Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''VideoGame/YookaLayleeAndTheImpossibleLair'' begins with an attempt by Yooka and Laylee at the eponymous Impossible Lair. Players [[SubvertedTrope actually can clear the level on their first attempt]]- it's just [[NintendoHard not likely]] without the Beetalion Shield.
Added DiffLines:
* In ''VideoGame/DaydreamingDerpy'', you can head to the entrance of the apparent final dungeon as soon as you become able to move between parts of the dream world, but Derpy won't head inside alone. Completing the other three areas of the dream world will have the Crusaders meet up with her here and you can progress.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 30 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: First-Person Shooter]]
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder: First-Person Shooter]]
* ''{{VideoGame/Marathon}} Infinity: Blood Tides of L'howon'' has three alternate paths along the storyline leading to BadFuture versions of "Aye Mak Sicur", the final level, in which only a small section of the Jjaro space station is accessible.
[[/folder]]
* ''{{VideoGame/Marathon}} Infinity: Blood Tides of L'howon'' has three alternate paths along the storyline leading to BadFuture versions of "Aye Mak Sicur", the final level, in which only a small section of the Jjaro space station is accessible.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Moving to correct folder.
Deleted line(s) 28 (click to see context) :
* In the first ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' game, the AbandonedMine has a seemingly redundant room behind the boss chamber, which turns out to be part of the FinalDungeon of the ''second'' game, after the eponymous FloatingContinent returns to Earth.
Added DiffLines:
* In the first ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' game, the AbandonedMine has a seemingly redundant room behind the boss chamber, which turns out to be part of the FinalDungeon of the ''second'' game, after the eponymous FloatingContinent returns to Earth.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In the first ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' game, the AbandonedMine has a seemingly redundant room behind the boss chamber, which turns out to be part of the FinalDungeon of the ''second'' game, after the eponymous FloatingContinent returns to Earth.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Alphabetization.
* ''Videogame/RatchetAndClank'' starts peacefully on Veldin, when suddenly Clank crashes there, Ratchet notices it and goes to check what the hell happened. The only enemies are some frogs and robots that followed Clank, all quite easy to dispatch. However, over the course of the game, the BigBad decides to destroy Veldin and station his [[EarthShatteringKaboom Deplanetizer]] there, so you must trek over on this place, except you now can and have to continue well beyond Clank's crash site and the enemies are EliteMooks and Dropships.
Deleted line(s) 34 (click to see context) :
* ''Videogame/RatchetAndClank'' starts peacefully on Veldin, when suddenly Clank crashes there, Ratchet notices it and goes to check what the hell happened. The only enemies are some frogs and robots that followed Clank, all quite easy to dispatch. However, over the course of the game, the BigBad decides to destroy Veldin and station his [[EarthShatteringKaboom Deplanetizer]] there, so you must trek over on this place, except you now can and have to continue well beyond Clank's crash site and the enemies are EliteMooks and Dropships.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Videogame/RatchetAndClank'' starts peacefully on Veldin, when suddenly Clank crashes there, Ratchet notices it and goes to check what the hell happened. The only enemies are some frogs and robots that followed Clank, all quite easy to dispatch. However, over the course of the game, the BigBad decides to destroy Veldin and station his [[EarthShatteringKaboom Deplanetizer]] there, so you must trek over on this place, except you now can and have to continue well beyond Clank's crash site and the enemies are EliteMooks and Dropships.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages]]'', Link enters the Black Tower while it's under construction early on to get a shovel. After it's completed, it turns into the final dungeon of the game.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease, WhereItAllBegan, and SoNearYetSoFar. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier ones.
to:
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease, WhereItAllBegan, and SoNearYetSoFar. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier earlier, different ones.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Alphabetization.
* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans. By the time Mario gets there at the very end, the only area you wouldn't have already been able to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans. By the time Mario gets there at the very end, the only area you wouldn't have already been able to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
Changed line(s) 51,53 (click to see context) from:
* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans. By the time Mario gets there at the very end, the only area you wouldn't have already been able to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans. By the time Mario gets there at the very end, the only area you wouldn't have already been able to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
to:
* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans.By the time Mario gets there at end of ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' it's revealed that the very end, first dungeon of the only area you wouldn't have already been able game - the ancient Shrine Island - is actually just a small chunk of the lost floating continent of Soltis, and once Soltis returns from Deep Sky, Shrine Island becomes the entry point to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].dungeon.
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
Deleted line(s) 57 (click to see context) :
* By the end of ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' it's revealed that the first dungeon of the game - the ancient Shrine Island - is actually just a small chunk of the lost floating continent of Soltis, and once Soltis returns from Deep Sky, Shrine Island becomes the entry point to the final dungeon.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', there's a cave in the Lost Underworld that takes you to a small area in a void of black, with grassy jagged pathways out of reach and a reverberating brassy sound (in reality, it's the first few notes of the French National Anthem). This is actually [[spoiler: the present-day version of The Cave of the Past, a barren area full of enemy robots but completely devoid of organic life aside from the final boss that you face at the end of the game.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* By the end of ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' it's revealed that the first dungeon of the game - the ancient Shrine Island - is actually just a small chunk of the lost floating continent of Soltis, and once Soltis returns from Deep Sky, Shrine Island becomes the entry point to the final dungeon.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'': Partway through the game, Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario reach Bowser's Castle, where they rescue Peach and Paper Peach and defeat Bowser Jr. and Paper Bowser Jr. Afterward, Bowser and Paper Bowser rocket the castle into the sky and upgrade it to Neo Bowser Castle; the heroes spend the rest of the game getting back up there.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 49 (click to see context) from:
* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
to:
* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans. By the time Mario gets there at the very end, the only area you wouldn't have already been able to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans. By the time Mario gets there at the very end, the only area you wouldn't have already been able to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease and WhereItAllBegan. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier ones.
to:
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease NewWorldTease, WhereItAllBegan, and WhereItAllBegan.SoNearYetSoFar. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier ones.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Early in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', Wolf Link gets dragged to Hyrule Castle, where he is freed by Midna, traverses the high towers with her, and hears about Hyrule's plight from Princess Zelda before getting warped back to Ordon. He goes through the same area almost midway through the game to save an injured Midna. Link finally gets to storm Hyrule Castle as a proper dungeon at the end, though not the section he traversed as Wolf Link.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Formatting
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
* In the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy|I'', the first major fight in the game happens at an ancient temple, which ends up being the entryway to the final dungeon in the game, that same temple 2000 years in the past, [[spoiler: against the man who ends up being the final boss of the game.]]
to:
* In the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy|I'', ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy|I}}'', the first major fight in the game happens at an ancient temple, which ends up being the entryway to the final dungeon in the game, that same temple 2000 years in the past, [[spoiler: against the man who ends up being the final boss of the game.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy|I'', the first major fight in the game happens at an ancient temple, which ends up being the entryway to the final dungeon in the game, that same temple 2000 years in the past, [[spoiler: against the man who ends up being the final boss of the game.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 36 (click to see context) from:
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', you get captured and are taken to the prison in Fort Drakon and have to sneak or fight your way out. The final dungeon is a return to Fork Drakon, which is now overrun by darkspawn.
to:
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', you can potentially get captured and are taken to the prison in Fort Drakon and have to sneak or fight your way out. The final dungeon is a return to Fork Drakon, which is now overrun by darkspawn.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Alphabetization.
* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'': [[VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon The Last Way]], the only level in the game's [[SecretFinalCampaign Last]] [[GoldenEnding Story]], is a remixed version of [[NonIndicativeName Final]] [[DiscOneFinalDungeon Haunt]], the last level of the [[StoryBranching Pure Hero path]]. Since the Last Story unlocks after reaching all ten of the regular (non-canon) endings, and those endings can be reached in any order, this trope can be PlayedStraight , if the player does the Pure Hero endings early; [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]], [[FiveSecondForeshadowing if they save them for last]]; or [[ZigZaggedTrope both]], if they do one Pure Hero ending early on and save the other for last.
Deleted line(s) 31 (click to see context) :
* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'': [[VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon The Last Way]], the only level in the game's [[SecretFinalCampaign Last]] [[GoldenEnding Story]], is a remixed version of [[NonIndicativeName Final]] [[DiscOneFinalDungeon Haunt]], the last level of the [[StoryBranching Pure Hero path]]. Since the Last Story unlocks after reaching all ten of the regular (non-canon) endings, and those endings can be reached in any order, this trope can be PlayedStraight , if the player does the Pure Hero endings early; [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]], [[FiveSecondForeshadowing if they save them for last]]; or [[ZigZaggedTrope both]], if they do one Pure Hero ending early on and save the other for last.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
*''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'': [[VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon The Last Way]], the only level in the game's [[SecretFinalCampaign Last]] [[GoldenEnding Story]], is a remixed version of [[NonIndicativeName Final]] [[DiscOneFinalDungeon Haunt]], the last level of the [[StoryBranching Pure Hero path]]. Since the Last Story unlocks after reaching all ten of the regular (non-canon) endings, and those endings can be reached in any order, this trope can be PlayedStraight , if the player does the Pure Hero endings early; [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]], [[FiveSecondForeshadowing if they save them for last]]; or [[ZigZaggedTrope both]], if they do one Pure Hero ending early on and save the other for last.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Natasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
to:
* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Natasia.Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 30 (click to see context) from:
* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', you can travel to two different secret levels of the final world, the Valley of Bowser, [[DisconnectedSideArea from Donut Plains and Chocolate Island]]. You are [[NewWorldTease unable to access any of the standard levels]] and must reach the world from the Sunken Ghost Ship to play them.
to:
* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', you can travel to two different secret levels of the final world, the Valley of Bowser, [[DisconnectedSideArea from Donut Plains and Chocolate Island]]. You are [[NewWorldTease unable to access any of the standard levels]] from these places and must reach the world from via the Sunken Ghost Ship to play them.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In ''VideoGame/CrossCode'', you are captured and taken to the Vermilion Wasteland about halfway through the game and eventually have to sneak your way through the Vermilion Tower. You return to the Vermilion Wasteland during the endgame and the Vermilion Tower is the final dungeon. Some of the enemies during your first visit to the Wasteland are at endgame level, but you have a powerful GuestStarPartyMember to help you take them down.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', you get captured and are taken to the prison in Fort Drakon and have to sneak or fight your way out. The final dungeon is a return to Fork Drakon, which is now overrun by darkspawn.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', you get captured and are taken to the prison in Fort Drakon and have to sneak or fight your way out. The final dungeon is a return to Fork Drakon, which is now overrun by darkspawn.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 29 (click to see context) from:
* ''VideoGame/MegaManX2'': Magna Centipede's stage is like every other "main 8" boss stage in the game. However, the final level is revealed to also be Magna Centipede's level, except that there's a new detour which leads to the FinalBoss.
to:
* ''VideoGame/MegaManX2'': Magna Centipede's stage is like every other "main 8" boss Maverick stage in the game. However, the final level is revealed to also be Magna Centipede's level, except that there's a new detour which leads to the FinalBoss.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'': About halfway through the game, Soma passes through the Top Floor of Dracula's castle to get to the Inner Quarters. The Top Floor is the final area of the game, [[spoiler:though this is [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] if the player unlocks the GoldenEnding]].
to:
* ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'': About halfway through the game, Soma passes through the Top Floor of Dracula's castle Castle to get to the Inner Quarters. The Top Floor is the final area of the game, [[spoiler:though this is [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] if the player unlocks the GoldenEnding]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease and WhereItAllBegan. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Also compare and contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier ones.
to:
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease and WhereItAllBegan. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Also compare and contrast Contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier ones.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 1,5 (click to see context) :
Indices:
* RolePlayingGame
* ThisIndexWillBeImportantLater
* VideoGameSettings
----
* RolePlayingGame
* ThisIndexWillBeImportantLater
* VideoGameSettings
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Created from YKTTW
Added DiffLines:
Indices:
* RolePlayingGame
* ThisIndexWillBeImportantLater
* VideoGameSettings
----
In most video games, the player will likely take it for granted that the last area, level or world will be a remote, inaccessible place that won't be available until the end of the game when the stakes are at their highest and there's nowhere else left to go. After all, only such a climactic stage in the campaign could be worthy of [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon this level's magnitude]]. Sometimes, however, the player gets to pay an early visit to the future site of their final confrontation.
This trope can manifest itself in several variants. The first visit may be treated as a dungeon in of itself with its navigation, enemies and available items differing from the final trek. It may just be a bare-bones version of the dungeon with little to offer in terms of exploration or treasures, with only the scenery and architecture (and perhaps [[InterfaceSpoiler the game's interface]]) foreshadowing the complete dungeon. Maybe only a tiny part of the dungeon is accessible, [[NewWorldTease tantalising the player]] with a glimpse of what the rest of the level has to offer.
If it is made clear by the game that the dungeon will be the final one, the preview can serve to make the player curious to explore the full place, increasing their sense of anticipation or foreboding for the endgame. On the other hand, keeping the last level as a mystery can surprise the player once they reach it and realise that they have been there before.
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease and WhereItAllBegan. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Also compare and contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier ones.
Note that at least part of the final level must be physically accessible to the player before the endgame for it to qualify as a Final Dungeon Preview; if the dungeon's exterior is simply observable from a separate area with no indication of what it contains, or if the dungeon appears only in a cutscene from which the player character is absent, then it does not count as this trope.
This trope does not include final levels which can only be reached early by exploiting glitches; the level must be reachable through legitimate means.
Due to the nature of this trope, '''beware of spoilers'''.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Action-Adventure]]
* ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'': About halfway through the game, Soma passes through the Top Floor of Dracula's castle to get to the Inner Quarters. The Top Floor is the final area of the game, [[spoiler:though this is [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] if the player unlocks the GoldenEnding]].
* ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'': You first approach the Citadel from a narrow, wooden bridge but are unable to enter its interior. You and Trico are then attacked by a large group of [[{{Mooks}} armoured guards]], which results in the bridge being destroyed and forces you to land onto another tower. After traversing through more ruins, you once again reach the Citadel's exterior [[spoiler:thanks to Trico's wings healing enough for him to make the journey]]. This time, you can enter inside and make your way up the tower in the hope that you will finally escape the Nest.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'', because the player initially enters Lorule from Hyrule Castle, the first place they see in the other world is the castle's counterpart. They are sent away from Lorule Castle to rescue the Seven Sages and obtain the Triforce of Courage so that they can defeat Yuga, who is restrained by Princess Hilda in the throne room. Once they have done so, the barrier on the castle is removed and they can navigate the entire place, eventually returning to the throne room.
** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', since the player is free to make a beeline straight to Hyrule Castle to face Ganon from the moment they get the paraglider (though it isn't recommended since they will be severely under-equipped and the FinalBoss fight will be a lot tougher). They are, however, encouraged to make multiple trips to the castle, both for the sake of several side quests and to grab some high-level weaponry.
* In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'', at one point you go down a well, where you find a hallway leading to an entrance within the mouth of a lion gargoyle, to King Boo's room, where he is holding Mario captive. Luigi reaches out from the lion's head, but can't do anything, so he is forced to go back and continue his adventure until he finally gets into the room.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Platform Games]]
* ''VideoGame/MegaManX2'': Magna Centipede's stage is like every other "main 8" boss stage in the game. However, the final level is revealed to also be Magna Centipede's level, except that there's a new detour which leads to the FinalBoss.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', you can travel to two different secret levels of the final world, the Valley of Bowser, [[DisconnectedSideArea from Donut Plains and Chocolate Island]]. You are [[NewWorldTease unable to access any of the standard levels]] and must reach the world from the Sunken Ghost Ship to play them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Role-Playing Games]]
* In ''Videogame/DragonsDogma'', you visit the Everfall in one of the first main quests after reaching the capital. It seems relatively innocuous at the time when it comes to plot relevance, though there is some foreshadowing involved. After you defeat the BigBad, the Everfall expands from its location under the capital, revealing AlienGeometries, and it becomes TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon.
* ''Videogame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'': After defeating the Hydra boss in Lava Dome, a path opens up in the Focus Tower that leads to the lowest level of Doom Castle. You can only explore a small part of it that's walled off from the main part of the level, but you can fight some monsters and access a chest containing [[BlowYouAway the Aero spellbook]].
* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'':
** In Terra's story and Ventus' story, the two end up going to a world referred to simply as the Badlands after the first three worlds are completed. In Terra's case, he is summoned there by Xehanort regarding Vanitas, and all his entries are just cutscenes. In Ven's case, he chases after Vanitas there and has a boss fight against him. Both of them (and Aqua) return to this world at the end of their campaigns, with it now being called the Keyblade Graveyard.
** In the SecretFinalCampaign, Aqua fights Terra-Xehanort in the previously visited Radiant Garden. Subverted for the ''Final Mix'' version which introduces another secret campaign that has Aqua travelling the Dark World.
* ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' sees you venture into Castle Doom at the beginning of the second act to rescue ComicBook/JeanGrey and ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}}... or so it seems. As you soon discover, you have in reality been teleported to a facade of the castle which is a part of [[AmusementParkOfDoom Murderworld]]. It isn't until the game's final act that the heroes travel to the real Castle Doom. The background music for the fake version even [[ThemeSongReveal foreshadows this]], utilising the instrumentation used for the real deal while also sampling motifs from Murderworld's music.
* The final level of all three storylines of ''VideoGame/{{Nox}}'' is set in the [[PlanetHeck local equivalent of Hell]] -- however, the Wizard storyline sees you going there quite a bit earlier, when the BigBad Hecubah banishes you to it after [[spoiler:killing your master]], so you have to escape before you can return to your quest.
* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'':
** ''VideoGame/Persona4'': When you rest on the first day of arriving in Inaba, you awaken in a strange area. Upon moving forward and reaching a door, you are entered into a fight which ends in a few turns and you wake up for school. This is never brought up again until you reach the true ending, where it is revealed to be Yomotsu Hirasaka, the final dungeon of the game.
** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': The Thieves visit Mementos early on to complete requests, train up, and collect Personas. In the final stage of the game, it becomes ''everyone's'' Palace, forcing the Thieves to infiltrate and steal its treasure to free all of Tokyo from its own apathy.
* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Natasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
* The endgame of ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}}'' features two successive dungeons which both have been visited earlier in the story on separate occasions.
** The [[WombLevel Bionis' Interior]]. The party passes briefly through it to make their way from Satorl Marsh to Makna Forest, with the location having seemingly little significance. However, the fact that it has a page in the Collectopaedia despite the apparent lack of available collectables as well as the presence of inaccessible Heart-to-Hearts and Ether Crystals on the map [[InterfaceSpoiler indicate]] that this is not the last time you will visit the place. Indeed, while making your second journey to Prison Island much later, you are finally able to explore the rest of the dungeon, which now contains collectables and enemies [[spoiler:as a result of the Bionis' body returning to life]].
** [[OminousFloatingCastle Prison Island]], which on the first visit is where Shulk upgrades the Monado and [[ClimaxBoss fights Metal Face for the second time]]. Despite being the backdrop for [[WhamEpisode several pivotal events]], the dungeon itself has few enemies, is devoid of collectables and only a few of its many floors are accessible; this changes once you return to confront the final villains of the game once and for all.
[[/folder]]
----
* RolePlayingGame
* ThisIndexWillBeImportantLater
* VideoGameSettings
----
In most video games, the player will likely take it for granted that the last area, level or world will be a remote, inaccessible place that won't be available until the end of the game when the stakes are at their highest and there's nowhere else left to go. After all, only such a climactic stage in the campaign could be worthy of [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon this level's magnitude]]. Sometimes, however, the player gets to pay an early visit to the future site of their final confrontation.
This trope can manifest itself in several variants. The first visit may be treated as a dungeon in of itself with its navigation, enemies and available items differing from the final trek. It may just be a bare-bones version of the dungeon with little to offer in terms of exploration or treasures, with only the scenery and architecture (and perhaps [[InterfaceSpoiler the game's interface]]) foreshadowing the complete dungeon. Maybe only a tiny part of the dungeon is accessible, [[NewWorldTease tantalising the player]] with a glimpse of what the rest of the level has to offer.
If it is made clear by the game that the dungeon will be the final one, the preview can serve to make the player curious to explore the full place, increasing their sense of anticipation or foreboding for the endgame. On the other hand, keeping the last level as a mystery can surprise the player once they reach it and realise that they have been there before.
SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease and WhereItAllBegan. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Also compare and contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier ones.
Note that at least part of the final level must be physically accessible to the player before the endgame for it to qualify as a Final Dungeon Preview; if the dungeon's exterior is simply observable from a separate area with no indication of what it contains, or if the dungeon appears only in a cutscene from which the player character is absent, then it does not count as this trope.
This trope does not include final levels which can only be reached early by exploiting glitches; the level must be reachable through legitimate means.
Due to the nature of this trope, '''beware of spoilers'''.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Action-Adventure]]
* ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'': About halfway through the game, Soma passes through the Top Floor of Dracula's castle to get to the Inner Quarters. The Top Floor is the final area of the game, [[spoiler:though this is [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] if the player unlocks the GoldenEnding]].
* ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'': You first approach the Citadel from a narrow, wooden bridge but are unable to enter its interior. You and Trico are then attacked by a large group of [[{{Mooks}} armoured guards]], which results in the bridge being destroyed and forces you to land onto another tower. After traversing through more ruins, you once again reach the Citadel's exterior [[spoiler:thanks to Trico's wings healing enough for him to make the journey]]. This time, you can enter inside and make your way up the tower in the hope that you will finally escape the Nest.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'', because the player initially enters Lorule from Hyrule Castle, the first place they see in the other world is the castle's counterpart. They are sent away from Lorule Castle to rescue the Seven Sages and obtain the Triforce of Courage so that they can defeat Yuga, who is restrained by Princess Hilda in the throne room. Once they have done so, the barrier on the castle is removed and they can navigate the entire place, eventually returning to the throne room.
** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', since the player is free to make a beeline straight to Hyrule Castle to face Ganon from the moment they get the paraglider (though it isn't recommended since they will be severely under-equipped and the FinalBoss fight will be a lot tougher). They are, however, encouraged to make multiple trips to the castle, both for the sake of several side quests and to grab some high-level weaponry.
* In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'', at one point you go down a well, where you find a hallway leading to an entrance within the mouth of a lion gargoyle, to King Boo's room, where he is holding Mario captive. Luigi reaches out from the lion's head, but can't do anything, so he is forced to go back and continue his adventure until he finally gets into the room.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Platform Games]]
* ''VideoGame/MegaManX2'': Magna Centipede's stage is like every other "main 8" boss stage in the game. However, the final level is revealed to also be Magna Centipede's level, except that there's a new detour which leads to the FinalBoss.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', you can travel to two different secret levels of the final world, the Valley of Bowser, [[DisconnectedSideArea from Donut Plains and Chocolate Island]]. You are [[NewWorldTease unable to access any of the standard levels]] and must reach the world from the Sunken Ghost Ship to play them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Role-Playing Games]]
* In ''Videogame/DragonsDogma'', you visit the Everfall in one of the first main quests after reaching the capital. It seems relatively innocuous at the time when it comes to plot relevance, though there is some foreshadowing involved. After you defeat the BigBad, the Everfall expands from its location under the capital, revealing AlienGeometries, and it becomes TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon.
* ''Videogame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'': After defeating the Hydra boss in Lava Dome, a path opens up in the Focus Tower that leads to the lowest level of Doom Castle. You can only explore a small part of it that's walled off from the main part of the level, but you can fight some monsters and access a chest containing [[BlowYouAway the Aero spellbook]].
* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'':
** In Terra's story and Ventus' story, the two end up going to a world referred to simply as the Badlands after the first three worlds are completed. In Terra's case, he is summoned there by Xehanort regarding Vanitas, and all his entries are just cutscenes. In Ven's case, he chases after Vanitas there and has a boss fight against him. Both of them (and Aqua) return to this world at the end of their campaigns, with it now being called the Keyblade Graveyard.
** In the SecretFinalCampaign, Aqua fights Terra-Xehanort in the previously visited Radiant Garden. Subverted for the ''Final Mix'' version which introduces another secret campaign that has Aqua travelling the Dark World.
* ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' sees you venture into Castle Doom at the beginning of the second act to rescue ComicBook/JeanGrey and ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}}... or so it seems. As you soon discover, you have in reality been teleported to a facade of the castle which is a part of [[AmusementParkOfDoom Murderworld]]. It isn't until the game's final act that the heroes travel to the real Castle Doom. The background music for the fake version even [[ThemeSongReveal foreshadows this]], utilising the instrumentation used for the real deal while also sampling motifs from Murderworld's music.
* The final level of all three storylines of ''VideoGame/{{Nox}}'' is set in the [[PlanetHeck local equivalent of Hell]] -- however, the Wizard storyline sees you going there quite a bit earlier, when the BigBad Hecubah banishes you to it after [[spoiler:killing your master]], so you have to escape before you can return to your quest.
* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'':
** ''VideoGame/Persona4'': When you rest on the first day of arriving in Inaba, you awaken in a strange area. Upon moving forward and reaching a door, you are entered into a fight which ends in a few turns and you wake up for school. This is never brought up again until you reach the true ending, where it is revealed to be Yomotsu Hirasaka, the final dungeon of the game.
** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': The Thieves visit Mementos early on to complete requests, train up, and collect Personas. In the final stage of the game, it becomes ''everyone's'' Palace, forcing the Thieves to infiltrate and steal its treasure to free all of Tokyo from its own apathy.
* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Natasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].
* The endgame of ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}}'' features two successive dungeons which both have been visited earlier in the story on separate occasions.
** The [[WombLevel Bionis' Interior]]. The party passes briefly through it to make their way from Satorl Marsh to Makna Forest, with the location having seemingly little significance. However, the fact that it has a page in the Collectopaedia despite the apparent lack of available collectables as well as the presence of inaccessible Heart-to-Hearts and Ether Crystals on the map [[InterfaceSpoiler indicate]] that this is not the last time you will visit the place. Indeed, while making your second journey to Prison Island much later, you are finally able to explore the rest of the dungeon, which now contains collectables and enemies [[spoiler:as a result of the Bionis' body returning to life]].
** [[OminousFloatingCastle Prison Island]], which on the first visit is where Shulk upgrades the Monado and [[ClimaxBoss fights Metal Face for the second time]]. Despite being the backdrop for [[WhamEpisode several pivotal events]], the dungeon itself has few enemies, is devoid of collectables and only a few of its many floors are accessible; this changes once you return to confront the final villains of the game once and for all.
[[/folder]]
----
