History Main / VideoGameRandomizer

* ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy5'' has the [[ArrangeMode Custom Game]] option "Random Equips", which shuffles the locations of equipment and makes all purchasable equipment (including [[HolidayMode festival-exclusive]] equipment) is made available from the start.

* ''Videogame/KingdomHearts'':

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' has a randomizer for the Final Mix+ version which shuffles items in chests, cutscenes, and level-ups, just like other randomizers. The win condition is to find the three Proofs and then defeat Xemnas. However, it also shuffles the bosses, meaning that in low-level areas, nothing is stopping the runner from encountering a Data Organization XIII member. The randomizer is still in alpha, because shuffling bosses around can break the game, but this is slowly being fixed.

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** The [[https://sites.google.com/view/ctrandoinfo/home "Jets of Time" randomizer]], in the style of Final Fantasy 4: Free Enterprise, gives the player access to the Epoch at the beginning of the game, converting what is usually a rather linear game into an open-world scavenger hunt. Character pickups, loot, and enemy drops are shuffled by default, with several other modes being optional. Many aspects of the game are rebalanced to accommodate the randomized structure.

*** The GBA version has not one, but **two** randomizers, links collated [[https://sites.google.com/site/gamerandomizers/gameboy-advance/final-fantasy-v-advance?authuser=0 here]].

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' has [[https://github.com/abyssonym/rumble_chaos_crashdown Rumble Chaos Crashdown]], *yet another* abyssonym project, and like all of abyssonym's projects, features ridiculous customizability and special surprises.

A randomizer is a GameMod, ROM hack, [[DownloadableContent DLC]], or mode that adds a random element to a gameplay system that had previously been static, such that the experience of playing the game is unpredictably altered from its original form.

There are many different methods by which to randomize a game, including:

* Altering the level ordering or layout of the game world.
* Changing locations and attributes of the enemies.
* Changing the capabilities or stat growth of the player character.
* On a cosmetic level, changing the graphics and textures or using them in unexpected combinations.

Randomizers perform their randomization using an algorithm, whose logic must be carefully cultivated to ensure that it does not produce [[UnintentionallyUnwinnable unwinnable]] situations or annoying gameplay.

A randomizer can breathe fresh life into an old game, by taking something familiar and rearranging it to create new experiences that players haven't seen before, or opportunities that never existed in the vanilla game. They can also turn what was previously a linear experience into something more open, by allowing players to take alternative routes through the game that were previously not possible.

They are especially popular among {{speedrun}}ners, where they offer a unique challenge to players who are already familiar with the vanilla game. In addition to the rote memorization and mastery of game mechanics ("execution") already required in a standard speedrun, speedrunning a randomized game requires players to push their abilities to another level, by efficiently routing unfamiliar paths or adapting their gameplan on the fly as they gain new information.

* In an unofficial update to ''VideoGame/AnotherMetroid2Remake'', completing the game in under four hours unlocks Random Game+ mode, which shuffles the locations of all the major upgrades (for example, you might get the High Jump Boots as early as the Golden Temple, but have to wait until the Tower to get the Charge Beam). The lava starts off at the level just below the Distribution Center, allowing you to explore everything up to that point in whatever order you want, though you have to defeat all the Metroids in those areas before you can go any further. Some minor modifications are made to the levels so [[UnintentionallyUnwinnable you can't get trapped without a way to progress]]. There are also options that allow you to shuffle just the regular item expansions or to shuffle the item expansions ''with'' the major upgrades.

* In an unofficial update to ''VideoGame/AnotherMetroid2Remake'', completing the game in under four hours unlocks a Randomizer mode that suffles the locations of items and removes the lava blocking the paths.

Naturally, speedrunners being what they are, they will also use or abuse knowledge of the randomizer algorithm itself to gain information or make predictions - even if they don't know exactly what the randomizer will do, they know the kinds of things it ''could'' do, or may know what its limitations are.

They are especially popular among {{speedrun}}ners, where they offer a unique challenge to players who are already familiar with the vanilla game. In addition to the rote memorization and mastery of game mechanics ("execution") already required in a standard speedrun, speedrunning a randomized game requires the ability to efficiently route an unfamiliar path, and change one's game plan on the fly to adapt to unexpected information. Speedrunners will also use or abuse knowledge of the randomizer algorithm itself to gain information or make predictions - even if they don't know exactly what the randomizer will do, they know the kinds of things it ''could'' do, or may know what its limitations are.

Randomizer speedrun races in which all runners are given the same randomized seed and tasked with discovering the most efficient way to complete the game can attract dozens or even hundreds of players, and knowing one's opponent's tendencies and adapting to them can give rise to a robust {{Metagame}}.

A randomizer is a GameMod, ROM hack, [[DownloadableContent DLC]], or mode that adds a random element to a gameplay system that had previously been static, such that the experience of playing the game is altered from its original form.

A randomizer is a GameMod, ROM hack, [[DownloadableContent DLC]], or mode that inserts a random element into a gameplay system that had previously been static. Commonly, a randomizer takes the locations of items and abilities [[AbilityRequiredToProceed required to advance the game]] and shuffles them, rendering what had been a mostly linear experience more open. An algorithm or "logic" often governs item placement to ensure that the randomizer will not result in an [[UnintentionallyUnwinnable unwinnable]] game. Some randomizers also alter the layout of the game world, the locations and attributes of the enemies, the capabilities and/or stat growth of the player character(s), and more.

Randomizers are popular among {{speedrun}}ners. In addition to the rote memorization and mastery of game mechanics ("execution") already required in a standard speedrun, speedrunning a randomized game requires efficiently checking item locations and changing one's path through the game on the fly depending on the items found ("routing"), and knowing the item placement algorithm to predict where progression items are likely to be ("reading the logic"). Randomizer speedrun races in which all runners are given the same randomized seed and tasked with discovering the most efficient way to complete the game can attract dozens or even hundreds of players, and knowing one's opponent's tendencies and adapting to them can give rise to a robust {{Metagame}}.

Compare the {{Roguelike}} genre, which similarly uses randomization to provide gameplay variety and unexpected elements.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has a wide variety of randomizers, including but not limited to: being able to randomize the Pokémon themselves, their types, movepools and abilities. The Trainers, levels and items can also be randomized. Funnily enough, this was [WhatCouldHaveBeen one of the original concepts]] for the series itself, with each game procedurally generating various aspects of the world and Pokémon selection based on the player's Trainer ID number. The idea proved far too difficult to program, and executives were worried that it'd be difficult to convey the gimmick to customers anyway, which resulted in the franchise's OneGameForThePriceOfTwo setup.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has a wide variety of randomizers, including but not limited to: being able to randomize the Pokémon themselves, their types, movepools and abilities. The Trainers, levels and items can also be randomized.

Not to be confused with RandomEffectSpell, which is a video game spell or effect that causes an in-game random effect.

Not to be confused with RandomEffectSpell, which is a video game spell or effect that causes a random effect.

* VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVFreeEnterprise

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'': [[http://ff4fe.com/ The "Free Enterprise" mod]] converts the otherwise quite linear ''Final Fantasy IV'' into an open-world scavenger hunt. The player is given two random party members and the ''Enterprise'' airship for free at the beginning of the game (hence [[PunBasedTitle the title]]), and quests can be completed in any order.