History VideoGame / Prodigal

A sequel called ''Veritus'', taking place several years later, is currently in the works.

''Prodigal'' is a top-down dungeon crawler inspired by the classic ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games, using a color palette similar to that of UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor games, and is part of the ''VideoGame/ColorgraveUniverse''. It was developed by [[https://store.steampowered.com/developer/colorgrave Colorgrave]] and released on Steam on October 16th, 2020.

* GenreThrowback: The game is a throwback to top-down dungeon crawlers like the classic ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games, specifically on the UsefulNotes/GameBoy consoles.

* NintendoHard: While the game does have many ways to make it easier, you will often have to pay for them. All dungeon rooms reset upon exit (except for locked doors), quitting the game starts you back in the overworld, and losing all your HP sends you to the church, so unless you've already found the second statue you'll have to travel all the way through the dungeon again. And that's not even getting into the post-game stuff, with more difficult dungeons and the inclusion of Crystal Keys, which break upon taking damage, forcing you to go back and get another to try again. Completing the game at least once also allows you to make the game even more difficult by breaking an Altar to one of the gods (or even breaking all of them), and if that's not enough, completing the game with the four main Altars broken ''and'' doing the BrutalBonusLevel gives you access to Curses [[HarderThanHard for an even greater challenge]].

* StealthBasedMission: The Crocasino Vault features quite a bit of this, as you have to make your way past statues and guards without getting in their line of sight or you'll be sent to a prison cell. There's also some optional ones as part of a quest involving the Gravedigger, and Oakley's marriage path. Pirate's Pier is perhaps the biggest one, where there are two different types of guards as well as moving statues.

** If you're having too much trouble moving a Crystal Key without taking damage, you can buy an Ice Key from Zaegul's secret shop and use that instead.

* TheComputerShallTauntYou: If you're playing with Curses (and by extension, the four Altars), Lynn's usual dialogue after a knockout where she suggests using buffs to help will be replaced with her saying "You should try getting good," since some of the curses make buffs or upgrades unavailable.

** If you complete the Gravedigger's sidequest, you'll earn the Cleated Boots, which allow you to walk across [[FrictionlessIce ice]] normally. This makes any dungeons with ice in them extremely easy, most notably the last stage of the Reflective Crypt.

* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:If you've repaid your debt and gotten married, or if you have the Curses of Crowns and Horns active, then after defeating Bolivar's second form, he'll transform into his true form of Var, and you can defeat him for good (or rather, much longer than if you'd defeated him normally). This gets you an additional cutscene with Oran and whoever he has married, and another involving Amadeus and Colorgrave]].

* CutscenePowerToTheMax: After completeing a dungeon, Oran will use the Dread Hand to leave, despite the fact that in gameplay all it does is reset your position in the room (and when upgraded, saves a position in the room to reset to). One notable instance has him using it to not only teleport himself out of the Pirate's Pier, but also Hugh and Caroline. This creates a case of CutsceneIncompetence earlier in the game when Oran doesn't think to use it to escape the Howling Bjerg's boss room when the path at the entrance doesn't come back, and the Dread Hand doesn't act on its own either, though at that point it hadn't yet recieved the upgrade.

* EvilAllAlong: [[spoiler: Bolivar is revealed to be evil at the end of Act 1, killing Pa and Sheriff Vann, and wounding Oran. It's shown from reading various texts throughout the game and the True Ending that he is actually Var, the god of Dark, who was cursed into a mortal form with his power sealed in the sword he wanted to repair]].

* FinalDeathMode: Breaking the Altar of Hate not only removes all the Heart Ores in the game but also makes it so that losing all your HP results in a permanent death. And we ''mean'' permanent, as your save file is also deleted.

** The Dread Hand is used in gamepay to teleport you to the start of the room (from the direction you came in), yet Oran is able to use it to go home after finishing a dungeon, and it also acts on its own if you lose all your HP. Oran also doesn't think to use it to escape from prisons, or from an icy cave where he almost freezes to death before Amadeus shows up.

** When meeting Zaegul for the first time, he'll call Oran "Urn" if his name was left unchanged. If you change it to something else, though, he'll decide to just call him "Human" instead. There's an easter egg or two related to this as well; [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda having the name as "Zelda" will have him say "Link"]] and vice versa, and having the name as one of the Gods will have him say what that God is related to. [[spoiler:Most notably, he has no reaction for "Raem", "Var", or "Zolei", indicating that they are not true Gods. This can also be used to reveal that Revulan is a God, specifically the God of Storm]].

''Prodigal'' is a top-down dungeon crawler inspired by the classic ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games, using a color palette similar to that of UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor games. It was developed by [[https://colorgrave.carrd.co/ Colorgrave]] and released on Steam on October 16th, 2020.

A sequel taking place several years later is currently in the works.

* BrutalBonusLevel: Daemon's Dive, which is only available after finishing the main story, as well as acquiring equipment upgrades and the key (which itself is difficult to get). There are 9 different stages based on previous dungeons, 8 of which have a harder version of a previous boss, and at the end is one very difficult boss for you to fight. Your reward is a special ring that surrounds you with a barrier that can repair itself shortly after taking damage.

* MarathonLevel: Two become available after finishing the game:

** There's also a randomizer option, which items found in various places random depending on the level you decide. However, this can actually be more helpful in some instances, and if you're unlucky enough not to get the Lariat or Rust Knuckle before the dungeons where you need them then you can just buy them from Zaegul's hidden shop instead.

** Each dungeon has a statue near the entrance and near the boss room so that you don't have to travel through the whole dungeon again once you reach there. This is especially useful if you lose all your HP and have to travel back. Some dungeons that are longer or have extra areas also have statues, most notably Crocasino Vault, which has a statue near a lengthy stealth section and the cell you get sent to if you're caught so you don't have to travel all the way back to try again.

** [[HarderThanHard Activating a Curse will automatically break all the Altars except the Chaos one]] (and this is only available after completing the game with them already broken, as well as clearing the BrutalBonusLevel). However, the Curse of Fraility, which turns all damage except falling into a OneHitKill, disables the permanent death that you would normally get from the Altar to Hate. Additionally, the Curse of Rust, which makes upgrades, rings, and boots ineffective, does not work on the [[SprintShoes Winged Boots]] as it would be annoying to be forced to walk everywhere slowly.
* AutoRevive: Buying a Frostberry Cobbler from Red's Inn will allow you to automatically revive upon losing all your HP, although it uses up the item so you will have to buy another one after that. The same goes for the Lovely Meal, an item that's only available if you marry Keaton.

** After finishing the main story, you'll be able to access the Color Vault, where you can unlock different color palettes for the protagonist by meeting certain requirements.

** The Flare Knuckle becomes this in the NewGamePlus; you can get it as early as Act 1 since the Crystal Caves will be available at any time, and you can even get it as soon as you open the Tidal Mines and obtain the Lariat if you find the Harmonica and use it to access Zaegul's shop to buy the Rust Knuckle rather than find it in the Dry Fountain.

** Having the [[AutoRevive Frostberry Cobbler or Lovely Meal]] buffs won't work if Oran is knocked out during a cutscene, or in certain instances where making the wrong decision results in a knockout. In addition, any buffs won't clear on occasions where it can't be avoided (except for the Smoked Salmon since cutscene knockouts still deplete the HP meter).

** The number of statues seen in the Reflective Crypt are a good indication of how long this level is going to be. While it's a puzzle-only dungeon, and the only threat to your health is pitfalls (which can easily be negated with the Fall Feather), said puzzles can take a while to complete.

* PlotlineDeath: [[spoiler:Pa and Sheriff Vann get killed by Bolivar at the end of Act 1]]. The post-game also has [[spoiler:Ashwood's maid, who is murdered by the butler]].

* TheComputerShallTauntYou: If you're playing with the four Curses (and by extension, the four Altars), Lynn's usual dialogue after a knockout where she suggests using buffs to help will be replaced with her saying "You should try getting good," since one of the Curses makes buffs unavailable.

** If you end up fighting the TrueFinalBoss, your HP is automatically replenished since there's no option to backtrack and heal beforehand. This includes the buff that gives you extra vitality if you have it active.

* AllYourPowersCombined: The Boots of Graile have all the abilities of each of the other pairs of boots, which you will have to obtain (as well as complete a dungeon) in order to receive them.

* AutoRevive: Buying a Frostberry Cobbler from Red's Inn will allow you to automatically revive upon losing all your HP, although it uses up the item so you will have to buy another one after that.

** Having the [[AutoRevive Frostberry Cobbler]] buff won't work if Oran is knocked out during a cutscene, or in certain instances where making the wrong decision results in a knockout. In addition, any buffs won't clear on occasions where it can't be avoided (except for the Smoked Salmon since cutscene knockouts still deplete the HP meter).

** When meeting Zaegul for the first time, he'll call Oran "Urn" if his name was left unchanged. If you change it to something else, though, he'll decide to just call him "Human" instead. There's an easter egg or two related to this as well; [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda having the name as "Zelda" will have him say "Link"]] and vice versa, and having the name as one of the Gods will have him say what that God is related to. [[spoiler:Most notably, he has no reacion for "Raem", "Var", or "Zolei", indicating that they are not true Gods. This can also be used to reveal that Revulan is a God, specifically the God of Storm]].

** If that's not enough, getting the Feat for finishing the game with all the Altars except Chaos broken and the Feat for beating Daemon's Dive will unlock Curses, which also breaks the four main Altars. These include things like making you able to die in one hit (though it disables permanent death), making certain buffs and upgrades unavailable or ineffective, or giving even more extra attacks to avoid.

* CutscenePowerToTheMax: After completeing a dungeon, Oran will use the Dread Hand to leave, despite the fact that in gameplay all it does is reset your position in the room (and when upgraded, saves a position in the room to reset to). One notable instance has him using it to not only teleport himself out of the Pirate's Pier, but also Hugh and Caroline. This also leads to CutsceneIncompetence earlier in the game when Oran doesn't think to use it to escape the Howling Bjerg's boss room when the path at the entrance doesn't come back, though at that point the Dread Hand hadn't yet recieved the upgrade.

** It's hinted a few times that Amadeus made a deal with Colorgrave, giving her some of his color in exchange for power so he could protect Vann's Point. [[spoiler:This doesn't turn out too well for him, because after Oran defeats Bolivar, Colorgrave decides Amadeus isn't needed as a protector anymore, and she takes away the rest of his color while planning to use him for something else]].

** Unlike the other dungeons, Oran doesn't get teleported out after defeating the boss at the Howling Bjerg, instead almost freezing to death before being rescued. This could be justified, however, as the platform where the entrance of the room was didn't come back and there was no item to retrieve.

* TakeYourTime: In Act 2, even though [[spoiler:Bolivar]] is currently reclaiming his power in the Lighthouse, you can take as long as you like to meet the requirements to enter it without anything bad happening. It's not until after defeating his first phase that he becomes more powerful, and even then the only thing that will make him return to his full power is [[spoiler:repaying your debt and getting married]], no matter how much or how little time that takes.

* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:If you've repaid your debt and gotten married, then after defeating Bolivar's second form, he'll transform into his true form of Var, and you can defeat him for good (or rather, much longer than if you'd defeated him normally). This gets you an additional cutscene with Oran and whoever he has married, and another involving Amadeus and Colorgrave]].

** In the Crystal Caves, there's an area that's blocked off by Hugh which you're not meant to visit until he gets taken by the pirates, but you can go there while he's kidnapped by Siska.

* NewGamePlus: After you've defeated the boss at the Lighthouse, you are able to access most post-game content from the beginning on a new save file, and all the post-game marriage quests become available in Act 2. You also have the option to make the game more difficult or skip straight to Act 2.

* NonLethalKO: Whenever your HP runs out, you wake up at the church (or in one case, the dungeon entrance). However, after completing the game, you have the option to start a new game where you can permanently die.

* PlayboyBunny: The female staff at the Crocasino wear outfits like this.
* PlotlineDeath: [[spoiler: Pa and Sheriff Vann get killed by Bolivar at the end of Act 1]]. The post-game also has [[spoiler:Ashwood's maid, who is murdered by the butler]].

* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:If you've repaid your debt and gotten married, then after defeating Bolivar's second form, he'll transform into his true form of Var, and you can defeat him for good. This gets you an additional cutscene with Oran and whoever he has married, and another involving Amadeus and Colorgrave]].

** A non-lethal variant happens after the TrueFinalBoss. [[spoiler:Colorgrave takes away the color from Amadeus, deciding that Oran is powerful enough to defend Vann's Point and that Amadeus is no longer needed as its protector. Downplayed as she intends to use him for some other purpose]].

%%* AbandonedMine: The mine you visit at the start of the game in order to obtain the Pickaxe is one. ("Is one" doesn't mean anything.) The Tidal Mines also appear to be abandoned.

* AllYourPowersCombined: The Graile Boots have all the abilities of each of the other pairs of boots, which you will have to obtain (as well as complete a dungeon) in order to receive them.

** The game doesn't auto-save, so you don't have to start a new save file for each girl you want to marry, you can just reload a save after marrying one and then go for another. While there are three characters who can't be married until after you've completed the game, you'll have the ability to in Act 2 on a new save file if you're already married by the post-game, and there's even the option to skip straight to Act 2 so you don't have to play through all the cutscenes again.

** [[HarderThanHard Activating a Curse will automatically break all the Altars except the Chaos one]] (and this is only available after completing the game with them already broken, as well as clearing the BrutalBonusLevel). However, the Curse of Fraility, which turns all damage except falling into a OneHitKill, disables the permanent death that you would normally get from the Altar of Hate. Additionally, the Curse of Rust, which makes upgrades, rings, and boots ineffective, does not work on the [[SprintShoes Winged Boots]] as it would be annoying to be forced to walk everywhere slowly.

** At the Crocasino, Tara asks you to retrieve some birth records from the library for her. You then end up being directed to specific [=NPCs=] who will request something in exchange, until finally, much to Oran and the player's relief, someone doesn't ask for something in return. The reward at the end is [[spoiler:only 10 gold... at first. Seeing how annoyed Oran is, Tara decides to give him the Winged Boots, which allow you to move faster]].

** The Altar to Chaos makes the items found in chests random (except for items needed to progress). However, this can actually be more helpful in some instances, and if you're unlucky enough not to get the Lariat or Rust Knuckle before the dungeons where you need them then you can just buy them from Zaegul's hidden shop instead.
** If that's not enough, getting the Feat for finishing the game with all the Altars except Chaos broken and the Feat for beating Daemon's Dive will unlock Curses, which also breaks the four main Altars. The Curse of Fraility makes you lose all HP from any attacks except pitfalls, the Curse of Famine removes all available buffs, the Curse of Rust makes nearly all accessories and upgrades ineffective, and the Curse of Wind makes projectile attacks faster.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The residents of the Colorless Void refer to themselves as monsters, which fits their different appearances well enough, but ''VideoGame/CurseCrackersForWhomTheBelleToils'' reveals that they are one of the races gifted by the Scales and known as the Graven, after their Scale Colorgrave. Unlike the other races, the Graven don't follow any specific rules when it comes to their appearances or abilities, but it's still odd to see them call themselves monsters in this game, which is probably down to the developers not having finalized their origins or even come up with the other Scales and races just yet. In addition, the way some of them talk to Oran make it sound as if mages are ordinary humans, while ''Curse Crackers'' establishes that only those gifted by the Scales can be mages, while anyone with a normal human appearance can't.

* IncompatibleOrientation: Kayla, an NPC in the library, has this in one of her possible dialogues - she'll say that you can't date her because she's only interested in Oakley.

* NotCompletelyUseless: The Spiced Ham, which allows faster movement, is often overlooked in favour of the Winged Boots in order to leave a free space for another buff. However, it's useful in [[ChainOfDeals the quest to acquire said boots]], and it's good to use so you can still move fast with a different pair of boots until you get the [[AllYourPowersCombined Graile Boots]].
* NPCRoadblock: Happens at the start of the game with various [=NPCs=] blocking you from exploring more of Vann's Point before progressing the game.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The residents of the Colorless Void refer to themselves as monsters, which fits their different appearances well enough, but ''VideoGame/CurseCrackersForWhomTheBelleToils'' reveals that they are one of the races gifted by the Scales and known as the Graven, after their Scale Colorgrave. Unlike the other races, the Graven don't follow any specific rules when it comes to their appearances or abilities, but it's still odd to see them call themselves monsters in this game, which is probably down to the developers not having finalized their origins or even come up with the other Scales and races just yet. The way some of them talk to Oran make it sound as if mages are ordinary humans, while ''Curse Crackers'' establishes that only those gifted by the Scales can be mages, while anyone with a normal human appearance can't.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The residents of the Colorless Void refer to themselves as monsters, which fits their different appearances well enough, but ''VideoGame/CurseCrackersForWhomTheBelleToils'' reveals that they are one of the races gifted by the Scales and known as the Graven, after their Scale Colorgrave. Unlike the other races, the Graven don't follow any specific rules when it comes to their appearances or abilities, but it's still odd to see them call themselves monsters in this game, which is probably down to the developers not having finalized their origins or even come up with the other Scales and races just yet. The way some of them talk to oran make it sound as if mages are ordinary humans, while ''Curse Crackers'' establishes that only those gifted by the Scales can be mages, while anyone with a normal human appearance can't.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The residents of the Colorless Void refer to themselves as monsters, which fits their different appearances well enough, but ''VideoGame/CurseCrackersForWhomTheBelleToils'' reveals that they are one of the races gifted by the Scales and known as the Graven, after their Scale Colorgrave. Unlike the other races, the Graven don't follow any specific rules when it comes to their appearances or abilities, but it's still odd to see them call themselves monsters in this game, which is probably down to the developers not having finalized their origins or even come up with the other Scales and races just yet. They also make it sound as if mages are ordinary humans, while ''Curse Crackers'' establishes that only those gifted by the Scales can be Mages, while anyone with a normal human appearance can't.

* EvilAllAlong: [[spoiler: Bolivar is revealed to be evil at the end of Act 1, killing Pa Darrow and Sheriff Vann, and wounding Oran. It's shown from reading various texts throughout the game and the True Ending that he is actually Var, the god of Dark, who was cursed into a mortal form with his power sealed in the sword he wanted to repair]].

** Having the [[AutoRevive Frostberry Cobbler]] buff won't work if Oran is knocked out during a cutscene, or on two different occasions where making the wrong decision results in a knockout. In addition, any buffs won't clear on occasions where it can't be avoided (except for the Smoked Salmon since cutscene knockouts still deplete the HP meter).

* PlotlineDeath: [[spoiler: Pa Darrow and Sheriff Vann get killed by Bolivar at the end of Act 1]]. The post-game also has [[spoiler:Ashwood's maid, who is murdered by the butler]].

* ThePowerOfLove / ThePowerOfFamily: [[spoiler:In the second fight against Bolivar, he takes no damage from your attacks until an image of Pa Darrow or whoever you have married appears with some encouraging words; you then have to move into this image to make him vulnerable to your attacks]].

** [[spoiler:Once Bolivar has finished the sword he's working on, he kills Pa Darrow and Sheriff Vann, and wounds Oran as well while thanking him for the help, though he survives]].

* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler:Implied by some versions of the "Hero's Rest" ending where Oran is married; the last shot will be of a sleeping baby with what is presumed to be Oran and his chosen wife in the background]].

** The Altar to Chaos makes the items found in chests random (except for items needed to progress).

* MonsterTown: The Colorless Void, a place where a several different types of monsters live, including one you fought earlier. ''VideoGame/CurseCrackersForWhomeTheBelleToils'' reveals that they are known as the Graven.

* MonsterTown: The Colorless Void, a place where some of the game's monsters come from, and return to after being "killed".