Brave is a young Native American boy, who spends his days playing and exploring with his friend Meadow Flower. One day after Brave saves both himself and Meadow Flower from a bear, his mentor, Gray Bear, decides that it’s time Brave learnt how to be a warrior, and sends him off to find several cave paintings, and do certain tasks to start him off on that path. Whilst Brave is doing so, he learns about an evil spirit known as the Wendigo, and a powerful shaman known as Spirit Dancer, who disappeared many years ago.Upon Brave’s return to the village, he finds the Wendigo attacking and during the course of which Hooded Crow, the tribe’s Shaman, is possessed by it, Meadow Flower is turned into a mindless body, and Gray bear is killed – not before telling Brave to flee and find Spirit Dancer – the only one who could defeat the Wendigo…
Thus starts the plot of Brave: The Search For Spirit Dancer, a Platform Game released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 by VIS Entertainment.
This Video Game contains examples of:
- Alien Geometries: The Spirit Realm doesn't follow the same physical laws as the Physical Realm, so it looks weird.
- Ancestral Weapon: Brave's main weapon is Spirit Dancer's Tomahawk who at Maiden Rock Valley is reviled to be his father.
- Annoying Arrows: Shoot an enemy with an arrow? They’ll continue to merrily run around, even when they start to look like a pincushion.
- Bears Are Bad News: An angry grizzly bear is what starts off the plot. It's also the first boss.
- Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and Yeti: Sasquatch makes an appearance, helping both Brave and earlier, his father Spirit Dancer.
- Dem Bones: The Wendigo, and the Fallen Warriors, are all bone creatures.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Gray Bear dies in Brave’s arms, after protecting him from an attack by Hooded Crow.
- Dismantled MacGuffin: Spirit Dancer’s amulet is necessary to save the day, but it's in several pieces. They also help Brave identify his father’s body.
- Giant Flyer:
- The Eagle Spirit is big enough for a smaller creature to hide on its back.
- Thunderbird
◊ is huge and powerful.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Spirit Dancer. He gave his life to seal away the windigo.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Spirit Dancer is Brave’s father, and his mother is/was/became the Maiden Rock.
- Pun: At the beginning of the game, Grey Bear gives Brave a magic rock that allows them to talk over great distances. It's referred to as the "mobile stone." You know, like "mobile phone?"
- Redemption Equals Death: Hooded Crow, who, after coming to his senses, is killed by the Wendigo.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: When Hooded Crow is possessed, he gains a red glow/tint over his eyes.
- Portal Slam: When Spirit Dancer’s soul is dragged to the Spirit Realm with the Wendigo, his wife tries to follow him… Unfortunately, she ends getting flung into the air, and smashed into Maiden Rock, and ends up becoming its new face.
- Mentor Occupational Hazard: Gray Bear, Brave's mentor, dies at the start of the plot.
- Noble Wolf: The Wolf Spirit, which helps Brave on his quest. It's the only friendly wolf in the game.
- Savage Wolves: Many different types of wolves serve as common enemies. The evil wolves, the arctic wolves, the undead wolves…
- Spirit Advisor: Gray Bear is still around to mentor Brave after his death.
- Spirit World: The Spirit Realm, which is repeatedly used a shortcut! It's also where the Wendigo and Spirit Dancer were trapped.
- Taking the Bullet: Gray Bear shields Brave from an attack by Hooded Crow.
- You Killed My Father: Sort of. As Spirit Dancer sealed the Wendigo in the Spirit Realm, the Wendigo’s claws ripped Spirit Dancer’s soul out of his body and dragged it into the Spirit Realm too, effectively killing him.
