History VideoGame / PandorasTower

* WhipItGood: The chain can be used as a whip-projectile, where Aeron can 'shoot' it at flying monsters, and can link attacks if properly timed.

* AscendedToCarnivorism: Elena, as she was initially a Miko (priestess) of a religion that forbids the consumption of meat; the very thought of it makes her [[NauseaFuel nauseous and she starts to vomit]]. However, because of her curse, she doesn't really have much of a choice. Later on, [[spoiler:as the game progresses, she seems to enjoy eating the meat...a bit more than normal. It's kind of creepy]]. Also, if you let her transformation get dangerously close to complete, you get to see her ''eat a bird''.

* FertileFeet: Every step of the treetop tower master makes plants grow.

* BattleThemeMusic: The bosses fought in Towers 1 to 5 have a battle theme sung by male musicians, which is remixed to a female version for the bosses fought in Towers 6 to 10, then once again with singers of both sexes for the DualBoss in Towers 11 and 12.

* {{BFS}}: Aeron's default weapon is a two-handed broad sword.

* TheCorruption: Although it's not Aeron who's got it, but his girlfriend Elena.

* GrapplingHookPistol: The Oraclos chain that Aeron has serves as a medieval/ancient version of this.

* HardModeFiller: Five of the later towers, namely from the sixth to the tenth, are thematically (and, to a major extent, structurally) modeled after the first five towers. In fact, whereas the first towers give tribute to the gods of wood, [[DishingOutDirt earth]], [[MakingASplash water]], [[PlayingWithFire fire]], and metal, respectively, the subsequent five give tribute to the ''goddesses'' of those same elements. But as expected, the latter ones have tougher enemies and bosses, including quite a few [[BossInMookClothing nigh-indestructible servant beasts that make you want to run like hell]], and some of the puzzles are more convoluted as well.[[note]]For example, whereas the Wellspring Steeple has a waterwheel that operates automatically after it's activated, the one in Torrent Peak has to be controlled manually, so the player has to time very well when to stop it to make better use of the hooks that lead to higher floors.[[/note]] The bosses are all different, however.

* InterchangeableAntimatterKeys: Averted with the Crimson Key, which can open each and every red door in the towers without a waste. The only downside is that it's only obtainable during the NewGamePlus, so the locked rooms will remain that way during the first playthrough.
* InUniverseGameClock: Time passes as Aeron spends time exploring the towers. This is important because as the clock ticks, Elena's curse will progress. When time runs out, things get ugly. On the other hand, if you waste time in the tower where Aeron and Elena are staying in, her condition will remain the same and it allows for various events between the two of them to occur.

%%* InsurmountableWaistHighFence: A lot of these in the towers.

* KnightInShiningArmor: Aeron, to Elena.

* LockedDoor: The Red doors that need to be revisited during a NewGamePlus; other doors require some puzzle solving to open.

* NonstandardGameOver: Let the gauge that tracks the time left before Elena transforms into a monster run out, and you get automatically brought back to Observatory, now ruined and barren. Entering the main building triggers a cutscene where Aeron sees Elena, now fully transformed, and in [[DespairEventHorizon despair]] lets himself be killed by her. The narration then goes on to explain how Elena united Elyria under her rule with an army of monsters before cutting to the Game Over screen.

* BalefulPolymorph: Mavda's husband's current form is the result of an unspecified "accident" involving the pot he now resides in.

* LostWoods: Treetop and Arcadian Towers are a building version of this. Within their central hall, there's a tree that got to grow so much that its roots are present in many other rooms.

* VendorTrash: "Reading Material", beyond fleshing out the setting and sometimes having hints to upcoming obstacles, is useless. Beast flesh is important, but it is easy to end up with far more of it than you can use before it goes bad.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Elena has a powder-blue hue to her hair.

The game released in Japan on May 26th, 2011, and in Europe on April 13th, 2012, and in North America on April 16th, 2013.[[note]]Creator/XSEEDGames did the North American Wii release.[[/note]] The game was re-released digitally for the UsefulNotes/WiiU [=eShop=] on August 13th, 2015.

The game released in Japan on May 26, 2011, and in Europe on April 13th, 2012, and in North America on April 16th, 2013.[[note]]Creator/XSEEDGames did the North American Wii release.[[/note]] The game was released digitally for the UsefulNotes/WiiU [=eShop=] on August 13, 2015.

''Pandora's Tower'', known in Japan as ''Pandora no Tō: Kimi no Moto e Kaeru Made'' a.k.a. ''Pandora's Tower: Until I Return to Your Side'', is a Wii-exclusive [[EasternRPG JRPG]] developed by Ganbarion and published by Creator/{{Nintendo}}.

The European release date [[http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/35403/newspandoras-tower-release-date-confirmed/ was April 13th, 2012.]] The North American release was a year later on April 16th, 2013. The game was released digitally for the Wii U [=eShop=] on August 13, 2015.

* BuildingSwing: The Orichalcos chain is used in this way to get Aeron from place to place in some of the towers.

** To an extent, Aeron is always doing this, since he can use the Orichalcos chain to great effect regardless of which primary weapon he has equipped.

* GrapplingHookPistol: The Orichalcos chain that Aeron has serves as a medieval/ancient version of this.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:In all but the best ending, one of these is necessary to give the Orichalcos Chain the final push it needs to seal the Scar for good. Elena goes alone in Ending B, and Elena and Aeron go together in Ending A. In Ending S, the chain is strong enough to seal the Scar on its own, but Mavda stays behind to pull the Scar shut, and presumably dies in the resulting earthquake.]]

** D is a NonstandardGameOver, as it is simply the different outcome of a cutscene that happens just before the Shadelight towers. Still, it does count as an ending. [[spoiler:Elena begins her transformation and begs Aeron to kill her. When he can't do it, she grabs his hand and forces him to shoot her in the heart with the Orichalcos chain. Years later, the curse continues to persist, and Mavda continues the cycle of bringing those cursed to the Thirteen Towers.]]

* VariableLengthChain: The Orichalcos chain that Aeron uses to gather meat and kill monsters with. What ''can't'' it do?

* BadassNormal: Aeron. He takes down thirteen mighty war machines armed with nothing but a handful of weapons and [[MementoMacGuffin a chain]] which is [[NotMakingUpThisDisclaimer literally]] fueled by ThePowerOfLove.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: The Masters.

* NonstandardGameOver: Let the gauge that tracks the time left before Elena transforms into a monster run out, and you get automatically brought back to Observatory, now ruined and barren. Entering the main building triggers a cutscene where Aeron sees Elena, [[OhCrap now fully transformed]], and in [[DespairEventHorizon despair]] lets himself be killed by her. The narration then goes on to explain how Elena united Elyria under her rule with an army of monsters before cutting to the Game Over screen.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: [[spoiler:When Elena begins ''enjoying'' eating the Master Flesh, [[OhCrap red flags should start going off]].]]

* {{Adorkable}}: It rapidly becomes clear that Aeron's an ace at navigating dungeons, but doesn't really know how to speak to girls.

* AscendedToCarnivorism: Elena, as she was initially a Miko (priestess) of a religion that forbids the consumption of meat; the very thought of it makes her nauseous and she starts to vomit. However, because of her curse, she doesn't really have much of a choice. Later on, [[spoiler:as the game progresses, she seems to enjoy eating the meat...a bit more than normal. It's kind of creepy]]. Also, if you let her transformation get dangerously close to complete, you get to see her ''eat a bird''.

* BadassNormal: Aeron. He takes down thirteen mighty war machines armed with nothing but a handful of weapons and a chain which is literally fueled by ThePowerOfLove.

* ConvectionSchmocvection: Aeron can hang around Crimson Keep and Blazing Citadel without being harmed by the lava's heat. Touching lava or fire will still hurt him.

* CuteButCacophonic: "GOOD MORNING AERON!"

* GameBreakingBug: In the North American version of the game, upon reaching the 11th and 12th Towers, the [[spoiler:Dawn and Dusk Towers, respectively]], the game has a high chance of freezing, and when it does, it locks the console, causing it to emit an ear-piercing wail that can only be ceased by unplugging the system itself. Creator/XSeed (the developers who localized the game for the region) have a few ''recommended'' work-arounds, some of which involve waiting for Aeron's cape to stop blowing in the wind, waiting until [[spoiler:Dawn or Dusk, to enter their respective towers]], going through the ''second'' Tower, among others. Many gamers prefer trial and error though, as it's what seems to be the most common answer among FAQ sites.

* HardModeFiller: Five of the later towers, namely from the sixth to the tenth, are thematically (and, to a major extent, structurally) modeled after the first five towers. In fact, whereas the first towers give tribute to the gods of wood, earth, water, fire and metal, respectively, the subsequent five give tribute to the ''goddesses'' of those same elements. But as expected, the latter ones have tougher enemies and bosses, including quite a few [[BossInMookClothing nigh-indestructible servant beasts that make you want to run like hell]], and some of the puzzles are more convoluted as well.[[note]]For example, whereas the Wellspring Steeple has a waterwheel that operates automatically after it's activated, the one in Torrent Peak has to be controlled manually, so the player has to time very well when to stop it to make better use of the hooks that lead to higher floors.[[/note]] The bosses are all different, however.

* ImOkay: All of the heart-wrenching cutscenes that occur if Aeron visits Elena when her health is between the blue and the red marks have her assuring him she's okay, despite being obviously in pain. A particular one has her attempt to clean the floor from ''the purple blood she is still gushing out'', and weakly warn Aeron: ''"The floor is slippery, mind you don't fall"''.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Mavda. She may seem indifferent to the critical situation of Aeron and Elena, but she actually cares a lot about them.

* NonstandardGameOver: Let the gauge that tracks the time left before Elena transforms into a monster run out, and you get automatically brought back to Observatory, now ruined and barren. Entering the main building triggers a cutscene where Aeron sees Elena, now fully transformed, and in despair lets himself be killed by her. The narration then goes on to explain how Elena united Elyria under her rule with an army of monsters before cutting to the Game Over screen.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: [[spoiler:When Elena begins ''enjoying'' eating the Master Flesh, red flags should start going off.]]

* PurpleIsTheNewBlack: Of the darkness-themed tower.

* SoNearYetSoFar: The protagonist's girlfriend, Elena, is turning into a beast from the very beginning, prompting the hero to go on a quest to save her. The game revolves around building an affectionate relationship with Elena as much as it does adventuring.

* MoodWhiplash[=/=]SoundtrackDissonance: The final boss theme is a ''waltz'' performed like an ''opera'', and its lyrics are about ''love'' — all of this in the '''absolute happiest way possible'''.

* DarkReprise: The observatory's theme is a peaceful piano theme at first, but as Elena's condition worsens, the theme becomes more and more wistful, eventually becoming a quiet and mournful organ. If you fall for the NonStandardGameOver, the music [[NothingIsScarier cuts entirely]].

%%* {{Cutscene}}: It is a {{JRPG}}, after all.

* DatingSim: Aeron can speak with Elena, give her presents, and interact with her in various ways to build up his relationship with her.

* EternalEngine: Ironclad Turret and Truegold Tower. The towers operate under machinery that is as ancient as the birth of the FinalBoss (500 years). The mobility of many platforms depends on the proper functionality of these machines.

* LivingWeapon:
** [[spoiler:The Masters of the Towers were created by the Elyrian army to be used in the war against Athos.]]
** It's safe to say that they [[GoneHorriblyRight worked a little too well]].

* MoodWhiplash: The final boss theme is a ''waltz'' performed like an ''opera'', and its lyrics are about ''love'' — all of this in the '''absolute happiest way possible'''.

* SadBattleMusic: For the C ending, you end up fighting Zeron in Elena's body, and the music and the battlefield reflect that Aeron has ultimately failed in his mission.

* BigBad: [[spoiler:It turns out that Elena's curse is an attempted DemonicPossession by a PsychoPrototype SuperSoldier, Zeron. Needless to say, she's the FinalBoss. In addition, she reveals in the A Ending that she was the one who caused the Catastrophe five decades ago when the Elyrian army attempted to replicate the experiments from 500 years ago, the same experiments that turned her into what she is.]]