Line #30 VideoGame/ZettaiHeroProject


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zhpcover_5940.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Don't lose! Unlosing Ranger!]]]]
3
4	->''This game has only one battle sequence.\
5	Thank you for your understanding.\
6	However, it will be one, huge, '''EPIC battle!'''\
7	Thank you for your understanding.''\
8	--''Opening disclaimer''
9
10	''Zettai Hero Project'', or ''Zettai Hero Kaizou Keikaku'' in Japan, is a Platform/PlayStationPortable video game created by Creator/NipponIchi which, unlike most of their games, is not an SRPG. This one is a {{Roguelike}}, putting it closer to the ''Mystery Dungeon'' (with ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' being the biggest example) series of games. The full English title is ''Z.H.P. (Zettai Hero Project): Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman''.[[note]]This is actually causing problems with people buying it. The periods are part of Z.H.P., and most stores' systems will not see it as a result for ZHP.[[/note]]
11
12	[[SavingTheWorld It's that time of the year again]]. The Demon General, Darkdeath Evilman, has kidnapped Super Baby, the infant savior of the world, and threatens to destroy Earth! But of course, the world's most beloved hero, the Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger, heeds the call to defeat Darkdeath and save the world!
13
14	[[AntiClimax ...Then he gets run over by a car and dies]].
15
16	In his last act, he gave his morphing belt, and with that his super powers, to a [[PlayerCharacter young teenager]] who just so happened to have witnessed the scene. With the powers of the Unlosing Ranger at his disposal, this [[HelloInsertNameHere new hero]] must save the world in his stead!
17
18	[[HopelessBossFight ...But he's the weakest main character alive and dies almost instantly]].
19
20	Saved from the brink of death by the [[HeroesRUs World Hero Society]], our [[HeroicMime silent young hero]] meets his instructor [[MagicalGirl Etranger]] and Pirohiko, the [[SpiritAdvisor ghost of the previous Ranger]]. With the world in danger, the [[OverlyLongGag lovable weakling]] has no choice but to train and train until he can defeat Darkdeath Evilman and save the world!
21
22	No relation to ''VideoGame/KaizoMarioWorld''.
23
24	Together with ''VideoGame/MakaiKingdom'', this game was remastered as a CompilationRerelease through ''Prinny Presents Vol. 2'' on May 10, 2022 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and PC.
25	----
26	!!Zettai Hero Project provides examples of:
27	* AbusiveParents: [[spoiler:The protagonist's. His family blames him for all their troubles ever since he and his sister were kidnapped by a MonsterOfTheWeek 8 years ago. They expected a small child to do something against a killer. Bonus points for the fact that they didn't bother to ask him anything about what happened to him, even though the son was hospitalized before the kidnapping.]]
28	* ArrangedMarriage and WifeHusbandry: [[spoiler:At the end, Etranger's mom wants the former between Etranger and the main character, and the latter between the main character and herself [[UnwantedHarem (both at the same time)]].]]
29	* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: In true Rudolph fashion, nearly everyone else are dicks until the Unlosing Ranger helps them. Even [[spoiler:the main character's own family had been blaming him for their own problems, including wanting a divorce; this is partly due to his sister's repression of the fact that he was the one who saved her from the Cannibal by occupying it via beating the crap out of him long enough for the police to arrive.]]
30	* AmbidextrousSprite: From certain angles, your "Left Hand" Item is held in the character's right hand and vice-versa. Sprite mirroring is to blame.
31	* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Every single character has an alternate in the other world, usually with their mental issues on full display. Often these mental issues have their own AnthropomorphicPersonification, requiring our hero to beat them into submission, WarriorTherapist-style.
32	* ApatheticCitizens: In full force.
33	* AscendedMeme: The description of the Wizard Hat: "I put on my {{robe and wizard hat}}..." And unlike in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2\|CursedMemories}}'', you can actually see the hat!
34	* AwesomeYetImpractical: DualWielding. Though it allows you to attack twice and some combinations can give some really cool special attacks, it burns through your EN at an alarming rate even if you have the skills to counteract that.
35	** Special attacks. Incredibly flashy and powerful as expected from a Nippon Ichi game, but the attacks eat up EN, especially the flashier attacks, and you need to maintain as much EN as possible when going through dungeons. They still hit pretty hard, though, when you need to burst down a boss or [=AoE=] his mooks.
36	* BarrierWarrior: Super Baby. She's powerful enough to hold off Darkdeath's attacks by herself, but being a baby, she hasn't learned any attacks yet and can't actually beat him.
37	* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: Lampshaded, naturally. Heroes can breathe in space, and are apparently capable of leaving the atmosphere at will even if they can't fly.
38	* BatmanGambit: Part of the conflict in Level 4: [[spoiler:Medea Lass made a deal with Prince Geo that if the Unlosing Ranger loses, she'd marry him. This was supposed to be her way of ending his unwanted affection towards her, but unfortunately, the Unlosing Ranger...well, lost]].
39	* BeeHiveBarrier: Super Baby. The Gator enemies generate these (and a piece of equipment) if someone attacks from the front. You also have a "Block" command that produces this, nullifying any enemy special that gets cast in front of you that turn (though it does nothing for regular attacks).
40	* BetterThanABareBulb: Pretty much everything is lampshaded. The characters tend to plan their next move based on what trope they want to [[InvokedTrope invoke]] next.
41	-->'''Darkdeath Evilman:''' What are you so surprised about? I am the last boss who threatens the world. I should have [[SequentialBoss at least]] [[OneWingedAngel three forms]]!
42	-->'''Dangerama:''' Don't worry, Unlosing Ranger! Everyone knows that monsters who regenerate are always weaker than the original! We'll use our [[CombinationAttack "Dangerous Unlosing Hurricane"]] again to bust a hole in his stomach, and break his spine!
43	-->'''Darkdeath Evilman:''' Joke's on you! Everyone knows that if you failed to beat a boss with a special attack once, [[ItOnlyWorksOnce it'll never work the second time]].
44	-->'''Dangerama:''' [[BigNo Damn youuuuuuuuuuuuuu!]]
45	* {{BFS}}: Most bladed weapons; even 'daggers' look huge. Special note to the Unlosing Sword, perhaps the most Egregious BFS in the game.
46	* {{BFG}}: The Unlosing Bazooka.
47	* BigDamnHeroes: Played with. The Unlosing Ranger always dramatically returns and engages Darkdeath Evilman, but immediately gets his ass handed to him.
48	* BigNo: Done twice by Pirohiko in the finale.
49	* BizarroUniverse: There are two Earths, and the fate of characters on one Earth [[{{Synchronization}} affect their fate in the other.]] And yes, it's actually called "Bizarro Earth".
50	* BoringButPractical: The Appetite Engine. It's a carrot on a stick you wear on your head. It only has two effects: halve your stamina loss when worn, and you can eat it (well, it IS a carrot) for about the same gain as eating a meat chunk. Those might sound lame compared to the more crazy abilities, but it's a lifesaver, if not a necessity, for the longer dungeons where consistently getting food is fairly improbable.
51	* BreakableWeapons: All equipment deteriorates as you use it. If an item's durability drops to 0, it's effectively the same as being naked; you lose any of that item's stat boosts and abilities, and if it's something like a spear or a gun, you also lose the ranged attack. However, unlike most games with this feature, broken equipment is not lost, it just loses any special properties and remains in a severely weakened state. It can even be repaired in-dungeon with the proper facility loadout (though there's a limit on how often you can do so), or converted into a power-up chip via Body Modification.
52	* ButThouMust: In the opening sequence, you're given the option to ''try'' to [[RefusalOfTheCall turn down the Unlosing Ranger's belt]], but you'll get stuck with it anyway.
53	* ButtMonkey: You.
54	* TheCameo:
55	** Wait for it. The ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' crew show up in the bonus dungeons. Yes, in a Creator/NipponIchi game; shocking, isn't it?
56	** Less expected are [[Literature/{{Durarara}} Celty Sturluson]], [[Literature/KinosJourney Kino]], and [[Literature/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan Dokuro]], among others. While you can't play as them, you can unlock their costumes after beating their respective [[BonusDungeon Bonus Dungeons]].
57	** [[VideoGame/MakaiKingdom Valvoga is in the last bonus dungeon.]] Hey, Mickey did say that they always asked him/them to be a boss fight. Now we know who "they" are.
58	** [[spoiler:Asagi is in it. In fact, she's ''all the other cameo characters''. The entire cameo system was a plot by her to try to replace the other cameo characters with her — cosplaying as them, anyway.]]
59	*** Interestingly; Pirihiko's and Etranger's dialogue all indicate that [[spoiler:every series is true, with Earth-like series being set in the same world as theirs, and non-Earth being an AlternateUniverse. Plus Asagi wouldn't want to take over a MutuallyFictional Main Character position, after all.]]
60	** Like ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'', Baal is noticeably missing. It's mentioned in the game that he's been replaced by Valvolga.
61	* CameBackStrong: A regular basis for gameplay. Death is only a temporary setback at best.
62	* ChekhovsGag: Remember when you obtain the Power of Love with the ''(Probably)'' attached to it? That was no dumb joke by the writers or a RedHerring. [[spoiler:You eventually find out that your Power of Love ''is'' incomplete and go through another dungeon to fix it.]] Etranger [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it, saying she thought it was just another BreakingTheFourthWall joke.
63	* ChekhovsGunman: Nearly every character has a Bizarro World counterpart that will be the focus of a dungeon you'll end up investigating, usually chapters after their first appearance. On top of that, you can see Bizarro Mana and Kyoya earlier than normal in the same Chapter 1 cutscene that kills Bizarro Pirohiko; they ran him over like their normal versions.
64	* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: ...that, and TrainingFromHell.
65	* CombinationAttack: When Dangerama finally accepts the Unlosing Ranger as a hero, he specifically holds back Darkdeath Evilman so the protagonist can go learn a Combination Attack. It's even called by name in the command list (though the actual name is "Dangerous Unlosing Hurricane").
66	* CombinedEnergyAttack: [[spoiler:The Unlosing Ranger's final technique. The entire Earth cheers him on, which makes him stronger than the rest of the cast ''combined'', allowing him to make a HeroicSacrifice.]]
67	* {{Cosplay}}: Not only can you equip random bits and pieces from every enemy in the game [[spoiler:including the last boss]], beating the Anime cameo dungeons allows you to change your base sprite into the boss of said anime or game cameo dungeon, which actually has stat effects in game.
68	* DeathAsGameMechanic: You will die a LOT, but every time you do you add a little more to your overall stats, or a LOT more if you play well and manage to explore deeper into the dungeon.
69	%%* DeathIsNotPermanent: Ever. EVER. So much that even some enemies can't die.
70	%%* DeathSeeker: Dangerama.
71	* DecoyProtagonist: The Unlosing Ranger? Yeah, not the main character, really. Well, it gets [[LegacyImmortality complicated]], but the Unlosing Ranger dies in the first minute of the game, giving the main character (default name: "Main Character") the suit.
72	* DespairEventHorizon: Multiple times, mostly as a direct result of the Unlosing Ranger being defeated in combat. Counteracting these is the goal of 99% of the training missions.
73	** Special mention goes to [[spoiler:Darkdeath Evilman, who passed his before the story began and kept going after seeing the Unlosing Ranger lose. To the point that [[DrivenToSuicide he even planned on blowing himself up in despair.]]]]
74	** Also one of the bad endings, in which [[spoiler:you defeat your Bizarro Earth counterpart during a boss battle instead of your family. Anko, Mitsuo, and Choco merge again, and reject having a fourth family member]].
75	* {{Determinator}}: You.
76	** Parodied via GameplayAndStoryIntegration. Dying is a means to get stronger. (The hero falls but rises to his feet once more!)
77	** It's more than that. This turns out to be the nameless hero's defining trait, discovered in flashbacks when he [[spoiler:stands up to an insane serial killer[=/=]rapist[=/=]cannibal who had kidnapped him and his sister]]. He's beaten to a bloody pulp (literally so: he's hospitalized afterwards and his sister is traumatized into amnesia afterwards just from seeing it), but continues to keep standing up, long enough to keep the [[spoiler:serial killer]] distracted until help arrived. It transfers to his superhero persona very well.
78	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: What is exactly that yellow hero power source in the shadowgram? Any idea?
79	* DramaticIrony: [[spoiler:"The parents of that fake can't possibly be normal. They're probably freaks of nature." — Parents of said fake. Who happens [[AbusiveParents to be you]].]]
80	* DubNameChange: [[Franchise/SuperSentai Makeranger]] to the Unlosing Ranger, [[Series/{{Kikaider}} Kikender]] to Dangerama, and [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Deathdark]] [[AerithAndBob Tanaka]] to Darkdeath Evilman.
81	* DudeWheresMyRespect: The Unlosing Ranger goes from being called a useless fake who's just there to be a nuisance to [[spoiler:gaining enough power to punch a nuke into the sun and eventually earning the respect of people all around the world for his unwavering spirit. This rock-solid trust and belief in him causes him to power up into the Unlosing Ranger Omega, culminating in him saving the world.]]
82	* {{Eagleland}}: Played straight, complete with a quote worthy of ''Team America World Police''... although this is later explained by [[spoiler:Oldllama's mental issues due to her Bizarro Earth counterpart]].
83	* EarnYourHappyEnding: While you can defeat Darkdeath Evilman early on a second playthrough, [[spoiler:the endings you receive for doing so end with you dying in possibly the most pathetic way imaginable, with everyone calling you a fraud]]. The game pretty much requires that Darkdeath Evilman hands you your ass several times before you can see a real happy ending. In fact, it's impossible to get any of the alternate endings in the first playthrough, making getting the ''original'' ending significantly harder than getting any of the others. This is particularly true of the ones that require you to protect [=NPCs=] during the boss battle of the chapter to complete as normal, as they tend to be completely incapable of surviving the boss' attacks for more than a few turns.
84	* EasyLevelsHardBosses: The normal dungeons aren't ''too'' bad. Then you get to a Level 600 boss... for the ''first'' bonus Dungeon.
85	* ExtremeOmnivore: Certain abilities allow one to eat Organic Equipment, Inorganic Equipment, or Money.
86	** There are pieces of equipment anyone can eat, like Mermaid equipment (except for the Head), Harpy Legs, Hovering Cloud, and Appetite Engine.
87	** The Death Corgi is an example of this. It will wander around eating every item in sight, leaving behind "Leftover Scraps" on each square. The Leftover Scraps are edible (for a paltry 5 EN each), but strangely enough, they're still left behind even if the item in question wasn't edible to begin with.
88	* {{Expy}}: Choco is our silent protagonist's little sister who has brown hair and GirlishPigtails and is voiced by Creator/KarenStrassman. [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} Now where else have I seen that combination?]]
89	** Pirohiko. Aside from having brown hair and eyes instead of respectively blue and red, he is undeniably a flat-out expy of Kamina. With his fiery and optimistic persona, not to mention his mentoring of a younger [[spoiler:seemingly]] fail-filled guy as his successor, he can be considered [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace Kamina reincarnated as a Super Hero Otaku!]]. [[spoiler:And furthermore, being motivated by feelings of failure and weakness.]]
90	** Jean Noire - A brilliant surgeon that can operate anywhere, any time, and can even bring himself back from near death with scars across half of his face. Yeah, it can only be Manga/BlackJack.
91	* FakeBoobs: [[CrossDresser You can equip them.]] And when an enemy uses that item to invoke WouldntHitAGirl, it leads to a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment\|s}}.
92	-->'''Pirohiko:''' Those tits are fake! You got the equipment made for men dangling between your legs! Tripod Ranger!
93	* FakeUltimateHero: The "Super" Baby is hailed as the world's savior due to being prophesied to save the Earth, but in reality she doesn't actually do much of anything herself and in fact [[spoiler:enlarges Darkdeath Evilman out of jealousy, making the situation much worse]].
94	* FinalBattle: [[BossGame The entire game is essentially one massive final battle]], although the hero has the opportunity to level grind in another dimension after getting his ass kicked.
95	* {{Foreshadowing}}: If you pay attention, you see who is cosplaying what in the cutscenes. In addition, [[spoiler:Pirohiko's Bizarro version is a Cadaver. You know, that monster that [[OnlyMostlyDead comes back to life a few turns after you kill it?]]]]
96	** If you were paying attention, you'll notice that Darkdeath Evilman [[spoiler:begs the Unlosing Ranger to run away when [[strike:he]] his malfunctioning suit starts blowing up cities — in his real voice.]]
97	* FogFeet: There's an item that replaces the main character's legs with a cloud.
98	* GenreShift: This is a {{Roguelike}} with some elements from ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' as opposed to an outright SRPG with some {{Roguelike}} elements.
99	* GooGooGodlike: Super Baby, the only person on Earth that stands between Darkdeath Evilman and TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. The only reason why the Super Baby needs rescuing is because she doesn't know any attacks yet.
100	* GratuitousJapanese: The "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS1NWxIRWuE Stereotypical Asian]]" version of the theme song is mostly composed of random Japanese words.
101	* GuideDangIt: There's no indication that you could pick up the rotating mirrors and the statues in chapter 4, other than the color of their dots on the minimap.
102	** There is also no indication that you had to throw the rocks into the boss' nostrils in chapter 8 to make it vulnerable.
103	** There's also no mention of the existence of Unlosing Weapons. Anywhere. Not even a hint. There's apparently one for every weapon type (Unlosing Sword, Unlosing Gun, Unlosing Wand...etc). The only reliable info is that they become findable "somewhere post-level 30" of the Mastery Dungeon.
104	* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler:Medea Lass and Prince Geo in the true ending.]]
105	* HeadTiltinglyKinky: The DumbBlonde couple. When Mana's water breaks, she says that it "hurts worse than a pineapple."
106	* HeroicMime: You.
107	** In the end of the game, even Dangerama asks, "Can he even talk?"
108	*** This can result in AlternateCharacterInterpretation. Just what ''is'' his personality? Why is he TheDeterminator? Is it Justice, Simplicity, Desperation, Stoicism? Given how many times he has SweatDrop due to the people around him, he may be a DeadpanSnarker who actually keeps his mouth shut. Even Pirohiko comments on how he can't comprehend what drives him.
109	*** [[http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=144433212269554&set=a.142942432418632.24292.142905722422303&theater This is supported by]] [[AllThereInTheManual a few ZHP-themed comics featured in Prinny Bomb and on NISA's Facebook page, one questioning why Pirohiko became roadkill even though he claims the suit makes the protagonist invincible.]]
110	*** Like [[VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters Revya]] in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3\|AbsenceOfJustice}}'', when the Unlosing Ranger is a cameo in [[VideoGame/PhantomBrave Phantom Brave: Hermuda Triangle]], he does not say anything.
111	* HeroicSacrifice: Wouldn't be a story about heroes without one! [[spoiler:The previous Unlosing Ranger took the bullet for the rookie cop Pirohiko, and passed his belt on to him. This was the same incident as the main character's kidnapping.]]
112	** Also, [[spoiler:the protagonist supposedly pulls this off in the end, personally flying a self-destructing Giga Giant Darkdeath Evilman into the sun. He makes it back in one piece, though.]]
113	* TheHeroDies: How the plot is kicked off. The original Unlosing Ranger is [[LookBothWays hit by a runaway car]].
114	* HiddenDepths:
115	** Etranger: [[spoiler:Is really a psychic manifestation of Super Baby, and is both cynical and naive because of her age and the things her mother has told her about humanity and herself.]]
116	** Pirohiko: [[spoiler:Serious case of SurvivorGuilt since the previous Unlosing Ranger died to protect him. Half of the time deeply in denial about his human failings, and half of the time aware of knowing what a hero should be... and ashamed that he couldn't be it.]]
117	** The Main Character: [[spoiler:Not a case of ThisLoserIsYou; he has always been a badass that nobody recognized and nobody gave a chance.]]
118	** Dangerama: [[spoiler:Had to choose between [[SadisticChoice his wife or a lot of innocent people dying]]. He saved the people.]] He wasn't the same since.
119	** Darkdeath Evilman: [[spoiler:Not an OmnicidalManiac, but a super-intelligent 8-year-old boy attempting [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Hero]]. Seeing the Unlosing Ranger fail in doing so sends him past the DespairEventHorizon.]]
120	* HopelessBossFight: The eponymous fight against the "last boss", Darkdeath Evilman, which is repeated at the end of every chapter. It gets progressively less hopeless each time, until it reaches the point where you can't ''lose''.
121	** In NewGamePlus, they're not Hopeless, as if you continue to attack, the last turn will be a random CriticalHit for 999 damage, instantly defeating the boss — if you want to continue the game as normal, you must hit "flee" the last turn before you lose. Unfortuantely, winning these hopeless battles causes one of the various Bad MultipleEndings, due to the various psychological problems with the other characters not being solved. [[spoiler:To say nothing about poor Darkdeath.]]
122	* HyperactiveMetabolism: You have 100 EN. It's not enough — it goes down constantly, attacking causes it to go down (dual wielding causes it to downright ''plummet''), and it's also used as mana for your special attacks. Several items restore it, some items play with it, etc etc.
123	* ImDyingPleaseTakeMyMacGuffin: Played straight. [[spoiler:Until Chapter X, wherein Pirohiko ''buys a second MacGuffin.'' A cheap knockoff, at that!]]
124	* ImportantHaircut: [[spoiler:The nameless hero gains one from pure HeroicSpirit when he learns the special attack "120% Determination", even going so far as to change his portrait in-game. This marks the point where he goes from being insulted by just about everyone — "The Unlosing Ranger (Temp)", "The Fake Unlosing Ranger", etc. — to actually gaining some respect.]]
125	* IsometricProjection: All of the game's dungeons, as well as the hubs, are displayed this way.
126	* JerkAss[=/=]JerkAssWoobie[=/=]JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Etranger goes through all three of these.
127	* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Again, the protagonist's entire family. How do you say "sorry" for ''eight years of emotional abuse'', triggered by something that ''wasn't even his fault?'' Level-9's "happy ending" rings hollow in the face of the hell the protagonist's family put him through.]]
128	** [[spoiler:Though to be fair, Choco did undergo TraumaInducedAmnesia during the whole kidnapping thing, so she doesn't remember that it was her [[PlayerCharacter big bro]] that saved her. All that she does know is that her parents are sniping at each other because of something he did, so she begins to think that it's his fault. YMMV, but she may not be as much to blame. The [[JerkAss parents]], on the other hand...]]
129	*** [[spoiler:At least the dad gets his lunch forcefully donated to the main character in case he gets hungry in the ending.]]
130	* KillSat: You can get this as a facility after triggering a KillSat trap in a dungeon.
131	** AwesomeYetImpractical: Yet, there's really no absolute need for it.
132	* KnightTemplar: Bizarro Oldllama.
133	* LargeHam: Pirohiko. [[MadLibsCatchPhrase Hammy Ranger!]]
134	* LegacyImmortality: [[spoiler:The Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger is believed to be immortal because they would continually pass the transformation belt on when the current one died. In fact, it's practically tradition to [[TakeUpMySword hand the transformation belt to a random passerby]] that just happens to be in the area when they're dying.]]
135	* LevelDrain: As is traditional for Console {{Roguelike}}s, every time you enter a dungeon, your level is reset to one. The game does keep track of your total level, and your Shadowgram affects both your base stats and level-up rate, meaning that by the end of the game, you're a ''much'' stronger level 1 than before...
136	* LevelGrinding: Wouldn't be a N1 game without it. This one has the bonus effect of having LevelDrain as a gameplay mechanic, however. The trailer even ''brags'' about it. "The most soul crushing grindfest EVER!" However, in the late game, Item Synthesis and Shadowgram optimization are more important than levels.
137	* LoveMakesYouCrazy: The fourth boss, Bizarro Geo, becomes increasingly desperate when Bizarro Medeia flatly turns down his cries for affection, resorting to spawning multiple enemies called "Overflowing Love" to drive his point home.
138	* MadLibsCatchPhrase: Pirohiko sometimes ends a statement with "[Noun/Adjective] Ranger!" or, if the opportunity presents itself, something that sounds like [[CallingYourAttacks an attack name]]. Bondage Ranger!
139	* MediumAwareness: A natural for Nippon Ichi.
140	* MetalSlime: Metal Cacti. [[spoiler:They completely fill up the "Makai Wars" stage; only unlocked when you beat all the Dengeki stages.]]
141	* MoodWhiplash: Very often. The ending is especially guilty of this. [[spoiler:The heroes chase after the self-destructing Darkdeath Evilman to save him, at which point, he finally agrees to believe in heroes and begs to be saved. This is followed up with Pirohiko, Dangerama, and Etranger taking turns trying to push Darkdeath Evilman's robotic exoskeleton into the sun, with all of them snapping at each other for failing until Darkdeath Evilman tells them that the smart thing to do is for them to push it together. Then, the main character gains the strength to push it by himself and sacrifice his life in process.]]
142	* MotivationOnAStick: The Appetite Engine accessory is a carrot on a stick worn on the player's head. It reduces EN consumption by 50% while equipped, and can be eaten to restore EN in a pinch.
143	* MultipleEndings: 18 of them, but only the 'normal' ending can be obtained outside of a NewGamePlus. Similar to ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', most of them are determined by exactly when you defeat the FinalBoss.
144	* MundaneUtility: Etranger capts radio waves from Earth and trasmits them to your retinas, allowing you to see what's going on Earth. Pirohiko suggests they could watch satellite TV for free!
145	* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning: A rare heroic version. Disgaea's reincarnate system makes a return. In addition, ''you can't avoid triggering it.'' The plus side is this means that even as you lose, you get stronger. The minus side is this means they've basically shot the difficulty up to 11.
146	* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Darkdeath Evilman. [[spoiler:Despite the name, however, he turns out to not be ObviouslyEvil.]]
147	** [[spoiler:Oh, and he eventually becomes Giant Darkdeath Evilman.]]
148	*** [[spoiler:And just in case that's still not enough, how about [[OhCrap Giga Giant Darkdeath Evilman]]?]]
149	* NewGamePlus: It's a NIS game, of course it has this. However, unlike ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3\|AbsenceOfJustice}}'', this one is mandatory — you don't get a chance to avoid progressing to the NewGamePlus mode if you beat the last boss.
150	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Played completely straight when Etranger [[spoiler:uses her powers to make Darkdeath a ''giant'' — in a ShoutOut to ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' — in order to prevent a rival hero from saving the day. Then it doesn't wear off, making Darkdeath an infinitely worse danger than before. Er, whoops.]]
151	* NintendoHard: Considered by far and away Nippon Ichi's hardest and ''grindiest'' game ''ever.''
152	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: [[UsefulNotes/BarackObama 45th American President "Brick Oldllama"?]]
153	** She looks more like Condoleezza Rice.
154	* NoodleIncident: Nao's past. [[spoiler:She was apparently in love with the Unlosing Ranger who Pirohiko replaced, but this is never fully explained.]]
155	* NoFourthWall: Etranger gets really upset when she discovers a fourth wall (which she actually calls by name) breaking joke earlier actually had a purpose: [[spoiler:Since the main character's home life is so horrible, he can't fully understand love, which hinders his power as a superhero.]]
156	* NuclearWeaponsTaboo: Completely and utterly avoided, when Oldllama [[spoiler:gives up on the Unlosing Ranger, deciding to nuke Japan rather than face Darkdeath Evilman]]. Then she backs out of it after [[spoiler:you fix her mind, making her realize that sacrificing an entire country is a cowardly thing to do]]. Then, while practicing her apology, she [[spoiler:bows, headbutting the freakin' launch button]]. All combined with a heavy-handed political message about Japan's subservience to America, America's {{Eagleland}} persona, etc etc etc. ''What. The. Hell.''
157	** It does lead to a CMOA (the first for the new Unlosing Ranger) when he [[spoiler:punches the goddamned nuke away literally as it hits him. He punches it STRAIGHT TO THE SUN]].
158	* NumberOfTheBeast: Super Baby was born on the 6th hour of the 6th Day of the 6th Month. [[spoiler:[[MakesSenseInContext Considering that she eventually enlarges the already unbeatable Darkdeath Evilman...]]]]
159	* NWordPrivileges: Bizarro Frank objects to being called a "loser underdog" by Etranger because she isn't one.
160	* ObviouslyEvil: Darkdeath '''Evilman.''' [[spoiler:... Not so much, actually.]]
161	* OneStatToRuleThemAll: Much like in every other NIS game, you will end up as a GlassCannon eventually — you just can't get enough defense to stand up to later enemy attacks. Amusingly, due to weapons degrading, the only real option for most of the middle game is melee GlassCannon — as you won't have enough blacksmiths to keep a ranged weapon repaired throughout the dungeon crawls.
162	* OrchestralBombing: Invoked during the very very final battle.
163	* {{Pastiche}}: Of {{sentai}} and {{toku}} series as well as superhero anime.
164	* PhlebotinumBreakdown: Darkdeath Evilman[[spoiler:'s suit malfunctions due to an early attack, which is why he spends most of the game standing around — he's inside, trying to get the stupid thing fixed]].
165	* PowerCopying[=/=]PowersAsPrograms: The Super Suit can be equipped with parts scalped off of enemies. And...[[SerialEscalation anything else]].
166	** [[ThisIsADrill Drills!]] [[TankGoodness Tanks!]] [[GatlingGood Gatling Guns!]] [[Franchise/{{Disgaea}} Prinny Hats!]] [[ImprobableWeaponUser Claw Grabbers!]] Hammer Arms! Devil Masks! Devil Tails! [[{{Samurai}} Samurai Wigs!]] [[Franchise/{{Robocop}} Robot Cops!]] [[CatGirl Cat Ears!]] [[FishingMinigame Fishing Rods!]] [[CookingDuel Woks!]] And Sexy Jiggly Boobs! And this is just from the trailer.
167	** One of the examples on the website has the hero with cat ears, angel wings, a huge 3' long "dagger", a Cthulhu arm, and his legs replaced with a kotatsu with a catgirl poking her head out of it.
168	** The cameo dungeons are ''filled'' with random bits and pieces from their respective games and shows, as well. In addition, they count as Rank 6 items — which means they're expensive to repair, but can be leveled up to absurd power.
169	* PuzzleBoss: (Nearly) every boss has some sort of gimmick that you need to figure out to defeat. And like classic ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' games, this being lost on the player base inflates its NintendoHard reputation.
170	* RainbowPimpGear: Half the fun of the game is seeing how bizzare you can make your PC look with equipped items.
171	* RandomlyGeneratedLevels: Much like VideoGame/{{Makai Kingdom}}s, the entire game is randomly generated, except for boss maps.
172	* RankInflation: Every monster (and thus, every item) in the game has a rank — 1 to 6 stars. Higher rank items can be synthed higher, have different colors, and generally are "more" than their previous versions (both bonuses and negatives are inflated).
173	* {{Reconstruction}}: While it is a parody, it also is a pretty much by-the-books superhero/{{Toku}}/{{Sentai}} series — it could be animated and shown on TV with no issues whatsoever.
174	* {{Retraux}}: The initial battles against Darkdeath Evilman are shown in an 8-bit style similar to the early ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' games. In-story, this is explained by [[PowersThatBe people "behind the scenes"]] not willing to spend money on the budget for a low-level hero. It goes through 2 different ''Franchise/{{Final Fantas\|y}}ies'' and ends with something that looks like ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars''.
175	* RivalsTeamUp: With Dangerama, though he buys you some time to go learn a CombinationAttack before he'll actually fight with you.
176	* {{Roguelike}}: One of the softer ones. Not only is a GameOver a functional impossibility, the main character still gains some strength even if he dies, since the levels he gained during his run get added to his running total.
177	* SadisticChoice: [[spoiler:In Dangerama's backstory, he had to choose between his wife or a lot of people. He chose to save the most people; his sanity hasn't been the same since.]]
178	* SaveScumming: One way to get what you want from the Caravan if you don't want to do multiple runs through a Mastery Dungeon looking for one particular item. Despite the mechanic mentioned below...
179	* SaveTheVillain: It wouldn't be a pastiche of superhero shows if they skipped this one. [[spoiler:This is actually the objective of the Hero Training in the final chapter.]]
180	* ShopliftAndDie: Ah, [=RosenQueen=] and its security force... of an infinite number of max-level ''[[OhCrap Dragons]]!''.
181	** Those things are ''better'' than Dragons. They're some kind of [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot fire-breathing cyborg anklysaurus.]]
182	*** Really, what kind of hero are you? Shoplifting? You deserve it.
183	** On the bright side, those dragons give you ''tons'' of experience points when you kill them.
184	* ShoutOut: [[ShoutOut/ZettaiHeroProject Feel free to find them here!]]
185	* SpikesOfDoom: A hidden trap type. However, if you're wearing [[TankGoodness tank treads]], you won't get injured by them.
186	** Every trap has an item (or rather, thanks to the synth system, a item property) that can disable it. Bats can disable log traps, ghost legs disable pitfalls, shields disable arrows, etc. It is impossible to be outright immune to every trap, however, and if the gear is broken, your skills (and thus, your immunity) is lost.
187	* SupportingProtagonist: The main character is the hero and does all the work, but the story is told between Pirohiko and Etranger's interactions with each other (Pirohiko being savvy but a goofball, Etranger being a spoiled child) — as well as the reactions to the rest of the cast to Pirohiko and Etranger.
188	* SweatDrop: He doesn't speak much, but the main character symbolically represents his opinion of Etranger and Pirohiko quite a few times.
189	* TakeUpMySword: How the PlayerCharacter gets in the fix in the first place. [[spoiler:And how Pirohiko became the Unlosing Ranger when the last one died saving the Main Character and his little sister eight years ago.]]
190	* ThereAreNoTherapists: There is, however, the Unlosing Ranger and his uncanny ability to beat the crap out of {{Anthropomorphic Personification}}s of [[TheHeartless insanity, despair, fear, and loneliness]].
191	* TheHero: The game explores what it means to truly be one.
192	* TheParagon: The main character ends up as one.
193	* ThePowerOfLove: Earned by the Unlosing Ranger as one of the qualifications of being a hero. He was able to demonstrate the selflessness and purity of love to Bizarro Geo. [[spoiler:His understanding of love is still incomplete, however, because of his abusive home life. Familial love is what powers him up into the True Unlosing Ranger.]]
194	* ThePowerOfTrust: [[spoiler:By the end of the game, The Unlosing Ranger has gained the trust and respect of all his naysayers along with the rest of the world. Their trust in him powers him into The Unlosing Ranger Omega, and grants him his final technique.]]
195	** All the more awesome because in the final battle, it manifests as a Spirit Bomb [[Franchise/KamenRider RIDER KICK]].
196	* ThisLoserIsYou: ''Viciously'' {{Deconstructed}}. [[spoiler:As you play through the game, it becomes quite clear that the "helpless {{Otaku}}" protagonist is really [[{{Determinator}} doing]] [[IronWoobie nothing]] to deserve his reputation as a wimp. Eventually, it's revealed that his AbusiveParents used him as a scapegoat for all their problems, stifling his development in the process. He probably would have been a good candidate for the Unlosing Ranger under normal circumstances were it not for nobody trusting him to not screw things up.]]
197	* TooAwesomeToUse: Not only does using items' abilities usually cost high EN, but they wear down quickly, meaning you have to really work hard to mod your favorite items to make it so they don't wear out before you complete/escape a dungeon.
198	** The "Space Police" facility also helps out a lot with this. It allows you to beam full sets of equipment directly into the dungeon for Emergency Morphing, which means you can assign your best gear to a morph, then slog through the dungeon with disposable crap, only calling in your good stuff when you really need it.
199	* TookALevelInBadass: The entire game is this for the Unlosing Ranger. In a single day, he goes from a useless, spineless bystander, to [[spoiler:saving the world and [[strike:beating]] saving the last boss against all odds]].
200	* TragicVillain: Most of the Bizarro Earth bosses. [[spoiler:Darkdeath Evilman gets a special mention here — he was a super genius kid who was kidnapped by an evil organization, and prayed for a hero to save him. [[TheWoobie No one did.]]]]
201	* TrainingFromHell: The entire game is the protagonist getting enough in a day to save the world.
202	* {{Tsundere}}: Etranger.
203	* UnluckyEverydude: The Main Character.
204	* VariableMix: The music in the Mastery Caves change by section based on your equipment. The variations include: Default (No Gear and Unlosing Cape), Hero (???), Sexy Witch (Oddly enough, Fluffy Tail counts as this..., else something a Magical Girl would use), 8-Bit ("classic" items like Daggers and Longswords), Junk (Random parts), Super Robot (Super Robot Mainstays such as Tank Treads and Rocket Punch), Euro/American View ("Steriotypical" equipment), Dark Hero ("Villinous" stuff like the Dark Mask), Animal ("Beastrial" gear), and Last Boss ([[spoiler:Darkdevil Evilman's Gear]])... yeash!
205	* VerbalTic: The goons at WHS end their sentences with "kikii".
206	* VirtualPaperDoll: One of the game's selling points is that everything you equip will visibly change your appearance, to the point where there's a very good chance [[RummageSaleReject you'll look ridiculous]], especially at the beginning of the game where you have little choice but to wear whatever the RandomNumberGod decides to hand you. Enemies' equipped items are also visible, too.
207	** In one dialogue scene, Etranger suggests that you equip some tank treads so you can avoid the effects of spike traps. Pirohiko tells you not to do it because [[RainbowPimpGear you won't look properly heroic]].
208	* WakeUpCallBoss: Bizarro Geo. Prior to this, boss battles consisted of pushing through a small army of mooks and then pounding down the Boss. Starting from Geo, a PuzzleBoss element is added. You now have to solve this puzzle BEFORE you can attack the boss (or expose and AttackItsWeakPoint), all while still dealing with hordes of infinitely-spawning mooks, a level that is going to take much longer to solve than previous boss battles (meaning starvation becomes an issue), and a puzzle mechanic that injures you if you mess up.
209	* WhamEpisode: Arguably, Chapter 9 — [[spoiler:that family you've been seeing in the montage sequences? Turns out that the main character is the son that they keep complaining about. You also learn that you and your sister were kidnapped as small children, and were saved by the Unlosing Ranger — who wasn't Pirohiko back then. At the time, Pirohiko was simply a policeman — he became the Unlosing Ranger shortly after the incident, as the previous one was mortally wounded while saving you — by the same serial killer that the then quite normal 8-year-old main character was successfully {{You Shall Not Pass}}ing away from his little sister.]]
210	** If not that, DEFINITELY Chapter X. [[spoiler:Darkdeath Evilman? Not the giant wolf-thing. Darkdeath is the little suicidal 7-year-old kid inside it, who is attempting [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Hero]].]]
211	* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Super Baby is foretold to be the world's savior, but her superpowers seem limited to self-levitation, self-protection, and [[spoiler:''[[MakeMyMonsterGrow turning the enemy into a giant]]'']]. Attempts to get her to do anything ''useful'' end up running into lame excuses. [[spoiler:Eventually subverted, as Etranger becomes capable of teleporting herself and others as well as telekinesis — not to mention giving her physical form a permanent age-up into a teenager.]]
212	** [[spoiler:In fact, she is the one who helps you guys save the world at the end of the game...]]
213	* WhoWritesThisCrap: In Chapter 6, [[spoiler:President Oldllama is ready to nuke Japan in order to defeat Darkdeath Evilman. This leads her Bizarro self to sacrifice [[GenderBender his]] wife in order to defeat the evil spirit. Whose name happens to be Japan]]. Which leads to this CMOF.
214	--> '''Etranger:''' And the wife's name is ''Japan?'' Come on, people, can't you try to be a little more ''subtle?'' '''Ugh.'''
215	* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Getting killed by a monster will give you a phobia of that kind of monster. As long as you have the phobia, you'll take extra damage from them. However, only one phobia can be set at a time, and if you manage to defeat enough of the offending enemy, you'll beat your phobia and gain an EXP bonus from that monster species instead. This effect ''stacks,'' so phobias can actually work in your favor in the long run.
216	* WizardNeedsFoodBadly: All Special Attacks take up EN, you lose EN (for the most part) over time, and if you run out, you'd better chow down some meat or else you'll starve... some dungeons seem to be more generous then others, though ("Dengeki: Kino's Journey" is an example of why you should use Specials with care: unless your Facilties are upgraded, food items are very scarce!)
217	* WouldntHitAGirl: During the final world, the 'troublemaker hero' attempts to invoke it directly before a mid-boss battle on the 8th floor while attempting to convince [[spoiler:Bizarro Darkdeath Evilman]] that you're not a hero. By the way, [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments the troublemaker hero is male, you have known he's male for several chapters, and he doesn't even fake a female voice very well. And to top it off, Pirohiko helpfully offers you the same 'Plump Bosom' equipment that the troublemaker hero is using as a helpful loophole.]]
218	** [[spoiler:You can of course say no... but he gives it to you anyway.]]
219	* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Think you can beat Darkdeath Evilman just yet? Not before [[spoiler:Etranger transforms him into Giant Darkdeath Evilman.]] How about now, when you have [[spoiler:Dangerama working alongside you with a badass team attack?]] [[spoiler:Not so fast, bucko! He becomes Giga Giant Darkdeath Evilman after that.]] All in all, you fight him a total of [[spoiler:''13 times.'']]
220

Context VideoGame / ZettaiHeroProject