Odama is mix of Real-Time Strategy and Pinball. You are in control of a relatively small army, and you are using them to take over feudal Japan and avenge your father's death. At your disposal are your giant bell and a giant ball. With your flippers, you send your giant ball—named Odama—at your enemies, pinball-style, sometimes hitting the bell to cause damaging shockwaves.
The game is notable for being the last Nintendo-published GameCube exclusive. Their last GameCube game ever, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, also released for the Wii.
This game contains examples of:
- Authority Equals Ass Kicking: On both sides, but much less so for the player's army than for the enemy.
- Bonus Level: Kyoto, set in the future, where the Odama is always heavenly and there is no time limit.
- The Cavalry: Calling on them is a good way to boost troop morale. Unfortunately for you, the enemy has its own cavalry.
- A Child Shall Lead Them: Yamanouchi Kagetora started off as a child anyway, learning the horrors of war at age eleven.
- Contractual Boss Immunity: Enemy generals will not be killed or converted by the Odama, just knocked down. They will also cut down your army unless first knocked down.
- Eternal English: Seemingly averted, discarding this trope is the only way the scroll requirements make any sense.
- Evil Overlord: Karasuma Genshin
- Friendly Fireproof: The evil Odama will ignore enemies but still kill your own troops, and the Odama is turned evil by enemy flippers and bells. The heavenly Odama won't kill anyone, but can still damage the area or convert the enemies.
- The Guards Must Be Crazy: Or very hungry, as both sides will drop what they're doing if you throw a giant riceball at them.
- Guilt-Based Gaming: If you take too long, if you give up prematurely, hell, you'll be even laughed at if you keep playing after losing a number of times or your ball falls between your flippers.
- Human Ladder: Sometimes your troops will form one.
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Nintendo Hard: Like you wouldn't believe: Keeping a giant ball from running over an army who you control by microphone while there's a Time Limit, and don't forget those environmental hazards and side quests in battle. It lacks the Trial-and-Error Gameplay and Fake Difficulty of older NES titles though, so Odama is doable if you're willing to put up with a steep learning curve. - Non-Lethal Deadly Weapon: The heavenly Odama can still destroy the area but won't kill anyone, harmlessly passing through your troops and converting enemies to your cause.
- Pride: Lord Yamanouchi Nobutada killed himself after we was betrayed by Karasuma Genshin and it was becoming apparent Geshin's coup was going to be successful. He decided death was better than living to see defeat.
- Redemption Earns Life: And it is the only way you are getting more soldiers, so exploit this trope as much as possible.
- Reset Button: Read buttons will raise houses and some other structures demolished by the Odama.
- Sonic Stunner: Hitting the Ninten bell with the Odama will knock enemy troops away and leave them prone. If you pick up a heart, the bell will instead turn the Odama heavenly. The enemies have bells that will turn the Odama evil and knock your own army away when struck.
- Squad Controls: Done with your voice, move forward!
- Timed Mission: You're hit with an explicit one right from the start, but all have a time limit. All time limits are based on completing the battle before sundown.
- Videogame Caring Potential: A player kind of needs to be caring to win. They need people to successfully carry the bell through the enemy barricades and they need to keep troop morale high enough or else they won't listen to commands.
- Videogame Cruelty Potential: Bowling over houses is the best way to get green orbs, hearts, rice balls, and hour glasses.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Your army will call you out if you roll your ball on them.
- You Killed My Father: Yamanouchi Kagetora blames Karasuma Genshin for the death of his father Nobutada.
- You Shouldn't Know This Already: Despite being commanded by your voice, certain commands will not be followed by your soldiers until you obtain a scroll for them.
