History VisualNovel / MuvLuv

** This bounces between averted and played straight repeatedly throughout ''Alternative''. [[spoiler: Initially averted in ''Alternative'' when he helps develop a machine that would send him back to his original ''Extra'' world and demonstrates extreme joy at the possibility of going home. HOWEVER, its played straight again when Takeru decides to remain in the ''Alternative'' world to ensure Alternative IV's success... until he suffers PTSD and averts this trope AGAIN by fleeing back to the ''Extra'' world. In the end, he goes back to the ''Alternative'' world and plays the trope straight after completing Alternative IV... until forces outside his control forces him to avert the trope AGAIN.]]

** This bounces between averted and played straight repeatedly throughout ''Alternative''. [[spoiler: Initially averted in ''Alternative'' when he helps develop a machine that would send him back to his original ''Extra'' world and demonstrates extreme joy at the possibility of going home. HOWEVER, its played straight again when Takeru decides to remain in the ''Alternative'' world to ensure Alternate IV's success... until he suffers PTSD and averts this trope AGAIN by fleeing back to the ''Extra'' world. In the end, he goes back to the ''Alternative'' world and plays the trope straight after completing Alternative IV... until forces outside his control forces him to avert the trope AGAIN.]]

** This bounces between averted and played straight repeatedly throughout Alternate. [[spoiler: Initially averted in Alternate when he helps develop a machine that would send him back to his original Muv-Luv Extra world and demonstrates extreme joy at the possibility of going home. HOWEVER, its played straight again when Takeru decides to remain in the Alternate world to ensure Alternate IV's success... until he suffers PTSD and averts this trope AGAIN by fleeing back to the Extra world. In the end, he goes back to the Alternate world and plays the trope straight after completing Alternative IV... until forces outside his control forces him to avert the trope AGAIN.]]

* [[spoiler:[[YouAreTheDemons You Are The BETA]]]]: [[spoiler: While berating Takeru, Yuuko in the ''Extra Branch'' invokes this trope, telling him that, to that world's Takeru, to that world's Sumika, and to the five billion people who will die due to his being a causality conductor, he is the incomprehensible harbinger of despair that the BETA are in the world of ''Alternative''.]]

A port of the series to the Xbox 360 was announced by 5pb, co-creators of ''[[ChaosHead Chaos;Head]]'' and ''[[SteinsGate Steins;Gate]]'' with {{Nitroplus}} and was released in October 2011. ''Total Eclipse'', one of the many side stories, [[http://muvluv-te-anime.ixtl.jp/ will receive an anime adaptation in 2012]].

* '''[[spoiler:KillEmAll]]''': [[spoiler:'''All'''[[hottip:*:except two if you consider Kasumi and Yuuko as main characters]] of the main cast, as well as the majority of the supporting cast, are dead by the end of Operation Cherry Blossom and its aftermath, many of them via HeroicSacrifice. Of the three immediate survivors of the operation, Sumika dies due to NoOntologicalInertia and Takeru [[RetGone ceases to exist]] in the aftermath. Several other side stories also end this way. Time will tell if ''Total Eclipse'' will follow suit, but rumors go around that the creator plans on outdoing ''even [[{{Zambot3}} Zambot 3]]''. Old Tomino would have been proud.]]

* ColonyDrop: Referred to in one of [[MadScientist Yuuko-Sensei's]] exam review questions, which asks the student to calculate the kinetic energy of an [[MobileSuitGundam O'Neill-type space colony falling to Earth and the corresponding energy released upon impact]]. Another question asks [[CharsCounterattack how much nuclear fuel said colony must contain, and what its velocity should be, in order to obliterate the Japanese mainland, given some defined parameters.]]

* MultipleEndings: In ''Extra'' and ''Unlimited'' only. ''Alternative'' is strictly linear. [[spoiler: The nature of the multiple routes is a major plot point.]]

* [[spoiler:ManchurianAgent]]: [[spoiler: 2nd Lt. Irma Thesleff, as revealed by the manga adaptation of ''Alternative''.]]

* [[spoiler:RetGone]]: [[spoiler:Takeru in ''Alternative'' ceases to exist shortly after Sumika, who had been sustaining his existence, dies. Due to his nature as a quantum causality phenomenon he is wiped from the memories of everyone, with the exceptions of Yuuko and Kasumi.]]
* [[spoiler:SacrificialLion]]: [[spoiler: Marimo]] in ''Alternative''.
* [[spoiler:ShallowLoveInterest]]: [[spoiler:This is literally Sumika's entire gimmick; she really, REALLY likes Takeru. She even admits in the climax of her ''Extra'' route that she doesn't have what the other heroines (especially Meiya) have going for them (even ''Takeru'' is smarter than her!); her antics are just an act to make her more endearing. ''However'', it was this love that helped use the resident sci-fi magic which allowed an amalgamation of ''Extra''[='=]s Takerus to form in her ''Unlimited/Alternative'' world.]]

* DrillSergeantNasty: Marimo as Michiru remembered her in the story she told Takeru [[spoiler: in the aftermath of Marimo's death]]. [[spoiler: The full extent of her nastiness is revealed in the sidestory ''Confession'' where, among other things, she ''[[KickTheDog kicks Michiru's fallen fellow cadet during training until the latter stands up, and later forces Michiru to drink from a puddle after making her run long and hard]]'', while delivering a verbal beatdown that would have made [[FullMetalJacket Sergeant Hartmann]] proud.]] She's mellowed out by the actual game, however, and while still very strict, is a bit more open with her kind and helpful nature.

* SergeantRock: Marimo in ''Unlimited'' and ''Alternative''. She constantly reminds Takeru and his squadmates of many important things, [[spoiler: things she herself [[ShellShockedVeteran learned]] [[SoleSurvivor the hard way]] [[SurvivorGuilt in her]] [[DeathSeeker past]].]]

* {{Expy}}[=/=]CaptainErsatz: Takahashi Ichimonji, Meiya's limo driver, is basically [[InitialD Ryousuke]] [[TakehitoKoyasu Takahashi]] in personality and traits - stoic, always with a laptop, formulating a Theory of Maximum Street Velocity - with the face of [[InitialD Takumi Fujiwara]]. Yuuko is a [[{{Rule63}} genderbent]] [[SuperRobotWars Shuu Shirakawa]], and Meiya has a hairstyle taken from the [[{{Gundam0083}} RX-78GP02A Physalis]], while [[spoiler: her twin sister Yuuhi]] has one from the [[{{Gundam0083}} AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra]]. In sidestories we also see Meiya's grandfather and training master, who look like, and are named after, {{Raideen}} and {{Grendizer}} respectively, while [[spoiler: Yuuhi's]] master's name is a pun on GodSigma. The ongoing sidestory ''Schwarzesmarken'' adds Captain Ersatzes of [[Literature/BokuWaTomodachiGaSukunai Meat]] and [[Anime/GuiltyCrown Tsugumi]].

* AnyoneCanDie: in the world of ''Unlimited''[=/=]''Alternative''. To quote a description of the prequel[=/=]side-story ''Schwarzesmarken'':
--> ''Death is not a special event. It is the story of the battlefield.''

* ArcWords: ''"Even if your own life is what's most important to you, you can't protect it alone"'' in both ''Unlimited'' and ''Alternative''. Also,''"I am going to do what only I can do"'' and ''"You must never hesitate to stain your own hands with blood"'' in ''Alternative'', [[spoiler: with the meaning of the latter becoming [[{{Tearjerker}} heart-rendingly]] [[ICannotSelfTerminate clear]] [[ShootTheHostage to Takeru]] [[PlayerPunch by the end.]]]]

* {{Expy}}: Takahashi Ichimonji, Meiya's limo driver, is basically [[InitialD Ryousuke]] [[[[TakehitoKoyasu Takahashi]] in personality and traits - stoic, always with a laptop, formulating a Theory of Maximum Street Velocity - with the face of [[InitialD Takumi Fujiwara]]. Yuuko is a [[{{Rule63}} genderbent]] [[SuperRobotWars Shuu Shirakawa]], and Meiya has a hairstyle taken from the [[{{Gundam0083}} RX-78GP02A Physalis]], while [[spoiler: her twin sister Yuuhi]] has one from the [[{{Gundam0083}} AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra]]. In sidestories we also see Meiya's grandfather and training master, who look like, and are named after, {{Raideen}} and {{Grendizer}} respectively, while [[spoiler: Yuuhi's]] master's name is a pun on GodSigma.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Go with God in all the dark places you may walk, Squadron 207. Humanity will never forget your sacrifice.]] [[spoiler: [[RetGone Forgive, Takeru.]]]]

* HumongousMecha: The "Tactical Surface Fighters" in ''Unlimited'' and ''Alternative'' are [[RealRobot Real Robots]]. [[spoiler: The Type-2 and Type-4 Susano'o units as well.]]

* TheJimmyHartVersion: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3h_Opxwbw4 "The End of Regret"]] sounds very similar to the Takashi Kako song [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAg2nosbbsM&feature=related "Is Paris Burning?"]]

* [[spoiler:BoomHeadshot]]: [[spoiler: The ''Total Eclipse'' light novels end with Yui getting sniped in the head. The story is not yet complete, however, and is expected to be continued in the upcoming TV series.]]

* [[spoiler:GutPunch]]: [[spoiler:HEADCHOMP.]]

* [[spoiler:ShrineToTheFallen]]: [[spoiler:In ''Alternative'', a short beam of iron was erected on the spot Marimo fell as a memorial to her. It was later moved to the foot of one of the cherry trees in front of the base, and turned into a memorial for all the fallen Valkyries (Marimo together with her "children") together.]]

* TakingTheBullet: [[spoiler: Marimo's former squad leader shielding her [=TSF=] from a laser-class BETA]] in the side-story ''Atonement''.

* DrillSergeantNasty: Marimo as Michiru remembered her in the story she told Takeru [[spoiler: in the aftermath of Marimo's death]]. [[spoiler: The full extent of her nastiness is revealed in the sidestory ''Confession'' where, among other things, she ''[[KickTheDog kicks Michiru's fallen fellow cadet during training until the latter stands up, and later forces Michiru to drink from a puddle after making her run long and hard]]'', while delivering a verbal beatdown that would have made [[FullMetalJacket Sergeant Hartmann]] proud. She's mellowed out by the actual game, however, and while still very strict, is a bit more open with her kind and helpful nature]].

* HulksCooldownHugCorollary: In ''Alternative'', [[spoiler: a Shogun-disguised Meiya was on the brink of convincing Sagiri to stand down and peacefully end the coup d'etat, when an American TSF had to start shooting out of nowhere. Thanks a bunch, CIA.]]

* [[spoiler: ChildSoldiers]]: [[spoiler:If lowering the draft age to 15 and making women drafting compulsory before the events of ''Unlimited[=/=]Alternative'' were not enough, ''The Day After'' reveals that Shizuku was drafted into the Army when she was '''ten'''.]]

--> '''JP Pilot''' ''(presumably activating his interpreter)'': [[spoiler: To the American Army. English can eat shit. I repeat - English can eat shit.]]

* BattleHarem: Takeru's in ''Unlimited'' and ''Alternative'', Yuuya's in ''Total Eclipse'', Hibiki's in ''The Day After''. Theodor's women comrades in ''Schwarzesmarken'' may also count, but the series doesn't seem to focus on that yet.

* [[spoiler:EarnYourHappyEnding]]: [[spoiler:When Takeru tries to weasel out of his responsibility to save humanity from the BETA/find out why he's trapped in that timeline, [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel it really doesn't work out so well]], so he resolves to return and finish his work. His efforts not only earn him a return to his happy life, but several characters introduced in ''Alternative'' (being dead or otherwise not present in the ''Extra'' world) get to join him in happiness.]]

* [[spoiler:EarnYourHappyEnding]]: [[spoiler:When Takeru tries to weasel out of his responsibility to save humanity from the BETA/find out why he's trapped in that timeline, [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel it really doesn't work out so well]], so he resolves to return and finish his work. His efforts not only earn him a return to his happy life (not that he's aware of that, or worse, could be considered as the same person), but several characters introduced in ''Alternative'' (being dead or otherwise not present in the ''Extra'' world) get to join him in happiness.]]

* [[spoiler:EarnYourHappyEnding]]: [[spoiler:When Takeru tries to weasle out of his responsibility to save humanity from the BETA/find out why he's trapped in that timeline, [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel it really doesn't work out so well]], so he resolves to return and finish his work. His efforts not only earn him a return to his happy life, but several characters introduced in ''Alternative'' (being dead or otherwise not present in the ''Extra'' timeline) get to join him in happiness.]]
** [[spoiler:In the ''Alternative'' timeline, the ending is a touch more [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]], but all the same, you cant deny that Takeru and his squad earned every last drop of sweetness enjoyed.]]

* AnyoneCanDie: in the world of ''Unlimited''[=/=]''Alternative''. To quote a description of the new prequel[=/=]side-story ''Schwarzesmarken'':

* DrillSergeantNasty: Marimo as Michiru remembered her in the story she told Takeru [[spoiler: in the aftermath of Marimo's death]]. [[spoiler: The full extent of her nastiness is revealed in the recently-released sidestory ''Confession'' where, among other things, she ''[[KickTheDog kicks Michiru's fallen fellow cadet during training until the latter stands up, and later forces Michiru to drink from a puddle after running]]'', while delivering a verbal beatdown that would have made Sergeant Hartmann proud. She's mellowed out by the actual game, however, and while still very strict, is a bit more open with her kind and helpful nature]].

* ArtEvolution: Just take a look at [[http://i.imgur.com/mop4K.jpg a screenshot from Alternative]] versus [[http://i.imgur.com/gavya.jpg the recently released side story Confession]].

* GratuitousGerman: The title of the new ''Unlimited[=/=]Alternative'' side story, ''Schwarzesmarken''.

* IChooseToStay: [[spoiler:Takeru has a chance at the end of Unlimited to join the colonists on the last shuttle. He says no. "I will protect this beautiful world."]]

* RunningGag: Meiya injures her left ankle while in a cave in Extra, prompting Takeru to carry her out on his back. In Unlimited, she injures it again [[spoiler: while rescuing the old women during the Mount Tengan eruption, again prompting Takeru to carry her to safety.]] In Altered Fable, she injures it [[spoiler: in a skiing accident with Takeru. This time, however, he gets knocked unconscious, resulting in her dragging him to safety.]]

* TrueCompanions: Takeru's friends in Extra, Squadron 207[=/=]A-01 Valkyries in ''Unlimited'' and ''Alternative''. The trope was invoked by the commanding officer of the Valkyries, who recounted that she joined the army out of a desire to protect the one she loved, but ended up caring more for her teammates instead.

* UnwantedHarem: In ''Extra''. Arguably [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in ''Unlimited'', where Takeru is pretty much the only guy that his teammates know that is in the same age group as them.

* [[spoiler:DownerEnding]]: [[spoiler: ''Muv Luv Unlimited'', with Alternative V being implemented: A small fraction of the remaining human population (including Takeru's girlfriend, whom he had convinced to live on) flees the planet, and the rest go out with a bang, nuking themselves and the BETA with lots of G-Bombs.]]

* [[spoiler:ShallowLoveInterest]]: [[spoiler:This is literally Sumika's entire gimmick, she really, REALLY likes Takeru. It was her love that helped use the resident sci-fi magic which allowed an amalgamation of Extra's Takerus to form in her world.]]

* [[spoiler: TraumaCongaLine]]: [[spoiler: Takeru in the greater part of Chapter 7 of ''Alternative'', also known as the "PTSD arc".]]