History VideoGame / Guacamelee

''Guacamelee!'' is a heavily-stylized {{Metroidvania}} [[MaskedLuchador Lucha Libre]] BeatEmUp for the Platform/PlayStation3, PC and Platform/PlayStationVita developed by Drinkbox Studios. The game draws its inspiration from traditional Mexican culture and folklore. ''Guacamelee!'' builds upon the classic open-world Metroidvania style of games, by adding a strong melee combat component, a [[DualWorldGameplay dimension switching mechanic]], and cooperative same-screen multiplayer for the entire story. The game also blurs the boundaries between combat and platforming by making many of the moves useful and necessary for both of these. The game was released on April 9, 2013 in North American territories, just ''five days'' after the release date was announced. The ''Super Turbo Championship Edition'' version was announced later, and has been released for UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XBox360, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/WiiU, UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

Despite being an indie game, it was pushed fairly heavily on the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork due to being one of few games to fully support the Cross Play feature. Transferring saves from the Vita to/from the [=PS3=] is relatively simple, and buying the game for one system also buys it for the other.

* UpdatedRerelease: The ''Super Turbo Championship Edition'' includes the original game's DLC and adds new levels and bosses, as well as the [[SuperMode El Intenso]] technique. It was released on consoles the original game wasn't available on: (The UsefulNotes/WiiU, UsefulNotes/XBox360, UsefulNotes/XboxOne and UsefulNotes/{{PS4}}.

''Guacamelee!'' is a heavily-stylized {{Metroidvania}} [[MaskedLuchador Lucha Libre]] BeatEmUp for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, PC and UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita developed by Drinkbox Studios. The game draws its inspiration from traditional Mexican culture and folklore. ''Guacamelee!'' builds upon the classic open-world Metroidvania style of games, by adding a strong melee combat component, a [[DualWorldGameplay dimension switching mechanic]], and cooperative same-screen multiplayer for the entire story. The game also blurs the boundaries between combat and platforming by making many of the moves useful and necessary for both of these. The game was released on April 9, 2013 in North American territories, just ''five days'' after the release date was announced. The ''Super Turbo Championship Edition'' version was announced later, and has been released for UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XBox360, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/WiiU, UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

** In general, falling into GrimyWater or bottomless pits will just quickly put you back on a nearby safe platform without dying or even losing health. Similarly, getting stuck in a wall when you shift dimensions pops you out without harm. These features make many (but not all) platforming challenges less frustrating and makes it more reasonable for you to stumble upon the various hidden areas as you don't really have to fear dying from exploring.

* CatastrophicCountdown: Exploders aren't typical {{Action Bomb}}s in a sense that they are stationary aside from having color-coded shields as their gimmicks. But let just even one of them to tick past their countdown, the resulting explosion will damage your luchador regardless of your location on the area. Elite Exploders are much more durable, yet still retain the same 10-second cooldown before they explode, with even more damage.

* NoticeThis: Later on in the game, some PlatformHell stages will add a shimering red particle effect on environmental traps that can be altered by your dimension-switching ability.

* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler:Carlos becomes a titanic red demon after absorbing the energy of the world-merging ritual]].

%%ZCE* PlanetHeck: El Infierno.

%%ZCE* SharpDressedMan: The Diablo outfit turns Juan into one. With horns.

%%ZCE* ShutUpHannibal: "I guess you want to hear my story..." '''+3 ROOSTER UPPERCUT'''

%%ZCE* TogetherInDeath: [[spoiler:Juan and El Presidente's Daughter in the normal ending.]]

* KingKoopaCopy: In the Rain Temple, there is an obstacle course where Juan is chased by an Alebrije, an enormous dragon who resembles Bowser. It is defeated by luring him onto a bridge, then hitting a switch that causes the bridge to collapse, a tribute to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'', where Mario defeats Bowser the same way.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The colors of barriers in the environment and of enemy shields correspond to the same color of your special attacks.

%%ZCE* DarkWorld: The Land of the Dead is a relatively cheery version.

** [[spoiler:Calaca as the final boss becomes a monstrous creature and refers himself as a god of both worlds. Nevertheless, Juan/Tostada beats the crap out of him]].

%%ZCE* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:El Presidente's Daughter. But only in the good ending.]]

%%ZCE* GratuitousSpanish: ''Por supuesto.''[[note]]Of course![[/note]]

** [[spoiler:One of the Chac Mool gateways is located underneath Juan's house. In order to access the crawl space, you need to shift into the world of the dead at the very bottom of the house, but you wouldn't know this without a guide of some serious curiosity as there isn't the usual sparkle effect that denotes when a wall doesn't exist in the other world.]]

** [[spoiler:The chicken flight ability. Unlike every single other powerup in the game, you never get a fancy ItemGet screen or any explanation at all when unlocking it, instead just getting a nebulous "You feel lighter" message after getting enough pieces of the Mask. If you don't use your mighty chicken powers much you can go the rest of the game without knowing it's there.]]

* TheJuggernaut: Carlos' pet Alebrije busts through everything in its path, and even touching it is a OneHitKO.

%%ZCE* MeaningfulName: Juan Aguacate and Carlos Calaca.

''Guacamelee!'' is a heavily-stylized {{Metroidvania}} [[MaskedLuchador Lucha Libre]] BeatEmUp for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, PC and UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita developed by Drinkbox Studios. The game draws its inspiration from traditional Mexican culture and folklore. ''Guacamelee!'' builds upon the classic open-world Metroidvania style of games, by adding a strong melee combat component, a [[DualWorldGameplay dimension switching mechanic]], and cooperative same-screen multiplayer for the entire story. The game also blurs the boundaries between combat and platforming by making many of the moves useful and necessary for both of these. The game was released on April 9, 2013 in North American territories, just ''five days'' after the release date was announced. The ''Super Turbo Championship Edition'' version was announced, and has been released for UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XBox360, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/WiiU, UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

* BalefulPolymorph:
** Carlos likes turning his foes into chickens, [[NiceJobFixingItVillain which eventually bites him in the ass]] when he does it to Juan/Tostada.
** The Devil also decided that he prefers being a chicken than his normal form, even though he knows how to turn back (he's the one who teaches you).

* {{Calacas}}: Ordinary dead people in the World of the Dead, {{Mooks}}, and the BigBad. The QuirkyMinibossSquad avoids it, though, with the exception of El Trio de la Muerte.

* CursedWithAwesome: When he has you at his mercy, Carlos turns you into a chicken. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Which actually gives you access to entire areas and abilities that were previously out of your reach]].
* DarkWorld: The Land of the Dead is a relatively cheery version.
* [[DarkIsNotEvil Dead Is Not Evil]]: The regular denizens of the World of the Dead are friendly and helpful, and would rather, uh, ''live'' out their existence in peace, and are NOT happy with Carlos Calaca trying to merge both worlds.

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[spoiler:Calaca and X'tabay turn '''The Devil''' into a chicken, and Calaca usurps his title as lord of hell.]]

* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:El Presidente's Daughter. But only in the good ending.]]

* ElSpanishO: Averted. Despite the game mixing English and Spanish in parts, the use of Spanish is all for the most part correct.

* ExcitedShowTitle: ''Guacamelee!''

* GodhoodSeeker: [[spoiler:At first, Calaca only wanted to get back at the Devil and reclaim his glory. By the time he has completed the ritual, though, he has shifted objectives to becoming god of the living and the dead]].
* GratuitousSpanish: ''Por supuesto.''[[note]]Of course![[/note]]

* HeartContainer: This is how health and stamina upgrades work in this game. For every three chunks you collect, the respective meter will increase.
* HeIsAllGrownUp: Apparently, El Presidente's Daughter hasn't seen Juan in a while and is... impressed by what she sees.

** HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:The endings show that Jaguar Javier became one of Juan's friends after the events of the game. Of course, he never truly was on Calaca's side to begin with, he only worked for him because Calaca threatened to kill the Goat Hermit if he didn't.]]

* InexplicableTreasureChests: Lampshaded with the achievement for finding them all, named "Who Put Those Here?".

* TheJuggernaut: Carlos' pet Alebrije. It busts through everything in its path, and even touching it is a OneHitKO.
* KingKoopaCopy: In one level, you are running away from an enormous dragon who resembles Bowser. The dragon is defeated by luring him onto a bridge, then hitting a switch that causes the bridge to collapse, a tribute to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'', where Mario defeats Bowser the same way.

* LedgeBats: The role is usually filled by Chupacabras or red skeletons, as their projectile attacks become trickier to dodge when the player is navigating a jumping puzzle.
* LifeDrain: All attacks do this while wearing Diablo's Suit.

* MeaningfulName: Juan Aguacate and Carlos Calaca.
* {{Metroidvania}}: Although it follows the model of "discrete areas connected to a central hub" more similar to ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' or ''VideoGame/{{Outland}}'' than a fully-interconnected world. {{Backtracking}} is also a must if the player aims for OneHundredPercentCompletion as areas tend to have special blocks that can only be broken by progression-related unlockables.
* MentorOccupationalHazard: [[spoiler:It doesn't happen in the game, but is used as a threat by Carlos Calaca to turn Jaguar Javier to his side]].

* MirrorMatch: Fighting against X'tabay, Flame Face, or Jaguar Javiar while wearing their respective costume results in this.

** BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:The ''normal'' ending of the game. Even after you defeat Calaca, you were too late to stop the ritual, and El Presidente's Daugher dies. Juan moves on with his life, and can even be happy again, but he never takes off the Mask of the Luchador and never finds love again. In the end, he takes off the Mask, allowing himself to die and rejoin his beloved in the land of the dead]].
** GoldenEnding: [[spoiler:By collecting all five/[[UpdatedRerelease six]] Mask pieces at the altars of Chac Mool (the final one is always given to you at the end,) thereby proving your mastery of the game, the Mask of the Luchador is destroyed, resuscitating El Presidente's Daughter... and letting Juan remain among the living. She marries Juan, and they move on to an incredibly happy marriage together... with BabiesEverAfter]].
* MultipleHeadCase: For some reason the Conquistador enemies are two-headed. This might be referencing the legend that, upon seeing conquistadors astride horses (unknown in the New World), Aztecs mistook beast and rider for one creature with two heads.

* NoNameGiven: El Presidente's Daughter. [[spoiler:Until the GoldenEnding: a banner during her and Juan's wedding names her "Lupita," an affectionate form of "Guadalupe."]] Subverted in the second game, where she goes by her actual name.

* OurAlebrijesAreDifferent: An ablerije appears as the pet of the villain Carlos Calaca, a living skeleton, and is fought as a boss. It resembles a giant, monstrous beast with bright red and purple fur, striped horns, yellow claws, insect-like wings, and a wide mouth full of sharp teeth.
* PalsWithJesus: The Devil's presence in the end credits partying with everyone else seems to indicate this.
* PlanetHeck: El Infierno.

* PunBasedTitle: On several levels! "Guacamole" is what you get when you make ''puree'' out of avocados. The main character is named Juan Aguacate --aguacate is Spanish for "avocado." A "melee" is an all-out disorganized brawl. "Moles!" is a Mexican interjection for seeing someone get the tar beat out of him.
* PunnyName: Although, it requires a bit of understanding or research of Spanish.

* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: [[spoiler:Jaguar Javier is the Goat Hermit's former disciple. However, he only worked for Calaca in order to protect his master. Upon learning this, the hermit asks Juan [[ItsPersonal to punch Calaca in the face for him]].]]

* RegeneratingHealth: The Pollo Luchador costume provides constant healing in exchange for lower stamina. In the long run, however, stamina is much more important than health, so its usefulness is somewhat dubious. (Not to mention it makes you look like a giant yellow chicken.)
* SaveThePrincess: Well, save El Presidente's Daughter. [[spoiler:You also fail to do so unless you get the GoldenEnding.]]

* SharpDressedMan: The Diablo outfit turns Juan into one. With horns.
* {{Shoryuken}}: Juan's version of the Rooster Uppercut visually appears to be a direct ShoutOut to the [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Dragon or Tiger Uppercut]].

* ShutUpHannibal: "I guess you want to hear my story..." '''+3 ROOSTER UPPERCUT'''

* TogetherInDeath: [[spoiler:Juan and El Presidente's Daughter in the normal ending.]]

* TheUnreveal: [[spoiler:Despite her status as the Mask's Guardian, first showing up in the World of the Dead, and wearing a mystical mask herself, La Tostada's identity, origin, or even motivations (beyond simply helping Juan out of the goodness of her heart) are never explained. The ''Super Turbo Championship Edition'' seems to give her some backstory though; Tostada was once a hero who helped save her fellow villagers from being killed by an erupting volcano, performing a HeroicSacrifice. They live in Canal de las Flores now and have memorialized her. There are wooden carvings of Tostada scattered around the area as well.]]
* UpdatedRerelease: The ''Super Turbo Championship Edition'' includes the original game's DLC, adds new levels and bosses, the [[SuperMode El Intenso]] technique, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and was released on the consoles the original game wasn't available on]] (The UsefulNotes/WiiU, UsefulNotes/XBox360, UsefulNotes/XboxOne and UsefulNotes/{{PS4}}).

** You can kick, punch, bash, grab, and smash chickens (and even their tiny baby chicks!) to your heart's content. Unlike [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda that other franchise, they won't retaliate]], they'll just run away.

** The method you obtain power-ups is this. It's made clear that the Goat Hermit's statues are priceless, important artifacts...and you have to destroy them in order to force the Hermit to teach you new moves. He is ''not'' happy about this arrangement.

* VirginSacrifice: The other reason Calaca wants El Presidente's Daughter. [[spoiler:"Haha... yaa... about that..." is what she has to say.]]
* WakeupCallBoss: Flame Face, especially on Hard Mode. He uses guns and is rather fast, he also sics enemies on you, DemonicSpiders in Hard, periodically while shooting and charging at you and unlike X'tabay his fight has no checkpoints. He also uses a few flame attacks, which cover the entire floor but are easy to dodge if you switch dimensions or cling to the wall.
* WallJump: You can get this as a movement upgrade later on. An {{Antepiece}} also explains that while your luchador slowly slides off the wall if you don't press anything, you can cling to the wall indefinitely by pushing towards its direction.

* WorthyOpponent: Jaguar Javier treats Juan like this.
* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Naturally. You start out with the ability to kick and punch, and after stunning an enemy, grab it and toss it. You can also buy further wrestling techniques like piledrivers and backdrops.

* AdvancingBossOfDoom: The Alebrije.

** In general, falling into GrimyWater or bottomless pits will just quickly put you back on a nearby safe platform without dying or even losing health. Similarly, getting stuck in a wall when you [[spoiler:shift dimensions]] pops you out without harm. These features make many (but not all) platforming challenges less frustrating and [[spoiler:makes it more reasonable for you to stumble upon the various hidden areas as you don't really have to fear dying from exploring]].

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever:
** The Alebrije, again. Even when the screen zooms out, he still fills it.
** The FinalBoss doesn't even fit on the screen until it zooms all the way out for a cutscene.

Think ''WesternAnimation/MuchaLucha'' [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] {{Metroidvania}} with some of ''VideoGame/GrimFandango'''s design sensibilities and the dual world aspect of ''[[{{VideoGame/LegacyOfKain}} Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver]]'', and you've got some idea of the game.

* CluckingFunny: Chickens are abundant, Juan can turn into a chicken to further exploration, and learn new moves from giant fighting chickens. [[spoiler:The Devil is even reduced to a black and purple chicken who even lends you a helping hand at one point.]]

'''''Guacamelee!''''' is a heavily-stylized {{Metroidvania}} [[MaskedLuchador Lucha Libre]] BeatEmUp for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, PC and UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita developed by Drinkbox Studios. The game draws its inspiration from traditional Mexican culture and folklore. ''Guacamelee!'' builds upon the classic open-world Metroidvania style of games, by adding a strong melee combat component, a [[DualWorldGameplay dimension switching mechanic]], and cooperative same-screen multiplayer for the entire story. The game also blurs the boundaries between combat and platforming by making many of the moves useful and necessary for both of these. The game was released on April 9, 2013 in North American territories, just ''five days'' after the release date was announced. The ''Super Turbo Championship Edition'' version was announced, and has been released for UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XBox360, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/WiiU, UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

* PantyShot: The X'tabay costume's regular melee attacks involve her flipping upside-down for a kick, leaving her black panties briefly visible.