History VideoGame / DawnOfTheMonsters

** Ganira's "[=90s=]" palette is a reverence to Unit-01 from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', her Mantis palette is a referece to ''Film/TheDeadlyMantis'', her Ebi palette is a reference to Ebirah from ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' series, and her "1954" palette is a reference to ''[[Film/Godzilla1954 Gojira]]''.
** Megadon's "Turtle" palette is a reference to Film/{{Gamera}}, his "King" palette is a reference to Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, his "Lizard" palette is a reference to Charizard from ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', and his 1954 palette is a referece to ''[[Film/Godzilla1954 Gojira]]''.
** Tempest Galahad is a reference to the Jaeger mechs from ''Film/PacificRim'', and her "Amuro" palette is a reference to the RX-78-2 Gundam from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', her "Perfect" palette is a reference to Cell from ''Franchise/DragonBall'', her "Angel" palette is a reference to Unit-01 from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', her "Ranger" palette is a reference to the Pink Ranger from ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', her "Maverick" palette is a reference to VideoGame/MegaManX, and her "Hunter" palette is a reference to Samus Aran from ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}''.

** Ganira's "[=90s=]" palette is a reverence to Unit-01 from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', and her Ebi palette is a reference to Ebirah from ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' series, and her "1954" palette is a reference to ''[[Film/Godzilla1954 Gojira]]''.

** Tempest Galahad is a reference to the Jaeger mechs from ''Film/PacificRim'', and her "Amuro" palette is a reference to the RX-78-2 Gundam from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', her "Perfect" palette is a reference to Cell from ''Franchise/DragonBall'', her "Angel" palette is a reference to Unit-01 from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', her "Ranger" palette is a reference to the Pink Ranger from ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', her "Maverick" palette is a reference to VideoGame/MegaManX, and her "Hunter" palette is a reference to Samus Aran from ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}.

** Aegis Prime is an UltramanCopy, and his "Rider" palette is a reference to ''Series/KamenRider'', his "Mutant" palette is a reference to ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, his "Bio-Armor" palette is a reference to ''Manga/{{Guyver}}, his "Arachnid" palette is a reference to ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'', his "Ranger" palette is a reference to the Green Ranger from ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', and his "[=M78=]" palette is a reference to ''Series/{{Ultraman}}''.

* HumongousMecha: The [=ATOMs=] (Atomic Telekinetically-Operated Mecha) are HumongousMecha bankrolled by Syncor, a MegaCorp formerly owned by Conrad Fosco, DAWN's commander-in-chief. One of the player characters, Tempest Galahad, is a SuperPrototype piloted by Jamila Senai, a 23-year-old Egyptian woman and survivor of the Triple Incident.

* TokenHeroicOrc: Megadon and Ganira are two first-generation Nephilim who are deployed by DAWN to fight other Nephilim, though Eiji and Jamila are initially wary of them. Once they learn about [[spoiler:Kiwa and Kohara, a pair of teenaged twins with psychic powers,]] they assume that the Megadon and Ganira are under control and on the side of humanity. [[spoiler:This is ultimately proven untrue, as Megadon and Ganira were working with DAWN of their own volition to stop the Harbinger, Monarchs, and other Nephilim, and once that's done they make it abundantly clear that their alliance with the humans is over.]]

* CapturedSuperEntity: Megadon and Ganira are two powerful and ancient first-generation Nephilim who were captured by DAWN and placed under their control by Project Raven.

* BigBad: It's revealed that [[spoiler:Conrad Fosco, the former CEO of Syncor and current commander-in-chief of DAWN, has been using his old company to mass-produce ATOM units that he ultimately siccs on the Sunrise squad, ''and'' has been behind the Nephilim attacks -- seeking to make a profit by RunningBothSides]].

* EldritchAbomination: Nephilim are bizarre creatures that come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, ranging from the mostly-organic first-generation Nephilim like Megadon and Ganira to the purely inorganic third-generation Nephilim. They are not carbon-based lifeforms, they [[TheNeedless do not need to eat or sleep]] to function, and their bodies are supersaturated with Sheol energy. [[spoiler:It's implied they are GaiasVengeance incarnate, and manifested as a warning for humanity to treat the Earth with more respect, but they are ultimately revealed to come from another dimension entirely.]]

** The Makairus-type Nephilim bear a strong resemblance to the Kaiju from ''Film/PacificRim'', in particular Knifehead, Trespasser, and Hardship.

** [[spoiler:The Monarch of Flames, Agnitor, resembles a saurian walking volcano, constantly spewing lava and flames from her back.]]

** The Nephilim in the Tokyo levels [[spoiler:are affiliated with the Agnitor, the Monarch of Flames, and thus]] have fire-elemental attacks.

''Dawn of the Monsters'' is a [=2D=] sidescrolling BeatEmUp game developed by [=13AM=] Games, published by Creator/WayForwardTechnologies, and launched in March 2022 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/GoogleStadia, and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. Drawing inspiration from the works of Creator/MikeMignola and ''VideoGame/KingOfTheMonsters'' and featuring creature designs by Franchise/{{Godzilla}}/Franchise/UltraSeries artist Shinji Nishikawa, players control one of four characters -- [[NotZilla Megadon]], [[SeaMonster Ganira]], [[UltramanCopy Aegis Prime]], [[HumongousMecha Tempest Galahad]] -- while battling waves of enemies and destroying buildings. Completing a level provides a selection of two of four equippable attribute cards, which boost the character's stats and provide them with unique abilities; with the cards' quality increasing proportionately to the score earned when completing a level.

** Tempest Galahad can transform its arms into energy cannons capable of firing bullets of Sheol energy.

* {{BFG}}: Tempest Galahad can summon an enormous gatling gun as part of its heavy attacks, and can also equip it as a ShoulderCannon for her Cataclysm attack.

* BigBad: It's revealed that [[spoiler:Conrad Fosco, he former CEO of Syncor and current commander-in-chief of DAWN, has been using his old company to mass-produce ATOM units that he ultimately siccs on the Sunrise squad, ''and'' has been behind the Nephilim attacks -- seeking to make a profit by RunningBothSides]].

** Sednagon can summon Makairus to provide reenforcement... as well as heal the player.

* HumongousMecha: The [=ATOMs=] (Atomic Telekinetically-Operated Mecha) are HumongousMecha bankrolled by Syncor, a MegaCorp owned by Conrad Fosco, DAWN's commander-in-chief. Tempest Galahad is a SuperPrototype piloted by Jamila Senai, a 23-year-old Egyptian and survivor of the Triple Incident.

* {{Kaiju}}: Called Nephilim, they are bizarre giant monsters infused with Sheol energy and affiliated with various elements, like fire, water, and electricity.

''Dawn of the Monsters'' is a [=2D=] sidescrolling BeatEmUp game developed by [=13AM=] Games, published by Creator/WayForwardTechnologies, and launched in March 2022 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/GoogleStadia, and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. Drawing inspiration from the works of Creator/MikeMignola and ''VideoGame/KingOfTheMonsters'', players control one of four characters -- [[NotZilla Megadon]], [[SeaMonster Ganira]], [[UltramanCopy Aegis Prime]], [[HumongousMecha Tempest Galahad]] -- while battling waves of enemies and destroying buildings. Completing a level provides a selection of two of four equippable attribute cards, which boost the character's stats and provide them with unique abilities; with the cards' quality increasing proportionately to the score earned when completing a level.

** One of the billboards in Toronto is a reference to the [=1990s=] [[Creator/CompaniesCommittedToKids Concerned Children's Advertisers]] PSA song "Don't Put It In Your Mouth". Another is a spoof on the Zellers department store, called "Zillers" after a memetic mispronunciation of Godzilla as "Godziller".

* BeenThereShapedHistory: Professor Maki's research into the Nephilim reveals they've been around for at least 3000 years, [[spoiler:with ancient artwork depicting the four Monarchs, and Megadon and Ganira in particular having been worshipped as gods in Ancient Egypt and Atlantis]].

''Dawn of the Monsters'' is a [=2D=] sidescrolling BeatEmUp game developed by [=13AM=] Games, published by Creator/WayForwardTechnologies, and launched in March 2022 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/GoogleStadia, and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. Drawing inspiration from the works of Creator/MikeMignola and ''VideoGame/KingOfTheMonsters'', players control one of four characters -- [[NotZilla Megadon]], [[SeaMonster Ganira]], [[UltramanCopy Aegis Prime]], [[HumongousMecha Tempest Galahad]] -- while battling waves of enemies and destroying buildings.

In the year 2065, Earth has been ravaged for over thirty years by hordes of colossal monsters called Nephilim. DAWN -- an organization based out of the Sunrise space station -- is humanity's last bastion against extinction, but unsolved mysteries remain: Just what are the Nephilim and why are they attacking? What is Project Raven? And what happened to Professor Maki?

* BeenThereShapedHistory: Professor Maki's research into the Nephilim reveals they've been around for at least 3000 years, [[spoiler:ancient artwork depicting the four Monarchs, and Megadon and Ganira in particular having been worshipped as gods in Ancient Egypt and Atlantis]].
* {{BFG}}: Tempest Galahad can summon an enormous gatling gun as part of its heavy attacks.

** The Monarch of Thunder, Torgahra, is pretty much a one-headed cross between Ghidorah and Nemesis from the ''Literature/NemesisSaga'', being an electrical wyvern-like kaiju with glowing membranes on its underbelly that it uses to channel its attacks.
** R.E. Gerald, an author from the 1930s and 1940s that Professor Maki was a huge fan of, is a pastiche of Creator/HPLovecraft and Creator/RobertEHoward, and noted to be a contemporary of both. Gerald's best-known work was a HeroicFantasy saga set in Atlantis [[spoiler:drawing from myths of an ancient long-lost civilization that worshiped the Nephilim, which her archeologist father studied prior to his murder]].

* TokenHeroicOrc: Megadon and Ganira are two first-generation Nephilim who are deployed by DAWN to fight other Nephilim, though Eiji and Jamila are initially wary of them, being kept in the dark about how DAWN keeps them under control. Once they learn about [[spoiler:Kiwa and Kohara, a pair of teenaged twins with psychic powers,]] they assume that the two first-generation Nephilim are under control and on the side of humanity. [[spoiler:This is ultimately proven untrue, as Megadon and Ganira were working with DAWN of their own volition to stop the Harbinger, Monarchs, and other Nephilim, and once that's done they make it abundantly clear that their alliance with the humans is over.]]

* YoungAndInCharge: Doctor Sofia Cruces was Professor Goro Maki's intern prior to his mysterious disappearance, which led to her replacing him as DAWN's chief Nephilim researcher despite only being 23 years old.

In the year 2065, Earth has been ravaged for over thirty years by hordes of colossal monsters called Nephilim. D.A.W.N. -- an organization based out of the Sunrise space station -- is humanity's last bastion against extinction, but unsolved mysteries remain: Just what are the Nephilim and why are they attacking? What is Project Raven? And what happened to Professor Maki?

* BigBad: It's revealed that [[spoiler:D.A.W.N. Commander-in-Chief Conrad Fosco has been using his company Syncor to mass-produce ATOM units that he ultimately siccs on the Sunrise squad, ''and'' has been behind the Nephilim attacks -- seeking to summon the godlike Nephilim Azrael the Harbinger]].

* CapturedSuperEntity: Megadon and Ganira are two powerful and ancient first-generation Nephilim who were captured by D.A.W.N. and placed under their control by Project Raven.
* CharacterDeath: Just after the last Monarch is killed, [[spoiler:Captain Claire Lionne sets out to inform D.A.W.N.'s council that Conrad Fosco is behind the Nephilim attacks. As soon as her shuttle departs, it's blown up by an ATOM unit, killing her and devastating the team.]]

* HumongousMecha: The [=ATOMs=] (Atomic Telekinetically-Operated Mecha) are HumongousMecha bankrolled by Syncor, a MegaCorp owned by Conrad Fosco, D.A.W.N.'s commander-in-chief. Tempest Galahad is a SuperPrototype piloted by Jamila Senai, a 23-year-old Egyptian and survivor of the Triple Incident.

* ItCanThink: It's assumed that the Nephilim are mindless beasts destroying everything they come across, but at least ''some'' of them are capable of complex thought and even sentience. [[spoiler:Megadon and Ganira in particular are revealed to simply be using Kiwa and Kohara to communicate with D.A.W.N., rather than following the twins' orders or being controlled by them as assumed.]]

** Megadon has a sphere of semi-hardened lava for a heart and magma for blood, channelling this into super-heated flame attacks.
** [[spoiler:The Monarch of Flames, Agnitor, resembles a walking saurian volcano, constantly spewing lava and flames from her back.]]

* NotBrainwashed: [[spoiler:One of the big mysteries is how D.A.W.N. is able to keep Megadon and Ganira in-line. Once it's revealed that Kiwa and Kohara have a PsychicLink to them, everyone assumes the twins are mind-controlling the kaiju... but in the final level Kiwa and Kohara reveal that all they've been doing is telepathically talking to Megadon and Ganira, who've been helping D.A.W.N. of their own volition.]]

* RibcageRidge: In Cairo, the skeleton of a long-deceased Nephilim called Kemarah can be found integrated into the cityscape.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Jamila Senai starts out hellbent on wiping every last Nephilim off the surface of the Earth in order to avenge her family, but she slowly mellows out over the course of the story.

** Professor Goro Maki, D.A.W.N.'s missing top Nephilim researcher, is a reference to the scientist of the same name from ''Film/ShinGodzilla'', who was DrivenToSuicide after his warnings about Godzilla's existence were laughed at by the Japanese and American governments.

** One of the launch quotes for Megadon is "[[spoiler:Kohara]] says Megadon is [[VideoGame/{{Shantae}} Ret-2-Go]]!"

** Indargor are a humanoid Nephilim who spend their time hovering and teleporting to avoid combat, and will buff the strength, defence, and speed of all enemies in their vicinity.
* SuperNotDrowningSkills: The final area [[spoiler:takes place at the bottom of the ocean, and all of the characters -- as well as enemy Nephilim -- are able to move unimpeded.]]

* TokenHeroicOrc: While Eiji and Jamila are initially wary of Megadon and Ganira, [[spoiler:once they learn about Kiwa and Kohara]] they assume that the two first-generation Nephilim are under control and on the side of humanity. [[spoiler:This is ultimately proven untrue, as Megadon and Ganira were working with D.A.W.N. of their own volition to stop the Harbinger, Monarchs, and other Nephilim, and once that's done they make it abundantly clear that their alliance with the humans is over.]]
* TouchedByVorlons: Eiji Murasame was exposed to Sheol energy while investigating the Hatteras Abyssal Plain under the TheBermudaTriangle, giving him the ability to transform into the UltramanCopy Aegis Prime.

* WhatTheHellHero: When Eiji, Jamila, and Dr. Sofia Cruces come across [[spoiler:Kiwa and Kohara plugged into the machines they use to "operate" Megadon and Ganira]], they're horrified and outraged, furiously confronting Captain Claire Lionne, who argues it's a necessary evil to defeat the Nephilim and points out that if they go public then D.A.W.N. will be shut down and humanity doomed as a result.

* GiantFlier: Torgahra, the Monarch of Thunder, is a massive wyvern-like Nephilim that towers above the player characters.

* GiantFlier: The Monarch of Torgahra, the Monarch of Thunder, is a massive wyvern-like monster that towers above the player characters.

* BeenThereShapedHistory: Professor Maki's research into the Nephilim reveals they've been around for at least 3000 years, [[spoiler:ancient artwork depicting the four Monarchs, and Megadon and Ganira in particular having been worshipped as gods in Ancient Egypt]].

* KidHero: [[spoiler:Twins Kiwa and Kohara are only thirteen years old, but use their telepathic abilities to form a PsychicLink with Ganira and Megadon respectively.]]

* EldritchAbomination: Nephilim are bizarre creatures that come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, ranging from the mostly-organic first-generation Nephilim like Megadon and Ganira to the purely inorganic third-generation Nephilim. They are not carbon-based lifeforms, they [[TheNeedless do not need to eat or sleep]] to function, and their bodies are supersaturated with Sheol energy. [[spoiler:It's revealed they are GaiasVengeance incarnate, and manifested as a warning for humanity to treat the Earth with more respect.]]

** Megadon's "Turtle" palettee is a reference to Film/{{Gamera}}, his "King" palette is a reference to Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, his "Lizard" palette is a reference to Charizard from ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', and his 1954 palette is a referece to ''[[Film/Godzilla1954 Gojira]]''.

* CapturedSuperEntity: Megadon and Ganira are two powerful and ancient first-generation Nephilim who were captured by D.A.W.N. and placed under their control by Project Raven.
* EldritchAbomination: Nephilim are bizarre creatures that come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, ranging from the mostly-organic first-generation Nephilim like Megadon and Ganira to the purely inorganic third-generation Nephilim. They are not carbon-based lifeforms, they [[TheNeedless do not need to eat or sleep]] to function, and their bodies are supersaturated with Sheol energy. [[spoiler:It's revealed they are GaiasVengeance incarnate, and manifested as a warning for humanity to treat the Earth with more respect.]]

** Megadon's "Turtle" palettee is a reference to Franchise/{{Gamera}}, his "King" palette is a reference to Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, his "Lizard" palette is a reference to Charizard from ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', and his 1954 palette is a referece to ''[[Film/Godzilla1954 Gojira]]''.
** Tempest Galahad is a reference to the Jaeger mechs from ''Franchise/PacificRim'', and her "Amuro" palette is a reference to the RX-78-2 Gundam from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', her "Perfect" palette is a reference to Cell from ''Franchise/DragonBall'', her "Angel" palette is a reference to Unit-01 from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', her "Ranger" palette is a reference to the Pink Ranger from ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', her "Maverick" palette is a reference to VideoGame/MegaManX, and her "Hunter" palette is a reference to Samus Aran from ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}.

* TeenHero: [[spoiler:Twins Kiwa and Kohara are only thirteen years old, but use their telepathic abilities to form a PsychicLink with Ganira and Megadon respectively.]]

''Dawn of the Monsters'' is a [=2D=] sidescrolling BeatEmUp game developed by [=13AM=] Games, published by Creator/WayForwardTechnologies, and launched in March 2022 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/GoogleStadia, and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. rawing inspiration from the works of Creator/MikeMignola and ''VideoGame/KingOfTheMonsters'', players control one of four characters -- [[NotZilla Megadon]], [[SeaMonster Ganira]], [[UltramanCopy Aegis Prime]], [[HumongousMecha Tempest Galahad]] -- while battling waves of enemies and destroying buildings.

** Professor Goro Maki, D.A.W.N.'s missing top Nephilim researcher, is a reference to the scintist of the same name from ''Film/ShinGodzilla'', who was DrivenToSuicide after his warnings about Godzilla's existence were laughed at by the Japanese and American governments.