[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phantasy_star_zero.jpg]]
[-[[caption-width-right:330:The main player classes and lead female protagonist, Sarisa. [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Getting]] VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute flashbacks yet?]]]]-]

Shortly after the release of ''[[VideoGame/PhantasyStarUniverse Phantasy Star Portable]]'' on the Platform/PlaystationPortable, Creator/{{Sega}} decided to not leave Platform/NintendoDS owners out in the cold. Thus came ''Phantasy Star Zero'' (written as ''Ø'' in North America), the second game of the VideoGame/PhantasyStar franchise on a Nintendo handheld console. (After the CompilationRerelease of ''[[VideoGame/PhantasyStarI I]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PhantasyStarII II]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PhantasyStarIII III]]'' on the GBA, of course.)

Released in late 2008 in Japan and late 2009/early 2010 for North America and Europe, ''Phantasy Star Zero'' brings back much of ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'''s game mechanics and style (it is, after all, abbreviated ''[=PS0=]''), with some minor improvements. Like both ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' and ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarUniverse'', it is an online ActionRPG.

The story begins [[NoNameGiven on a nameless planet]] two hundred years [[AfterTheEnd after a mysterious calamity known as the Great Blank]], which destroyed most historical records. The modern world is now a CattlePunk ScavengerWorld where the last fragments of humanity do their best to live on.

However, this peaceful life is about to change: the RidiculouslyHumanRobots known as [=CASTs=] have [[LivingRelic begun to awaken from the slumber]] imposed upon them by the Great Blank, and an enigmatic group of HumanAliens called [[OurElvesAreDifferent Newmans]] are descending to Earth for unknown reasons. The presence of these three races begins to move the gears that have been frozen for the past two centuries, and will reveal not only the cause of the Great Blank but determine the future of the universe.

See ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' for the original tetralogy, and ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' or ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarUniverse'' for the other games of the series.

-----
!!''Phantasy Star Zero'' provides examples of:
* AGodAmI: [[spoiler: Mother Trinity. Subverted, because she's the host of Dark Falz itself.]]
* AlternativeForeignThemeSong: The Japanese version of the game [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Git1ojWBZeI has a vocal theme song,]] but versions outside of Japan replaced it with an entirely instrumental track made to evoke ''[[VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline The whole new world]]''. This can make the inclusion of the entirely Japanese ''Taisetsu na Mono'' in ''all'' versions of the game strangely jarring.
* AnotherSideAnotherStory: The main story of ''Zero'' changes significantly depending on the player character's race, complete with differing [=FMVs=] for each story.
* ArtEvolution: Initially, ''Zero'''s artwork was done in the same style as ''PSO'' and ''PSU'' (example pictured above). However, shortly after its announcement, the artwork was changed to something more generic and evocative of anime styles since the TurnOfTheMillennium.
* AsLongAsThereIsEvil: [[spoiler:Mother Trinity (and Dark Falz by extension) can keep returning as long as someone wishes for them to return. As revealed by Reve, the fact that many of the newmans on the moon were raised by Mother Trinity makes it difficult for them to let go of their past, although Reve swears to destroy her as many times as needed.]]
* AssKicksYou: The Funny Dive Photon Art for wands. The character using it propels themselves into the air by twirling their wand, then comes crashing down on their rear, causing a sparkly shockwave that hits enemies in an area of effect.
* BagOfSharing: The Joint Trunk can be accessed by any character on your card.
* BigFirstChoice: Which species you choose to be has a big impact on the story. Perspectives are different, as are the [=FMVs=] seen. While the story ultimately ends in the same place, the path there changes depending on who you are.
* BodySurf: ''Zero's'' [=CASTs=] can do this to an extent; compared to the Androids and [=CASTs=] from other games, the head is the only critical component of their body. A [=CAST=] can swap bodies just by detaching their head and mounting it on another body.
* BoringButPractical: [=HUcast=] or [=HUcaseal=] characters. They don't learn any techniques, and their traps are situational. In exchange for their versatility, though, they have access to all kinds of weapons, and they boast highest base-attack in the game. In addition, they slowly regain HP. Choose your implement of bodily harm, and go crazy on the attack button; repeat until either the 'Game Over' screen or the credit scene (whichever comes first).
* BraggingRightsReward: Getting OneHundredPercentCompletion nets you a Heaven Element item. Heaven Element gives your weapon a chance to OneHitKill on contact. Some issues with this: 1. You've done literally everything in the game, so there's not much else to use it on, and 2. As with pretty much every OneHitKill effect in the series, it's super AwesomeButImpractical, only decently effective on the weakest of mobs where it wouldn't be necessary anyways.
* BuxomBeautyStandard: Ogi makes mention of the fact that Ana is quite well-endowed for a Newman. [[ACupAngst Sarisa]] is not pleased.
* TheCavalry: In the Human storyline, [[spoiler: Kai and the entirety of Dairon City's Hunter's Guild, ''including'' the Guilds of nearby cities, come to the rescue of the player's party and the newman resistance just when all seems lost.]] Also something of a a GondorCallsForAid moment, because [[spoiler: Lindow comments that the mayor and a large number of hunters left town a chapter or two before they make their rescue.]]
* CameraCentering: Press L to center the camera behind you. Very useful given the otherwise highly limited camera controls.
%%* CameraLockOn
%%* CannotSpitItOut: Sarisa, after the ending credits.
* CastFromHitPoints: The "Risk" and "Life" Elements. Risk increases your damage but makes you take a percentage of the damage you deal as recoil, while Life takes a flat percentage of your HP every time you attack in exchange for boosting damage.
* CastFromMoney: The "Celeb" Element takes away a portion of your Meseta every time you attack in exchange for a damage boost. The "Meseta" Element inverts this by ''draining'' money from enemies when you hit them.
* CattlePunk: Androids standing side to side with cowboys from TheWildWest and hunters dressed like soldiers from the UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar? You bet your sweet bippy.
* ChainLightning: A charged Zonde transforms into Gizonde, shooting a bolt of lightning that jumps to nearby targets on hit. Against bosses with multiple targets, it will jump between individual ''parts'', multiplying Gizonde's damage up to several times over.
* ChargedAttack: All techs and most weapons have a hold type charge attack. For techs, charging is how you use the higher level attacks from previous games (Foie charges up to Rafoie, for example). For weapons with charge attacks, you use Photon Arts, powerful attacks that range from AwesomeButImpractical, like the Wand's Act Trick, to so useful there's almost no reason you should be using anything but the attack as long as you have the TP to use it, like the Gunblade's Earth Bullet.
* ChekhovsGun: The ability for a [=CAST=] to BodySurf becomes an important plot point.
* ColorCodedMultiplayer: Like in ''PSO'' and ''PSU'', ''Zero'' color-codes the speech bubbles of the party with a corresponding similarly colored icon next to their name on the second screen.
* CombatTentacles: Octo Diablo. Who then drops one of its tentacles, which then gets [[MundaneMadeAwesome turned into]] a [[ImprobableWeaponUser Rocket Launcher]].
%%* DefrostingIceQueen: Lindow, the [=CASEAL=] assistant to Dairon City's mayor, if you talk to her before every story-related mission and tell her "I wanted to see you!"
* DialogueTree: Noticeably more prevalent than in other ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' games where the player makes their own protagonist; the other characters still do most of the talking, but you have many chances to give an opinion.
* DifficultButAwesome: [=FOnewmearls=] can deal incredible damage with techniques, making them capable of soloing quite a few levels (skill permitting). However, proper use of one requires that the user master aiming the spell while controlling the camera, as well as avoid getting smashed about by enemies.
* DisasterScavengers: Together with hunters and cable runners, these guys make up an important triad of important out-of-city occupations in ''Zero's'' society.
* DiscOneNuke:
** Weapons and armor are LevelLockedLoot, but Mags and slot units '''aren't'''. A low-level character with a 100-power Mag (borrowed from a character in another save file or traded from another player) can utterly decimate just about everything in Story and Normal modes.
** The Pizza Box. It's a JokeItem at first, but use 99 [=DiGrinders=] on it, and it turns into [[LethalJokeItem one of the strongest armors in the game]]. And it's equippable at level ''12''. Borrow one from a high-level character, and your low-level character can tank their way up to Hard Mode in no time.
* DisneyDeath:
** [[spoiler: Kai, who appears to sacrifice himself fighting off monsters in the Makara Ruins. He sets up the TheCavalry moment toward the end of the story.]]
** Played strangely straight by [[spoiler: Mother Trinity and Dark Falz. One of the post-story quests reveals that as long as newmans like Reve long for the guidance of Mother Trinity, they will keep returning over and over and over again.]]
* DistractedByTheSexy: ''Ogi'' of all people suffers this when he first meets Ana. Sarisa punishes him for it.
* TheDrifter: After his DarkAndTroubledPast, Kai became this before he settled down in Dairon City and joined the Hunter's Guild there.
* DualBoss: Chaos and Mobius, Reve's personal combat vehicles. [[CombiningMecha They combine to form Humilias]].
* EarthAllAlong: A DoubleSubversion--[[spoiler: when ''Zero'' was first announced, the game was expected to be a continuation of the ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' series. Then, Sega announced it would have no connection at all to any previous ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' game whatsoever ... and yet, aside from all the subtle references to ''PSO'', the side quest "Mother's Memory" blatantly states that the "earth" of ''Zero'' is the very same Coral that was the homeworld of ''PSO's'' setting!]]
* ElementalRockPaperScissors: Certain Techniques are more effective on certain enemies than others. There's no obvious forewarning about what is good against an enemy and what isn't besides common sense (using Zonde on robots) or any abilities the enemy might have, leading the player to TryEverything.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: To the people of ''Zero's'' contemporary society, the planet they live on is simply called "the earth" and its one moon "the moon." [[spoiler: It wasn't always like this.]]
* FairyBattle: Booma Origins et al, Rappies et al. They even have their own battle theme for each area.
* FriendlySniper: Professional though he is, Ogi is also rather personable. Kai comments on Ogi's glibness in the Human mission "Clockworks," [[spoiler: where Ogi doesn't seem all that bothered by the fact that Octo Diablo had just eaten his entire body save for his head just earlier]]. He shows the same attitude in the newman and [=CAST=] versions of said mission too. He ties with Kai for the title of 'Most Personable NPC'.
* GlobalCurrency: Meseta. [[ALongTimeAgoInAGalaxyFarFarAway The star systems and times]] may change in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'', but the money stays the same.
* GodOfEvil: [[spoiler: Dark Falz. In ''Zero,'' he can manifest in the body of someone or something with enough darkness in their heart. That includes {{Artificial Human}}s.]]
* GuideDangIt: Certain weapons and armors, when equipped together, will give extra stat bonuses. There is nothing in the game that tells you this. ([[http://www.pso-world.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=2613 Full list here.]])
* GunTwirling: [=RAmars=] will do this after firing a salvo from a handgun.
* HijackedByGanon: The fact that this is here should tell veteran ''Phantasy Star'' players that [[spoiler:Mother Trinity isn't the TrueFinalBoss. That's right; ol' Dark Falz makes its appearance yet again.]]
* IdenticalGrandson: [[spoiler:The human character in a nutshell, compared to the human hero of the Great Blank. [[VillainousBreakdown Mother Trinity takes this just about as well as you'd expect]].]]
* HubCity: Dairon City. You will not see another city in the entire game.
* ImprobableUseOfAWeapon: The Rod PA "Rodeo Drive", where the user boards their Rod and starts bucking around wildly, dealing physical damage to enemies nearby.
* KaizoTrap: When Reyburn dies, it collapses and anyone it falls on top of takes heavy damage, so don't stand too close. Also, when Humilias is beaten, one of its component parts starts chasing after the player ''while exploding''. It is ''very'' difficult to avoid, so it's a good idea to either start spamming Resta or drop a Healing Trap.
* KickTheDog: [[spoiler: Mother Trinity]] to [[spoiler: Reve.]] And it's a particularly cruel one at that. [[spoiler: While attacking the Arca Plant, Trinity sets Reve on you to stop you from damaging her power supply. You beat him, only for her to toss him away as useless after revealing that she didn't even NEED the Arca Plant at that point. He's utterly devastated.]]
* KidHero: Sarisa doesn't seem all that old. The default [=HUmar=] looks to be about her age as well.
* JokeItem: Continuing the tradition set by ''PSO,'' ''Zero'' includes a number of joke weapons like laser cannons shaped like ice cream cones, mustard/ketchup bottle mech-guns, and pizza boomerangs. There's also homage weapons from non-Sega franchises, like the Dokan Cannon ([[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Warp Pipe]]), Charge Beam ([[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus' arm cannon]]), and Hatsune Miku's Leeke (Music/{{Vocaloid}}). Unfortunately, those last three [[DummiedOut don't exist in non-Japanese versions of the game.]]
* LaResistance: Ana is the leader of the [[spoiler: newman]] resistance [[spoiler: on the moon]].
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Every CAST that awakens suffers from some form of this [[spoiler: due to being forced offline before the Great Blank by Mother Trinity's Photon Noise.]]
* LevelLockedLoot: Weapons and armor have a minimum level requirement before they can be equipped. However, Mags and slot units ''do not'', and there's nothing preventing a high-level character from loaning some of their top-tier units to a low-level character via the joint trunk or trading.
* LighterAndSofter: To go with the ArtShift, the story is notably a lot tamer than ''Phantasy Star'' standards, even if the threat of death still lurks around every corner out there and the story takes place AfterTheEnd. [[spoiler:Even the Great Blank caused by Mother Trinity, despite implying she basically caused a proverbial dark age after wiping out Coral's society, is depicted more as a nefarious UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans villain rather than any sort of OmnicidalManiac, and Dark Falz borders on GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere as a possessive god monster, compared to the nightmarish EldritchAbomination nature of Dark Falz in the rest of the franchise.]]
* LostTechnology: Pretty much everything about the former civilization on the earth. Prior to the events of the story, the only way to recover lost science and technology was to scavenge it.
* LuckBasedMission: To get OneHundredPercentCompletion, you need to complete all 15 Side Quests in the game on every difficulty. One of those Quests is a SecretLevel called "Third Daughter". To unlock it in the first place, you need to find Naura's Bakery, a very rare secret room only found on two fields in the entire game and only in dead end routes. If that doesn't sound too bad, the spawn rate for the room is ''aggravatingly'' low, and you need to find Naura's Bakery again ''every time you want to do the Quest.'' Talk about your {{Last Lousy Point}}s.
* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: The Shield weapons you can equip in the game give you a slight defense bonus, but more importantly, holding down the L Button will raise the Shield. As long as you're facing whatever is trying to attack you, the Shield will negate ALL damage and status effects for the cost of some TP (usually less than it would cost to heal yourself with Resta anyhow). If you aren't good at Rolling to avoid attacks (or even if you are, since some attacks are very difficult to roll out of safely), you'll be relying on your shield A LOT from late Normal mode onward.
* MagicalGirlWarrior: Sarisa's much like this, considering that she ''is'' a soldier of the newman race ... yet often comes off like a MagicalGirl in combat. That her rod looks like something right out of a MagicalGirl anime only enforces this.
* MagikarpPower: The [[LethalJokeItem Pizza Box armor]]. On its own it's fairly weak, but using 99 Digrinders on it makes it stronger than anything short of the top-tier 7-star equipment. And it can be equipped as soon as level 12.
* ManaDrain: The "Heart" Element converts a portion of the damage you deal back into PP.
* MarathonLevel: The Eternal Tower is easily the longest area in the game. It will literally take you ''hours'' to complete it, especially on the higher difficulties. You'll be thanking Nintendo for the [=DS'=] [[AntiFrustrationFeatures built-in sleep mode]], since you can't save and quit in the middle of it without abandoning the entire run. And did we mention that you need to complete it at least once on Hard to unlock Super Hard offline? Or that there are ''many'' rare weapons that are only available at the tower? Have fun... Not to mention if you want to expand your inventory slots this is the only way to do so meaning you have to do it a minimum of three times to max your inventory slots ''per character''. Luckily if you look at the bottom screen, you can sometimes skip rooms. Even still, [[FakeLongevity have fun with your 8-15 hour runs...]]
* MascotMook: Cute and fluffy Rappies return in this game. Notably, this is the game that would codify their design in future games, including ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarNova'', and ''VideoGame/IDOLAPhantasyStarSaga''.
%%* MasterComputer: [[spoiler: Mother Trinity.]]
* TheMentor: [[spoiler: Kai]]; if your character is human, [[spoiler: he's]] the one who trained you prior to your official acceptance into the Hunter's Guild.
* MixAndMatchWeapon: This game has the first appearance in the series of "Gunblades", combination swords and handguns.
* MoonRabbit: The newmans in this game have a distinct "rabbit" motif to their outfits -- many items of headgear for player characters or [=NPCs=] have ear-like extensions, and one female PC newman hat is outright designed after a rabbit, with ears and a cottontail.
* NeuroVault: [=CAST=] bodies have a "sub-memory" system. If another [=CAST=] assumes control of the body, they have access to whatever was in the sub-memory.
** FlingALightIntoTheFuture: [[spoiler: One of the [=CASTs=] who lived on the moon during the Great Blank pulls a form of this before he died; he committed all he knew about Mother Trinity and her actions to the sub-memory in his body, in hopes that a CAST in the future would find his body and [[ExpositionBeam download the knowledge]].]]
** NoteToSelf: [[spoiler: Part of the [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Gun]]; Ogi finds out ''exactly'' what happened during the Great Blank.]] [[YouMonster He.]] ''[[ThisIsUnforgivable Is.]]'' '''''[[ThisMeansWar Pissed.]]'''''
** [[OohMeAccentsSlipping Ooh Me Accent's Slipping]]: Ogi has a brief case of this when he assumes control of a [=CAST=] body in Paru ... and develops a Texan-esque accent. It takes him some effort to get back to his usual voice.
* MythologyGag:
** The music theme that plays whenever a "nest" of {{Ridiculously Cute Critter}}s is encountered is titled "Rappy Fever," which was also the name for the jackpot used by Casino Voloyal slot machines in ''PSU.''
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=YcFqTEoEmmk One of the battle themes for the Eternal Tower]] contains the opening beat of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=K3AdN80WKXw Olga Flow's first form theme from PSO]] slowed down.
** The KaizoTrap that occurs if someone happens to let the dying [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Reyburn]] fall on them is a ShoutOut to ''PSO's'' Dragon boss(es).
** Booma Origin and Gigobooma Origin monsters... enough said.
** There are several callbacks to ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'':
*** Per tradition, the Psycho Wand appears as the InfinityPlusOneSword for Rods.
*** The FinalBoss also drops Rika's Suit, a Newearl-exclusive armor, as a RareRandomDrop on the highest difficulty.
*** The infamous Naura Bakery reappears as a random event in either the Gurhacia Valley or the Ozette Wetlands.
* NeverTrustAHairTonic: The concoctions Mayor Dairon tries may or may not be effective, but they certainly stink to high heaven.
* NominalImportance: In an odd twist, the only people who ''don't'' seem to get names in ''Zero'' are people you only meet briefly in quests, as well as those who work the Hunter's Guild mission counter and storage bank. Other [=NPCs=] will eventually give you their name, if not outright.
** You'll also notice, both here in this article and in the game, that "earth" and "moon" are never capitalized...
* OCStandIn: The default [=HUmar=] (he's the kid with the red jacket standing above the logo in the example image above) is set up as this in the opening FMV; he stands in for the player's character.
* ThePioneer: Kai happened to be this in his childhood. He related his DarkAndTroubledPast in the form of an unrelated story to the player character and Sarisa. Only Ogi realizes that Kai was talking about himself. Something of an informed stupidity moment on the part of the player character though, as many players cottoned on very quickly indeed.
* PhenotypeStereotype: Among the Human characters, ''Zero'' doesn't allow the player to choose a custom eye and hair color combination. You're stuck with either blond hair/blue eyes, red hair/green eyes, or black hair/brown eyes. Granted, you ''can'' mix and match these with different skin tones...
%%* PowerEqualsRarity: Just ask anyone searching for a Zero Rifle or a Psycho Wand.
* PunnyName: The mayor's [[BuxomBeautyStandard well-endowed]] CAST secretary is named "Ms. '''Lindow'''."
* RedHerring: There are hints that the game takes place on Earth as referenced in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII''. [[spoiler: It does take place on a previously-unseen homeworld significant to the ''Phantasy Star'' series, but it's the one from ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' -- which is also hinted.]]
* RelationshipValues: The choices you make during conversations and cutscenes affect what your TrueCompanions and other characters think of you. Mostly, this affects who talks to you and what they say after the main story finishes.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobot: [=CASTs=], though perhaps less human than the ones in ''Universe.''
* RobotGirl: [=RAcaseals=] and [=HUcaseals=], as with ''PSO.''
* RuinsOfTheModernAge: Paru ("Oblivion City").
* SchizoTech: A recovering human/[=CAST=] civilization on the earth with scraps of LostTechnology, and newmans on the moon who never ''lost'' that technology and in fact improved upon it.
* ShoutOut:
** The Finjers of Arca Plant are clearly miniaturized [[Anime/EurekaSeven Nirvashes]].
** The default model for the [=HUmarl=] character resembles [[VideoGame/TheIdolmaster Hibiki Ganaha]].
** If you're careful, you can locate and wield [[VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles Selvaria's spear and shield]].
** In the Japanesse Version you can purchase the a weapon called an [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Power Beam]].
** One of the wands obtainable in the game is a book, named Al Azif - [[Literature/CthulhuMythos the original name of the Necronomicon]].
* SquishyWizard: [=FOnewearls=], as per the norm. They are easily the most frail characters in the game, with extremely low base HP and paper-thin defenses, but make up for it with the best MST stat and the ability to fight at long range.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Phantasy Star Zero's name. If abbreviated to [=PS0=], it can be hard to distinguish it from ''[[VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline PSO]]''. [[NominalImportance Keep that in mind.]] Compare the example image on this article with the one on ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline.'' Notice that everyone in the ''Zero'' artwork is grouped the same way as in the ''PSO'' picture. [[labelnote:Examples]]''Zero's'' [=HUmar=] and Ash (''PSO's'' [=HUmar=]); ''Zero's'' [=RAcast=] and Gilliam (''PSO's'' [=RAcast=]); ''Zero's'' [=RAcaseal=] and Elanor (''PSO's'' [=RAcaseal=]) ([[VisionsOfAnotherSelf and they even look similar]]); ''Zero's'' [=FOnewearl=] and Rupika (''PSO's'' [=FOnewearl=]); ''Zero's'' [=FOmarl=] and Alicia (''PSO's'' [=FOmarl=]); ''Zero's'' [=RAmar=] and [=RAmarl=] and Bernie (''PSO's'' [=RAmar=]); ''Zero's'' [=HUcast=] and [=HUcaseal=] and Kireek (''PSO's'' [=HUcast=]); Sarisa and Sue (''PSO's'' [=HUnewearl=])[[/labelnote]]
* SwissArmyWeapon: Gunblades, a broadsword with a built in handgun (or rifle) for those times when you just can't get close enough to hack and slash. Kai's favorite weapon type.
* TomatoInTheMirror: [[spoiler:One of the missions reveals that the Newmans were completely wiped out in the war against Mother Trinity centuries ago. All of the current Newmans are descended from clones of the original Newmans that Mother Trinity created to serve her.]]
* TransformationSequence: When Ogi [[BodySurf gets himself a new body]] [[spoiler: on the moon]], he ''really'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_e1UTG_SaI&translated=1 likes it]].
* TransformingMecha: Humilias, made of [[spoiler: the DualBoss Chaos and Mobius]].
* TraumaInducedAmnesia: Newman characters lose their memory at the start of the game during the crash landing on earth. They spend most of the game struggling along with Sarisa in their decision to defy the newmans, [[spoiler:but it turns out you were part of a newman resistance all along when you were on the moon. At least it kept you from spilling the beans. It's later revealed that you're the clone of the newman hero of yore whose power Mother Trinity wanted to utilize for her own ends, and you turned out like the original after all. [[VillainousBreakdown She literally bugs out over this one]].]]
* TurnsRed: [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Reyburn]] does this, both tropewise and literally.
** [[spoiler:Mother Trinity]] has a less colorful but more dramatic transformation into 'Pissy Boss' mode: [[spoiler:she smashes her body against the platform you're fighting on, cracking her golden visage and revealing the machinery within.]]
** The plotline battle with Humilias counts, considering that it's a much, MUCH meaner version of Chaos and Moebius.
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: [[spoiler: The whole reason Mother Trinity went to war against the rest of the earth's society; she [[DespairEventHorizon went into despair]] from the constant rejection of suggestions and plans she offered to the world leadership on how to repair the planetary environment. Dark Falz manifested in her, corrupting her mind, thus leading her to conclude that something needed to be done ... with force.]]
* VariableMix:
** Another ''PSO'' feature brought back for ''Zero,'' with two additional variations for rare enemy battles and encounters with {{Ridiculously Cute Critter}}s.
** The music that plays in Dairon City changes subtly depending on the race of your character.
* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The Dark Shrine. And a surprisingly attractive one at that.
* VillainousBreakdown: Happens to [[spoiler:Mother Trinity]] for different reasons based on your race. [[spoiler:For Humans and Newmans, it essentially comes from being related in some fashion to powerful heroes that fought against her before. For [=CASTs=], the fact that your character is the same badass that fought her in the past, now returned after regaining your combat abilities (meaning her Photon Noise failed to affect you as extensively as it should have), is what causes her to breakdown.]]
* WeHelpTheHelpless: Dairon City's Hunter's Guild does this as an official city service--the mayor is also the city's guild master.
* WithThisHerring: [[spoiler:The CAST character's storyline essentially boils down to this. A grand hero before the Great Blank, you tear up Mother Trinity's shit like nothing else until she bails to Arca and [[LaserGuidedAmnesia Photon Noises]] Coral. Due to the aforementioned, you are forced to shut down to avoid a literal [=BSOD=]. Waking up in the present day, you show all the aftereffects of Photon Noise exposure and have to reprogram your combat skills from scratch. [[VillainousBreakdown Mother Trinity is none too happy to find any of this out]].]]
----