Pokémon Ranger: Difference between revisions

* [[Bullet Hell]]: The third game's Shaymin mission has an aerial chase with one of the nastiest bullet spreads around.

* [[But Thou Must!]] - This is used to an [[Anvilicious]] degree in the first and second games, to the point where virtually any decision that is in any way plot-crucial (basically anything that isn't saving the game or releasing Pokémon) refuses to let you go on until you say Yes. Less so in the third, where there are less yes/no questions, and most of them simply give you [[What the Hell, Hero?|different dialogue]] for choosing a "wrong" answer.

** Likewise, from the second game onwards, Pokémon have a "Friendship Meter" that effectively serves as a health bar -- it's even ''labelled'' "HP".

* [[Card-Carrying Villain]] / [[Punch Clock Villain]] - Most of the lower-level Dim Sun mooks are either one of these two types. At least the Go-Rock Squad and Pokemon Pinchers know how to get ''serious''. (Sort of.)

** {{spoiler|And also, you get knocked out by a big chunk of debris falling on your head for a moment, too}}. And it's not played for laughs.

** Steelheads are suits of armor {{spoiler|that can capture Pokemon via bad feelings. The Pokemon Pinchers wear these things. The armor takes control of the wearer's mind.}}

* [[Charged Attack]] - After a certain point in the second game, you can charge your Styler by holding it in position, making it more powerful and easier to "damage" the opponent.

** Many Poké Assists work like this as well, where the longer you hold the Styler in place before attacking, the stronger its effect will be.

** Admins in the first and second games. Also in the first, they're "commanders" and they spend the whole game pissing and moaning that they can't be real Executives, since they're not related to the leader.

* [[Escort Mission]] - In the first game, you have to escort a mechanic terrified of bug Pokémon through a jungle infested with said Pokémon. If you encounter one, instead of going into battle, the mechanic freaks out and you have to start over from the entrance.

* [[Experience Points]]

* [[Exposition Fairy]]: Ben or Summer in Guardian Signs - whichever one you don't pick. Once rescued, they happily follow along, [[The Load|not contributing anything]], but mainly interacting with the cast in place of the character, who by Pokemon law must remain a [[Silent Protagonist]].

* [[Foreshadowing]]: Of the many mysterious books in Amun's library, a book about how to deep-sea dive seems really out of place. {{spoiler|One of the relics to summon [[Fan Nickname|Lati@s]] is at the bottom of the Eastern Sea -- Amun went to the trouble to mark ''all'' of them.}}

* [[Frictionless Ice]] - And God help you if there happens to be a drop after the edge. Thankfully averted in the sequels, where the ice in Almia Castle and on Mt. Sorbet behaves more realistically. It behaved realistically in the rest of the cave.

* [[Giant Space Flea From Nowhere]]: The final boss of the third game, Mewtwo, which the [[Big Bad]] uses to fight you, really has no explanation. Finding it in a preservation chamber as scenery just a few minutes ago doesn't count as an explanation.

** Part of this is because the third game focuses less on the actual Pokemon being used, and more on the ones using them. Think of it as less "Battle against Mewtwo" and more "Battle against {{spoiler|Dr. Edward and Purple Eyes.}}"

** {{spoiler|Arceus is also like this in the "Pledge to Arceus" downloadable mission in ''Guardian Signs'' - however, the game doesn't let you ''try'' to fight it while it's in its "can't touch this" mode. The legendary dragons Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina just immediately show up and smack Arceus out of its invincible state for you.}}

* [[Hostage for Macguffin]] - {{spoiler|In exchange for your [[What an Idiot!|rival]] in the second game.}} The hostage taker [[But Thou Must!|won't take no for an answer]], the douche, even as the hostage ''tells you not to make the trade''.

* [[Hundred-Percent Completion]] - [[Bragging Rights Reward|You get a little sticker on your Ranger Card! And the characters congratulate you!]]

* [[Ice Palace]]: Almia Castle, which is frozen over, making all the floors slippery. {{spoiler|It's where the King of Almia and his youngest son, both from the region's legend, were said to live.}}

'''Burkhart:''' I hope it does. I like onions. Hey, get back here! Like pizzas could fly! You tricked me! }}

* [[Lost Forever]] - While certain Pokémon can be re-fought later on in the game, there are some that can only be fought once (usually for plot purposes). The games also feature entire sidequests that are only accessible ''if you downloaded them from Ranger Net when they were available for download''.

* [[Luck-Based Mission]]: Getting the boss Heart Slabs in past missions. For bosses, you must complete the temple with at least 5 minutes remaining, at which point you have a 1/10 chance of getting it as a partner. Mew, however, requires you to clear the final mission with 5 minutes left for a ''1/50'' chance! Unless you're extremely lucky, you're gonna be doing that mission again and again and again...

* [[MacGuffin Delivery Service]]: Heath of Dim Sun's elite Sinis Trio pulls this on you in ''Shadows Of Almia'', with a [[Hostage for Macguffin]] for backup.

* [[Status Buff]]: For the most part, Poke Assists in the first two games provide secondary effects on top of normal capture lines. By the third game, Poke Assists are basically [[Summon Magic]].

** The "Recharge" assist works inversely; in the first two games it instantly restores some Styler HP, but in the third game it provides a "Regenerate" status buff when used mid-battle.

** The third one has parts where you must sneak by Dusclops or Claydols. No mercy if you mess up here though, but at least their field of vision is clearly marked for you, and you can get rid of the Dusclops by sneaking up behind them.

* [[Stealth Pun]] - After helping put out a fire in the second game, you are promoted to Rank 2. What new Poke-Assists are available? Fighting and Fire.

* [[Warp Whistle]]: Staraptor's "Fly" move lets you revisit any place you've been to before.

** ''Guardian Signs'' also adds some [[Global Airship]] elements, allowing you to freely fly all over Oblivia's sky to encounter various wild Pokemon, even though you can only ''land'' in previously-visited areas (or places where the story needs you to go.)

** After Murph quit being a Ranger to work for the Union, what became of his partner Pokemon Slowpoke?

** After the end of ''Shadows of Almia'', where did the Sinis Trio go?