Old Save Bonus: Difference between revisions

Sometimes, this is a way of avoiding the [[Bag of Spilling]] problem. [[Mission Pack Sequel]] games are especially prone to using this, as the sequel is usually built on the same basic code as the previous entry, so it's easy to port over content.

Compare to [[New Game+]] and [[Another Side Another Story]], which reward you for playing the ''same'' game again after completing it once.

* ''We Love Katamari'', the sequel to ''[[Katamari Damacy]]'', can import the star data created in the previous game into the new cosmos map.

* ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' used the save data to mess with the player's head. Psycho Mantis can read your mind (actually, your memory card), and not only comment on your playstyle, but also tell you what games you like to play. In the original, it looked for Konami titles (such as ''[[Suikoden]]'', ''[[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]]'', and even ''[[Snatcher]]'' and ''[[Policenauts]]'' in the Japanese version - having a save file for both unlocks a special message from Hideo Kojima); in the Gamecube remake (''The Twin Snakes''), it looks for Nintendo titles (including ''[[Super Smash Bros]]. Melee'', which is [[Hilarious in Hindsight]], and [[Eternal Darkness]], made by the same team behind the remake).

** The Dreamcast Version of ''[[Sakura Taisen|Sakura Wars]] 3'' opened up new dialogue options if you had a save from the first two games.

* Stop 'n' Swop in ''[[Banjo-Kazooie]]'' and ''Banjo-Tooie'' was meant to be a rare cartridge-based form of this, whereby you could swap the two games over during play, taking items from one game to another to unlock secret bonuses. Changes to the [[Nintendo 64]] prevented the idea from being fully realized until the [[Xbox Live Arcade]] remakes, where Stop 'n' Swop also unlocks additional content in ''Nuts & Bolts''.

** Doing Stop 'n' Swop between the [[Xbox Live Arcade]] versions of ''Banjo-Kazooie'' and ''Banjo-Tooie'' will give you three new bonuses in ''Tooie'' on top of the original four: {{spoiler|a Gamer Pic, a Banjo-Kazooie Theme, and Stop 'n' Swop ''II'', which apparently involves three new eggs.}}

** You can also unlock [[Ratchet & Clank|Ratchet and Clank]] as a playable driver if you have a ''[[Ratchet: Deadlocked]]'' save file.

* If you play all 4 ''Sorcery!'' Gamebooks of the ''Fighting Fantasy'' Gamebook Series, you'd have a better chance of surviving to the end than if you played Book 4 alone, just from the sheer number of items alone.

** In ''[[Raidou Kuzunoha VS King Abaddon]]'', you get some bonuses for having a completed save from ''[[Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army]]''.

** While we're talking [[Mega Ten]], there are also a few examples of this in the ''[[Persona]]'' series. Most American gamers were unaware of the fact that ''[[Persona 2]]'' [[No Export for You|was a duology]]. If you completed ''Innocent Sin'', you could transfer Tatsuya's stats to ''Eternal Punishment''. Similarly, if you have an existing ''[[Persona 3]]'' save when you load FES, you can transfer your attributes and Personae Compendium, effectively making FES a [[New Game+]].

* The ''[[Suikoden]]'' series of videogames uses this trope liberally. By importing save data from the first game with all 108 stars recruited, a lengthy bonus scenario involving two of the previous game's main characters would be available in ''[[Suikoden II]]''. Likewise, data could be copied from ''[[Suikoden II]]'' to ''[[Suikoden III]]'' to unlock hidden plays (with further bonuses for copying a save from ''[[Suikoden II]]'' that had had its bonuses unlocked by the copying of data from the first ''Suikoden'' -- and in Japan, yet further bonuses for routing a [[Suikoden II]] save through the two Suikogaidens and then into ''[[Suikoden III]]'', but those games never came to the US), and between ''[[Suikoden IV]]'' and ''[[Suikoden Tactics]]'' to unlock two extra characters. Sadly, with the release of the fifth game in the series, this practice seems to have been discontinued.

* ''[[Lego Adaptation Game|Lego]] [[Star Wars]] 2'' has an "extra" that allows the user to import characters from a ''Lego Star Wars'' (1) save file for use in the "Free Play" mode. Of course, this (and the two games themselves) was made obsolete with ''The Complete Saga''.

* Although it's an online game and thus has no 'save' option, ''[[Guild Wars]]'' uses a related mechanic. In ''Eye of the North'', there is a Hall of Monuments that can store mementos of character's personal achievements. The developers have announced that it will be possible to obtain special bonuses for characters in ''Guild Wars 2'', based on the contents of the Hall.

* ''[[Burnout]] Revenge'' rewards ''Burnout 3'' players with a borderline [[Game Breaker]] - the second most powerful crash car in the game unlocked right at the start.

* ''[[Gran Turismo]] 4'' gave a 100,000 credit bonus to those who possessed a GT3 save file. Also a possible gamebreaker... considering that the majority of difficult races in the series are at the start, when it's tough to simply out drag race and bumper car the AI.

* Having a save file from the ''[[Iron Man]]'' video game on your system unlocks Iron Man (in Hulkbuster armor) as a playable character in the ''Incredible Hulk'' video game.

* The ''[[Naruto]]: Ultimate Ninja'' series of video games reward you for having save files from the previous games on your memory card, typically with in-game cash and ([[Memetic Mutation|quite mysterious]]) ninja (info) cards.

* In a rare browser-based game example, beating ''Anime Versus'' gives you the ability to send a piece of equipment to a ''[[Billy vs. SNAKEMAN]]'' account that gives "+1 Hotness [one of the five main skills in AV, but means nothing in BVS] and +20 Daily Stamina [means nothing in AV but useful in every phase of 100%ing BVS]".

** Another browser game example: ''[[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]] vs. [[Metroid]]'' and ''[[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]] vs. [[Ghosts 'n Goblins (series)|Ghosts N Goblins]]'' have interacting save files - beating Samus gets you the Missile Launcher and beating Arthur gets you the Lance, and both weapons can be used in either game. Beating both games unlocks the ability to play either game as Protoman.

* A game-clear save from ''[[Phantasy Star]] Generation:1'' is required in order to even attempt the [[Guide Dang It|long, arduous road]] to reviving Nei after her [[Plotline Death]] in ''Phantasy Star Generation:2''.

* ''[[Armored Core]]'' games within the same generation tend to allow you to transfer your pilot data between them-- the reward being starting with your mech and cash from the other game.

* A save for ''[[Backyard Sports|Backyard Basketball]]'' unlocks Barry Dejay in ''Backyard Baseball''.

* ''[[Etrian Odyssey]] II: Heroes of Lagaard'' had some minor bonuses if you entered a password obtained by beating the original game. While no characters transferred over, people recognized the name of your Guild and that you were "experienced adventurers", and several password-exclusive secrets were unlocked. <ref>However, this also had some ''disadvantages'', such as the tutorial guard not giving your group free Medicas because he assumed your "experienced" Level 1 heroes were strong enough to make it back without any help...</ref>

* ''[[Penny Arcade Adventures]]'' allows you to keep your characters' levels by transferring a completed game save from Episode 1 to Episode 2. Any extra experience points that you earned above the initial level cap of 15 are still counted toward the next level, and will make your quest for earning level 30 a bit easier.

* If you have an ''[[Ico]]'' save file on your memory card, the mark on Agro's forehead in ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]'' will resemble the letter "I" from the ''ICO'' logo.

* If you have a save file for ''[[Twisted Metal]]: Black'' in the game card when you start a file for ''[[War of the Monsters]]'', you get exclusive access to Agamo's fourth skin - patterned after Sweet Tooth.

* In ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]] [[Compilation Rerelease|Mega Collection]]'', you will immediately unlock ''Flicky'' or ''[[Blue Sphere]]'' upon start-up if you have a ''Sonic Adventure 2 Battle'' or ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' file (respectively) on your memory card.

** In the same vein, ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' Episode 3 allows you to unlock certain cards if you have save files of certain Sonic games, ''[[Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg]]'', and even ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' Episode 1+2.

* Early Sonic example (though also applicable in ''Mega Collection''). The number of chaos emeralds collected and the level reached in Sonic the hedgehog 3 (before connecting with Sonic and Knuckles) will be retained.

* Having save data of ''[[No More Heroes]]'' on your Wii gives Travis's room an aesthetic change in the sequel.

* If you connect your DS with [[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|Yu-Gi-Oh 5 Ds]] World Championship 2009: Stardust Accelerator to your Wii with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds Wheelie Breakers, both games receive cards that you couldn't normally get without hacking them.

* In a rather painful example, if you import a character from ''[[Alternate Reality (video game)|Alternate Reality]]: The City'' into ''Alternate Reality: The Dungeon'', they are woefully underpowered compared to a native created character. The original concept of the Alternate Reality series was to be 8 games which, when complete would form one large world which the player could move around at will. It would not be necessary to import saves from one module to the next, the character would move to a new/previous area just by inserting the appropriate data disk (this was before hard drives were common, let alone standard equipment). Unfortunately, due to corporate problems the game only made it as far as the second installment, and ended up with a one-way import from the first game to the second.

* The [[Expansion Pack]] ''Awakening'' allows you to import your character from ''[[Dragon Age]]: Origins''. If you don't take precautions you can lose all the uber-gear that was equipped on your teammates for the [[Final Battle]], as well as most DLC gear other than that from ''Return To Ostagar''. It's still better to start with your old character (who is already regarded as a national hero, as opposed to an interloper from a neighbouring and rival nation) from the original game than with a new one--you can start at a much higher level, with more talent and ability points if you found tomes throughout the original game.

** The Chao cross-compatibility is not exclusive to the Camecube remakes of the Sonic Adventure games. You could import SA1 Chao into SA2's Chao garden, but you can't usually go the other way without hacks like the Chao Editor as Chao in SA2's A-Life engine are given several additional attributes such as alignment (To go with the playing as good or evil theme of the game.) This troper would not mind seeing Sonic Team release a standalone Chao game that combines the features of the original two A-Life engines plus much much more.

* If you visit a certain store in Scuttle Town in ''[[Shantae]]: Risky's Revenge'' and you have a ''Mighty Flip Champs'' save on your [[D Si]]<ref>(both games are developed by [[Way Forward Technologies]])</ref>, you'll earn some gems.

** Both the Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi series did this off an on throughout its run - usually the reward would be the early unlock of a character (usually Bardock or another movie character) that you normally wouldn't get until much later in the game.

* If you unlock mecha in ''[[Super Robot Wars]] Link Battler'', you can transfer them over to ''[[Super Robot Wars 64]]''

** Same goes for the Gamecube version of ''[[Prince of Persia]]: The Sands of Time'', where you can unlock [[Embedded Precursor|the original]] ''Prince of Persia'' game by linking the GCN and GBA versions -- but at least this isn't the only way to do it.

** Ditto with ''[[Crash Bandicoot|Crash Tag Team Racing]]''.

** Also on the PSP, ''[[Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops]]'' would unlock characters based on completion of each of the ''[[Metal Gear Acid]]'' games (Snake's female partner from each of the two games became fully playable), and there was also a bonus for importing a save from the ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' Digital Graphic Novel.

* There is a system in ''[[Geometry Wars]] Galaxies'' for both the Wii and DS which is unlocked by linking them via wireless connection. As these are among the highest-scoring levels in the game, it is nearly impossible to ascend the scoreboard without linking.

** However, the PC port scratches that (mainly because ''Command Mission'' never had a PC release), instead having you complete every area of the stage at the highest level to be allowed to meet Cut Man.

* In ''[[Harvest Moon]]: Friends Of Mineral Town'' (GBA) connecting to a Gamecube with HM: A Wonderful Life unlocked Van and Ruby, from whom you could buy certain bonus items. On the flip side: playing AWL with FoMT connnected would unlock the hot springs (Where your character could recover lost health and stamina without the use of foodstuffs).

* Having ''[[Resistance]] 2'' for the [[PlayStation 3]] linked up with ''Resistance: Retribution'' for the PSP will allow for PSP Plus, giving the player an almost entirely different storyline and locations to access within the PSP game.

* The 2009 ''[[Bionic Commando]]'' game has an unlockable "retro" skin for players who own both ''[[Bionic Commando]]'' and ''Rearmed'' on the same system, in addition to [[Developer's Room|a secret room]] in ''[[Bionic Commando]]'' for players who have beaten ''Rearmed'' [[Hundred-Percent Completion|100%]].