History NightmareFuel / Lisa

* The Palace that Lisa is transported to is relatively nice-looking and safe. That is, until the end, when Lisa reaches the final corridor and is greeted by Marty, represented here as a [[http://rpgmaker.net/media/content/games/4412/screenshots/screen_four.jpg grotesque, veiny mound of flesh covered in scraggly hair]], and surrounded by [[{{Squick}} vomit stains and broken beer bottles]]. It's undoubtedly the most intense instance of [[BodyHorror body horror]] in the entire game, which is compounded by the fact that the entrance to the next area is located behind him. This requires Lisa to move directly behind him, which makes it look like she's [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything being absorbed into his body]].

[[folder: LISA: The Painful RPG]]

* Just the way that the hallucinations creep into the landscape; first theres just a few bodies... then joy mutants.. then suddenly Brad's corpse at the end of the Painful RPG sits on a hill just above you.

*** The first phase involves wading through the sea of blood and [[MirrorBoss being set upon by images of your current party]]. While they are initially not too challenging, they will become progressively deadlier the more attempts it takes to defeat Marty, with the copies [[FearfulSymmetry gaining invulnerability to the attacks of the original,]] [[AttackReflector obtaining a reflective shield]], and [[TakingYouWithMe eventually becoming able to instantly KO its original with no way to block it]].

*** The final stage is at the peak, where you fight the Manifestation of Marty proper, surrounded by spider-spewing boils and a raging storm. While the player is probably used to OneHitKill mechanics by this point, this fight makes them especially horrifying: the battle animation shows Marty slowly reaching for them before biting down, taking them to a unique cutscene, where the character is [[TheAssimilator slowly dragged into the fleshy folds of the mountain.]] This instantly spawns another spider-boil, and [[YouAreWhoYouEat any future spiders created in Phase 2 will have a chance of having the devoured characters’ head]]. As the battle goes on, Marty becomes more unhinged and nightmarish, with his head detaching and bouncing around on a spinal chord, drooling bile, and [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily opening his mouth to reveal an abyss of teeth]] and draining all of your character’s stats, permanently.

* Throughout the game, when resting at certain rest points, there's a chance for one of your companions to get kidnapped by one of the local gangs. This is easily resolved by giving the gang a certain amount of mags to get said companion back. When arriving at Area 3, you'll come across a new gang that consists of bikers. They don't do or say anything, and just stare at you, and block your path. Resting at the Area 3 rest point yet again risks one of your companions getting kidnapped by the biker gang. At this point you would think "Oh, i'll just pay the toll to get my companion back.", but this time, it's ''different''. When you get to the biker gang's hangout, you'll be greeted to a lovely sight of all the bikers' ''mutilated bodies on the floor, and the grass caked in blood''. You'll then come across the giant, mutated leader of the gang march around crazily. When touching him, naturally you'll enter a fight with him. Said fight is ''probably harder than any other joy mutant fight''. He uses his bike to slam you and your companions, possibly ''killing them''.

* In the tunnel leading to Wally's, there is an NPC who is facing a cavern wall. When interacted with, he reveals his mutilated face and says, "I have [[EyeScream no eyes]] to see. But I can [[{{Autocannibalism}} taste it]]."

* '''[[KnightOfCerebus Wally.]]''' Just... everything about him. Traipsing through the first few rooms of his restaurant before you get to him, full of raw meat that's either [[ImAHumanitarian human]], [[{{Squick}} his and Lil' Nuggie's mutated flesh]], or both. His pre-battle speech, which alternates between insane threats and pleas to stay away. His [[HellIsThatNoise terrifying]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2uzBFzEYWI laughter]]. (It becomes slight {{Nightmare Retardant}} if you recognize [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_dZw1iBWL0 its original source,]] however.) His costume breaking as the battle goes on, revealing that he's [[BodyHorror been in it so long his flesh is]] ''rotting''. And to top it all off, he doesn't drop any Joy after you beat him, meaning ''he's not even a mutant. This happened on its own.''

* Obviously, [[CrapsackWorld the world of LISA is not a very nice place.]] You have violent bandits and marauders murdering anyone they run into, men trying to molest other men [[{{Gendercide}}to compensate for the entire population of women being wiped out,]] there's grotesque mutants who [[WasOnceAMan used to be human beings]] with their minds torn apart and reduced to caveman-like states, and the sole fact that one day, [[HumanitysWake humanity itself is going to shrivel up into nothing.]] It's a ''very'' bleak setting for a game inspired by others like [[VideoGame.EarthBound1994 EarthBound.]]
* The Joy Mutants themselves. [[WasOnceAMan They're the end result of a Joy addict's death/emotional development;]] giant, horifically fleshy monsters that are almost entirely hostile towards anyone that dare approach them. Their minds have been shattered to the point to where the only thing they seek is their deepest desire, which in most cases makes them violent and cannibalistic. These violent tendencies makes them some of the exclusive enemies in the game that can perma-kill your party members. There's also the fact that during battle, most mutants spend their turns [[TearsofRemorse crying]] and [[HowlofSorrow moaning]] while only occasionally dishing out devastating attacks. This can be interpreted as them still having a little humanity left and being dimly aware of the monsters they've become, which makes them doubly [[FridgeHorror horrific]] and [[TragicMonster sad]].

* The constant hallucinations of Lisa that Brad suffers are quite unnerving. He sees her everywhere he goes, standing just out of reach and silently observing him.

** [[FunctionalAddict Some of the party members you can obtain are Joy addicts, or can be made into Joy addicts,]] so no matter how much you develop them through battle, somewhere in their live they're inevitably mutate.

* Obviously, [[CrapsackWorld the world of LISA is not a very nice place.]] You have violent bandits and marauders murdering anyone they run into, men trying to molest other men [[{{Gendercide}}to compensate for the entire population of women being wiped out]], there's grotesque mutants who [[WasOnceAMan used to be human beings]] with their minds torn apart and reduced to caveman-like states, and the sole fact that one day, humanity itself is going to shrivel up into nothing. It's a very bleak setting for a game inspired by others like Earthbound.
* The Joy mutants are absolutely horrifying because of how [[BodyHorror alien and distorted]] they look. There's also the fact that during battle, most mutants spend their turns [[TearsofRemorse crying]] and [[HowlofSorrow moaning]] while only occasionally dishing out devastating attacks. This can be interpreted as them still having a little humanity left and being dimly aware of the monsters [[WasOnceaMan they've become]], which makes them doubly [[FridgeHorror horrific]] and [[TragicMonster sad]].

* Instant Kill attacks. Seeing your unique, quirky, useful and funny party members grow strong, powerful and capable instantly removed forever from your party with no hope of getting them back is deeply disturbing. Also double as a Tearjerker.

* About your companion who was kidnapped, once defeating the joy mutant, behind him is a pile of flayed flesh. Inspecting it narrates the text "Is this...?". The implication of this? Your companion is '''''[[KilledOffForReal dead.]]''''' There's absolutely ''no'' way to save the companion that was kidnapped. Made even worse if it was a companion that was extremely powerful, like Terry Hintz or Fly.

* Just about the whole game is dripping with NightmareFuel. Even the smaller details in the game, [[ItsQuietTooQuiet like how certain areas don't have any music playing over them]], evoke a feeling of subtle unease. See MoodWhiplash on the main page for some details.

** Looking closely, a lot of the backgrounds are just his face. Even in empty space, Marty is everywhere.

** For starters, you are greeted with the lovely image of a scientist's hung corpse, as well as this [[https://youtu.be/4VKF5U1EEfw beautiful piece]] of background music, titled "Blood For Sex". [[SarcasmMode Really makes you feel welcomed, huh?]]

%%* Rando's [[BodyHorror face]] and backstory.

* The fact that right before the final battle with Rando's army, Lisa's theme from The First, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0HIShS8vBs The Siren's Call]], plays very faintly in the background. It's the only other point in the game besides the title screen where it plays.

* The absolutely horrific landscape of The List by the end of the Joyful: dead bodies from Buddy's crusade, slain mutants dot the hills, blood and gore and maddening scrawls cover the walls and floor, and Brad, his friends and Rando all looking on at you, disappointingly. It really hammers home just how awful Buddy's destructive crusade was, and her shattered mental state by the endgame.]

[[caption-width-right:350: [[BodyHorror You took some joy...]]]]

* '''[[KnightOfCerebus Wally.]]''' Just... everything about him. Traipsing through the first few rooms of his restaurant before you get to him, full of raw meat that's either [[ImAHumanitarian human]], [[{{Squick}} his and Lil' Nuggie's mutated flesh]], or both. His pre-battle speech, which alternates between insane threats and pleas to stay away. His [[HellIsThatNoise terrifying]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4v_nOmmA-Y laughter]]. (It becomes slight {{Nightmare Retardant}} if you recognize [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_dZw1iBWL0 its original source,]] however.) His costume breaking as the battle goes on, revealing that he's [[BodyHorror been in it so long his flesh is]] ''rotting''. And to top it all off, he doesn't drop any Joy after you beat him, meaning ''he's not even a mutant. This happened on its own.''

* The Palace that Lisa is transported to is relatively nice-looking and safe. [[spoiler: That is, until the end, when Lisa reaches the final corridor and is greeted by Marty, represented here as a [[http://rpgmaker.net/media/content/games/4412/screenshots/screen_four.jpg grotesque, veiny mound of flesh covered in scraggly hair]], and surrounded by [[{{Squick}} vomit stains and broken beer bottles]]. It's undoubtedly the most intense instance of [[BodyHorror body horror]] in the entire game, which is compounded by the fact that the entrance to the next area is located behind him. This requires Lisa to move directly behind him, which makes it look like she's [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything being absorbed into his body]].]]

** For starters, you are greeted with the lovely image of a scientist's hung corpse, as well as this [[https://youtu.be/4VKF5U1EEfw beautiful piece]] of background music. [[SarcasmMode Really makes you feel welcomed, huh?]]
** Little, blood-coated, zombie-like creatures called Creeps infest the area. While they’re pushovers in battle, the sheer speed at which they scuttle around can easily catch a player off guard. The truth behind them definitely doesn’t make them less creepy, as they’re failed attempts at creating SuperSoldiers.

* The Joy mutants are absolutely horrifying because of how [[BodyHorror alien and distorted]] they look.
** There's also the fact that during battle, most mutants spend their turns [[TearsofRemorse crying]] and [[HowlofSorrow moaning]] while only occasionally dishing out devastating attacks. This can be interpreted as them still having a little humanity left and being dimly aware of the monsters [[WasOnceaMan they've become]], which makes them doubly [[FridgeHorror horrific]] and [[TragicMonster sad]].

* [[spoiler: Rando's [[BodyHorror face]] and backstory.]]

* What's scary about the Great White Flash is that [[NothingIsScarier almost next to nothing]] is known about it. We don't know what caused [[spoiler: the [[{{Gendercide}} women to die off]] or how they died off...]]

** Little, blood-coated, zombie-like creatures called Creeps infest the area. While they’re pushovers in battle, the sheer speed at which they scuttle around can easily catch a player off guard. The truth behind them definitely doesn’t make them less creepy, as they’re [[spoiler: failed attempts at creating SuperSoldiers]].

*** Doctor gets even scarier once FridgeHorror settles in. The giant lump that is the majority of his body presumably prevents him from moving. Given his decayed appearance (pale skin, yellow teeth), and the note implying that he mutated around the time that the Joy project wrapped up, this implies that [[AndIMustScream Dr. Lemont was sitting and decaying in the basement for years]], possibly before the Flash occurred.

** The final room has a relatively fresh corpse and a note saying “Sorry darling, but my actions are just”. Here’s the kicker: [[spoiler: the corpse is a ''female'']]. In other words, whoever killed that person [[spoiler: helped screw over the entire human race]].

** About your companion who was kidnapped, once defeating the joy mutant, behind him is a pile of flayed flesh. Inspecting it narrates the text "Is this...?". The implication of this? Your companion is '''''[[KilledOffForReal dead.]]''''' There's absolutely ''no'' way to save the companion that was kidnapped. Made even worse if it was a companion that was extremely powerful, like Terry Hintz or Fly.
* It's implied that the "snow" on Snow Mountain is actually ash from the piles of corpses being cremated at the summit.
** At the top of the mountain, the player encounters a man running around frantically while engulfed in flames. It's a jarring contrast to the lifeless bodies surrounding him, and it has [[FakingTheDead unfortunate]] [[BuriedAlive implications]].
* The fact that right before the final battle with Rando's army, [[spoiler: Lisa's theme from The First, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0HIShS8vBs The Siren's Call]], plays very faintly in the background. It's the only other point in the game besides the title screen where it plays.]]

* The absolutely horrific landscape of The List by the end of the Joyful: dead bodies from Buddy's crusade, slain mutants dot the hills, blood and gore and maddening scrawls cover the walls and floor, and [[spoiler: Brad, his friends and Rando all looking on at you, disappointingly.]] It really hammers home just how awful Buddy's destructive crusade was, [[spoiler: and her shattered mental state by the endgame.]]
** Just the way that [[spoiler: the hallucinations]] creep into the landscape; first theres just a few bodies... then joy mutants.. then suddenly [[spoiler: Brad's corpse at the end of the Painful RPG sits on a hill just above you.]]
* Buzzo's horrific fate. After talking about how Buddy didn’t deserve the pain that he inflicted upon her and remarking how [[spoiler: Lisa]] would’ve loved this world, he [[spoiler: begins crying out for Lisa in a rather disturbing manner... before the screen cuts to the red tendrils associated with Joy, and then it cuts back to Buzzo beginning to mutate. His head has become disproportionately swollen, and a new arm begins growing out of it]]. Soon after, we see [[spoiler: his mutated form, which is all bloodied and (literally) twisted. Upon his death, he slowly remarks how he’s finally free from Lisa's grasp]]. Granted, one might argue that [[LaserGuidedKarma he deserved it]], but it’s incredibly horrifying regardless.
** The worst part? [[spoiler: He actively tries to prevent his feral mutant instincts from killing Buddy, which ranges from simple stalling to ''[[{{Autocannibalism}} eating himself to death]]'']].

** About your companion who was kidnapped, once defeating the joy mutant, behind him is a pile of flayed flesh. Inspecting it narrates the text "Is this...?". The implication of this? Your companion is [[KilledOffForReal '''''dead'''''.]] There's absolutely ''no'' way to save the companion that was kidnapped. Made even worse if it was a companion that was extremely powerful, like Terry Hintz or Fly.

* The fact that right before the final battle with Rando's army, [[spoiler: Lisa's theme from The First, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0HIShS8vBs The Sireen's Call]], plays very faintly in the background. It's the only other point in the game besides the title screen where it plays.]]

* The Joy mutants look absolutely horrifying because of how [[BodyHorror alien and distorted]] they look.
** There's also the fact that during battle, most mutants spend their turns [[TearsofRemorse crying]], [[TheScream screaming]] and [[HowlofSorrow moaning]] while only occasionally dishing out devastating attacks. This can be interpreted as them still having a little humanity left and being dimly aware of the monsters [[WasOnceaMan they've become]], which makes them doubly [[FridgeHorror horrific]] and [[TragicMonster sad]].

* '''[[KnightOfCerebus Wally.]]''' Just... everything about him. Traipsing through the first few rooms of his restaurant before you get to him, full of raw meat that's either [[ImAHumanitarian human]], [[{{Squick}} his and Lil' Nuggie's mutated flesh]], or both. His pre-battle speech, which alternates between insane threats and pleas to stay away. His [[HellIsThatNoise terrifying]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4v_nOmmA-Y laughter]]. His costume breaking as the battle goes on, revealing that he's [[BodyHorror been in it so long his flesh is]] ''rotting''. And to top it all off, he doesn't drop any Joy after you beat him, meaning ''he's not even a mutant. This happened on its own.''

** [[http://lisa-rpg.wikia.com/wiki/File:Creep_mutant_higherres.png The bloated, Joy Mutant-like Creep in one of the basement floors that appears attached to the wall.]] This one is completely inaccessable, as the staircase leading to the basement of that house is blocked. The fact that this unique Creep can't be fought somehow [[NothingIsScarrier makes it worse.]] Brad doesn't even see it, but thanks to the side-view of the game, ''you'' do.

* [[spoiler: Sweetheart, the most powerful Joy mutant in existence. Even worse? ''It'' might be a '''she'''.]]