Linked-List Clue Methodology: Difference between revisions

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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (Anime)|Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn]]'': Essentially ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'' <small>[[Recycled in Space|IN SPACE WITH MECHA!]]</small> {{spoiler|Replace "Priory of Sion" with "Vist Foundation", The cryptex with Gundam Unicorn, and the Holy Grail with the Laplace Box/Universal Century Federation Charter (which basically states that Spacenoids will be freed from Earth legally and thus affirming Zeonism and Newtype superiority) and you have the overall plot of Gundam Unicorn}}.
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn]]'': Essentially ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'' <small>[[Recycled in Space|IN SPACE WITH MECHA!]]</small> {{spoiler|Replace "Priory of Sion" with "Vist Foundation", The cryptex with Gundam Unicorn, and the Holy Grail with the Laplace Box/Universal Century Federation Charter (which basically states that Spacenoids will be freed from Earth legally and thus affirming Zeonism and Newtype superiority) and you have the overall plot of Gundam Unicorn}}.


== [[Comics]] ==
== [[Comics]] ==
* This is more or less The Riddler's MO in ''[[Batman (Comic Book)|Batman]]''.
* This is more or less The Riddler's MO in ''[[Batman]]''.
* Some of [[The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck (Comic Book)|Uncle Scrooge's]] more expansive treasure hunts take this form.
* Some of [[The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck|Uncle Scrooge's]] more expansive treasure hunts take this form.
** ''The Dutchman's Secret'' by [[Don Rosa]] has at least a rich [[Justified Trope|justification]]: the clues are not made by the same authors. The treasure had been found and lost many times, each treasure owner intentionally obscuring the maps they'd used to throw off the competition before being driven out of the mountains. Then, they wrote clear and straightforward directions for their friends or family which the next treasure hunter would use to find the treasure. [[Chew Toy|Until Donald accidentally destroyed the last map]], and the Ducks are forced to make use of the clues that are not completely eradicated.
** ''The Dutchman's Secret'' by [[Don Rosa]] has at least a rich [[Justified Trope|justification]]: the clues are not made by the same authors. The treasure had been found and lost many times, each treasure owner intentionally obscuring the maps they'd used to throw off the competition before being driven out of the mountains. Then, they wrote clear and straightforward directions for their friends or family which the next treasure hunter would use to find the treasure. [[Chew Toy|Until Donald accidentally destroyed the last map]], and the Ducks are forced to make use of the clues that are not completely eradicated.
* In the comics, [[Spider Man (Comic Book)|Spider Man]]'s first encounter with the Sinister Six worked like this. They had kidnapped his current girlfriend and Aunt May (mostly by coincidence), and planned battle locations where they would each have advantages. Once Spidey beat one, he received a card with the next villain's location.
* In the comics, [[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider Man]]'s first encounter with the Sinister Six worked like this. They had kidnapped his current girlfriend and Aunt May (mostly by coincidence), and planned battle locations where they would each have advantages. Once Spidey beat one, he received a card with the next villain's location.


== [[Film]] ==
== [[Film]] ==
* The entire point of the ''[[National Treasure]]'' movies was this kind of chase.
* The entire point of the ''[[National Treasure]]'' movies was this kind of chase.
* To a lesser extent, the ''[[Indiana Jones (Franchise)|Indiana Jones]]'' movies ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark (Film)|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' and ''[[Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (Film)|Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade]]'' both follow this style, although ''[[Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (Film)|Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom]]'' passes on this in favor of one long [[Death Course]].
* To a lesser extent, the ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' movies ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' and ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' both follow this style, although ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' passes on this in favor of one long [[Death Course]].
* ''Mystery Woman: In the Shadows'' had a former spy hide the identity of a mole with this method {{spoiler|and subverted it by putting nothing at the end; he didn't know the mole's identity, and the scheme was to get the mole to expose himself.}}
* ''Mystery Woman: In the Shadows'' had a former spy hide the identity of a mole with this method {{spoiler|and subverted it by putting nothing at the end; he didn't know the mole's identity, and the scheme was to get the mole to expose himself.}}
* Subverted in the movie ''Day of Wrath'', where the main character stumbles into a series of murders with letters carved into the body. When he finally confronts the mastermind behind them and demands to know what they mean, presenting a bunch of jumbled letters, he is promptly told "It's supposed to be Dies Irae, or Day of Wrath. It seems you missed a few murders."
* Subverted in the movie ''Day of Wrath'', where the main character stumbles into a series of murders with letters carved into the body. When he finally confronts the mastermind behind them and demands to know what they mean, presenting a bunch of jumbled letters, he is promptly told "It's supposed to be Dies Irae, or Day of Wrath. It seems you missed a few murders."
* ''[[Candleshoe]]'' has the main character attempting to find a hidden treasure in a mansion using a series of clues.
* ''[[Candleshoe]]'' has the main character attempting to find a hidden treasure in a mansion using a series of clues.
* The Spanish horror movie ''[[The Orphanage]]'' is full of them. The little boy enjoys setting them as a game for his mother; when he disappears, she finds herself following one to try to find him.
* The Spanish horror movie ''[[The Orphanage]]'' is full of them. The little boy enjoys setting them as a game for his mother; when he disappears, she finds herself following one to try to find him.
* Most of ''[[Men in Black (Film)|Men in Black]] II'' consists of K trying to regain his memories through a list of clues that he left for himself.
* Most of ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]] II'' consists of K trying to regain his memories through a list of clues that he left for himself.


== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
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== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* This is used often in ''[[Cold Case (TV)|Cold Case]]'', in which every single episode consists of the cops following a trail of evidence (often 10, 20, 30, or in one case 70 years cold) that leads from one eyewitness to the next, each giving ''just'' enough information to get the next clue, but no more.
* This is used often in ''[[Cold Case]]'', in which every single episode consists of the cops following a trail of evidence (often 10, 20, 30, or in one case 70 years cold) that leads from one eyewitness to the next, each giving ''just'' enough information to get the next clue, but no more.
* ''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive]]'' did this. [[Fridge Logic]] kicks in though, due to there being five major artifacts the Rangers must find, which they manage to do every six or seven episodes, at which point they just coincidentally find info about the next treasure without any sort of previous clue, leading to the newest linked list. They never find artifacts in the wrong order, not matching up? The Rangers and the ''four'' villain organizations are ''always'' on the same trail of the same artifact leading to the same jewel at the same time?
* ''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive]]'' did this. [[Fridge Logic]] kicks in though, due to there being five major artifacts the Rangers must find, which they manage to do every six or seven episodes, at which point they just coincidentally find info about the next treasure without any sort of previous clue, leading to the newest linked list. They never find artifacts in the wrong order, not matching up? The Rangers and the ''four'' villain organizations are ''always'' on the same trail of the same artifact leading to the same jewel at the same time?
* ''[[The Amazing Race]]'' is set up like this, although some fans have complained that the "clues" were only truly clues in the first few seasons, and are now more often simply directions.
* ''[[The Amazing Race]]'' is set up like this, although some fans have complained that the "clues" were only truly clues in the first few seasons, and are now more often simply directions.
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* The premise of ''[[Road Rules]]'' - five (later six) strangers traveled in a Winnebago to various locations in the US (or occasionally abroad) to complete missions and challenges; at the end of one mission, a clue was given to the location of the next.
* The premise of ''[[Road Rules]]'' - five (later six) strangers traveled in a Winnebago to various locations in the US (or occasionally abroad) to complete missions and challenges; at the end of one mission, a clue was given to the location of the next.
* ''[[Supermarket Sweep]]'' - in the "Bonus Sweep", the winning contestants had one minute to find clues to three grocery products in the market to locate $5,000 in cash.
* ''[[Supermarket Sweep]]'' - in the "Bonus Sweep", the winning contestants had one minute to find clues to three grocery products in the market to locate $5,000 in cash.
* ''[[Finders Keepers (TV)|Finders Keepers]]'' - the "Room-to-Room Romp" required the winning team to find a "clue card" in each of six rooms in the house, each of which outlined what room to go to next and the clue for the location of the card in that room. Finding the sixth card in 90 seconds won the grand prize.
* ''[[Finders Keepers (TV series)|Finders Keepers]]'' - the "Room-to-Room Romp" required the winning team to find a "clue card" in each of six rooms in the house, each of which outlined what room to go to next and the clue for the location of the card in that room. Finding the sixth card in 90 seconds won the grand prize.


== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
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* In the [[MMORPG]] ''[[A Tale In The Desert]]'', one standard puzzle-making challenge requires a player to create a series of linked 'clues' on random in-world objects, leading to the desired end result. This is then judged by the solvers.
* In the [[MMORPG]] ''[[A Tale In The Desert]]'', one standard puzzle-making challenge requires a player to create a series of linked 'clues' on random in-world objects, leading to the desired end result. This is then judged by the solvers.
* Repeatedly used in the ''[[.hack]]'' games. Kite goes to dungeon, gets information about the next part of the poen, goes to next dungeon, same thing happens. Add some irrelevant sidequests (oh noes Piros is in danger again!) and a few boss fights, and you have a 4 series game.
* Repeatedly used in the ''[[.hack]]'' games. Kite goes to dungeon, gets information about the next part of the poen, goes to next dungeon, same thing happens. Add some irrelevant sidequests (oh noes Piros is in danger again!) and a few boss fights, and you have a 4 series game.
* Most cases in ''[[LA Noire (Video Game)|LA Noire]]'' work like this. With one exception, however, they're generally pretty subtle about it.
* Most cases in ''[[LA Noire]]'' work like this. With one exception, however, they're generally pretty subtle about it.
* In ''The Lost Crown: A Ghost-Hunting Adventure'', Nigel playtests a treasure-hunt game for Nanny Noah that uses this trope.
* In ''The Lost Crown: A Ghost-Hunting Adventure'', Nigel playtests a treasure-hunt game for Nanny Noah that uses this trope.
* [[Ultima]] VI has Chuckles the court jester sending the Avatar on a cross-kingdom scavenger hunt, the last clue of which is hidden not far from Chuckles himself. For extra irritation points, that clue sends you to talk to Smith the talking horse, who promptly gives you a crucial piece of information necessary to solve... Ultima ''V''.
* [[Ultima]] VI has Chuckles the court jester sending the Avatar on a cross-kingdom scavenger hunt, the last clue of which is hidden not far from Chuckles himself. For extra irritation points, that clue sends you to talk to Smith the talking horse, who promptly gives you a crucial piece of information necessary to solve... Ultima ''V''.


== [[Western Animation]] ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* Subverted in ''[[The Simpsons (Animation)|The Simpsons]]''. Bart has hidden something of Lisa's, having left a series of clues like this. Lisa, however, knows Bart too well and after five seconds of thought rushes straight to the hiding spot.
* Subverted in ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''. Bart has hidden something of Lisa's, having left a series of clues like this. Lisa, however, knows Bart too well and after five seconds of thought rushes straight to the hiding spot.
** Played straight (as straight as anything in ''[[The Simpsons (Animation)|The Simpsons]]'', at least) in the episode, "Gone Maggie Gone", considering there're plenty of jokes at The DaVinci Code's expense.
** Played straight (as straight as anything in ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'', at least) in the episode, "Gone Maggie Gone", considering there're plenty of jokes at The DaVinci Code's expense.
{{quote| "You know, that only makes sense if I guessed wrong first.''}}
{{quote| "You know, that only makes sense if I guessed wrong first.''}}
* In the G3.5 ''[[My Little Pony]]'' short ''[http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=397692719436 Sweetie Belle's Gumball House Surprise]'', Sweetie Belle leaves clues for the others at different locations in her house to lead them to her backyard, where she is waiting with muffins.
* In the G3.5 ''[[My Little Pony]]'' short ''[http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=397692719436 Sweetie Belle's Gumball House Surprise]'', Sweetie Belle leaves clues for the others at different locations in her house to lead them to her backyard, where she is waiting with muffins.
* On one episode of ''[[Family Guy (Animation)|Family Guy]]'', Peter sends Lois on a scavenger hunt following this model to distract her while he plays golf on their wedding anniversary. She doesn't figure it out until the last clue, which tells her to go back to the start and admits he didn't expect her to make it this far before he got back.
* On one episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'', Peter sends Lois on a scavenger hunt following this model to distract her while he plays golf on their wedding anniversary. She doesn't figure it out until the last clue, which tells her to go back to the start and admits he didn't expect her to make it this far before he got back.
* In one episode of ''[[Dexters Laboratory]]'', Dee Dee swiped a "strange glowing thingie" from Dexter's latest creation and set him on this kind of game in order to find it. Though the "strange glowing thingie" in question was actually the core component for what amounted to a Nuclear Fission reactor, and said reactor would [[Going Critical|go critical]] after an hour if it wasn't returned made things a [[Understatement|little more urgent]].
* In one episode of ''[[Dexter's Laboratory]]'', Dee Dee swiped a "strange glowing thingie" from Dexter's latest creation and set him on this kind of game in order to find it. Though the "strange glowing thingie" in question was actually the core component for what amounted to a Nuclear Fission reactor, and said reactor would [[Going Critical|go critical]] after an hour if it wasn't returned made things a [[Understatement|little more urgent]].
** Then after he got it back, [[Here We Go Again|the book he was planning to read was taken by Dee Dee]].
** Then after he got it back, [[Here We Go Again|the book he was planning to read was taken by Dee Dee]].


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