Line #36 VideoGame/Scaler


1	[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/scaler_game.png]]
2	''Scaler: The Shapeshifting Chameleon'', or simply ''Scaler'' is a 2004 PlatformGame, released for the Platform/NintendoGameCube, Platform/PlayStation2 and Platform/{{Xbox}}.
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4	Bobby Jenkins is a kid living with his mom somewhere in suburbia. We'd call him "[[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent ordinary]]", but frankly, that's a lie -- he's an [[AnimalWrongsGroup animal activist]], with an especial love of lizards. He's currently gotten himself a dose of local infamy for protesting -- in slightly-less-than-honorable ways--a motion picture currently being shot in his town. Unfortunately, the director, Looger, and his henchmen don't take too kindly to Bobby's meddling. Their solution? [[KickTheDog Drag him into a basement for some torture.]] ElectricTorture.
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6	In the process, they also open up a gate to another world -- ''their'' world, where Looger and all of his henchmen turn out to be [[LizardFolk scaly lizard-people]] who want to mutate Bobby's pet lizard eggs into horrible monsters! Luckily for Bobby, he's ''also'' been turned into a lizard -- a cool, blue-and-yellow alter ego called Scaler, and he quickly adapts. He also manages to quickly piss off another lizard man named Leon. But Leon, at least, hates Looger as much as Scaler does, and the two form an extremely uneasy team to take down the devious director for good!
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8	!! '''This game contains examples of:'''
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10	* AbsurdlySharpClaws: Scaler's basic weapon are his own hands. While his tongue can rapidly tag out smaller enemies from a short distance, his claws are better suited to slicing up hardier foes up close. They can be upgraded over time to deal more damage per swipe.
11	* AllThereInTheManual: Bobby's lizard protest activities are explained in detail in the instruction booklet's story, showing how he ran afoul of Looger and his goons before being taken to Looger's secret base for questioning in the opening cutscene. In fact, the manual actually includes sketches of what Jazz, Rhombus, and Turbine's human disguises look like, something that is never shown properly in the game. Unless one reads this all first, it would likely fly right over the player's head as to why Bobby somehow knows the names of all these huge lizard people.
12	* AnimalWrongsGroup: Bobby is a "lizard activist," and he sometimes plays dirty.
13	* BearHug: [[spoiler: When Leon finally warms up to Scaler -- and realizes that he's his son -- smothering ensues.]]
14	* TheBully: Rhombus. He wears a constant mean glare, and his ShockwaveStomp and ShockwaveClap will certainly keep you on your toes.
15	* ContrivedCoincidence: Bobby goes out to several locations to protest rights for lizards and commits acts of petty vandalism... and it just so ''happens'' that each of his targets are members of an evil race of LizardFolk who have plans of multiversal domination.
16	* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Looger's form on Earth.
17	* DangerouslyGarishEnvironment: The Chimerum world is a lush, glowy rainforest with exactly two (2) [=NPC=]s that don't want you dead. One of the more dangerous enemies can turn invisible at will, so don't get distracted.
18	* DarkActionGirl: Jazz, the token female of the villains.
19	* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: The game is very generous with checkpoints, encouraging exploration with some challenges between locations.
20	* DemolitionsExpert: The Bakudan. It may be small, but it's really skilled with bombs.
21	* DisappearedDad: Scaler's dad left when he was really little.
22	* DisneyVillainDeath: Looger falls into a pit of lava after he is defeated by Scaler at the end of the game.
23	* DrillSergeantNasty: Looger's right-hand man, Bootcamp, takes on the guise of a drill sergeant. But this is nothing compared to to his true form: [[TheDragon a massive, dark-green dragon with venomous breath and breathes fire when he gets really vexed.]]
24	* EasyLevelsHardBosses: Some of the worlds (and their associated Lizard Eggs/Crystal Gems) are challenging, but if a level itself is hard, the eventual boss will make you want to pull out your hair in frustration. The first boss is relatively easy, but after that... Ugh.
25	* FeedItABomb: You'll have to defeat certain enemies by changing into your Bakudan form and then hurling a bomb into their mouths.
26	* GeniusBruiser: Leon. Brilliant scientist, and surprisingly muscular force.
27	* GiantEnemyCrab: One of the bosses. You even AttackItsWeakPoint for massive damage!
28	* GiantFlyer: Leon's "Repadactyl," or "Reppy," as he calls her. She can also apparently, uh, serve as the shop by absorbing energy balls and then spitting up upgrades. Or something.
29	* GrindBoots: Scaler does this with his ''bare claws''. It also serves as the only way to charge an [[ShockAndAwe electrical attack]].
30	* ImprobableAimingSkills: The Fruzard. It's basically a walking sniper rifle.
31	* LanternJawOfJustice: Leon has an especially prominent one. He's also the local TopHeavyGuy.
32	* LizardFolk: Pretty much the entire main cast, aside from Reppy and Bootcamp, and even they count as reptiles in their own right.
33	* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Scaler, Leon is your father!]]
34	* MascotWithAttitude
35	* MegaManning: Scaler gets the ability to transform by defeating enemies with the form he wants.
36	* OlderSidekick: Leon, for Scaler.
37	* OverlyLongTongue: One of Scaler's natural abilities. He can lash out with a chameleon-like tongue to break open containers and snag health pick-ups. His tongue can also defeat swarms of smaller enemies, though it will only briefly stun larger enemies, or simply not affect them at all.
38	* ParentalSubstitute: As they start to get along, Scaler comes to see Leon as a kind of vague replacement for his DisappearedDad. [[spoiler:But, surprise! Leon ''is'' Scaler's dad.]]
39	* PickupHierarchy:
40	** '''Primary:''' Lizard Eggs
41	** '''Secondary:''' Crystal Gems
42	** '''Tertiary:''' Klokkies
43	* RacingMiniGame: One level is almost nothing ''but'' races, in Scaler's Krock form. Some of them are just time attack, but others have enemies for you to race against.
44	* SceneryPorn: Leon calls his world the "Worst plane in the {{Multiverse}}," but it's so ''pretty!''
45	* StealthExpert: Scaler can render himself invisible to his enemies.
46	* SuperDrowningSkills: Scaler even says it himself: "CAN'T SWIM!" However, the Swoom transformation allows him to swim in a few levels.
47	* SuperSoldier: The basis of Looger's plan in a nutshell. By using lizard eggs taken from Earth, Looger plans to use mutation-inducing energy to morph the batch into kaiju-sized beasts, then clone them into an endless supply of monstrous troopers.
48	* TakeOverTheWorld: Looger and his minions plan to create an army of lizard monsters and conquer the multiverse.
49	* TeethClenchedTeamwork: It takes several levels before Scaler and Leon even start to get ''used to'' each other, let alone get along.
50	* TrappedInAnotherWorld
51	* TotallyRadical: Scaler. ''Egads.''
52	* UnexpectedShmupLevel: Several, usually from Repadactyl-back. In particular, the boss fight against the Sky Crab is entirely one of these.
53	* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Scaler can change between different forms on certain levels to solve puzzles and the like.
54	* VideoGameFlight: One of Scaler's transformations (the Doozum) lets him fly... but only in one level. Awww.
55	* WallCrawl: One of Scaler's abilities.
56	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We never learn what happens to Jazz, Rhombus, and Turbine after their defeat.
57	* WouldHitAGirl: Bobby has no issues with fighting Jazz.
58	* WouldHurtAChild: As stated, the villains torture the young Bobby with electricity.
59	* XraySparks: When Bobby gets a jolt of electricity.
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Context VideoGame / Scaler