History YMMV / TheHalloweenHack

* InformedWrongness: Both the narrative and [[spoiler: Dr. Andonuts]] himself [[WhatTheHellHero call Varik out for trying to kill him]], but [[spoiler: Andonuts' army of monsters were massacring people]] and the game gives no alternative way of stopping it other than killing him.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: Varik comes off as being much more heroic [[AntiHero than he is supposed to be]]. Many of his flaws like being a coward and taking joy in murdering people are [[InformedFlaw informed]]. Both Dr. Andonuts and the narration [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech call him out for wanting to kill Andonuts]]; however, doing that is the only way to stop the monsters he created that are killing people and [[BlamedForBeingRailroaded he is railroaded into this]].

** In plenty of walkthroughs, when Varik fights NO, NO and NO, he guns for the chest first, despite the supposed weakness being [[GroinAttack the crotch]]. And it has the same effect as gunning for the crotch. If you think about it, though, gunning for the chest makes more sense than gunning for the crotch: since Varik fights NO, NO and NO alone [[note]]actually, they're the last enemy Varik faces alone, since Paula joins the party afterwards and she stays in it all the way until you defeat Dr. Andonuts[[/note]], his possible weapons at that point are either a worn dagger or a rapier, both of which are knives, and it's implied that the NOs are a HiveMind (they have the same name despite looking different), then this strategy (gunning for the chest) sums up to Varik stabbing NO in the heart, which shuts down all other body parts due to death.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: Varik comes off as being much more heroic [[AntiHero than he is supposed to be]]. Many of his flaws like being a coward and taking joy in murdering people are [[InformedFlaw informed]]. Both Dr. Andonuts and the narration [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech call him out for wanting to kill Andonuts]]; however, doing that is the only way to stop the monsters he created that are killing people and [[BlamedForBeingRailroaded he is railroaded into this]].

* HilariousInHindsight: Borderline this, borderline HarsherInHindsight. In ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'', the concept of [[spoiler:the Amalgamates]] returns, only this time with terrifying lore. A talking yellow flower in this game also mentions something about [[spoiler:being used in science experiments]], foreshadowing Flowey greatly.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: At the end of the game, [[spoiler:a ghost breaks into Varik's house just to [[ToiletHumor fart on his face]] for no reason. Lampshaded by Varik laughing at it immediately afterwards.]]

** The repurposed Onett map has nothing except [[TearJerker depressing]] but weak enemies that drop great healing items. The boss, on the other hand...

* FandomRivalry: Shares one with the ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' hack. Many people who prefer ''Hallow's End'' often cite it as "the Halloween ROM Hack done ''right''", with humor and themes often more fitting of the original ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' compared to ''The Halloween Hack'', of which people often compare to a [[CanonDefilement bad fanfic]] pile of {{Narm}}, in addition to being far more balanced gameplay-wise by comparison. Meanwhile, those who prefer ''The Halloween Hack'' often like how it tries to have [[DarkerAndEdgier darker themes]] than the original ''[=EarthBound=]'', and point out how the endgame of ''Hallow's End'' [[DisappointingLastLevel also devolves into bad fanfic territory as well]], in addition to the difficulty reaching [[NintendoHard batshit levels]]. Really, there are many things people prefer when comparing the two games, and that isn't even going into [[spoiler:how ''The Halloween Hack'' treats Dr. Andonuts...]]

** [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] [[ClusterFBomb cluster swearing]] VillainousBreakdown. While it fits considering everything we've seen so far, and [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope his mental state]] is pretty far gone at that point, there's still a few who can't get over the fact that it's [[spoiler:''[[AbsentMindedProfessor Dr. Andonuts]]'']] swearing up a storm like a drunken sailor. Some even go as far as to say it kills the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief the game did a good job of keeping up until then. [[OldShame Even Toby Fox himself has indicated that he in hindsight very much agrees with this criticism]].

** The "NO! NO! NO!" enemies. Even though it's possibly a bit disturbing even if you're attracted to guys, it becomes a bit hilarious once you realize it can be easily defeated by [[spoiler:[[GroinAttack kicking it in the crotch.]]]]

* NightmareFuel: Remember how we said that in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', the final boss, [[EldritchAbomination Giygas]] ''was'' the background for his battle? He returns in [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts' battle as the background.]] Fitting, as said FinalBoss was encountered in the exact same machine that Giygas was stored in.

* {{Squick}}: Even if you're attracted to guys, the "NO! NO! NO!" boss will likely be this, due to focusing on some rather...''exaggerated'' parts of the male body. [[InvokedTrope Naturally,]] [[IntendedAudienceReaction this reaction was likely intentional.]]

* UnintentionallySympathetic: Varik comes off as being much more heroic [[AntiHero than he is supposed to be]]. Many of his flaws like being a coward and taking joy in murdering people are [[InformedFlaw informed]]. Both Dr. Andonuts and the narration [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech call him out for wanting to kill Andonuts]], however doing that is the only way to stop the monsters he created that are killing people and [[BlamedForBeingRailroaded he is railroaded into this]].

* BestBossEver: Say what you will about the ridiculousness of the plot, but the final battle with [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]] is the best part of the hack. Not only is it memorable for "Megalovania", but after beating the Id, the boss starts fighting back. He has five health bars, each with its own weakness, starting with StandardStatusEffects, then two forms for regular elements, a form where you have to reflect his ultimate attack, before finally an all-out battle with neither side holding back.

* ThatOneLevel: Twoson sewers. Even ''if'' you have the foresight to grind beforehand, the enemies there are just [[FakeDifficulty unfair in many aspects]]. They like to swarm you in groups of three, which you can't even ''hope'' to out damage at that point in the game ''and'' several of them like to spam attacks that inflict the 'numb' status that causes you to lose your turn. Even if you're over leveled for the area, the enemies there can ''still'' easily kill you by repeatedly stun-locking you to death.

* ThatOneLevel: Twoson sewers. Even ''if'' you have the forsight to grind beforehand, the enemies there are just [[FakeDifficulty unfair in many aspects]]. They like to swarm you in groups of three, which you can't even ''hope'' to out damage at that point in the game ''and'' several of them like to spam attacks that inflict the 'numb' status that causes you to lose your turn. Even if you're over leveled for the area, the enemies there can ''still'' easily kill you by repeatedly stun-locking you to death.

* ThatOneLevel: Twoson sewers. Even ''if'' you have the forsight to grind beforehand, the enemies there are just [[FakeDifficulty unfair in many aspects]]. They like to swarm you in groups of three, which you can't even ''hope'' to out damage at that point in the game ''and'' several of them like to spam attacks that inflict the 'numb' status that causes you to lose your turn. Even if you're over leveled for the area, the enemies there can ''still'' easily kill you by repeatedly stun-locking you to death.

* FridgeLogic: One really wonders how ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' would happen after this game. [[spoiler:After all, with Dr. Andonuts dead, Porky won't be able to use his technology to torment Tazmilly. Would he steal whatever the doctor had left over? Or maybe Porky wouldn't be able to salvage anything, and Lucas will have a normal life.]]

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: While still famous for its creepy and depressing nature and story, and being the first major non-simple sprite swap hack created, a lot of people admit this hack is really starting to show its age, especially alongside far more technical overhaul ones like ''VideoGame/HallowsEnd'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/{{Unearthed}}'' hack. To some people, even those who are aware it's being [[InvokedTrope invoked]] in the beginning, certain areas can look a bit lazy. This is not because the hack creator didn't care, mind you, but more so because that's what hacking tools for ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' [=ROMs=] were only capable of back then. Another major thing people complain about is its [[NintendoHard brutal difficulty]], thanks to a steadily growing backlash against [[GameMod ROM Hacks]] that are brutally hard for the sake of being brutally hard in most ROM Hacking communities.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts. Good sweet God, Dr. Andonuts!]] There are those who like how the game tries to [[spoiler:explore his mind in a world where he thinks he killed the chosen four]], others just view this hack's characterization as a massive insult to his character, with his wildly OutOfCharacter acts easily flying past CanonDefilement for some, to the point he might as well have been a completely new character altogether.

* HilariousInHindsight: Borderline this, borderline HarsherInHindsight. In ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'', [[spoiler:the concept of the Amalgamates returns, only this time with terrifying lore. A talking yellow flower in this game also mentions something about being used in science experiments, foreshadowing Flowey greatly.]]
** To add to this, [[spoiler:''{{VideoGame/Deltarune}}'' would ''also'' have a knight with permanently hidden eyes contemplating his actions' validity, complete with a doctor whose experiment went wrong lurking behind the scenes.]]

--->"I HAVE FUCKING HAD IT WITH YOUR SHIT. You little fuckers are going to have your bodies ripped in half. [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon I'll shove your asses so far down your throats that when you crap you'll sing fucking Beethoven]]. tl;dr: eat shit, faggots"

* SignatureScene: [[spoiler:The final battle with Dr. Andonuts. Once he TurnsRed for the last time and Megalovania kicks in, you hit the most famous part of the game.]]

** The name of the final boss's ultimate attack, PSI [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch Bitchkill.]] Even though it ''will'' wipe out your party if you don't know how to tell it's coming and to properly counter it, it still ends up sounding ridiculous to some because of the ObligatorySwearing. Doesn't help that it usually comes in the same battle as the above drunken sailor storm.

* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts]] is generally remembered, if not for "Megalovania", then for his constant swears. The truth is that he only swears four times during the final battle: once during his breakdown (the only one where he [[ClusterFBomb swears non-stop]]), once at the beginning of his Ice phase ("fags! you're all fags!"), through the name of his ultimate attack (PSI Bitchkill), and one last time during his death (you'll get the...sh...i...). He's not nearly as bad as he's made out to be by most, yet for the reasons lister under Narm, it's pretty hard to think of anything else.

* ThatOneAttack: PSI Bitchkill, which can kill your entire party in one hit. Thankfully, it can be reflected.

** The fact that the normally {{Useless Useful Spell}}s are actually useful in this game. People like the fact that it averts that standard RPG cliché, while others, who feel it working on bosses is good design, feel like it was a terrible decision to make it to where they're flat out ''required'' to beat some normal enemies, since it [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools makes the battles feel needlessly tedious and drag on for far longer than needed]], especially when the game starts getting spam happy with these kinds of enemies.

* CreepyCute: The [[JokeCharacter Ghostkin]].
* DemonicSpider: The Amalgamates.

* ThatOneLevel: Twoson sewers. Even ''if'' you have the forsight to grind beforehand, the enemies there are just [[FakeDifficulty unfair in many aspects]]. They like to swarm you in groups of three, which you can't even ''hope'' to out damage at that point in the game ''and'' several of them like to spam attacks that inflict the 'numb' status that causes you to lose your turn. Even if you're over leveled for the area, the enemies there can ''still'' easily kill you by repeatedly stun-locking you to death.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: It may be a hack of ''VideoGame/EarthBound,'' but it would ''not'' be rated K-A[=/=]E. Even ''VideoGame/EarthBound's'' new rating of T would not cut it. It could be rated M, however.

* ThatOneBoss: The NO trio is fought during the "one-member party" portion of the game and hits '''brutally''' hard.
* ThatOneLevel: Twoson's sewers. Even ''if'' you have the forsight to grind beforehand, the enemies there are just [[FakeDifficulty unfair in many aspects]]. They like to swarm you in groups of three, which you can't even ''hope'' to out-damage at that point in the game, ''and'' several of them like to spam attacks that inflict the "numb" status that causes you to lose your turn. Even if you're over-leveled for the area, the enemies there can ''still'' easily kill you by repeatedly stun-locking you to death.

* ThatOneLevel: Twoson sewers. Even ''if'' you have the forsight to grind beforehand, the enemies there are just [[FakeDifficulty unfair in many aspects]]. They like to swarm you in groups of three, which you can't even ''hope'' to out damage at that point in the game ''and'' several of them like to spam attacks that inflict the 'numb' status that causes you to lose your turn. Even if you're over leveled for the area, the enemies there can ''still'' easily kill you by repeatedly stun-locking you to death.

* NauseaFuel: "The Desire Dog's body suddenly began to leak gooey pseudopods!"

* NauseaFuel: "The Desire Dog's body began to leak gooey pseudopods!"

* TearJerker:
** The Remember Me? enemies found in the Onett level certainly count. It's a combination of the music that plays when Buzz Buzz is dying, the fact that some of their attacks involve them hugging and making you cry because of how much they missed you, and that they just wave goodbye when they're defeated that makes some players tear up a little.
** Desperate Survivors are similar -- they're bloodied, crying men who apologize for fighting you, are incredibly weak, apologize for ''your killing them'', and always drop the Last Ration they desperately clung to.

** The Dearkhart battle is supposed to be depressing because it's the AnthropomorphicPersonification of [[spoiler:Dr. Andonuts']] worries that [[spoiler:his son, Jeff, despises him]]. However, the impact and melancholic nature it's supposed to have is rather negated for a lot of people due to [[SoundtrackDissonance its battle music]] being ''[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic utterly freaking awesome!]]''