Line #98 VideoGame/Coraline


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ctitle.PNG]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:"Hello, Coraline... and Coraline game."]]
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5	A 2009 3D ActionAdventure licensed game by Papaya Studios and D3 Publisher, based on the 2009 [[WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}} animated film of the book]] of [[Literature/{{Coraline}} the same name]] and released in close proximity.
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7	The overall setup of the game is generally what you expect. It's all about the titular heroines' weird and mind-screwy adventures within the Pink Palace as well as the Other World. Explore the real world and the mysterious Other World, meet the many quirky and memorable movie characters... [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and avoid getting buttons sewn over your eyes by Other Mother]].
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9	Players naturally play as Coraline Jones herself as she interacts with characters and locations on her game adventure. Along the way she will play different missions, minigames and solve puzzles. Succeeding in the minigames rewards the player with buttons (yeah), that works as currency in the in-game shop, which unlocks different prizes like concept art, photos, movie clips, and outfits that Coraline wears in the movie. Some of the voice cast from the movie return to reprise their roles in the game.
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11	The Nintendo DS version of the game is a different structure from its console counterpart. It's a more straightforward Adventure game mixed with a VisualNovel. The DS game was designed by Japanese developer Art Co. Ltd, and has an {{Animesque}} artstyle.
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13	!!This video game contains examples of:
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15	* OneHundredPercentCompletion: Requires unlocking all of the costumes, cheat codes, finding every minigame, as well as all the watchable movie clips. The DS version requires getting all of the items and outfits.
16	* AdaptationAmalgamation: The console version takes elements from both the ''Coraline'' book and the film and puts them together into its own game story. The Tennis Court that was in the book appears here. Coraline herself in particular is a CompositeCharacter of both her book and movie versions.
17	* AdaptationalBadass: Enemy example. In the film the rats were merely spies disguised as Other Bobinsky's circus mice who ran recon for the Beldam if Coraline ever tried to escape. In the game they graduate to [[{{Mooks}} Mook]] status, with [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes]], and chase and attack Coraline throughout the game.
18	* AdaptationDeviation: The console game does critical plot points differently from the film. Some examples:
19	** In the start of the movie, Coraline searches for the well and meets Wybie, before messing around the house and bugging her parents. In the game, the events are completely ''reversed'' in order. The game starts with Coraline interacting with her parents and playing around the house. Then she visits Mr. Bobinsky and Ms. Spink and Forcible, ''before'' leaving to find the well, where she meets Wybie.
20	** Charlie asks Coraline to do a notetaking of interesting objects in the house in the film. In the game, he tasks her to find several "blue" objects instead[[note]]something he had jokingly suggested she do in the movie when suggesting the notetaking[[/note]]. No, her hair and painted nails don't count.
21	** Wybie doesn't give Coraline the doll that looks like her. In fact, it's not even mentioned in the game at all.
22	** Coraline ''doesn't'' discover the door to the Other World on her own, nor does she find the black key. She is inadvertently lured to it by one of Bobinsky's mice late one night, where she finds it open by herself.
23	* AdaptationDistillation: Some scenes are narrated over illustrations and movie stills in order to cut down on time.
24	* AdaptationExpansion:
25	** The console version allows players to see more of the Jones' house.
26	** The Barn next to the Pink Palace was just a random background object in the film that had no bearing on anything. In the game you can enter it and is freely explorable.
27	** In the movie, Coraline (typically) had to go to sleep to return to the real world. The game expands on this concept into their own game levels. Coraline has to complete a unique challenge within the Dream World before returning back to the real world.
28	** The DS Version adds a new and unique character of its own. The Toy Parrot, who is found in the Other World's boiler room and gives clues and helpful items to Coraline.
29	* AdaptationInducedPlotHole: Since the Black Key and the Coraline Doll are missing in the Console version, no explanation is given as to how the door to the Other World opens up.
30	* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Coraline is ''far'' less snarky and abrasive and much nicer as a video game protagonist when compared to [[AdaptationalJerkass her movie version]]. Falling more in line with her original book counterpart.
31	* AdaptationalJerkass:
32	** Wybie, while weird and merely socially awkward, was still a steadfast friend towards Coraline in the movie, even when she wasn't necessarily fond of him. In the console game however, Wybie is much more of a jerk. He commits acts of mischief like stealing Mr. Bobinsky's beets, tying up Mr.Bobinsky in a bunch of vines, as well as shooting Coraline with beets at the tennis court when she comes looking for him. He's also much colder towards Coraline when she mentions her missing parents. ''Why-were-you-born'' may actually be suitable nickname for him now.
33	** The Black Cat was a really helpful ally towards Coraline in the movie. In the game, he is much more aloof, but he still helps her on occasion. He's notably doing double-work as TheNarrator.
34	* AdaptedOut: The Black Key and the Coraline Doll are virtually gone from the plot in the console game.
35	* {{Animesque}}: The Nintendo DS version has this style for the most part, due to being designed by a Japanese development team.
36	* BigBad: Other Mother is here and accounted for as the baddie of the game.
37	* BigOMG: "Oh-My-Gosh!" whenever Coraline ''fails'' a minigame or mission objective.
38	* BleakLevel: The Jones house becomes this later on, due to Coraline's parents mysteriously disappearing.
39	* BlockPuzzle: In the barn area, Coraline has to move and stack boxes in order to climb up and advance. In some spots in the Other World, she will have to push boxes over switches to open doors.
40	* BottomlessMagazines: The slingshot has infinite ammunition, making it an effective weapon.
41	* BratsWithSlingshots: The slingshot item, which is given early to you by Mr. Bobinsky. [[BottomlessMagazines Ammo is infinite]] and can be used to beat enemies.
42	* BreadEggsMilkSquick: Sure, it is nice to be able to play a minigame where you make yummy Pancakes with your dear and delightful Other Mother, but where did she get all the ''bugs'' and ''worms'' from? And why is she throwing them at you?
43	* BribingYourWayToVictory: Fail a minigame, and you can use your buttons to just buy a pass to just skip it.
44	* BroadStrokes: The console game sort of (emphasis on ''sort of'') follows the plot of the movie, but glosses over or even changes/omits some details. The Black Key and the Coraline Doll is gone from the plot, [[spoiler: The Ghost Children]] are hardly anywhere to be seen in this game aside from a very minor cameo. [[spoiler: You also defeat the Beldam handily and thus her severed hand isn't left intact either, so the final confrontation with Coraline and Wybie at the well ''doesn't'' happen.]] The DS version thoroughly averts this.
45	* BuffySpeak: "Fantas-tonishing!" whenever Coraline clears a mission objective.
46	* TheCameo: [[spoiler: You can find the Ghost Children in the mirror in the final chapter, where you can play a minigame with them.]]
47	* CheatCode: You can enter a special code that gives Coraline ''button eyes'' for real. It's purely cosmetic, though.
48	* ChessWithDeath: Like in the film, the final chapter is the challenge centered around finding the Ghost eyes. Only this time around, it's a game quite literally and figuratively.
49	* CollisionDamage: Don't touch the [[FoulFlower Snapdragons]] under any circumstances.
50	* CompositeCharacter: Coraline in the video game borrows character traits from both aspects of her Book and Movie versions. Having the well-mannered and polite traits of her book counterpart, while not being completely stoic and still speaking like her movie counterpart.
51	* ContinuityNod: All of Coraline's different customizable outfits have this, some based on outfits she wore in the movie.
52	** Coraline starts the game in her iconic yellow raincoat/swampers combo, or you change into her orange shirt and jeans.
53	** The "Twinkle Twinkle" outfit is the same stylish outfit Coraline wore to Other Spink and Forcible's performance.
54	** The "Pajamas" outfit is the same outfit Coraline wore when she makes her final confrontation with Other Mother.
55	** Finally, the "Village Stalker" outfit is Wybie's outfit. No, you can't use the mask to look for banana slugs.
56	* ControllableHelplessness: Played With. You can press the A/X button to "jump", which does absolutely nothing useful on its own. You can only use this move to climb on top of objects.
57	* CosmeticAward: You can unlock different costumes and outfits from the movie for Coraline to wear by using your collected buttons. You can even wear Wybie's outfit. Now you can be a "psycho stalker nerd" for yourself.
58	* CrateExpectations: There are two types of crates in the game. Coraline can grab some boxes and carry them around, while others are heavier, so she can only push or pull them.
59	* CycleOfHurting: To compensate for RegeneratingHealth, you get no MercyInvincibility when taking damage. So beware when you're surrounded by enemies. You can get combo'd from full health to zero within ''seconds''.
60	* DarkerAndEdgier: While the game is mostly lacking in jump scares like the movie, The game compensates with its own brand of creepiness by showing you the grim consequences whenever you lose. [[ItsAWonderfulFailure It's not a pretty sight]].
61	* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: In the console game, The Beldam is defeated outright, and her severed right hand doesn't escape to harass Coraline one last time at the well.]] Averted in the DS version.
62	* DemotedToExtra:
63	** [[spoiler: The Ghost Children]] are nowhere near as prevalent as in the movie. They're ''there'', but you won't see them unless you go out of your way to find them. The DS version brings them back to prominence.
64	** The black key also suffers this in the console version, merely serving as the key to the Jones’ back door.
65	* DieChairDie: Shooting things with a slingshot and interacting with even mundane objects rewards the player with buttons.
66	* DownOnTheFarm: The barn area near the Pink Palace was opened up in the console game as a means of AdaptationExpansion.
67	* DreamLand: The "Nightmare" levels in the console version, which directly take place after visiting the Other World.
68	* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Naturally. Various critters like rats, porcupines and spiders lie about in some locations in the game, who seemingly have nothing better to do than chase and attack the player.
69	* ExpressiveHealthBar: Coraline's CharacterPortrait in the LifeMeter ranges from perky at full health, to an annoyed expression at half-health, and finally a worried/anguished expression when health is low or empty.
70	* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: In Chapter 2, you play a minigame where you help Other Mother stir eggs in order to make pancakes. After stirring for a bit, the yellow yolk mysteriously takes on the shape of a ''hand''. It's no giraffe, either.]]
71	* FriendlyShopkeeper: The Toy Parrot in the DS version. In exchange for a few of her collected buttons, Coraline can get helpful items from him [[spoiler: Including the Snowglobe that is required to beat the game.]]
72	* FoulFlower: Snapdragons (Literal [[{{Planimal}} flower-dragons]]) are stationary enemies that are found in the nightmare sequences. They're also the only enemies in the game who can hurt Coraline through [[CollisionDamage contact]]. They can only be destroyed by lighting up beacons, that cause them to dissolve away.
73	* GoryDiscretionShot: Some of the PressXToNotDie failure scenes have this:
74	** [[spoiler: Failing the encounter with Other Father, where his machine closes in on Coraline, the screen fades to black just as he smashes you with the claw.]]
75	** The screen fades to black briefly [[spoiler: as the Beldam stomps the Black Cat into the floor, before coming after you.]]
76	** Coraline and Wybie are just out of camera focus when they crash on the bicycle.
77	* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits: Various characters actually go out of their way to explain the game controls to Coraline (and the player) whenever she meets them. The opening scene after the Jones' family moves into the Pink Palace is re-eneacted into a tutorial.
78	* IAmLegion: In the DS game, an unseen army of shadowy mice spy on a sleeping Coraline after she discovers the door and utter an ominous chant...
79	-->'''Mice''': We are small. We are many. In the walls and under floors. We're beside your every step...when shall we lead you through the door? ''When shall we lead you through the door?''
80	* ItsAWonderfulFailure: [[spoiler: You're treated to Other Mother (Beldam) hugging Coraline, while her eyes turn into buttons on the GameOver screen]].
81	* LampshadeHanging:
82	->'''Coraline''': "Moving boxes is boring."
83	* LifeMeter: The player doesn't get introduced to this until Chapter 3. The meter regenerates over time while the player is idle. It's GameOver if it falls empty.
84	* LighterAndSofter: Aside from the DarkerAndEdgier example above, the game has its lighter moments. Coraline is [[AdaptationalNiceGuy much nicer]] compared to her movie counterpart, The music is more subdued, and there is very little in the way of scary monsters and jump scares like in the movie (though it still scares in other ways). [[AvoidTheDreadedGRating It wasn't able to save it from a E10+ rating, though]].
85	* LightingBug: Coraline uses a jar of fireflies to navigate the darkness while in Other World. It is also helpful for keeping enemies away. She can also light up beacons, which causes nearby enemy snapdragons to disappear.
86	* LiteralAssKicking: Coraline's only means of defending herself outside of her slingshot is a very light kick.
87	* TheManyDeathsOfYou: There are quite a few different ways to blow it in this game. Here's a [[https://youtu.be/jnRsKXE4ung collection]].
88	* MarketBasedTitle: The game is known as ''Coraline: An Adventure Too Weird for Words'' in the European regions.
89	* MetaFiction: [[spoiler: After the credits roll, the game will ask the player if they liked the Coraline game. Saying "yes", will reward you with ''2500'' buttons!]]
90	* MinigameGame: There are loads of minigames abound in the adventure. Some more elaborate than others.
91	* MoodWhiplash: Following the theme of the movie, The game was mostly an easygoing and harmless minigame/fetch quest through the first two chapters. This all changes majorly come the third chapter. Enemies start showing up in the Other World and the player is given a LifeMeter, an effective indicator that there is no more fooling around.
92	* TheNarrator: The Black Cat (reprised by Keith David) narrates the game.
93	* NonStandardGameOver: Usually from failing the PressXToNotDie segments. Crashing on Wybie's bicycle will also get this.
94	* NothingIsScarier: Like in the movie, Coraline's parents mysteriously disappear and the home goes completely empty around Chapter 5. It's one of the more... [[BleakLevel unsettling]] parts of the game.
95	* PasswordSlotMachine: Coraline plays one of these to help Mr. Bobinsky, who has accidentally locked himself out of his apartment in one segment.
96	* PragmaticAdaptation: The console version teeters between this and AdaptationInspiration. It follows a radically different plot script from the movie, while keeping some elements, but also adds some little stories on its own. The DS version averts this, following the movie plot more closely.
97	* PressXToNotDie: Quite a few of these appear in the game. For instance, [[spoiler: messing up a button prompt during the encounter with Other Father in his gardening machine results in Coraline [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath getting smashed by its claw]].]]
98	* RegeneratingHealth: Getting hurt too much? Just retreat for a bit and your Life Meter refills on its own.
99	* SlidingScaleOfAdaptationModification: The Console version takes ''several'' liberties to differentiate itself from the movie, firming placing it between 2-3 on the scale. The DS version is a near-straight adaptation of the movie.
100	* SmartBomb: In the DS game, the Cat humorously serves as one during one of the minigame sequences. Summon him when you get in trouble, and he'll [[CameraAbuse jump at the screen]] to clear away obstacles.
101	* SpidersAreScary: Spiders join the common enemy lineup near the end of the game that chase after you. Of course, there is [[BigBad the Beldam]] herself.
102	* StealthBasedMission: There's a mission where you have to sneak out of the house without Mel hearing you. You have a meter indicating how close you are to getting busted.
103	* SurprisinglyCreepyMoment: This is ''Coraline'' after all. The game is otherwise simple and mostly lighthearted (if not weird) [[spoiler: until you get a GameOver, Where you are treated to Other Mother caressing a ''button-eyed'' Coraline in front of a pitch-black background.]]
104	* TightropeWalking: Coraline has to do this in a few parts of the game. Namely in the Barn, and in Other Spink and Forcible's flat near the end of the game.
105	* TitleTheAdaptation: The game is occasionally marketed as Coraline: ''The Game'' to differentiate from the book and more notably, the animated movie, which was released nearly a week after the game.
106	* VariableMix: The DS game has an overarching theme that changes in instrumentation depending on wether or not you're in the Real World or the Other World.
107	* VerbalTic: The Toy Parrot wants to sell you good things and make you happy-happy!
108	* WeirdCurrency: Buttons. Considering the darker connotations they represent.
109	* WreakingHavok: The game is even built on the engine!

Context VideoGame / Coraline