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Video Game / Silver Falls Gaiden: Deathly Delusion Destroyers and Ruby River

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Silver Falls Gaiden: Deathly Delusion Destroyers and Ruby River are the latest entries in the Silver Falls series. In Gaiden, there's something sinister lurking in the forest surrounding the town of Silver Falls, and people have started going missing without a trace. And for Gus Ironcock, it just became personal. As he desperately searches for Cooper, his missing husband, he'll have to band together with his friends and other townsfolk to get through the forest, kill hordes of monsters Tower Defense-style, and solve its mystery. In contrast, Ruby River is a relaxing, completely optional Survival Sandbox and Item Crafting experience.

The games were released as a duo on March 9, 2023, and hold the distinction of being the final new games released on the Nintendo 3DS eShop before its closure.


The game has examples of the following tropes:

  • A Handful for an Eye: Gus can throw sand at an enemy to temporarily stun and reduce its speed.
  • The Alcoholic: Slim, to the point of being an Addled Addict. Gus notes that Slim would get arrested if Moss or Fred realizes he drove up to the camp. He's so out of it that he's more of a liability to the search than any kind of help. Slim wants to help because he feels guilty about being so drunk and useless all the time, especially after what happened in Galaxy Bound Curse. Gus gently, but firmly tells him to go to nearby diner so they can talk over some coffee when Gus has time. Dr. Sparro Allerdyce also flat-out says that Slim needs to stop, and not just because he's a doctor; Allerdyce is a recovered alcoholic himself. Allerdyce also reveals that everyone in town takes turns checking to make sure Slim is still alive on the mornings after his binge drinking at the Dusty Rose, and that Gus was the one who organized it.
  • Alien Abduction: At some point in the past, Arnalt, Hogan (Holt's grandpa), and Bud were abducted by aliens. Bud was never seen again. Arnalt has been haunted by the experience ever since. The worst part is that half the town doesn't believe him, and he's had to deal with rumors and lies for years. Gus advises him to be strong enough to accept that it happened, and to live his life as best he can.
  • Aliens in Cardiff: Like the other games in the series, this takes place in the small mountain town of Silver Falls.
  • Always Someone Better: Wilma and Honard are both skilled archers. But when Wilma tries challenging him to a match, Honard says that only a coward would try going easy on her.
  • An Ice Person: Sheriff Moss's secondary abilities include icy rifle shots and ice stat boosts. His Ultimate is shooting a small blizzard. Winnie also has Cryo Bomb, Team Cryo Amplify and Armor, and Water Stream.
  • An Immigrant's Tale: This basically Danteo's backstory. He was born and raised in a small town in South Africa and his parents run a wildlife preserve, and was sent to the States for a better life. He's still haunted by the faces of the family members of people he couldn't save. Since he couldn't protect the reserve anymore, he decided that he'd protect Silver Falls as a ranger instead.
  • Arbitrary Skepticism: After everything he's seen, Holt doesn't believe in ghosts. Sam also rationalizes this because he doesn't believe in the afterlife. Wilma says she doesn't believe in aliens, but she doesn't sound convincing.
  • Arcadia: Silver Falls is this at first glance. This little town is a world-class tourist destination with incredible landscapes, excellent hiking and fishing opportunities, famous cuisine, and is home to several successful people, particularly writers, artists, musicians, and actors. But once you get past this polished, rugged veneer, it quickly veers into Lovecraft Country.
  • Awesome Mc Cool Name: In keeping with the Silver Falls tradition of awesome names, the latest protagonist is Gus Ironcock.
  • Big Beautiful Man: Gus has a noticeable belly, but he's happily married and kicks ass.
  • Blind Black Guy: One of the characters you randomly meet at the diner is a blind guy with his service dog, Echo.
  • Blow You Away: Bass's Soul ability is the Tornado Gun, which also debuffs the enemy's defense by 20%.
  • Call-Back: This takes place in the same town of Silver Falls as the other games, so this is inevitable. Particularly when it comes to other heroes showing up to help.
    • The second person in your party is Dodger Rodgers, the protagonist of Heavy Shadow, which is the tie-in novel on the series website.
    • Holt, Analise and Sheriff Moss were the main characters 3 Down Stars, and have become more than capable of helping thanks to their experiences. Arnalt joins later as well.
    • Oxa Boscova and Gold Prospector are also well-versed in the Silver Falls mysteries, as they were the main characters in Guardians And Metal Exterminators set in 1980.
  • Classical Hunter: There are plenty of hunters in Silver Falls, but Bear Greentree is the most prominent one. He drops by the search camp on the way back from a hunting trip, and returns once he's gotten his game dressed and dropped off with his wife.
  • Close-Knit Community:
    • Given how Silver Falls is a tiny mountain town, this is a foregone conclusion. Almost everyone shows up to help with the search. Due to all the bizarre events spanning multiple games, they've learned the importance of banding together.
    • Everyone either already knows or at least heard that Gus is gay and married, and almost no one cares.
    • Slim is such an alcoholic mess that the townsfolk secretly takes turns checking to make sure he's still alive on the mornings after his binge drinking, and that Gus was the one who organized the plan. Slim has no idea until Dr. Allerdyce tells him in attempt to get him to quit.
    • Dr. Allerdyce was an even worse alcoholic than Slim, but recovered and moved on. He credits his success to the people of Silver Falls, who he calls stubborn and hardheaded for refusing to quit on him.
  • Close-Range Combatant: Gus, and pretty much anyone else who exclusively use heavy melee weapons like axes and hammers. Gus's own Ultimate is a Rocket Uppercut. Also, several characters have daily abilities that involve punch, slapping, stomping, and spanking.
  • Combat Medic: Dr. Allerdyce's move set predictably revolves around healing. His default is HP regen, his Soul boosts healing amount by 20%, and even his passive Smart Medic skill auto heals 20 points per item use. However, his Wonder Muscle Ultimate boosts the entire team's attacks by 30%. Aside from a couple other health boosts, his daily abilities include Team Hydro Armor, Flash Gun, and stun-inflicting uppercuts.
  • Continuity Nod: Several, given how all the characters from the previous games show up.
    • Gus is surprised by Holt, Analise, and Moss showing up to volunteer. He hasn't seen Holt and Analise in a long time, and remarks that they've grown up. Holt in particular has become successful with his music career. Gus also remarks that Moss seems much calmer than he used to be.
    • Analise wants to explore the mansion from Vicarious Brothers, and manages to convince a reluctant Holt to join her. Holt agrees to go only if Moss is with them, implying that they've become the series Power Trio.
    • 3 Down Stars apparently happened nearly 3 weeks before Gaiden takes place, with the characters still trying to understand exactly what happened. Holt wonders just how long they were stuck in there.
    • Slim feels guilty about being so drunk and useless all the time, especially after not being able to help Fred in Galaxy Bound Curse.
  • Commonality Connection: Both Gus and Georgia know what it's like to experience discrimination due to their sexual orientations.
  • Conversational Troping: The blind guy at the diner loves listening to anime, and the Explaining Your Power to the Enemy trope makes it easier for him to follow along.
  • Cool Old Guy: Pretty much all of the old guys in Silver Falls are cool. Bass is the third person in your party, and he's a retired divorcee who knows electronics and has a RC helicopter. Honard is totally fine with Gus being gay because he, "was alive and having fun in the 60s" and knows all about it. Arnalt is an Action Survivor of 3 Down Stars and rushed back to Silver Falls when he heard what happened.
  • Cosmic Motifs: Holt, Analise, and Moss were the main characters of 3 Down Stars, and some of their Ultimates and/or daily abilities are appropriately space-themed and have additional effects. Holt has Galaxy Kick, which boosts attack power and defense. Analise has Planetary Breath and Falling Star Kick, which boost charge time. Moss has Comet Wrecker and Meteor Breaker, which stuns enemies for 5 seconds or causes damage debuffs respectively.
  • Cue the Sun: If you happen to be playing Ruby River when the designated sunrise or sunset happens, you'll be in for a very sudden lighting transition.
  • Dirty Old Man: Honard will occasionally complain that there are no hot babes around.
  • Dishing Out Dirt: Holt's main skills are electric based, but his Friday ability is Rock Throw, which also causes a speed debuff.
  • Draw Aggro: Some characters have the Manly Shout or Strange Bird Call abilities, with attract enemies and causes debuffs.
  • Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: Some characters have the ability to boost the stats to different elemental resistances. Shellaby's Ultimate boosts the entire team's elemental powers by 30%. Karn's Soul ability boosts all elemental powers by 18%, and his Prism Warriors Ultimate boosts Fire, Ice, Electric, and Water powers by 50%.
  • Feed It with Fire: Shellaby has the Countercharge passive skill, which adds another 15 points to her attack meter every time she takes damage.
  • Flechette Storm: Dodger can throw a storm of shurikens. His Ultimate upgrades it to a tornado with a 3 second stun.
  • Fragile Speedster: Analise starts with a lower HP stat that some of the others. However, a couple of her daily abilities revolve around boosting the rate the attack meter fills up, making her able to use stronger attacks quickly.
  • Gameplay and Story Integration:
    • Cooper is an architect, which explains how he has all the skills he needs to gather materials and build his own houses in Ruby River. The magazine he carries around also includes survival tips, though the player can't read them directly.
    • Dr. Allerdyce is a doctor, so of course he's a healer with limited physical attacks.
    • Karn Delance is a famous glass sculptor, so it's no surprise that his move set uses fire.
  • Gayngst: Just a minor example. Early on in the story, Gus is reluctant to ask for help from the locals in Silver Falls, because he's not sure how people from a remote mountain town would react to a gay couple. Dodger immediately reassures him that everything will be fine and most of the other townsfolk share the same view. The notable exception to this is Steel Hart, who laughs at him and refuses to join the search. Gus becomes more riddled with self-doubt until Sam sternly tells him to stop wasting time and accept himself.
  • Get-Rich-Quick Scheme: Due to all the recent supernatural happenings and rumors, there have been tons of tourists showing up on top of the usual crowds. Shellaby mockingly says that the tourists think they'll catch an alien and get rich.
  • Glass Cannon: Gus's Friday ability lets him tear off his shirt for a 70% attack increase, but a 40% defense decrease. Winnie starts off with one of the lowest HP stats in the game, but her Soul ability boosts her Technique stat by 40%, and her Tailwind Ultimate boosts the entire team's charging speed and Technique by 20%. There's a reason why the fans nickname her One Shot Winnie.
  • Grumpy Old Man: Played with. Sam runs the Silver Falls gas station, and admits that he's only here to help because Moss asked him. He knew Moss's dad for years, and even calls Moss "Kid." He even make cider using a recipe Moss's dad taught him when he was younger. But he's pretty curt to everyone else, and immediately calls out Gus's navel-gazing. He's more focused on the search at hand, and later starts expressing nihilistic views.
  • The Gunslinger: Most of the cast applies, given how many of them use handguns and rifles to kill monsters. Storywise, however, the ultimate example is Shellaby Winterrose, who runs the Silver Falls gun store. She carries a handgun, and her optional texts usually mention the importance of ammo or how much she enjoys shooting from the hip. Also, the gun-based characters tend to have secondary gun-themed abilities that boost attacks.
  • Happily Married: Gus and Cooper, and Bear and Patriona.
  • Hidden Depths:
    • Aside from being a delivery driver, Gus collects vinyl records, can play the mandolin, and enjoys wood carving in his spare time.
    • Dr. Allerdyce is raising rare tropical fish in his aquarium at home.
    • Shellaby, of all people, loves Kaiju and Horror Films. The same also goes for Analise, and the two of them bond over it and plan seeing an upcoming film.
    • Holt and Georgia are huge fans of the Midnight Falcons. They talk about which songs and albums they like. This is the first hint that Holt realizes something is wrong with his memory, because he doesn't recognize some of what Georgia is talking about.
    • Georgia loves cosplay, particularly for Sword of The Kings. However, she's also a terrible cook.
    • Wilma is an excellent archer and cook, and starts getting into video games.
    • Honard is also a great archer, and is so much of a Book Worm that he brought books for people at the search camp to read when they're resting.
    • Bass enjoys tinkering with electronics and uses a RC helicopter help with the search, and enjoys gardening and Wyverns and Warlocks.
    • Oxa is a jewelry designer.
    • Mimmet learned how to use a crossbow from all the times she went to the Renaissance Fair with her brother.
    • Aside from being an avid hunter, Bear is also a fantasy genre Book Worm. He even has the latest Sword of The Kings order waiting to be picked up in Leaden City.
  • Ice Magic Is Water: Winnie has Water Stream as one of her daily abilities, but it inflicts Cryo and Electric debuffs.
  • I Just Want to Be Badass: Both Georgia and Slim say that they came to help because they feel guilty about not being able to do so during other mysterious events. Georgia was too injured during 3 Down Stars to do anything, so she immediately comes to help with the search. Slim attempts to help, but he's just as uselessly drunk as he was during Galaxy Bound Curse.
  • Incompatible Orientation: Helen tries flirting with Gus in her introductory scene. Gus is only mildly annoyed.
  • Innocently Insensitive: Mimmet has no filter. She clearly lusts after Bull, tries hitting on Gus and Bass despite them obviously not being interested for various reasons. When discussing her fears over what could have happened to Cooper:
    Mimmet: Or what if he gets mauled by a bear while sleeping? What if a pack of wolves rips him apart, dragging his limbs in different directions.
    Gus: Wow. You're certainly a glass half full kind of lady.
  • Internal Reveal:
    • One conversation reveals that Georgia was conscious and aware of the Time Stands Still situation during 3 Down Stars, but was too heavily injured to do anything. Her motivation in this game is to make up for the perceived uselessness.
  • In-Universe Game Clock: The visuals and music in both games change depending on the 3DS's time setting. The options are sunrise, day, sunset, and night.
  • Jabba Table Manners: Gold Prospector's passive ability is Loud Snacker, which makes enemies drawn to the sound of his eating food and other health items.
  • The Leader: Gus may have started the search, but Analise is definitely the one keeping it running. She has lots of experience due to taking over various event planning roles from her dad, and from taking over failing ventures and turning them into massive successes. As for the search, she's mastered enough Easy Logistics to keep a couple dozen people fed, supplied, and safe as they search through a monster-infested forest. One random comment reveals that she even hauled in a portable toilet just for the sake of privacy.
  • Leaning on the Fourth Wall: In one of his random texts, Gus will say, "Reading a book or playing a video game... do those really give our lives meaning or do they waste our time?"
  • Light 'em Up: Shellaby's default ability is Photo Finish, which flashes half the length of a couple rows, stunning for 6 seconds and causing a sound resistance debuff. Karn also has Flash Bomb, which stuns for 7 seconds and causes another sound debuff.
  • Loading Screen: Whenever a location is loading, the top/left screen lists some additional information about Silver Falls and the surrounding world. Most of these go by so fast, they can only be read on multiple viewings or if you take a screenshot with your phone. Regardless, there are all kinds of tidbits, Noodle Incidents, and shout-outs.
    • There's Resonant Evil 5 for the GFX, starring Chris Strongfist instead of Chris Redfield.
    • There's also Octobrawl: Hardcore, the 3rd game in its series. It has 8 weapons and over 30 octopus species. Its upgraded octopus physics simulator is thanks to the Hyper GFX's processing power. It also spawned its own fighting game tournament. 340K people participated in the first year alone, and over $210K in prize money has been awarded.
    • Breath-Taking Warrior uses a unique peripheral controller which requires the player to blow air into a machine. Based on the temperature, rhythm, intensity, and moisture, the player can cast a vast array of magic spells. However, many players reported lightheadedness and even momentary lapses in consciousness during boss battles. Despite this, he dev is working on the sequel, Edge of Consciousness.
    • At launch, the Hyper GFX was considered to have the most powerful CPU available to consumers. During a cyber attacl on Western Frontier banks, a game studio was independently hired to use more than 40 Hyper GFX consoles to create a constantly adapting and unbreakable security system. It also allowed them to track down the physical location of the hackers and get them arrested.
    • The Hyper GFX can wirelessly connect with Hyperbo Figures. Thee are collectible figurines from various game franchises, and can store information on internal microchips. The respective games use the figurines differently, but it's generally agree that the figurines have great functionality and add tons of additional fun. When the new line came out, however, the shipping containers fell into the ocean in the middle of a storm. As a result, this new line of figurines is extremely scarce, creating a micro economy and black market for them. People have been know to search beaches and oceans, hoping to find a figurine that can be sold at inflated prices.
    • Maverick's Button Mashing Mayhem is one of the most popular multiplayer games on the Hyper GFX. It use simple controls and has an easy learning curve. The cartridge comes with padded gloves to protect players' hands. Extras can be bought separately.
    • Dust of Fate Re-Re-Re-Remix on the Hyper GFX broke the record for a game with the most remakes, having been done 4 times over. The previous record holder was Soulbound Warrior: Hero of Trains: Hidden Destiny XL Champion Edition. Each version of that game was published within 4 months of each other.
    • 2 years after the Hyper GFX was released, they released a firmware update that tripled the console's processing speed and power. When a hoaxer attempted to sue the manufacturer for causing his console to catch on fire, they managed to prove he was lying. As a joke, they sent fire blankets to the console owners who'd gotten insurance.
    • Much like the 3DS, the original run of the Hyper Boy portable console shipped with unfinished firmware, which led to pirating, and was eventually patched.
    • According to a recent international poll, Bojo Bilby, Magiico's video game mascot, was rated as the world's most recognizable game character. His sidekick and best friend, Fisty, the Wombat, and his rival, Kankles, the Bandicoot, did not do as well. Neither did the series antagonist, Professor Klangernuts.
    • Magical Girl Pretty Pilots is an immensely popular anime series. It recently came back after a 10 year hiatus, with the critically acclaimed 8th season, Diamond Z. At a recent anime convention, more than 20% of the attendees cosplayed as the characters... and 35% of them were male. Season 1 was so popular, religious groups tried to get it banned due to the combined supposed sex appeal and giant robots.
    • A health and fitness fanatic from out of town once claimed that she survived solely by drinking water from Burden Lake, without any food. She bottled the water and tricked thousands of people into buying it. She caught Giardia lamblia and ended up dying from the symptoms and malnutrition.
    • Pope's Point is nicknamed the Compass Graveyard, because taking any magnetic compass there will spin out of control and never reliably work again.
    • Similarly, digital devices tend to malfunction in the area, most likely due to unusual magnetic waves. As such, Silver Falls residents mostly rely on analog technology.
    • Burden Lake is popular with photographers due to its early morning fog cover. However, many visitors and hikers have gotten lost in the fog, wandering around for what seemed like days. One man was rumored to have gone insane from this, and was rendered incapable of talking after he was found.
    • Allagash Silver Company used to the primary employer of the Silver Falls residents. But the mines were closed after a devastating cave-in and the mysterious disappearances of some employees. The company was eventually reorganized into the Allagash Lumber Company. It's run by Wood Wheeler, a former mine employee.
    • An employee at the the Rockhardt Steel Factory died under suspicious circumstances. The factory was shut down, and the employee's ghost is rumored to roam its halls, seeking vengeance.
    • Golden Ridge Ranch used to be a massively successful local business until the family who owned the ranch suddenly disappeared. Numerous attempts have been made to restore it, but no one has been able to stay at and maintain it for more than a month. Apparently, there is so much supernatural phenomena that it makes for unlivable conditions.
    • Nearby Copper Valley is considered to be a ghost town, but there round 100 residents who live off the grid, or rely on Silver Falls for living essentials. Despite the location being a desert, residents are somehow still able to grow a surprising variety of crops.
    • The original church in Silver Falls burned down in the late 1800's, supposedly due to unattended candles. The true cause remains a mystery. Oddly enough, this is the only building in Silver Falls known to have burned down. Buildings made from local timber are known to be very fire resistant. The Allagash Lumber Company keeps a tight grip on the town's lumber industry, ensuring that overlogging never becomes a problem.
    • A 10 year old boy left the Silver Peaks ski lodge during a snow storm, and was missing for 5 days. He was found more than 12 miles from the nearest building, with no frostbite, injuries, and his clothes were dry. He has has since become a forest ranger, and claims he has no memory of what happened when he went missing.
    • Silver Falls is home to a species of maple trees that produces the sweetest syrup on Earth. It's 4 times as sweet as any other kind. Scientists attribute this to the extremely nutrient rich soil, as well a the mineral rich rain and fog of the surrounding Lorlews National Forest.
    • Lorlews National Forest has over 40 marked and well maintained trails, as well as a low rate of cougar attacks. This further makes Silver Falls appealing to tourists.
    • The award-winning Lucas Seeker book series was written by T.K. Kennedy, who was inspired after hiking through the forests around Silver Falls. The first book in particular was inspired by one of her dreams while camping there. One of her other books, Kiss and Die, is a combination of Romance, Spy Thriller, and Horror. She has denied that it was inspired by real events. She also wrote Kingdom of the Stars, a fantasy series. It was initially criticized for being too "out there." But the series found its niche with the 2nd book, Crown of Thunder of the King of The Desert of Twilight.
    • Silver Falls apparently has the Slick Saddle Go Kart Course, which is a popular tourist destination.
    • Silver Falls is also a world-famous fishing destination. People come from all over to go on one of the Granford Fishing tours, in which catching a fish is practically guaranteed. In contrast, Lake Varginha is known as The Cursed Lake, because no one has been able to prove they've caught a fish there. Some have even tried making up hoax catches there. This is despite various scientific studies have proven the lake supports ample aquatic life.
    • Silver Falls has also become famous for its Pepper Moose Pies, made exclusively by Butch Baconsmith. However, they have been out of production since Butch has been recovering from an injury he sustained when he got his arm caught in a chicken de-feathering machine.
    • A Texas millionaire once offered Butch Baconsmith a million dollar for the recipe of the iconic Pepper Moose Pies. After being refused, said millionaire hired someone to break in and steal the recipe. However, audio and video surveillance showed the burger calling his would-be employer. Butch successfully sued the millionaire. But instead of demanding a large sum, he merely asked for enough to cover the repair costs for the windows, door, vintage record player, and an antique lamp.
    • Silver Falls is also home to John Doubler, the creator of Pale Moonlight, a popular beer brand. It was originally brewed at Starwalker Ranch, before it was moved to a larger brewery in North Silver Falls for full-time production. Its distinctly zesty flavor comes from the local spring water. Doubler was appalled when he ordered some of his own beer at a local bar, and it came with a mint leaf and mineral water mixed in. He saw how many patrons liked drinking it this way, and the bartender said it was way it was meant to be served. Doubler admittedly liked this blend, so he created the Hurricane Light, which perfectly matched the taste... and served as an attempt to stop people from ruining his signature beer.
    • Silver Falls is also home to Karn Delance, a world famous glass sculptor. His works have sold to regular tourists and royalty alike. They're also said to bring good luck to hikers and campers. His techniques have been passed down through his family for generations, and he uses only local minerals. Physicists and musicians have examined some of his works, and discovered that they emit a soft, nearly imperceptible hum or buzz. They may pick up vibrations from the surrounding environment.
    • Silver Falls not only has their own baseball team called the Sluggers, but they even have their own line of signature bats. They're based on the homemade bats by Howard "Slaps" Ginsbauer in the 1970s. They're made with local wood and have a specific weight balance. Their leather grips are handmade by local leatherworker, Dorn Tanner, from locally grown cattle. Slaps got that nickname for his habit of giving a friendly spank to congratulate his players when they turn in particularly good performances. However, this habit extends to anyone once he gets drunk enough.
    • Bill Brandish created a hit 1950s sci-fi show called Midnight Realm, which was based on his experiences growing up in Silver Falls. However, he was supposedly scared into canceling the show after a hostile alien encounter. Rumor has it that he intentionally sabotaged the final season to force the producers to end the show. The entire final season never aired because all the footage was lost in a warehouse fire. His grandson, Bull purchased all of the land the show was filmed on. He fenced everything off and refuses to let anyone on the property, despite fan petitions and potential tourism profits.
    • Silver Falls is the hometown of Forest Falstaff Jr., a famous movie star. Before he got his big break, he worked at Allagash Lumber, Mimmet's Greens, and Buy Alright, and spends his work-free winters in town. His most famous role was in the universally acclaimed Wolf of Lunar Bay, which later went on to a post-credits crossover scene with John Copper and the Curse of Shadows, which paid off one movie later in the long-running The League of Fate franchise. Said franchise hit a slump, until Falstaff brought in his childhood friends, Duel and Gunn Roper to direct. The result was the critically acclaimed Wolf of Eternal Night. The Roper Brothers follow-up, League of Fate II. brought together all the heroes, and was even more successful. However, Falstaff was forced to drop out a supporting role in Frozen Man and the Army of Subzerians, which has been described as "exceedingly cool." The three of them are in the middle of production for Wolf of Nightmare, much of which will be shot in Silver Falls.
    • Dark Sparrow was criticized for being incoherent and failed upon release. But after League of Fate, the previous film was contextualized, and is now regarded as one of the best films in the series. League of Fate hero Mirage was featured heavily in Dark Sparrow III, but has yet to get her own movie despite ongoing fan petitions. In contrast, fan-favorite Nothing Man got his own movie despite starting off as an antagonist.
    • The film John Copper and the Living Dead was the highest grossing film of all time. Viewers thought it CGI was used to create detailed visuals, but a recent interview revealed that it was all done with practical effects. However, John Copper and The Lizard Men From Earth is considered a low point in the League of Fate franchise, mainly due to executive meddling.
    • Walton Food Corp. once had to deal with a 2 million dollar lawsuit when a limited edition die cast Maverick D. Moose action figure was found inside a bottle of their BBQ sauce. That particular toy ceased production 22 years prior to this discovery, and it was missing its left arm. That arm remains missing to this day.
    • The Forkin' Pork, a local restaurant, once faced with a potential lawsuit when a customer found what appeared to be a human finger in a box of french fries. Upon further inspection, it was revealed to be a 10 month-old sausage, which was considered only slightly better than a human finger.
    • The Forkin' Pork has a mascot named Colonel Oinkfort. You used to be able to hire him for appearances at children's birthday parties. However, that ended after disaster involving 4 real pigs attacking Oinkfort, with him apparently wrestling them to save himself. This all happened in front of children, who started describing Oinkfort as "the scary pig man."
    • The Chunky Chicken is a local fast food restaurant, and has specialized ovens in their delivery vans. They add a fine mist of chicken stock, water, and spices to keep the food moist and warm while in transit. Deliveries cost a minimum of $40 and take at least 30 minutes to show up, but orders come in regularly. The founder of Chunky Chicken grew up on the mountain roads outside of Silver Falls, makes it a point to provide service to the town. However, they don't sell their high-calorie Ultra Chunky Meal to customers under 16. For them, they offer the Chunky Kid Meal. One of it sides is the All Star French Fries, which includes a sectioned bowl containing chili and clam chowder. It also uncludes melted nacho cheese drizzled over oven baked fries.
    • The Jen Ericsson food brand has earned the most awards for "most mediocre products" for 8 years in a row. The majority of their stuff is rated 3 out of 5 stars, citing that there is nothing great or terrible about them. In the 70's, their slogan was, "The best part is there's nothing that bad."
    • Jen Ericsson had an accident in the 1980s, in which the ketchup and mayonnaise jars were somehow switched during factory production, and the products were poured accordingly. Customers refused to buy any of it. Local event organizer, Henry Henceforth, managed to get rid of the switched product by using it for local events and fundraisers, where clients wouldn't see the sauces being poured.
    • In another Jen Ericsson 80's debacle, they once accidentally mixed maple syrup with mustard. It ended up being a massive hit, the worker responsible was rehired, and Maple Mustard became one the company's signature products.
    • In yet another Jen Ericsson debacle, they once sent out a defective batch of salt shakers to the Buy Alright in Silver Falls. The salt shakers had no holes in them. After numerous complaints, store manager Pete Sandeson relabeled them as "salt maracas." These can be heard on numerous albums by local folk band, "Jamie, Don, and Shelly and Bill and Willie."
    • The band started as "Jamie, Don, and Shelly." They were later joined by Bill Starsguard (clearly not Bill SkarsgĂ„rd, the famous actor), who played the mandolin. They just tacked his first name onto the end of the band name. Then pianist Willie Bellgrade joined, so they tacked his name onto the end, too.
    • The Midnight Falcons are a popular rock and roll band who released their first/eponymous album in the '60s. Their lead singer is Bran Steelhide, who was born just east of Silver Falls in Copper Valley. They first found critical success in the late '60s with their second album, "Room In The Desert." However, the band became a household name in the early '70s with their 3rd album, "Tax On Justice" and their single, "Wholesale Souls." However, they started to clash internally due to their newfound success. Their 4th album, "The Never Ending Road" is viewed at the low point of their careers, and the band nearly broke up. However, the single, "Time's Movin' On, So It's Time To Move On" was a massive success. Their 5th album, "Ride on, Shine on" regained their position as blue collar America's favorite band. It even led to the creation of the annual Copper Rush motorcycle ride through Silver Falls. After the war, they released their 7th album, "Wander on Home," which was a more toned down, sombre, and melancholic reflection on life and its fleeting fragility. Their 8th album, "Fire On The Tree Tops" was a concept album released in the '70s. It explored survivor's guilt, living with the horrors of war, and being alienated from home. It was deemed too dark and heavy, as the popular culture at that time wanted escapism. Their sequel album, "Easy Rain," was released in the '80s. It focused on guitar riffs, powerful vocals, and instrumental tracks that put them back on the top of the charts. Their guitarist, Colt Waters, mysteriously passed away in the mid '80s. The band released "Heavy Shadow" 8 months after his death. It was their final album; Waters had recorded most of his parts, and his brother Taylor took over for the rest.
    • Clementine Beaufort is the part-time bartender of the Dusty Cactus. Despite her cute appearance, she once took out a 230 lb drunk trucker with a single uppercut. This was caught on video, and a still image from it is now hanging framed over the bar as a warning to rowdy patrons.
    • The Dusty Cactus once ran a fundraiser for Dorn Tanner, the local leatherworker with whom they share a fence. The fence had been destroyed by a drunk driver. While it seemed like an act of good will, it was actually because many of the bar's patrons were complaining about the view of Dorn's property. Apparently, Dorn is a proud nudist and enjoys doing yard work. After only 5 days and some particularly hot weather, the bar got enough donations to rebuild the fence.
    • The Lord of Lumber Jacks contest was plagued by dwindling numbers and a drunken brawl that resulted in two men and a raccoon being hospitalized. However, Analise from 3 Down Stars took over her father's role as the organizer, and prioritized safety. She managed to bring in record high numbers of both visitors and participants, resulting in the most successful event in Ranger Station history. Similarly, both Henry and Analise took charge of the failing Copper Rush motorcycle run. They raised more funds, sold cheaper food, added a fireworks show, and even had the remaining members of The Midnight Falcons do a live concert.
    • Moss is considered an in-universe badass because he not only stopped a brawl at the Dusty Cactus, but he also stopped a rabid coyote that had wandered into town and was attacking the bystanders. He didn't want to shoot, so he subdued and captured this rabid coyote with his bare hands. He then put it in his car, drove up the mountain, and released it back into the wilderness.
    • Honard is a local archery expert and pioneered some techniques and equipment. He's also in his 90s, but maintains himself via daily training. He also has a 3D target course, which is popular with tourists. While he doesn't chage for lessons, he's always happy to teach anyone who's genuinely interested in archery.
  • Lovecraft Country: Silver Falls is a town with multiple dark secrets. It's home to ghosts, aliens, monsters, a fog that can drive people insane, and magnetic fields and vibrations that wreak havoc on technology.
  • Making a Splash: Shellaby's Soul ability is a long-ranged Water Stream, which also causes cryo and electric debuffs.
  • Maligned Mixed Marriage: Bass and his wife's marriage started off strong, and he was proud of how progressive they were. Unfortunately, he focused a little too much on the image instead of the relationship itself.
  • Manly Gay: Gus is bald, has a thick beard and a dad bod, wears an unbuttoned flannel shirt and dirty jeans, and can kill wild animals with a hammer. He also loves his husband Cooper, and is worried when he goes missing.
  • My Greatest Failure: Bass is depressed about his failed marriage, and is reluctant to talk about it. He even briefly snaps at Mimmet when she tries hitting on him. Similarly, Arnalt deeply regrets his divorce from Sarah, even 8 years later. This is at odds with Holt's memory, who remembers that she died 6 years ago.
  • Never Be Hurt Again: The entire motivation of Wilma's avoidance of love, especially when it comes to Honard. She secretly loved him, but he chose his best friend over her. Then he botched the marriage proposal, they broke up, and he tried getting with Wilma on the rebound.
  • Obfuscating Stupidity: Helen claims she just happened to come by the campsite, and there's no way she could heard people talking on the radio about the search for Cooper. By her own words, she's just a pretty little lady who doesn't know anything... Even after Gus points out that she knows details that weren't mentioned on the radio.
  • Oil Slick: Some characters have the Oil Spill ability, which causes an Area of Effect over all 4 rows, but only at close range. It also debuffs fire resistance by 40%, and speed by 2.
  • Old Master: Honard is an accomplished and (arguably) the best archer in Silver Falls. He's also in his 90s.
  • Old Save Bonus: Like in all the other Silver Falls games, there's the Code Linker system that lets you put in passwords from other games in the series. For example, inputting the Ruby River code into Gaiden will give your party stat boosts.
  • Our Cryptids Are More Mysterious: Slim has a tendency to make passing comments about the existence of certain cryptids. He mentions something about the bank needing anti-Bigfoot policies, which seems funny. There's also something called the Turtlesquatch, which can bite off someone's hand in a split second. There's also the Baskuwol, which craves human flesh, and only gets hungrier the more it eats. The most terrifying one is the Facestealer, which steals the faces and voices of people to lure their loved ones into the forest.
  • Playing with Fire: Analise's default attack is Flame Shot, her Soul is Flamethrower, and her Monday ability is Flame Amplify. Karn also has Flamethrower and Team Flame Amplify, which is fitting given his career in glass blowing.
  • The Red Mage: Wilma is a great all-rounder for a party. She can boost the team's techniques, her Soul ability is Shadow Killer, her Ultimate is the Tornado Cannon. Her daily abilities include Water Stream, Flame Shot, Echo Bomb, Echo Armor, and Aura Amplify. Her passive is Vigorous Camper, which lets her carry an additional item, which works in tandem with her Camping Spirit item regenerate ability.
  • Resources Management Gameplay: Progressing in Gaiden revolves completing missions (which typically involve killing animals and monsters), or going to the diner to talk to people. Both will net you extra equipment and supplies, which you'll need in order to survive tougher missions. Ruby River just gives you an axe and lets you forage for everything else.
  • The Reveal:
    • Holt has been troubled since 3 Down Stars ended, because several details in his memory are seemingly incorrect, such as Midnight Falcons albums he doesn't recognize. He also remembers that his aunt Sarah died 6 years ago, but his uncle Arnalt says that they've merely divorced for 8 years.
    • Wilma acts somewhat hostile and bitter towards Honard. This is because she's secretly been in love with him for years, and was heartbroken when he fell in love and had a relationship with her best friend Daphnia. This was made even worse when Honard proposed to Daphnia. She refused because she knew he would choose his archery career over her, leading to the end of the relationship. This was made even even worse when Honard tried to get with Wilma on the rebound.
  • Retired Badass: Slim used to be a fighter pilot. But he's been in a downward spiral of alcoholism for years, leaving him almost incapable of taking care of himself.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Winnie Allerdyce's passive ability is Avenger Energy, which instantly charges her attack meter whenever someone on the team is defeated.
  • Shock and Awe: Bass has the Thunder Gun as his default ability, which makes sense given his background as an electrician. Holt and some other characters can also get it as a Soul ability. The electrified shots also stun enemies for a couple of seconds. Holt's default is the Electro Shot, and one of his dailies is Electro Amplify. Most of Gold's moveset revolves around this as well, including Electro Bomb, Team Electro Armor and Amplify, and Thunder Cannon as his Ultimate.
  • Some Dexterity Required: Both games make great use of the 3DS's touch screen. However, Deathly Delusion Destroyers requires you to hold the system vertically, and Ruby River's button mapping and use of the New 3DS's nub stick might take some getting used to.
  • The Tease: Mimmet came to the camp in search of Bull Brandish, hoping to catch him in a state of undress after swimming. When she realizes that he isn't there, she tries flirting with Gus, which obviously fails. Minutes later, she tries flirting with Bass, only to be shot down immediately due to his depression over his failed marriage.
  • Tower Defense: You can have up to 4 people on a team per mission. Each of them has different weapons, attack ranges, stats, equipment, and special abilities. But to make your shots stronger, you have to wait for a character's meter to charge up. If you keep spamming shots, you'll only inflict a tiny amount of damage. But if you patiently charge up (usually at the expense of taking damage), you'll dish out damage in the triple digits early into the game. Missions come on casual and challenge modes, as well as daily, weekly, Titan, and Multi Bosses.
  • Trap Master: Bass's Ultimate is the Hunting Trap, which damages and stuns enemies for 10 seconds.
  • Wearing a Flag on Your Head: Some of the starting gear includes an American flag bandana and t-shirt.
  • You Know I'm Black, Right?: At one point when Gus is talking about how he's been discriminated against for being gay, he says that Bear was born with the advantage of being born straight. Bear responds with, "You can tell I'm Native American, right?"

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