History Main / AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent

* In [[VideoGame/HelloHello Hello? Hell...o?]], you have to accomplish over [[MultipleEndings 30 endings]] to beat the game, so expect this to happen.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'' started this all the way back on the original Famicom. You went through 4 chapters, each focusing around different characters before you got to control the [[TheChosenOne main hero]].[[hottip:*:The DS remake added a prologue where you played as TheHero.]]

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* WebVideo/WhatTheFuckIsWrongWithYou had Space Guy host the live show for April Fools day.

* Every game in the ''{{SaGa}}'' series, except the GameBoy ''Final Fantasy Legend'' games.
** Special mention goes to ''SaGa Frontier 2'', which is the ''king'' of this trope - not only do you have characters who are playable for only one dungeon, one character is actually "playable" only for one cutscene, meaning you never get to do anything with him, and he doesn't even count as having ever been in your party unless you go to the trade city immediately afterwards. At least skills learned are learned for every character in the game, and with no stages after the one you are currently on, there is no reason you'd even want to grind to begin with.
** This is also a game that will jump years and even generations into the future without warning, and inconsistently at that, since you're following two families separately. Makes your brain hurt, and one can only imagine how far the time gap between them can be pushed.

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Also see AnotherSideAnotherStory for when a new playable character becomes unlocked upon game completion. For starting back at level 1 in a sequel starring the same characters, see BagOfSpilling.

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* ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs'' has two instances of this.[[spoiler: The prologue of the game has you play as Joel's daughter while the perspective shifts between Ellie and Joel in the Winter chapters]].

* ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil'' is another game that pulls this trick with sidekicks instead of the main character. About halfway into the game, your first partner, Pey'j--an anthropomorphic, middle-aged pig and GadgeteerGenius--gets kidnapped and replaced with Double H, a [[TheBigGuy Big Guy]] with a habit of [[UseYourHead breaking things down with his head]]. While you get Pey'j back eventually, doing so marks a PointOfNoReturn.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}} 3: Demon Siege'' the player primarily controls swordsman Samanosuke and policeman Jacques. Roughly in the middle of the game they also briefly control Jacques' fiancee Michelle.

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* Subverted in ''TotalAnnihilation : Kingdoms'', which caused this to be viewed by some people as a negative trait, in spite of the fact that you are learning all four factions equally.

[[AC:Role Playing Games]]
* ''VideoGame/BetrayalAtKrondor'': This happens a few times, actually, but the most egregious is the beginning of Chapter 5, when you lose Owyn for the first time and instead get Patrus, whose stats are...well, he's a very old man.

* ''VideoGame/{{Breath of Fire|I}}'',

* In ''DragonBall Z: The Legacy of Goku 2'' and ''Buu's Fury'', you change between characters constantly. There are doors that only certain characters above level X can open. And you have to level ALL of them separately.

* ''{{Growlanser}}: Heritage of War'' is extremely guilty of this trope. It does it not only once but 4-5 times before you get on the main character's story. Although the actions you do with each characters will affect the main story line.

* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' 2:

** However, [[spoiler:it ''is'' possible to get Rehm to join your main party again by completing a sidequest chain. [[HeroicBSOD Taru]] and [[KilledOffForReal Vasra]], on the other hand...]]* In ''VideoGame/RuneFactory 2'' you switch from the parent to the child, after a TimeSkip.

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** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'' also had a short segment where you switched control to Carlos.

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[[AC:Non Video Game Examples]]

* In ''Mummy: the Curse'', one of the Frameworks suggested is that the players switch out between usually playing members of a cult and occasionally playing the mummy that the cult worships.

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* ''RedDeadRedemption'': [[spoiler:After John is murdered by Edgar Ross at the end, the game features a playable epilogue that takes place years later where the player takes control over his now grown-up son Jack, looking to avenge his father's death]].
* Occurs in the ''ReservoirDogs'' game for the simple reason that the game [[KillEmAll follows the plot of the movie]]. The only character who doesn't die the second you stop controlling him is Mr Orange, who is only controllable in the tutorial, and [[spoiler: possibly Mr Pink. See KarmaMeter, MultipleEndings.]]

* You play as a Red Freak for part of TheBrightInTheScreen.
** "Sometimes you may feel like you are one of them... just remember, you're not. [[MindScrew Yet.]]"

** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' has you play the first three memory sequences (about a fifth of the game) as ''Haytham'' Kenway, the main protagonist's father. While Haytham can acquire money and equipment in these sequences, none of it carries over to when you start playing as Connor -- but oddly, any exploration or sidequests that Haytham accomplished do.

* The Konquest mode of the newest installation in the ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'' series is pretty bad about this. You only control each character for one chapter each.

* The MissionImpossible video game has one level where you take control of two snipers to protect Ethan Hunt from assassins.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' has you play the first three memory sequences (about a fifth of the game) as ''Haytham'' Kenway, the main protagonist's father. While Haytham can acquire money and equipment in these sequences, none of it carries over to when you start playing as Connor -- but oddly, any exploration or sidequests that Haytham accomplished do.

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/{{Siren}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/siren_blood_curse_lineup_2676.jpg]]]]
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* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' does this shockingly near the end, where [[spoiler:Shepard and his/her crew leave the Normandy in the shuttle, and in their absence the Collectors invade. You're suddenly and jarringly given control of [[NonActionGuy Joker]], who must limp around the ship activating the AI to get the Normandy out of dodge]]

* ''CallOfJuarez'' was built around this shtick; alternating between the stealthy Billy and the heavily armed Reverend Ray in a game of cat and mouse where you play both feline and rodent. Generally, you'd play most levels twice: Once, sneaking around the area avoiding detection from bandits and the like, and then again while blowing away ''everyone''. [[AsTheGoodBookSays While quoting Bible verse.]]

** Also done in ''ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'', where [[spoiler: you end up playing as Phoenix in his last trial.]]

* The video game adaptation of ''Film/{{Spider-Man 3}}'' has the player controlling Harry Osborn for a bit during the final battle.