Line #117 VideoGame/PandorasTower


1	[[quoteright:316:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1693980-pandora_super_9015.jpg]]
2
3	''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 UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}-exclusive [[EasternRPG JRPG]] developed by Ganbarion and published by Creator/{{Nintendo}}.
4
5	It tells the tale of a young couple, Aeron and Elena (Ende and Seres in the Japanese version), and Aeron's quest to remove the {{curse}} on Elena. Elena is suffering from the Curse of the Beast, which causes her to transform into a [[BodyHorror hideous monster]] over time, which must be temporarily quelled by feeding her the flesh of the beasts that dwell within the thirteen Towers. Equipped with the [[VariableLengthChain Oraclos chain]], his sword, and not much else, he ventures into the Towers to gather the meat of the beasts, and ultimately the fleshy cores of the twelve Aruji (Master), biological weapons that serve as the guardians of each of the towers in order to permanently remove Elena's curse and keep her human.
6
7	Pandora's Tower is an ActionRPG that combines elements from ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'', ''VideoGame/{{Ico}}'', ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus'', and a DatingSim.
8
9	The game released in Japan on May 26th, 2011, and in Europe on April 13th, 2012, and in North America on April 16th, 2013. The game was re-released digitally for the UsefulNotes/WiiU [=eShop=] on August 13th, 2015.
10	----
11	!!This game includes examples of:
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13	* AfterBossRecovery: After obtaining a piece of Master Flesh, you have to give it to Elena right after. The pieces restore her curse gauge to full.
14	* AlienKudzu: The Treetop and Arcadian Towers are overrun with flora that originated from the large trees respectively seeded in their entrance halls. Originally, the flora was harvested by the military of Elyria to produce food and medicine, but the gravity of the war between the surrounding kingdoms left the tower in disrepair and the plants ended up growing out of control. As a result, many branches and vines obstruct the way, and Aeron has to kill certain thorny bushes to clear the path.
15	* AnimeHair: Both Aeron and Elena sport very unique hairstyles.
16	* AnInteriorDesignerIsYou: Aeron can find and purchase various materials, seeds, seedlings, and other things to gift to Elena to improve his relationship with her. She in turns uses them to make things for the tower they reside in, such as tablecloths, bedsheets, and potted houseplants. And upon clearing the game, some extra home decor items are added to the shopping list: A grandfather clock, a landscape painting, and various carpets/floor mats.
17	* 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''.
18	* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Mavda and her husband, the old Vestra man she carries on her back.]] What exactly they atone ''for'' is never revealed.
19	%%* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: The Masters.
20	* BadassNormal: Aeron. He takes down thirteen mighty war machines armed with nothing but a handful of weapons and [[MementoMacGuffin a chain]] which is [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer literally]] fueled by ThePowerOfLove.
21	* 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. [[spoiler:The final boss, Zeron, has a BossRemix of the game's main theme]].
22	* {{BFS}}: Aeron's default weapon is a two-handed broad sword.
23	* BigBad: It turns out that Elena's curse is caused by [[spoiler:an attempted DemonicPossession by a PsychoPrototype SuperSoldier, Zeron]]. In addition, in the A Ending, [[spoiler:Zeron]] confesses to being the one who [[spoiler: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]].
24	* BigBoosHaunt: The Dusk Tower is a dark, twisted version of the Dawn Tower. Even during day, it sports a tenebrous dark atmosphere accentuated by the purple-colored energy that overflows the place.
25	* BlackOutBasement: A couple of the towers have this gimmick, but strangely enough, neither is the darkness-themed one.
26	* BodyHorror: The entire game is about fighting off a slowly encroaching transformation from human to purple beast.
27	* BossBattle: The Masters of each of the 12 Towers are far tougher than the normal monsters Aeron finds.
28	* BossRemix: The battle theme of the FinalBoss is a combat version of the melody Elena sung the day she started suffering by her curse, and still sings in certain moments of the game.
29	* BreakableWeapons: Several equippable items, from the main weapon chosen to the add-on items that enable various different attributes, to even normal collectibles destined to be used for ItemCrafting, are susceptible to being broken by extremely strong attacks. However, it's possible to repair them all by paying a small price apiece to Mavda in the Observatory.
30	* BuildingSwing: The Oraclos chain is used in this way to get Aeron from place to place in some of the towers.
31	* CarnivorousHealingFactor: Elena is suffering from a curse that is gradually turning her into a monster. If she eats beast flesh, the course of the metamorphosis can be rollbacked to a major extent, but it won't stop. The only way to get rid of the curse for good is by feeding her ''Master'' Flesh, which Aeron has to seize from the bodies of the Towers' guardians (the game's bosses). Even then , it also takes Aeron [[RelationshipValues strengthening his bond with Elena]] for the mission to succeed (without that, Elena will either become a monster anyway or need to sacrifice herself to save the land, depending on the ending).
32	* ChainPain: The chain also proves to be a more effective weapon on some enemies compared to Aeron's regular melee weapons. Considering it can be used for both melee and distance attacks, this is a good thing.
33	* ChainsOfLove: In a symbolic fashion, as the chain serves as the connection between Elena and Aeron. It also contains a lock of Elena's hair, which allows Aeron to check up on her and determine her location if he needs to find her.
34	* ChargedAttack: Multiple levels of them as you level up and upgrade.
35	* ConvectionSchmocvection: Aeron can hang around [[PlayingWithFire Crimson Keep and Blazing Citadel]] without being harmed by the lava's heat. Touching lava or fire will still hurt him.
36	* TheCorruption: Aeron's LoveInterest is infected with a curse that slowly turns her into a monster. It can be reversed by feeding her monster meat; the fresher the better, from dried out and rotten (worst) to ''still moving'' (best). The entire point of the game is to collect enough to fully cure her.
37	* CoolSword: The various weapons Aeron finds in treasure chests littered in the various towers. His starting sword is the Year 60 style Athosian Military sword.
38	* CuteButCacophonic: "[[GoodMorningCrono GOOD MORNING AERON]]!"
39	* DarkFantasy: With gory elements, in addition.
40	* DarkIsNotEvil: Mavda's husband looks like a withered GrimReaper in a pot, but he's actually a really nice, helpful guy.
41	* 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 mournful and ominous organ tune. If you let the time gauge run out and cause a NonStandardGameOver, the music [[NothingIsScarier stops entirely]].
42	* DatingSim: Albiet with only one LoveInterest- Aeron can speak with Elena, give her presents, and interact with her in various ways to build up his relationship with her.
43	* DestroyableItems: And the nasty things in the towers will break your items if you let them. If you have the coins, you can get them repaired, or you can use them anyway if you do not mind a reduced effect.
44	* DieChairDie: Breaking open boxes littered in the towers is one way to find money and items.
45	* DoNotDropYourWeapon: Fairly normal with Aeron, he always has his hands on whatever he's equipped with unless otherwise occupied by swinging around on his chain. Some enemies, on the other hand, can be disarmed.
46	* DoomsdayClock: While not a conventional one as the fate of the world is not at stake, but the humanity of one girl, there is a clock that ticks throughout the game while you are in the towers. As it depletes, Elena's humanity will slowly fade away as she's painfully transformed into a monster. If it runs out, you get a NonstandardGameOver, though you can extend the time whenever you want by giving her flesh from the monsters of the towers.
47	* DoorToBefore: The towers are riddled with them. Unlocking them forms a sort of improvised checkpoint, allowing you to leave and feed Elena and then get back to where you were in a timely manner.
48	* DownerEnding: A number of the endings, if the requirements for the [[GoldenEnding Best Ending]] aren't met.
49	* DownTheDrain: Wellspring Steeple and Torrent Peak. In both towers, Aeron has to make use of a giant waterwheel and its attached hooks to reach hard-to-access areas. Both towers also have a room where a big body of water is rising upward.
50	* DualBoss: The two bosses in the Dawn and Dusk Towers are fought at the same time.
51	* DualWielding:
52	** The first weapon that Aeron finds in a treasure chest in one of the towers is a pair of daggers: the Year 56 style twin daggers, also known as the Twinblade.
53	** To an extent, Aeron is always doing this, since he can use the Oraclos chain to great effect regardless of which primary weapon he has equipped.
54	* DualWorldGameplay: Simulated with the Dawn and Dusk Towers. Both towers are physically in the same dimension, but are near-identical in terms of design and structure. Aeron has to frequently warp from one tower to another by activating certain dimensional rifts with Light Stones or Dark Stones (depending on the color of the rift). And to fight the bosses, the chains in ''both'' towers must be broken as well.
55	* DubNameChange: In the English dub, the names change from Seres to Elena, Ende to Aeron, and Graiai to Mavda.
56	* ElephantInTheLivingRoom: As if [[MissionControl Mavda]] wasn't nearly enough of a paragon of creepiness already, she constantly carries around on her back what appears to be [[DemBones the skeleton of an old man, bigger than she is]], for the entire game. Nobody appears to find this weird, even though he is sentient and can talk (albeit [[TheUnintelligible unintelligibly]], though Mavda can apparently understand him just fine). You ''can'' ask her about it, but she answers you in a "you should know this already" tone of voice. Apparently, she's her business partner, or something along those lines.
57	* EmpathicEnvironment: The plantlife outside the observatory begins to die as Elena's curse worsens, becoming completely dead and barren if she fully transforms.
58	* EscapeSequence: If you are on the track to the S ending, this will let you know it.
59	* EternalEngine: Ironclad Turret and Truegold Tower. The towers operate under machinery that is as ancient as the birth of the BigBad (500 years). The mobility of many platforms depends on the proper functionality of these machines.
60	* FanDisservice: Elena's VaporWear dress often slips down on one side, more than far enough to reveal a breast. Or it would, if the reason for it wasn't that side of her body becoming [[ForcedTransformation severely mutated]], looking like it's rotting in places and oozing purple gunk everywhere. Something to note is that the dress isn't magical and remains displaced as the curse is suppressed, though she immediately falls into Aeron's arms, preventing the audience from seeing anything. By the time she wakes up, he's fixed it for her.
61	* FeminineWomenCanCook: Elena. When you talk to her during breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Aeron can comment on her cooking. The three options you have aren't exactly very positive, though. However, if you eat her food often enough, she'll eventually play this straight.
62	* FertileFeet: Every step of the Treetop Tower master makes plants grow.
63	* FinalExamBoss: The FinalBoss [[spoiler:Zeron]] makes use of all elements that were present in the previous towers during her attacks, and in turn many of those attacks mimic those of the bosses fought in said towers: GreenThumb, DishingOutDirt, MakingASplash, PlayingWithFire, ChromeChampion, WhiteMagic, and CastingAShadow. Aeron has to deplete the LifeMeter of each elemental source to disable them, at which point the boss will be defeated. Should the GoldenEnding be on the way of being unlocked, an additional phase is added where Aeron's chain has to be used with good aim to [[spoiler:save Elena from Zeron's LastDitchMove]].
64	* FixedCamera: Present in all rooms and corners. In some cases, this prevents the player from spotting elements or paths that would make exploration much easier, and thus won't get to discover until resorting to obscure methods.
65	* {{Flashback}}: What happens when Elena chomps into the flesh of a Master; it revisits a series of events that occurred fifty years in the past.
66	* ForbiddenZone: The [[TheTower Thirteen Towers]], where the bulk of the game occurs, are suspended above The Scar, a giant crack in the earth thousands of miles wide that was created by the [[CataclysmBackstory Catastrophe]] that occurred 50 years ago. Ever since then, the whole area has been sealed off and abandoned by the Elyrian military, which also makes it an ideal place for Aeron, Elena, and Mavda to hide from them.
67	* ForcedTransformation: Mavda's husband's current form is the result of an unspecified "accident" involving the pot he now resides in.
68	* ForeverWar: The continent of Imperia has been constantly wracked by endless wars, particularly between the kingdoms of Elyria and Athos. It is only recently that the land is at peace, but it is a fragile truce that could end at a moment's notice.
69	* 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 [[BadassCape 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.
70	* GenreBusting: In this case, it's an action RPG with several elements of Dating Sim and DungeonCrawling.
71	* GirlInTheTower: Elena lives with Aeron in the Observatory, which serves more as a place for her to hide from the army than a prison.
72	* GrapplingHookPistol: The Oraclos chain that Aeron has serves as a medieval/ancient version of this. For extra precision, the chain's aim (provided by the Wiimote) has an augmented zoom around the desired target.
73	* GreatOffscreenWar: There was a war that occurred fifty years ago. Unlike most instances of this trope, this particular war and its fallout have [[CataclysmBackstory great plot significance.]] Later on, the kingdoms of Elyria and Athos had been fighting a war that ended only two years before the game begins, and tensions between the two countries are still high despite the peace.
74	* GridInventory: While Aeron can only have one primary weapon and one set of clothes equipped, he can equip as many other trinkets and accessories as can be crammed into an equipment grid. Increasing the size of said grid is one way leveling up makes you stronger.
75	* GrievousHarmWithABody: Using the chain, Aeron can grab hold of certain enemies and swing them around to bludgeon other monsters in the room to death. He can also grab and throw monsters at each other, and into walls.
76	* HairMemento: Elena lets Mavda cut a part of her hair so the latter can attach it to the Oraclos chain used by Aeron. This not only strengthens the bond between Aeron and Elena even after they're a long distance apart, but also lets Aeron know about Elena's well-being while he's in the Towers.
77	* HammerSpace: Aeron's ability to stow away his weapons when shimmying along narrow platforms, or when swinging around with his chain.
78	* 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 [[GreenThumb wood]], [[DishingOutDirt earth]], [[MakingASplash water]], [[PlayingWithFire fire]], and [[ChromeChampion 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.
79	* HealingSpring: Each tower has a fountain (or two) which Aeron can use to restore his HitPoints.
80	* HeroesPreferSwords: Aeron's starting weapon. He later upgrades to dual knives and a scythe.
81	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:In all but the best ending, one of these is necessary to give the Oraclos 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.]]
82	* HorrorHunger: [[{{Inverted}} Inversion]] of the usual: human needs to eat disgusting monster flesh in order to ''stay'' human.
83	* IdleAnimation: Aeron will do different things depending on what he's holding at the moment if you don't do anything.
84	* 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 [[BlatantLies 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"''.
85	* InMediasRes: The opening cutscene is very disjointed and confusing and provides almost no information on what has happened before throwing you into the thick of things in gameplay. Cutscenes further in the game [[OnceMoreWithClarity clarify exactly what happened]].
86	* InformedEquipment: Aside from the weapons Aeron is carrying, any armor or accessories he's equipped with don't show up on his character model. Ironically, Elena will be seen with the accessories you give her.
87	* InsurmountableWaistHighFence: A lot of these in the towers, either because of blocks that fell from the ceiling or walls due to crumbling, or because of overgrown tree branches.
88	* 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.
89	* InventoryManagementPuzzle: Aeron's carriage bag can initially support up to 30 items. This includes, yes, individual collectibles (so if 4 elixir potions are collected, 26 spaces remain; this differs from many other games which reserve one slot for an entire item or weapon regardless of its amount or ammunition). The bag can be expanded for a bigger capacity if the proper items are given to Elena.
90	* ItemCrafting: Scattered through the first twelve towers are numerous objects, spoils, and treasures that can be given to Mavda so she can upgrade the weapons Aeron finds, including the secret fourth weapon that can be found during the NewGamePlus. Uniquely, the upgrade requirements can be chosen accordingly to the items gathered, though all of them will be necessary if the player seeks to completely empower the weapons. As far as money goes, the upgrades are all free. Also, ingredients can be given to Elena to cook.
91	* ItsAWonderfulFailure: Elena, the hero Aeron's girlfriend, has been placed under a terrible curse that slowly transforms her into a monster. This curse can only be staved off by [[HorrorHunger feeding her meat from the monsters in the dungeon.]] Put off feeding her for too long and let her humanity gauge completely empty (and even then, the screen will pulse violently for a few minutes before the end happens, so you still have a little time) and Aeron will be transported back home, where Elena has completely transformed and eats him. If that wasn't bad enough, it then goes into a bad ending where Elena leads an army of monsters across the land, and if ''that'' wasn't enough, a line at the end implies that [[AndIMustScream Aeron is still alive inside of her]].
92	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: [[CoolOldLady Mavda]]. She may seem indifferent to the critical situation of Aeron and Elena, but she actually cares a lot about them.
93	* JigsawPuzzlePlot: Collecting and translating the many journals and notes in the Thirteen Towers provides further backstory and how it relates to the current plot.
94	* JoustingLance: Wielded by a highly damaging enemy type.
95	* KnightInShiningArmor: Aeron, who starts the game off sneaking into the capital city of the country his homeland is at war with just to watch his girlfriend sing, then doesn't hesitate to disappear with her when Elena is promptly afflicted with a curse. He then spends half the game looking to break said curse, and the other half looking after her and making their shabby safehouse a much more pleasant place to be just so she's more comfortable. And his armor is literally bright, shiny gold.
96	* LethalLavaLand: Crimson Keep and Blazing Citadel. They're ancient foundries where the molten metal is processed to make new weapons and armor. Historically, that weaponry was used by the conflicting kingdoms that surround the continent.
97	* LevelUpFillUp: Aeron's HitPoints are restored when he levels up.
98	* LimitedWardrobe: Aeron. Elena, on the other hand, has outfits that can be purchased/found for her. However, during cut-scenes, her clothing reverts to her default outfit.
99	* 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]].
100	* LockedDoor: The Red doors that cannot be opened during the first playthrough, and can only be opened with the Crimson Key (available during the NewGamePlus). Other doors require some puzzle solving to open.
101	* MadeOfIron: Aeron, despite dropping into a pit of molten lava, doesn't so much die horribly; instead, he will take heavy damage, and respawn at the entrance of the room he fell in.
102	%%* {{Miko}}: Elena, despite taking place in a world inspired by Myth/GreekMythology.
103	* 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'''.
104	* MultipleEndings:
105	** S is a GoldenEnding: [[spoiler:Aeron defeats Zeron, saves Elena from the Curse, and the Scar is closed as they both return to her village. Mavda writes to the King of Elyria of what has transpired, which prompts the king to make a full public disclosure of the military's horrific experiments in the Thirteen Towers, and Elyria and Athos eventually sue for peace. The credits even then turn this into a bittersweet end for Zeron herself, as it is revealed that she was pregnant when she began her transformation, showing that the gods of Aios had indeed answered her prayers.]]
106	** A is the BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Aeron defeats Zeron, but Elena is still cursed, so he and Elena sacrifice themselves to close the Scar, and their efforts are forgotten by all but the Vestra. Despite all this, peace continues to elude the kingdom of Elyria as border clashes persist.]]
107	** B is yet another BittersweetEnding, more on the bitter side. [[spoiler:Zeron still dwells within Elena's body, so she jumps into the Scar to seal her and the Curse. Aeron disappears and is never heard from again.]]
108	** C is a mostly DownerEnding. [[spoiler:Mavda realizes that the chain doesn't have enough power to close the Scar, so she alerts the Elyrian army to where they are. The Elyrian army captures Elena, now transformed into Zeron, and uses her as leverage to blackmail Aeron into service with the military. Aeron is forced to betray and destroy his homeland by using his ability to influence Elena/Zeron to lead the Towers' Masters against the kingdom of Athos. With the might of the Masters, Elyria easily destroys Athos and becomes a powerful [[TheEmpire empire]] holding dominion over the continent.]]
109	** 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 Oraclos chain. Years later, the curse continues to persist, and Mavda continues the cycle of bringing those cursed to the Thirteen Towers.]]
110	* MysteriousBacker: Mavda clearly knows a ''lot more'' about the curse and the entire situation Elena and Aeron are in than she's letting on, but when pressed, refuses to elaborate or [[ObfuscatingStupidity claims not to know much at all.]] Though she seems genuine in also wanting Aeron to dispel Elena's curse.
111	* NailEm: A NewGamePlus weapon found in one of the earlier towers is reminiscent of a large nail gun. The rough translation of its Japanese name is the: Exploding Style Siege Stake. Upon maxing out the upgrades for this weapon, its charge attack involves driving an exploding stake into an enemy's body and detonating a few seconds later, inflicting a lot of damage.
112	* NewGamePlus: Once the game is completed (regardless of the ending triggered), it's possible to not only restart a new playthrough on the same file, but also choose from which part of the game to do so. The first option is the beginning, the second starts with the sixth tower, the third starts with the eleventh, and the fourth and last starts with the finale (but since [[spoiler:Elena is taken by force right after the completion of the 12th tower]], it won't be possible to get a different, thus better, ending to that gotten in the first playthrough, so this last option is pointless unless the GoldenEnding was already unlocked). In addition, Mavda will put into sale numerous new items, including gifts to keep increasing the affection with Elena, as well as a special key that can open all of those red doors in the towers that could never be opened in the first playthrough, giving access to rooms with unique treasures.
113	* NoticeThis: Almost everything you can interact with is marked with a sparkle. If you don't know what to do, start looking for them.
114	* 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.
115	* OfficialCouple: The main objective of the game is that Aeron has to find a way to dispel Elena's curse so they can spend the rest of their lives together.
116	* OminousLatinChanting: All boss themes are of this type. Notably, all of them except that of the FinalBoss are the same, but the voices are different (the first version is sung by men, the second by women and the third by all singers).
117	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: [[spoiler:When Elena begins ''enjoying'' eating the Master Flesh, red flags should start going off.]]
118	* OminousLatinChanting: The boss themes are a great example of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dh3CQFoEh4 this.]]
119	* OminousPipeOrgan: Once Elena hits the final transformation threshold before the NonstandardGameOver, the music in the home area changes to a dark, mournful, organ-backed mix of the original theme.
120	* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler:In the S ending, after the curse has disappeared from Elena's body, Zeron manifests herself as an enormous beast and [[AdvancingBossOfDoom pursues Aeron, Elena, and Mavda down the Centrum Tower.]]]]
121	* OnlySmartPeopleMayPass: Some of the 'puzzles' that require solving in order to move on to higher floors.
122	* OurCentaursAreDifferent: The Master of the Ironclad Turret is a armored centaur holding two BFS and is prone to overheating if it's hit too much and/or fights for too long.
123	* ParentalAbandonment: Averted with Elena: she may mention her parents and siblings when you talk to her in the house and also worries about them. Played straight with Aeron, though being a (mostly) HeroicMime, it's not surprising.
124	* PimpedOutDress: At least in the opening scene, Elena wears a [[TrueBlueFemininity blue-green dress]] with [[GoldMakesEverythingShiny lots of gold decoration]].
125	* {{Planimal}}: Some enemies in the Treetop and Arcadian Towers. In the Dawn and Dusk Towers, a flying enemy with tree branches as wings that is this as well.
126	* PlayerHeadquarters: The Observatory, located not too far from the Thirteen Towers, serves as a safe hideout for Aeron and Elena (who are fugitives). Inside, Aeron can save his progress, sleep to change the time of day, interact with Elena, buy and sell goodies with Mavda, and find and read log entries regarding the game's backstory.
127	* ProudMerchantRace: The Dvelge (Doverugu) tribe that Mavda and Jii-chan come from. Mavda serves as the only 'shop' in-game where Aeron can stock up on supplies and presents for Elena, transmute items into new things, make repairs, upgrade his weapons, and so on. The English translation calls them the Vestra tribe.
128	* PublicDomainSoundtrack: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_Irae Dies Irae]]'' is used as a basis for the song itself, but the lyrics are not the same.
129	* PurpleIsTheNewBlack: Of the [[CastingAShadow darkness-themed tower.]]
130	* PuzzleBoss: The Masters in each tower have different weaknesses that must be found in order to damage them with the Oraclos chain. Some are harder to find than others.
131	* TheQuietOne: Aeron's words are limited to 'Elena' and a few short sentences. He does have dialogue, but is usually only voiced in the cutscenes and not often at that.
132	* RankInflation: The endings are labeled (from worst to best) D, C, B, A, and S.
133	* RedEyesTakeWarning: Elena has red pupils, and considering her condition, this isn't too far off from being a warning. Aeron himself has red pupils as well.
134	* RelationshipValues: Represented by a symbolic chain on the screen that shows how well Aeron and Elena get along. This is important, as it determines which [[MultipleEndings ending]] you will get.
135	* RunDontWalk: Aeron's default speed is 'sort of' fast. Then again, considering the importance of his mission, this is a good thing. Even if you never use them in combat, the daggers will earn their keep for granting increased movement speed.
136	* SadBattleMusic: For the C ending, you end up fighting [[spoiler:[[BigBad Zeron]] in [[LoveInterest Elena]]'s [[DemonicPossession body]]]], and the music and the battlefield reflect that [[spoiler:Aeron [[DownerEnding has ultimately failed in his mission]]]].
137	* SanitySlippage: [[spoiler:The stronger Aeron and Elena's connection by the finale, the more demented and incoherent Zeron becomes in her desire to reunite with Aeron. In Ending C, she barely considers him; in endings B and A, she calmly delivers some background exposition before fighting; and in Ending S, she's unable to do anything more than scream out her love for him, leaving Elena and Mavda to explain what the heck her deal was.]]
138	* SavePoint: The desk where Aeron keeps his journal. Since it's the only save point in the game, players have to interrupt Aeron's errands in the Tower whenever they want to rest and/or feed Elena with monster flesh.
139	* ShopFodder: There are books as pure shop fodder. Picking them up copies their contents to the archive, and then they're so useless Mavda will take them off your hands without even asking for confirmation. She'll also buy Beast Flesh from you in bulk to give your excess some value instead of letting it rot, proving that being a minor PlotCoupon and this trope aren't mutually exclusive categories.
140	* ShoutOut:
141	** The main 'theme' song that plays as well as the song that Elena sings/hums is Liebesträume by Franz Liszt.
142	** Leaving Elena alone for too long until you get an eventual game over screen is very similar to ''VideoGame/{{Ico}}''.
143	%%* ShyBlueHairedGirl: Elena, most of the time.
144	* SinisterScythe: The second weapon Aeron finds is a large scythe, the Military Scythe.
145	* SkeletonKey: 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.
146	* SlidingScaleOfLinearityVersusOpenness: The game starts in a linear fashion as you clear the towers one by one, but after the first five, you're invited to complete the following five in any order; this allows you to get certain collectible items earlier to upgrade your weapons and tools more often, as well as bring gifts to Elena to increase the affection status between her and Aeron. When they're all cleared, two more towers open and require to be beaten simultaneously, but the ability to warp between them means that the order of going through the rooms is up to the player. And then there's the final level.
147	* SmashingSurvival: Some enemies/bosses will grab Aeron, requiring some button mashing to break free and not get eaten.
148	* SoNearYetSoFar: The protagonist's girlfriend, [[LivingMacGuffin 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.
149	* StarCrossedLovers: Aeron and Elena's relationship got off to a pretty rough start: Elena was shunned by most of her home village and even her family for being the only person willing to treat Aeron's wounds, since he was [[LoveAcrossBattlelines an enemy soldier from Athos]] and the country was at war at the time. After his recovery, it's implied it's rather difficult for them to even see each other: in the intro cutscene at the Harvest Festival, Aeron has to disguise himself to avoid being pegged as an Athosian. Played straight [[spoiler:in all endings (their relationship is doomed) except for the S ending]].
150	* StationaryBoss: The master of the Crimson Keep fits the bill.
151	* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Much of the wonders inside the thirteen towers, especially the inhabitants of them, were the products of extensive research, [[spoiler:which was abandoned after the failure of Experiment Zero, which it was all leading up to]].
152	* SuperDrowningSkills: Aeron cannot swim; falling into water in some of the towers means he has to respawn at the entrance.
153	* SwissArmyWeapon: Aeron does an impressive job of turning the Oraclos Chain into one of these. He can rapidly lash enemies, strip their weapons, tie up a part of their body and drag them around, spin an enemy around like a flail and then fling them away, chain two enemies together so damage to one is copied to another, rip items out of fallen foes, monitor Elena's curse, grab stuff out of normal reach, anchor to certain objects to swing across gaps, activate levers and other devices, anchor large enemies and bosses to the environment so he can reach their weak point, rip out a boss's heavily defended heart, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking detect which room in their modest safehouse his girlfriend happens to be in at the moment.]]
154	* TeamMom: Elena to an extent, as she takes care of all the domestic tasks in the tower, such as cooking and cleaning. While Aeron is out slaying monsters and gathering meat, she's at home doing housework.
155	* TimedMission: While Aeron's in the Towers, a gauge will slowly tick down, showing the progress of Elena's cure: the darker a segment the gauge has emptied to, the more she's mutated. The time can be extended by leaving the Towers to feed Elena some Beast Flesh; the better the flesh, the more time you get back. All Towers after about the fourth are long and complex enough that this goes from an emergency option to a necessity, but fortunately puzzles stay solved and doors stay unlocked, allowing Aeron to make additive chunks of progress in between trips home.
156	* TrailOfBlood: If you come back to Elena when her meter is critical, she will not be in the observatory's main room, but rather in the cellar. On the way to the cellar, Aeron spots a trail of purplish blood.
157	* UndergroundLevel: Inverted with the Sheerdrop Spire and the Rockshard Rampart. Their layouts, structures, puzzles, and overall atmosphere are themed around mineral caverns; the inversion is because they're ''towers'', so the placement of the cavernal rooms aren't underground but upward.
158	* TheUnintelligible: The old Vestra man Mavda carries on her back only "speaks" in random mumbles.
159	* VariableLengthChain: The Oraclos chain that Aeron uses to gather meat and kill monsters with. What ''can't'' it do?
160	* VariableMix: The final boss's theme is gradually replaced by Elena singing as Zeron's cores are destroyed.
161	* VideoGameCaringPotential: Elena. You can keep her company, chat with her, give her gifts, and in exchange she will make medicine and translate the documents you find, even if you do nothing of the above. Also, even though beating a boss resets the [[StalkedByTheBell progress of her curse]], you really '''don't''' want to see [[BodyHorror what happens to her]] if you let the meter drop below red because you really ''had'' to finish the dungeon in one run. Even though you can easily heal her back, the moment is still heart-wrenching.
162	* WakeUpCallBoss:
163	** The third boss is a surprisingly difficult one. He's the first boss that moves his flesh very fast across his body, despite having a mostly stationary body. What makes him hard is that it shoots jetstreams capable of dealing massive damage while you are trying to hit his flesh. He also has other countermeasures, one of which are CombatTentacles.
164	** The fifth boss, being both the first one you don't get a free opening hit on and the first one where you have to use your sword.
165	* WarIsHell: Mostly played from the perspective of civilians feeling the indirect effects of the conflict as it drains the economy.
166	* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler:Most of the tower beasts were created from animals. The masters used to be people, as did Zeron.]]
167	* WaterIsAir: Some rooms give the illusion of being flooded but do not affect Aeron in any way, besides making him have to deal with things that swim through the "water" as if they were flying.
168	* WellIntentionedExtremist: The A Ending reveals that [[spoiler:Zeron caused the Catastrophe 50 years ago to prevent the Elyrian army from repeating the experiments that created her, which would have given them bioweapons to start a new war, and that if she does not unite with Aeron, the world will never know peace, only more pointless suffering in war]]. Ending C proves that [[spoiler:[[TheExtremistWasRight she is correct]]]].
169	* WorldHealingWave: [[spoiler:In three out of five endings, the Scar is closed by one.]]
170	* {{Yandere}}: [[spoiler:Zeron in endings A and S. The reason why she takes Elena with her is to lure ''Aeron'' to her whereabouts.]]
171	* YellowPurpleContrast: The Blacklight Barbican juxtaposes the bright, yellow energy from the Dawn Tower with the dark, purple energy from the Dusk Tower. It serves as the core of the two aforementioned towers (which pay homage to the god of light and the goddess of darkness respectively), and is there where the protagonist battles the DualBoss (the Master who employs light energy and the one who employs dark energy, again represented respectively by yellow and purple) of both towers. The Barbican also provides the gateway to the the Centrum (the whereabouts of the FinalBoss).
172	* YouLoseAtZeroTrust: If you neglect Elena in spite of being reminded several times that ThePowerOfLove is one of the few things that keeps her curse at bay, she will die ([[ICannotSelfTerminate by your hand]], no less) and net you a Game Over before unlocking the last two towers. A slightly better relationship with her will lead to another DownerEnding, with her turning into a mindless war machine, and Aeron joining her and the Towers' monster army.

Context VideoGame / PandorasTower