History Main / RulesOfTheGame

* In ''VideoGame/{{Nethack}}'''s {{Sokoban}} BonusDungeon boulders can't be pushed in any diagonal direction, you can't squeeze diagonally between two boulders which sit diagonally across from each other, and levitation won't prevent you from falling down through holes in the floor.

* In ''VideoGame/CaveStory'', using any weapon within the moon pyramid is punished with a BoltOfDivineRetribution.

* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', you can fight in the ring in the Mandalorian camp on Dxun. The rules are chosen by the opponent you challenge, and may range from fistfights without weapons or the Force to no restrictions at all.

* ''Roleplay/DefeatTheGodmodder'' uses this to signal that something really interesting is happening. The delicacies and little fiddly bits of the rules change almost daily anyways, but the big ones are subject to change if something cool enough happens.

** The "Laws" in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'', complete with Judges who penalize you for breaking them.

Two: The game will impose a penalty for violating the rules. The ''ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'' example takes this form.

[[folder:Rougelike]]
* In ''{{Nethack}}'''s {{Sokoban}} BonusDungeon boulders can't be pushed in any diagonal direction, you can't squeeze diagonally between two boulders which sit diagonally across from each other, and levitation won't prevent you from falling down through holes in the floor.

* ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' has floors called "Limited Zones" that place various restrictions on you, such as only allowing you to use one character or causes your weapons to ''lose'' experience when used rather than gaining it.
** ''VideoGame/DarkCloud 2'' brings this back with the sealed floors: Red forbids you from using Max, Blue forbids you from using Monica, and White forbids you from using any healing items. Thankfully, if you destroy all of the monsters on a sealed floor, the seal goes away. (Although, for some floors, this is easier said than done.)
* In ''ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'', the Ahriman battle (assuming you aren't going the Shijima route) has two parts: In the first part, Ahriman challenges you to a game and imposes a different set of rules for each round of the fight. Any character who violates these rules is instantly killed. The second part is a straight up fight.
** In ''{{Persona 4}}'', [[spoiler:Adachi]] has a floor in his dungeon where he forbids you to encounter any Shadows while making your way to the exit. If you do, he promptly kicks you out of the dungeon.
* The "Laws" in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'', complete with Judges who penalize you for breaking them.
* This is half the gimmick of the Glitz Pit from ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''.

* In ''{{Recettear}}'' sometimes special circumstances are applied to each level of a dungeon while you're exploring them. They can be helpful (e.g. doubling your attack or defence power or revealing the map, increasing your speed), neutral (e.g. supplying the aforementioned benefits to both you and the monsters) or negative (e.g. only applying benefits to monsters, disabling the map). The very last dungeon only applies negative effects and does so on every level.

* ''CrashBash'' has this for many of the crystal challenges. In this game, computer opponents usually play on even footing with the player(s), but in the crystal challenges the special rules [[MyRulesAreNotYourRules usually don't apply]] to the computers.

* Occurs several times in the ''Final Fantasy'' series:
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', the Lodestone Cavern paralyzes anyone wearing metal equipment [[spoiler:until [[DubNameChange Gilbert[=/=]Edward]] breaks the spell between the first and second Dark Elf fights]].
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', the western half of the Fork Tower dungeon prevents the use of physical attacks (or, more precisely, monsters counter physical attacks by resetting the battle), while the eastern half prevents the use of magic.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', physical attack commands are disabled in the Cultists' Tower. (AI-controlled party members, such as Umaro, or anyone with berserk status, can still attack normally.)
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', the Battle Square in Gold Saucer makes you spin a slot machine before the beginning of each new fight. The result of the slot machine will determine if any restrictions are in place for the battle. Some results are actually beneficial, such as restoring your health. The harsher the penalty, the more the round is worth if you win. Conversely, helpful results offer very little value for the round. The player can circumvent many of the penalties with the right equipment/materia setups in advance (like a Ribbon), assuming you didn't get your protection broken by a previous penalty.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', most commands are initially disabled in the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon; they can be unlocked again by defeating optional bosses.

* ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' has floors called "Limited Zones" that place various restrictions on you, such as only allowing you to use one character or causes your weapons to ''lose'' experience when used rather than gaining it.
** ''VideoGame/DarkCloud 2'' brings this back with the sealed floors: Red forbids you from using Max, Blue forbids you from using Monica, and White forbids you from using any healing items. Thankfully, if you destroy all of the monsters on a sealed floor, the seal goes away. (Although, for some floors, this is easier said than done.)
* In ''ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'', the Ahriman battle (assuming you aren't going the Shijima route) has two parts: In the first part, Ahriman challenges you to a game and imposes a different set of rules for each round of the fight. Any character who violates these rules is instantly killed. The second part is a straight up fight.
* In ''{{Persona 4}}'', [[spoiler:Adachi]] has a floor in his dungeon where he forbids you to encounter any Shadows while making your way to the exit. If you do, he promptly kicks you out of the dungeon.

* The "Laws" in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'', complete with Judges who penalize you for breaking them.
* This is half the gimmick of the Glitz Pit from ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' had the Underworld Colliseum tournaments, which would impose rules for each type of tournament, limiting what kind of moves you were allowed to use.
* In ''{{Recettear}}'' sometimes special circumstances are applied to each level of a dungeon while you're exploring them. They can be helpful (e.g. doubling your attack or defence power or revealing the map, increasing your speed), neutral (e.g. supplying the aforementioned benefits to both you and the monsters) or negative (e.g. only applying benefits to monsters, disabling the map). The very last dungeon only applies negative effects and does so on every level.

* ''CrashBash'' has this for many of the crystal challenges. In this game, computer opponents usually play on even footing with the player(s), but in the crystal challenges the special rules [[MyRulesAreNotYourRules usually don't apply]] to the computers.

A VideoGameTrope where certain rules are put in place for a certain stage of the game. These rules will generally restrict the player's actions somehow or otherwise put the player at a disadvantage. Sometimes though, these rules will actually work to the player's advantage. If that happens, it's usually because random chance determines what kind of rules are put in place. Expect to see this trope if a battle occurs as part of a competition of some sort.

Two: The game will impose a penalty for violating the rules. The ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne example takes this form.

!!Examples

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', the Lodestone Cavern paralyzes anyone wearing metal equipment [[spoiler:until [[DubNameChange Gilbert / Edward]] breaks the spell between the first and second Dark Elf fights]].

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', the Battle Square in Gold Saucer makes you spin a slot machine before the beginning of each new fight. The result of the slot machine will determine if any restrictions are in place for the battle. Some results are actually beneficial, such as restoring your health.
*** The harsher the penalty, the more the round is worth if you win. Conversely, helpful results offer very little value for the round. Many penalties could be circumvented with the right equipment/materia set-ups equipped in advance (like a Ribbon), assuming you didn't get your protection broken by a previous penalty.
*** ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' does a similar example in the Tunderdome arena. After every wave, an effect is imposed on the players to make the fighting challenging, such as enemies having faster shield regeneration, certain guns doing more damage, head shots being the only way to kill enemies, etc. The effects can go up to 3 at a time.

** ''VideoGame/DarkCloud 2'' brings this back with the sealed floors: Red forbids you from using Max, Blue forbids you from using Monica, and White forbids you from using any healing items. Thankfully, if you destroy all of the monsters on a sealed floor, the seal goes away. (Although, for some floors, this is easier said than done.)
* In ''ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'', the Ahriman battle(assuming you aren't going the Shijima route) has two parts: In the first part, Ahriman challenges you to a game and imposes a different set of rules for each round of the fight. Any character who violates these rules is instantly killed. The second part is a straight up fight.
* In ''{{Persona 4}}'', [[spoiler: Adachi]] has a floor in his dungeon where he forbids you to encounter any Shadows while making your way to the exit. If you do, he promptly kicks you out of the dungeon.
* This is the whole point of ''TowerOfHeaven''.
* The "Laws" in ''FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'', complete with Judges who penalize you for breaking them.
* This is half the gimmick of the Glitz Pit from ''PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''.

* The Battle Arcade from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokémon Platinum]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'' is a textbook example.

* Occurs several times in the Final Fantasy series
** In FinalFantasyIV, the Lodestone Cavern paralyzes anyone wearing metal equipment [[spoiler:until [[DubNameChange Gilbert / Edward]] breaks the spell between the first and second Dark Elf fights]].
** In FinalFantasyV, the western half of the Fork Tower dungeon prevents the use of physical attacks (or, more precisely, monsters counter physical attacks by resetting the battle), while the eastern half prevents the use of magic.
** In FinalFantasyVI, physical attack commands are disabled in the Cultists' Tower. (AI-controlled party members, such as Umaro, or anyone with berserk status, can still attack normally.)
** In ''FinalFantasyVII'', the Battle Square in Gold Saucer makes you spin a slot machine before the beginning of each new fight. The result of the slot machine will determine if any restrictions are in place for the battle. Some results are actually beneficial, such as restoring your health.

** In ''FinalFantasyVIII'', most commands are initially disabled in the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon; they can be unlocked again by defeating optional bosses.

* The Battle Arcade from ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokémon Platinum]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'' is a textbook example.

* ''KingdomHeartsII'' had the Underworld Colliseum tournaments, which would impose rules for each type of tournament, limiting what kind of moves you were allowed to use.

One: It's simply impossible to break them. The game won't allow any attempt to do so. The DarkCloud example below takes this form.

* ''DarkCloud'' has floors called "Limited Zones" that place various restrictions on you, such as only allowing you to use one character or causes your weapons to ''lose'' experience when used rather than gaining it.
** ''DarkCloud 2'' brings this back with the sealed floors: Red forbids you from using Max, Blue forbids you from using Monica, and White forbids you from using any healing items. Thankfully, if you destroy all of the monsters on a sealed floor, the seal goes away. (Although, for some floors, this is easier said than done.)

*** ''{{Borderlands}}'' does a similar example in the Tunderdome arena. After every wave, an effect is imposed on the players to make the fighting challenging, such as enemies having faster shield regeneration, certain guns doing more damage, head shots being the only way to kill enemies, etc. The effects can go up to 3 at a time.

** In ''FinalFantasyVIII'', most commands are initially disabled in the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, they can be unlocked again by defeating optional bosses.

* The Battle Arcade from {{Pokemon}} is a textbook example.

A Videogame Trope where certain rules are put in place for a certain stage of the game. These rules will generally restrict the player's actions somehow or otherwise put the player at a disadvantage. Sometimes though, these rules will actually work to the player's advantage. If that happens, it's usually because random chance determines what kind of rules are put in place. Expect to see this trope if a battle occurs as part of a competition of some sort.

** In FinalFantasyVI, physical attack commands are disabled in the Cultists' Tower [[spoiler:(AI-controlled party members, such as Umaro, or anyone with berserk status, can still attack normally)]].

** In ''FinalFantasyVIII''', most commands are initially disabled in the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, they can be unlocked again by defeating optional bosses.

* This is half the gimmick of the Glitz Pit from the second ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' game.

* In ''{{Recettear}}'' sometimes special circumstances are applied to each level of a dungeon while you're exploring them. They can be helpful (e.g. doubling your attack or defence power or revealing the map, increasing your speed), neutral (e.g. supplying the aformentioned benefits to both you and the monsters) or negative (e.g. only applying benefits to monsters, disabling the map). The very last dungeon only applies negative effects and does so on every level.

* The Battle Arcade from Pokemon is a textbook example.

* This is half the gimmick of the Glitz Pit from the second ''PaperMario'' game.

** In ''FinalFantasyVIII''', most commands are initially disabled in the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungon, they can be unlocked again by defeating optional bosses.

* In ''FinalFantasyVII'', the Battle Square in Gold Saucer makes you spin a slot machine before the beginning of each new fight. The result of the slot machine will determine if any restrictions are in place for the battle. Some results are actually beneficial, such as restoring your health.
** The harsher the penalty, the more the round is worth if you win. Conversely, helpful results offer very little value for the round. Many penalties could be circumvented with the right equipment/materia set-ups equipped in advance (like a Ribbon), assuming you didn't get your protection broken by a previous penalty.

** The harsher the penalty, the more the round is worth if you win. Conversely, helpful results offer very little value for the round.