History CrazyPrepared / VideoGames

* Being Crazy Prepared is one of the key gameplay features of the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games and spin-offs. Arranging all the skills and spells you need out of your limited selection of [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei demon]] [[VideoGame/DevilSummoner followers]], Franchise/{{persona}}s, or [[VideoGame/DevilSurvivor friends (and their demons)]] is an ''art'', especially when you find your current selection falling behind in level and needing to set up a whole new repertoire with a different balance of needed powers. It's overall easiest in the ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga'' duology where you can customize your party members' skills directly along with buying curative items, making it your own fault if you can't cover every base effectively.

* In the ''VideoGame/StarFox'' series, [[spoiler:Andross]] had multiple contingency plans in case his life was threatened. [[ActuallyADoombot Robot fake]], [[Manga/FarewellBelovedFalco resurrection-by]]-[[CloningBlues cloning]], [[VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures resurrection by]] [[YourSoulIsMine stolen]] [[LifeDrain magic]], and a VirtualGhost. He also had his nephew trained in the ways of war in order to have an interim commander.

* Hazama / Terumi [[AxCrazy Yuuki]] from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' has proved to us that hundreds and hundreds of [[GroundhogDayLoop time loops]], and an EvilGenius without like in its own universe, combined with an undying desire to throw the world into an abyss of despair, simply for the fact that [[ForTheEvulz "misery is interesting"]], can lead up to you taking a lot of precautions just to face him. [[OhCrap And it may still not work 100% anyway]]. Buuuut... Terumi winds up [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructing this]], as he was only CrazyPrepared ''because'' he had witnessed hundreds and hundreds of time loops. Without such preparation (as ''Slight Hope''[[note]]Makoto's Story Mode in [[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift CS]][[/note]] demonstrates and ''[[VideoGame/BlazBlueChronoPhantasma Chronophantasma]]'' ultimately confirms), his victories are due to overwhelming power and blind luck, and neither can last forever on their own. [[spoiler:Makoto Nanaya intervening on the behalf of Tsubaki Yayoi led to his downfall in both instances -- and in the latter, his [[KilledOffForReal death by Hakumen]]. Then again, considering what [[SmarterThanYouLook Ma]][[PluckyGirl ko]][[SpannerInTheWorks to]] is, [[TemptingFate antagonizing her]] [[KarmicDeath was a very bad idea]].]]

* Shao Khan in the third ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' game; despite all his blabber about YouHaveFailedMe to his minions, he knew he might end up failing to win Earthrealm through legal means, so arranged to have his dead wife revived and BrainwashedAndCrazy on Earthrealm, allowing him to step through the dimensional borders to claim her, and thus ''force'' a merger between Earth and Outworld. First three things he does upon doing so? Lock down his wife with bodyguards, steal the souls of everyone on Earth that isn't TheChosenOne, and send a vast army of bloodthirsty, nigh-invulnerable beasts after said Chosen Ones to prevent them from ruining his plans. [[NearVillainVictory It didn't work out quite as planned]], but you've got to give him credit for trying. He also shows this off in later games; anticipating that his "loyal" minions might one day attempt to overthrow him, he places a decoy in his place during the events of ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance Deadly Alliance]]'', thus surviving his infamous assassination attempt. ''Then'', in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon Armageddon]]'', he revives Shang Tsung (who had been vaporized by Raiden's attempt to destroy the Dragon King in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception Deception]]'') and forces fealty on him, revealing that all minions swearing loyalty to him get hit with a spell that, if Khan dies at any time, causes them to die too, as well as giving him the ability to revive them at will. ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' reveals he had his victory speech planned ''waaaaaaay'' in advance as well.
** To a lesser degree, Erron Black from ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' seems to have carved bullets for each one of the characters in the roster. Including Alien and Predator, each one of the variations of Triborg, one for engaging in a MirrorMatch and even for [[DevelopersForesight non-playable characters that only appear in Story Mode and who Erron himself never fights]].

* The VideoGame/MonsterHunter series requires players to follow this tropes. Going LeeroyJenkins towards nearly every beast will ensure a swift, painful and expensive demise.

* In ''VideoGame/EmeraldCityConfidential'', one of the achievements you can get is defeating the wizard arena's resident champion on the first try. However, the only way you can do this is by collecting specific items which are seemingly random, such as s Heavy Cake, a Magic Rope, and a Copper Rod.

** The Graal Spike Thrower is a shotgun specifically designed by the Krogan for hunting Thresher Maws. With that in mind, it features special built in blades, so that in the event that a Krogan gets swallowed by a Maw, they can either cut themselves out or cause severe internal bleeding to take it down with them. Overall, it says something about the Krogan that they designed a shotgun believing that it was a very real possibility that they might be ''eaten'' at some point.
** During the ''Citadel DLC'', during a quiet party, Garrus and Zaeed will decide to booby trap Shepard's apartment just in case [[spoiler:another Shepard clone]] shows up. They rig up the glass by the entry door, the coffeemaker, and the refrigerator. Zaeed almost turns the hottub into a plasma bath up until Shepard points out that the DNA trigger won't work because [[spoiler:his/her clone would have the same DNA]].

* ''VideoGame/TombRaiderII'' has Lara starting the first level with her pistols, a shotgun, flares, and a small and large health kit. Considering how [[VideoGame/TombRaider her last job went sour very quickly]], she likely didn't want to take any chances in her second adventure. Likewise, Lara has a gun closet next to her bed, which has her shotgun, 70+ rounds for said shotgun, a few health kits, and some flares. Said items come in handy in the final level the remainder of the mooks whose boss you killed come storming into Lara's home for revenge. Later games don't have her this prepared however.

* When Travis Touchdown arrives at the Rank 25 fight in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes2DesperateStruggle'', assassin Charlie [=MacDonald=] and his cheerleading squad transform into a HumongousMecha. Travis responds: "I thought something like this might happen." He then summons his own HumongousMecha and he and Charlie proceed to have a giant mecha fight in the middle of Santa Destroy.
** Implied at the start of ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroesIII'', when alien spaceships arrive to raze Santa Destroy. After Travis, Shinobu and Bad Girl dispose of some {{Mooks}}, the former shouts "Henshin!" to summon a PowerArmor, then he flies off and attacks the spaceships.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl: The Subspace Emissary'', [[spoiler:[[Franchise/{{Kirby}} King Dedede]] prepared for the appearance of Tabuu, with his ability to defeat all of the heroes gathered against him, by creating special badges and sticking them on the trophies of defeated heroes. The badges would, after a set amount of time, revive the heroes. With this, [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Luigi]] and [[VideoGame/{{Earthbound}} Ness]] were able to travel into Subspace and rescue the others.]]

'''Scout:''' 7 a.m. Case the restaurant, run background checks on all the staff. The chef, can I trust him? If not, kill him, hide the body, replace him with my own guy no later than 4:30.\\
'''Spy:''' ... You're ready!\\

'''Spy:''' No! Everything you said was insane.

* Technically, it's possible for the player to invoke this in any video game. If they've seen what happens next in a guide, or they've played the game before and already know what will happen next, hence they will bring anything and everything they will need, and know exactly what to do/use, when, and where to do/use it, making normally [[HopelessBossFight "impossible fights"]] into an actually-winnable scenario where FailureIsTheOnlyOption would usually go into effect.
** For example, in Action games which involve ambush or 'hold-the-line' set pieces, knowing where enemies will spawn or approach from and having the ability to set traps (via mines or similar weapons) can make these sections a breeze.
** This could possible also involve SaveScumming: save your game, move ahead and check the area out, load the save, prepare accordingly, and charge through like Franchise/{{Batman}}. This kind of tactic is invaluable in games like ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' where resources are limited and being too trigger-happy can render the game UnwinnableByMistake, or stealth-based games like ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' where being able to slip through perfectly and completely undetected is incredibly satisfying.
* If you think about it for a moment, the main character of every AdventureGame ever made belongs here. [[VideoGame/MonkeyIsland Eaten by a snake]]? They've got an item that can get them out. [[VideoGame/KingsQuest Locked in an inescapable labyrinth]]? Portable hole-in-a-wall. [[VideoGame/TheLongestJourney Need to restore the victims of a medusa to flesh and blood]]? Yeah, there's something in the inventory for that. [[GuideDangIt Unless you]] [[PermanentlyMissableContent missed it]].

** [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Manfred von Karma]] [[spoiler: trains Polly the parrot to stop squawking her usual phrases because he thought of the possibility that Phoenix might just be crazy enough to call her as a surprise witness and use her words to uncover evidence. He does, and manages to get around her newly reduced vocabulary to find the evidence, which helps him blow the whole case wide open.]]

** [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Manfred von Karma]] retrains ''[[spoiler:a parrot]]'' because he foresaw that you would call her as a surprise witness! Just to get a guilty verdict!
** Phoenix Wright, aka the player. You may not know ''why'' you have to "pick up" random pieces of "evidence", but they ''will'' come in handy, because you're ready with them. Especially obvious in "Rise from the Ashes", where Edgeworth tells him about a [[ChekhovsGun seemingly unrelated screwdriver]] from another case (one that never comes up again) and he jots down info about it just in case. Edgeworth can't help but point out how stubborn Phoenix can be sometimes.

* Technically, it's possible for the player to invoke this in any video game. If they've seen what happens next in a guide, or they've played the game before and already know what will happen next, hence they will bring anything and everything they will need, and know exactly what to do/use, when, and where to do/use it, making normally [[HopelessBossFight "impossible fights"]] into an actually-winnable scenario where FailureIsTheOnlyOption usually would go into effect.

* Technically, it's possible for the player to invoke this in any video game. If they've seen what happens next in a guide, or they've played the game before and already know what will happen next, hence they will bring anything and everything they will need, and know exactly what to do/use, when, and where to do/use it, making normally HopelessBossFights into an actually-winnable scenario where FailureIsTheOnlyOption usually would go into effect.

* Technically, it's possible for the player to invoke this in any video game. If they've seen what happens next in a guide, or they've played the game before and already know what will happen next, hence they will bring anything and everything they will need, and know exactly what to do/use, when, and where to do/use it, making normally HopelessBossFight into an actually-winnable scenario where FailureIsTheOnlyOption usually would go into effect.

* Technically, it's possible for the player to invoke this in any video game. If they've seen what happens next in a guide, or they've played the game before and already know what will happen next, hence they will bring anything and everything they will need, and know exactly what to do/use, when, and where to do/use it, making normally HopelessBossBattle into an actually-winnable scenario where FailureIsTheOnlyOption usually would go into effect.

* Technically, it's possible for the player to invoke this in any video game. If they've seen what happens next in a guide, or they've played the game before and already know what will happen next, hence they will bring anything and everything they will need, and know exactly what to do/use, when, and where to do/use it.

** This could possible also invovle SaveScumming: save your game, move ahead and check the area out, load the save, prepare accordingly, and charge through like Franchise/{{Batman}}. This kind of tactic is invaluable in games like ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' where resources are limited and being too trigger-happy can render the game UnwinnableByMistake, or stealth-based games like ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' where being able to slip through perfectly and completely undetected is incredibly satisfying.

* This is also one possible use of SaveScumming: save your game, move ahead and check the area out, load the save, prepare accordingly, and charge through like Franchise/{{Batman}}. This kind of tactic is invaluable in games like ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' where resources are limited and being too trigger-happy can render the game UnwinnableByMistake, or stealth-based games like ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' where being able to slip through perfectly and completely undetected is incredibly satisfying.

* Hazama / Terumi [[AxCrazy Yuuki]] from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' has proved to us that hundreds and hundreds of [[GroundhogDayLoop time loops]], and an EvilGenius without like in its own universe, combined with an undying desire to throw the world into an abyss of despair, simply for the fact that [[ForTheEvulz "misery is interesting"]], can lead up to you taking a lot of precautions just to face him. And it may still not work 100% anyway. OhCrap.\\\
Terumi winds up deconstructing this, as he was only CrazyPrepared ''because'' he had witnessed hundreds and hundreds of time loops. Without such preparation (as ''Slight Hope'' demonstrates and ''Chronophantasma'' ultimately confirms), his victories are due to overwhelming power and blind luck, and neither can last forever on their own. [[spoiler:Makoto Nanaya intervening on the behalf of Tsubaki Yayoi led to his downfall in both instances -- and in the latter, his [[KilledOffForReal death by Hakumen]]. Then again, considering what [[SmarterThanYouLook Ma]][[PluckyGirl ko]][[SpannerInTheWorks to]] is, [[TemptingFate antagonizing her]] [[KarmicDeath was a very bad idea]].]]

* In Chapter 5 of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'', [[spoiler:the victim and killer conspire together to create a murder that not even Monokuma would be able to solve, thereby beating him at his own game. The identity of the victim is disguised by crushing his body under a hydraulic press and then cutting the power cord so it couldn't be raised up again to see who was underneath, and the identity of the killer is disguised by having him pilot a mech to the trial which is equipped with a voice changer that allows him to sound like both people, which he swaps between constantly in order to confuse everyone further]]. As for the Crazy Prepared part, [[spoiler:the victim provided the killer with a ''gigantic'' script he had written so the killer would be able to convincingly act like him in court, with responses planned out for every little thing anyone could conceivably say]].

* ''VideoGame/HelloNeighbor'': In all four versions currently available, the Neighbor boards up his basement door and outfits it with a keycard lock. In the pre-alpha, Alpha 1, and Alpha 3, he eventually places {{Bear Trap}}s and motion detectors around his house as well. In the pre-alpha and Alpha 1, he will board up his windows to prevent you from getting in through them a second time. In the pre-alpha, in addition to boarding up his basement and using a keycard lock, he also uses a number keypad. In Alpha 1, [[spoiler:he has a tiny robotic shark to attack intruders.]] In the second alpha, he boards up the room with the keycard in it and locks up the room with the crowbar and carries the key on him at all times.
* In ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', quite a few of The Nameless One's previous incarnations were CrazyPrepared -- and for the most part, you benefit greatly from their contingencies, if you use them without being physically (or morally) offended.
* At the last dungeon of every game, by default, Link is Crazy Prepared for any obstacle it may have due to having spent the journey of each of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games collecting various useful items and supplies.
* ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance2's'' extensive panoply of weapons (specifically, in the fan-made v1.13) means you have the ability to outfit your mercs with the tools they need for any battlefield situation (multiple enemies at mid-range, close-range combat, enemies holed up in a building, ''tanks''...). Limited carry weight of your mercs makes this a bit more difficult, but it's easy to compartmentalize.
* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'', Leon goes to the Spanish village only to investigate and ask questions, yet he brought along a pistol, knife, attache case, flashlight, radio, binoculars, a tracking device, and a ''grappling hook'' (and, if you played the game on Easy, a '''shotgun'''). Of course, he was investigating a group that had kidnapped the President's daughter, so he had pretty good reason to expect trouble.
* When Travis Touchdown arrives at the Rank 25 fight in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes2DesperateStruggle'', assassin Charlie [=MacDonald=] and his cheerleading squad transform into a HumongousMecha. Travis responds: "I thought something like this might happen." He then summons his own HumongousMecha and he and Charlie proceed to have a giant mecha fight in the middle of Santa Destroy.
* Old Creator/{{Sierra}} adventure games required you to be insanely prepared for everything at all times, or render the game completely impossible to finish. The only thing worse than that is how Crazy Prepared Sierra is about expecting you to be Crazy Prepared -- in some games, you can take everything that's nailed down along with the nails, only for the nails to kill you of tetanus a few screens later. Just because Sierra knew you would pick them up.
* Quite a bit of ''VideoGame/{{Nethack}}'''s gameplay consists of packratting items that can counter the game's many deathtraps: a lizard corpse to prevent being petrified, greased clothing in case a monster tries to grab you, boots of levitation to avoid pits, and an amulet of self-resurrection if everything else fails. Though the vast majority of them will, in fact, be used in a given successful run -- certainly, you will have to fight Medusa with a mirror and deal with the cloak-grabbing enemies around her, find a castle which you need an instrument to enter, fly, resist fire, have an instant-kill available, dig out quick routes from one set of stairs to another for a fast escape, detect traps or have a stockpile of food (and detecting traps actually requires a detect gold scroll and something that conveys confusion), and I'm just listing things tied to fixed dungeon events, not individual monsters like the cockatrice or golems. [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy A towel is also a very useful item to have.]]
* The ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}'' Nanosuit always seemed to be crazy prepared. It can breathe underwater, has thrusters to work in zero gravity, can survive being frozen to -200 degrees, and also provides a decent amount of protection against rockets and artillery. Yet it can't seem to survive a single bite from a [[BorderPatrol medium-sized shark]]...
* Any experienced ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' players know well enough not to venture into an unknown mission without carrying equipment for all kinds of situations. These include radar equipped with bio-sensors so one can target biological threats, weapons that can track even the fastest of opponents such as machineguns or missiles, and weapons that cause a lot of damage to armored enemies. Some very professional players deliberately use overweighted [=ACs=] loaded with every weapon for any situations in Arenas, and ''eject any unnecessary weapons when the fight begins, depending on the enemy''.
* Some weapons in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII''. Against mages, if they're not protected from magical weapons: Carsomyr (otherwise an unenchanted weapon). Against fire elementals or salamanders: The Wave. Against Air Elementals: Staff of Air. Against Undead: Runehammer. Against trolls or golems: Crom Faeyr. Against anyone that wouldn't die by loss of hitpoints: Chaos. For shopping (yes, for shopping): the Rose Blade. For Warrior/Cleric Multiclasses: Flail of Ages. For Backstabs: Black Blade of Disaster (or the Staff of the Ram). And then you move onto choosing spells for the wizards, clerics, and druids. Never leave home without: [[BeeBeeGun Insect Plague]] (for rendering casters unable to use their spells), Polymorph Self (flind form has a + 3 magic weapon, mustard jelly is 100% magic resistant), Spell Turning, multiple healing/resurrection spells, Polymorph Other (in case your allies are charmed), Glitterdust (for dealing with invisibles), Burning Hands/Acid Arrow (in case of trolls), Chaos (to leave your enemies fighting each other), Drain Resistance (to deal with magic resistant enemies), Fireball ([[KillItWithFire because it's Fireball]])...
* The Space MMORPG ''VideoGame/EVEOnline'' features a form of this, with players not only having to haul around different types of ammunition, missiles, and drones for engaging targets at different ranges or fighting different types of enemies strong against particular types of damage and capacitor batteries for sustaining fire or damage, but also spare modules, since some may mean the difference between winning a fight and being made utterly useless, which often leads to utterly dead. What's more, in many situations, whether you are flying a large or a small ship, it doesn't matter how high your skills are or expensive your ship and gear; you have to change to a different ship. Naturally, in the economy of [=EvE=], with experienced players often having whole stacks of ships in hangars strewn about and the ability to travel light years in an instant, this isn't such a big deal.
* Princess Liesel from {{visual novel}} ''VisualNovel/PrincessWaltz'' is physically weak, but a great blacksmith. As such, she is defined by her HopeSpot killing, pulling out device after device to counter any attack her opponent makes. Being a bit of a [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]], she normally makes sure her opponents are where, when, and how she wants them, too.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl: The Subspace Emissary'', [[spoiler:[[Franchise/{{Kirby}} King Dedede]] prepared for the appearance of Tabuu, with his ability to defeat all of the heroes gathered against him, by creating special badges and sticking them on the trophies of defeated heroes. The badges would, after a set amount of time, revive the heroes. With this, [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Luigi]] and [[VideoGame/{{Earthbound}} Ness]] were able to travel into Subspace and rescue the others.]]

* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' combines a crafting system with various types of damage resistance. If you're smart, you'll be carrying at least one self-made and -enchanted Silver, Cold Iron, and Adamantine version of your favored weapon, if neccessary an additional bludgeoning weapon, and remember to add an alignment-enchanted weapon as well, so that you have the means to effectively hurt all the Werecreatures, devils and demons, Golems, Skeletons, Liches, and what have you with the proper weapon of choice. Or just play a monk, where your hands end up being all those things anyway.
* Setsumi in ''VisualNovel/{{Narcissu}}'' has prepared several things in case she escapes, which she never does. This becomes handy after she did escape with the protagonist.
* The RTS ''VideoGame/TotalAnnihilation'' has an expansion pack called ''The Core Contingency'', which is about the Core Empire's plan to fucking IMPLODE the galaxy in on itself in case they lost, which they did.
* Dr. Light from the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series. Before his death, he had set up approximately ''53'' (or more) capsules containing upgrades all over the world for the main characters, even Zero, which is odd, seeing as Zero isn't even a creation of Light at all. And the hologram that shows up with each capsule falls into the EnergyBeing SpiritAdvisor category, allowing himself to ''talk'' with both of them.
** In the case of Zero, the only capsules that he uses (outside of the ''[[VideoGame/MegaManXtreme Xtreme]]'' duo on the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor) are for semi-game-breaking 'ultimate armors,' the functions of which go unexplained, so the canonicity of Zero's capsules is suspect. Specifically in ''VideoGame/MegaManX5'', (the only game where you can use Zero's alternate armor without unlocking it via a button code or other means, like in ''VideoGame/MegaManX8'') X's and Zero's Ultimate Armors are found from the same capsule in one of the game's final levels, so you can only get both if you grab it with one character, die, and then come back with the other.
* Geoffrey from ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice'', whose ''CatchPhrase'' is, "I thought this might happen, so I (X)".
* Every MMO encourages this by virtue of having so many scenarios possible. The old ''VideoGame/EverQuest'' has a decade of content available for picking up neat toys.
* Dr. Bian Zoldark from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' does a good job of being this trope. In the Original Generation series, his plan to unite the world against the alien threat could've suceeded, even if the heroes failed, and in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha'', he's managed to get bloody near every superweapon (such as Mazinger, Getter, Anime/{{Daitarn 3}}, etc.) maker or user in on his plans and drew up plans to keep Earth from being blown up, and went as far as to leave backup plans (the Earth and Moon Cradle in both continuities), just in case.
* In ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', one of the more extreme "facilities" developed by players is called the "Fuck The World" device, which will lock your fortress up tight and flood the surrounding area with magma. Some fortresses also allow different areas of the fortress to be locked off and flooded. Or set up the main dining hall's roof to collapse, dropping hundreds of tons of rock on everyone inside. Or drop everyone in the trading depot into a room where dragons breath fire on them through a grate. There's even a concept for a Fortress that monitors foot traffic inside the fortress: If there's abnormal activity indicating a catastrophic population loss or an extended "Tantrum Spiral", the fortress will lock itself and activate the Fuck The World device, taking the world down with it.
* Shao Khan in the third ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' game; despite all his blabber about YouHaveFailedMe to his minions, he knew he might end up failing to win Earthrealm through legal means, so arranged to have his dead wife revived and BrainwashedAndCrazy on Earthrealm, allowing him to step through the dimensional borders to claim her, and thus ''force'' a merger between Earth and Outworld. First three things he does upon doing so? Lock down his wife with bodyguards, steal the souls of everyone on Earth that isn't TheChosenOne, and send a vast army of bloodthirsty, nigh-invulnerable beasts after said Chosen Ones to prevent them from ruining his plans. [[NearVillainVictory It didn't work out quite as planned]], but you've got to give him credit for trying. He also shows this off in later games; anticipating that his "loyal" minions might one day attempt to overthrow him, he places a decoy in his place during the events of ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance Deadly Alliance]]'', thus surviving his infamous assassination attempt. ''Then'', in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon Armageddon]]'', he revives Shang Tsung (who had been vaporized by Raiden's attempt to destroy the Dragon King in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception Deception]]'') and forces fealty on him, revealing that all minions swearing loyalty to him get hit with a spell that, if Khan dies at any time, causes them to die too, as well as giving him the ability to revive them at will. ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' reveals he had his victory speech planned ''waaaaaaay'' in advance as well.
** To a lesser degree, Erron Black from ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' seems to have carved bullets for each one of the characters in the roster. Including Alien and Predator, each one of the variations of Triborg, one for engaging in a MirrorMatch and even for [[DevelopersForesight non-playable characters that only appear in Story Mode and who Erron himself never fights]].

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** A large part of the MetaGame in competitive battles involves preparing for possible counterattacks and compensating for specific weaknesses in your party that an opponent might take advantage of.
** In some of the later games, enemy ''[=NPCs=]'' have been programmed to [[ArtificialBrilliance notice and exploit type advantages and counter tactics]], and major enemies can and will train their Pokemon to use attacks only available by TM/HM, tutors, or breeding.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', a little analysis will reveal that Ghetsis's Pokemon lineup is perfectly tailored to [[OffingTheOffspring overthrow N]], and accounts for every possibility in N's team of "friends". This turns into CripplingOverspecialization when the [[SpannerInTheWorks player character's involvement]] blindsides him. Which is probably why in [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 the sequels]], he is prepared to [[spoiler:[[CombatPragmatist murder meddling teenagers in cold blood before they can stop him again]]. When that fails, he uses a machine to keep the new player characters from catching Kyurem to use against him.]]
** Practically ''any'' opponent in the PWT in ''Black 2 and White 2'' qualifies (of course, it's not ''supposed'' to be easy). Using type advantage rarely works here, because they usually have a precaution against that. For instance, Sabrina uses Psychics, and the most common strategy against such Pokemon is to use Dark Pokemon; however, she almost always opens with an Alakazam that is ''incredibly'' fast which knows Focus Blast, a powerful Fighting attack that can flatten most Dark-types before any of them can hurt it. On top of that, it has a Colbur Berry, which means that it can resist most damage from the first Dark attack that hits it.
* Let's hope your ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' character remembered to bring a spider web, a barbed-wire fence, a baseball, a firecracker, a blowgun, and a can of hairspray (among others) to the Naughty Sorceress' tower, or you're not getting through. The game involves farming and combining ridiculous items to pass the challenges. Softcore speed runners have to be CrazyPrepared too. If you want to finish that fast run, you had better have your [[NewGamePlus Ancestral Storage]] well stocked with everything from ghost pickles to drum machines to hockey sticks of furious angry rage.
** Since the revamped Naughty Sorceress Quest, you had better have picked up very specific combat items from the 10th and 11th level quests if you want to get through

* A mandatory trait for a successful game in ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}''. Going for a routine artifact hunting trip? Don't forget your hunting shotgun, Warsaw Pact-based assault rifle, NATO-based assault rifle, at least one scope and suppressor for both rifles, ''and'' a sniper rifle specifically for long range engagements. Along with all of this you'll likely need at least a couple hundred rounds of each type of ammunition for each gun, as many of the three different kinds of medkits you can find, and a veritable pharmacy of drugs in order to help you combat the massive variety of anomalies you can encounter. After all, you never know when your fight with mutated wildlife in the middle of an electrical anomaly field will be interrupted by heavily armed Western Bloc mercenaries and a ghost possessing the power of pyrokinesis...
** Only this plethora of stuff will likely put you over the weight limit, meaning you can't run from the pack of [[DemonicSpiders mutant dogs, and worse,]] chasing you down. Not only do you need to know what you may need, but how much of it you can afford to carry.
** Of course, there is the option of leaving all the stuff in a box. It's generally a good idea to have your own armoury, if not necessarily on hand. There are some who have multiple NATO AND Warsaw Pact assault rifles (with scopes, suppressors, and grenade launchers), a few sniper rifles, silenced rifles, forty-something frag grenades, a {{Hand Cannon}}, some lighter-weight pistols, an automatic shotgun, [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter more shotguns]], a light machine gun, an RPG, an armoured HAZMAT suit, and combat armour. Oh, and anywhere from 200-1,000+ rounds of ammo for each calibre (except the RPG, of course). Combined with the upgrades one can have installed by the end of the game [[MoreDakka (.45 ACP MP5 that fires 1,710 rounds per minute, anyone?)]], even taking a few guns out of storage can turn the player character into a {{One Man Army}}.
** It is entirely possible to beat every main quest in the game with an inventory of one rifle, 500 rounds of ammo, and a few baguettes -- provided you use artifacts and their associated benefits/disadvantages judiciously. This requires an inordinate amount of face-shooting & bolt throwing, though.
* [[spoiler:Cynthia Weaver]] in ''VideoGame/AlanWake'', with a little more emphasis on the "crazy" part. The enemies in the game are made of darkness, so she always carries around a light of some sort, even in the middle of the day. She left behind supply caches of ammo and light-emitting objects like flares just in case an author got pulled into Cauldron Lake and the [[EldritchAbomination Dark Presence]] forced them to [[RewritingReality write it free]]; the caches are even marked with special light-sensitive ink that can only be seen by someone who was touched by the Dark Presence. None of this, however, compares to [[spoiler:the Well-Lit Room. The name is actually a bit of an understatement; there are lightbulbs everywhere and absolutely no shadows inside. The room is connected to a decommissioned power plant, so there's no need to find a power source. Cynthia even knows what bulbs need to be changed when, right down to their manufacturer and serial number.]]
* In the {{fighting game}} ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', at least one of Doctor Doom's basic attacks and one of his hyper combos involve attacking the opponent with machinery he previously hid on the battle site. As fights in this game can take place anywhere from an ordinary city street to the ComicBook/XMen's private training room to the extradimensional home of [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor the Norse Gods]], this demonstrates an impressive degree of preparedness on his part.
** Rocket Raccoon gives one huge "Bitch, please" to Doom in ''VideoGame/UltimateMarvelVsCapcom3''. Hidden gigantic bear traps, remote-activated sinkholes, swinging log traps, and an air-strike just waiting for him to give the order while a helicopter assures he remains at a safe distance.

* Mr. House, from ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', was not only aware that nuclear Armageddon was on the way but also made extensive preparation for his own and Vegas' survival during and after the fact. Though his projection of the date the war would break out was off -- ''by less than a day'' -- he saved a sizable chunk of Las Vegas from becoming blasted and irradiated wreckage (unlike, for example, Washington DC or Pittsburg in the same setting), and emerged two hundred years later to wall it off and claim it as his own territory from the tribes that had overtaken it in his absence. Without that ''one setback'', it's very likely he would have ruled completely unchallenged for a long, long time. As they say, the House always wins. Too bad no one can plan for the [[PlayerCharacter Courier]].

* Whoever was responsible for the packing list for the expedition in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'' was clearly a master of this mindset. There are several cases where the crew encounter something completely unexpected, only for the ship's AI Arthur to say that they've got tech for that. Perhaps most notably, [[spoiler:the [[HatePlague mental parasites]]]] in Sector Delphinus are countered by repurposing [[spoiler:a ''mind control device'']]. Most of the crew consider the fact that they even had this to be ParanoiaFuel.
* At the beginning of ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', Eggman was so prepared for the epic battle that he even anticipated his own defeat. According to what he says, this was the only reason he survived.
* ''VideoGame/Portal2'':
** The final boss is a colossal idiot who ends up almost causing the lab to self-destruct through neglect and incompetence. So after the fight, the player probably wouldn't have expected [[spoiler:him to rig the stalemate button, which the player would certainly go for next, with explosives in case he lost the fight. Not only that, but he specifically leaves it out of his "Four Part Plan" speech detailing everything he's done to fix every flaw evident in [=GLaDOS=]' fight from the first game.]]
** Aperture Science has automated testing facility announcements in case [=GLaDOS=] is incapacitated. As such, they have prepared such announcements for any possibility. '''ANY''' possibility.
* Merveille from ''VideoGame/{{Solatorobo}}''. [[spoiler:She "let" the ''intentionally'' "defective" Red escape with the Dahak -- which she created ''specifically'' to protect him -- seemingly as a backup plan or some form of insurance against Baion.]]
* Daniel Clarke from ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps''. [[spoiler:He set up THREE well-stocked armories, a fully mapped-out rooftop escape route (complete with mattresses stacked in a balcony in the event one would need to jump down), as well as having enough explosives rigged into his laboratory to ''take out an armoured helicopter in mid-flight'' that he detonates when Spetsnaz forces attempt to retrieve his research.]]
* Among the functions of the [[GameMod MARS script]] for ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X3: Terran Conflict]]'' is automatically switching guns in and out of your ship's batteries based on what that battery is targeting as well as the target's distance, deflection, and speed. Naturally this only works if you have said weapons in your cargo bay, which means you're likely to be carrying two or three entire loadouts ([[MoreDakka anti-fighter]], [[WaveMotionGun anti-capital]], and maybe anti-corvette).
* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** The Graal Spike Thrower is a shotgun specifically designed by the Krogan for hunting Thresher Maws. With that in mind, it features special built in blades, so that in the event that a Krogan gets swallowed by a Maw, they can either cut themselves out or cause severe internal bleeding to take it down with them. Overall, it says something about the Krogan that they designed a shotgun believing that it was a very real possibility that they might be ''eaten'' at some point.
** During the ''Citadel DLC'', during a quiet party, Garrus and Zaeed will decide to booby trap Shepard's apartment just in case [[spoiler:another Shepard clone]] shows up. They rig up the glass by the entry door, the coffeemaker, and the refrigerator. Zaeed almost turns the hottub into a plasma bath up until Shepard points out that the DNA trigger won't work because [[spoiler:his/her clone would have the same DNA]].
** The Reapers have about seven different backup plans in place just in case their original one (which has worked for over a billion years) doesn't go according to plan.
* In the ''VideoGame/StarFox'' series, [[spoiler:Andross]] had multiple contingency plans in case his life was threatened. [[ActuallyADoombot Robot fake]], [[Manga/FarewellBelovedFalco resurrection-by]]-[[CloningBlues cloning]], [[VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures resurrection by]] [[YourSoulIsMine stolen]] [[LifeDrain magic]], and a VirtualGhost. He also had his nephew trained in the ways of war in order to have an interim commander.

* In ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR4N5OhcY9s Meet the Spy]]'' from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', the Scout jokingly asks the BLU Spy if he's the president of the RED Spy's fanclub. The Spy's retort? "No, that would be ''[[YourMom your mother!]]''", after which he manages to show Scout pictures of the Spy having sex with his mother.
** Subverted in the ''Expiration Date'' film, in which the Scout is being coached by the Spy to prepare for a date, the former comes up with a comically convoluted plan to ensure that the date goes off without a hitch, including killing the chef if he's not up to snuff. It certainly sounds like something the Spy would come up with, but the Scout came up with it on his own and the Spy thinks he's crazy for it.
-->'''Spy:''' Final question: You have a dinner date for 7. What time do you arrive?\\
'''Scout:''' 7 a.m. Case the restaurant, run background checks on all the staff. The chef, can I trust him? If not, kill him, hide the body, replace him with my own guy no later than 4:30.\\
'''Spy:''' ... You're ready!\\
'''Scout:''' Really?\\
'''Spy:''' No! Everything you said was insane.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Deadpool}}'' game credits the protagonist with this ability. Right after the tutorial section, Deadpool inflates a large bouncy castle, which the player will likely dismiss as further evidence of his insanity and forget about. [[BrickJoke At the end of the level, he jumps out of a skyscraper with his target, landing safely on the castle]]. Later on, a series of flashbacks show him setting up a RubeGoldbergDevice to create a bridge for the X-Men.
* The VideoGame/MonsterHunter series requires players to follow this tropes. Going LeeroyJenkins towards nearly every beast will ensure a swift, painful and expensive demise.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', Sans is this with respect to time travel. This obviously becomes almost as useful when what you're actually doing is SAVEScumming, almost making it look like he has full RippleEffectProofMemory when he actually has even less of it than the other characters.
* The abysmal ''Iron Soul'' has various world governments pulling this, as part of the backstory includes the discovery of life on other planets, shortly followed by the construction of an army of {{Killer Robot}}s in case of a potential AlienInvasion.

* In ''VideoGame/StarcraftIILegacyOfTheVoid'', the ''Spear of Adun'' and its sister Arkships come equipped with a full crew of [[SealedArmyInACan Templar warriors in stasis]], a solar forge capable of manufacturing any building or weapon in the Protoss arsenal, a Preserver able to access the memories and knowledge of any Protoss ever connected to the Khala, an artificial star that serves as both power generator and food supply (Protoss receive nourishment from sunlight), a vast array of support systems and weaponry, and it's implied that it also possesses a personal psi-matrix to allow those aboard to warp in and out. It's justified, as the three Arkships were explicitly created to be used only in the Protoss race's DarkestHour and not before, so such precautions would almost certainly be required for their intended purpose.
* ''VisualNovel/{{SOON}}'': [[spoiler:Kid!Fang]] came up with a [[TrustPassword time travel password]] just in case she needs to prove herself that time travel is real. Atlas has to convince her future self to tell them the password to get [[spoiler:Lady Fluffyguts]] from her past self.
* Being Crazy Prepared is one of the key gameplay features of the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games and spin-offs. Arranging all the skills and spells you need out of your limited selection of [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei demon]] [[VideoGame/DevilSummoner followers]], Franchise/{{persona}}s, or [[VideoGame/DevilSurvivor friends (and their demons)]] is an ''art'', especially when you find your current selection falling behind in level and needing to set up a whole new repertoire with a different balance of needed powers. It's overall easiest in the ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga'' duology where you can customize your party members' skills directly along with buying curative items, making it your own fault if you can't cover every base effectively.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble'': K. Rool certainly pulls out all the stops this time around. He uses KAOS as a false enemy to hide behind, abducts Donkey and Diddy as a precaution as well as to get LivingBatteries for KAOS, seals away Banana Bird Queen to prevent her interference, and scatters her fellow Banana Birds (the only ones who can free her) all over the place via hidden caves with complex security sequences.
* In Chapter 5 of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'', [[spoiler:the victim and killer conspire together to create a murder that not even Monokuma would be able to solve, thereby beating him at his own game. The identity of the victim is disguised by crushing his body under a hydraulic press and then cutting the power cord so it couldn't be raised up again to see who was underneath, and the identity of the killer is disguised by having him pilot a mech to the trial which is equipped with a voice changer that allows him to sound like both people, which he swaps between constantly in order to confuse everyone further]]. As for the Crazy Prepared part, [[spoiler:the victim provided the killer with a ''gigantic'' script he had written so the killer would be able to convincingly act like him in court, with responses planned out for every little thing anyone could conceivably say]].
* In ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'', during the mission ''Stonehenge Defensive'', it’s revealed that the developers behind Stonehenge had set up range tables in the event that the battery’s computerized targeting systems got taken out. Considering the fact that the battery’s range almost completely covers the entire continent of Usea, one has to wonder how much math did they put into making sure that those tables were accurate.

* Dr. Edwin Lindsey in ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'' discovers a temple in Cambodia and goes there with a buttload of items. While all the other characters either have just one weapon or other item and need to find more, Lindsey starts with a blade, a pistol, and a shotgun, making his chapter much easier to start with before he finds the tome that lets him cast magic.

* Being Crazy Prepared is one of the key gameplay features of the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games and spin-offs. Arranging all the skills and spells you need out of your limited selection of [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei demon]] [[VideoGame/DevilSummoner followers]], [[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona personas]], or [[VideoGame/DevilSurvivor friends (and their demons)]] is an ''art'', especially when you find your current selection falling behind in level and needing to set up a whole new repertoire with a different balance of needed powers. It's overall easiest in the ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga'' duology where you can customize your party members' skills directly along with buying curative items, making it your own fault if you can't cover every base effectively.

* Mr. House, from ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', was not only aware that nuclear Armageddon was on the way but also made extensive preparation for his own and Vegas' survival during and after the fact. Though his projection of the date the war would break out was off -- ''by less than a day'' -- he saved a sizable chunk of Las Vegas from becoming blasted and irradiated wreckage (unlike, for example, Washington DC or Pittsburg in the same setting), and emerged two hundred years later to wall it off and claim it as his own territory from the tribes that had overtaken it in his absence. Without that ''one setback'', it's very likely he would have ruled completely unchallenged for a long, long time. As they say, the House always wins.
** Too bad no one can plan for the [[PlayerCharacter Courier.]]

* ''VideoGame/TombRaiderII'' has Lara starting the first level with her pistols, a shotgun, flares, and a small and large health kit. Considering how her last job went sour very quickly, she likely didn't want to take any chances in her second adventure. Later games don't have her this prepared however.