History VideoGame / DungeonOfTheEndless

* FighterMageThief: Heroes are all either: [[MightyGlacier armoured-but-slower]] types for holding choke-points or guarding modules; weaklings that [[TheMedic support others]] and can [[SquishyWizard buff and repair modules]]; or [[FragileSpeedster speedy, balanced roles]] best suited for exploring and carrying the crystal.

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Chimera Keepers don't spawn at all if the Refreezerator Pod (where you can only use a single hero) or the Library Pod (all heroes have their damage nerfed and cannot equip weapons) is selected, due to the fact that it will probably kill you then if you tried to fight at its strongest.

* EscortMission: Carrying the Crystal to the exit. The hero who does it can't attack, use abilities and moves a lot slower, so he needs protection from the others or modules along the way. Though with a good setup, they can simply defend a bottleneck until he is close to the exit.

* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: All the Elite Silics are red in colour (except the Silic Supporter whose basic form is also red).

* RagtagBandofMisfits: Your team will probably end up as this. The first four available characters, alone, consist of a [[NoIndoorVoice loud-mouthed]] doctor, a blade-wielding bounty hunter, a [[HulkSpeak Hulk speaking]] mercenary, and a cowardly thief. They only get weirder from there.

** One of the items you can find is TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy.

* FighterMageThief: Heroes are all either: [[MightyGlacier armoured-but-slower]] types for holding choke-points or guarding modules; weaklings that [[TheMedic support others]] and [[SquishyWizard buffing and repair modules]]; or [[FragileSpeedster speedy, balanced roles]] best suited for exploring and carrying the crystal.

* HarderThanHard: The Sanitary Pod. Considering that "Easy mode" is anything but, being labelled the "Hard Mode" ship should be a give-away: no pausing, stronger monsters, negative events (e.g. EMPs that disable modules) are more frequent, slots/heroes/items spawn less often, healing is more expensive and, to top it all off, enemies can now spawn when you research.

* FakeDifficulty: Though it's rare, certain hero combinations can result in the game deliberately making things it more difficult. For example, having both [[spoiler:Sara Numas]] and [[spoiler:Gork "Butcher" Koroser]] in your party will mean they exchange threats due to their shared story. Escape enough floors and the arguments keep escalating, culminating with a draw where one kills the other. ''[[ClassicVideoGameScrewYous And no, the game doesn't give you any warning or replace the dead guy.]]''

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Chimera Keepers don't spawn at all if the Refreezerator Pod is selected (where you can only use a single hero), due to the fact that it will probably kill you if you tried to solo it at its strongest.

* AfterCombatRecovery: All heroes regain full health after all the monsters on a floor are killed.

* TheGoomba: Necrophage Larvae. They're weak and die easily, even thought they tend to ZergRush.

[[caption-width-right:350:This Might Take Awhile...]]

!!Basic Gameplay:

!!Contains Examples Of:
* ActionBomb: Both Chimera Kamikazes and the Necrophage Kamikazes will attempt to find the most populated room and explode, dealing heavy damage to all heroes and modules within, and slight damage to other monsters within.
* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Chimera Keepers don't spawn at all if the Refreezerator Pod is selected (where you can only use a single hero), due to the fact that it will probably kill you if you tried to solo it at its strongest.
** Opening a door to a room with Merchants, [=NPCs=], EMP surges or Exits will not cause any mook waves to spawn.
** If the player clicks on the exit button while being swarmed by mooks, the mooks won't cause any damage so as to ensure your victory.
* BanditMook: Silic Crystals and Necrophage Crystallophiles will head directly for your Crystal and drain your precious dust if they attack it.
* CombatAndSupport: Characters tend to fall into two groups- either combat (high offense, average to low wit) or operator (lower offenses, high wit).
* CoOpMultiplayer: Added right before the game's full release.
* DamageIncreasingDebuff: The Tear Gas module divides the defence of enemies, making them much easier to kill.
* DifficultySpike: Once you reach the later floors, enemies get replaced with EliteMook variants which have more health and deal more damage. On the 12th floor, dust becomes very scarce, major module slots become much harder to come across, and some rooms have ''no major or minor module slots in them''.
* DungeonBypass: On later floors, Hurna Riders can smash down closed doors. Since opening a door (even one that links two already-explored rooms) runs resource generation ''and'' generally spawns enemies in unlit rooms, this can be extremely bad. Nevermind the potential of an enemy breaking open a door to an unexplored room in a weaker area.
** As the levels are randomly generated, players can sometimes find the exit while there are half the doors left unopened. They will then have the choice of leaving early or keep exploring for more loot.
* EliteMook: On later floors, most monsters will have an elite variant that is differently-coloured and tends to be a greater threat than the regular variants.
* TheGoomba: Necrophage Larvae. They're weak and die easily, even thought they tend to ZergRush.
* LampshadeHanging: The game hangs a little one on the frequency of hostile encounters;
-->Hostile creatures found. Again.
** The random elevator conversations often involve these as well.
-->Why is everything busted except this elevator?
* KaizoTrap: Defied. If the player clicks the exit button the crystal carrier will still need to walk over to the exit portal in order to win. However, if there are any monsters in the exit area, they will not deal any damage once it is clicked, ensuring your success at level completion.
* MagikarpPower: The [=KIP=][[labelnote:*]]Knowledge Is Power[[/labelnote]] Cannon is powered by stockpiled Science points - the more unspent Science you have, the more powerful it becomes. The basic version gains .8 attack power per unspent Science point up to a maximum of ''100'' (to contrast, the basic defensive 'Prisoner Prod' module has an attack power of around 10 to begin with), and the later versions only get stronger.
** Later in the game, there are Chimera Keepers which don't attack but occupy dark rooms, getting stronger over time until dealt with.
* NintendoHard: The game begins with two modes, "Too Easy" and "Easy". And you ''will'' struggle to beat the game even on "Too Easy".
* NonIndicativeName: The game practically ''runs'' on this trope. Found a t-shirt? The 't' stands for 'titanium.' A frag grenade? It's a counterweapon designed to 'frag incoming grenades'. Works on other projectiles too! Then there's the Tear Gas module, which reduces enemy Defense because it tears them apart, not makes them cry. In short; almost every item you find should be judged on its properties, not its name.
* OneManArmy: The Refreezerator Pod enforces this. You can only use one character with slightly better stats to go through the entire dungeon. They respawn if killed.
* RagtagBandofMisfits: Your team will probably end up as this. The first four available characters, alone, consist of a [[NoIndoorVoice loud-mouthed]] doctor, a blade-wielding bounty hunter, a [[HulkSpeak Hulk speaking]] mercenary, and a cowardly thief. They only get weirder from there.
* RecurringTraveller: Whilst exploring, you'll occasionally find mysterious Merchants. Whatever could they be doing in such an inhospitable place? (They are probably members of Endless Legend's Roving Clans...still, odd place to set up shop, even if it has a lot of Dust.)
* RhinoRampage: Hurna Riders ride on a rhinoceros-like creature, which can easily break down doors if they get the chance to.
* ShootTheMageFirst: Certain attacking modules will actually target enemies of different priority. For example, Tesla modules attack anti-module units such as Silic Bulldozers and Silic Zoners, while Smoking Guns tend to attack Hurna Shamans (debuffs attack of heroes in a room) first.
* ShoutOut: Several float around in the various character names and the items you can collect.
** "Sara Numas" is an anagram of [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran]], and her outfit is very similar to Samus' blue Zero suit.
** One of the items you can find is TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy.
* SpinOff: Of ''VideoGame/EndlessSpace'', sort of. It ties in much more closely with ''VideoGame/EndlessLegend''. For both of them, it unlocks a faction: Vaulters for Endless Space and Mezari for Endless Legend, though Mezari are really just re-skinned Vaulters (it's who they were before they crashlanded and got the new name).
* StandardStatusEffects: ''Pepper Spray'' causes the affected enemy to attack others, ''Neurostun'' modules slow down all enemies, and the ''Toxic Cloud'' room hazard slows down all players. ''Tear Gas'' [[DamageIncreasingDebuff weakens enemies' defence]]. Some hero abilities also have comparable effects.
* ThreeQuartersView: Just take a look at any screenshot.
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: After picking up the crystal, the game snaps into full combat time, with enemies constantly spawning until you make it to the Exit room.
* UnstableEquilibrium: Since your characters, items and resources carry over to the next floor, the game will only get harder if you get off on a bad start.

** Opening a door to a room with a merchant, NPC or EMP surge will not cause any mook waves to spawn.

* DungeonBypass: On later floors, certain enemies can smash down closed doors. Since opening a door (even one that links two already-explored rooms) runs resource generation ''and'' generally spawns enemies in unlit rooms, this can be extremely bad. Nevermind the potential of an enemy breaking open a door to an unexplored room in a weaker area.

* EliteMook: On lower floors, most monsters will have an elite variant that is differently-coloured and tends to be a greater threat than the regular variants.

* StandardStatusEffects: ''Pepper Spray'' causes the affected enemy to attack others, whilst ''Neurostun'' modules and the ''Toxic Cloud'' room hazard slow down all enemies. ''Tear Gas'' weakens enemies. Some hero abilities also have comparable effects.

* {{Permadeath}}: Like most {{Rougelike}}s, characters that are killed are KilledOffForReal with no way to bring them back. The only exception is the Refreezerator Pod, where you only have a single hero for the playthrough that respawns at the cost of food.

* ResourcesManagementGameplay: There are four different types of resources- industry (for building), Science (for getting upgrades and restoring skill cooldowns), food (for leveling up and healing), and Dust (for powering up rooms). Careful management of these is needed in order to survive, as the first three are carried over to the next floor.