History VideoGame / Middens

A {{Spiritual Sequel}} that's [[GenreBusting somehow in the Noir genre]], titled [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/4427/ "Moments In Silence"]] has been revealed with a 9/18/2013 release date. The Rift is gone, replaced with a yet unnamed tiered city. It appears to follow a being who accidentally sets free (by Dialing 9) one of the netherworld's "most beloved politicians" named "Mr. Freedom" and the political turmoil and leadership conflict that occurs when the people of the city find out the turtle that holds the city on its back has developed throat cancer. While it appears its plot has far more reoccurring characters, a recognizable conflict, and a more consistent setting, it doesn't look any less weird even if appears the Rift and Genie are no longer involved.

->''"[[VoidBetweenTheWorlds The Rift]] does not [[GeniusLoci know what it is]]. It does not even know if others like it exists. [[VillainProtagonist Us]], though, [[BlatantLies it will certainly learn to cherish]]."''

* WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma: Misspellings, dropped apostrophes, and homophone mixups are common.

In the case of the latter, most characters have dialogue cobbled together from occult books, celebrity quotes, short stories, the last words of death row inmates, and the occasional shockingly lucid comment, that only enforce the alien atmosphere of the Rift. Most memorable, however, are the discussions held with Genie over the course of the story. As you gain more and more Nothings, the talking gun will hold discussions about philosophy, [[ArmorPiercingQuestion ask you existential questions]], mock you, urge on your bloodlust, try to creep you out,[[AnythingThatMoves hit on you frequently]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking try to speak]] [[GratuitousSpanish Spanish]]

* TheAllegedCar: The Love Bus has seen better days, its paint chipping and its roof rusting.

* TheUnfettered: [[spoiler: Genie turns out to not be {{Axe Crazy}} as much as he is just utterly fatalistic. Exemplified by his quote in the ending "...No one is innocent, so Karma doesn't care who it kills. It strikes out randomly, assured it has destroyed a sinner... Karma is my God, and I am its angel."]]

In the case of the former, most fights are initiated by the player and the enemies’ stats are hidden. You could very well challenge a boss that’s completely beyond your power level and not know it until you are already dead, which makes every fight foreboding. Its karma system is unique in that [[AnAesop ALL killing is wrong]], even in self defense (though self defense is less bad), and you cannot get rid of the bad karma (called “Nothings”) once you start to collect them. As you accumulate more Nothings, the denizens of the rift will start to treat you differently or become hostile.

* BadassAutomaton: The Jouster and other varied bosses. The area boss "Control Core" of the deep factory seems to count.

* ElementalPowers: ...Except based on TheFourTemperaments, somehow? Om is [[MakingASplash Melancholic]], Lam is [[PlayingWithFire Sanguine]], and Yam is [[ShockAndAwe Choleric]].

* VoidBetweenTheWorlds: The Rift

What truly sets apart the game from other Yume Nikki Fan games (If you can even call it that at this point) are its combat and dialogue systems:
In the case of the former, most fights are initiated by the player and the enemies’ stats are hidden. You could very well challenge a boss that’s completely over leveled and not know it until it you are already dead, which makes every fight foreboding. Its karma system is unique in that [[AnAesop ALL killing is wrong]], even in self defense (though self defense is less bad), and you cannot get rid of the bad karma (called “Nothings”) once you start to collect them. As your karma drops, the denizens of the rift will start to treat you differently or become hostile.

In the case of the latter, most characters have dialogue cobbled together from occult books, celebrity quotes, short stories, the last words of death row inmates, and the occasional shockingly lucid comment, that only enforce the alien atmosphere of the Rift. Most memorable, however, are the discussions held with Genie over the course of the story. As your karma drops lower and lower, the talking gun will hold discussions about philosophy, [[ArmorPiercingQuestion ask you existential questions]], mock you, urge on your bloodlust, try to creep you out,[[AnythingThatMoves hit on you frequently]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking try to speak]] [[GratuitousSpanish Spanish]]

A {{Spiritual Sequel}} that's [[GenreBusting somehow in the Noir genre]], titled [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/4427/ "Moments In Silence"]] has been revealed with a 9/18/2013 release date. The Rift is gone, replaced with a yet unnamed tiered city. It appears to follow a being who accidentally sets free (by Dialing 9) one of the netherworld's "most beloved politicians" named "Mr.Freedom" and the political turmoil and leadership conflict that occurs when the people of the city find out the turtle that holds the city on its back has developed throat cancer. While it appears its plot has far more reoccurring characters, a recognizable conflict, and a more consistent setting, it doesn't look any less weird even if appears the Rift and Genie are no longer involved.

* AdvertisedExtra: The Serial Killer [[AmbiguousGender God/Goddess]] Quiddity was the monster used to show off the combat system in promotional materials. People assumed he would play a bigger role, but hes not even a true area boss as his territory consists of his one room house.

* AmbiguousGender: The Nomad looks undoubtedly male, but his singing voice (The battle victory song) is undoubtedly female.
* AmbiguousSituation: Just like {{Yume Nikki}} in this regard, but unlike [[ReclusiveArtist Kikiyama]] of YN, myformerselves has actually confirmed several theories himself. Like that [[spoiler: Genies reproductive system is an allegory for how guns end up necessitating the use of more guns in the mind of society by the fear they instill.]]
* AndTheAdventureContinues: One of the endings [[spoiler: One of the possible "True Ends". The Nomad kills genie, and is given a second chance at life. He revives into the rift, however, and is last seen at one of the Love Bus's stops as the bus comes into view...]]

* BeautifulVoid: The Rift
* BerserkButton: usually non hostile enemies will turn hostile if you perform actions that anger them. This can be something as minor as trying to speak to them. Soul Eater class enemies in general seem to hold a burning hatred of guitar music.
* BigBad: [[spoiler:in the Normal Ending, Genie turns out to be an extremely powerful entity that had long since transcended his original species of "talking gun", and was simply using you to reproduce. Healing the rift was simply a side job he took up to ensure he got a master who would kill for an ideal and therefore kill frequently. He is able to cross dimensions at will by this point, and is able to shoot without a master with his fancy new dragon body.]]

* BittersweetEnding: One of the multiple endings [[spoiler: The Normal Ending, specifically. The Nomad is dead and so is his culture, but he has faced his own inner demons and Genie has been stopped for good. With Genie's death the Nomad is absolved of his crimes and allowed to enjoy the afterlife.]]... [[MindScrew We think]]
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Many of the rift's denizens. Such as Soul Eaters who will enter a room to kill anyone who dares play guitar. [[spoiler: This is also how Genie's mind works. He kills people because in his eyes not only is everyone guilty enough to deserve death, they are also extremely bored with their lives deep down.]]

* BreakingTheFourthWall: Crossed with {{Player Punch}} in [[spoiler: Genies pre-final boss speech "Is that why you play games? Because your bored?...The credits will soon roll, but you wont be around to see them!"]]

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: A handful of the area bosses qualify, taking the form of actual gods from actual religions. Special mention goes to the boss of the Deep Rift: [[spoiler: Kali herself]]
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: When he has killed enough people, the Nomad is given the option to [[UnusualEuphemism "exeunt"]] himself and travel to the afterlife for the ending when he, [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall or rather the player]] grows bored of The Rift.]]
* EldritchAbomination: Many, many enemies. But the [[spoiler: enemies in purgatory]] take the cake, especially [[spoiler: the malevolent manifestation of the thoughts that drive every serial killer. It's game portrait just calls it [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "Serial Killer"]]]]. [[AdvertisedExtra Quiddity]] counts as well, but [[spoiler: s/he's probably one of Serial Killers manifestations.]]

* HubLevel: The "Love Bus" is the closest example the game has, serving as a transition between otherwise unlinked or far away sections of The Rift. Talking to the passengers also gives you an impression of the impact your having on The Rift.
* KilledOffForReal: Virtually all of the denizens you kill do not re-spawn until you start a new game, except for the subway area boss. [[GoodBadBugs But in that case it was obviously a glitch]].
* ImAHumanitarian: One denizen asks for the eerily ambiguously titled "Human Fruit." [[spoiler: and the behemoth in the afterlife attacks you simply because "You're Edible..."]]

* MetalSlime: The enemies around the starting area give allot more experience relative to their level than they should. This was intentional.

* MultipleEndings: [[GuideDangIt That hinge on how many "Nothings" you have collected]], a fact never brought up in game

* NotUsingTheZWord: This was applied to [[UpToEleven all gaming terminology]], most likely to increase the alien atmosphere the game fosters. If any part of the interface uses an actual gaming term, then its probably accidental. Even the menu is just symbols (+, 0, and an X) rather than the universally known "New Game", "Continue", and "Quit".
* OmnicidalManiac: [[spoiler: when asked [[ItMakesSenseInContext whom he would feed to the world]] in a hypothetical situation where only blood can keep it from ending, Genies lengthily reply can be paraphrased as "Everyone". It turns out later this is because he thinks everyone else is a sinner]]
* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler: in the Normal Ending, Genie grows his own body so he can shoot without a master, and it ends up evolving into a dragon like form]]
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The Dragons of The Rift are elementals representing different drugs (IE: Opium Dragon). Gives a new meaning to [[StealthPun "chasing the dragon"]]

* SummonMagic: The Nomad has very limited Mana, so most combat moves are accessed by summoning the aspects of your Chakra/Chi: Om, Yam, and Lam.

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Its entirely possible to rack up tons of kills simply in self defense if you know where to look, but attacking random victims makes the game go by much faster if your fine living with the guilt.
* VillainProtagonist: The Nomad counts to some degree, as [[spoiler: he mentioned in his "Reason you Suck Speech" Genie gave you the chance [[RefusalOfTheCall to turn around and not kill people at the start of the game]], and [[YouBastard you still proceeded.]]]]

* WhatTheHellPlayer: If you attack someone (rather than being attacked) to initiate combat, some turns are spent with them either begging for their lives in a tragic manner, or describing the wounds you inflict in {{Squick}}-tastic detail . This is not a feelgood game. [[VideoGameCaringPotential you can spare them by fleeing the fight.]] [[spoiler:Though according to Genie's explanation of how he reproduces, they will gain their own Talkative Revolver who will not be a good influence on their lives.]]
* WretchedHive: Deep within the refugee outpost one can find one of these. There are dancers [[OurMonstersAreWeird with TV torsos and stripper legs]] and several denizens lamenting their cocaine and gambling addictions.

* Cloudcuckoolander: Most denizens, but special mention go to the quest givers who, as a group, cannot stop talking about dreams or asking you about your dreams.

* MagicMusic: The "Prowess" skill called "music box" allows you to play a guitar using the down arrow key. Its effect varies by area, as does its sound.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler: Genie's speech before the final fight is pretty much one giant barely veiled {{Take That}} aimed not so much at the Nomad as to people who enjoy violence in video games and/or find their comfortable lives boring. "Is that why you play games? Because you are bored?."]]

* TheUnfettered: [[spoiler: Genie turns out to not be {{Axe Crazy}} as much as he is just utterly fatalistic. Exemplified by his quote in the ending "No one is innocent, so Karma doesn't care who it kills. It strikes out randomly, assured it has destroyed a sinner... Karma is my God, and I am its angel."]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler: Genie's speech before the final fight is pretty much one giant barely veiled {{TakeThat}} aimed not so much at the Nomad as to people who enjoy violence in video games. "Is that why you play games? Because you are bored?]]

* TheUnfettered: [[spoiler: Genie turns out to not be Axe Crazy as much as he is just utterly fatalistic. Exemplified by his quote in the ending "No one is innocent, so Karma doesn't care who it kills. It strikes out randomly, assured it has destroyed a sinner... Karma is my God, and I am its angel."]]

* OmnicidalManiac: [[spoiler: when asked [[ItMakesSenseInContext whom he would feed to the world]] in a hypothetical situation where only blood can keep it from ending, Genies lengthily reply can be paraphrased as "Everyone".]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler: Genie's speech before the final fight is pretty much one giant barely veiled {{TakeThat}} aimed not so much at the Nomad as to people who enjoy violence in video games.]]

* BadassAutomaton: The Jouster and other varied bosses.

* BigBad: [[spoiler:in the Normal Ending, Genie turns out to be an extremely powerful entity that had long since transcended his original species of "talking gun", and was simply using you to reproduce. He is able to cross dimensions at will by this point, and is able to shoot without a master]]

* OmnicidalManiac: [[spoiler: when asked [[ItMakesSenseInContext whom he would feed to the world]] in a hypothetical situation where only blood can keep it from ending, Genies lengthily reply can be paraphrased as "Everyone"]]

* FetchQuest: Some of the denizens make requests for certain items you can get as [[TwentyBearAsses loot from bosses]].

* AfterTheEnd: Not The Rift itself, [[TimeAbyss as it never had a start]], but many of the denizens of the rift hail from universes where this has happened on scales from cultural (like the Nomad) to cosmic. [[spoiler: Genie himself hails from a society where guns were given their own morality and trusted to execute the wicked. If his siblings are as omnicidal as him, the result and the condition of that society is very easy to guess.]]

A {{Spiritual Sequel}} that's [[GenreBusting somehow in the Noir genre]], titled [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/4427/ "Moments In Silence"]] has been revealed with a 9/18/2013 release date. The Rift is gone, replaced with a yet unnamed tiered city. It appears to follow a being who accidentally sets free (by Dialing 9) one of the netherworld's "most beloved politicians" named "Mr.Freedom" and the political turmoil and leadership conflict that occurs when the people of the city find out the turtle that holds the city has developed cancer. While it appears its plot has far more reoccurring characters, a recognizable conflict, and a more consistent setting, it doesn't look any less weird even if appears the Rift and Genie are no longer involved.

What truly sets apart the game from other Yume Nikki Fan games are its combat and dialogue systems:

-->--'''Genie'''

->''"[[VoidBetweenTheWorlds The Rift]] does not know what it is. It does not even know if others like it exists. [[VillainProtagonist Us]], though, [[BlatantLies it will certainly learn to cherish]]."''

->''"[[VoidBetweenTheWorlds The Rift]] does not know what it is. It does not even know if others like it exists. [[VillainProtagonist Us]], though, it will certainly learn to [[BlatantLies cherish]]."''

* NotUsingTheZWord: This was applied to [[UpToEleven all gaming terminology]], supposedly to increase the alien atmosphere the game fosters. If any part of the interface uses an actual gaming term, then its probably accidental. Even the menu is just symbols (+, 0, and an X) rather than the universally known "New Game", "Continue", and "Quit".

* BeserkButton: usually non hostile enemies will turn hostile if you perform actions that anger them. This can be something as minor as trying to speak to them. Soul Eater class enemies in general seem to hold a burning hatred of guitar music.

A {{Spiritual Sequel}} that's [[GenreBusting somehow in the Noir genre]], titled [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/4427/ "Moments In Silence"]] has been revealed with a 9/18/2013 release date. The Rift is gone, replaced with a yet unnamed tiered city. It appears to follow a being who accidentally sets free one of the netherworld's "most beloved politicians" and the trials that follow as both try to return their mutually shattered lives to normal ([[MindScrew Or whatever counts as normal in their universe]]), even as an enigmatic being labeled only "The Creator" has made vows to "Drive Out" the "Kings of Earth". While it appears to have a far more "solid" plot with reoccurring characters, a recognizable conflict, and a consistent setting, it doesn't look any less weird even if appears the Rift and Genie are no longer present.