Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard: Difference between revisions

Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
m (Mass update links)
m (Mass update links)
Line 3: Line 3:
{{quote| "It's '''Hazard Time!'''"}}
{{quote| "It's '''Hazard Time!'''"}}


The year is 1983, and the world is first introduced to Matt Hazard, eight-bit video game hero with more firepower than pixels, through debut title ''The Adventures of Matt in Hazard Land'', published by then-fledgling company Marathon Software. In the following years, Matt starred in dozens of games; some were immensely popular (such as western ''A Fistful of Hazard'', 3D shooter ''Matt Hazard 3D'', and 1995 spy shooter ''You Only Live 1,317 Times''), while taking the series in new directions (such as the ill-conceived [[Go Karting With Bowser|kart racer]] ''Haz-Matt Karts'' and the non-violent water gun game ''Soak'Em'') was... bad, causing people to stop buying the games and hence putting Hazard out of a job.
The year is 1983, and the world is first introduced to Matt Hazard, eight-bit video game hero with more firepower than pixels, through debut title ''The Adventures of Matt in Hazard Land'', published by then-fledgling company Marathon Software. In the following years, Matt starred in dozens of games; some were immensely popular (such as western ''A Fistful of Hazard'', 3D shooter ''Matt Hazard 3D'', and 1995 spy shooter ''You Only Live 1,317 Times''), while taking the series in new directions (such as the ill-conceived [[Go-Karting With Bowser|kart racer]] ''Haz-Matt Karts'' and the non-violent water gun game ''Soak'Em'') was... bad, causing people to stop buying the games and hence putting Hazard out of a job.


However, the new CEO of Marathon (now called Marathon Megasoft), Wallace "Wally" Wellesley wants to bring Matt Hazard back, and he's set to star in their first Next-Gen title. The only catch is that they intend to kill him off at the end of Level 1 to introduce a new hero.
However, the new CEO of Marathon (now called Marathon Megasoft), Wallace "Wally" Wellesley wants to bring Matt Hazard back, and he's set to star in their first Next-Gen title. The only catch is that they intend to kill him off at the end of Level 1 to introduce a new hero.
Line 49: Line 49:
* [[Easter Egg]]: Relatively easy to locate, but in the mission where Matt must protect a Wizard, one company logo reads "[[Memetic Mutation|Failboat:]] Shipping and Storage".
* [[Easter Egg]]: Relatively easy to locate, but in the mission where Matt must protect a Wizard, one company logo reads "[[Memetic Mutation|Failboat:]] Shipping and Storage".
* [[Enemy Chatter]]: Three types. You'll sometimes get enemies trying to taunt you. Sometimes, they'll give each other directions (such as providing suppression fire or flanking). And if you sneak up on a new area without making yourself obvious, some enemies will discuss other things (like how one hired gun [[Insistent Terminology|does not want to be called a mercenary]], and another mook is hoping to become a [[A Space Marine Is You|space marine]] one day).
* [[Enemy Chatter]]: Three types. You'll sometimes get enemies trying to taunt you. Sometimes, they'll give each other directions (such as providing suppression fire or flanking). And if you sneak up on a new area without making yourself obvious, some enemies will discuss other things (like how one hired gun [[Insistent Terminology|does not want to be called a mercenary]], and another mook is hoping to become a [[A Space Marine Is You|space marine]] one day).
* [[Everybody Laughs Ending]]: Subverted. {{spoiler|Matt and QA only thought it was the last level. Matt leaves the game and has one last level against Megasoft to deal with}}.
* [["Everybody Laughs" Ending]]: Subverted. {{spoiler|Matt and QA only thought it was the last level. Matt leaves the game and has one last level against Megasoft to deal with}}.
* [[Evil Twin]]: An evil red version of QA appears early on. When confronted by both the real and the evil version, Matt quickly tells that the red one is evil since she's done nothing but lead him into ambushes and [[The Vamp|come onto him]], which the real QA would never do.
* [[Evil Twin]]: An evil red version of QA appears early on. When confronted by both the real and the evil version, Matt quickly tells that the red one is evil since she's done nothing but lead him into ambushes and [[The Vamp|come onto him]], which the real QA would never do.
** Which is still not quite [[Genre Savvy]], since the average player will have figured that out in less than a second [[Color Coded for Your Convenience|just from the color]].
** Which is still not quite [[Genre Savvy]], since the average player will have figured that out in less than a second [[Color Coded for Your Convenience|just from the color]].
Line 57: Line 57:
* [[Government Agency of Fiction]]: You don't actually see them, but there is an organization called "SVGA" that seems to act as a police force. A character is arrested by them at the end.
* [[Government Agency of Fiction]]: You don't actually see them, but there is an organization called "SVGA" that seems to act as a police force. A character is arrested by them at the end.
* [[Grandfather Paradox]]: In a weird way, because actual [[Time Travel]] isn't used. The plot of ''Blood Bath & Beyond'' involves General Nutronov breaking into the archive computer and kidnapping Matt's 8-bit self in order to kill him and therefore preventing the current Matt Hazard from ever existing. The 8-bit Matt is technically from the present, but is still Matt's past self. Confused yet?
* [[Grandfather Paradox]]: In a weird way, because actual [[Time Travel]] isn't used. The plot of ''Blood Bath & Beyond'' involves General Nutronov breaking into the archive computer and kidnapping Matt's 8-bit self in order to kill him and therefore preventing the current Matt Hazard from ever existing. The 8-bit Matt is technically from the present, but is still Matt's past self. Confused yet?
* [[Hey It's That Voice]]: Matt Hazard is [[Arrested Development (TV)|GOB]].
* [[Hey, It's That Voice!]]: Matt Hazard is [[Arrested Development (TV)|GOB]].
** At least, in ''Eat Lead''. ''Blood, Bath & Beyond'' lampshades the loss of the "big-name voice actors" when Matt realizes they're talking in text boxes and his voice actor is just a [[The Other Darrin|soundalike]].
** At least, in ''Eat Lead''. ''Blood, Bath & Beyond'' lampshades the loss of the "big-name voice actors" when Matt realizes they're talking in text boxes and his voice actor is just a [[The Other Darrin|soundalike]].
* [[Hollywood Healing]]: If Matt goes long enough without being hit, he's back to full health. He obviously learns to love cover.
* [[Hollywood Healing]]: If Matt goes long enough without being hit, he's back to full health. He obviously learns to love cover.
* [[Hollywood Nerd]]: {{spoiler|QA}}. The developers said this was entirely intentional.
* [[Hollywood Nerd]]: {{spoiler|QA}}. The developers said this was entirely intentional.
* [[Hyperspace Arsenal]]: Both averted and justified. You can only hold two guns, but when you switch the gun explicitly de-rezzes with the other one forming in Matt's hand.
* [[Hyperspace Arsenal]]: Both averted and justified. You can only hold two guns, but when you switch the gun explicitly de-rezzes with the other one forming in Matt's hand.
* [[How Do I Shot Web]]: {{spoiler|In the last level, because of the constant failure of the AI, Wellesly sics ''the entire company'' on you, having them load up game avatars which have the same abilities you do (such as regenerating health and ability to switch weapons). Some of them are gamers, but a lot of them shout things like "Which button is it to do the cover thing!?"}}
* [[How Do I Shot Web?]]: {{spoiler|In the last level, because of the constant failure of the AI, Wellesly sics ''the entire company'' on you, having them load up game avatars which have the same abilities you do (such as regenerating health and ability to switch weapons). Some of them are gamers, but a lot of them shout things like "Which button is it to do the cover thing!?"}}
* [[I Am Not Shazam]]: Parodied. According to the official backstory, the character of Matt Hazard first appeared in ''The Adventures of Matt in Hazard Land'' (pictured at the top) and later the character's official name became "Matt Hazard".
* [[I Am Not Shazam]]: Parodied. According to the official backstory, the character of Matt Hazard first appeared in ''The Adventures of Matt in Hazard Land'' (pictured at the top) and later the character's official name became "Matt Hazard".
* [[Idiosyncratic Difficulty Levels]]: "Wussy", "Damn This Is Hard", and "Fuck That Shit" in ''Blood Bath and Beyond''.
* [[Idiosyncratic Difficulty Levels]]: "Wussy", "Damn This Is Hard", and "Fuck That Shit" in ''Blood Bath and Beyond''.
Line 75: Line 75:
* [[Motive Rant]]: When asked why he can't just archive Matt, Wally screams it's because he could beat every game as a kid except the Matt Hazard games.
* [[Motive Rant]]: When asked why he can't just archive Matt, Wally screams it's because he could beat every game as a kid except the Matt Hazard games.
* [[Neil Patrick Harris]]: He plays Wallace Wellsley, against Will Arnett as Matt Hazard
* [[Neil Patrick Harris]]: He plays Wallace Wellsley, against Will Arnett as Matt Hazard
* [[Nerf Arm]]: The water guns from ''Soak 'Em''. Subverted, in that they're the only weapons that can take out enemies from ''Soak 'Em'' in one headshot. Also, they're [[Shout Out|surprisingly effective]] [[Zombies Ate My Neighbors|against zombies]].
* [[Nerf Arm]]: The water guns from ''Soak 'Em''. Subverted, in that they're the only weapons that can take out enemies from ''Soak 'Em'' in one headshot. Also, they're [[Shout-Out|surprisingly effective]] [[Zombies Ate My Neighbors|against zombies]].
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: After the credits for ''Blood, Bath & Beyond'', {{spoiler|Matt stands at the moon mounted laser and remarks "Well, it's not like we're going to get to make a sequel..." and proceeds to ''fire the laser at the Earth, thus destroying the Marathon Megasoft archives and fulfilling [[Big Bad|Neutronov]]'s objective anyway''}}.
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: After the credits for ''Blood, Bath & Beyond'', {{spoiler|Matt stands at the moon mounted laser and remarks "Well, it's not like we're going to get to make a sequel..." and proceeds to ''fire the laser at the Earth, thus destroying the Marathon Megasoft archives and fulfilling [[Big Bad|Neutronov]]'s objective anyway''}}.
* [[Nintendo Hard]]: ''Blood Bath and Beyond'' is a homage to ''Contra'' and ''[[Metal Slug]]''.
* [[Nintendo Hard]]: ''Blood Bath and Beyond'' is a homage to ''Contra'' and ''[[Metal Slug]]''.
Line 87: Line 87:
* [[Parody Names]] / [[Captain Ersatz]] / [[Bland-Name Product]]: [[Halo|"Master Chef" from "Crown of Light"]], [[James Bond|"You Only Live 1317 Times"]], [[Super Mario Bros|"Captain Carpenter"]], [[Final Fantasy|"Penultimate Illusion"]], [[Gears of War|"Maul of Mourning"]], [[SOCOMUS Navy Seals|"Soak'em"]], [[God of War (Video Game)|"Conflict of the Deities"]]...
* [[Parody Names]] / [[Captain Ersatz]] / [[Bland-Name Product]]: [[Halo|"Master Chef" from "Crown of Light"]], [[James Bond|"You Only Live 1317 Times"]], [[Super Mario Bros|"Captain Carpenter"]], [[Final Fantasy|"Penultimate Illusion"]], [[Gears of War|"Maul of Mourning"]], [[SOCOMUS Navy Seals|"Soak'em"]], [[God of War (Video Game)|"Conflict of the Deities"]]...
* [[Power-Up]]: '''"MAXIMUM HAZARD!"'''
* [[Power-Up]]: '''"MAXIMUM HAZARD!"'''
* [[Punny Name]]: "Altos Tratus" sounds like a type of [[Final Fantasy VII|cloud]]. And "Altostratus" ''is'' a type of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altostratus_cloud cloud]. And "Alto" is a good approximation of the range of a castrati. ...So they're implying that "[[Final Fantasy VII|Altos Stratus]]" is a castrati?
* [[Punny Name]]: "Altos Tratus" sounds like a type of [[Final Fantasy VII|cloud]]. And "Altostratus" ''is'' a type of [[wikipedia:Altostratus cloud|cloud]]. And "Alto" is a good approximation of the range of a castrati. ...So they're implying that "[[Final Fantasy VII|Altos Stratus]]" is a castrati?
* [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner]]: {{spoiler|Time to get the "Beat The Snot Out Of Wellesley" Achievement!}}
* [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner]]: {{spoiler|Time to get the "Beat The Snot Out Of Wellesley" Achievement!}}
* [[Press X to Not Die]]: Some boss fights are presented as Quick Time Events, including one in the first level that [[Curb Stomp Battle|ends]] after ''one'' button, and another is simply ''repeatedly bashing {{spoiler|Dexter}}'s head into the side of a car''.
* [[Press X to Not Die]]: Some boss fights are presented as Quick Time Events, including one in the first level that [[Curb Stomp Battle|ends]] after ''one'' button, and another is simply ''repeatedly bashing {{spoiler|Dexter}}'s head into the side of a car''.
Line 94: Line 94:
* [[Reality Warper]]: As the program into which QA and the villains are hacking is the ''game you're currently playing'', reality is warped quite often. At one point, sandbags and other military regalia are "hacked" into the middle of a casino as cover for a group of Russian soldiers; at another, an entire room is replaced with the main street out of a western.
* [[Reality Warper]]: As the program into which QA and the villains are hacking is the ''game you're currently playing'', reality is warped quite often. At one point, sandbags and other military regalia are "hacked" into the middle of a casino as cover for a group of Russian soldiers; at another, an entire room is replaced with the main street out of a western.
* [[Self-Deprecation]]: In ''Blood Bath and Beyond'', Matt complains that he doesn't have a voice anymore, QA explains it's because the last game didn't sell very well. There's also a joke about said game being "now available in bargain bins everywhere!"
* [[Self-Deprecation]]: In ''Blood Bath and Beyond'', Matt complains that he doesn't have a voice anymore, QA explains it's because the last game didn't sell very well. There's also a joke about said game being "now available in bargain bins everywhere!"
* [[Shout Out]]: The name of the [[Government Agency of Fiction]], SVGA, stands for "Super Video Graphics Array" (a common graphics technology of the late 1980s and early 1990s). The downloadable side-scrolling sequel has extended (most of level) homages to {{spoiler|''[[Team Fortress 2 (Video Game)|Team Fortress 2]]'', ''[[Mirrors Edge]]'', ''[[Portal (Video Game)|Portal]]'', ''[[Bio Shock]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Bros]]''}}.
* [[Shout-Out]]: The name of the [[Government Agency of Fiction]], SVGA, stands for "Super Video Graphics Array" (a common graphics technology of the late 1980s and early 1990s). The downloadable side-scrolling sequel has extended (most of level) homages to {{spoiler|''[[Team Fortress 2 (Video Game)|Team Fortress 2]]'', ''[[Mirrors Edge]]'', ''[[Portal (Video Game)|Portal]]'', ''[[Bio Shock]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Bros]]''}}.
* [[A Space Marine Is You]]: Several of his enemies are Space Marines. Matt Hazard himself is a pastiche of the character type, right down to being bald.
* [[A Space Marine Is You]]: Several of his enemies are Space Marines. Matt Hazard himself is a pastiche of the character type, right down to being bald.
* [[Standard FPS Guns]]: Played with; you encounter the usual SMGs and assault rifles, and Matt's signature weapon is his highly marketable "Hazard Pistol". You also get plasma weapons and, oh yes, water guns. Each enemy group carries different [[Standard FPS Guns]], so you're forced to keep switching guns; as if you find yourself surrounded by Cowboys they aren't going to drop AK-47 ammo.
* [[Standard FPS Guns]]: Played with; you encounter the usual SMGs and assault rifles, and Matt's signature weapon is his highly marketable "Hazard Pistol". You also get plasma weapons and, oh yes, water guns. Each enemy group carries different [[Standard FPS Guns]], so you're forced to keep switching guns; as if you find yourself surrounded by Cowboys they aren't going to drop AK-47 ammo.
Line 113: Line 113:
[[Category:Third Person Shooter]]
[[Category:Third Person Shooter]]
[[Category:Eat Lead The Return Of Matt Hazard]]
[[Category:Eat Lead The Return Of Matt Hazard]]
[[Category:Trope]]
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Eat_Lead:_The_Return_of_Matt_Hazard"