History VideoGame / Zeliard

''Zeliard'' is a MetroidVania-style adventure game by Creator/GameArts. Like Game Arts' earlier titles ''VideoGame/{{Thexder}}'' and ''Silpheed'', it was originally released in Japan on the UsefulNotes/PC88 and brought to western shores by Creator/{{Sierra}}, the first project helmed by Creator/JoshMandel.

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** While falling, thrusting your sword down will deal enough damage to kill just about ''anyhting''. Even the [[DemonicSpiders red slimes]].

''Zeliard'' is a MetroidVania-style adventure game by Creator/GameArts. Like Game Arts' earlier titles ''VideoGame/{{Thexder}}'' and ''Silpheed'', it was originally released in Japan on the PC88 and brought to western shores by Creator/{{Sierra}}, the first project helmed by Creator/JoshMandel.

* DoorToBefore: Every dungeon is structured such that "the road out is long but the road back short"; you'll generally find doors to the boss room in areas that are on the opposite side of obstacles, pits, etc. making it easy to jump down should youwant to backtrack instead of progress. An NPC in Satono will also specifically warn you about a certain green door which "leads to the past" (actually two of them, which were part of the NewWorldTease you saw while navigating the first dungeon; if you don't recognize them when navigating the second, you'll end up backtracking). Also, the door to one of the buildings in Pureza Town (in world 8) is actually a one-way portal back to Dorado Town (in world 6).

** Want some help navigating the final dungeon? The people hidden in Esco Village can offer you tips, but how to actually ''get'' to Esco village is something you'll have to discover on your own. [[spoiler:]]You jump through the ceiling of the passage below it.[[/spoiler]]

** Want some help navigating the final dungeon? The people hidden in Esco Village can offer you tips, but how to actually ''get'' to Esco village is something you'll have to discover on your own. [[spoiler]]You jump through the ceiling of the passage below it.[[/spoiler]]

''Zeliard'' is a MetroidVania-style adventure game by Creator/GameArts. Like Game Arts' earlier titles ''VideoGame/{{Thexder}}'' and ''Silpheed'', it was originally released in Japan on the PC88 and brought to western shores by Creator/{{Sierra}}.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ZELIARD_6050.gif]]

* RedheadedHero: Duke Garland

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ZELIARD_6050.gif

* FrogsAndToads: The green frogs hops around and are basically TheGoomba. The reddish toads spit projectiles at you when you get in range.

* DoorToBefore: Every dungeon is structured such that "the road out is long but the road back short"; you'll generally find doors to the boss room in areas that are on the opposite side of obstacles, pits, etc. making it easy to jump down should youwant to backtrack instead of progress. An NPC in Satono will also specifically warn you about a certain green door which "leads to the past" (which is part of the NewWorldTease you saw while navigating the first dungeon; if you don't recognize it when navigating the second, you'll end up backtracking).

* BossWarningSiren: Not only is the door to the boss room identifiable in advance by an ominous pounding when you approach it, but when you enter the room, "ENCOUNTER!" in large red letters will flash on the upper half of the screen before the battle actually begins.

* FloatingPlatforms: These generally come in two colors: red ones that move horizontally over a fixed area, and green ones that you can stand on and move up and down like an elevator. Later dungeons also introduce stationary red platforms that begin falling the moment you step on them (so don't dally).

* BlobMonster: Two of the bosses are gelatinous cubes. Many of the more-common monsters are some kind of blob, especially in the final world.

* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: The second boss is a giant octopus/squid.

* GiantEnemyCrab: Cangrejo, the boss of the first dungeon.

* DoorToBefore: Every dungeon is structured such that "the road out is long but the road back short"; you'll generally find doors to the boss room in areas that are on the opposite side of obstacles, pits, etc. making it easy to jump down should youwant to backtrack instead of progress. An NPC in Satono will also specifically warn you about a certain blue door which "leads to the past" (which is part of the NewWorldTease you saw while navigating the first dungeon; if you don't recognize it when navigating the second, you'll end up backtracking).

* AntiGrinding: The sages in each town have a limit to how many level-ups they can grant.

* OneHundredAndEight: According to the introduction, the rain of sand unleashed by Jashiin lasted many days, effectively desertifying the kingdom (not that you can tell from the looks of Muralla Town or Bosque).

* UselessUsefulSpell: Espada (Throwing Swords), due to its lackluster damage capabilities, is of some use in Malicia but quickly declines in utility afterwards; and Rascar (Falling Rocks), due to the random nature in which the rocks fall.
* VancianMagic: Each spell has a limited number of uses; resting at an inn (or levelling up) or using items can replenish them.

* AsteroidsMonster: When damaged, green slimes will split up and multiply unless you use fire. It's actually worse with the red slimes who aren't even damaged and keep cloning themselves everytime you hit them.

* CityOfGold: Complete with a place named "El Dorado," although very little of the gold is available for the taking.

* CoversAlwaysLie: For its [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zeliard_box_cover.jpg US version]], anyway, which depicts a red-bearded [[HornyVikings Horny Viking]] slashing at a frog.
** The "slashing at a frog" part is pretty accurate for the first two levels, at least.

* EscapeRope: Starting in Bosque Village you can purchase Kioku feathers which are claimed to teleport you to the "last wise man you visited". For some reason this only ever seems to be the Sage in Muralla Town, at the beginning of the game. It's still preferable to dying, and Muralla's banker offers one of the higher exchange rates in the game.

* UselessUsefulSpell: Espada (Throwing Swords), due to its lackluster damage capabilities, and Rascar (Falling Rocks), due to the random nature in which the rocks fall.

* ZombieApocalypse: Combined with a general theme of rot, decay, and undeath for one of the worlds.

* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: Played straight with the inns and magic shops, which generally mark up their prices as you progress, but averted with the weapons shops, which actually lower their prices the farther you go. The almas-to-gold exchange rate offered by the banks also changes between towns, generally offering fewer gold for each almas the farther you go.

** As with many adventure games of the time, the latter stages start to get more complicated to a point where taking a few steps without using a map can get you lost; navigating an area requires patience, memorization, and a willingness to try everything.

* InterchangeableAntimatterKeys: Downplayed in that you'll probably only find them one at a time before using each one to progress, but yes, each key only opens one door.

* OneHundredAndEight: According to the introduction, the rain of sand unleashed by Jashiin lasted this long.

* PlayingWithFire: Lanzar, fireball-like spell and Fuego which drop a pool of flames.
* PlotCoupon: The Tears of Esmesanti, which are retrieved once per dungeon boss. You'll alaos need to acquire a Hero's Crest before the guard in Bosque will allow you entrance to the area's boss, and a Glory Crest before Tumba's weaponsmith will give you thea Knight's Sword to defeat the demon Vista.

* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: Played straight with the inns and magic shops, which generally mark up their prices as you progress, but averted with the weapons shops, which actually lower their prices the farther you go.

* AttackItsWeakPoint: The [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons dragon]] of the Volcano cavern is vulnerable in the face; anywhere else is just ScratchDamage. The zombies are also invulnerable except for their heads.

* DiscOneNuke: The better spells you acquire serve this role, being far more effective than sword around the time they are first learned.

* GiantEnemyCrab: Cangrejo
* GratuitousSpanish: All of the level names, all of the spell names, most of the boss names, and many other elements of the game are in Spanish with the occasional Portuguese.
* GuideDangIt: As with many adventure games of the time, the latter stages start to get more complicated to a point where taking a few steps without using a map can get you lost.

* MakingASplash: The Agua spell which shoot three bolts of water.

** While falling, trusting your sword down will kill ''anyhting'', no matter how punny your sword is. Even the [[DemonicSpiders red slimes]].

* PlotCoupon: The Tears of Esmesanti, which are retrieved once per dungeon boss.

* SlippySlideyIceWorld: The fourth world. You have to acquire special shoes to walk on the ice without slipping.
* SmartBomb: The final spell, Guerra
* SoulPower: Almas.

* SpikesOfDoom: Every level has terrain that damages you when you step on it, and for the first few levels, it's these: Made of rocks, brambles, or ice depending on the level. Later levels avert this trope in favor of blue goo, lava, or fire.

* StationaryBoss: The squid boss of the second dungeon.

* VancianMagic

** Played straight in the Caverns of Escarcha and Glacial, as you take no damage despite the frigid temperature.
** Also played straight in the Caverns of Tesoro and Plata, where the lava will only hurt you if you step in it and you aren't wearing the Pirika Shoes.

** Played straight in the Caverns of Tesoro and Plata, where the lava will only hurt you if you step in it and you aren't wearing the Pirika Shoes.