History VideoGame / OracleOfTao

* CerebusSyndrome: Much of the game is SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel with [[AnAesop various moral lessons about love]] being taught. Then, around the fourth of these, there is everything from a HardTruthAesop to the implication that Ambrosia at some point [[DyingDream died and the other characters are part of a dream]].

** In order to become the [[TitleDrop Oracle of Tao]], Ambrosia has to collect a series of scattered tattoos by realizing [[AnAesop some profound truth]] from various [[HermitGuru wise people]] (sort of a ShoutOut to [[Literature/TheLostYearsOfMerlin The Seven Songs of Merlin]]).

* LoveWillLeadYouBack: With AnAesop about how it's hard work to fix what's broken.

* BonusBoss: [[{{Expy}} Zakum]] from ''VideoGame/MapleStory''. It has several ''million hp'' and has numerous attacks that '''will''' kill you.
** You can also fight God (much like a [[VideoGame/DragonQuestVII certain other game]], it's a friendly match). Aside from experience rewards, God explains [[BlueAndOrangeMorality that the entire adventure was constructed because Ambrosia seemed bored, and God wanted to give her something to do]]. It gets weirder if you've completed the first game before challenging God [[spoiler:since Ambrosia is God, and so gave ''herself'' a quest]].

* CognizantLimbs: [[BonusBoss Zakum]]

* GoldenEnding: The game has multiple endings, but in order to unlock the best, you need to complete a romance event between the male and female leads, defeat the final boss, and fight the extra final boss forms (this unlocks the PlayableEpilogue which has its own GoldenEnding). [[spoiler: It turns out Ambrosia is really [[GodInHumanForm God]], and that her suspicion that [[AllJustADream she was dreaming]] is only half right, and that world itself [[RetGone doesn't exist]]. Ultimately, though, she can cause it to be born, making a DoubleSubversion of the notion that she was dreaming. She gets to live in the world with the brand new, RealLife versions of the characters. There's also an extra ending sequence by killing an [[BonusBoss optional]] [[PuzzleBoss boss]].]]

* YouWannaGetSued: The game's BonusBoss is [[VideoGame/MapleStory Zakum]]. Right before the battle starts, you get this exchange.

* NeverSayDie: Similar to Earthbound, there is an altered enemy defeat caption. It says something about how the enemies were defeated in "bloodless" combat. This is done less because the characters have an aversion to killing, and more to prevent a BrokenAesop.

* ReferenceOverdosed: There are {{ShoutOut}}s to several anime, things like the Abhorsen series, Videogame/{{Earthbound}} (with regard to the game style), assorted books, and other games. Some of the characters are {{Expy}}-types for this reason.

* CrocodileTears: The name and premise of a FairyTale. A talking crocodile has massive amounts of Wangst about how the other forest critters don't trust it, so it cries alot. They finally learn to trust it, and everyone lives HappilyEverAfter. ''[[SurpriseCreepy Until the crocodile eats everyone.]]''

** Also averted NoPeriodsPeriod: Uses the [[{{LightNovel/Slayers}} Lina Inverse rule]] of magic loss during the [[MenstrualMenace menstrual cycle]]. This is a balance to the above advantage for females.

** Ambrosia for the NewGamePlus was originally planned using multiple actors, [[LoadsAndLoadsOfRoles but now all roles]] seem to be done by [[http://www.starnow.com/profile/ProfileDetail.aspx?m_id=2143993 Pippa Winslow]].

* HasTwoMommies and actual HomosexualReproduction: Aqorm and Lilith might be shown with a child at the ending.

* FiveManBand[=/=]PsychoRangers: In the town of Momiji, there is a rival group trying to stop Belial forming a FiveManBand (amusingly, when they meet their counterparts from Ambrosia's team, they don't fare well due to OpenMouthInsertFoot comments):
** TheLeader: [[{{Bishonen}} Hikari]]
** TheLancer: [[OurElvesAreDifferent Aster]] [[spoiler: (gets beaten repeatedly)]]
** TheSmartGuy: Wizard Gumi [[spoiler: (gets burned with fire magic)]]
** TheBigGuy: [[ThirdPersonPerson Na'ud]] [[spoiler: (gets punched out by Ambrosia)]]
** TheChick: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Momo]] [[spoiler: (actually gets killed, leaving a permanent pool of blood)]]

** Priests are played by [[RelationshipVoiceActor Alan Hooker]] (the author's father).

* DanBrowned: The libraries are actually funny to read. Not only do they often have gaps in knowledge about certain subjects like RealLife history and math, but even some of the books about the more fantastic elements don't match up with other books. Either there are varying views of history, or a [[ContinuitySnarl problem with the author's story]], which is even more hilarious since [[BadLiar it's all the same author writing it]].

* FakeBalance:
** The battle balance is a little... weird. [[spoiler:Attacks in the early game barely hurt enemies, but then after the tenth epic weapon, and after beating enemies with magic, it's not really so.]]
* FantasticReligiousWeirdness: The world religions are greatly affected by a demonic upheaval that destroys most of the population. Churches, even [[ChristianityIsCatholic Catholic]] ones, are referred to as "revival" churches, which takes on a new meaning entirely, since much of these religions are gone, along with their members. Instead of temples, most people in need of healing or worship, have to seek out wandering old priests. Also, many religions have become their endtimes equivalent (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miroku Miroku]] Buddhism, which is mainly composed of itinerant monks). That and the general state of the Earth is such that angels and demons are present in temples.

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Averted. The party tries to stop/talk to Ambrosia [[spoiler: when she goes off the deep end and starts killing people]]. It turns out [[LaserGuidedAmnesia she doesn't even remember them]]. And then things [[EpicFail go really wrong]] [[KillEmAll on both the stopping and talking parts]].

* KillEmAll: One of the most interesting endings involves [[spoiler: Ambrosia]] snapping after [[MoralEventHorizon killing an angel]], and deciding that since she has already [[RealityWarper created the universe]], her job description of maintaining the BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil requires that she... [[UnusualEuphemism balance the scales]].

* PlayingGertrude: By two different voice actresses. [[spoiler: There is a TimeSkip, and Nevras and Ambrosia grow old and die.]] Interestingly, there is an simultaneous instance of this and CrossdressingVoices with no LarynxDissonance.

* The demon, [[HornyDevils Lilith]].

* BettyAndVeronica: A couple of bisexual cases. For Aqorm, the resident thief, her "Betty" is Elias, the somewhat bookish type man, and her Veronica is Lilith, another girl and a [[HornyDevils succubus]]. Lilith's Betty is actually Aqorm, and her "Veronica" is Michael, a very effeminate-looking angel guy who is this because they are polar opposites.

* OurDemonsAreDifferent: Demons are supposedly the same initial breed as angels, just more inclined toward evil. They've somehow bred differently than angels, becoming more the HornyDevils variety, those there are several subspecies of demons. [[spoiler: Children of angels and demons appear human.]]

* {{Stripperific}}: Lilith, the [[HornyDevils succubus]], is wears a black bikini. And [[VaporWear nothing else]].

* AwesomeMcCoolname[=/=]MeaningfulName: Ambrosia Brahmin (the surname having to do with Hindu priestly castes and also with the similarity to the word Brahma, and the first name being "food of the gods").
** ThemeNaming in this regard. Her mom is Manna Leaven (or "leavened bread from heaven") before taking the "family name" of [[spoiler:God]], Brahmin.

* ThisIsReality: Thanks to some coding, there is RealTime in addition to an InUniverseGameClock. Ambrosia and the party insists that the clock that shows the real time is off, and has no problems accepting the game time. (Taken UpToEleven when you get a calendar, and they insist this is the wrong ''date'')

** TheSmartGuy: [[CopyCatSue Wizard Gumi]] [[spoiler: (gets burned with fire magic)]]

* MoneySpider: Subverted. Killing enemies, except in the case of humans, dragons, and some humanoid ghosts, does not add to party gold. Selling excess crap ([[VendorTrash including furs and bones]] ) on the other hand, does.
** Expect a few PinataEnemy types to supplement this.

* TooAwesomeToUse: Reconstructed. The Puffer Sushi is a great item which gets rid of ''all status effects'' (excluding death, due to a targetting glitch) and restores hp/mp. But rather than simply being a very rare item, it is available in some stores for about 9000 gp, when monsters usually don't hold money and you have to make it selling VendorTrash. Even when you actually manage to find it for free, it carries a pretty terrible risk. It can heal the party member fully, or it can kill them. The risk of use makes it something that you have to save for when you're really desperate, or the party member is already turned to stone.

* TropeTrigger: Ambrosia Brahmin is a Trope Trigger for Elias as MrExposition. Ambrosia's average intelligence and amnesia allow SmartGuy Elias to expound on obscure details pertaining to the plot.