History VideoGame / PierSolarAndTheGreatArchitects

** Zellini's ''Bright Mind'' spell is learnt by reading ''Slade's Guide'', which is a reference to Slade, the thief who started the plot in ShiningForceII.

''Pier Solar and the Great Architects'' is a {{SEGA}} {{Megadrive}}/[[SegaGenesis Genesis]] {{eastern RPG}} published in 2010.

It is to date the biggest {{RPG}} and only game developed in the 21st century for this system (other games have been published after year 2000 but were developed during the 90s, namely {{Beggar Prince}}, {{Legend of Wukong}} and {{Star Odyssey}}). It was originally planned to be released in 2008 for the Megadrive's 20th anniversary, but development issues postponed its release to December 2010.

** One familiar merchant says “Later, ace!” when the party leaves, referencing ''PhantasyStarII''. [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything The portuguese version of the line uses what Tectoy did when they translated that game.]]
** You can find ingame {{Megadrive}}/[[SegaGenesis Genesis]] cartridges of {{Alien Soldier}} and {{Phantasy Star IV}}.
** At some point in the game, if you play with the cartridge inserted into a [[OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]], someone will give you [[spoiler:Franchise/{{Sonic|TheHedgehog}}'s Shoes]]. Doubles as TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything.

* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:Hoston]] suffers one of these shortly after [[spoiler:Rudy, his father, dies at the hand of Kloneo.]] It doesn't last very long, before [[spoiler:Alina and Edessot]] get him back on his feet.

* HeroesPreferSwords: Hoston's weapons are swords.

* TheArcher: Alina's weapons are bows.

* CapitalCity: Verahansa may be the biggest city of all 16-bit [=RPGs=].

** At some point in the game, if you play with the cartridge inserted into a [[OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]], someone will give you the [[spoiler:Franchise/{{Sonic|TheHedgehog}} shoes]]. Doubles as TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything.

** At some point in the game, if you play with the cartridge inserted into a [[OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]], someone will give you the [[spoiler:{{Sonic}} shoes]]. Doubles as TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything.

* WelcomeToCorneria: Downplayed. The programmers usually made the effort that NPCs get two or three different things to say before starting again. What they have to say may even be real-life information or hint.

* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts : Played straight with better weapons, armors, accessories and medicines. A stay at the inn is always 10 gold coins though.
* BehindTheBlack : It's where chests, switches, or platforms are hidden.
* BiggerOnTheInside : Typical for an {{eastern RPG}}.
* BlackoutBasement : The maze under [[spoiler:Ludon city]].
* BonusBoss : Defeating [[spoiler:Ryan the lion in Assac's arena]] is hard and optional but gets you some always-useful cash and more importantly, an item that opens late-game access to a unique piece of equipment.
* BottomlessMagazines : Played straight with Alina's bow/crossbow/speargun that never runs out of arrows/quarrels/spears. Averted with Edessot's thrown weapons that are in limited supply, take room in your limited inventory, and can (usually) only be found in limited chests, not bought.
* BountyHunter : You meet one early in the game. [[spoiler:Zellini]] also disguises as one at some point in the game.
* CriticalExistenceFailure : Whether at full health or nearly dead, the characters perform just as good. However, their combat portrait and sprite will reflect their condition.

* CapitalCity : Verahansa may be the biggest city of all 16-bit [=RPGs=]!
* CombatMedic : Alina (see Staff Chick too). In Kruller's case, this trope is both played straight (he can only heal DURING combat) and subverted (he can't heal without ''gathering'' first, and his non-magic attacks are rather weak). He's more of a mage with some healing abilities.
* CompetenceZone : Averted. While Hoston, Alina and Edessot are teens and often considered as children, they are accompanied by adults who are more able due to their higher starting level only. It evens out during play.
* CoolBigSis : Alina to Edessot.
* DistressBall : Subverted. Early in game, Alina leaves to go forth on her own, but Hoston and Edessot quickly catch her up, and she did not need to be rescued either.
* DropTheHammer : Rudy's weapons are hammers and maces. One of his special attacks involve a HyperspaceMallet.
* DyingRace : The Goaman (Goamen ?).
* ElementalPowers : Enemies and characters alike can have elemental (fire, water, earth and air) attacks, magics and/or resistances. Typically, Hoston's and Rudy's attacks are earth-based, Alina's water-based, Edessot's and Zellini's fire-based, and Kruller's air-based. Equipping accessories can give elemental resistance, while only enemies can have elemental weaknesses.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture : The city of Oasis.
* FiveManBand : There can only be a maximum of five party members at any given time.

* GlobalCurrency : Gold seems to be that : merchants accept it everywhere, enemies carry gold coins, while chests can contain gold coins, block, bars... or "metal coins" (no amount stated), worth... ONE gold coin !
* HeroesPreferSwords : Hoston's weapons are swords.
* HopelessBossFight : After you defeat his soldiers, [[spoiler:Ironhart]] jumps into the fight, and then you're doomed to lose. [[spoiler:Happens at least twice in the game...]]
* ImprobableWeaponUser : Edessot's weapons are tools (ranging from lighters to chisels to saws...), while Kruller's attack animation pictures him fighting with... juggling balls !
* IdenticalGrandson : Subverted. Some people notice that Hoston looks alike his father Rudy, but noone ever mistakes them.
* InexplicableTreasureChests : Of course, there are treasure chests hidden in forests, jungles, mountains, etc. And their content will never be spoiled or rotten either, however long they've be stored there...
* InnSecurity : Subverted. Some stays in inns are mandatory to advance the plot, but that does not mean you won't get your usual rest either. Not sure if they are always free, though. See also Trauma Inn below.
* KleptomaniacHero : And how ! A Timpo citizen even blames you for this, but without consequence.
* LevelGrinding : Leveling up is slow and hard at first, but it gets better.
* LifeDrain : Kruller has such a spell that targets all enemies.
* LimitBreak : During battles, each character has a 5-level ''Gather'' gauge, which can be filled up by using a "Gather"/"Send Gather" action or an item. Gather levels add a multiplier to the character's attacks and spells (up to x4) and allow him/her to use more powerfull attacks and spells. Gather does not decrease after using a power, but when hit by some heavy attacks, sending it to another character, or after a round or two if it was at max level.
* LimitedWardrobe : Played straight, though Alina tears a part of her jacket at some point. That doesn't show anywhere.
* LostForever : What can happen for some items if you're not careful enough, as several places can only be visited once and/or before a certain point in the plot. Made worse by the fact that some chests can only be opened by backtracking to them much later in the game once you have the necessary skill/key to open them... and they contain some of the most important treasures.
* MightyGlacier / TheBigGuy (Class 2) : Rudy.
* MiniGame : There are some in the game. Played with when you're getting ready to help a farmer harvest watermelons, but eventually... not.
* MoneySpider : Most enemies are animals, yet you still earn gold when you defeat them. Subverted with Ryan the lion, since it's an arena bet.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast : Ironhart does not sound like a very nice, caring person indeed.
* NoExportforYou : Averted to such an extreme degree (for an eastern RPG) that the planned japanese version was eventually not released because of the lack of japanese translators to proof-read it. The game exists in english, french, german, spanish and portuguese, runs on all japanese, american and european consoles, and can be bought from anywhere in the world.
* PaletteSwap : For some enemies. They keep the same name though, only their stats change.
* PamphletShelf : Book shelves are neither overly common nor contain lenghty texts, but they may be critical to the plot's advancement. Some spell books can be bought in stores, read, then sold.
* ParentalAbandonment : Averted hard in Hoston's case : finding a cure to his father Rudy's illness despite his mother's advice is what starts the whole plot ! Not to mention that [[spoiler:Rudy will later join the party... and more]] !
* RandomEncounters : Yup. Exceptions (= fights YOU can decide to start) are very rare.
* ShoutOut : Lots !

** At some point in the game, if you play with the cartridge inserted into a [[OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]], someone will give you the [[spoiler:{{Sonic}} shoes]] ! Doubles as TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything.
* SideQuest : There are some of them in the game, with varying degree of complexity. Examples include delivering a letter, grabbing bunnies in [[spoiler:Reja forest]], collecting some stuff for a bounty hunter, fighting a lion for a prize in an arena, and navigating a maze in [[spoiler:Ludon city]].
* SimpleStaff : Mohu's weapon is a staff. Kruller's weapons are staves too, although his fighting animation shows him using juggling balls.
* SteamPunk : Steam boats, trains, robots, and 19th-century-style factories in a swords and bows world.
* TheArcher : Alina's weapons are bows.
* TraumaInn : Usually one per village. Some other places also allow you to rest, either one time or at will (e.g. the Goaman's hut, a given spot while climbing up Meho moutains, or the Ice Castle), while some others do NOT have any while you could really use one (Hunting Lodge anyone ?). Sleeping at or visiting the inn is sometimes needed to advance into the plot.
* UniversalDriversLicense : Averted. Only Edessot barely knows how to drive the train he just repaired... and even fails the first time he tries !
* UrbanSegregation : The Timpo district of Verahansa is poor, while another district gathers the noble folk.
* WeBuyAnything : Except plot-critical quest items, of course. Price may change according to the buyer, though.
* WelcomeToCorneria : Downplayed. The programmers usually made the effort that NPCs get two or three different things to say before starting again. What they have to say may even be real-life information or hint.
* WeSellEverything : Subverted. Smaller hamlets may have only one or few shops, but bigger cities have several shops or market merchants that may sell the same goods at different prices. Shops are usually specialised in weapons, armor, or accessories/potions/miscellaneous stuff.
* WhipItGood : Zellini's weapons are whips.

It is to date the biggest {{RPG}} and only game developped in the 21st century for this system (other games have been published after year 2000 but were developped during the 90s, namely {{Beggar Prince}}, {{Legend of Wukong}} and {{Star Odyssey}}). It was originally planned to be released in 2008 for the Megadrive's 20th anniversary, but development issues postponed its release to december 2010.

* CapitalCity : Verahansa may be the biggest city of all 16-bit RPGs !

* StaffChick : Subverted. While Alina is a female and acts as a healer for most of the game, she is quite capable in battle and her bow can hit flying ennemies while her companions are usually restricted to battling ground foes, making her a valuable fighting asset too. She's seen wearing high heels and B-height ZettaiRyouiki stockings in one cutscene though. On the other hand, Kruller fights with staves and can also heal (though only during battles), but is a male.

''Pier Solar and the Great Architects'' is a {{SEGA}} {{Megadrive}}/{{Genesis}} {{eastern RPG}} published in 2010.

** You can find ingame {{Megadrive}}/{{Genesis}} cartridges of {{Alien Soldier}} and {{Phantasy Star IV}}.

* WhipItGood : Zellini's weapons are whips.

* UniversalDriversLicense : Only Edessot barely knows how to drive the train he just repaired... and even fails the first time he tries !

* ParentalAbandonment : Averted hard in Hoston's case : finding a cure to his father despite his mother's advice is what starts the whole plot ! Not to mention that [[spoiler:he'll join the party later... and more]] !