History WrongGenreSavvy / VideoGames

** [[spoiler: Clone Shepard]], the Big Bad of the ''Citadel DLC'' has been deluded by [[spoiler: [[TheMole Mara Brooks]]] into believing they are really the hero of the story and Shepard is the villain that must be defeated in order for them to save the galaxy. And due to [[spoiler: believing that they're a superior clone of Commander Shepard, and therefore attempting to KillAndReplace them]], and the ''[[StatisticallySpeaking very real fact]]'' that [[spoiler: his/her]] mercenaries outclass [[TheSquad Shepard's squad]] by a wide mile, they repeatedly fail to take into account the massive [[GameplayAndStorySegregation gameplay and story segregation]] they are dealing with, plus the fact that they're ''fighting [[OneManArmy Commander Shepard]]''.

** PlayedForLaughs in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' when the normally very GenreSavvy Shepard plays chess with Samantha Traynor. Shepard has been a soldier for so long that s/he attempts to play with real-world tactics in mind.

** [[spoiler: Clone Shepard]], the Big Bad of the ''Citadel DLC'' has deluded themselves into believing they are really the hero of the story and Shepard is the villain that must be defeated in order for them to save the galaxy. Furthermore, despite [[spoiler: being a Clone of Commander Shepard attempting to KillAndReplace them]], they repeatedly fail to take into account they are dealing with ''[[OneManArmy Commander Shepard]]''.
** The Quarians got hit by this pretty hard in the Morning War. Seeing the Geth becoming more intelligent and fearing a RobotWar, the authorities began rounding them up, but some Quarians protested. When these individuals were attacked or rounded up, the Geth, who were otherwise fine with what the government were planning, stepped in and protected the Quarian protesters from them. ''En masse''. In their attempt to prevent a RobotWar, they inadvertently caused one. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Oops]].

* In ''DanganRonpa'', ''the player'' can sometimes be this at one crucial moment. If one's played similar murder mystery games like the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series or ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', then they know how the pursuit of the truth no matter what the cost is the most important thing. There's one point, though, where going through with this mindset sets the player on the fast track to the BadEnding.

* In ''DanganRonpa'', ''the player'' can sometimes be this at one crucial moment. If one's played similar murder mystery games like the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series or {{Persona 4}}, then they know how the pursuit of the truth no matter what the cost is the most important thing. There's one point, though, where going through with this mindset sets the player on the fast track to the BadEnding.

** [[BiggerBad Garland]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' was aware of the likelyhood that his creation [[BigBad Kuja would, if left alive for too long would be too dangerous and likely betray him. His method for this was to put a very short limit on his lifespan. Good idea, except that he assumed that '''TELLING''' him that would cause a DespairEventHorizon, instead, it caused a SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum that made Kuja even more of menace than he would have been otherwise.

* ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'': Sonic [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness disposes]] of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch because he assumes it's trouble, remarking to Eggman afterwards that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away." Unfortunately, in this case it ''was'' a mistake: said conch was actually a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to keep the Deadly Six under control.

** PlayedForLaughs in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' when Shepard plays chess with Samantha Traynor. Shepard has been a soldier for so long that s/he attempts to play with real-world tactics in mind.

* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' is a very interesting game because it serves as a deconstruction of typical shooter games like ''Call of Duty''. The story revolves around Walker, a Delta Force operator who seems like your typical action hero, who thinks that he is an American war hero will sweep in and save the day. However things get progressively worse despite -- and even because of -- his actions. The game goes to great lengths to show that simply being well intentioned and fighting as hard as you can to save everyone doesn't always make everything alright in the end, the action hero doesn't always succeed. Walker realizes that he is in a deconstruction far too late to correct his mistakes.

*** Most of the cast of ''Disgaea 2'' with the assumption that after Zenon's behavior is a sign that he's an imposter, along with the one they saw killed by Etna. On the latter they're wrong, Zenon just survived thanks the curse he has effecting Veldime. On the former, they're right, but not in the way they expect. [[spoiler: The demon they think is Zenon is actually just an imposter using his name, his daughter Rozalin is actually the real Zenon but suffering from LaserGuidedAmnesia

** The Quarians got hit by this pretty hard in the Morning War. Seeing the Geth becoming more intelligent and fearing a RobotWar, the authorities began rounding them up, but some protested. When these individuals were attacked or rounded up, the Geth, who were otherwise fine with what the government were planning, stepped in and protected the protesters from them ''en masse''. In their attempt to prevent a RobotWar, they inadvertently caused one. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Oops]].

-->'''Flynn:''' Sorry love, but this isn't a movie. And you're not the plucky girl who reforms the villain and saves the day.

** Tidus spends the first half of ''FinalFantasyX'' thinking he's in a FishOutOfWater comedy action-adventure. He ... isn't.
* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea|HourOfDarkness}}'': '''Captain Gordon, Defender of Earth!''' who appears to be entirely unaware that he's not the main character until Laharl teaches him otherwise. [[KillerRabbit Hard.]]\\

** Adell in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|Cursed Memories}}'' assumes that he's a hero saving the world from the EvilOverlord Zenon, since he's wasn't affected by Zenon's curse that turns everyone in his world into monsters. [[spoiler: He's mostly right, but the real reason Zenon's curse didn't affect him is because he was born a demon.]]

* Ryotaro Dojima of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' is remarkably intelligent and perceptive regarding a number of plot points in the game, such as figuring out [[spoiler:that Mitsuo is a copycat killer, how the victims are selected, and even the player's involvement]], but his skills leave him equipped much better for a standard PoliceProcedural or whodunnit than the UrbanFantasy he's in, leaving him with some very large and unfortunate blind spots, and he's never able to figure out that he's in the latter rather than the former since he doesn't come into contact with most of the game's supernatural elements. When told the truth about the murder mystery, he has the same reaction that any rational person would and denies that it's the truth.

* In ''DanganRonpa'', ''the player'' can sometimes be this at one crucial moment. If one's played similar murder mystery games like the AceAttorney series or {{Persona 4}}, then they know how the pursuit of the truth no matter what the cost is the most important thing. There's one point, though, where going through with this mindset sets the player on the fast track to the BadEnding.

** Fuka in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 4|APromiseUnforgotten}}'' assumes that all the outlandish things she sees are a sign that she's just dreaming. In truth, she's dead and was sent of the Nearthworld, and is only not a Prinny because there weren't enough materials to manufacture her a full costume. [[CuteMonsterGirl Desco]] when she appears at the end of Episode 3 assumes that she's the FinalBoss, and while she's the last boss of the episode, the game isn't even half over by the time she appears.

* VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}: '''Captain Gordon, Defender of Earth!''' who appears to be entirely unaware that he's not the main character until Laharl teaches him otherwise. [[KillerRabbit Hard.]]
** Despite how it may seem to some, Mao is [[GenreSavvy right on the money.]] In the [[MultipleEndings good ending]] he does win, it's just that he fails to realize that he's at the beginning of his story, and needs to go through TheHero's Journey before he can beat the BigBad.
*** Flonne makes the same mistake about once a chapter in the first game. Apparently magical girl and tokusatsu shows are the only thing on in Celestia...
*** Flonne is however right when assuming that demons aren't evil, and that her being around Laharl will cause him to turn good.
** [[spoiler: Aurum]] actually invokes the trope upon realizing that [[spoiler:he's become the BigBad]].

** Fuka in VideoGame/{{Disgaea 4| A Promise Unforgotten}} believes her being the underworld is AllJustADream, and refuses to acknowledge that she is in fact dead. This does unlock her full potential though.
** Asagi does this throughout the franchise, as an ever escalating in-joke. She started as test character for a canceled game, and developed into an unlockable character whose shtick is to believe she's the main character and try to take over. Though at this point she appears to just be insane.

** Laharl in the original game is under the impression that he's VillainProtagonist. He's ''WAY'', with even his worst (canon at least) actions putting him as AntiHero.
** Fuka in ''Disgaea4'' assumes that all the outlandish things she sees are a sign that she's just dreaming. In truth, she's dead and was sent of the Nearthworld, and is only not a Prinny because there weren't enough materials to manufacture her a full costume. [[CuteMonsterGirl Desco]] when she appears at the end of Episode 3 assumes that she's the FinalBoss, and while she's the last boss of the episode, the game isn't even half over by the time she appears.

* Ryotaro Dojima of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' is remarkably intelligent and perceptive regarding a number of plot points in the game, such as figuring out [[spoiler:that Mitsuo is a copycat killer, how the victims are selected, and even the player's involvement]], but his skills leave him equipped much better for a standard PoliceProcedural or whodunnit than the UrbanFantasy he's in, leaving him with some very large and unfortunate blind spots.

** Loghain initially seems to be under the impression that he's in a [[{{Thriller}} Political Thriller]]. He believes that Cailan was part of a conspiracy along with the Grey Wardens, to return Ferelden under Orlesian rule and was using the false rumours of a Blight to gather his forces. [[spoiler: The ''Return to Ostagar DLC'' reveals Loghain was ''[[RightForTheWrongReasons partially]]'' right. Cailan ''did'' intend to forge an alliance with Orlais, but the Grey Wardens were not involved. They were there to deal with the Blight, which is ''very'' much real]].

* In ''DanganRonpa'', ''the player'' can sometimes be this at one crucial moment. If one's played similar murder mystery games like the AceAttorney series or {{Persona 4}}, then they know how the pursuit of the truth no matter what the cost is the most important thing. There's one point, though, where going through with this mindset sets the player on the fast track to the BadEnding.

** Zack at the start of Crisis Core displays this with a mix of GenreBlindness. He initially seems to think he's just a straight up hero and doesn't get how cynical the world he's in is. The GenreBlindness comes from not getting that [[MegaCorp Shinra]] is evil, or [[MadScientist Professor Hojo]] is heartless sociopath despite him constantly locking you in a room with monsters ForScience.

* Mario [=RPGs=] often features purely humorous examples
** Kolorodo in PaperMario thinks he's the lead in an ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' knockoff.

** Ralph from ''Oracle of Ages'' had a very similar storyline, initially believing that Link was TheLoad for his tendency to run errands for others instead of [[AlwaysSaveTheGirl only trying to rescue Nayru]]. Link's "errands" ultimately equip him with the means to actually save Nayru, while Ralph accomplishes nothing. Again, he eventually does realize he's in over his head, and by the end credits he's taking swordsmanship lessons from Link.

** Loghain initially seems to be under the impression that he's in a [[{{Thriller}} Political Thriller]]. He believes that Cailan was part of a conspiracy along with the Grey Wardens, to return Ferelden under Orlesian rule and was using the false rumours of a Blight to gather his forces. [[spoiler: The ''Return to Ostagar DLC'' reveals Loghain was ''[[RightForTheWrongReasons partially]]'' right. Cailan ''did'' intend to forge an alliance with Orlais, but the Grey Wardens were not involved. They were there to deal with the Blight, which is ''very'' much real.]] This comes back at him, too; [[spoiler: several characters, Anders and Wynn especially, think that events in Redcliff and The Circle are plots by him to weaken his enemies that the Warden barely foils when they had in fact gone completely and catastrophically wrong before the party even gets there, and even his betrayal of Cailan was a snap decision when the signal was delayed and the battle already doomed. He isn't a mustache-twirling villain, he's a tragic hero that went too far. If recruited he will actually argue with Wynn about it.]]

-->"Don't be ridiculous," she said. "Everyone knows that it's helpless old women in the forest that turn out to be disguised fairies. Not madmen with ice cream on their hats."

** It's ultimately subverted by Snow in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': his conviction that he is TheHero in an idealistic setting where [[{{Determinator}} determination]] and [[RightMakesMight a just cause]] will see him through any setbacks seems ''woefully'' out of place throughout the first two thirds of the game, and causes more cynical characters like Lightning and Hope no end of frustration. By the final battle, however, he proves to have been entirely right about everything except his own role in the party (he's TheBigGuy).

* Ryotaro Dojima of ''{{Persona 4}}'' is remarkably intelligent and perceptive regarding a number of plot points in the game, such as figuring out [[spoiler:that Mitsuo is a copycat killer, how the victims are selected, and even the player's involvement]], but his skills leave him equipped much better for a standard PoliceProcedural or whodunnit than the UrbanFantasy he's in, leaving him with some very large and unfortunate blind spots.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', King Cailan establishes himself as a great admirer of the Grey Wardens, and expresses his eagerness to fight alongside them to defeat the darkspawn like in all the stories he has read. Unfortunately for Cailan, ''Dragon Age'' is [[BlackAndGreyMorality not that kind of fantasy]].

* Eddie Riggs of ''BrutalLegend'' approaches the game from the perspective of a Heavy Metal roadie. This sometimes works -- as he ends up in a place and time that runs on ThePowerOfRock -- but other times, it falls squarely into this trope; for instance, he's the lead character and TheChosenOne, but his immediate inclination is to assume he's supposed to play HyperCompetentSidekick. Which is understandable, because even in a world like that, Eddie believes that he's the best ''roadie'', and nothing more. In the end, he ''makes'' that work, because "I'm a roadie! I keep the trash off the stage!" Cue DECAPITATIOOOOOOOOOONN!

* ''VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' has a few cases where characters new to the supernatural side of things think the world they are in works by common horror tropes. Most notable would be one of the thin-bloods, who thinks a full blood transfusion or killing the head vampire can cure him from vampirism. [[JerkAss The player can milk his gullibility for all it is worth.]] Another example would be when you get a mission to keep the zombie population at a local graveyard under control for a bit.

* ''VideoGame/GodofWar'': After being locked in a room with the former WarGod Kratos, Greek hero Perseus has a minor breakdown when its clear that Kratos will not help him escape. Perseus reasons that the Sisters of Fate have sent Kratos (who is vilified throughout Greece) to him as a test of strength. Donning his Cap of Invisibility, he resolves to kill the Ghost of Sparta to get in favor with the Sisters. Kratos impales Perseus on a huge hook, letting him know that it's not that kind of video game.