History VideoGame / Landstalker

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: The dwarves who built King Nole's labyrinth did so in exchange for eternal life. Nole delivered on his promise, and there doesn't seem to be any shenanigans going on even 300 years later ... except all they do is sit in Kazalt idling their time away. As they don't have to worry about growing old, they've turned procrastination into a life style.

* SparedByTheAdaptation: A number of things were changed when the game was translated.[[http://tcrf.net/Landstalker]] Most if it was stuff too racy for the American CensorshipBureau: all the sexy goodies in the optional Mercator variety shop became oddities, a BathtubScene was blocked off(but not deleted). Nigel ''[[VictoryIsBoring might]]'' be happier in the American version despite this - [[spoiler:in the Japanese, [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption all of King Nole's treasure is lost]] down a BottomlessPit when the Guardian is defeated. In the American, he gets all the treasure, and ''[[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything the Gold counter even spins up to quintuple digits to show this!]]'']]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The remake for ''PSP'' ...featuring a fully rotatable camera in a perfect 3D reconstruction of the original game...that was summarily canceled.

** The worst one is in the fourth town, Mercator. There is exactly ''one'' vague hint on how you are to progress through the game: a lady in the church who praises Duke Mercator for "walking through town and personally speaking to each and every one of us." Sure enough, talk to an NPC near the castle and you'll spot General Arthur taking some unscheduled time off to go to Madame Yard's ... "ballet studio".

* MacGuffinDeliveryService: You get to keep one artifact ([[spoiler:the Lithograph]]) only ''just'' long enough to get a good look at it before [[spoiler:Kayla]] steals it from you. Two of the five {{Mineral MacGuffin}}s it leads to are similarly stolen. [[spoiler:At the very end of the game, Duke Mercator tries to invoke this on King Nole's treasure itself, and even thanks Nigel for killing all the minibosses - but fails to notice that Nigel hasn't killed the FinalBoss yet. The Guardian thus makes him extra crispy before challenging Nigel.]]

* DummiedOut: The American version raodblocked a bath scene by putting a maid in front of the door - however the actual scene is still intact and even translated (you can view it with cheats, or on YouTube videos).

A action-adventure RPG on the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, in the same vein as ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', from Climax Entertainment (which co-developed ''ShiningInTheDarkness'' and the first ''ShiningForce'' with Camelot Software Planning). Released in the US during 1993 ('92 in Japan) and although it wasn't what anyone would call a smashing success, it is fondly remembered and gained a decent sized cult following.

Alas, it was scheduled for a remake on the [[UsefulNotes/{{PSP}} Playstation Portable]], but was canceled for reasons unknown. It has at least two direct [[{{SpiritualSuccessor}} spiritual successors]] - ''VideoGame/DarkSavior'' (from Climax - for the [[UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn Saturn]]), and ''VideoGame/{{Alundra}}'' (not in isometric view anymore, making it more Zelda-esque - but felt very much like it, from Matrix Software for the [[UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} PSone]], a company comprised of members formerly from Climax) and one [[{{DistaffCounterpart}} Distaff Counterpart]] in ''LadyStalker'' for [[UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} its rival]]. Nigel and Friday were also featured as playable characters in the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast game; ''TimeStalkers'' - alongside a smattering of other Climax characters. It also now available to download on the [[UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} Wii's]] Virtual Console.

A action-adventure RPG on the SegaGenesis, in the same vein as ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', from Climax Entertainment (which co-developed ''ShiningInTheDarkness'' and the first ''ShiningForce'' with Camelot Software Planning). Released in the US during 1993 ('92 in Japan) and although it wasn't what anyone would call a smashing success, it is fondly remembered and gained a decent sized cult following.

Alas, it was scheduled for a remake on the [[UsefulNotes/{{PSP}} Playstation Portable]], but was canceled for reasons unknown. It has at least two direct [[{{SpiritualSuccessor}} spiritual successors]] - ''VideoGame/DarkSavior'' (from Climax - for the [[UsefulNotes/{{SegaSaturn}} Saturn]]), and ''VideoGame/{{Alundra}}'' (not in isometric view anymore, making it more Zelda-esque - but felt very much like it, from Matrix Software for the [[UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} PSone]], a company comprised of members formerly from Climax) and one [[{{DistaffCounterpart}} Distaff Counterpart]] in ''LadyStalker'' for [[UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} its rival]]. Nigel and Friday were also featured as playable characters in the [[UsefulNotes/{{Dreamcast}} Sega Dreamcast]] game; ''TimeStalkers'' - alongside a smattering of other Climax characters. It also now available to download on the [[UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} Wii's]] Virtual Console.

The basis of the story rounds out like this: you are Nigel, a masterful treasure hunting (some would say, 'thief') elf who is given information about a great treasure buried under an island from a fairy - who although, doesn't necessarily know ''where'' they are on the island knows that they ''have'' to be there, and a after a little convincing - the two buddy up and begin the quest. Refreshingly [[spoiler: ...the story doesn't have anything to do saving the world; it stays on track entirely about finding the treasure first and foremost. Though accusations are hurled at TheRival that he wants the treasure to finance a war.]]

* AutoRevive: Eke-eke herbs are available from the start of the game and for cheap. Though they are also normal healing items (healing at least half of Nigel's HP), if Nigel gets knocked out Friday will appear and use one to revive him.

* MacGuffinDeliveryService: You get to keep one artifact ([[spoiler:the Lithograph]]) only ''just'' long enough to get a good look at it before [[spoiler:Kayla]] steals it from you. Two of the five MineralMacGuffins it leads to are similarly stolen. [[spoiler:At the very end of the game, Duke Mercator tries to invoke this on King Nole's treasure itself, and even thanks Nigel for killing all the minibosses - but fails to notice that Nigel hasn't killed the FinalBoss yet. Gola thus makes him extra crispy before challenging Nigel.]]

* MacGuffinDeliveryService: You get to keep one artifact ([[spoiler:the Lithograph]]) only ''just'' long enough to get a look at it before it's stolen from you. After that, two of the Jewels you acquired are similarly stolen.

Alas, it was scheduled for a remake on the [[{{PSP}} Playstation Portable]], but was canceled for reasons unknown. It has at least two direct [[{{SpiritualSuccessor}} spiritual successors]] - ''VideoGame/DarkSavior'' (from Climax - for the [[{{SegaSaturn}} Saturn]]), and ''VideoGame/{{Alundra}}'' (not in isometric view anymore, making it more Zelda-esque - but felt very much like it, from Matrix Software for the [[{{Playstation}} PSone]], a company comprised of members formerly from Climax) and one [[{{DistaffCounterpart}} Distaff Counterpart]] in ''LadyStalker'' for [[{{SNES}} its rival]]. Nigel and Friday were also featured as playable characters in the [[{{Dreamcast}} Sega Dreamcast]] game; ''TimeStalkers'' - alongside a smattering of other Climax characters. It also now available to download on the [[{{Wii}} Wii's]] Virtual Console.

'''Tropes appearing in ''Landstalker'':'''

* TeleportSpam: Some enemies have teleporting abilities. [[spoiler:King Nole's spirit]] uses this constantly.

The biggest draw of the story is a subtle atmosphere of goofiness. Nigel's more than a bit of a ChickMagnet - [[PettingZooPeople hamster girls]], [[HotSkittyOnWailordAction six-inch tall fairies]] and [[WellExcuseMePrincess bitchy princesses]] [[BlessedWithSuck just can't resist him]]. At one point Nigel's youthful looks cause him to be ejected from a building full of beautiful women despite being ReallySevenHundredYearsOld - he then goes to a [[{{Roma}} gypsy witch]] for a little VoluntaryShapeshifting, resulting in the appropriate appearance to enter. He gets a few {{Armor Piercing Slap}}s from his companion for his trouble - only to find out that the building is actually a ''ballet studio''. [[spoiler: Actually, in the Japanese version, the building in question is a brothel...]]

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: [[http://www.segagagadomain.com/megadrive/landstalker.htm Japanese Nigel]] is a dashing {{Slayers}}-esqe figure. [[http://mycooldreams.at.ua/load/igry/roms_igry/landstalker/4-1-0-5 American Nigel]] is a FrazettaMan. Not as cool as it sounds, given that Nigel still has ''clothes.''

* BottomlessPits: Averted - pits that look bottomless won't kill you, they'll just drop you down in the room below. Which usually has spikes to land on, enemies to attack you, and whatever else is along the path to climb back up.

* DummiedOut: American version raodblocked a bath scene by putting a maid in front of the door - however the actual scene is still intact and translated (you can view it with cheats, or on YouTube videos).

* SavePoint: Churches, one in each town. Or more specifically, any time you see a "Record Book" and a priest to give it to ... even if it's a long-dead pile of bones sitting behind a desk in the middle of a dungeon.

* SwordBeam: The Ice Sword, when fully charged, can fire out a blast of ice magic to hit enemies from a distance. It's also used to solve a few puzzles.

* TemporaryPlatform: Some platforms fall (after a short delay) when you step on them. They look identical to non-falling platforms, too.
* UseItem: Especially keys (unlike Zelda games where it is automatic) to open doors.

* WalkItOff: Healing Boots restore your HP slowly as you walk around.

* GetBackHereBoss: The sorceror Mir, who speeds about the room launching fireballs from a distance. He's one of the very few enemies who don't simply try to rush and attack Nigel.

* TemporaryPlatform: Some platforms fall (after a short delay) when you step on them.

* BalefulPolymorph: Once you acquire the Einstein Whistle, you can learn that two dogs named Marty and Bell are actually people under the curse of a WickedWitch. The only way to break the curse? Kill the witch somehow. It gets a little more complicated when the witch decides to turn Nigel into a dog, too.

* BottomlessPits: Averted - pits that look bottomless won't kill you, they'll just drop you down in the room below. Which usually has spikes to land on, and it's a little trip to get back up to where you fell from.

* DenialOfDiagonalAttack: Or (given the isometric perspective) denial of horizontal and vertical attack. At least the limitation goes both ways.
* DepthPerplexion: The game's lack of shadows can make it difficult to tell exactly where some platforms are located when trying to make jumps.
* DummiedOut: American version raodblocked a bath scene by putting a maid in front of the door - however the actual scene is still in there (you can view it with cheats, or on YouTube videos).

* GenreSavvy: Attendants at Madame Yard's in Mercator are fully aware of the fact that teenage boys are always trying to figure out what goes on in the broth-- err, [[CensorshipBureau ballet studio]]. Even the town's fortuneteller is in on it, readily giving Nigel a spell to make him look like an ordinary (human) adult.

** Admittedly, the case of lack of shadows is part of what gives the game its distinct difficulty. Judging ''precisely'' where you are, your enemies are, and whether or not that platform in front of you is...well...actually in front of you. This was really the only argument some fans had against the lost remake's addition of a rotatable camera as well as a number of the puzzles relied on what you ''couldn't'' see.

* MoneySpider: Almost every enemy drops money when they're defeated.

* PressurePlate: Some switches only remain active as long as something is weighing them down -- Nigel, a nearby block or pot, or so on. A few puzzles are even solved by getting enemies to weigh down the switch for you.

* SpikesOfDoom: A standard fixture of many dungeons, but at least they're stationary, and don't actually do that much damage. There are also spiked balls in both small and large sizes.

* SwordBeam: The Ice Sword, when fully charged, can fire out a blast of ice magic to hit enemies from a distance.

* GenreSavvy: Attendants at Madame Yard's in Mercator are fully aware of the fact that teenage boys are always trying to figure out what goes on in the broth-- err, [[CensorshipBereau ballet studio]]. Even the town's fortuneteller is in on it, readily giving Nigel a spell to make him look like an ordinary (human) adult.

* BrokenBridge: Played Straight, [[spoiler:Right after the first town]]
* CraniumRide for fun and profit. Needed to solve some of the many many MANY puzzles.

* DummiedOut: American version -blocked- a bath scene by putting an immovable maid in front of the door - however viewing it now is easy with the magic of cheats. or youtube.

* GuideDangIt: Happens a lot throughout the game, but a particularly jarring example occurs when trying to get into the second dungeon. The item you need to access it is found in a totally nondescript house and blends in perfectly among all the background objects. You're given a vague hint as to what it is from one of the people standing outside the dungeon, but it's still easily missed.
** The worst one is in the fourth town. There is exactly ''one'' vague hint on how you are to progress through the game: a lady in the church who praises Duke Mercator for "walking through town and personally speaking to each and every one of us."

* InterchangeableAntimatterKeys although only for the dungeon you're in. Seem familiar?
* IsometricProjection: One of the big features that set this game apart from other action-adventure games of the time. ...however, the lack of shadows made this problematic for jumping sequences. Not to mention the rather, shall we say, rudimentary control system; the Genesis controller had no diagonal inputs, so to move northwest, the player has to hit both "left" and "up". This is particularly annoying on emulators if you play on keyboard.
** Admittedly, the case of lack of shadows is part of what gives the game its distinct difficulty. Judging ''precisely'' where you are, your enemies are, and whether or not that platform in front of you is...well...actually in front of you. This was really the only argument some fans had against the lost remake's addition of a rotatable camera as well as a number of the puzzles relied on what you ''couldn't see.''

* NounVerber: The name of the game!

* StockVideoGamePuzzle: Many. A hefty amount of which are NintendoHard.

* UseItem not that the game gives you hints to do so at the time.
* WalkItOff: Healing Boots!

The basis of the story rounds out like this: you are Nigel, a masterful treasure hunting (some would say, 'thief') elf who is given information about a great treasure buried under an island from a fairy - who although, doesn't necessarily know ''where'' they are on the island knows that they ''have'' to be there, and a after a little convincing - the two buddy up and begin the quest.
Refreshingly [[spoiler: ...the story doesn't have anything to do saving the world; it stays on track entirely about finding the treasure first and foremost. Though accusations are hurled at TheRival that he wants the treasure to finance a war.]]