History VideoGame / Heartbound

More information about the game can be found [[http://www.gopiratesoftware.com/games/Heartbound/ here]], along with a free downloadable demo. It's also available on Platform/{{Steam}} as an Early Access game.

More information about the game can be found [[http://www.gopiratesoftware.com/games/Heartbound/ here]], along with a free downloadable demo.

** In [[spoiler: Tower Corp.]], it is revealed through a flashback that [[spoiler: Lore's mom is the abusive one, and his dad was actually trying to protect him all along.]]

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: You can set Lore on the "dark" path by feeding Baron garbage and throwing out the dog food. Baron will immediately [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness notice the change in behavior]], and sadly sulk to Lore about it. Later, when Lore finds Baron's collar, instead of vowing to find Baron, Lore promises "blood for blood."

''Heartbound'' is an upcoming RPG made by indie game studio Pirate Software. Its pixel art graphics and aesthetic are frequently compared to games such as ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthBound''.

* AnAxeToGrind: An old woodcutting axe can be found in Lore's front yard [[spoiler: and later in the Dark World]], which, if picked up, Lore will use as a weapon.

* AbusiveParents: Lore's home life is not a pleasant one, with a verbally abusive father and rarely-present mother.
** It's heavily suggested Lore's mother is TheAlcoholic, from a large box of beer cans sitting in the corner of the living room. Upon examining it, Lore says that he "wish[es] she would quit already."

* SimpleStaff: If Lore doesn't pick up the wood cutting axe, his weapon defaults to a big stick.

* Shoutout: Several.

* PlayingThePlayer: The most minor of changes, such as whether or not a player flipped a light switch, will affect dialogue and make some elements appear or disappear. Others are entirely random.

''Heartbound'' is an upcoming indie RPG by Pirate Software. Its pixel art graphics and aesthetic are reminiscent of games like ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthBound''.

* AbusiveParents: Lore's home life is not a pleasant one.
** It's heavily suggested Lore's mother is TheAlcoholic, from a large box of beer cans sitting in the corner of the living room. Examining it has Lore say "wish she would quit already."
** An eerie example with Lore's dad though. When he tells him to take out the trash, the dialogue changing from "hey kiddo" to "hey moron," in a glitchy fashion and and the polite "would you?" also seems to glitch out.
** [[spoiler: In Tower Corp we find out that Lore's mom is the abusive one, and his dad was actually trying to protect him.]]
* AnAxeToGrind: An old woodcutting axe can be found in Lore's front yard, which can be used as a weapon.

* CanineCompanion: Baron is this to Lore. Baron can apparently talk, and Lore has full conversations with him.
* EldritchAbomination: The Barghest, a giant purple crab-like monster that Lore fights. Also, the tome Lore finds appears to be sentient, and actively antagonistic to Lore.
* InterfaceScrew: Occasionally, text can be reworded or replaced while the dialogue box is still open. It's unknown if this is merely a stylistic choice on how the characters talk, or if it's for more sinister reasons.

* PlayingThePlayer: The most minor of changes, such as whether or not a player flipped a light switch, will change some dialogue options and make some elements appear or disappear. Some others are entirely random.
* RecurringElement: Books. The save points are books, the BigBad is shaped like a book, and the mysterious mentor is named Binder.

* SlasherSmile: Lore's "dark" look hides his eyes in shadow with his big happy grin looking sinister in the shadows.
* StarfishLanguage: Two of them. One which uses a lot of horizontal lines and squares, and seems to be associated with light. A second one uses a lot of circles and round corners, and seems to be associated with darkness.

* TennisBoss: Barghest requires one of his attacks to be reflected by swinging Lore's axe at it.
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: The only time Lore directly attacks the Barghest with his weapon (either a stick or an axe) is by throwing it at the monster, which lodges into its face.

* AbusiveParents:It's heavily suggested Lore's mother is TheAlcoholic, from a large box of beer cans sitting in the corner of the living room. Examining it has Lore say "wish she would quit already." An eerie example with Lore's dad though. When he tells him to take out the trash, the dialogue changing from "hey kiddo" to "hey moron," in a glitchy fashion and and the polite "would you?" also seems to glitch out.
* AnAxeToGrind: Lore's weapon of choice is an old woodcutting axe.

* CanineCompanion: Baron is this to Lore. Apparently, Baron can talk, and Lore has full conversations with him.

* InterfaceScrew: Occasionally, text can be reworded or replaced while the dialogue box is still open. We don't know if this is merely a stylistic choice on how the characters talk or if it is for more sinister reasons.
* PajamaCladHero: Lore starts the game in his pajamas. While Baron recommends he changes clothes, it's possible to ignore his suggestion.

* SimpleStaff: If Lore doesn't pick up the wood cutting axe, his weapon changes to a big stick.

''Heartbound'' is an upcoming indie RPG by Pirate Software. Its pixel art graphics and aesthetic are reminiscent of games like ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}''.

* InterfaceScrew: Occasionally, text can be reworded or replaced while the dialogue box is still open. We don't know if this is merely a stylistic choice on how the characters talk or if it is for mroe sinister reasons.

* InterfaceScrew: Occasionally, text can be reworded or replaced while the dialogue box is still open.

* SlasherSmile: Lore's "dark" look hides his eyes in shadow with a giant toothy grin.

* AbusiveParents: Lore's father tells him to take out the trash, with the dialogue changing from "hey kiddo" to "hey moron," and all efforts at politeness fading away. It's also heavily suggested Lore's mother is TheAlcoholic, from a large box of beer cans sitting in the corner of the living room. Examining it has Lore say "wish she would quit already."

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: The battle system requires various different types of action commands, including dodging attacks, a memorization mini-game, and [[TennisBoss hitting projectiles back at the enemy]]. Successfully completing the commands is the way to damage the opponent.

''Heartbound'' is an upcoming indie RPG by Pirate Software. Its pixel art graphics and aesthetic are reminiscenit of games like ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}''.

* TennisBoss: Barghest requires one of his attacks to be reflected by swinging Lore's axe at it.