Line #20 VideoGame/SoreLosers


1	[[quoteright:451:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fc4ff14015a6718b243b35e60675f5d6.png]]
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3	''Sore Losers'' is a 2010 [[FreewareGames freeware]] [[RolePlayingGame RPG]], developed by Sated in UsefulNotes/RPGMaker. It is set in the Slums of Central Ferusia, which are used by the fascist Government of Ferusia to house all of the criminals instead of maintaining prisons. These slums are separated into four sectors of differing levels of prosperity; the richest area isn’t much different from typical suburbia, and can afford to pay the Ferusian Soldiers for protection. Other areas are at the mercy of gang leaders, and are also at risk of attack by mutated wildlife from the uninhabitable slums.
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5	Our protagonists are Markus and David, two relatively experienced gang members working for Jade, a former rebel who’s largely succeeded in cleaning up her sector. The game begins when she tasks them with stealing the Black List of all the people sentenced to live in the Slums, thus allowing her to write anyone out of it and making escape without re-capture possible. They succeed at it; however, they run into Alexis, a former Ferusian Captain now on the run from the government, and things rapidly go to hell from there.
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7	You can download the game [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/1210/ here]].
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9	!! This game provides examples of the following tropes:
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11	* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: The sewer sections that you can access.
12	* AirVentPassageway:
13	** [[DefiedTrope Defied]] at first: When examining the vents on every roof, you’ll get the response of “Although it would be cool, you’re not jumping down the ventilation shaft.”
14	** Later on, however, going through the air vents is required during several stealth segments. Not only does it not make any noise, but the characters appear to “stand” inside them.
15	* AKA47: Subverted. It’s a fictional setting, but some weapons are obviously inspired by the real ones, such as an FK-47 assault rifle.
16	* AntidoteEffect: Averted. If one of the characters is poisoned during the battle, they’ll stay poisoned afterwards, and will continue to take damage in real time, up until they cure poisoning, which keeps the antidotes relevant throughout the game.
17	* AntiHero: Both Markus and David qualify. Markus is a very cynical and selfish person, who freely admits that he’s only gotten into slums because of his own stupidity and that Ferusian Government has a good reason to keep them there. David, on the other hand, is a calm, level-headed person… who got sent into the slums for trying to murder his wife’s lover, and then spent the following year tracking the guy through the slums alongside Markus, so that he could finish him off for good.
18	** At one point, when Locke (hardly a positive character himself) said, lying, that the two of them seem to have a compassion streak, Jade replies "No, not compassion. Boredom or something, but not compassion."
19	** Then, there’s another point where Markus himself is asked by the incredulous rebels why he doesn’t want to bring down the government, and he replies “No, I don’t hate the government. They aren’t the greatest organisation in the world, but, well, it’s not as if either of us are innocent."
20	* ArbitrarySkepticism: The Markus and David accept that they are all put into the slums for life by an uncaring Ferusian government for crimes that often don’t deserve such treatment. However, they’re unwilling to believe that this government is also conducting genetic research on humans in order to create mindless, practically unkillable supersoldiers.
21	* AwesomeButImpractical: Custom-Chained Rifles for other party members. Sure, the bayonets are awesome… except that the actual bullets fired from them deal 10 damage less than the unmodified [=G3A3=] you can get from upgrading MK-17 Scar.
22	* BaitAndSwitch: There’s one where you can hear two women discussing their "work" using terms that appear loaded with sexual meaning ("need to be more revealing", "gotta keep them coming back for more"), but then it turns out that they’re actually talking about telling stories.
23	* BlackoutBasement: Several buildings and vents on the level where you’re required to perform an assassination are very dark, so that you can't really see your character. Monsters see you just fine, though.
24	* BrickJoke: Many of the recurring environmental object descriptions, such as steam pipes, eventually go into this if you keep check them out.
25	* ChainsawGood: Both Chris and Benji are always equipped with with Custom-Chained Rifles, which are essentially [=G3A3=] rifles modified with chainsaw bayonets. The rifles are weaker as a result, but the bayonets make an awesome revving sound when they’re used.
26	** Then, if you choose to assist the rebels in the end, the second-final boss battle is against two regular Second-Class Ferusian soldiers and a First-Class Ferusian, who is not only heavily armored and wears a gas mask, but is also equipped with a powerful chainsaw.
27	* CrateExpectations: There are plenty of crates strewn around the slums, though they never actually contain anything useful.
28	* CutscenePowerToTheMax: This can happen at the end, if [[spoiler: you choose to assist the rebels and then continue to attack Alexis. She’ll eventually order the four soldiers who haven’t yet participated in battle to open fire, instantly killing the duo when in-game, their guns often deal pitiful damage that can be shrugged off for several turns without healing.]]
29	* DeathOfAChild: In one of Alexis’ flashbacks, a young girl gets shot in front of her. The way the scene is shot leaves it ambiguous whether it was a soldier next to her who did the deed, or Alexis herself.
30	* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Played straight with all of the flashbacks.
31	* DialogueTree: Downplayed. Talking to people will usually give you three responses, and then another two responses, after which the dialogue ends.
32	* DoesntLikeGuns: Played straight with Markus. When he walks into a gun shop, the shopkeeper will begin the conversation by saying "C’mon Markus, I know you ain’t interested in that stuff! Rather play with your swords!" Markus can reply with "Can’t hurt to look" or with "Swords are plain better", in which case he’ll go on to make a point that all the guns he sells are unreliable knock-offs anyways.
33	** He’s right about that, though, as you’ll find out when you finally do get your hands on Alexis, a gun-wielding companion. Her 1.45 pistols deal the same damage as basic swords or switchblades, and even the upgraded Ferusian PMM pistol is still weaker than a Military Pick, an equally upgraded version of an Axe.
34	* DramaticPause: Used gratuitously during the early dialogues, though things do get better afterwards.
35	** "This door is locked .... (3 second wait) Try lockpicking?" – every locked door in the game.
36	* DualWielding: All of the characters can fight with two weapons, and David begins with two Axes.
37	** GunsAkimbo: The fighting style of Alexis and Lozzie.
38	* DumpsterDive: Parodied at one point when Markus and others fall through into the sewers. They drop down onto the hard floor, and there’s a patch of rubbish in the corner. Examining it says "Couldn’t you land on that instead?"
39	* EpicFlail: One of David’s starting skills is literally called that. It has him wildly strike out at all enemies with 5-9 strikes (some of which occasionally target enemies that have already been defeated) and is very useful early on, but loses its effectiveness in the late game.
40	* EvilutionaryBiologist: Invoked with the Ferusian genetic research centers, which are essentially used to create Ferustine-enhanced soldiers who would still be able to get back up and fight after getting killed. You encounter a few severed hands that are still able to fight well enough as a result of this.
41	* EyeScream: Human enemies in the slums, like Badland Vagabonds and Badland Berserkers, will have the skill known as Across the Eyes, where they literally [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin try to slash one of the party members across the eyes]], inflicting blindness if they succeed.
42	* GenreSavvy: Markus parodies the typical tropes when he’s asked to download the Black List, asking if it'll require him to flip through a laser cage, or if it'll result in an army of robots activating.
43	* GoldfishPoopGang: Donovan and Garcia are minor example, since you only fight them twice, and the second time only occurs in a certain sidequest. Nevertheless, they’re “right and left hand” of a rival crime boss, who are still quite incompetent and are easily routed each time they’re fought.
44	* GoodOldFisticuffs: Locke only fights with his fists, and his character is akin to a modern rendition of a BareFistedMonk, even though he wears a suit at all times and is highly materialistic.
45	* GunsAreUseless: Played straight with pistols: Alexis, who starts the game dual-wielding pistols, deals less damage than either Markus or David would with two Switchblades. Downplayed with assault rifles: while they deal less damage than melee weapons of similar tier, they compensate for that due to attacking all enemies at once.
46	* GreenEyedMonster: David is eventually revealed to have been sent to the Slums due to trying to kill his wife’s lover, then carrying out the deed once already inside, hunting the poor guy down for almost a year. He’s said to have considered killing his wife as well, but backed down at the last moment.
47	* GreyAndGreyMorality: The conflict between Ferusians and the rebels hovers between this and BlackAndGrayMorality. On one hand, Ferusia is a fascist society that deals with crimes ranging from attempted murder to infidelity by deporting everyone into the slums, and is looking to create some sort of cyber-zombies through its Project Ferustine. On the other hand, the rebels have a clear WithUsOrAgainstUs mentality, treat the civilians they’re supposed to be liberating with open contempt and generally believe that democracy will automatically make things better without bothering with many plans for the future.
48	** Markus gets a dialogue option at one point that really says it best: "'''This''' place? You think everyone down ‘ere supports you because you’re against the Ferusians? Are you fucking insane? We don’t support you, everything you do makes things harder for us! When you blow up autofarms and autoclaves, how do you think Ferusians ration out food? They sure as shit don’t give us more of it! [[PrecisionFStrike Fuck!]] You self-righteous twat! I don’t even need a reason to kill you now!" (begins battle).
49	** Same applies to every conflict in the game, actually. Markus and David are typically no better than the people they’re fighting against, and some of those characters (i.e. [[spoiler: Jade, or the rebels]]) are often more sympathetic than they are.
50	* InexplicableTreasureChests: Downplayed, as they’re encountered very rarely and most of the items are found in the randomly-generated junk piles or people’s lockers and drawers.
51	* IFoughtTheLawAndTheLawWon: Invoked with Markus. He even says in one of the dialogue options near the end that “You might not agree with the law, but you still can’t just break it for fun!”
52	* InsecurityCamera: Downplayed. The cameras in the Scott Building to tend to rotate around, but it never prevents them from noticing things in front of them, and the only way to pass by them is through shutting off the CCTV in a different area.
53	* InsistentTerminology: Grenades are never referred in their item description by their full name, and are always just called “Nade”.
54	* InsurmountableWaistHighFence: Your characters are unable to go over things like upturned chairs or stacks of bottles on the floor.
55	* ItemCrafting: Upgraded versions of common equipment can be synthesized by certain weaponsmiths. For instance, a regular Two-Handed Sword can be turned into a Claymore with the addition of some scrap metal, or a basic pistol can be turned into a Ferusian PMM in a similar manner.
56	* MoneySpider: Averted. Defeated animals don’t drop any credits, and even the humans aren’t guaranteed to have any on them.
57	* MookMedic: The Rebel Medic enemies, capable of using First Aid to heal their compatriots. Ferusian military instead uses Medical and Repair Droids to aid human soldiers and other droids, respectively.
58	** ShootTheMedicFirst: This ability also makes them into primary targets for your party, as they can swiftly cancel out a turn’s worth of damage with a single heal.
59	* MultipleEndings: Three of them, although one is technically an upgraded version of a canon ending. Essentially, [[spoiler: you either help the rebels incite mass protests by uploading information about Project Ferustine for everyone to see, or you refuse to work with them and break out of their base towards an uncertain future.]]
60	* NoGearLevel: One occurs at the very end of the game if [[spoiler: you refuse to work for the rebels and they imprison you because of it.]] Once you break out, you can only use the starting weapons to fight the high-tier enemies who’ll greet you there.
61	* NoOSHACompliance: Invoked in the gun shop, where there’s an oil drum next to the ammunition crates, and examining it results in a comment about how unsafe that is.
62	* OptionalSexualEncounter: Available in the Eastern Slums, where there’s both a dedicated brothel and a flat where two bunny-suited prostitutes work on their own. Both will restore all health and MP, just like a stay at an inn, and Markus will even comment “This is better than a night’s sleep” when he’s done. Plus, going to the flat is actually cheaper (by 5 credits) than just staying at an inn.
63	* PaletteSwap: Done to every human enemy variation. Badland Berserkers are visually just blue-tinted version of Badland Vagabonds. Ferusian Grenadiers look identical to Ferusian Privates, except that their uniform is gold and purple instead of silver and green, while the Captain is [[TinTyrant all steel]]. Rebel Medics and Captains are green and blue-tinted versions of Scout Shotgunners, although Captains also have a moustached face pasted on.
64	* ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: Invoked at the end, where the password for hacking into the security system is a programmer’s date of birth. You discover this through an email conversation where said programmer is mocked for doing so.
65	* RoseHairedSweetie: Averted with Jade. She’s still one of the most sympathetic characters in the game, treating Markus and David with fair sense of humour and even apologetic when [[spoiler: you’re forced to fight her on the train]], but she’s definitely not sweet, especially to the people she despises.
66	* ShopFodder: Tin Lunchboxes, Thumb Tacks and rolls of Parcel Tape are the three “Sellable” items that have no use besides being sold at the shops for a pitiful sum of credits. The only time they have a quest significance is when Markus can deliver Thumb Tacks alongside a couple of crafting items to a man in the starting slum, and receive a Nail Gun in return.
67	* SideQuest: Plenty are available from the very start of the game, and which are added to a “To Do List” alongside the main quests. Their entries in the to do list also usually have a snarky comment or two from Markus.
68	* StatStick: This can happen when characters are dual-wielding weapons and are using skills specific to swords, pistols or axes. Those only require one such weapon to be equipped and it’s possible to have a powerful off-hand weapon of a different type still act to enhance the skill power. This works best with the Taser, which increases attack power by 25, thus being the most powerful one-handed weapon.
69	* {{Stripperiffic}}: Magtown Lashers fought briefly during a side-quest are dressed in stripper-like attires, as well as fighting with whips.
70	* SuspiciouslyCrackedWall: Hollowed-out crosses on sewer walls, which can be shattered with a sledgehammer to reveal some goodies.
71	* TakeYourTime: There’s a segment on a train that will supposedly crash anytime soon, yet it is not timed at all, and it is possible to pace around to regenerate your group’s stamina before tackling on each set of guards.
72	* TraumaInn: Played straight, as a stay at the inn will restore all health and SP. Moreover, the checkpoints in towns are located at the inns and ONLY at the inns, ostensibly to discourage SaveScumming for the lockpicking sections.
73	* TrickBoss: The Ferusian Captain, who is fought before the real boss of the section, [[spoiler: Jade]].
74	* {{Tykebomb}}: Invoked in the Eastern Slums Inn, where you can talk to the drunken philosopher who relays rumours about how scientists now plan to use magic stones they found to create super soldiers that obey commands perfectly from young ages. [[spoiler: He turns out to be mostly right, as these are the aims of the Project Ferustine.]]
75	* YaoiFangirl: A woman in the porn shop in the starting area, who’ll only say “Where’s the freaking yaoi stuff?” when you try to talk to her.

Context VideoGame / SoreLosers