Line #18 YMMV/TheHalloweenHack


1	* AdaptationDisplacement: Varik is far more well known for this game than [[VideoGame/{{Brandish}} his source material]], while on the receiving end, ''Megalovania'' is more well known for ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', [[MemeticMutation moreso the latter than the former]].
2	* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: ''This'' was the game that Megalovania debuted in. Not ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', and not ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}.''
3	* BestBossEver: Say what you will about the ridiculousness of the plot, but the final battle with [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]] is the best part of the hack. Not only is it memorable for "Megalovania", but after beating the Id, the boss starts fighting back. He has five health bars, each with its own weakness, starting with StatusEffects, then two forms for regular elements, a form where you have to reflect his ultimate attack, before finally an all-out battle with neither side holding back.
4	* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: At the end of the game, [[spoiler:a ghost breaks into Varik's house just to [[ToiletHumor fart on his face]] for no reason. Lampshaded by Varik laughing at it immediately afterwards]].
5	* BreatherLevel:
6	** The repurposed Onett map has nothing except [[TearJerker depressing]] but weak enemies that drop great healing items. The boss, on the other hand…
7	** From a story standpoint, the [[spoiler:Magicant]] HubLevel mid-way through the game repeatedly serves as this. The [=NPCs=] have more light hearted and funny dialogue, outside of a few disturbing remarks from select [=NPCs=], and the appearance of the place is a lot more upbeat to look at compared to everything you tend to go through elsewhere.
8	* BaseBreakingCharacter: [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]]. Good sweet God, [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]]! There are those who like how the game tries to [[spoiler:explore his mind in a world where he thinks he killed the chosen four]], others just view this hack's characterization as a massive insult to his character, with his wildly OutOfCharacter acts easily flying past CanonDefilement for some, to the point he might as well have been a completely new character altogether.
9	* BrokenBase:
10	** The fact that the normally {{Useless Useful Spell}}s are actually useful in this game. People like the fact that it averts that standard RPG cliché, while others, who feel it working on bosses is good design, feel like it was a terrible decision to make it to where they're flat out ''required'' to beat some normal enemies, since it makes the battles feel needlessly tedious and drag on for far longer than needed, especially when the game starts getting spam happy with these kinds of enemies.
11	** Really, opinions on the entire hack over the years has slowly slid into two groups: people who think it's an interesting, darker take on the original source material, and those who see the entire thing as one giant mess of CanonDefilement-filled {{Narm}}.
12	%%* CreepyCute: The [[JokeCharacter Ghostkin]].
13	%%* DemonicSpider: The Amalgamates.
14	* DifficultySpike:
15	** If you attempt to enter the sewer as soon as you start the game, expect to die. A lot.
16	** Similarly, if you attempt to traverse [[spoiler:the demonic version of Winters]] as soon as you get there without abusing the nearby tent to heal and grind, expect to die. A lot.
17	** Additionally, if you attempt to explore [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts' Magicant]] and haven't realized yet that the {{Useless Useful Spell}}s actually ''are'' useful, [[RunningGag expect to die. A lot.]]
18	* FandomRivalry: Shares one with the ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' hack. Many people who prefer ''Hallow's End'' often cite it as "the Halloween ROM Hack done ''right''", with humor and themes often more fitting of the original ''[[VideoGame/EarthBound1994 EarthBound]]'' compared to ''The Halloween Hack'', of which people often compare to a [[CanonDefilement bad fanfic]] pile of {{Narm}}, in addition to being far more balanced gameplay-wise by comparison. Meanwhile, those who prefer ''The Halloween Hack'' often like how it tries to have [[DarkerAndEdgier darker themes]] than the original ''[=EarthBound=]'', and point out how the endgame of ''Hallow's End'' [[DisappointingLastLevel also devolves into bad fanfic territory as well]], in addition to the difficulty reaching [[NintendoHard batshit levels]]. Really, there are many things people prefer when comparing the two games, and that isn't even going into [[spoiler:how ''The Halloween Hack'' treats Dr. Andonuts…]]
19	* FanNickname:
20	** The game is sometimes known as "Push the B-Button, Stupid!" because doing so at a certain point is required to get the good ending.
21	** Fans refer to the version of Megalovania used for the hack's FinalBoss as "[[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]]'s Rage". While the nickname predates ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', it's still popularly used to differentiate the ''Halloween Hack'' and ''Undertale'' versions of the song.
22	* FridgeBrilliance:
23	** When you first encounter the Anxiety Attack enemies, they're DemonicSpiders because of their ability to spam statuses that block magic[=/=]PSI and cause characters to freeze, in addition to the fact that Varik is likely the party member you have at that point. As you progress through the game and get more party members, they become much easier to deal with. While from a technical standpoint it's because you're slowly leveling up and having more party members to fight with, it also makes sense from a meta standpoint because when you have an anxiety attack in real life, it's much easier to deal with when you have friends around you to help you calm down.
24	** In plenty of walkthroughs, when Varik fights NO, NO and NO, he guns for the chest first, despite the supposed weakness being [[GroinAttack the crotch]]. And it has the same effect as gunning for the crotch. If you think about it, though, gunning for the chest makes more sense than gunning for the crotch: since Varik fights NO, NO and NO alone [[note]]actually, they're the last enemy Varik faces alone, since Paula joins the party afterwards and she stays in it all the way until you defeat Dr. Andonuts[[/note]], his possible weapons at that point are either a worn dagger or a rapier, both of which are knives, and it's implied that the [=NOs=] are a HiveMind (they have the same name despite looking different), then this strategy (gunning for the chest) sums up to Varik stabbing NO in the heart, which shuts down all other body parts due to death.
25	** One of Dr. Andonuts' Attacks is to [[GroinAttack jed you all in the crotch enormously hard]]. This attack can harm Paula. Not only it's TruthInTelevision, as a GroinAttack harms girls just as much, if not more, than it harms boys, but in Paula's case, it really harms her more than the others, since she has the lowest Defense and Vitality (and, by extension, HP).
26	* GameBreaker: Most of the status "spells" in the game, thanks to them [[UselessUsefulSpell actually being useful]] on more than just normal enemies. The "worst" offender has to be Timestop though, as any boss weak to it [[AntiClimaxBoss will end up becoming a complete joke.]] This is likely a good thing, though, as otherwise [[NintendoHard you'll likely have to spend obscene amounts of time grinding to even hope to get through this game.]]
27	* HarsherInHindsight: The Remnants, who are essentiallly zombie Starmen, are shown to be melting. ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'''s Amalgamates are reanimated fusions of dead monsters that melted together.
28	* HilariousInHindsight: Megalovania originated here, in a ROM hack of ''Earthbound''. It has since been added to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', an official Nintendo game with ''Earthbound'' characters.
29	* ItWasHisSled: Absolutely no one tries to hide the hack's true nature anymore. Other twists of the hack, especially anything to do with the FinalBoss, are also well-known.
30	* InformedWrongness: Both the narrative and [[spoiler: Dr. Andonuts]] himself [[WhatTheHellHero call Varik out for trying to kill him]], but [[spoiler: Andonuts' army of monsters was massacring people]] and the game gives no alternative way of stopping it other than killing him.
31	* JustHereForGodzilla: A good portion of newer players came to the hack just to hear the original version of "Megalovania".
32	* {{Narm}}:
33	** The Dearkhart battle is supposed to be depressing because it's the AnthropomorphicPersonification of [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] worries that [[spoiler:his son, Jeff, despises him]]. However, the impact and melancholic nature it's supposed to have is rather negated for a lot of people due to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1ZUJPbs260 its battle music]] [[SoundtrackDissonance being]] ''[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic utterly freaking awesome!]]''
34	** [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] [[ClusterFBomb profanity-laden]] VillainousBreakdown. While it fits considering everything we've seen so far, and [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope his mental state]] is pretty far gone at that point, there's still a few who can't get over the fact that it's [[spoiler:''[[AbsentMindedProfessor Dr. Andonuts]]'']] swearing up a storm like a drunken sailor. Some even go as far as to say it kills the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief the game did a good job of keeping up until then. [[OldShame Even Toby Fox himself has indicated that he in hindsight very much agrees with this criticism.]]
35	--->"I HAVE FUCKING HAD IT WITH YOUR SHIT. You little fuckers are going to have your bodies ripped in half. [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon I'll shove your asses so far down your throats that]] [[ARareSentence when you crap you'll sing fucking Beethoven]]. tl;dr: [[PreAsskickingOneLiner eat shit, faggots]]"
36	** The name of the final boss's ultimate attack, PSI [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch Bitchkill Ω]]. Even though it ''will'' wipe out your party if you don't know how to tell it's coming and to properly counter it, it still ends up sounding ridiculous to some because of the ObligatorySwearing. Doesn't help that it usually comes in the same battle as the above drunken sailor storm.
37	** The "NO! NO! NO!" enemies. Even though it's possibly a bit disturbing even if you're attracted to guys, it becomes a bit hilarious once you realize it can be easily defeated by [[spoiler:[[GroinAttack kicking it in the crotch]]]].
38	* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]] is generally remembered, if not for "Megalovania", then for his constant swears. The truth is that he only swears four times during the final battle: once during his breakdown (the only one where he [[ClusterFBomb swears non-stop]]), once at the beginning of his Ice phase ("fags! you're all fags!"), through the name of his ultimate attack (PSI Bitchkill Ω), and one last time during his death (you'll get the...sh...i...). He's not nearly as bad as he's made out to be by most, yet for the reasons listed under Narm, it's pretty hard to think of anything else.
39	* NightmareFuel: Remember how we said that in ''[[VideoGame/EarthBound1994 EarthBound]]'', the final boss, [[EldritchAbomination Giygas]], ''was'' the background for his battle? He returns in [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts' battle as the background]]. Fitting, as said FinalBoss was encountered in the exact same machine that Giygas was stored in.
40	* SelfImposedChallenge: The Phaze Destrortur is ''[[HardLevelsEasyBosses ridiculously]]'' easy, but you can add a bit of challenge to it by trying to defeat it with all three party members alive. The previous two bosses can also be beaten using the non-cheap methods with [[ForcedLevelGrinding high enough levels]] and a bit of luck.
41	* SignatureScene: The final battle with [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]]. Once he TurnsRed for the last time and Megalovania kicks in, you hit the most famous part of the game.
42	* {{Squick}}: Even if you're attracted to guys, the "NO! NO! NO!" boss will likely be this, due to focusing on some rather... ''exaggerated'' parts of the male body. [[InvokedTrope Naturally,]] [[IntendedAudienceReaction this reaction was likely intentional.]]
43	* ThatOneAttack: PSI Bitchkill Ω, which can kill your entire party in one hit. Thankfully, it can be reflected.
44	* ThatOneLevel: Twoson sewers. Even ''if'' you have the foresight to grind beforehand, the enemies there are just [[FakeDifficulty unfair in many aspects]]. They like to swarm you in groups of three, which you can't even ''hope'' to out-damage at that point in the game ''and'' several of them like to spam attacks that inflict the 'numb' status that causes you to lose your turn. Even if you're over leveled for the area, the enemies there can ''still'' easily kill you by repeatedly stun-locking you to death.
45	* UnintentionallySympathetic: Varik comes off as being much more heroic [[AntiHero than he is supposed to be]]. Many of his supposed shortcomings like being a coward and taking joy in murdering people are {{Informed Flaw}}s. Both Dr. Andonuts and the narration [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech call him out for wanting to kill Andonuts]]; however, doing that is the only way to stop the monsters he created that are killing people and [[BlamedForBeingRailroaded he is railroaded into this]].

Context YMMV / TheHalloweenHack