| 1 | ->''"Would you stake your life on a world that cannot be saved?"'' |
| 2 | |
| 3 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_1_45.png]] |
| 4 | |
| 5 | '''The Reconstruction''' is a very atypical RPG from Creator/TildeOneGames. The author describes that his intention in making this game was [[DefiedTrope to defy convention at every turn]] -- both in EasternRPG gameplay and HeroicFantasy writing. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | The story is set in a seemingly-peaceful world that is full of turmoil under the surface. Three species live in a rough and unhappy coexistence in the world along with humans: fih'jik, cat-like humanoids who are very religious and devoted to [[CrystalDragonJesus the Supreme One]], despite her apparently turning her back on them in a catastrophe known as "the Blackening"; fortians, similar to humans in appearance, but extremely stoic and scientifically-minded, with exceptional magical talent; and shra, LizardFolk who cannot use magic, and are [[FantasticRacism reviled and enslaved]] because of it. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | The story focuses on Dehl Sikohlon, a shra of the peaceful Sikohlon clan. He's devoted his life to repaying the kindness the city of Wadassia has shown him with civil service as a city guard. To further this goal, he comes up with the idea to make a guild -- a band of heroes -- who go around doing tasks that ordinary people cannot, such as slaying monsters. Dehl's guild eventually traverses the entire world, exposing and mitigating the problems that each species face, with varying results. Further compounding problems is the existence of a [[MysteriousInformant mysterious woman]] known as Fell, who claims to receive messages from a divine being she calls "The Voice Himself". She seems to have even greater plans in store for Dehl and his guild, dispersing [[CrypticConversation cryptic clues]] throughout his journey. But can she be trusted, and does she really know as much as she claims? |
| 10 | |
| 11 | It can be downloaded [[https://rpgmaker.net/games/1426/ here]]. A {{prequel}}, ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'', can be found [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/2732/ here]]. A semi-sequel, ''Videogame/TheDrop'', can be found [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/4395/ here]]. The fourth game, ''How Far'', was in development until the creator had put it on an indefinite hiatus to focus on his first commercial project, ''VideoGame/TheTenthLine'' (see [[http://www.sungazersoftware.com/ here]]). Some data on ''How Far'' can be still found [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/5916/ here]]. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Characters, locations, and ideas from this game, as well as its sequels, made their way into a SpiritualSuccessor game, called ''Videogame/EdensLastSunrise'', by Creator/SungazerSoftware. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | For those interested, the creator has posted [[http://tilde-one.com/articles.php?id=30 a load of trivia]] about the game on his blog. Beware of spoilers, obviously. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | Is not related to the 6th season in the web series ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue''. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | ---- |
| 20 | !!Provides Examples Of: |
| 21 | |
| 22 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 23 | |
| 24 | [[folder:Narrative]] |
| 25 | * AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler:Dehl killing [[SelfMadeOrphan his father]]. After Father Sikohlon went insane and tried OffingTheOffspring, Dehl's pseudo-magic powers manifested for the first time, and he spirit-crushed Father Sikohlon right before he would have been killed himself.]] |
| 26 | * ActionPrologue |
| 27 | * AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Skint. Towards the end of the story, it seems like he's going to turn out to be the BigBad, but when your party arrives at TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, you find him collapsed in a bloody heap right outside it. He reveals that he actually tried to stop the BigBad and was on the heroes' side the whole time before asking Dehl to MercyKill him.]] |
| 28 | * AfterTheEnd: [[spoiler:Chapter 6]]. |
| 29 | * AllThereInTheManual: Sort of. There's an in-game glossary that has background information and history on tons of things, some of which are part of the plot that the game itself only half-explains to you. |
| 30 | * [[spoiler:AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs]]: [[spoiler:In chapter 6, Wadassia (and all other major cities for that matter) has been burned to the ground. Causes Dehl to have a FreakOut.]] |
| 31 | * AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: The prologue centers on Rehm, Vasra, and Taru, then chapter 1 switches the focus to Dehl and the starting cast. |
| 32 | * AnyoneCanDie: By the end of the game, [[spoiler:Vasra, Skint, Aryn, Cort, Adi, Metzino and literally ''millions'' of unnamed [=NPCs=]]] all bite it. |
| 33 | * ArcWords: "Scope". Fitting, since it's the game's CentralTheme. |
| 34 | * ArbitrarySkepticism: [[spoiler:The main characters bring Tezkhra BackFromTheDead, but his claims to actually be the one known as Tezkhra? Preposterous!]] |
| 35 | ** In fairness, [[spoiler:he looks and acts ''completely'' different than how the legendary Tezkhra is described]]. |
| 36 | * BackForTheFinale: Though it's done in a rather depressing manner. [[spoiler:Yacatec]] appears in the final dungeon as [[LaserGuidedKarma a slave]], and helps you get through said dungeon after you free him. |
| 37 | * BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Tezkhra]]. |
| 38 | * BackgroundMusic: Lampshaded. Whenever a character joins the guild's roster, there's a little fanfare that plays. When the starting cast joins in the beginning, [[DeadpanSnarker Qual]][[MetaGuy stio]] says "Is that nauseatingly cheerful music gonna play every time someone joins?" at one point. [[spoiler:Kulkumatz]] [[BrickJoke also asks]] "What was that sound?" when he joins. |
| 39 | * BadPowersBadPeople: Discussed -- the "Noxious" element is directly opposed to the "Holy" one, and it's generally perceived as purely destructive, so the character who specializes in it tends to worry about whether it will corrupt him. He's one of the nicer folks around, though, and eventually he decides that DarkIsNotEvil. |
| 40 | * BigDamnHeroes: Subverted. [[spoiler:After the world is destroyed in chapter 6 and the BigBad kills or enslaves everyone, Dehl's guild is the people's only hope...but they aren't able to come until it's ''far'' too late.]] |
| 41 | * BloodlessCarnage: The game isn't afraid of showing blood in some of the monsters' {{Character Portrait}}s, but avoidance of blood in cutscenes is the norm. The trope is, however, averted in a few instances, usually as a sign that [[WhamEpisode things just got really serious]]. |
| 42 | * BrainBleach: |
| 43 | -->'''Kott''': "'The sky boils, the sea burns, the soil begs forgiveness.' You ever heard anything like that?"\ |
| 44 | '''Qualstio''': "No, but, it's pretty creepy. I wish I could un-hear it." |
| 45 | * BreakingTheFourthWall: In the opening cutscene of chapter 1, Fell talks to the player directly. |
| 46 | * BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:Dehl]]'s DarkAndTroubledPast has this, ''in spades''. Possibly subverted, though, as it's part of the BackStory that is only revealed near the end of the game; most of what we see of him is after the fact. |
| 47 | ** Happens to [[spoiler:Xopi]] as well, who, as [[spoiler:another Sikohlon child]], is quite identical to how [[spoiler:Dehl]] used to be. |
| 48 | * BrickJoke: At the beginning of the game, Qualstio complains about [[SorryILeftTheBGMOn the fanfare that plays when characters join the guild]]. Much later on, another character comments on it after joining. |
| 49 | * CentralTheme: Scope; the necessity to understand all sides of the story and the full truth before one can make the correct decision, and the danger of jumping to conclusions. However, you must acquire the necessary knowledge without also losing sight of what is truly important. |
| 50 | -->"How far back must we stand before we can see everything ahead? And...does that mean we must lose sight of what was closest to begin with?" |
| 51 | ** This is strongly represented by the MultipleEndings; [[spoiler:if you get the normal ending, your scope stays in place, and does not expand. In the GoldenEnding, your scope explodes, as you realize the story was ScienceFiction all along, not {{Fantasy}}.]] |
| 52 | ** It seems like ''VideoGame/IMissTheSunrise'' is continuing in this vein. It is likely to be the theme that ties together the trilogy. |
| 53 | * CharacterDevelopment: Dehl, and how! He undergoes an almost complete transformation from the beginning to the end of the fifth chapter. [[spoiler:Though you may wonder if the change is completely positive...]] |
| 54 | ** Though Dehl is definitely the most prominent example, there are a number of characters who get this, even seemingly one-note {{Optional Party Member}}s, usually represented by [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration plugging an elemental weakness]]. Some do stay {{Flat Character}}s, though. |
| 55 | * ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler:The artifact Havan finds, as well as the fact that he technically becomes the leader of the si'shra in Chapter 4.]] |
| 56 | * ChekhovsGunman: [[spoiler:Havan.]] |
| 57 | ** To a lesser extent, Hiu in chapter 1. He is visible in quest mode as [[spoiler:the "human researcher"]] and can even be examined, but he looks like window dressing until it's revealed that he's the client for the final quest. He doesn't even speak if you examine him, cleverly avoiding the NominalImportance problem by hiding his CharacterPortrait. |
| 58 | * CrypticConversation: As explained in TheQuietOne below, [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] almost never speaks audibly, but does hold internal monologues often. They usually take the form of this, however. |
| 59 | * DarkAndTroubledPast: An impressive portion of the cast: [[spoiler:Dehl, Moke, Rehm, Sirush, Ques, Qualstio, Skint, and Tezkhra]]. |
| 60 | * DarkestHour: [[spoiler:[[WhamEpisode Chapter 6]]. The Watchers are dead, the world is in ruins, and an all-powerful "Lord-God" is sweeping up what little remains.]] |
| 61 | * DeliberateValuesDissonance: Most of the characters are perfectly okay with slavery, and even those who don't treat the shra like dirt are prone to using racial slurs or calling them out on their smell. |
| 62 | * DiabolusExMachina: Chapter 3's climactic reveal that [[spoiler:Metzino is in a [[FeudingFamilies blood feud]] with Pazzato, leading to them dueling and him getting killed]]. There is absolutely zero {{Foreshadowing}} or build-up towards it, and seems to exist only so that chapter 3 can have a more dramatic conclusion. |
| 63 | * DoingInTheWizard: The GoldenEnding reveals that [[spoiler:Tezkhra isn't actually a god and the Watchers aren't actually angels/demigods/things; it's all just because Tez and his pals are SufficientlyAdvancedAliens]]. Magic is still magic, though. Probably. |
| 64 | * DoubleEntendre: Almost every sentence Kidra says. |
| 65 | * DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Rehm]], though some Nalian officers catch him before he can finish it. |
| 66 | * [[spoiler:EarnYourHappyEnding]]: "[[spoiler:Everything we once knew and loved has vanished from this world. We are the only surviving chance for [[TitleDrop reconstruction.]]]]" |
| 67 | * DysfunctionJunction: Not ''everyone'' has major problems, but there are reasons why there are so many character-centric sidequests, most of which deal with resolving the DysfunctionJunction. |
| 68 | * TheEndOfTheBeginning: Subverted. By the end of the story, [[spoiler:the world is almost completely annihilated and has to be rebuilt practically from scratch]] -- it is ''definitely'' the beginning of a new era. However, it's never actually said anywhere that it's a new beginning -- even the phrase "reconstruction" is never mentioned. |
| 69 | * FakeOutOpening: [[spoiler:Rehm isn't the main character, and the prologue happened 50 years prior to the actual story.]] This is fairly obvious, though. |
| 70 | * FlatWhat: Qualstio's reaction to seeing the [[spoiler:Tatzylvurm]]. |
| 71 | * FlashBack: All the interludes. Subverted in that all but one of them are flashbacks to [[AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent the prologue's cast]]. |
| 72 | ** TroubledBackstoryFlashback: The aforementioned one that doesn't center on the prologue's cast. Instead, it centers on [[spoiler:Dehl]], and starts off innocuously enough, before abruptly turning into a WhamEpisode. See [[YMMV/TheReconstruction the YMMV page]] for details. |
| 73 | * {{Foil}}: |
| 74 | ** Calm and level-headed Zargos to the hot-headed and eccentric Santes. |
| 75 | ** Qualstio to Dehl. Opposite elements, and pretty different personalities too. This even extends to their attire: Dehl wears a simple white robe while Qualstio wears a black leather coat. They both share similar goals and ideals, however. |
| 76 | ** Dehl and Skint, once you realize [[spoiler:Skint was the third Sikohlon father. At heart, Skint is almost exactly like Dehl -- a lawful, orderly man devoted to defending those in need. However, unlike Dehl, he was [[EtTuBrute betrayed by a friend]] and was cursed as the "scourgelord", warping him into the bitter, jaded man we see. Or...maybe [[DarkAndTroubledPast they're]] [[EtTuBrute not]] [[ItsAllMyFault so]] [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge different]] after all?]] |
| 77 | ** Alito to Kulkumatz, at least during the latter's recruitment mission. A young scholar, highly educated but somewhat naive, and an impossibly old warrior, who lived his entire life in the jungle, fighting for survival. |
| 78 | * {{Foreshadowing}} / {{Futureshadowing}}: There's ''tons'' of this, though most of it is so subtle that it's unlikely you'll pick up on it except on a replay. Make sure to remember every CrypticBackgroundReference referenced in the early game. |
| 79 | ** In fact, [[SerialEscalation there's so much of it]] that it requires [[Foreshadowing/TheReconstruction its own page]]! |
| 80 | * TheFundamentalist: Most Kir'Sshans. The Blessed Corps in Do'Ssha are extremely dogmatic as well. |
| 81 | * GodIsDead: [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] is. [[spoiler:(You have to bring him BackFromTheDead.)]] Subverted in that [[spoiler:he isn't actually a god, he's a [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens sufficiently advanced alien]], and just as killable as anyone else]]. |
| 82 | * HailfirePeaks: Fortifel is a volcanic island. However, the area is so elevated that it's often blanketed in snow where there are no thermal vents or lava pools. |
| 83 | * HealingFactor: |
| 84 | ** Shra have very high rates of bodily regeneration. This is [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] with Skint who got stabbed in the back with a large sword...and his body healed the wound, ''with the sword still in''. To make things worse, the sword was lodged through his heart, making it impossible to take out without killing him. It also means he can [[TwentyFourHourArmour never take off his armour]], which must make sleeping pretty difficult, too. |
| 85 | ** Qualstio's final passive skill, Physidrawing, gives him high regeneration rates as well (in gameplay terms); it is not as strong as the bodily regeneration of the shra, but regenerates [[SoulAnatomy all his]] [[MultipleLifeBars gauges]] quickly. Plus, being intrinsic regeneration, it's still stackable with regeneration buffs. |
| 86 | * HoistByHisOwnPetard: Sort of. [[spoiler:The Cryomancer dies from being ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice by one of his own icicles.]] |
| 87 | ** Similarly, [[spoiler:Dehl's father]] dies by [[spoiler:falling into a sword he left lying on a table]]. |
| 88 | * HomeSweetHome: In the epilogue, Santes and Zargos settle down in Wadassia. The four Nalians in the party also return home. Averted with the fih'jik members of the party, not only because they don't want to go back, but because [[spoiler:they don't really have a home to return to]]. Also averted with Dehl and Qualstio, who continue to wander and help the world. |
| 89 | * IChooseToStay: [[spoiler:Tezkhra.]] |
| 90 | * IdiotBall: After [[spoiler:the Watchers are killed]] and the party decides to wait for someone to show up and tell them what to do, the only attempt [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] ([[OptionalPartyMember if you have him in your party]]) makes to stop them from [[spoiler:trancing out]] is saying that they should tell him if they "feel anything unusual". Even though he knows that [[spoiler:emitter radiation, which they're currently being exposed to, causes trancing if people sit around and do nothing, which is ''exactly what they said they would do'']]. He should at least have done something to [[spoiler:keep ''himself'' from trancing]]... But despite all this, he just goes along with them and sits there like an idiot. See also [[Fridge/TheReconstruction the Fridge page]]. |
| 91 | * ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: |
| 92 | ** [[spoiler:The Cryomancer, by [[HoistByHisOwnPetard one of his own icicles]].]] |
| 93 | ** And later, there's [[spoiler:Dehl's father]], who, unlike [[spoiler:the Cryomancer]], is ''graphically'' impaled in an aversion of BloodlessCarnage. Also a case of HoistByHisOwnPetard, as he's impaled by falling into a sword he left lying around. |
| 94 | * InfallibleBabble: |
| 95 | ** Averted with [[spoiler:Fell. Most of the weirder things she says are just nonsense.]] |
| 96 | ** Also averted with [[spoiler:Desmon's final rant. He does brush up against the truth, but taking [[DeadToBeginWith his]] [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory theory]] seriously isn't going to get you anywhere.]] |
| 97 | ** Surprisingly, played straight with Falitza's cryptic predictions. [[spoiler:Actually subverted, as she's sane and just analyzing the situation.]] |
| 98 | * KilledMidSentence: [[spoiler:The Cryomancer.]] |
| 99 | * KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Metzino and Sara.]] |
| 100 | * LeaningOnTheFourthWall / LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn: Whenever a character joins the guild's roster, there's a little fanfare that plays. When the starting cast joins in the beginning, Qualstio says "Is that nauseatingly cheerful music gonna play every time someone joins?" at one point. [[spoiler:Kulkumatz]] [[BrickJoke also asks]] "What was that sound?" when he joins. |
| 101 | * TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:Havan]] behind [[spoiler:Skint]]. Subverted by the man in front of the man turning out to [[spoiler:not have been a villain in the first place]]. The real BigBad also has much shallower motives than the fake one, which may qualify as an additional subversion. |
| 102 | * MathematiciansAnswer: Ques does this at a few points. |
| 103 | * MentalWorld: [[spoiler:Sirush]]'s sidequest takes place in one...[[MindScrew maybe]]. |
| 104 | * MercyKill: [[spoiler:Skint]] asks for one in chapter 6. [[spoiler:Dehl]] gives it to him. |
| 105 | * MissionControl: Ques. [[spoiler:(And later, Alito.)]] |
| 106 | * MoodWhiplash: In [[spoiler:chapter 6]], [[spoiler:interlude 3]], and [[spoiler:interlude 4]], done well. |
| 107 | * MotiveRant: [[spoiler:[[BigBad Havan]]]], right before you fight them, explains [[spoiler:exactly why they snapped and killed the Watchers]]. |
| 108 | * [[spoiler:NeglectfulPrecursors]]: [[spoiler:The SufficientlyAdvancedAliens who terraformed and populated the planet are somewhere between neglectful and outright abusive; they periodically annihilate all life on the planet to prevent it from getting too advanced, and don't seem to view the populace of the planet as actual people, just subjects in their experiment.]] |
| 109 | * NiceJobBreakingItHero: Dehl leaves [[spoiler:Havan]] behind at the end of chapter 5, who then proceeds to [[spoiler:slaughter the Watchers and take over the world.]] Dehl also allowed [[spoiler:Havan to get the ChekhovsGun that drove him to do that in the first place.]] |
| 110 | ** Also, [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] accidentally makes the final boss go OneWingedAngel. |
| 111 | ** Dehl broke it ''before the game even started''; [[spoiler:he brought the Blue Plague to the mainland via Moke, though it did abruptly end the revolt, saving some lives...which were probably then taken by the Plague anyway.]] |
| 112 | *** And Father Sikohlon broke it ''even before that'' by [[spoiler:creating the Plague in the first place]]. |
| 113 | * NiceJobFixingItVillain: Funnily enough, in spite of everything that happened in the last chapter, [[spoiler:if Havan had not interfered in the Watchers' plans, the entire surface would have been razed to the ground by the Watchers, resulting in a level of death and destruction even Havan's rule as the Lord-God would not have matched.]] |
| 114 | * ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler:Kidra]]. |
| 115 | * OffTheRails: [[spoiler:Throughout most of the game, you're part of the Watchers' plans, and everything seems to be going well...until [[SpannerInTheWorks Havan]] ''kills them''. As such, the entirety of chapter 6 is this.]] |
| 116 | * OneDegreeOfSeparation: (spoilers, '''seriously''') |
| 117 | ** [[spoiler:Taru Clapian is Tehgonan's father.]] |
| 118 | ** [[spoiler:Moke served Dehl's 'father'.]] |
| 119 | ** [[spoiler:A Pazzato attacked Rehm's ship and killed Vasra.]] |
| 120 | ** [[spoiler:Tezkhra and Mahk have the same ...origin.]] |
| 121 | ** [[spoiler:Skint was a Sikohlon father.]] |
| 122 | ** [[spoiler:Councillord Crossar is the father of both Yfus and Zaka.]] |
| 123 | ** [[spoiler:Both Zargos and Skint fought in the Nalian Revolt.]] |
| 124 | * OutOfCharacterMoment: See ToBeLawfulOrGood, below. Your choice will be spoken through Qualstio's mouth...and since he normally despises the FantasticRacism and laws in general, it makes no logical sense for him to tell the truth. {{Lampshaded}} by Tehgonan, who worries Qualstio's "going soft" by avoiding trouble. |
| 125 | * PanUpToTheSkyEnding: The GoldenEnding uses the "night sky" version. |
| 126 | * PardonMyKlingon: Yacatec does this twice; Early in chapter 4, he calls Tehgonan a "Zin d'an"[[note]]t literally means "little brother" in Shra, but because si'shra use it to refer to ordinary shra, its slang use is a serious insult[[/note]], at which point Dehl snaps, "Yacatec, please do not call him that." Later, after the camp is [[spoiler:threatened to be washed away by magical rain]], he snaps at Ques, flinging what is presumably a heinous insult at him in his native language. |
| 127 | * PersonalityPowers: [[AvertedTrope Averted]] or played straight for the most part, but maimed, stomped on, and tossed out a window with Moke, a compassionate, meek, and lovable little guy who wields [[PoisonousPerson noxious, foul poison]]. |
| 128 | * PleaseWakeUp: In [[spoiler:Interlude 4]]. Upon seeing that [[spoiler:Father Sikohlon]] has killed [[spoiler:all his brothers and [[FreakOut gone insane]]]], [[spoiler:Dehl]] says "What happened to [[spoiler:our brothers]]? Why aren't they moving?" |
| 129 | * PoisonIsEvil: Subverted; the Noxious element is generally regarded as evil or at least more shady than other elements, but both Noxious-elemental party members are perfectly nice people. One's sidequest even revolves around disproving this. |
| 130 | * RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Partly because you end up having humans, [[CatGirl fih'jik]], [[LizardFolk shra]], and fortians all in the same group, but also, pretty much all the optional party members are just random people off the streets, some of which have rather weird class names. While one can probably guess that "Spectrumancer" and "Whiteblade" are legitimate classes, what in the world is a "Flashcurve" or "Whitewind"? |
| 131 | * RedOniBlueOni: Qualstio and Dehl. Lampshaded by Qualstio with their support quote. |
| 132 | -->"A little cliché, don't ya think?" |
| 133 | * TheReveal: The revelation of who the BigBad is doesn't come until ''the cutscene before the FinalBoss''. [[spoiler:And your jaw is guaranteed to drop when you find out that it's ''Havan''.]] |
| 134 | * RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[spoiler:Dehl]] goes on one in chapter 6. His temporary personality change makes some of his skill descriptions read almost like black comedy. |
| 135 | -->[[spoiler:"The serene, peaceful nature of the knight manifests in enhanced inner traits."]] |
| 136 | * SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Skint, Aryn, and the Watchers]]. |
| 137 | ** SacrificialLamb: [[spoiler:Metzino]] is either this or the above; though they only appear for one chapter and are killed off long before the {{Sacrificial Lion}}s, they are only killed off at the very end of the chapter they appear in. |
| 138 | * SaveTheWorld: [[spoiler:Deconstructed. Dehl ''attempts'' this, but finds that he can't, as any accomplishment he does make will not last; only the people can truly save themselves. He also finds that the psychological stress is unbearable (especially combined with his [[DarkAndTroubledPast other issues]]).]] |
| 139 | * ScrewDestiny: A villainous example. After performing tests of character for ''years'', [[spoiler:Havan]] is casually brushed aside and told that he isn't TheChosenOne after all. But he won't tolerate this, and [[spoiler:murders all the Watchers in an attempt to get to Dehl.]] |
| 140 | * ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules: There are a few quests where Dehl turns down payment afterwards. |
| 141 | * SequelHook: ''And'' a prequel hook, no less, in the GoldenEnding. |
| 142 | * SoundOnlyDeath: The screen abruptly fades to black right before [[spoiler:Dehl kills [[BigBad Havan]]]], who we only hear screaming. This is rather odd, considering that there was a graphic FamilyUnfriendlyDeath not much earlier, plus the fact that the game has no reason to pretend it's still a happy-go-lucky family-friendly adventure story at that point. |
| 143 | ** Although, it could be a way of showing that [[spoiler:the extremely dark tone of chapter 6 is finally over, and that the story is now going to return to a more lighthearted state]]. |
| 144 | * StrengthEqualsWorthiness: [[spoiler:Moke]] assumes this when he is told he will be put through a "test" by a mysterious stranger; he quickly objects, but it turns out [[SubvertedTrope the test is of a different nature]]. |
| 145 | * SufficientlyAdvancedAliens: [[spoiler:Tezkhra and his pals. See ClarkesThirdLaw and DoingInTheWizard, above.]] |
| 146 | * ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: Falitza allegedly destroyed her mind by "peering into the unknown". [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Subverted]], though -- it's ObfuscatingInsanity. She was so sick of being "little miss perfect" that she staged the whole thing to get thrown into Sanctifel.]] |
| 147 | * TitleDrop: The First and Second Reconstructions. Subverted in that they're only minor backstory events that are only briefly mentioned once each throughout the entire game (and you won't get any details unless you read Ques' glossary). |
| 148 | ** And then played straight in chapter 6: |
| 149 | --->"[[spoiler:Everything we once knew and loved has vanished from this world. We are the only surviving chance for reconstruction.]]" |
| 150 | * ThoseTwoGuys: Prowlers Tamo and Teno in Chapter 4. |
| 151 | * ThreeStatSystem: Body, Mind, and Soul. |
| 152 | * ToBeLawfulOrGood: The player themselves must make this choice at the end of one quest -- after you see a bunch of criminal shra run out of the city, you have the option of pointing the Nalian Officers in the right or wrong direction. |
| 153 | * TookAShortcut: There's one quest that involves trailblazing a previously-untraversed mountain pass. One of the obstacles you face is a ''camp of bandits''. This is {{Lampshaded}} in the narration. |
| 154 | * TreacheryCoverUp: [[spoiler:The fortian Councillords cleverly disguise what is effectively Metzino's execution as a seemingly fair duel against Pazzato.]] |
| 155 | * TrueCompanions: The guild ends up like this by the end. |
| 156 | * TheUnfought: [[spoiler:Skint]]. You come ''extremely close'' to battling him (there's even a FightWoosh!), but [[TechnicalPacifist Dehl]] calls off the battle and solves things diplomatically. |
| 157 | * UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler:Literally the entire game is pretty much simply the Watchers moving Six Stars around like chess pieces ([[FridgeBrilliance remind you of a certain stylistic art choice?]]). Until [[OffTheRails chapter 6]], that is...]] |
| 158 | ** Possibly subverted, as the chessmasters don't seem to be inherently evil. [[spoiler:It seems like their ultimate goal in finding TheChosenOne is so that the world ''won't'' have to be destroyed, in fact.]] |
| 159 | * VillainExitStageLeft: [[spoiler:The BigBad attempts this after he's defeated, but just as he's about to escape, he discovers that all the survivors of Wadassia have arrived to block his path.]] |
| 160 | %%* Weapon Of Choice: |
| 161 | %%** Archer: Fero |
| 162 | %%** BladeEnthusiast: Vasra, [[spoiler:Kidra]], [[spoiler:Sirush]], [[spoiler:Moke]] |
| 163 | %%** CoolSword: Dehl uses a blunted one ([[FridgeLogic that deals Slashing damage]]), Rehm uses [[DualWielding two]] shortswords, [[spoiler:Ques]] uses a rapier, and [[spoiler:Havan]] uses a giant scimitar-like blade. |
| 164 | %%*** It should be noted that if you are strong enough you can still cut with a sword even if it has dull edges, but the cut won't be nearly as deep, making it harder to land a lethal blow on somebody accidentally. |
| 165 | %%** GoodOldFisticuffs: [[spoiler:Falitza]] ([[SquishyWizard bizarrely]]) |
| 166 | %%** LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: [[spoiler:Lani]] |
| 167 | %%** MagicWand: Tehgonan. [[spoiler:Adi]] uses [[DualWielding two]] when you fight her. |
| 168 | %%** PowerFist: [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] |
| 169 | * WellIntentionedExtremist: The Cryomancer. He just wanted to preserve things and help people! But then [[PoorCommunicationKills you went and]] [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption killed him]]. YouBastard. |
| 170 | * WhamEpisode: "To Ascend", the final quest of chapter 3. Up until that point, the story reads like a fairly typical HeroicFantasy adventure story, with a few hints of a greater, overarching plot and only a few very serious moments. You'll probably think that it'll maintain the fairly carefree, happy-go-lucky vibe the heroes have going on. Well, at least, until [[spoiler:[[SacrificialLamb Metzino]] ''[[MoodWhiplash gets thrown off the Faithall Tower]]'', you fight your first boss fight with a human character (who dies bloodily), and the entire mess ends in a giant DownerEnding revealing that the characters were {{Unwitting Pawn}}s the whole chapter and their efforts were meaningless]]. It's also immediately followed by interlude 3, which is filled to the brim with TearJerker. |
| 171 | ** Even moreso, Interlude 4. By the Supreme One, '''''interlude 4'''''. |
| 172 | *** Also {{lampshaded}}; the "accept" option for the save prompt afterwards is "After all that? Hell yes." |
| 173 | ** Chapter 6 is also pretty shocking, though it comes quite late in the story. |
| 174 | * WhamLine: |
| 175 | -->"[[spoiler:Third Watcher? You mean Donz? I thought he went down with you guys, Ma!]]"[[note]]The first time you play the game, you most likely won't remember the mention and brief appearance of Donz in the prologue.[[/note]] |
| 176 | * WhatTheHellHero: [[spoiler:[[TechnicalPacifist Dehl]]]] receives an indignant speech from [[spoiler:[[ActualPacifist Mahk]]]] after he [[spoiler:kills (or at the very least, severely injures) two Nalian slavers in front of Xopi]]. He [[spoiler:becomes an outcast of the Sikohlon family]] because of this. |
| 177 | * WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue |
| 178 | * YouCantFightFate: [[spoiler:Subverted. There's no such thing as "fate" -- the {{Mysterious Informant}}s who prattle on about it are just as fallible as everyone else, as the BigBad [[OffTheRails proves spectacularly]]. The "you can't fight fate" mentality is only propagated to keep the Watchers and people in general from acting out of line, and it's all a lie.]] |
| 179 | * YouExclamation: Dehl's "YOU?!" at finding out that [[spoiler:the "Lord-God" is Havan.]] |
| 180 | * YouMonster: Dehl's response to learning that [[spoiler:Havan tortured Donz to death.]] |
| 181 | * YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: The game doesn't actually wrap everything up when the twist is pulled, but it looks like it's on a fast track towards doing so. However, just when it looks like you're about to have some climactic final boss fight and SaveTheWorld, [[spoiler:Qualstio screams in horror as he finds that the Watchers have all been slaughtered. Also, you failed to stop Donz from activating the pillars, so civilization has been nearly wiped out. So, instead of going along with Fell's advice, the rest of the game revolves around stopping the BigBad and trying to [[TitleDrop reconstruct]] civilization.]] |
| 182 | [[/folder]] |
| 183 | |
| 184 | [[folder:Setting]] |
| 185 | * BigCreepyCrawlies: {{Downplayed}} with the tchiitra, which are giant, dangerous bugs, but are never any larger than a human (and are usually a bit smaller than that). Played straighter with the tchiitra broodmother, who is much bigger. |
| 186 | * CatFolk: The fih'jik. The Encyclopedia even says that the word "cat" comes from the Fih'Jik word for "child". |
| 187 | ** Interestingly though, they carry very few of the typical AnimalStereotypes associated with cats -- they are neither the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]] associated with predatory cats (they are actually physically frail when compared to the other three species), nor do they fit the "hyperactive, selfish hedonist" portrayal associated with domestic cats. Some of them do still like hunting, though. |
| 188 | * ClarkesThirdLaw: ''And how''. [[spoiler:The shra]] thought [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] was a ''god'' because of it. |
| 189 | * CrapsaccharineWorld: The world looks innocuous enough at first, but the more you explore it, the more you realize just how messed up it is. Here's a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of [[TheReveal reveals]]: |
| 190 | ** Chapter 1: [[spoiler:Wadassia is practically the only country in the known world that can grow food, so the welfare of all other places is placed into one basket -- a basket that hangs by a thread.]] |
| 191 | ** Chapter 2: [[spoiler:A large portion of the populace is poverty-stricken, and forced to live in the slums of Nal. ''[[FromBadToWorse Also]]'', the large lagoon in which the game takes place is the only habitable area in the world -- everywhere else is just ocean as far as the eye can see. This will no doubt lead to painful population plateaus.]] |
| 192 | ** Chapter 3: [[spoiler:The Fortian Councillords economically control the rest of the world through monopolization of magical artifacts, and kill anyone who is a threat to their stability.]] |
| 193 | ** Chapter 4: [[spoiler:The FantasticRacism against shra is so bad that ''their own kind'' sell each other into slavery to make ends meet.]] |
| 194 | ** Chapter 5: [[spoiler:The fih'jik cling to their warlike religion, refusing to let those in Do'Ssha live in peace. Warfare is so frequent that their continent earned a nickname that basically means "bloody sands". The KnightTemplar leader of Kir'Ssha even ''commits suicide'' because he knows it's the only way to stop the war...temporarily, at least.]] |
| 195 | ** Chapter 6: [[spoiler:And none of that even matters, because Havan razed the entire world to the ground because you let him! NiceJobBreakingItHero!]] |
| 196 | * CrystalDragonJesus: The fih'jik religion is very similar to the Christian one, though there's no Jesus figure and the god (or "Supreme One") in question is female. [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in that she seems to be either [[GodIsDead dead]] or [[GodIsEvil sadistic]]. |
| 197 | ** Furthermore, with knowledge from ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'', it can probably be assumed that [[spoiler:she either doesn't exist, or she was one of the SufficientlyAdvancedAliens that worked on the PLSE project, like Tezkhra]]. |
| 198 | * ElementalPowers: [[PlayingWithFire Heat]], [[AnIcePerson Cold]], [[ShockAndAwe Physical]], [[PsychicPowers Mental]], [[LightEmUp Divine]], and [[PoisonousPerson Noxious]]. ''Everyone'' in the setting has this to some extent, since every being has an elemental affinity. |
| 199 | * TheEmpire: Kir'Ssha. It's an iron-fisted, totalitarian fascist regime that has religious intolerance as ''law'', and its leaders and military openly plot to conquer the rest of the world and force them to worship the Supreme One. Pretty much their only redeeming trait is that, despite their intolerance of other religions, they treat shra as equals rather then second class citizens or slaves, just like Do'Ssha does. |
| 200 | * EntropyAndChaosMagic: Sort of. It's not a standard feature of the setting, but Tatzylvurm and the TrueFinalBoss both have "Chaos" as their element, as opposed to a certain optional character who has "Order" as their element. Both end up effectively NonElemental. |
| 201 | * FantasticRacism: Everywhere except Do'Ssha and the Berylbrine Outpost, shra are slaves or servants, and are treated like dirt in Nal. |
| 202 | * FeudingFamilies: The [[spoiler:Pazzato]] and [[spoiler:Metzino]] lines have been at this for quite a while. |
| 203 | * GodOfEvil: Tezkhra certainly seems to be this; the encyclopedia describes him as a foul, wretched, poisonous creature that brought death everywhere he walked and gave birth to the si'shra, one of the most violent creatures in the world. [[spoiler:However, this is subverted if you get the sixteenth character -- ''Tezkhra himself''. He turns out to actually be ShroudedInMyth and a perfectly nice guy. The Tezkhra figure that the si'shra worship was actually an evil creature that killed him and stole his name.]] |
| 204 | * GoodRepublicEvilEmpire: Do'Ssha and Kir'Ssha. Both are traditionalist theocracies, but Do'Ssha is ruled by an elected council, while Kir'Ssha appears to be a military dictatorship. Do'Ssha isn't without its flaws, but it is, by far, the nicer of the two societies. |
| 205 | * HalfHumanHybrid: ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'' reveals that [[spoiler:the entire shra race are half-''Lesser'' hybrids, as they were cloned from Tezkhra's DNA. Tezkhra himself is not a HalfHumanHybrid, but Rami altered his physiology so much that he can't be easily classified as either a Lesser or a lacertian, and this weirdness was passed on to his "children".]] |
| 206 | * HaveYouSeenMyGod: The [[CrystalDragonJesus Supreme One]] is either missing or [[GodIsDead dead]]. That or [[GodIsEvil she enjoys seeing her children launch violent and bloody holy wars against each other]]. [[TheFundamentalist Kir'Sshans]] are all convinced that she's still alive, though. |
| 207 | ** Played straight with [[spoiler:the SufficientlyAdvancedAliens that are the creators of the GambitRoulette that is the game's plot. After Tez died, they shut off communications to the world and left.]] |
| 208 | * HeroesRUs: Guilds. |
| 209 | * HumansAreAverage: They're actually ''below'' average, in pure gameplay terms, since they tend to have the lowest regeneration rates in all three stats. |
| 210 | * HumansAreLeaders: Due to lack of competition. Of the other sentient species in the setting, the [[LizardFolk shra]] have a tendency to follow whoever seems strongest, the Fortians don't care much about outside affairs, and the [[CatFolk fih'jik]] are traditionalistic to a fault, leaving humans as the primary explorers and leaders. |
| 211 | ** It's also subverted, since TheHero is a shra. Could be DoubleSubverted, though, since he's an extreme subversion of most fantasy heroes and doesn't actually do much leading. |
| 212 | * ImmortalityInducer: [[spoiler:The "artifact" that Havan finds is an active [[VideoGame/IMissTheSunrise +ii emitter]].]] |
| 213 | * LastNameBasis: The fortians do this. The only time they're referred to by their first name is informally or by someone of higher rank. This extends to your party members; Sicious Qualstio and [[spoiler:Halia Falitza]] are always referred to by their last names. |
| 214 | * LizardFolk: Shra. |
| 215 | * MedievalStasis: As in most Medieval Stasis worlds, magic takes the place of science and technology for the most par except that not everyone can use it. On top of that, only Fortians have magical abilities potent enough to perform the really important spells and create the really important {{Magitek}}. This means that things are stacked in the favour of Fortians -- everyone has no choice but to depend on them. When [[spoiler:Metzino]] decides to make steam-powered technology (meaning that ''everyone'' can contribute to society equally), [[spoiler:the fortian councillords are ''[[BurnTheWitch not happy]]'']]. |
| 216 | * OneGenderRace: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]; the shra seem to be this at first, but [[spoiler:in chapter 4 we learn that the females are all forced to stay inside the Shra Capital]]. |
| 217 | * [[spoiler:{{Panspermia}}]]: [[spoiler:Of the "alientelligent design" variety; the planet was terraformed and populated by SufficientlyAdvancedAliens as part of a science project.]] |
| 218 | * PerfectPacifistPeople: The Sikohlon, though they're a small clan instead of an entire society. |
| 219 | * ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Subverted. The setting invokes this; virtually every character you meet finds an excuse to hate on [[LizardFolk shra]]. However, in the narrative itself, shra are given a rather sympathetic viewpoint -- the main character is even one. Possibly a type of DeliberateValuesDissonance. |
| 220 | * RubberForeheadAliens: Averted with Fortians. They seem like they're this; they look almost exactly like humans, only more slender, with crazier hairstyles, and paler skin. However, WordOfGod says that they ''are'' humans, and the difference is purely cultural. Their magic affinity is simply due to the fact that they focus on it so exclusively. |
| 221 | * ScienceIsBad: The Fortian Councillords think so, anyway. [[spoiler:The game's actual message seems to be an inversion of this trope.]] |
| 222 | * SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: The story and characters start off rather idealistic, but gradually slide towards cynicism, nearly hitting the end of the scale by the end. |
| 223 | ** [[spoiler:In the ending, the slider jumps back to the idealistic end; all the characters come to terms with their {{Dark And Troubled Past}}s (albiet not completely in some cases) and civilization is rebuilt. However, it doesn't dial all the way back; how can it, after [[CrapsaccharineWorld everything the player has seen]]? This is demonstrated by Dehl having the realization that he cannot do everything and save everyone; sometimes, the only option is for the people to save themselves.]] |
| 224 | * {{Snaketalk}}: According to the glossary, one in five shra have tongues too big to perfectly pronounce the human language, and speak like this. None of the Sikohlon seem to have this trait, interestingly. [[spoiler:Kulkumatz]] does, though. |
| 225 | * SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: The fortians are all over this. They're the closest thing the setting has to modern scientists, and they're the race with the greatest affinity for magic. |
| 226 | [[/folder]] |
| 227 | |
| 228 | [[folder:Gameplay]] |
| 229 | * ActuallyFourMooks: Played straight in normal PreexistingEncounters, but [[AvertedTrope averted]] in unavoidable ones (usually). This includes boss battles; their [[FlunkyBoss flunkies]] will usually have visible sprites on the map before the battle (except for the bosses of chapter 1 and 2, whose flunkies come out of nowhere). |
| 230 | * AdvancingWallOfDoom: The [[spoiler:Tatzylvurm]] has a powerful "Ceiling Drop" attack which starts out at the backmost row but increases its area of effect by one column every time it's used. |
| 231 | ** The Cryomancer has an attack that is nearly identical, though it also freezes the squares it affects. |
| 232 | * AlwaysClose: No matter how much time it takes you to climb [[spoiler:the Faithall Tower]], you will always arrive just in time to see [[spoiler:Metzino getting killed]]. |
| 233 | * AmbidextrousSprite: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. |
| 234 | * AnatomyOfTheSoul: Instead of just having HP and MP, characters have Body, Mind, and Soul gauges that all count as both. This is a major aspect of the gameplay, and is even integrated into one of the quests. |
| 235 | * ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: Justified; according to Wadassian law, guilds are restricted to six armed combatants at any one time. This is violated a few times, though you still can't ever control more than six characters at once. |
| 236 | ** Zig zagged later, though. [[spoiler:After Wadassia is ''reduced to ruins'' and Dehl, the only person who's really been enforcing the rule, has a FreakOut and turns into TheBerserker... You are ''still'' restricted to six party members at a time.]] At that point, the game comes with another explanation [[HandWave that might or]] [[BellisariosMaxim might not work]]. |
| 237 | --->'''[[spoiler:Alito]]''': Our active party can explore deeper when ready. The rest of us should hold here. |
| 238 | * ArmorIsUseless: All armor types have one attack type they're strong against and one they're weak against. It is also the only trait any armor has, so robes and plain clothes end up being equally protective as full plate armor, just in different circumstances. |
| 239 | * BossBanter: Chapter 5's boss. "You fools! You should never have allowed yourselves to come within my grasp!" Said just before executing ThatOneAttack. |
| 240 | * BossInMookClothing: Most enemies with AreaOfEffect attacks (Bone Swirl and Kir Devouts, for example) can easily obliterate you if you're not careful. |
| 241 | * ButThouMust: At one point, a character asks you if you are serious about something. Your choices are: "Quite serious," "Dead serious," and "Serious as a heart attack." |
| 242 | * CantDropTheHero: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. There's even one storyline quest where you can't use any shra at ''all'', so you're actually ''required'' to drop him. There's also one sidequest where you can only use characters with high charisma (a qualifier that Dehl lacks without major support bonuses), and [[spoiler:Falitza]]'s recruitment quest, where you can only use casters (you don't need to kick Dehl out of your party, though). |
| 243 | * CastFromHitPoints: Body, Mind, and Soul points all serve as both [[LifeMeter Life Meters]] ''and'' [[ManaMeter Mana Meters]]. [[spoiler:Tezkhra's an exception because his skills are [[ClarkesThirdLaw actually advanced technology]] and thus he's exempt from the way spells work.]] |
| 244 | * CharacterLevel: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]! Essence gains from monsters are used to upgrade stats directly. |
| 245 | * CharacterPortrait |
| 246 | * ClimaxBoss: Every single one, except for [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere the Hemofalcon]]. |
| 247 | * CombatMedic: Santes is one of the strongest characters in the game, while being one of the best medics at the same time. |
| 248 | * ContractualBossImmunity: Completely averted; ''nothing'' is immune to status effects. Skills that inflict Disable are a bit of a GameBreaker because of this. |
| 249 | * ClassicCheatCode: At least three: Naming you guild after [[spoiler:the numbers from ''Series/{{LOST}}'']], [[spoiler:the first digits of pi]], or [[spoiler:the first digits of Euler's number]] will give 50000 essence of every type and 5000 skill/mana points to every character when you start the game. Space Lizard says there might be more, though (he can't remember, and doesn't have access to the source code anymore). |
| 250 | -->'''Dehl:''' Forgive me, the ink must have smudged. What I mean to say, is... '[[spoiler:The Lost]]' will suffice. |
| 251 | * ConvectionSchmonvection: In chapter 3, since you're on a volcano, there are numerous magma lakes and streams that even have bridges over them. You can go right up to the lava without harm. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in one quest, though, as you need someone alone and wearing heavy armour to cross a certain passage. |
| 252 | * CripplingOverspecialization: Zargos is really good at inflicting Body damage...but that's the only type of damage he can inflict. Since everyone else except Tehgonan can damage at least two of the three life bars, he's not that great at working in conjunction with other characters. As such, most players will probably drop him from their party early on. His main speciality seems to be the addition of Rush to normal attacks, but he develops most of it after being likely considered underwhelming and dropped. |
| 253 | ** CrutchCharacter |
| 254 | * DamageIncreasingDebuff: If a side gets Rushed, they take more damage while also inflicting less. Poison also functions like this for Moke's Toxic Shock spell. |
| 255 | * DifficultButAwesome: [[spoiler:Ques]], fittingly. He requires a bit of setup, and many of his skills have drawbacks that will cripple him if you use them improperly. However, if you know what you're doing, he can be ''very'' formidable. |
| 256 | ** Tehgonan may count as well, though he's more of a support role, and you do need to [[MagikarpPower beef him up a bit first]]. |
| 257 | * DifficultyLevels: You can set them at the beginning of the game, though they aren't universal; they change specific things. Your characters can gain 150% essence and at the same time have monsters at 150% strength, for example. |
| 258 | * DiscOneFinalDungeon: Almost every chapter-ending quest, though it's usually pretty easy to tell that you'll be travelling somewhere else in the next chapter, if for no other reason than those [[InterfaceSpoiler huge gaps in your roster]]. |
| 259 | ** Played entirely straight in [[spoiler:Heaven]], though; it seems like you're going to [[spoiler:chase down Donz or whoever the main villain is]] and have some climatic final boss fight, but [[spoiler:all you actually do is solve a long puzzle and then see a [[WhamEpisode very shocking cutscene]].]] (See YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle, above.) |
| 260 | * DiscOneNuke: |
| 261 | ** Minor example, but still worth mentioning: Santes' passive "Bulwark" skill is one of the first she can learn, and it's one of the best passive skills in the game, as it makes her stronger, faster, ''and'' tougher at the same time. |
| 262 | ** Focusing on upgrading some attack abilities like Spirit Crush, Judgement or Perfect Frenzy early on allows you to OneHitKill most enemies in the first half of the game. |
| 263 | ** Really, your ''starting party'' is mostly this -- with the exception of [[CrutchCharacter Zargos]] and [[MagikarpPower Tehgonan]], they're all well-rounded and quite powerful. Most characters that join later are gimmicky and difficult to use without a greater knowledge of the mechanics, making the starting party BoringButPractical. |
| 264 | * DumpStat: Body for fih'jik, Soul for fortians, Mind for shra. Humans are the JackOfAllStats, [[HumansAreAverage as usual]]. |
| 265 | * EasterEgg: If you manage to attain a rank higher than 17 before the end of chapter 3, [[spoiler:Ques will lampshade how it's odd he's still around when his contract should have expired by that point]]. |
| 266 | * EnemyScan: [[spoiler:Falitza]]'s "Procure Status" skill. It's also a rather disproportionate gamble, as [[LuckBasedMission it has a high chance of failing]] and very high cost. However, it additionally gives some entertaining snippet from the thoughts of the enemy... |
| 267 | * ExtendedGameplay: Sort of; every chapter's storyline is pretty self-contained, so when a new chapter starts it can feel a bit like this. It's not much of a surprise, though, as there's tons of InterfaceSpoiler and the storyline itself doesn't make much attempt to hide that you'll be travelling somewhere else next chapter. |
| 268 | * FloorboardFailure: Exhibited in one area in "Worthy of the Sea". Interestingly, it doesn't happen automatically; you need to pile multiple characters onto the weak spot to exceed a weight threshold. |
| 269 | * FlunkyBoss: Every single one except for Chapter 3's and Chapter 5's OptionalBoss. |
| 270 | * GameOver: Almost completely averted; losing a regular encounter will just lead to the character(s) in the party crawling back to the beginning of the area and licking their wounds until they recover. There are a few quests with greater consequences for failure, but the game doesn't end, the quest just restarts (to quote Ques: "Let's just pretend that never happened, shall we?"). The only way to get a true game over is to lose to a boss fight, and even then, only if you refuse to retry. |
| 271 | ** Curiously, this does ''not'' apply to the FinalBoss; your party members will literally ''[[MadeOfIron stand back up]]'' and keep fighting if everyone is defeated. The boss regenerates all their health, though. This is probably because the normal penalty for losing to a boss (loss of essence rewards) is meaningless against the final one. |
| 272 | * GameplayAndStoryIntegration: Each species' {{Healing Factor}} and {{Dump Stat}}. |
| 273 | ** Fortians, being the most logical and magic-oriented, have great mental stability, and therefore have the highest Mind values. However, it is that same focus on logic and suppression of emotion that causes the to have the lowest Soul values. |
| 274 | ** Fih'jik, being extremely pious and religious, have enough faith and confidence to have nearly unbreakable will and resolve, so they have the highest Soul values. However, they are {{Fragile Speedster}}s compared to the other species, meaning they have the lowest Body values. |
| 275 | ** Shra are stated to be extremely tough and have the ability to recover from wounds quickly, therefore they have the highest Body values. However, due to FantasticRacism, they tend to be uneducated and savage, giving them the lowest Mind values. |
| 276 | * GameplayAndStorySegregation: After you defeat him, chapter 3's boss is always shown lying in a pool of blood, as if he sustained bodily harm...even if you defeated him through Mind or Soul damage and didn't leave a scratch on him. |
| 277 | * GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: The Hemofalcon, chapter 2's boss. |
| 278 | * HarmlessFreezing: Qualstio's "Flashfreeze" skill only inflicts Mind damage, leaving the target completely unharmed physically. |
| 279 | * HolyHandGrenade: Santes' "Judgement" ability, which is the most powerful Divine spell in the game. |
| 280 | * InformedEquipment: Averted for the most part, since you can't freely change equipment and the one time a character gets a radical plot-related change of wardrobe, their sprite is updated. But there's one instance when it's used and lampshaded: after one quest a character receives a very high-quality robe... then they remark how astonishingly similar it looks to the one they're currently wearing, and their sprite remains unchanged. |
| 281 | * InstantDeathRadius: If [[spoiler:Zaka]] reaches the front line, you're screwed. |
| 282 | * InterfaceSpoiler: You can tell how many available party members there are, and how many you don't have, just by looking at the roster. Also, if you check the "Achievements and Records" page, you can see how many quests will be in the chapter, and also the secondary area you'll be going to later. |
| 283 | ** It's also subverted. [[spoiler:In the prologue, Taru and Vasra have passive abilities if you look at their status screens, but they're untrained and therefore unusable. This implies that they'll join the main roster later on, but the truth turns out to be...''[[KilledOffForReal very]]'' [[HeroicBSOD different]].]] |
| 284 | * JokeCharacter: [[spoiler:Rehm Sikohlon]] is this in his recruitment quest; his stats are on basic level and he only has unusable "Twiddle Thumbs"-like joke abilities. Of course, he gets better. |
| 285 | * LateCharacterSyndrome: The stat problems are averted; even characters who join in the final chapter are pretty useful, since the stat growth system allows them to catch up very quickly. However, due to each character being tactically unique, you'll most likely develop a general strategy with each character having an essential, individual role, so late characters like Yfus might have bad chances of becoming members of your active party. |
| 286 | ** In general, the higher your difficulty, the worse this will be, since the later characters are balanced for what your rank would be on a normal-difficulty run. If you've set everything to max, you'll probably have received all possible rank-up bonuses by the time you recruit the last three characters--meaning they won't gain any of the skill points they'd have gotten from being in your party when you ranked up. |
| 287 | * LazyBackup: Justified; Wadassian law restricts your guild to six armed fighters at a time, so other characters aren't allowed to intervene. See ArbitraryHeadcountLimit, above. |
| 288 | * LeakedExperience: The support system transfers essence and some skill points to the supporting character. Unfortunately, that means you'll still have to leave out four people if you get a full roster. |
| 289 | * LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards: [[AvertedTrope Averted]], as both fighter-types and caster-types start with all their skills, and casters can actually afford to take a hit thanks to the game's health system. Casters are also generally better at exploiting elemental weaknesses and can attack from a distance, but fighters wither and die if anything with a Mind attack pokes them. (They ''are'' good at soaking Body attacks and exploiting armour weaknesses, though.) Rushing is generally more useful than [[UselessUsefulSpell Enchanting]], however. |
| 290 | * ManaMeter: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]; all three gauges serve as both [[LifeMeter Life Meters]] ''and'' fuel for special skills. |
| 291 | %%* MultipleEndings |
| 292 | * MultipleLifeBars: Every character has Body, Mind, and Soul points, all of which serve as HitPoints and {{mana}} at the same time. Any of these reaching zero [[NonLethalKO KO]]'s the character. |
| 293 | * NoNameGiven: We are never told the real name of the Cryomancer. |
| 294 | * NonElemental: [[spoiler:Tezkhra]]'s element is "Order", which is described as having no strengths or weaknesses. There's also Tatzylvurm and [[spoiler:[[PerfectRunFinalBoss Chaos Havan]]]], whose elements are "[[EntropyAndChaosMagic Chaos]]", also without strengths or weaknesses. |
| 295 | * NonLethalKO: Played with - it's stated in-game that Soul and Mind damage are usually non-lethal, but Body damage usually is. This even [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration comes into play]] in one quest. |
| 296 | * OneStatToRuleThemAll: Agility, definitely. The battle system just rewards quantity over quality too much; more turns means faster acceleration of the chain, more TechPoints, and more opportunities to trigger random-chance effects like debuffs. |
| 297 | * OptionalPartyMember: Six of 'em. |
| 298 | * OverratedAndUnderleveled: The sixteenth character, [[spoiler:Tezkhra]]. They specialize mainly in [[UselessUsefulSpell status effects and gimmicks]], which, due to the strategical nature of the game, are more useful than most, but still makes them fall behind other characters that can dish out significantly more damage. Also, they're [[MightyGlacier slower than molasses in January]], and in a game where speed is the OneStatToRuleThemAll, that hampers quite a bit. (This can't even be cured by character support like with other {{Mighty Glacier}}s, since [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] has no support combinations.) |
| 299 | %%* PerfectRunFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Chaos Havan.]] |
| 300 | * PermanentlyMissableContent: Almost fully [[AvertedTrope averted]]; you can wait up until the PointOfNoReturn to finish any sidequests and recruit any characters. |
| 301 | * PointOfNoReturn: It's quite obvious when you do reach it though, as the game will tell you in a red warning box in capital letters. There is also a lesser version: when you leave [[spoiler:Kir'Ssha]], as you can never go back there again. |
| 302 | * PowerupLetdown: Santes' final passive ability grants her an automatic Empower buff at the start of battle. Which sounds pretty good...until you look at everyone else's rank V abilities. Such as one that increases ''all three' regeneration rates by the same amount. And increase that stat itself, so that they can be ''further'' increased by buffs, unlike Santes, who completely loses the bonus if she's hit with Wither. |
| 303 | * RandomEffectSpell: [[spoiler:Falitza]]'s "Press Fortune" ability. Whether or not it even causes a good or bad effect to occur is random. Its effects aren't too varied, though -- just full-party buffs or debuffs.[[note]]It can be upgraded to have four new effects, though -- increasing/decreasing the Rush meter, and advancing the skill chain by 8/breaking it.[[/note]] |
| 304 | * RandomEncounters: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. |
| 305 | * RingOutBoss: Boulders in the penultimate Nal mission. |
| 306 | * RousingSpeech: What's probably a shortened version is [[spoiler:Ques]]' Rousing Call ability, which greatly restores Mind points to all allies, but tires him out. [[FridgeLogic You'd think it'd restore Soul points instead, though]]. |
| 307 | * ScratchDamage: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. If your defenses are high enough, incoming damage ''will'' be reduced to zero. |
| 308 | * SideQuest: There's one that's chapter-spanning, though there are quite a few besides, mostly devoted to getting optional party members. |
| 309 | * StationaryBoss: The tchiitra broodmother and [[spoiler:the Tatzylvurm]]. |
| 310 | * StatusBuffDispel: [[spoiler:Kidra]]'s "Suggestive Taunts" ability does this to all enemies at higher levels (though it cannot remove Regrowth). This can also be accomplished just by smacking the character in question with the opposite debuff, however. |
| 311 | * SquishyWizard: Lots of 'em. Thankfully, you can just upgrade their defense until they suffer ScratchDamage from most Body attacks, and you most likely will do so, as there is not much else to do with the essence type of their DumpStat. [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] hugely by the fact they usually have stellar Mind or Soul stats. If you stab them they'll die, but they'll be able to easily shrug off that spell that just decimated your not-so-sturdy fighter. |
| 312 | ** Also subverted by the fortians. Everything in the narration points to them being this, but oddly enough, ''Soul'' is their DumpStat, not Body. (This is probably supposed to imply that [[EmotionsVersusStoicism their logical-minded ways of thinking inhibit their emotional and spiritual strength]].) Fih'jik ''do'' have Body as their DumpStat, but they tend to be {{Fragile Speedster}}s instead. |
| 313 | * TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: [[spoiler:Ques]]' Vocal Threat skill does this quite literally. |
| 314 | * TimedMission: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. Most missions have a timer, though it's only for bonus points. |
| 315 | * TechPoints: Skill and mana points. Although, they're granted from actually ''using'' abilities rather than as a second type of ExperiencePoints, making skill progression fueled by a similar principle as StatGrinding. |
| 316 | * UselessUsefulSpell: Averted. ''Nothing'' is immune to any status effect, and all five can be quite effective. Feel free to spam Disable on bosses, which can turn them from ThatOneBoss to ordinary {{Mooks}} with a large health pool. |
| 317 | ** There are a few specific skills that are too gimmicky or situational to have much use, though. Unfortunately, the sixteenth character's skillset is composed primarily of these, which is [[OverratedAndUnderleveled quite a letdown]]. |
| 318 | * UselessUsefulStealth: Subverted; completing the prologue without killing anyone up to the boss fight nets you bonus points. (Then immediately DoubleSubverted, as those bonus points turn out to be worthless.) |
| 319 | ** Played straight in the sidequest "For the White", in which avoiding fights will grant the OptionalPartyMember you get afterwards additional essence and TechPoints. |
| 320 | * UnexpectedGameplayChange: To stealth in interlude 1 and the sidequest "For The White". |
| 321 | * TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: [[spoiler:The Drop]] in chapter 6. |
| 322 | * VideoGameSetPiece: The FinalBoss doesn't exactly play by the rules. He himself [[spoiler:cannot be defeated until all three of his {{Life Meter}}s are depleted]], and also, his attack deals a random type of damage instead of being set. In addition, one of his flunkies changes their elements randomly every turn, and actually has an attack that ''inverts'' the normal ElementalRockPaperScissors. |
| 323 | * ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption: Two innocent and possibly brainwashed characters are part of the final boss fight. You have no choice but to kill them. See AlasPoorScrappy on [[YMMV/TheReconstruction the YMMV page]]. |
| 324 | * WakeUpCallBoss: Captian Yat is actually rather difficult, as you have only three party members, and one of them can be one-shotted by one of his attacks, which is also an area-of-effect spell. He also starts with the three regenerative buffs. |
| 325 | [[/folder]] |
| 326 | |
| 327 | [[folder:Meta]] |
| 328 | * AlliterativeName: The skill names of the FinalBoss and their flunkies -- Burning Brandish, Wavering Will, and Spinning Strikes. |
| 329 | * ArtStyleDissonance: One of the darkest chapters of the story, which tackles head-on issues of war, death, poverty, and religion, is set in the land of...the ''adorable cat people''. |
| 330 | ** The art style in general looks somewhat cartoonish, with everything having outlines and less shading than standard RPG Maker XP sprites, making them look more like drawings. Though this is fitting for the more lighthearted sections of the game in the beginning, it is in stark contrast with the dark and serious mood the story takes later on. |
| 331 | * BlackBeadEyes: Due to the art style, most characters have small pupils and appear to lack irises, which makes them look like this. |
| 332 | * CallBack: In the GoldenEnding, the last line of the game is very similar to Fell's "How far back must you stand before you can see 'everything'?", but with a new take on it as well. |
| 333 | * DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Non-comedy example; a group of wealthy individuals who hold most of the power in the world due to having a monopoly on an extremely important resource that only they can provide, and who try to stifle any new ideas that could undermine that monopoly? Hm... (see MedievalStasis, above) |
| 334 | %%* GenreDeconstruction: Of HeroicFantasy |
| 335 | * InterfaceSpoiler: [[spoiler:You would probably think that the PointOfNoReturn would be right before the final boss. ''You would be wrong.'']] |
| 336 | * LemonyNarrator: Sometimes. Occasionally the narration with throw in a joke or say something that gives it a bit of personality. One of the best examples is in a certain sidequest where you need to search a room for something, and the narration box says "You feel like you should take a look around. Don't ask why; you just do, okay?! It's not like you have anything better to do." (Humourously, the "decline" option is "I have better things to do.") |
| 337 | * PlayerPunch: [[spoiler:Skint joins the party, complete with fanfare...then requests a MercyKill right after.]] |
| 338 | * {{Retirony}}: Right at the beginning of the game, Crewman [[MurphysLaw Murphy]] comments on how it's his last day before retiring...right after having been issued a RedShirt. [[spoiler:Subverted when he just narrowly avoids death and goes out for a cup of coffee with his coworker.]] |
| 339 | * ShipTease: Lani interacts with [[spoiler:Rehm]] an awful lot, and they appear to admire and respect each other. Weirdly, though, they don't have a support combination. |
| 340 | * ShoutOut: See ClassicCheatCode, above. |
| 341 | ** Also, the names "Havan", "Flael", "Aryn", and "Yfus Crossar" are references to the ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' series; see [[Trivia/TheReconstruction the trivia page]] for details. |
| 342 | * SuddenDownerEnding: Not for the story in its entirety, but specifically, [[spoiler:chapter 3]]. |
| 343 | ** Possibly, [[spoiler:chapter 2]] counts as well: it ends with [[spoiler:the man you've been trying to protect throughout the entire quest ''[[DrivenToSuicide jumping off a cliff]]''.]] |
| 344 | * TechnicolorEyes: Or rather, Technicolor Sclerae. Most shra have yellow sclerae (though some have have bright blue or blue-green -- Kulkumatz's and Cort's are also ''neon green'', and the si'shra warden's are blood-red), and fih'jik can have anywhere from blue to bright green sclerae. (Curiously, though, Moke appears to have normal white sclerae.) |
| 345 | ** [[HairColorDissonance Sclerae Color Dissonance]]: You'll probably forget about the weird colors quickly -- or not even notice them in the first place. |
| 346 | * ThemeNaming: Fih'jik names are all made up of two two-letter syllables. This is mentioned in the developer blog to be a ShoutOut to UsefulNotes/{{NES}} games. |
| 347 | ** The four Watchers -- Fell, Nath, Kott, and Donz -- all have four-letter names as well. |
| 348 | ** Space Lizard really likes four-letter names -- except for their 'fathers', all the Sikohlon we see follow the same pattern. |
| 349 | *** With knowledge from ''VideoGame/IMissTheSunrise'', this may be an in-universe theme. [[spoiler:The Sikohlon in ''I Miss the Sunrise'' specifically mention that they follow the same pattern, after all, making it appear that Mahk purposefully continued it.]] |
| 350 | * ThirteenIsUnlucky: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Ques, [[DeadpanSnarker as usual]]. |
| 351 | --> "Let it be known that Six Stars has achieved the luckiest rank of all: 13." |
| 352 | * TitleThemeDrop: During pivotal (usually uplifting) moments in the story, often as a ThemeMusicPowerup of sorts. |
| 353 | ** Though not quite the trope, the {{Leitmotif}} of the story's {{Mysterious Informant}}s sounds very similar to the title theme as well. |
| 354 | * {{Whatevermancy}}: Tehgonan is a "Spectrumancer", and [[spoiler:Moke]] is a "Fetormancer". |
| 355 | ** There's also "The Cryomancer". |
| 356 | [[/folder]] |
| 357 | |
| 358 | ---- |
| 359 |
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