History VideoGame / JimmyAndThePulsatingMass

* BigBad: The titular [[EldritchAbomination Pulsating Mass]] is the entity that seeks to corrupt and destroy Jimmy's dream world out of hatred for Jimmy, and is the employer of the Petty Thugs as well as implied to be responsible for creating or corrupting the [[BonusBoss Nightmare Zone bosses]]. Though it's nature is never fully revealed, it is indicated to be [[spoiler:a representation of the real-world Jimmy's [[TheTopicOfCancer cancer]]]].

* SirSwearsALot: Late in the game, Jimmy is tasked with collecting the six Energy Nexus Points to [[spoiler:enter the Pulsating Mass.]] One of these Nexus points is located in a tall tower at the center of Homeflower. Inside this tower, Jimmy is confronted by [[spoiler: a second Jimmy. This Jimmy, however, seems anything but happy to see you, and proceeds to go on a vulgar tirade to make sure you know that.]]

* AdultFear: Past all the creepy crawlies, the outlandish yet horrific areas, and the exaggerated, nightmarish forms of the bosses, Jimmy's absolute worst fear is [[spoiler: the people closest to him despising him.]]

''Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass'' is an ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}''-inspired [[RolePlayingGame RPG]] for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] by [[Creator/{{Housekeeping}} Kasey Ozymy, a.k.a Housekeeping]]. The game uses UsefulNotes/RPGMaker VX Ace as its engine, but has an entirely original artwork and soundtrack.

** The mother of the Mouse family of Smile, has five children: Sunny, [[OutnumberedSibling Timothy]], Cordelia, and Beatrice, with the gravestone outside belonging to a lost fifth child, [[spoiler: Bethany]].

* OutnumberedSibling: Timothy Mouse, the only son of the Mouse family, with what seems to be four sisters, or three sisters and one dead sibling.

* AdventuresInComaland: It's part of the plot of the [[spoiler:entire game]]. It's strongly implied that [[spoiler:Jimmy is very sick with incurable cancer]] and the plot [[spoiler:a.k.a the entire game]] is to give him the courage to [[spoiler:let go of his guilt and [[DyingDream pass on]]]].

* AllJustADream: The [[spoiler:whole entire game]] is implied to be [[spoiler:an immense imaginary world]] crafted from dreams and nightmares. Specifically, [[spoiler:Jimmy's dreams and nightmares]].

* HellIsThatNoise: The vast majority of the optional areas don't feature traditional background music, instead opting for horrific ambient noises or distorted samples to help signal that you're entering a nightmare.

* NoirEpisode: The Mute Notes area in Sweet Melody is a noir-esque area. The club, Wharf Dog, is attacked by a murderer who kills a victim via LightsOffSomebodyDies, and the wannabe-HardboiledDetective Inspector Ludwig investigates who the culprit is. The area even has noir-style jazz as the background music. [[spoiler:And then the culprit turns out to be an EldritchAbomination possessing a dog.]]

* BossInMooksClothing: The eastern part of Bonita Vista has a variety of Beach Babes as random encounters. Sometimes, you'll find one who's been swimming for way too long. If you can beat her, [[spoiler:you can talk to the crying girl on the west part of the beach for a Bronze Jimmy.]]

* RainbowSpeak: Used in Kingland, to homage the conventions of old-school 8-bit [=RPGs=], and in Shinryu Academy, to parody its use in visual novels (the colored words are seemingly random). In general, Jimmy's father uses it when he's speaking about the Pulsating Mass (colored in orange) and The Secret Knowledge (colored green), to add more gravity to his words.

* StatusAilment: Quite a few, and beyond the "sick" status (which is a standard DamageOverTime effect), they're often quite unique.

* StandardStatusEffects:

* FinalDeath:
** Being defeated during most fights just sets the player back and does not give a game over. However, during the fight with the Black Prophet, an actual game over will occur if [[spoiler: The Doomsday Clock expires]]. It's implied that the reason for this is [[spoiler: that the real Jimmy dies from his cancer on Doomsday, while normally only the Jimmy player character is defeated]].
** [[spoiler:The fate of Jimmy during the true ending, with the world decaying as the real Jimmy dies.]]

* VideoGameStealing: The Grift command of the Low-Level Goon form, which allows theft of things that aren't dropped, like a Stuffed Skitter from Skitters. Non-inventory items can also be stolen, like Weird Bones from Skitterbones, which, if stolen, automatically defeat the Skitterbones, and a Mack from a Turtle Stack, which, as it is a stack of a Mack and a Mortimer, sends the stack toppling and splits the stack into temporarily stunned versions of its component monsters.

* MoodWhiplash: The game regularly indulges in this, switching periodically from long stretches of standard jrpg affair, to suddenly thrusting you into nightmarish settings rife with BodyHorror, [[BloodierAndGorier Blood & Gore]], and dozens of other common horror tropes. The switch from these dread-filled sequences back to the comparatively happy-go-lucky mood of the normal areas is often just as sudden.

''Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass'' is an [[RolePlayingGame RPG]] for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] by [[Creator/{{Housekeeping}} Kasey Ozymy, a.k.a Housekeeping]]. The game uses UsefulNotes/RPGMaker VX Ace as its engine, but has an entirely original artwork and soundtrack.

* BadassInANiceSuit: Punch's lieutenants swap out their punk clothes for fancy suits late in the game.

* BrokenBridge: Unbreakable Bridge is broken, initially preventing travel east.

* CaveBehindTheWaterfall: Helga's memory zone, the Secret Cavern, only accessible by entering Blue Staff River from the opposite entrance.

* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase: Jimmy, is the protagonist, and the Pulsating Mass is the main threat.

* CounterAttack: Some enemies can do it, usually indicated by the phrase "tenses its body like a python, ready to strike."

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: [[spoiler:Mr. Grouse, by the end of the game. He amasses so much money that he branches out from banking into developing military weaponry, and fantasizes about how much power and influence one can obtain simply by being rich.]]

* DeathIsCheap: Generally dying causes you to lose half of the cash you're carrying and boots you to the world map (or some other safe place). In the [[MiniGame Dark Dungeon]], you lose all the Dungeon Points earned that run instead.
** Turned UpToEleven with the Life Insurance, which you get by defeating [[spoiler:Mr. Grouse.]] It completely removes the Dollar penalty from dying.
* DefeatMeansPlayable: To gain a monster's form, Jimmy must first defeat them in a boss battle. [[spoiler: Played with in the case of Punch Tanaka, who you do defeat multiple times in a fight, but you don't gain his form until after his HeroicSacrifice.]]

*** [[spoiler: The Mad Queen in the mirror, who's been skinning others as well as herself.]]

--> Great for people who play at a leisurely pace. Monsters have reduced stats and give double experience and money, random encounters are less frequent, and you lose less money when you die.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The Pulsating Mass is a malignant all-consuming blob of flesh that rots and corrupts everything it touches. [[spoiler: In other words, cancer. The metaphors become more prevalent after the game's WhamEpisode, especially in Central Stamen, where Jimmy collects "medicine" that alleviates the worst of the Buddy Bees' symptoms but also makes him weak, tired, and depressed. In Heart Prison, he gives an especially sick Buddy Bee all three types of medicine at once...only for the Bee to die anyway, its last words asking how Jimmy can possibly stand taking so much]].

* DyingDream: [[spoiler:The ending]] implies that [[spoiler:the entire game]] is the dying dream of [[spoiler:a child with cancer.]]

* FinalDeath: Being defeated during most fights just sets the player back and does not give a game over. However, during the fight with [[spoiler: The Black Prophet,]] an actual game over will occur if [[spoiler: The Doomsday Clock expires]]. It's implied that the reason for this is [[spoiler: that the real Jimmy dies from his cancer on Doomsday, while normally only the Jimmy player character is defeated.]]
** [[spoiler: The fate of Jimmy during the true ending, with the world decaying as the real Jimmy dies.]]

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In The Wilted Lands, when trying to take the Low-Level Goon exam, the narration remarks upon how Jimmy can't read the test because it's all scrambled. Because of this, he just scribbles in the answer bubbles to look like a ninja. It seems like a gag about how stupid the Low-Level Goons are. [[spoiler:This is actually an early hint to his dyslexia, something that becomes much more obvious in Shinryu.]]

** [[spoiler: In the boss battle against Mutt, its howling attack has a side effect of making Jimmy afraid. Later, in the Abandoned Gigaplex, it's revealed that Buck narrowly saved Jimmy from being mauled by a dog.]]
** Several bosses in the game have some time limit aspect to them. Imaginary Numbers will start using its powerful move if enough turns pass and you're unlucky enough not to have it glitch out. Grimclaw will slam into the ground for a party wipe if you can't kill the Brain Worms infecting it fast enough. The Doomsday Clock will do exactly what it says if you can't beat the Black Prophet fast enough. [[spoiler: This obviously symbolizes Jimmy's days being numbered.]]
** One of Punch Tanaka's documents he left during his introspection trip states that he's unsure about his goals and skills and that he should try some occupations, like being a janitor, to discover what he's good at. Sure enough, when Jimmy goes to Shinryu, Punch has infiltrated Shinryu Academy in the guise of a janitor (he's not really good at it, though).
* FourSeasonsLevel: Fermata Forest lets you cycle between the four seasons, which is necessary to access certain treasures or hidden pathways.

* GiantSpider: A bunch live in [[spoiler: the lower part of the Giant Garden caves. There's an even bigger one known as the Whisper Weaver at the end]]

* InGameBankingServices: There's a bank that stores money, giving a 20% interest rate, which is useful because of AdamSmithHatesYourGuts. Moreover, [[spoiler:you need $100,000 in your account to enter a certain side dungeon]].
* InnocentInnuendo: After the opening, Jimmy's parents say they're going to have "adult fun time" and lock themselves in their room. By using the Revolting Blob or Happy Little Sunflower on the second-floor shower drain, you can fall into their room and discover they're [[spoiler:hula-hooping]].

* MacGuffin: The Secret Knowledge, which holds the power to defeat The Pulsating Mass and what you spend the last third of the game chasing around. [[spoiler:For extra "generic macguffin" points, you never even figure out what exactly the instructions to defeat The Pulsating Mass are or what special characteristics it holds.]]

* AdventuresInComaland: It's part of the plot of the [[spoiler:entire game]] area. It's strongly implied that [[spoiler:Jimmy is very sick with incurable cancer—]]and the plot of that area [[spoiler:a.k.a the entire game]], is to give him the courage to [[spoiler:let go of his guilt and [[DyingDream pass on]]]].
* AlienAbduction: Immediately after Jimmy and Buck get home from their trip to fetch some honey, an airship abducts Jimmy, along with his entire family.
* AllJustADream: The [[spoiler:whole entire game]] area is implied to be [[spoiler:an immense imaginary world]] crafted from dreams and nightmares. Specifically, [[spoiler:Jimmy's dreams and nightmares]].
* AllYourPowersCombined: The final boss battle, [[spoiler:the titular Pulsating Mass]], has the ability to utilize the various techniques of Andrew, Helga, and Lars [[spoiler:after absorbing them]].

* {{Animeland}}: Megatropolis, the area where Shinryu is located is a mishmash of various Japanese and anime stereotypes including but not limited to cute mascots, salarymen, robots, huge corporate buildings, ninjas masquerading as common people, enemies having "strong work ethic", and Shinryu Academy even imitates the style of a visual novel. The BGM there is named "Osaka Konnichiwa" and sounds similar to {{Vaporwave}}, itself based on certain Japanese stereotypes.
* BackgroundMusicOverride: Par for the course for the more horror-themed dungeons, which use their own special themes.
* BadassBiker: Punch not only nails the aesthetic with his slick pompadour, black leather jacket, and stylish shades, but is even seen riding a motorcycle in his first appearance. It's implied that he's not very good at it, though.
** JapaneseDelinquents: His Japanese surname, huge pompadour, obsession with being "cool" and hiding a sensitive soul under a tough guy surface also hint to this character archetype.

* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Punch]] pulls this twice. The first time is in the World's Library, where he [[spoiler:grabs The Secret Knowledge and jumps from a hole in the wall (keep in mind this library is very high up) to keep The Pulsating Mass from obtaining it.]] The second time, it happens in Central Hub, [[spoiler:where he shows up to give Jimmy and the others time to escape from The Pulsating Mass at the cost of his own life.]]

--> It's quite a bit larger than it looks like from the outside. I bet it's bigger than you'd ever guess.

* BodyHorror: Almost every horror-themed area in the game features this in spades.

* BonusDungeon: A regular occurrence throughout the game. These dungeons tend to be chock-full of [[DifficultySpike difficult enemies]], and provide a sizable bulk of the horrific imagery present throughout the game. All of them feature a BonusBoss to cap them off.

* BrutalBonusLevel: The game is stuffed with {{bonus dungeon}}s already, but the standard "post-game bonus dungeon" found in most [=RPGs=] does exist. [[spoiler:Heart Prison]] awaits you after you complete the game, and it is ''tough,'' split up into 8 segments that each require you to bring along a certain party member. Each is filled with strategically crafted encounters consisting of powered-up versions of various monsters from the game designed to be as annoying as possible, powered-up versions of previous {{bonus boss}}es, and a final encounter against [[spoiler: a hateful version of Jimmy's family.]]
* ButThouMust: In order to trigger the tutorial battle with the Revolting Blob, Jimmy must touch or lick it. It is possible to continue without smelling it, however.

** In the cave underneath Giant Garden, monsters are obscured on the first turn of battle -- except for their eyes. [[spoiler:The spiders in the lower part can make characters Afraid when they emerge.]].
** This is a theme with the enemies in the [[spoiler: Unbreakable Bridge's side dungeon.]] The enemies and boss of this area are almost completely black against a black background.

* CallingYourAttacks: A common feature for many enemies in the game. If an enemy spends a turn doing nothing, chances are they're going to launch a strong attack next turn.
** Punch has this as a special ability. Using it causes his next attack to do double damage. Parodied, as he's calling shots for pool...in the middle of a battle.

** Information Guy wants to know "Would you like me to repeat that? (No/Yes)"

** [[spoiler: In all fairness, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that Mr. Cat would be the one to kidnap and brutally murder Cordelia Mouse.]]

* ChestMonster: Mimics, which resemble a toybox filled with blood and gore. They primarily show up in the Dark Dungeon, and [[spoiler: feature heavily in the Legato mansion side dungeon.]]

** An enemy is a mud golem with a flower on its head, which is identical to Bud the golem from Ozymy's previous game ''VideoGame/TheHeartPumpsClay''.

* SurpriseCreepy: At first, the game seems like a typical light-hearted adventure through a dream-esque landscape.[[spoiler: Then you return to the Buddy Beehive and find it's suddenly turned into a nightmarish labyrinth of undead mutated bees, and it doesn't get any better from there.]]

You play as Jimmy, a boy who dreams of a wide variety of fantastical things. He is joined by his mom, his dad, his uncle, and his brother.

But, Jimmy's going on the adventure of a lifetime, and he's the only one who'll know.

* AnInteriorDesignerIsYou: You can obtain various pieces of furniture that can be placed in the Clubhouse to boost stats.