History VideoGame / Weaponlord

* DropTheHammer: Bane has a crude stone hammer.

* MightyGlacier: Bane is the slowest of the six champions, but he hits like a giant sledgehammer. [[DropTheHammer Which, in fact, is one of his weapons.]]

''Weaponlord'' (sometimes ''[=WeaponLord=]'') is a 1- or 2-player FightingGame originally designed for release on the UsefulNotes/{{Super Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} by Visual Concepts, and published by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]]. During the inception of the title, the development team also began work on a Creator/{{Sega}} [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive/Genesis]] version and both were released in October 1995. ''Weaponlord'' [[TropeCodifier introduced many groundbreaking gameplay aspects that appear regularly today]]. In fact, James [="DJames"=] Goddard, one of the driving forces behind the game's creation and a former game designer for ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', [[http://www.gamespy.com/articles/954/954328p4.html believes that his weapons-based fighter helped inspire]] Namco's ''VideoGame/{{Soul|Series}}'' series. Also, unlike other titles, ''Weaponlord'' was not intended to replicate an arcade fighter, but built from the ground up on home consoles. This was a reverse of the normal trend, which had arcade versions being developed first, then getting ported to home consoles.

* DevelopersForesight: Since the game was being developed for online back in [[TheNineties 1990s]] via UsefulNotes/{{XBAND}}, the game is full of moments of this. For example, foreseeing that cross-up attacks would be hard to defend against in a laggy environment, the team added a technique called "[[PunchParry Vertical Thrust Blocking]]" to counter cross-ups.

* AmazonianBeauty: All three of the women, with their meager garments and fighting stances only serving to accentuate nearly every inch (and curve) of their heavily muscled yet completely feminine builds.
* AmbiguouslyBrown: Talazia. The best guess would be somewhere akin to Africa or the Caribbean.

* ArtifactOfDoom: Zorn's shield is very definitely one. [[spoiler:It managed to possess him and compel him to kill his former fellow thieves. At the end of his Story mode, it turns out to be [[SealedEvilInACan housing the spirit of the [=DemonLord=] Raith]], who is now returning to life.]]

* BootsOfToughness: Jen-Tai and Divada. Talazia, on the other hand, opts to go barefoot.
* BraidsOfAction: Talazia and Divada.

%%* LeotardOfPower: Divada, albeit a {{Stripperiffic}} one with a NavelDeepNeckline.

* PeltsOfTheBarbarian: Jen-Tai's outfit includes animal skins for her boots, gauntlets, and cape. Wolf pelts play a prominent role in Bane's outfit, as well.

* ProphecyTwist: [[spoiler: Zarak's ending has one. He learns that he was born under the Warrior's Moon, which -- as he killed the previous Demon Lord to become the current Demon Lord -- means HE is the Weaponlord.]]

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The game isn't all that clear on how many words Weaponlord and Demon Lord should be. Expect to see [=WeaponLord=] and [=DemonLord=] thrown out there a lot.

* StatuesqueStunner: While Jen-Tai's impressive height can be inferred from a comparison to that of [[LargeAndInCharge Zarak]]'s (see OneHeadTaller above), if the sprites are meant to be [[YourSizeMayVary an accurate depiction]] of the characters' sizes, Talazia and Divada are no less Amazonian in stature. (Yes, in [[AmazonianBeauty that sense]], too.)

* VillainRespect: Zarak is contemptuous of all of the champions except for Jen-Tai, who previously served him in the arenas. At the beginning of Zarak's Story mode, he laments having to kill "sweetest Jen-Tai" along with the other challengers. Before the final battle of ''Jen-Tai's'' Story mode, Zarak takes care to explain that he is only fighting her because she's in his way (as the last remaining [=WeaponLord=] candidate). Compare this with Zarak's pre-fight dialog with the other champions, where he [[TrashTalk derides their foolish quests for power and/or revenge]].

* YouCannotFightFate: [[spoiler: Played with in Zarak's ending. He believes that he has defeated the [=WeaponLord=] and thwarted the prophecy, but he learns that he was born under the Warrior's Moon, which given that he overthrew the previous [=DemonLord=] Raith, makes HIM the [=WeaponLord=]. Then again, the last scene of Zarak's ending also shows Raith returning from the dead to avenge himself on Zarak, making it arguable which of the two [=DemonLords=] is actually the [=WeaponLord=]!]]

* LeotardOfPower: Divada, albeit a {{Stripperiffic}} one with a NavelDeepNeckline.

* PlayingWithFire: Korr, Zorn, and Zarak's "Inferno" move.

* SlideAttack: Divada has one.

* SpidersAreScary: Zarak's armor is a literal spider. It could also qualify as a literal {{Demonic Spider|s}}.

* SwordPlant: Korr in both of his win poses.
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Or axe, in Zorn and Zarak's cases.

* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: Employed by Zorn.

* HeroicBuild: ''[[WorldOfMuscleMen Everyone.]]'' As Website/HardcoreGaming101 [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/weaponlord/weaponlord.htm puts it:]]

* BootsOfToughness: Jen-Tai and Divada. Talazia, on the other hand, [[DoesNotLikeShoes opts to go barefoot]].

* MonstrousScenery: the stage Destiny Battle takes place on the torso of a massive demon.

* BladeOnAStick: Divada's weapon is a staff with blades attached on each end. There's also Zarak's guillotine-on-a-spear.

* BareYourMidriff: Every female in the game, as well as Zorn.

* AnAxeToGrind: Zorn's weapon of choice.

* TokenMinority: As noted in AmbiguouslyBrown above, Talazia is the only dark-skinned combatant in the game. [[spoiler:The fact that she's actually a falcon trapped in human form due to [[BalefulPolymorph a transformation spell]] only muddies this further.]]

* LeotardOfPower: Divada, [[{{Stripperiffic}} albeit an]] [[AbsoluteCleavage open-cut]] [[{{Stripperiffic}} one]].

* MsFanservice: Due to the character designs, all of the women here, really, though Jen-Tai arguably edges out her competition [[PrettyInMink for]] various [[PantyShot reasons]].

* CompressedHair: Jen-Tai's match win pose has her [[HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic dramatically remove her helmet]] to reveal a {{long|HairIsFeminine}}, [[RavenHairIvorySkin dark]], [[RapunzelHair flowing mane]] that [[DramaticWind blows in the wind]], an act that adds to both her fierceness and allure.

* MsFanservice: Due to the character designs, all of the women here, really, though Jen-Tai arguably edges out her competition [[PrettyInMink for]] [[RapunzelHair various]] [[PantyShot reasons]].

* PantyShot: Whenever she's knocked down, the flap of Jen-Tai's {{loincloth}} lifts up to expose a white thong underneath. This isn't helped by her rather suggestive posturing on the ground, lying on her back with both of her knees raised and bent while [[MaleGaze her large glutes and thighs are pointed directly toward the screen, Jen-Tai's panties still uncovered for a good second or so]].

* TyrantTakesTheHelm: Divada's ending in Story Mode has her kill Zarak, take his power and that of the other warriors for her own, and unite all the kingdoms under her iron fist. She turns out to be [[EvilerThanThou even crueler than her predecessor]].

* VillainRespect: Zarak is contemptuous of all of the champions except for Jen-Tai, who previously served him in the arenas. At the beginning of Zarak's Story mode, he laments having to kill "sweetest Jen-Tai" along with the other challengers. Before the final battle of ''Jen-Tai's'' Story mode, Zarak takes the care to explain that he is only fighting her because she's in his way (as the last remaining [=WeaponLord=] candidate). Compare this with Zarak's pre-fight dialog with the other champions, where he [[TrashTalk derides their foolish quests for power and/or revenge]].

* YouCannotFightFate: [[spoiler: Zarak's ending. He believes that he has defeated the Weaponlord and preventing the prophecy of the Weaponlord, he learns that he was born under the Warrior's Moon, making HIM the Weaponlord. Then again, the last scene of Zarak's ending also shows the [=DemonLord=] Raith returning from the dead to avenge himself on Zarak, making it arguable which of the two [=DemonLords=] is actually the [=WeaponLord=]!]]

* TheChosenMany: The six champions that seek to defeat the [=DemonLord=] in combat were all born on the night of the Bloodmoon. Then [=DemonLord=] Raith received word of a prophecy foretelling his demise at the hands of one of these children child. Choosing to ignore his counsel's advice and after waiting a quarter of a century for them to mature in body, mind, and spirit, so he could fight them at their strongest.

* CoolHelmet: Worn by Jen-Tai and Zarak, as mentioned above in AnimalMotifs. Talazia arguably counts as well.

* ArtifactOfDoom: Zorn's shield is considered one. [[spoiler:It managed to possess him and compel him to kill his former fellow thieves.]]

* AnAxeToGrind: Zorn.

* DisappearedDad: Jen-Tai's dad was presumed killed in battle, and [[AncestralWeapon his broadsword delivered to her]]. [[spoiler:Her dialogue before fighting Zarak expands on this by explaining that Zarak killed her father in an honorable battle. [[WhatASenselessWasteOfHumanLife After lamenting the loss of a powerful ally and an excellent foe]], he decides to make Jen-Tai a new Arena Queen. He even delivered the sword to her for that reason.]]

* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:Divada killed her own father and all her brothers in order to inherit a powerful heirloom which would give her power. Zarak murdered his father, the previous Demon Lord, in battle to prove that the latter's methods were too old-fashioned to work, though he later grew to respect them.]]

* HeavyMithril: The game's general aesthetic. Everything looks like it stepped off a fantasy-themed heavy metal album cover, and it is ''awesome''.

* KlingonPromotion: How Zarak became the new [=DemonLord=] [[spoiler:against his former master, Raith]].

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:If you have Korr finish Bane off in Story Mode, Zarak will present the barbarian with Bane's head, revealing that [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Korr actually murdered his long-lost brother]]. Korr is haunted by this.]]

* OffWithHisHead: When your opponent's health reaches zero it's possible to take their head off with an attack. Continuing to attack the severed head in mid-air can lead to [[YourHeadAsplode the head bursting open and the brain falling out]].

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: [[spoiler:Bane's defense for why he killed his attackers before he was allowed to according to Tarok traditions.]]

* YouCannotFightFate: [[spoiler: Zarak's ending. He believes that he has defeated the Weaponlord and preventing the prophecy of the Weaponlord, he learns that he was born under the Warrior's Moon, making HIM the Weaponlord.]]

* NintendoHard: And deliberately so. ''Weaponlord'' was designed with FightingGame veterans in mind, a fact its wicked difficulty curve will not let players forget it.

* MightyGlacier: Bane is the slowest of the six champions, but he hits like a sledgehammer. [[DropTheHammer Which, in fact, is one of his weapons.]]
* MsFanservice: Due to the character designs, all of the women here, really, though Jen-Tai may inadvertently edge out her competition [[PrettyInMink for]] [[RapunzelHair various]] [[PantyShot reasons]].

* PeltsOfTheBarbarian: Jen-Tai's outfit includes animal skins for her boots, gauntlets, and cape.

* ProphecyTwist: [[spoiler: Zarak's ending has one. He learns that he was born under the Warrior's Moon and having killed his father, the previous Demon Lord, makes him the Weaponlord.]]

* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: Divada turned to BlackMagic because only the males in her family were allowed to become sorcerers. [[StartOfDarkness Let's just say it didn't work out so well.]]

* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler:Jen-Tai's Story Mode ending indicates that perhaps there might finally be peace in the world... Until a picture of a monster (revealed to be the former Demon Lord Raith) appears, stating that it might not be the case.]]

* TheHedonist: For all the killing that Zorn does, he is noted to enjoy rare treasures and women a lot.

* [[SomeDexterityRequired Lots of Dexterity Required]]: There are several moves each character has that use very unusual motions in order to perform certain special moves, and many of them require the player to hold a button down and then release after the command is input (known as negative edge) to perform it.

* NobleDemon: Raith is an evil man, but he is also a thoroughly honorable one. Rather than leave himself open to a NiceJobBreakingItHerod, he determines to instead wait out the prophecy and call those eligible to a great tournament to fight for the position of Weaponlord. [[spoiler:He doesn't live long enough to enact this plan as he is murdered by his son Zarak, who considered Raith's warrior code too old-fashioned.]]

* YouCannotFightFate: [[spoiler: Zarak's ending. He believes that he has defeated the Weaponlord and preventing the prophecy of the Weaponlord, he learns that he was born under the Warrior's Moon, making him the Weaponlord.]]

* YouWillBeSpared: A less villainous example, Jen-Tai rarely killed her foes in the arenas, preferring to let them learn so they can [[WorthyOpponent face her again]]. Doing this in Story Mode (as any of the characters) will force you to re-fight everyone you spared before the final battle with the BigBad.

* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: Divada's skin is chalk-white by default, likely to reflect the [[EvilMakesYouUgly "ugly"]] result of her years dabbling in BlackMagic. Her 2P color opts for green instead.

* BladeOnAStick: Divada's weapon is a staff with a blade attached on each end. There's also Zarak's guillotine-on-a-spear.

* EvilLaugh: Divada lets out a haughty and triumphant laugh during her RollingAttack and upon proving victorious over her foe.

* NintendoHard
* NobleDemon: Raith is an evil man, but he is also a thoroughly honorable one. Rather than leave himself open to a NiceJobBreakingItHerod, he determines to instead wait out the prophecy and call those eligible to a great tournament to fight for the position of Weaponlord. [[spoiler:He doesn't live long enough to enact this plan as he is murdered by his son Zarak, who considered Raith's warrior code too old fashioned.]]
* OffWithHisHead: When your opponent's health reaches zero it's possible to take their head off with an attack. Continuing to attack the severed head in mid-air can lead to the head bursting open and the brain falling out.

* WreckedWeapon: Similar to ClothingDamage above, there is also a certain combination that would break the opponent's weapon if they got caught in it. However, all this amounted to was a drastically reduced reach for all attacks.

* BarbarianHero: All the characters have a "barbarian" aesthetic, with many of the characters actually being barbarians to boot. As noted by Website/HardcoreGaming101, [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tracing/tracing2.htm the the game's cover art]] (drawn by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Bisley Simon Bisley]]) is even [[{{Homage}} based on]] an illustration by famed {{fantasy art}}ist Creator/FrankFrazetta, known for drawing [[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian a character]] frequently held up as ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' BarbarianHero. [[note]]Bisley [[http://www.comic-art.com/intervws/bisleyi5.htm has noted]] drawing inspiration from the works of both Frazetta and Creator/RobertEHoward. He's also known for his contributions to magazines such as ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'' and ''Magazine/HeavyMetal'', including artist duties for ''ComicBook/{{Slaine}}'', another barbarian fantasy.[[/note]]

* BladeOnAStick: Divada's weapon is a staff with two blades attached onto each end. There's also Zarak's guillotine-on-a-spear.

* EasyModeMockery: Completing the Story Mode at lower difficulties will not net you the full ending, if any at all. The only way to get the full ending is to complete the game at Warlord Difficulty, the hardest difficulty and boy is it [[NintendoHard HARD]]!!

* BarbarianHero: All the characters have a "barbarian" aesthetic, with many of the characters actually being barbarians to boot. As noted by Website/HardcoreGaming101, [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tracing/tracing2.htm the the game's cover art]] is even based on an illustration by famed {{fantasy art}}ist Creator/FrankFrazetta, known for drawing [[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian a character]] frequently held up as ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' BarbarianHero.

* AmazonianBeauty: All three of the women, with their meager garments and fighting stances only serving to accentuate nearly every inch (and curve) of their heavily-muscled yet completely feminine builds.
* AmbiguouslyBrown: Talazia. The best guess would be somewhere akin to Africa or the Carribean.
* AnimalMotifs: Talazia wears a headdress in the shape of [[NobleBirdOfPrey a falcon]]'s beak, Bane dons the skin of [[NobleWolf a wolf]], Jen-Tai's ancestral helmet [[CrownOfHorns sports horns like those of a ram]], and Zarak's helmet and armor resemble [[ArachnidAppearanceAndAttire a spider]]. Bonus points in that Talazia [[spoiler:actually ''is'' a falcon]], Bane howls like a wolf in celebration of a victory, Jen-Tai's style of combat has her buck at her opponents with an upward swipe of her head, and Zarak has his unique Fatality mentioned above.

* BarbarianHero: All the characters have a "barbarian" aesthetic, with many of the characters actually being barbarians to boot.

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: Every character has at least one or two moves that involve having the player spin their weapon around.

* WorldOfMuscleMen: All the characters, even [[AmazonianBeauty the women]], are quite ripped to say the least.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler:Zorn's Story Mode ending culminates with his suddenly-living shield killing the thief with his newly-formed body.]]