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Selective Memory: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
'''Selective Memory''' is when the game denies the player knowledge his [[Player Character]] has, should logically have, or should be able to acquire effortlessly and instantly.
That map of the world the the [[Player Character]] got from his uncle before heading out to save the planet? Features the [[Doomed Hometown]] and a whole lot of blank indicating everywhere you haven't been to yet. The soldier who joins the party and suggests you go to the [[Capital City]] to ask the king for help? Forget about asking him for directions. You come to the [[Hidden Elf Village]] and the [[White Magician Girl]] wants you to talk to her sister? [[Talk to Everyone]] until you find her yourself.
When used on background information, this can be a way of putting a certain distance between the player and the player's character. It can also be a storytelling device that allows the player to discover certain facts about the character. Coupled with [[
See also [[Now Where Was I Going Again?]], for information that was given ''once'' and then can't be recalled. Compare [[Unreliable Narrator]] or [[Dramatic Irony]] when it's more about the plot itself.
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*** Example: In ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'', {{spoiler|Rydia}} shows up during a Boss Battle. After the battle, {{spoiler|she}} tells you what happened when {{spoiler|she was eaten by Leviathan--it actually took her to the land of Summoned Monsters}}. While this is good and all, not once will {{spoiler|Rydia}} tell you how {{spoiler|she}} got to where you are, leading one to wonder HOW {{spoiler|she}} got out, since as the player begins wandering around, they will find the passage leading there on a small island {{spoiler|in the underworld, surrounded by lava}}. It isn't until you've ventured into said cave that {{spoiler|Rydia}} mentions that this is where {{spoiler|she}} was.
**** Possibly explained by the opening sequence of The After Years, as {{spoiler|Rydia was teleported to a different area by Leviathan, likely explaining this situation too.}}
* Both averted impressively and used shamelessly at the same time in ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]] II'': other characters will ask leading questions about the PC's past, allowing the player to learn the details by reading their own dialog options. In a few cases, the player gets to pick from mutually-exclusive options, and the answer [[
** And, near the end, the player finds out that the PC does. Much of what happens in [[The Very Definitely Final Dungeon]] is your and [[The Smart Guy]]'s plan. Made offscreen. Or something. It's mildly incomprehensible.
*** Of course, since the game was never actually finished properly, this may just be one of the things that didn't make it in.
* Lampshaded, subverted, abused to no end, and inverted in the DS game ''[[Time Hollow]]'', in which Ethan (you) and a few other key characters are expected to have a "perfectly normal memory" immediately after any given alteration of the past, regardless of who changed the past, when it was, and how it was changed. (The inversion? [[New Game+|load your clear data]] and {{spoiler|follow the new options in the prologue. This leads to a [[Multiple Endings|Secret Ending]]}})
** Or, to be more specific, it averts/inverts the Selective Memory {{spoiler|caused by a second playthrough - Ethan will already know the plot of the game, since he's the player character, and as such ''he's played through it before.''}}
* Averted and played with in ''[[Baten Kaitos]]'', which helps set up one of the twists in the plot. In the game, you play not as the main character (Kalas), but as a spirit guide that helps the main character. At the beginning of the game, you of course start off knowing
* In ''[[Infinite Undiscovery]]'', you start out with zero information about the area you're in. That's OK, maybe the protagonist isn't from around there... But he's never alone, there are always others in the party, locals from all the featured areas and well-traveled people. The game even gives you the ability to talk with your party members at any time, so why can't you just ask them for directions when you're lost? Didn't anyone ever think of drawing a map before the [[Player Character]] came along?
** At least this is consistent with the title.
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[[Category:Fake Difficulty]]
[[Category:Memory Tropes]]
[[Category:
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