History VideoGame / Zeliard

''Zeliard'' is a MetroidVania-style adventure game by Creator/GameArts. Like Game Arts' earlier titles ''VideoGame/{{Thexder}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Silpheed}}'', it was originally released in Japan on the UsefulNotes/PC88 in 1987 and brought to western shores by Creator/{{Sierra}}, the first project helmed by Creator/JoshMandel.

** The game doesn't actually tell you how many experience points you get from defeating each enemy or how much more you need to reach the next LevelUp; visiting a sage will only give the player a general measure of how close they are. Fortunately, [[http://zeliardgame.tripod.com/enemies/index.html these]] [[http://zeliardgame.tripod.com/internals/index.html webpages]] will tell you.

* StalactiteSpite: Ice stalactites in the frozen caverns will drop randomly, and chunks of ceiling in the golden caverns will do the same.

* LostWoods: The caverns of Madera and Riza are filled with giant trees whose branches you have to navigate.

''Zeliard'' is a MetroidVania-style adventure game by Creator/GameArts. Like Game Arts' earlier titles ''VideoGame/{{Thexder}}'' and ''Silpheed'', it was originally released in Japan on the UsefulNotes/PC88 in 1987 and brought to western shores by Creator/{{Sierra}}, the first project helmed by Creator/JoshMandel.

* BlatantLies: The shopkeeper at the magic shop tells you that the magic feather will bring you back to the last sage you've met. This is actually untrue, the feather will always dumb you at the first town. The reason for this was a design change when the game was ported to the West and they didn't corrected the shopkeeper's line. In the original Japanese version the feather does bring you back at the last sage you've met.

The game takes place [[ExtyYearsFromNow two thousand years after]] a monster known as Jashiin was [[SealedEvilInACan sealed away]] by the nine Tears Of Esmesanti, after causing much havoc upon the world and claiming it for his own. After the self-proclaimed "Emperor of Chaos" somehow breaks free from his prison, he causes an extremely long sandstorm (it was raining sand, actually) that severely damages the beautiful landscape and [[TakenForGranite turns Princess Felicia la Felishika to stone]], simply as an act of revenge against the descendants of those who imprisoned him. Duke Garland, guided by the Guardian Spirit and appointed by King Felishika, sets forth to reclaim the holy crystals and finish off Jashiin and end his reign of terror. There is a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJHDgHKciew video review]], for those who'd like to know more.

** While falling, thrusting your sword down will deal enough damage to kill just about ''anyhting''. Even the red slimes.

* AttackItsWeakPoint: The [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons dragon]] of the Volcano cavern is vulnerable in the face; anywhere else is more or less ScratchDamage. The zombies (and several later enemies the same size as you) are also only vulnerable in their heads.

* DifficultyByRegion: The original Japanese release of the game was far more harder than the Western port. [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/zeliard/ Check this entry in Hardcore Gaming 101 for further details.]]

* OneHundredAndEight: According to the introduction, the rain of sand unleashed by Jashiin lasted many days, effectively desertifying the kingdom (not that you can tell from the looks of Muralla Town, Bosque, or Llama).

* OneHitKill: [=NPCs=] claim that the Fairy Flame Sword can do this. And (at least against {{Mooks}}) it does.

* GardenOfEvil: The caverns of Absor, Desleal, Milagro, and Final resemble an overgrown garden.

* SpikesOfDoom: Every level has some kind of terrain that damages you when you step on it, and for the first few levels, it's these: Made of rocks, brambles, or ice depending on the level. Later levels avert this trope in favor of blue goo, lava, or fire.

* SwordPlant: Press Down and Attack while jumping to thrust your sword downwards and land on enemies pointy end first.

* VideoGameSliding: The downhill sliding is more of an obstacle rather than a ability, as the player eventually has to get an upgrade to ascend them.

* RespawningEnemies: Mooks will keep swarming even if after an area has been cleared.

* SchmuckBait: In world 2, there's a sign that warns you against opening the chest nearby. Opening the chest will release a unique bat that can be very difficult to beat depending on your current level and weapon.

* UselessUsefulSpell: Espada (Throwing Swords), due to its lackluster damage capabilities, is of some use in Peligro but quickly declines in utility afterwards; and Rascar (Falling Rocks), due to the random nature in which the rocks fall.

* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Pulpo, the boss of the second cavern.