History VideoGame / TheDameWasLoaded

The game is non-linear, having nine possible endings, featuring over thirty characters to interact with, and over an hour of {{FMV}} cinematics.

* CruelTwistEnding: Mixed with SuddenDownerEnding: [[spoiler:in the second part of the game, you have the chance to get yourself a gun, and you are subsequently allowed to shot almost every character you meet. Everytime you try that, you get a NonstandardGameOver in which you are thrown into jail (or killed yourself in at least one instance), often with a hilarious comment if you killed a particularly inoffensive character. Given that, after you rescue Francine and she returns to the newspaper, it's just natural that one would try to shoot her and see if something funny comes out of that... but what you get instead is a full-fledged ending during which [[TearJerker Anger sadly explains that he shot her for revenge, as Francine killed Angela the same way]]. [[EarnYourBadEnding Oops!]] Cue the credits]].

The game is non-linear, having nine possible endings, featuring [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters over thirty characters to interact with]], and over an hour of {{FMV}} cinematics.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: You can interact with over 30 main and supporting characters, ranging from the humble hotel concierge to femme fatale Louise Creel.

* HairpinLockpick: The one you get will ''always'' work on any lock. However, it will also only last three times and the game becomes UnwinnableByMistake if you use it too often. A pity you can't just [[FridgeLogic buy a new one]].

* BadGuyBar: Jake’s Joint. It’s number one target for police raids for a reason.
* BaitAndSwitch: Late in the game [[spoiler: Louise Creel]] will offer you to [[AutoErotica have sex in your car]] ... only to shoot you with a gun she has hidden in her purse if you accept.

* CruelTwistEnding: Mixed with SuddenDownerEnding: [[spoiler:in the second part of the game, you have the chance to get yourself a gun, and you are subsequently allowed to shot almost every character you meet. Everytime you try that, you get a NonstandardGameOver in which you are thrown into jail (or killed yourself in at least one instance), often with an hilarious comment if you killed a particularly inoffensive character. Given that, after you rescue Francine and she returns to the newspaper, it's just natural that one would try to shoot her and see if something funny comes out of that...but what you get instead is a full-fledged ending during which [[TearJerker Anger sadly explains that he shot her for revenge, as Francine killed Angela the same way]]. [[EarnYourBadEnding Oops!]] Cue the credits]].

* AbandonedWarehouse: [[spoiler: Joel Jones' goons interrogate you in one after they kidnap you. Your arms are tied, but luckily there's fire alarm with glass cover nearby...]]

* DonutMessWithACop: In order to covertly find information in a cop’s office, you need to buy a donut in a diner and give it to him. This will get him to leave for a lunch break and leave you alone in the office. Notably, if you carry it for too long, [[RealityEnsues it’ll get stale and cop will refuse it]]!

* BlatantLies: When you're [[spoiler: kidnapped by Joel Jones' goons, they will ask you where you hid the diamond. You can name any of the places you went to during the game, including ''the police station''.]] They're [[NonStandardGameOver '''not''' impressed]] if you [[TooDumbToLive choose that option]].
* CheckpointStarvation: You’re only allowed to save in the protagonist’s office. This would be fair enough in most adventure games, but here the entire game is timed, and going back to save takes up some of the time. On the plus side, this approach deals with SaveScumming.

* CruelTwistEnding: makes a rather brilliant mixture with SuddenDownerEnding: [[spoiler: in the second part of the game, you have the chance to get yourself a gun, and you are subsequently allowed to shot almost every character you meet. Everytime you try that, you get a NonstandardGameOver in which you are throw into jail (or killed yourself in at least one instance), often with an hilarious comment in case you killed a particularly inoffensive character. Given that, after you rescue Francine and she returns to the newspaper, it's just natural that one would try to shot her and see if something funny comes out of that...but what you get instead is a full-fledged ending during which [[TearJerker Anger sadly explains that he shoot her for revenge, as Francine killed Angela the same way]]. [[EarnYourBadEnding Ooops!]] Cue the credits]].
* DialogueTree: Used for some conversations. Sometimes, there are only semantic differences, but sometimes you get instant GameOver for particularly bad decisions.
* DonutMessWithACop: In order to unofficially find information in a cop’s office, you need to buy a donut in a diner and give it to him. This will get him to leave for a lunch break and leave you alone in the office. Notably, if you carry it for too long, [[RealityEnsues it’ll get stale and cop will refuse it]]!

* TapOnTheHead: You’ll get hit on the head and knocked unconscious for two hours at the Palm Tree Motel if you try to force your way into a room instead of lockpicking. It remains the preferable option because there are no further ill effects from it, while lockpicking requires the use of hairpin, which breaks after it’s used the third time.

* TimedMission: The entire game is timed. Initially, you're given three days of game time to solve the case and you’ll get a GameOver if you don’t make it in time to the next section of the game. Said next section is timed too [[spoiler: as you're ransomed with the life of Francine]].

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Toward the end of the game, you will eventually find out [[spoiler: that while Freddy Creel killed your partner, the ambush someone will later try to pull off on you and fail was ordered by Joel Jones. Which means that two different parties in competition to get the diamonds agreed in part on the necessity of take you out]].

* NonstandardGameOver: If you fail to solve the first part of the game in three days, your partner will take the case and send you away from the city you to work on another. Or he will furiously fire you if don't show up in time to get that case. Also, the second time your landlord come to ask for the rent, he will actually throw you out after some days if you don't pay him (you can however evade him by getting in and out of your office by the back door). Finally, trying to shot someone will invaribly send you straight into the jail, barring the specific cases [[spoiler: where you get killed for it or get one of the endings]].

* PoliceAreUseless: Both played straight and averted. Generally, while Denton provides Anger valuable informations from time to time, he will not hesitate to take you in for several hours if you are so stupid to show him proof that you meddle with police's property or other cases. Also, showing him [[spoiler: the ransom note will cause the police to think YOU kidnapped Francine]], which again will make you lose quite a bit of hours. However if you bring him [[spoiler: certain bullets and certain guns]], he will discover several interesting things for you, most notably that [[spoiler: Francine killed Angela, Anger's former lover]].