Japanese people in the background, making it look more like ''VideoGame/ChoAniki'' (somewhat justified, since it takes place in a dream)
15	* BackgroundMusicOverride: Normally, when you summon helpers to help you fight enemies, some music appears to accommodate said helpers. However, this doesn't happen when you do this while facing the boss of stage 5.
16	* BetweenMyLegs: In the Japanese version, when you walk by the doors near the start of stage 3, out of two of them come a pair of disembodied female legs. If you open the one in the middle, a freaked-out pink elephant comes running out of a black void opening into outer space. The English version removed this bit by keeping the door closed, but the female legs can still be seen in the montage of stills during the ending credits (and the elephant is still in there).
17	* {{Cephalothorax}}: The second boss. He bounces around on his nose, and attacks with eye beams and kisses.
18	* CuteWitch: One of the most normal enemies in terms of design, and one of the [[BossInMookClothing least normal]] in terms of competence.
19	* CrystalLandscape: The [[https://youtu.be/t3wsFFCncrY?t=2m49s second level]] is full of crystals jutting out of the ground.
20	* DemonicDummy: The first boss is a ventriloquist who attacks you with his dummy. After you beat him, the dummy comes to life, and you don't meet him again until the final stage.
21	* {{Deconstruction}}: [[spoiler:It can be said the game is a deconstruction of TimeMaster, as the ending reveals that the story is instigated from the time keeper finding his job tiring and monotonous as he has to constantly crank up time itself using the Time Key. Having the power of controling time isn't as awesome as it sounds.]]
22	* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler:The true identity of Jack o' Colson is none other than the time keeper of the player characters' village himself, who got possessed by an evil spirit after being fed up with his monotonous life of making sure that time is well kept just by constantly clonking a mechanical machine with the time key.]]
23	* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler:The player characters forgave the time keeper for his actions during the game. Partially justified as he was possessed by a demon for most of the game. It is also implied by their dialog that this is more a case of giving him a second chance than him being easily forgiven.]]
24	* EverythingTryingToKillYou: The enemies have to be seen to be believed.
25	* EyePop: Done by the fourth boss to attack you.
26	* FishPeople: There is a bonus level between levels 5 and 6 where you have to whack as many "reverse mermaids" (fish with human legs) as possible.
27	* JumpScare: The giant blue-haired human head in Stage 3 gives you this by getting in front of the screen.
28	* MagicFromTechnology: Apparently, time flow is kept simply by constantly cranking up a clockwork machine using the Time Key.
29	* MindScrew: The entire game is an example of this. Examples include a room with walls covered with human eyeballs, a gigantic realistic human head that can lick the player (and make him/her lose health), and enemy designs that all screw with your sense of reality.
30	* MixAndMatchCritters: Many enemies are this. For example, the fourth boss looks like a snail with spider legs and a bird head.
31	* TheRuntAtTheEnd: One of the possible effects of the Smart Bomb is a stampede of animals, and after them a single, very slow snail. However, an enemy who gets in the snail's path will suffer a lot of damage.
32	* TheScream: The final boss parodies Munch's well-known painting when you hit him enough times.
33	* SmartBomb: Your "Magic" ability conjures up a (very) random effect that damages all enemies and makes you briefly invincible.
34	* TimeStandsStill: When the main villain steals the Time Keys, time itself is frozen, except for the main leads, enemies, bosses, and random pedestrians that you come across.
35	* TranslationTrainWreck: The game's English translation leaves a lot to be desired, even compared to other Taito games of the time with similar issue. This succeeds in making the game more surreal.
36	-->'''Stage 3 Boss''': (after his defeat) Also, this town, there is not that doll. Where it has gone.
37	* TheWallsHaveEyes: The final boss area is a dark room, which briefly lights up when the boss uses a fire attack, revealing lots of twitchy eyes on the walls.
38	* WhereItAllBegan: The first boss fight and the final part of the last take place in the same location.
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Context VideoGame / PuLiRuLa