History VideoGame / Boktai

* CoolStarship: The Laplace serves as the main vessel for Lucian and Aaron over the course of Lunar Knights [[spoiler:until it's seemingly lost in the final battle with Polidori.]] There is also Perrault's Schrödinger, though it eventually develops into more of a HumongousMecha. [[spoiler:Its base form eventually returns to save Lucian and Aaron, seemingly becoming their new ship afterwards.]]

%%* CoolShip: Schrödinger, though it eventually develops into more of a HumongousMecha.

* EleventhHourSuperpower: Wild Bunch, a team attack between Django and Sabata. Never appears after the first game.

** Sabata's boss fight AI also becomes much more difficult on the night of a full moon.

A fan-game called ''{{Kura5}} (short-hand for ''Bokura no Taiyō 5") was created as a sequel to ''Boktai 3''.

* AllTheWorldsAreAStage: Hel's Castle has four towers that resemble the four dungeons you had to go through and each end with a powered-up version of the boss character. The puzzles are so notably NintendoHard that one of them has a "loser switch" you can press to solve it for you.
-->'''Plaque that appears if you use the Loser Switch:''' [[EasyModeMockery Here forever engraved is the name of the LOSER Django.]]

A fan-game called ''[=Kura5=]'' (short-hand for ''Bokura no Taiyō 5") is also in-progress [[https://chickenhat.itch.io/kura5-bonds-of-the-undying here.]]

** ''[=Kura5=]'' features a Toasty Machine, which uses passwords from clearing the three difficulties of Lunar Knights. Using it will unlock the Vanargand sword for Emil, while Annie obtains the Knight Solar Gun (renamed Stellennium) and Toasty as a summon.

A fan-game called ''[=Kura5=]'' (short-hand for ''Bokura no Taiyō 5") is also in-progress [url=https://chickenhat.itch.io/kura5-bonds-of-the-undying]here.[/url]

* TemporaryOnlineContent: In a cosmic sense, playing these games the intended way will become impossible in about 7 to 8 billion years, due to the sun exploding.

-->'''Plaque that appears if you use the Loser Switch:''' [[TakeThatAudience Here forever engraved is the name of the LOSER Django.]]

* BackThatLightUp: Inverted. All of the GBA games require sunlight and the DS game can use sunlight. (There was an actual UV sensor in the cart that affected gameplay. After all, you ''are'' killing vampires in this game.) Anyone who has used a TV knows that sunlight + screen = glare. However, if you play it on the original GBA (or SP 1 with the backlight turned off), the screen and colors are best in direct sunlight.

* ElementalEmbodiment: The [[FourElementEnsemble Terrenials]] in ''Lunar Knights'', the class of being to which Otenko and Nero also belong. Interestingly, [[VideoGame/MegaManStarForce War-Rock]] is also counted among the terennials in the bonus crossover. There's a remarkable similarity between [[SuperMode Trance Mode]] and [[HenshinHero Denpa-Henkan]], one notices.

** Inverted in ''Lunar Knights'', where Bea wears a BareYourMidriff FormFittingWardrobe and Alice wears a tank-top and short-shorts, but the villains are all decked out in heavy clothes.

* AbsurdlySharpBlade: In ''Shinbok'' Django can use swords to smash through rocks ''that are nearly four times as big as him''. And those suckers shatter too!

* AlternateHistory: In Shinbok, Trinity was kicked out of a BadFuture where Django had died and Ratatosk had taken over the world, and in the act accidentally broke the seal on Django's grave, leading to a branch in the timeline. ''Lunar Knights'' takes place in the future of the BadFuture that Trinity came from.

* ArmCannon: Thanks to crossover content with VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork, where the eponymous Mega Man comes complete with his trusty Mega Buster. Django himself can obtain the Mega Buster in Zoktai and Shinbok.

* ArtificialStupidity: numerous enemies falls under this, either by walking straight into the skylight, or walking into their own bombs, or ramming into one-another. But the armors in ''Boktai 3'', which are midboss enemies, takes the cake for being far stupidier. Their preferred form of retaliating to getting shot is either to put up the shield for a couple seconds, to swing the sword around, or to take a swipe.

** Zoktai and Shinbok both use the Judgement tarot card for this purpose. ''Lunar Knights'' has something similar in its Wild Cards.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler:Sabata]] winds up like this in Shinbok. In Zoktai, [[spoiler:Vampire Ringo]] was originally intended by the villains to be like this, but after [[spoiler:drinking Django's lunar blood, which happens to prevent undeadening]], he regains his own consciousness and memories.

** Members of the Bok family spew Klorofolun in ''Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand'', but this is changed to dark matter in Boktai 2 and 3.
** One of the attacks the Sea Serpent in Zoktai uses is [[BubbleGun bubble breath]] .

* BreakingSpeech: Duke Dumas, many times in Lunar Knights. Lucian is furious that Dumas doesn't even remember that he killed his lover, and Dumas remarks that [[NotSoDifferentRemark Lucian probably doesn't know the names of all of the enemies the player has killed up to that point.]] He does it to Aaron as well, claiming that he's really fueled by revenge for Dumas killing his father (who he does remember) rather than fighting for justice.

* CreditsRunningSequence: All three main games, however played around a bit with in Zoktai, where you run around as Nero chasing a C-Mouse shapeshifted Django instead of Django himself.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Played straight for [[spoiler:Django]] who is [[spoiler:turned into a vampire]] in Boktai 2, but still remains a good guy. Sabata and Lucian also have the power of Darkness but fall more into the AntiHero category.
* DeaderThanDead: the only way to be sure that an Immortal won't come back after defeat is to utterly annihilate its dark power with the Pile Driver or Purifex cannon, which is really a giant Pile Driver in orbit. Annoyingly enough, the Count managed to find a loophole: according to him in Shinbok, as long as even a single one of his bats survive, [[FromASingleCell he can regenerate]].

* DiscardAndDraw: In an ambush near the start of Boktai 2, Django loses the Gun del Sol, but is given the Sol de Vice, a magical gauntlet, and taught how to use it to enchant weapons with the power of the sun. [[spoiler:Later, he's turned into a vampire and loses the ability to do even ''that'', but gains vampiric powers instead.]]

** Interestingly, it' the [[{{Lunacy}} power of the moon]] that allows Lunar Children to use the other elements, as the Moon is "reflective". [[spoiler: This is how Sabata can use the Dark element, though it still involved some heavy and unpleasant interference from his aunt]]. The Pile Driver is said to use this power too in order to reflect ThePowerOfTheSun onto immortals, and you can even see its symbol etched onto the mirrors when they're facing upright.

* FlamingSword: In Boktai 2, all swords can be enchanted with flame and become this. The Flamberge in particular is [[OddlyShapedSword designed to be shaped like a flame]] and does even more bonus damage when flame enchanted.
* FortuneTeller: Zazie and [[spoiler: the old sunflower girl that dies prior to Zoktai]].

* GameplayGuidedAmnesia: Django begins Shinbok with amnesia, mostly for tutorial purpose. This is explained by the shock of his "death".

* {{Golem}}: There's a whole mook family of these made of clay, stone, [[{{Snowlem}} ice]], and whatever '+' is supposed to be. Muspell from Boktai is a ginormous one and can split himself into a small army of these.
* GirlsWithGuns: Female Guild members in Lunar Knights. Most notably Bea, who carries a homing rocket launcher.

* TheGunslinger: Nearly all of the characters. All of the Solar Children that used the Gun Del Sol, most notably Ringo and his son Django. Sabata qualifies as well, using the Gun Del Hell. The younger Smith also falls into this category, being a master of gun making, as well as teaching Ringo how to use guns. In Lunar Knights, guild members [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin are literally called gunslingers]].

* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Sabata, over the course of the first three games. When he is first introduced, he is a villain. Then he becomes more on the hero side of AntiHero, then becomes evil once again. Justified in Boktai 3 as he was [[spoiler: BrainwashedAndCrazy]].

%%* HomingProjectile: The Stalker frame for the Gun Del Sol in Boktai 1 - 3, and the upgraded Witch rocket launcher in Lunar Knights.

* HundredPercentCompletion: The player gains different titles for achieving different feats including filling out different sections of the Library, or S-ranking every ranked challenge. The Grand Master title goes to players who have accomplished everything. Rather infuriatingly, getting Grand Master in ''Lunar Knights'' needs completion of the soundtrack database, and the last three tracks require a standard DS system (due to lack of the Slot-2 in the 3DS) and the GBA Boktai games to unlock.

*** [=MegaMan=] can also appear in Shinbok's motorcycle minigame as either a cameo or a playable character (with the right equipment).
*** The Crossover Battle feature from Zoktai, in which ''Battle Network'' players and ''Boktai'' players race to defeat [=ShadeMan.EXE=] in their own game's combat system. The Shinbok version instead could pit both players against The Count.

** An old amnesiac in ''Boktai 2'' and ''3'' is implied to be [[VideoGame/MetalGear Solid Snake]] himself. In ''Lunar Knights'', one of the items you can find is the "Cool Bandana", which will automatically use a healing item should you die and is said to have been owned by a "legendary soldier". Of course, all three GBA games and Lunar Knights were made by Hideo Kojima, further adding fuel to the speculation.

* ItRunsInTheFamily : Django's entire extended family are basically nutjobs. The final boss of the first game, [[spoiler:Hel]], is Django's aunt [[spoiler:Mani, Django and Sabata's mother being stated to be her sister]]. Her lover [[spoiler:turned Django's father into a vampire who in turn bit Django and almost turned him also into a vampire. Technically Hel and The Count being lovers makes The Count of Groundsoaking Blood Django's uncle.]] His twin brother is basically a nihillist hell-bent on bringing Carmilla back to life [[spoiler:after killing her in the first game in order to use her power to foil Hel's plans. And that's not even counting what happens in the third game with both of them...]]

* MinigameCredits: In Boktai 1, after even-numbered playthroughs with the good ending, you get an item collecting mini-game during the credits roll. Boktai 2 features a mini-game during the credits where the player controls Nero as he chases Django in his [[spoiler: mouse form]] while avoiding bats, bees, and bombs.

* MsFanservice: Bea, from Lunar Knights. She sports a ''very'' form-fitting outfit that at once shows off her endowments, hips, and the stretch of her stomach.

** ''Boktai 2'' and ''Boktai 3'' both feature an amnesiac [[{{VideoGame/MetalGear}} Solid Snake]], who is likewise referred to as ???.

** A couple of bonus dungeons that can be accessed after clearing the first and third chapters are named San Miguel[[note]]Setting of Boktai 2[[/note]] and Istrakan[[note]]Setting of Boktai[[/note]] respectively. Lucian's bonus weapons, found at the end of each one, have the names of the FinalBoss associated with that area's game.
* MundaneSolution: In Boktai 2, Sabata [[AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent (for the brief moment you play as him)]] and Black Django take damage in direct sunlight. This can be mitigated just by putting on some sunscreen.

* NoBodyLeftBehind: Both played straight and subverted. Regular enemies will typically turn to ashes when killed or some simlar variation (like how [[{{Golem}} golems]] explode into rubble). Subverted in the case of Immortals in that they will leave a body, which you will then put in a coffin and drag to the Pile Driver where you proceed to ''burn their body to ashes.'' In Boktai 2 Ringo does this to himself after Dainn's purification to make sure he takes him down with him.

** In VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 5: Twin Leaders putting a ''Boktai'' or ''Boktai 2'' cartridge in the w-slot would also net bonuses; 2 (3 in Japan) netting [=MegaMan=] the overpowered Sol Cross.

* {{Pirate}}: In Boktai 3, there is a dungeon called Pirate Island, and three pirate skeletons in the Dark Castle.

** Ringo is named (and based) after the main character from APistolForRingo. Doubles as a StealthPun, as Boktai's Ringo [[DontExplainTheJoke "steals" Django's Pistol.]]

** Trinity is a reference to the main character in the [[Film/{{Trinity}} Trinity Duology]].
** In ''Boktai 2'' and ''Boktai 3'', there are three townspeople named Ennio (who keeps the Clock Tower, the in-game clock), Luis and Marcello. In order, they're named after Music/EnnioMorricone, Music/LuisEnriquezBacalov and Music/MarcelloGiombini. Morricone is best known for compossing the memorable Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly main theme, Bacalov composed the original Film/{{Django}} theme song and Giombini composed the main [[Film/TheSabataTrilogy Sabata]] theme.

** The second game, ''Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django''. The soundtrack as a whole is inspired by music composed by Music/EnnioMorricone in said films, as well the setting (which, incidentally, is named San Miguel, just like the town The Man with No Name tries to get some easy money in Film/AFistfulOfDollars). A few townspeople speak with southern accent as well.

** ''Lunar Knights'' involves Lucian, whose reason to hunt vampires is pure Anti-Heroism, similar to the Spagheti Western-genre anti-hero. In specific, he wants to avenge his lover, no matter the cost. [[Film/{{Django}} Where did I heard that before?]]

%%* SunnySunflowerDisposition: The sun spirit Otenko. Ditto with Toasty from Lunar Knights, who is actually the same character in Japanese.
* SuperTitle64Advance: The Japanese title of '"Lunar Knights" is "'''D'''jango and '''S'''abata".

* ATasteOfPower: Boktai 2 starts Django off with his very high-level Dragoon Frame and enough ENE to fire a hundred times before recharging, on top of being able to one-shot enemies. Sadly, it never gets back up to 100 percent until Shinbok; its partially repaired version sucking up fifty times the ENE for half the damage, on top of being locked in (a slightly upgraded) Knight and the Sol Lens.

--> '''Otenko''': It's here... Can you feel it? The presence of the Undead...We're not in the city anymore. This is an Undead Dungeon. Every time you enter an Undead Dungeon, all traps and enemy monsters return to their original state. It's all part of the Doomsday Phenomenon. Be sure to stay alert, Django!

--> '''???''': This is the House of Time... a distorted time space where past and present collapse.

* TotalEclipseOfThePlot: Ratatosk's plan in Boktai 3 requires a Lunar Eclipse.

* YouHaveFailedMe: [[spoiler: Polidori]] to [[spoiler: Dumas]] in Lunar Knights.

* YoungGun: The two brothers, Django and Sabata. They both inherited their guns from their father and aunt, respectively. In Lunar Knights, Aaron also falls under this category.

--> [[spoiler:Ringo]]: Django, thank goodness you're safe... [[spoiler:Your blood... The blood of Mani within you is what woke me.]]

** TurnedUpToEleven in the second game, ''Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django''. The soundtrack as a whole is inspired by music composed by Music/EnnioMorricone in said films, as well the setting (which, incidentally, is named San Miguel, just like the town The Man with No Name tries to get some easy money in Film/AFistfulOfDollars). A few townspeople speak with southern accent as well.

** ''Boktai 3: Sabata's Counterattack'' kicks this [[TurnedUpToEleven Up To Eleven]] by adding [[spoiler:Sol Django]]. Using one "nature" more times than the other even changes the ending of the game.

Unfortunately, this interesting gimmick proved to be the games' undoing. Playing outside ''in the sunlight'' is a bit of a turn-off (especially in places with very hot summers... like Japan). Despite decent critical reception for the whole series, the games sold poorly internationally and the third installment never left Japan. Being the dashing, people-pleasing epitome of ''suavete'' the man is, Kojima wised up and delivered a DS sequel (''Lunar Knights'') without the trouble of needing sunlight in the real world. (The system's double-slot feature allowed players to use the solar sensor by inserting the GBA cartridges from previous games, though.) However, in localizations, this sequel severed ties with the original ''Boktai'' series by renaming many of the characters. It doesn't make ''too'' much of a difference, however; the characters in the Japanese version were pretty much only connected to the original series through name anyway, and the thematic elements remain intact in all localizations. Sadly, ''Lunar Knights'' ends on a {{cliffhanger}} with, so far, no sequel in sight. A FanTranslation for Boktai 3 does exist, however.

* BlownAcrossTheRoom:
** Spear-type frames can do this.
** This also happens to Duneyrr when you defeat her.

* HomingProjectile: The Stalker frame for the Gun Del Sol in Boktai 1 - 3, and the upgraded Witch rocket launcher in Lunar Knights.

* HotLibrarian: Lady of San Miguel, who also apparently tutors Lita as a martial artist.

** Every enemy with the [[AnIcePerson frost]] element is subject to this due to the series' ElementalRockPaperScissors.

* MirrorBoss: Sabata.

* HomingProjectile: The Stalker frame for the Gun Del Sol in Boktai 1 and 2, and the upgraded Witch rocket launcher in Lunar Knights.
* HopelessBossFight: In ''Boktai 3''.

* HandWave: One that [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality probably didn't need explaining]]. Before Django tackles his first Undead Dungeon, Otenko tells him that due to flaws in space-time caused by the "undeadening" phenomenon, puzzles will be reset and enemies will respawn whenever they return to a completed dungeon. The sliding block puzzles are simply reset when you leave the room.

''Bokura no Taiyou'' ("Our Sun") in Japan, ''Boktai'' is an action RPG series produced by Creator/HideoKojima. Django is a boy hoping to follow in the footsteps of his disappeared father, Ringo, as a vampire hunter. With his (not-so; see below) trusty Gun Del Sol and the sun spirit Otenko by his side, he takes on zombies, demonic dogs, vampires, and Norse mythology-derived what have you.

The original GBA trilogy featured an interesting gimmick: each game came in a unique cartridge with a UV light detector (the UV light needed being sunlight in 99% of cases. Do you keep a UV lamp around the house or something? ''(Hint: a black light or even a plasma globe works)''.) Django's gun is quite literally powered by the sun; sunlight is required to charge the gun's battery. If you were starved for sunlight, the stealth element came into play. Django can sneak around and knock on the walls to distract enemies, at least until you get to an in-game sunlight source or you find a real-world one.

Unfortunately, this interesting gimmick proved to be the games' undoing. Playing outside ''in the sunlight'' is a bit of a turn-off (especially in places with very hot summers... like Japan). Despite decent critical reception for the whole series, the games sold poorly internationally and the third installment never left Japan. Being the dashing, people-pleasing epitome of ''suavete'' the man is, Kojima wised up and delivered a DS sequel (''Lunar Knights'') without the trouble of needing sunlight in the real world. (The system's double-slot feature allowed players to use the solar sensor by inserting the GBA cartridges from previous games, though.) However, in localizations, this sequel severed ties with the original ''Boktai'' series by renaming many characters. It doesn't make ''too'' much of a difference, however; the characters in the Japanese version were pretty much only connected to the original series through name anyway, and the thematic elements remain intact in all localizations. Sadly, ''Lunar Knights'' ends on a {{cliffhanger}} with, so far, no sequel in sight. A FanTranslation for Boktai 3 exists.

* AndThenJohnWasaZombie: