Basic Trope: In a video game, a player must perform a stupid act to proceed.
- Straight: The player must direct Albert into releasing Emperor Evulz from jail.
- Exaggerated:
- Emperor Evulz must be released from a maximum-security prison.
- The player must help Emperor Evulz escape a high-speed car chase.
- Downplayed: Albert must help Emperor Evulz who locked himself out of his car.
- Justified:
- Emperor Evulz was arrested for a crime he didn't commit.
- Evulz was only a minor convict at the time, it was only in hindsight that he was determined to be the worst option for sabotaging the belligerents he now rules through.
- There's only a 5% chance of Evulz attacking the current threat instead of us, but he's the only option left.
- Inverted: Emperor Evulz must release the player from jail.
- Subverted:
- Albert realizes Emperor Evulz belongs in jail and the player does not release him.
- The game harasses you into freeing Evulz, but you will progress if you refuse.
- In a shock twist, Evulz has genuinely reformed, meaning setting him free was not stupid after all.
- Double Subverted: The game has the player release Emperor Evulz anyway.
- Parodied: The game calls Albert out for releasing Emperor Evulz.
- Zig Zagged: Albert unlocks the cell but how Emperor Evulz will react depends on the game.
- Averted:
- The player leaves Emperor Evulz in jail.
- Emperor Evulz escapes from prison with no help from Albert.
- Enforced: (During development) "Let's have the player do something stupid to advance Albert into the plot."
- Lampshaded:
- "What an Idiot."
- "Only doing stupid things can advance the storyline? Nope, I'm out."
- Invoked: Emperor Evulz considers getting himself arrested on purpose to test Albert's intelligence.
- Exploited: Emperor Evulz does get himself arrested and knows Albert is stupid enough to set him free.
- Defied: Albert is about to free Emperor Evulz but it turns out he has the wrong key.
- Discussed: "Not to worry. Knowing the idiot that he is, Albert just can't go on without releasing me from prison."
- Conversed: "I thought Albert was smart." "No, I have to make him be stupid once in a while."
- Implied: "So, wait, I have to let you out of prison to go on, don't I?"
- Deconstructed: Albert's allies turn on him for releasing Emperor Evulz.
- Reconstructed: Albert kills Emperor Evulz as soon as he sets foot out of the cell.
- Played For Laughs: Emperor Evulz breaks into song once Albert unlocks the cell.
- Played For Drama: Emperor Evulz shoots Albert upon being released and the plot continues once Albert wakes up in the hospital.
You've reached the end. Now go back to Stupidity Is the Only Option.
