History VideoGame / Miasmata

* ShoutOut: The first memo you find from the research team is addressed as from [[Series/GarthMarenghisDarkplace Professor Dagless to Doctor Sanchez]].

** On the one hand, its realistically predatory behavior, the fact that other animals flee from its presence, and the fact that the members of the previous expedition painted pictures of it suggests that it may just be an animal native to the island.

* MorePredatorsThanPrey: Apart from the scientists and the creature, there is no animal on the island larger than a rabbit, which begs the question as to how precisely an enormous carnivore can manage to survive so well there. [[spoiler It's quite possible the creature is a hallucination, given that it disappears when Robert is cured of the plague.]]

* CombinatorialExplosion: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. While there are twenty something plants on the island, including ones needed for the cure, and the ability to try synthesizing medicine with one or two plants, simply using a research station on a plant will tell you what it can be used for.

* DrivenToSuicide: Isabella, most likely, given the note you find in her bottle. [[spoiler: This is also an interpretation of the ending, given how the camera focuses specifically on a bottle of alcohol and a knife]].

* EvilLuddite: It's revealed that the whole reason the scientists are on the island in the first place is that [[spoiler: they had to flee their homeland due to a fascist revolution led by Chancellor Kallas, who took advantage of the plague and used the scientific community as a scapegoat to seize power.]]

* HollywoodDarkness: Very much averted. Nights in Miasmata are ''dark''. While this can be briefly relieved if you find a torch or bundle of sticks, it's so dark that it's actually quite dangerous to travel at night, because it's very easy to get lost, and getting lost means not being able to find shelter before you die of fever.
* ImaginaryEnemy[=/=]YourMindMakesItReal: It is heavily implied that the creature is actually [[spoiler: a hallucination caused by the plague, and is specific to Robert Hughs[=/=]Herbert Gouhs. Notably, none of the other scientists report being stalked by a bizarre demon-beast in ''their'' journals. Also, the creature stops appearing after you inject yourself with the cure.]]
* InUniverseGameClock: The player has a watch, sleeping passes time as well.

* LateToTheParty: Robert arrives to find the entire island abandoned, with the scientists nowhere to be found. [[spoiler: although it doesn't take very long before you start stumbling upon their systematically murdered corpses.]]
** [[spoiler: The ending implies that you ''were'' the party.]]
* MadeOfIron: It's actually very difficult for Robert to be "hurt" per say. Falling can exacerbate the plague and require medicine, but he can endure some pretty tough stuff and only need to swallow a pill to get back to normal.
* MagnetHands: [[AvertedTrope Nope.]] Robert's grip might as well be made of butter. Drowning, or losing your balance, will cause Robert to drop whatever he is holding. If the item falls nearby, he can pick it up.

* MorePredatorsThanPrey: Apart from the scientists and the creature, there is no animal on the island larger than a rabbit, which begs the question as to how precisely an enormous carnivore can manage to survive so well there. [[spoiler: It's quite possible the creature is a hallucination, given that it disappears when Robert is cured of the plague]].

* {{Speedrun}}: There's an achievement for completing the game in under 3 days. Based on the steam achievement statistics, it's the most difficult achievement to get. You have to beeline straight for the cure ingredients, traveling both day and night with no map. [[spoiler: On the plus side, the creature doesn't show up for the first 2 days.]]

** SuperNotDrowningSkills: The more permanent medicines you've imbibed, the better you get at swimming, until after you're cured you can swim indefinitely.

* SurvivalSandbox: The primary goal is to survive for as long as possible while trying to cure yourself. In this case, the time pressure comes from the plague (causing a fever in which the player needs to either take medicine or sleep) and thirst (which can be replenished if Robert has water in his canteen, at a body of fresh water, or in most outposts, which have a pitcher of water. These latter two will have Robert refill his canteen if its not completely full.
* TeleportingKeycardSquad: There are a heavy concentration of spawn points for the monster around rare, important plants, namely ingredients for permanent ability boosting medicines, as well as for the cure. However, the monster spawns are still random instead of being definitely triggered by picking up these plants; if you're very lucky, you can grab multiple cure ingredients without ever running into the beast.
* TimeCompressionMontage: Done whenever you do something such as synthesize medicine, or research flora. Checking your watch will show you that these do in fact take up some time: Usually around an hour.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Upon exploring the island, it quickly becomes clear that one of the researchers, Herbert Gouhs, [[spoiler: went insane from the plague, began worshipping the creature, and went on a killing spree slaughtering all the other scientists.]] [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Robert Hughes is actually an amnesiatic Herbert Gouhs, based on various clues found at the outposts, the game's ending which reveals the name Herbert Gouhs written on Robert's notebook, and [[SignificantAnagram the fact that their names are anagrams of each other]].]]

** [[spoiler: The creature, despite being one of the game's main selling points and one of the biggest mysteries on the island, is simply never seen or heard from again once you've cured yourself. While this makes sense due to the heavy implication that the creature is a hallucination, it feels odd that there's never a final showdown or any real resolution.]]

* XMeetsY: ''Series/{{Lost}}'' meets ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent''.

* ImaginaryEnemy[=/=]YourMindMakesItReal]]: [[spoiler:It is heavily implied that the creature is actually [[spoiler: a hallucination caused by the plague, and is specific to Robert Hughs[=/=]Herbert Gouhs. Notably, none of the other scientists report being stalked by a bizarre demon-beast in ''their'' journals. Also, the creature stops appearing after you inject yourself with the cure.]]

The game takes place from a first-person perspective, with the player exploring a vast island. Players must survive day by day... finding water to stave off thirst, dealing with fever and other sickness, getting enough sleep, etc. The local plantlife can be researched and used to concoct a variety of helpful tonics and medicines. The game also uses a unique cartography system where the player goes to a high point and uses nearby landmarks to triangulate his position, expanding the area shown on his map as well as revealing his position on it.

* EleventhHourSuperpower: Once you cure yourself, you can sprint and swim indefinitely and no longer take fall damage.

* [[spoiler: ImaginaryEnemy[=/=]YourMindMakesItReal]]: It is heavily implied that the creature is actually [[spoiler: a hallucination caused by the plague, and is specific to Robert Hughs[=/=]Herbert Gouhs. Notably, none of the other scientists report being stalked by a bizarre demon-beast in ''their'' journals. Also, the creature stops appearing after you inject yourself with the cure.]]

* MagnetHands: [[AvertedTrope Nope.]] Robert's grip might as well be made of butter. Swimming and losing your balance will cause you to lose your grip on whatever you were holding.
* MixAndMatchCritters: The creature appears to have elements of a panther, a lizard, and a bull.

* SuperDrowningSkills: Justified with the plague exacerbating physical trauma.

* TimeCompressionMontage: Done whenever you do something such as synthesize medicine, or research flora. Checking your watch will show you that these do in fact take up more time than you see.

* WalkingShirtlessScene: The player can only see Robert's arms and shoulders when he moves, and it's clear he doesn't wear a shirt.

* BeautifulVoid: A huge island's worth of scenery, and only you and a murderous creature are there to enjoy it.

* InUniverseGameClock

* MagnetHands: [[AvertedTrope Nope.]] Swimming and losing your balance will cause you to lose your grip on whatever you were holding.

* MorePredatorsThanPrey: Apart from the scientists and the creature, there is no animal on the island larger than a rabbit, which begs the question as to how precisely an enormous carnivore can manage to survive so well there. [[spoiler: The answer is that is almost certainly does not]].

* SceneryPorn: The beauty of the island is comparable to ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' or ''VideoGame/FarCry3''. Pretty impressive for something made by two brothers over the course of four years.

* StellarName: All the science outposts are named after celestial bodies.

* SurvivalSandbox: The primary goal is to survive for as long as possible while trying to cure yourself. In this case, the time pressure comes from the plague instead of a hunger meter.

* ShoutOut: The first memo you find from the research team is from [[Series/GarthMarenghisDarkplace Professor Dagless to Doctor Sanchez]].

* TomatoInTheMirror: Upon exploring the island, it quickly becomes clear that one of the researchers, Herbert Gouhs, [[spoiler: went insane from the plague, began worshipping the creature, and went on a killing spree slaughtering all the other scientists.]] [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Robert Hughes is actually an amnesiatic Herbert Gouhs, based on various clues found at the outposts, the game's ending which reveals the name Herbert Gouhs written on Robert's notebook, and the fact that their names are anagrams of each other.]]

* FanNickname: [[http://miasmata.wikia.com/wiki/Outpost_Mushroom Outpost Mushroom]], which even got a wiki page.

''Miasmata'' is a 2012 first-person adventure[=/=]exploration[=/=]SurvivalHorror game, notable for being one of the first full releases from the {{Steam}} Greenlight service.

* SuperPersistentPredator: The creature will stalk you throughout the entire island, is liable to strike at any time, day or night, and will ignore all living creatures who aren't you.

* TeleportingKeycardSquad: There are a heavy concentration of spawn points for the monster around rare, important plants, namely ingredients for permanent ability boosting medicines, as well as for the cure.

* [[spoiler: ImaginaryEnemy[=/=]YourMindMakesItReal]]: It is heavily implied that the creature is actually [[spoiler: a hallucination caused by the plague, and is specific to Robert Hughs[=/=]Herbert Gouhs. Noteably, none of the other scientists report being stalked by a bizarre demon-beast in ''their'' journals. Also, the creature stops appearing after you inject yourself with the cure.]]

* TomatoInTheMirror: Upon exploring the island, it quickly becomes clear that one of the researchers, Herbert Gouhs, [[spoiler: went insane from the plague, began worshipping the creature, and went on a killing spree slaughtering all the other scientists.]] [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Robert Hughs is actually an amnesiatic Herbert Gouhs, based on various clues found at the outposts, the game's ending which reveals the name Herbert Gouhs written on Robert's notebook, and the fact that their names are anagrams of each other.]]

* SuperPersistantPredator: The creature will stalk you throughout the entire island, is liable to strike at any time, day or night, and will ignore all living creatures who aren't you.

* XMeetsY: ''Series/{{Lost}}'' meets ''[[AmnesiaTheDarkDescent Amnesia: The Dark Descent]]''.

''Miasmata'' is a 2012 first-person adventure[=/=]exploration[=/=]SurvivalHorror game on {{Steam}}, one of the first full releases from the Steam Greenlight service.