History VideoGame / PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers

** The Sableye's "Wheeh!" and "Wheh-heh-heh!."
%% The plural of Sableye is Sableye. Do not change.

** Is it not?
*** THAT'S RIGHT! [[hottip:*:(may qualify as BlindIdiotTranslation, considering Wobbuffet's Japanese name literally means this)]]

** The Sableye's "Wheeh!" and "Wheh-heh-heh!.

* ChekhovsGunman: Torkoal, who [[spoiler:reveals the nature of the Relic Fragment and how to get to the hidden land towards the end of the game.]] There's also [[spoiler:Drowzee, the first Outlaw Pokemon you fight.]] He appears again in the post game where he helps the main characters when [[spoiler:Azurill gets stuck in a never ending nightmare.]]

*** Yeah, because if you lose to him once, and you try fighting him again, the hole in the floor is now clearly visible, so you go around the hole, trying to get the "Ultimate Treasure of Power", which turns out to be ''[[VendorTrash just an apple]]'', and the GMOATB pushes you into the hole, making it a [[ButThouMust forced fight]].

* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Scizor was frozen in ice for decades until the player and partner thaw him. Also, [[spoiler:Grovyle and Dusknoir]] are this in the present, [[spoiler:the partner]] is this in the future, and [[spoiler:the player is this in ''both'' thanks to their loss of memory]].

* FutureBadass: [[spoiler:The player character and Grovyle]].

* GoodGuyBar: Spinda's cafe.

* ManipulativeBastard: [[spoiler:Dusknoir effortlessly manipulates everyone for most of the main story]].

* OneHundredEight: Spiritomb (matching its description in the main series) declares that he is a fusion of 108 evil spirits.

* OrificeInvasion: [[spoiler: When Grovyle gets his ass kicked in the [[BadFuture future]], he claims that Spiritomb [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel took control of his body by entering through his nose]]. Spiritomb also does this to Celebi later.]]

* SceneryPorn: A ridiculous amount, especially Fogbound lake and The Hidden Land.

* TerminatorTwosome: [[spoiler: Grovyle (and the player)]] were sent back in time to change history for the better, while [[spoiler: Dusknoir]] was sent back to stop them.

* {{Utsuge}}: Dosen't seem like it at first, but by the end of both the main game and After Game, as well as some of the spinoff stories, this becomes more obvious.

* WakeUpCallBoss: Drowzee is the first Outlaw Pokémon you fight; his Psychic-type "Confusion" move hits relatively hard, and his "Forewarn" ability enables him to dodge roughly every other attack you throw at him. Be prepared for a little grinding.

* WolfpackBoss: Quite a few, and that's not including ones where you specifically fight against another exploration team (like Team Skull). During the main arc there is a pack of eight Luxio, lead by a Luxray, in the Amp Plains. (''Explorers of Sky'' replaced them with functionally-equivalent Electrike and Manectric.)

** ''Explorers of Sky'' adds even more, such as [[spoiler:Dusknoir and Grovyle against 4 and 6 Sableye]] during Special Episode 5, or teaming up with a Shaymin and Team Frontier to take out a group of eight Grimers and Muks atop Sky Peak.

* XanatosGambit [[spoiler: Dusknoir's GrandTheftMe plan in the Special Episode]]

->''"[[HighOctaneNightmareFuel The world of darkness will be wonderful.]]"''

* HopelessBossFight: During Bidoof's special episode in ''Sky'', though it is winnable with the right items. [[spoiler: Then Wigglytuff's ''entire guild'' [[BigDamnHeroes arrives to rescue him]] in one giant CurbStompBattle.]]

!!!This installment provides examples of...

* AffectionateParody: Wigglytuff's Guild is a send-up of typical large Japanese businesses. Yes, there are manufacturing companies with routine morning cheers. The situation with Wigglytuff and Chatot is also a dead ringer for "ame to muchi" ("sweets and whips"), an unfortunately common way of ensuring employee zeal: Rewards ("ame") for good results, but public castigation and demerits ("muchi") when you fall short. Needless to say, [[ThePollyanna Wigglytuff's]] the ame, [[PointyHairedBoss Chatot's]] the muchi. Now whether Wigglytuff approves, [[GeniusDitz or is even aware,]] of Chatot's muchi-ness, is a matter of...

* TheDragon: [[spoiler:Dusknoir to Primal Dialga]] during the main arc.
%% (note - Primal Dialga isn't a Dragon to Darkrai; see TheManBehindTheMan.)
** [[spoiler: Palkia]], on the other hand, is a ''literal'' dragon, since [[spoiler: he's the game's ''real'' second-to-last boss.]]

->''"Be brave... be the bravest ever!"''

** The general (fourth wall breaking) explanation is that the developers didn't want Arceus explicitly playing a role in the plot, considering its status as a then-unreleased event Pokémon in the main series.

* YouShallNotPass: Grovyle announces he's "TakingYouWithMe" when he [[spoiler: shoves Dusknoir and himself back through the portal to the future]], orders the player to GoOnWithoutMe.

Similar the [[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam first installment]], the player wakes up in a world inhabited solely by Pokemon, this time washing ashore of a small village called Treasure Town after a storm, with no memories of what happened to them or how/why they've been transformed from a human into a Pokemon. They befriend a timid young Pokemon with a mysterious artifact and together join the local Wigglytuff Guild to train as an exploration team, exploring the strange, randomly-generated "mystery dungeons" that have been showing up in various regions lately. Along the way they learn that a mysterious Pokemon has been reported stealing [[{{MacGuffin}} very important artifacts]] called "Time Gears", and ultimately get swept up in a quest to SaveTheWorld before [[TimeStandsStill time itself grinds to a halt]].

* BadFuture: The famous explorer Dusknoir warns that if Grovyle steals all the Time Gears, the entire planet will become "paralyzed" as time itself comes to a stop. [[spoiler: His description of the "paralysis" is spot on, but he's lying about everything else.]]

* BookEnds: During the opening chapter, the partner met the player while strolling on the beach south of Treasure Town with nearby Krabby blowing bubbles into the air; right before the credits roll, he's strolling down the same beach, and the Krabby blowing bubbles reminds him how this is where they first met. [[spoiler: Only the player's not with him anymore, and [[ReallyDeadMontage the memories of all their adventures]] cause him to [[TearJerker break down crying]].]]

* BrokenPedestal: [[spoiler:Armaldo, Wigglytuff's old mentor]], is revealed to be a wanted criminal.

--> "Hmm.. A Crystal, you'll probably touch it and it changes colour. Match the colours and something will rise out of the ground."

* ChekhovsGun: Bidoof takes a crystal from Crystal Cave [[spoiler:during a time gear/Grovyle hunt.]] Later [[spoiler:Dusknoir has the player character touch it to trigger a Dimensional Scream.]]
** The partner's [[spoiler:Relic Fragment]] also qualifies.
* ChekhovsSkill: The player character's [[spoiler:Dimensional Scream ability]] occurs fairly early in the game. The usefulness of this ability becomes evident early on, but its true nature is not explained until much later in the plot.

* TheChessmaster: The epilogue arc reveals [[spoiler:Darkrai]] was secretly behind the events of the main story arc.
** [[spoiler: Ditto]] is an example of a positive chessmaster, manipulating both [[spoiler: Team Charm and Team AWD]] into fighting each other to protect a Time Gear.

* TheChosenOne: It turns out that [[spoiler:your partner was chosen as the one worthy of entering the Hidden Land before you even arrived.]].

* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: Chatot gets elements of this at certain points. [[spoiler: Sometimes, however, he's allowed to be right.]]

*** Yeah, because if you lose to him once, and you try fighting him again, the hole in the floor is now clearly visible, so you go around the hole, trying to get the [[InfinityPlusOneSword "Ultimate Treasure of Power"]], which turns out to be ''[[VendorTrash just an apple]]'', and the GMOATB pushes you into the hole, making it a [[ButThouMust forced fight]].

* CueTheSun: After returning from the future's eternal night, one of the first things the partner does is take in the awe of a morning sunrise. ''Explorers of Sky'' also has Grovyle's final battle against a sunrise, which indicates that the future is beginning to change.

* DeusExMachina: [[spoiler:The partner is ''so'' heartbroken over the player's RetGone that after the credits roll, Dialga decides to return the favor for repairing Temporal Tower by summoning the player back into existence. On the same beach shore where the partner first met him, no less!]]

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: At one point, Grovyle blinds several opponents using a "Luminous Orb" to cover for an escape attempt. The item in question does not appear to do this in actual gameplay; and is used instead to reveal the current floor's map.

** PlayedForLaughs, as he is often easily fooled by the staples he claims to know so much about. [[spoiler: This may be because he's an outlaw.]]
* GetOnTheBoat: Or rather, the Lapras.

* TheGodsMustBeLazy: Just where was Arceus when [[spoiler: Temporal Tower was collapsing?]] (Especially considering that his entire purpose after the creation of the world is to fix these things.)
** The general (fourth wall breaking) explanation is that the developers didn't want Arceus explicitly playing a role in the plot, considering its status as an unreleased event Pokémon in the main series.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: The covesrs conveniently depict enemy Mons with red eyes. (To be fair, red eyes are actually a natural color for certain species -- just not the ones used on the covers).
* RedSkyTakeWarning: Why there are swirling red clouds around Temporal Tower.
* RetGone: Changing the future means that everyone ''from'' that future ([[spoiler: including the player)]] disappear from the world forever...

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: At one point, Grovyle blinds several opponents using a "Luminous Orb" to cover for an escape attempt. The item in question performs no such function in actual gameplay; and is used instead to reveal the current floor's map.

* [[GetOnTheBoat Get On The Lapras]]
* GoOnWithoutMe: Grovyle tosses the PlotCoupons your way right before [[spoiler: his sacrifice]] near the end of main arc.

* GrandTheftMe: In ''Sky'', [[spoiler:Dusknoir's last resort plan to stop the protagonists is to posess Grovyle's body and return to the past in it.]] As if the series really needs any more NightmareFuel...

* HumanPopsicle: The reason the legendary explorer Scizor never returned from his expedition to Blizzard Island. Once rescued, he is quite surprised to learn that decades have passed since then.

* {{Infodump}}: Late in the game is a series of cutscenes that explain most of the plot in one go. It's so long, you're asked if you want to save your game halfway through it, and it even flashbacks to the scenes immediately prior.

* KnightOfCerebus: [[spoiler: Drowzee]] for the main story, [[spoiler: Darkrai]] for the post-credits plot.

* NobodyPoops: Guild members always eat a full dinner after every mission.

** Grovyle doesn't make the connection between [[spoiler: his "partner" and the player]] until it's specifically pointed out to him by Dusknoir. And after the main story arc, when Teddiursa evolves into an Ursaring, she even comments that it's difficult to tell her apart from the other Ursaring.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Covers of ''Explorers'' conveniently depict enemy Mons with red eyes. (To be fair, red eyes are actually a natural color for certain species -- just not the ones used on the covers).

* RetGone: Changing the future means that everyone ''from'' that future ([[spoiler: including the player)]] are erased from the timeline...

** DelayedRippleEffect: After repairing Temporal Tower and saving the future, [[spoiler:the player has just enough time to say goodbye before]] the below kicks in.

** SlippySlideyIceWorld: The bottom-left corner of the map, known collectively as Blizzard Island.

* VillainExitStageLeft: After being defeated, [[spoiler:Darkrai opens a time portal to escape to, essentially, ''anywhere but here''. Palkia destroys it as he leaves, causing him to wash up somewhere with no memories of his plans for WorldDomination.]]

* SuspicouslySpecificDenial: "I don't have any special feelings for him or anything!" (said by [[spoiler: Celebi, of Grovyle]])

* DeusExMachina: [[spoiler:The partner is ''so'' heartbroken over the player's RetGone that after the credits roll, Arceus decides to return the favor for repairing Temporal Tower by summoning the player back into existence. On the same beach shore where the partner first met him, no less!]]

* NotSoFastBucko: Happens once in the main arc, then again during the epilogue arc.

Similar the [[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam first installment]], the player wakes up in a world inhabited solely by Pokemon, this time washing ashore of a small village called Treasure Town after a storm, with no memories of what happened to them or how/why they've been transformed from a human into a Pokemon. They befriend a timid young Pokemon with a mysterious artifact and together join the local Wigglytuff Guild to train as an exploration team, exploring the strange, randomly-generated "mystery dungeons" that have been showing up in various regions lately. Along the way they learn that a mysterious Pokemon has been reported stealing [[{{MacGuffin}} very important artifacts]] called "Time Gears", and must ultimately find a way to SaveTheWorld before [[TimeStandsStill time itself grinds to a halt]].

* CarnivoreConfusion: While there are many worthwhile examples considering this is a game with {{Talking Animal}}s, the most notable would be Team Tasty, comprised of a Swellow (a large bird) and a Wurmple (a small caterpillar). In fact, the possibility of getting [[EatTheDog eaten by his friend]] is Wurmple's greatest fear -- he breaks out in a cold sweat whenever his partner even thinks about food (which seems to happen a lot).

* RaceAgainstTheClock: The distortions in time (and its eventual destruction) are caused by the gradual collapsing of Temporal Tower. By the time you reach it for your final mission, it is already starting to physically break apart, although this has [[GameplayAndStorySegregation absolutely no effect]] on your climb through it; it's not an actual TimedMission, not even a PointOfNoReturn, so feel free to TakeYourTime.

* WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis[=/=]NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler: WHY did you have to steal the Time Gears, Grovyle? WHY? If he hadn't done that, the planet would never have been paralyzed in the first place. In other words, ''Grovyle caused the future he was trying to prevent''. Talk about a case of irony.]]

** [[spoiler:Darkrai: "MuhehehehehehehahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!"]]

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: While the Wigglytuff from the first games was just a CloudCuckoolander selling Friend Zones, fans consistently debate on whether or not Guildmaster Wigglytuff's off-kilter, laid back ways are [[ObfuscatingStupidity him deliberately concealing how much he really knows]] or if he's just a GeniusDitz with moments of CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass.
** To give another example, most fans consider [[spoiler:Grovyle]] to be a heroic character, but others say that he's the one that started the plot in the first place by [[spoiler:stealing the Time Gears]]. See WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis below.

** [[spoiler:Darkrai: [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel "MuhehehehehehehahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!"]]]]

* {{Fandumb}}: Almost to the point of being hilarious with the Grovyle fangirls. To a slightly lesser extent, the Dusknoir fangirls.

* HesJustHiding: a fair number of the fandom's reaction to [[spoiler:Grovyle's]] disappearance near the end of the main arc. What actually happened to

him was later revealed in Special Episode 5 of ''Explorers of Sky''.

* RetGone: Changing the future means that everyone ''from'' that future ([[spoiler: including the player)]] are erased from the timeline...
** RippleEffectProofMemory: ...but it doesn't erase their effects on the present day, nor other Pokémon's memories of them. [[spoiler: The player's partner is particularly heartbroken because the player disappeared right in front of their eyes.]]
* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: The entire plot. The BadFuture was caused by [[spoiler: the collapse of Temporal Tower, and protagonists from the future went back in time to stop it from happening]].
* ShipTease: Special Episodes 3 and 5 tease [[spoiler Sunflora and Loudred]] and [[Grovyle and Celebi]] respectively.
* SuspicouslySpecificDenial: "I don't have any special feelings for him or anything!" (said by [[spoiler: Celebi, of Grovyle]])

The second entry (or rather, [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo entries]]) in the {{roguelike}} {{Pokemon}} spinoff series known as ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'', ''Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness'' and ''Explorers of Time'' were released for the NintendoDS in 2008, followed up by an UpdatedRerelease called ''ExplorersOfSky'' in 2009.

Similar the [[PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam first installment]], the player wakes up in a world inhabited solely by Pokemon, this time washing ashore of a small village called Treasure Town after a storm, with no memories of what happened to them or how/why they've been transformed from a human into a Pokemon. They befriend a timid young Pokemon with a mysterious artifact and together join the local Wigglytuff Guild to train as an exploration team, exploring the strange, randomly-generated "mystery dungeons" that have been showing up in various regions lately. Along the way they learn that a mysterious Pokemon has been reported stealing [[{{MacGuffin}} very important artifacts]] called "Time Gears", and must ultimately find a way to SaveTheWorld before [[TimeStandsStill time itself grinds to a halt]].

The second entry (or rather, [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo entries]]) in the {{roguelike}} {{Pokemon}} spinoff series known as ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon''. Please look at the series' main page for plot details, as this page was recently split from it. Also, be warned that this game has some '''very''' dark moments.

* AffectionateParody: Wigglytuff's Guild is a send-up of typical large Japanese businesses. Yes, there are manufacturing companies with morning cheers. The situation with Wigglytuff and Chatot is also a dead ringer for "ame to muchi" ("sweets and whips"), an unfortunately common way of ensuring employee zeal. Rewards ("ame") for good results, but not-private castigation and demerits ("muchi") when you fall short. Needless to say, [[ThePollyanna Wigglytuff's]] the ame, [[PointyHairedBoss Chatot's]] the muchi. Now whether Wigglytuff approves, [[GeniusDitz or is even aware,]] of Chatot's muchi-ness, is a matter of...

* OrIsIt: Invoked by [[spoiler: Dusknoir]] just before the WhamEpisode. "This is farewell ... ''or is it?''" [[spoiler: He then shows his true nature and drags the hero and partner into the BadFuture.]]