History YMMV / TheHalloweenHack

** The fact that the normally {{Useless Useful Spell}}s are actually useful in this game. People like the fact that it averts that standard RPG cliché, while others, who feel it working on bosses is good design, feel like it was a terrible decision to make it to where they're flat out ''required'' to beat some normal enemies, since it [[TropesAreNotGood makes the battles feel needlessly tedious and drag on for far longer than needed]], especially when the game starts getting spam happy with these kinds of enemies.

** Megalovania originating here becomes this now that it's made it into ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrothersUltimate''.

* '''NightmareFuel''': ''The whole game, really.''
** Remember how we said that in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', the final boss, [[EldritchAbomination Giygas]] ''was'' the background for his battle? He returns in [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts' battle as the background.]] Fitting, as said FinalBoss was encountered in the exact same machine that Giygas was stored in.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/TobyFox has admitted that he finds a lot about the game embarrassing now, particularly the excessive swearing and the other overly "edgy" aspects of it. This isn't that surprising, considering he made it when he was in high school.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: While still famous for its creepy and depressing nature and story, and being the first major non-simple sprite swap hack created, a lot of people admit this hack is really starting to show its age, especially alongside far more technical overhaul ones like ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/{{Unearthed}}'' hack. To some people, even those who are aware it's being [[InvokedTrope invoked]] in the beginning, certain areas can look a bit lazy. This is not because the hack creator didn't care, mind you, but more so because that's what hacking tools for ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' [=ROMs=] were only capable of back then. Another major thing people complain about is its [[NintendoHard brutal difficulty]], thanks to a steadily growing [[InternetBackdraft backlash]] against [[GameMod ROM Hacks]] that are brutally hard for the sake of being brutally hard in most ROM Hacking communities.

* HilariousInHindsight: Borderline this, borderline HarsherInHindsight. In ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'', [[spoiler:the concept of the Amalgamates returns, only this time with terrifying lore. Also, a talking flower in this game mentions something about being used in science experiments, foreshadowing Flowey greatly.]]

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: At the end of the game, [[spoiler:a ghost breaks into Yarik's house just to [[ToiletHumor fart on his face]] for no reason. Lampshaded by Yarik laughing at it immediately afterwards.]]

** The Dearkhart battle is supposed to be depressing because it's the AnthropomorphicPersonification of [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] worries that [[spoiler:his son, Jeff, despises him]]. However, the impact and melancholic nature it's supposed to have is rather negated for a lot of people due to [[SoundtrackDissonance its battle music]] being ''[[CrowningMusicOfAwesome utterly freaking awesome!]]''

* BaseBreakingCharacter: [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts. Good sweet God, Dr. Andonuts!]] There are those who like how the game tries to [[spoiler:explore his mind in a world where he thinks he killed the chosen four]], others just view this hack's characterization as a massive insult to his character, with his wildly OutOfCharacter acts easily flying passed CanonDefilement for some, to the point he might as well have been a completely new character altogether.

** The fact that the normally {{Useless Useful Spell}}s are actually useful in this game. People like the fact that it averts that standard RPG cliche, while others, who feel it working on bosses is good design, feel like it was a terrible decision to make it to where they're flat out ''required'' to beat some normal enemies, since it [[TropesAreNotGood makes the battles feel needlessly tedious and drag on for far longer than needed]], especially when the game starts getting spam happy with these kinds of enemies.

** [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] [[ClusterFBomb cluster swearing]] VillainousBreakdown. While it fits considering everything we've seen so far, and [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope his mental state]] [[{{Understatement}} is far less than great at that point]], there's still a few who can't get over the fact that it's [[spoiler:''[[AbsentMindedProfessor Dr. Andonuts]]'']] swearing up a storm like a drunken sailor. Some even go as far as to say it kills the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief the game did a good job of keeping up until then. [[OldShame Even Toby Fox himself has indicated that he in hindsight very much agrees with this criticism]].

* AwesomeMusic: ''This'' was the game that Megalovania debuted in. Not ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', and not ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}.''

** Remember how we said that in [[VideoGame/EarthBound EarthBound]], the final boss, [[EldritchAbomination Giygas]] ''was'' the background for his battle? He returns in [[spoiler: Dr. Andonuts' battle as the background.]] Fitting, as said FinalBoss was encountered in the exact same machine that Giygas was stored in.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: It may be a hack of ''VideoGame/EarthBound,'' but it would ''not'' be rated K-A[=/=]E. Even ''VideoGame/EarthBound's'' new rating of T would be pushing it.

** [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] [[ClusterFBomb cluster swearing]] VillainousBreakdown. While it fits considering everything we've seen so far, and [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope his mental state]] [[{{Understatement}} is far less than great at that point]], there's still a few who can't get over the fact that it's [[spoiler:''[[AbsentMindedProfessor Dr. Andonuts]]'']] swearing up a storm like a drunken sailor. Some even go as far as to say it kills the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief the game did a good job of keeping up until then.

-->"I HAVE FUCKING HAD IT WITH YOUR SHIT. You little fuckers are going to have your bodies ripped in half. [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon I'll shove your asses so far down your throats that when you crap you'll sing fucking Beethoven]]. tl;dr: eat shit, faggots"

** From a story standpoint, the [[spoiler: Magicant]] HubLevel mid-way through the game repeatedly serves as this. The [=NPCs=] have more light hearted and funny dialogue, outside of a few disturbing remarks from select [=NPCs=], and the appearance of the place is a lot more upbeat to look at compared to everything you tend to go through elsewhere.
* BaseBreakingCharacter: [[spoiler: Dr. Andonuts. Good sweet God, Dr. Andonuts!]] There are those who like how the game tries to [[spoiler: explore his mind in a world where he thinks he killed the chosen four]], others just view this hack's characterization as a massive insult to his character, with his wildly OutOfCharacter acts easily flying passed CanonDefilement for some, to the point he might as well have been a completely new character altogether.

** Really, opinions on the entire hack over the years has slowly slid into two groups. People who think it's an interesting, darker take on the original source material and those who see the entire thing as one giant mess of CanonDefilement filled {{Narm}}.

* FandomRivalry: Shares one with the ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd''. Many people who prefer ''Hallow's End'' often cite it as "the Halloween ROM Hack done ''right''", with humor and themes often more fitting of the original ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' compared to ''The Halloween Hack'', of which people often compare to a [[CanonDefilement bad fanfic]] pile of {{Narm}}, in addition to being far more balanced gameplay wise by comparison. Meanwhile, those who prefer ''The Halloween Hack'' often like how it tries to have darker themes than the original ''[=EarthBound=]'', and point out how the end game of ''Hallow's End'' also devolves into bad fanfic territory as well, in addition to the difficulty reaching [[NintendoHard batshit levels]]. Really, there are many things people prefer when comparing the two games, and that isn't even going into [[spoiler: how ''The Halloween Hack'' treats Dr. Andonuts...]]
* FridgeBrilliance: The Anxiety Attack enemies. When you first encounter them, they're DemonicSpiders because of their ability to spam statuses that block magic[=/=]PSI as well as cause characters to freeze, in addition to the fact that Varik is likely the only one you have in the party at that point. As you progress through the game and get more party members, they become much easier to deal with. While from a technical stand point it's because you're slowly leveling up and having more party members to fight with, from a meta-stand point, it also makes sense. When you have a anxiety attack in real life, it's much easier to deal with when you have friends around you to help you calm down.

* GameBreaker: Most of the status "spells" in the game, thanks to them [[UselessUsefulSpell actually being useful]] on more than just normal enemies. The "worst" offender has to be Timestop though, as any boss weak to it [[AntiClimaxBoss will end up becoming a complete joke.]] This is likely a good thing, though, as otherwise [[NintendoHard you'll likely have to spend obscene amounts of grinding to even hope to get through this game.]]

* ItWasHisSled: Absolutely no one tries to hide the hack's true nature anymore. Other twists of the hack, especially anything to do with the FinalBoss, are also well known.

** The Dearkhart battle is suppose to be depressing because it's the AnthropomorphicPersonification of [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] worries that [[spoiler:his son, Jeff, despises him.]] However, the impact and melancholic nature it's supposed to have is rather negated for a lot of people due to [[SoundtrackDissonance its battle music]] being ''[[CrowningMusicOfAwesome utterly freaking awesome!]]''

* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]] is generally remembered, if not for "Megalovania", then for his constant swears. The truth is that he only swears four times during the final battle: once during his breakdown (the only one where he swears non-stop), once at the beginning of his Ice phase ("fags! you're all fags!"), through the name of his ultimate attack (PSI Bitchkill), and one last time during his death (you'll get the...sh...i...). He's not nearly as bad as he's made out to be by most, yet for the reasons lister under Narm, it's pretty hard to think of anything else.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: While still famous for its creepy and depressing nature and story, and being the first major non-simple sprite swap hack created, a lot of people admit this hack is really starting to show its age, especially alongside far more technical overhall ones like ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/{{Unearthed}}'' hack. To some people, even those who are aware it's being [[InvokedTrope invoked]] in the beginning, certain areas can look a bit lazy. This is not because the hack creator didn't care, mind you, but more so because that's what hacking tools for ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' [=ROMs=] were only capable of back then. Another major thing people complain about is its [[NintendoHard brutal difficulty]], thanks to a steadily growing [[InternetBackdraft backlash]] against [[GameMod ROM Hacks]] that are brutally hard for the sake of being brutally hard in most ROM Hacking communities.
* SignatureScene: [[spoiler:The final battle with Dr. Andonuts. Once he turns red for the last time and Megalovania kicks in, you hit the most famous part of the game]].

** Desperate Survivors are similar - they're bloodied, crying men who apologize for fighting you, are incredibly weak, apologize for ''your killing them'', and always drop the Last Ration they desperately clung to.

* FandomRivalry: Shares one with the ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd''. Many people who prefer ''Hallow's End'' often cite it as "the Halloween ROM Hack done ''right''", with humor and themes often more fitting of the original ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' compared to ''The Halloween Hack'', of which people often compare to a [[CanonDefilement bad fanfic]] pile of {{Narm}}, in addition to being far more balanced gameplay wise by comparison. Meanwhile, those who prefer ''The Halloween Hack'' often like how it tries to have darker themes than the original ''[=EarthBound=]'', and point out how the end game of ''Hallow's End'' also devolves into bad fanfic territory as well, in addition to the difficulty [[NintendoHard batshit levels]]. Really, there are many things people prefer when comparing the two games, and that isn't even going into [[spoiler: how ''The Halloween Hack'' treats Dr. Andonuts...]]

* FandomRivalry: Shares one with the ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd''. Many people who prefer ''Hallow's End'' often cite it as "the Halloween ROM Hack done ''right''", with humor and themes often more fitting of the original ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' compared to ''The Halloween Hack'', of which people often compare to a [[CanonDefilement bad fanfic]] pile of {{Narm}}, in addition to being far more balanced gameplay wise by comparison. Meanwhile, those who prefer ''The Halloween Hack'' often like how it tries to have darker themes than the original ''[=EarthBound=]'', and point out how the end game of ''Hallow's End'' also devolves into bad fanfic territory as well, in addition to the difficulty [[NintendoHard batshit levels]]. Really, there are many things people prefer when comparing the two games, and that isn't even going into [[spoiler: how ''The Halloween Hack'' treats Dr. Andonutts...]]

* BrokenBase: The fact that the normally {{Useless Useful Spell}}s are actually useful in this game. People like the fact that it averts that standard RPG cliche, while others, who feel it working on bosses is good design, feel like it was a terrible decision to make it to where they're flat out ''required'' to beat some normal enemies, since it [[TropesAreNotGood makes the battles feel needlessly tedious and drag on for far longer than needed]], especially when the game starts getting spam happy with these kinds of enemies.

** The name of the final bosses' ultimate attack, PSI [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch Bitchkill.]] Even though it ''will'' wipe out your party if you don't know how to tell it's coming and to properly counter it, it still ends up sounding ridiculous to some because of the ObligatorySwearing. Doesn't help that it usually comes right after the above drunken sailor storm.

** The Dearkhart battle is suppose to be depressing because it's the AnthropomorphicPersonification of [[spoiler:Dr. Andonut's]] worries that [[spoiler:his son, Jeff, despises him.]] However, the impact and melancholic nature it's supposed to have is rather negated for a lot of people due to [[SoundtrackDissonance its battle music]] being ''[[CrowningMusicOfAwesome utterly freaking awesome!]]''