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Playable Menu

 Playable Menu
type
FeatureClass
 Playable Menu
label
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu
page
PlayableMenu
 Playable Menu
comment
An infrequent method for Painting the Medium in video games is to disguise a menu interface as a level unto itself, which the player can navigate using their game character and actual gameplay controls.
So, instead of navigating an abstract cursor across a set of icons and text labels that correspond to the various menu options, the protagonist essentially is the cursor, and the player approaches and interacts with menu options the same way they would interact with actual, in-universe objects. "New Game" and "Load Game" might be presented as literal doors for the player character to walk through, literal buttons to stomp on, literal crates to smash, literal blocks to slide around, or so on. Even if the main menu isn't presented this way, this might be applied to other menu-like features, particularly Difficulty Level selection.
Subtrope of Interactive Start Up.
 Playable Menu
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2024-03-11T20:02:49Z
 Playable Menu
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2024-03-11T20:02:49Z
 Playable Menu
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Dropped link to EstablishingSeriesMoment: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Playable Menu
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Dropped link to NoFourthWall: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Playable Menu
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Dropped link to Sauerbraten: Not an Item - UNKNOWN
 Playable Menu
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Dropped link to VirtualRealityIndex: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Playable Menu
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Sauerbraten
 Playable Menu
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DBTropes
 Playable Menu / int_1a7918e3
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_1a7918e3
comment
In Terranigma, the pause menu to change your equipment and spells is a Hammerspace library of three rooms, that you can wander around in.
 Playable Menu / int_1a7918e3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_1a7918e3
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1.0
 Terranigma (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_1a7918e3
 Playable Menu / int_2819aebd
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_2819aebd
comment
The Mega Man Anniversary Collection has a game selection menu where the player controls Mega Man and has him enter doors leading to the various games (though you can't jump or shoot, only walk around and enter the doors.)
 Playable Menu / int_2819aebd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_2819aebd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Mega Man (Classic) (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_2819aebd
 Playable Menu / int_2e79ce7a
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_2e79ce7a
comment
Odin Sphere features this as part of its Framing Device: you get to control a little girl named Alice, who must pick up a character's book to read it. You can also pick up her cat Socrates to review your archives, or just wander around the attic.
 Playable Menu / int_2e79ce7a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_2e79ce7a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Odin Sphere (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_2e79ce7a
 Playable Menu / int_30445b95
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_30445b95
comment
The Time Warp of Dr. Brain had a Space Invaders clone for its main menu. Occasionally two different rocket ships would cross the top of the screen; shooting one got you the main game's high scores, while shooting the other got the game's credits.
 Playable Menu / int_30445b95
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_30445b95
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dr. Brain (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_30445b95
 Playable Menu / int_4f3c6ac
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_4f3c6ac
comment
The Treehouse in Ultimate Chicken Horse. You use a cursor to select your animal, but after that, you select everything else by jumping and running onto various platforms with the same controls used in-game.
 Playable Menu / int_4f3c6ac
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_4f3c6ac
featureConfidence
1.0
 Ultimate Chicken Horse (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_4f3c6ac
 Playable Menu / int_5b075d7c
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_5b075d7c
comment
The pause menu of Fable III is an extradimensional space (complete with butler). The player character moves around inside to manage inventory, check quests, and examine the map.
 Playable Menu / int_5b075d7c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_5b075d7c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fable III (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_5b075d7c
 Playable Menu / int_5dfb8aa2
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_5dfb8aa2
comment
In Sonic Generations, bonus content is known as the Gallery and takes the form of a long hallway with displays like an art museum, which Sonic can freely walk around in. It's located directly underneath Sonic's house. Omochao also has a kiosk nearby, where you can acquire upgrades and other goodies.
 Playable Menu / int_5dfb8aa2
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1.0
 Playable Menu / int_5dfb8aa2
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1.0
 Sonic Generations (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_5dfb8aa2
 Playable Menu / int_6428eb23
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_6428eb23
comment
Kasumi Ninja on the Atari Jaguar has a variation of this for its single-player mode, where you walk around a round dungeon-like room and go up to statues of the game's characters to select them. First the one you want to play as — you only have Habaki and Senzo to start with, but you unlock more as you beat them — and then the one you want to fight.
 Playable Menu / int_6428eb23
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1.0
 Playable Menu / int_6428eb23
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1.0
 Kasumi Ninja (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_6428eb23
 Playable Menu / int_69143e1c
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_69143e1c
comment
Knytt Underground combines this with Hub Level, as the transporter to each Chapter is in a separate room you have to navigate to, along with a fair share of secrets and Easter Eggs.
 Playable Menu / int_69143e1c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_69143e1c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Knytt Underground (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_69143e1c
 Playable Menu / int_6b85085e
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_6b85085e
comment
Mortal Kombat: Up to the 2011 game, the Krypt is presented in a traditional menu, where you pick extras you wish to buy/select. In X, you now control a character who navigates through various areas of the Krypt, meaning that instead of simply moving the cursor, you have to proactive approach the designated things to see the extras. Also, while the 2011 game has jumpscares that only serve to shock the players, the jumpscares of the playable Krypt can kill you if you don't fight them.
 Playable Menu / int_6b85085e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_6b85085e
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1.0
 Mortal Kombat (Franchise)
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Playable Menu / int_6b85085e
 Playable Menu / int_6e2bbc71
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_6e2bbc71
comment
Hard Reset's upgrade interface has you control the Player Character... while he uses a point-and-click menu. Your mouse cursor controls the cursor on his screen.
 Playable Menu / int_6e2bbc71
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_6e2bbc71
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1.0
 Hard Reset (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_6e2bbc71
 Playable Menu / int_6ecaff2e
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_6ecaff2e
comment
The menu of Scribblenauts doubles as a sandbox mode.
 Playable Menu / int_6ecaff2e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_6ecaff2e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Scribblenauts (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_6ecaff2e
 Playable Menu / int_77aa72de
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_77aa72de
comment
Several I Wanna Be the Guy fangames that use I Wanna Be The Engine or its variations as a base. But not those that throw you into the game DIRECTLY after the game starts running.
I I Wanna Be The Shrine Maiden you have two options to choose from: "Start" and "Tutorial". "Start" is self-explanatory, but when you try to jump on "Tutorial"... Splat. Okay, let's just say the main menu is the first level after all.
I Wanna Be The Better Er- Engine has a regular Load Game menu, but, at the same time, allows its users to have difficulty selection passages, as well as the point where you may redefine the controls "on the fly".
I Wanna Be The Fangame starts the player out in a difficulty selection room. The harder the difficulty, the more Spikes of Doom you have to jump over to get there.
 Playable Menu / int_77aa72de
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_77aa72de
featureConfidence
1.0
 I Wanna Be the Guy (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_77aa72de
 Playable Menu / int_7d728397
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_7d728397
comment
Super Cosplay War Ultra, partially as the result of being programmed on Fighter Maker 2002 engine, allows you to choose one of the four singleplayer modes... by hitting cosplayers that represent these modes. Oh yeah.
 Playable Menu / int_7d728397
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_7d728397
featureConfidence
1.0
 Super Cosplay War Ultra (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_7d728397
 Playable Menu / int_8de7f598
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_8de7f598
comment
I Wanna Be The Fangame starts the player out in a difficulty selection room. The harder the difficulty, the more Spikes of Doom you have to jump over to get there.
 Playable Menu / int_8de7f598
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_8de7f598
featureConfidence
1.0
 I Wanna Be The Fangame (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_8de7f598
 Playable Menu / int_9f053c09
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_9f053c09
comment
Antichamber: The room you start in acts as an overworld map, a settings page, a place to track all the quotes you've found so far, and the place you can escape to anytime when stuck.
 Playable Menu / int_9f053c09
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_9f053c09
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1.0
 Antichamber (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_9f053c09
 Playable Menu / int_a0960dc4
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_a0960dc4
comment
Subverted in Baba is You. The world maps are set up to look like the game's puzzles, even going so far as to contain rules that can be viewed on the pause screen like with normal levels. However, since the actual objects they describe don't exist, it's all mostly there to look pretty. Double subverted when you start solving levels by creating "Level is [Object]" rules, which transform the level into objects that can be manipulated by the maps' rules. And then there are the Depths and Meta, which both require you to make levels into objects to progress further within!
 Playable Menu / int_a0960dc4
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-0.3
 Playable Menu / int_a0960dc4
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1.0
 Baba is You (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_a0960dc4
 Playable Menu / int_a78204b0
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_a78204b0
comment
Magi-Nation uses it. You can even reach the New Game Plus option by a secret area that you need a later-game item to access.
 Playable Menu / int_a78204b0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_a78204b0
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1.0
 Magi-Nation (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_a78204b0
 Playable Menu / int_a90d239a
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_a90d239a
comment
Psychonauts has this for the main menu, in the form of the brain with several doors.
 Playable Menu / int_a90d239a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_a90d239a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Psychonauts (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_a90d239a
 Playable Menu / int_ad1ffac9
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_ad1ffac9
comment
Virtua Fighter 2 has you enter your initials for a high score by beating down letters the size of your character.
 Playable Menu / int_ad1ffac9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_ad1ffac9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Virtua Fighter (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_ad1ffac9
 Playable Menu / int_aedb215e
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_aedb215e
comment
Duck Game uses this trope for all of its menus, bar the player gallery and the options screen, allowing you to try out the smaller techniques within the platforming, as well as some of the weapons, in the case of the wait screen.
 Playable Menu / int_aedb215e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_aedb215e
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1.0
 Duck Game (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_aedb215e
 Playable Menu / int_b3ebd61e
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_b3ebd61e
comment
The ship selection screen in Rogue Leader is a hangar that you explore on foot with your character.
 Playable Menu / int_b3ebd61e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_b3ebd61e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Rogue Squadron (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_b3ebd61e
 Playable Menu / int_b87de35b
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_b87de35b
comment
Super Mario Sunshine's file select screen has Mario on a 2-D plane, with the files selected by hitting blocks. Mario can use all his regular platforming moves to play around the blocks.
 Playable Menu / int_b87de35b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_b87de35b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Super Mario Sunshine (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_b87de35b
 Playable Menu / int_b9e70490
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_b9e70490
comment
The Wolf and the Waves: The main menu takes place on the player character's raft before he reaches the island. You can wander around, throw rocks into the ocean, and even hit a lilypad.
 Playable Menu / int_b9e70490
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_b9e70490
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Wolf and the Waves (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_b9e70490
 Playable Menu / int_bc55add7
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_bc55add7
comment
Lady Bug had a playable high score name entry screen, where letters were entered by walking the insect over them.
 Playable Menu / int_bc55add7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_bc55add7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lady Bug (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_bc55add7
 Playable Menu / int_c01a7c9e
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_c01a7c9e
comment
Spelunky's menu is a large cave chamber... with only two doors (and the Hub Level, if you unlocked the shortcut), a flare you can toss around and logo you can jump on and off (you can't die this way, no matter how much you try). The remake has an ordinary menu (the large chamber is still there, now purely the main mode's Hub Level).
There is also a button in the Scores door where you have to push a block down a path to push the block onto it. The button resets the game's progress.
 Playable Menu / int_c01a7c9e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_c01a7c9e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Spelunky (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_c01a7c9e
 Playable Menu / int_ca92edf1
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_ca92edf1
comment
Call of Duty: Black Ops — the main menu actually has the player strapped to a chair, with the options appearing on a TV nearby, though it acts more like a traditional menu once you select one of the options. You can also repeatedly hit a button to break out of the chair and explore the room you're in.
 Playable Menu / int_ca92edf1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_ca92edf1
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1.0
 Call of Duty: Black Ops (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_ca92edf1
 Playable Menu / int_cc027b45
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_cc027b45
comment
The title screen in Gamer 2 also doubles as a Training Stage, with tooltips and a harmless zombie to practice combat on.
 Playable Menu / int_cc027b45
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_cc027b45
featureConfidence
1.0
 Gamer 2 (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_cc027b45
 Playable Menu / int_ccf23308
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_ccf23308
comment
Katamari Damacy to some extent: the save game select screen uses the in-game controls; and while the Level/Character/Operation select system (Select Meadow, Space Mushroom, etc.) do not, they are playable in their own way.
 Playable Menu / int_ccf23308
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_ccf23308
featureConfidence
1.0
 Katamari Damacy (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_ccf23308
 Playable Menu / int_cee82ee3
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_cee82ee3
comment
The Boxcar in The Blackout Club combines functions of main menu, trophy room and in-game help. Everything else is moved to a more typical settings menu.
 Playable Menu / int_cee82ee3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_cee82ee3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Blackout Club (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_cee82ee3
 Playable Menu / int_d64c56f6
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_d64c56f6
comment
McKids allows you to control the character on the main menu this way also.
 Playable Menu / int_d64c56f6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_d64c56f6
featureConfidence
1.0
 McKids (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_d64c56f6
 Playable Menu / int_d66a3a5f
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_d66a3a5f
comment
Call of Juarez: The Cartel does this for the multiplayer lobby, setting it in a precinct that you can walk around to select the different options (such as changing up your weapon loadouts by going to the firing range).
 Playable Menu / int_d66a3a5f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_d66a3a5f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Call of Juarez: The Cartel (Video Game)
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_d66a3a5f
 Playable Menu / int_dc25de3f
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_dc25de3f
comment
The iPhone-based Portal clone Wormholes has this for a level select screen. You spawn in a room with doors along every wall, each of which lead to a different level. Open doors indicate levels you have unlocked, while closed doors block access to levels you haven't legitimately reached. A Bottomless Pit in the center leads to the first level.
 Playable Menu / int_dc25de3f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_dc25de3f
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1.0
 Portal / Videogame
hasFeature
Playable Menu / int_dc25de3f
 Playable Menu / int_de276825
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_de276825
comment
The first Quake has you choose the difficulty level by entering one of three portals in a spooky castle. After that, there's the episode select room with a secret Nightmare difficulty portal.
With this game's multiplayer support, it can be taken to the next level by allowing you to play the difficulty select level in deathmatch mode.
 Playable Menu / int_de276825
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_de276825
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1.0
 Quake (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_de276825
 Playable Menu / int_e1e916cb
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_e1e916cb
comment
In Pitfall 3D: Beyond the Jungle you navigate Harry through the menu selection. Heck, even the cheat-menu is playable.
 Playable Menu / int_e1e916cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_e1e916cb
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1.0
 Pitfall 3D: Beyond the Jungle (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_e1e916cb
 Playable Menu / int_e79332c7
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_e79332c7
comment
Time Traveler: If this is your first adventure, select "Learn"! Or, if you won't move him left to the tutorial, Marshal will automatically enter the "Play" portal.
 Playable Menu / int_e79332c7
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1.0
 Playable Menu / int_e79332c7
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1.0
 Time Traveler (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_e79332c7
 Playable Menu / int_ea377bc0
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_ea377bc0
comment
System Shock 2 has character creation/background chosen by several stages of walking into one of 3 exits. Complete with specific cutscenes.
 Playable Menu / int_ea377bc0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_ea377bc0
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1.0
 System Shock (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_ea377bc0
 Playable Menu / int_ef661e97
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_ef661e97
comment
A bland Street Fighter knockoff on the NES made by ASDER, called Fighting Hero, also has a similar feature for the country selection. Only this time, it didn't work.
 Playable Menu / int_ef661e97
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_ef661e97
featureConfidence
1.0
 Street Fighter (Franchise)
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Playable Menu / int_ef661e97
 Playable Menu / int_f168c5bc
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_f168c5bc
comment
In Desert Demolition Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, after you select your character on the title screen, the options menu has you play as that character and customize the options by having them pull switches.
 Playable Menu / int_f168c5bc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_f168c5bc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Desert Demolition (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_f168c5bc
 Playable Menu / int_f8d1500a
type
Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_f8d1500a
comment
Takeshi's Challenge, from the creator of Takeshi's Castle. Moreover, you don't even have to leave the menu in order to get an ending! Just punch the title screen 20000 times and you're done.
 Playable Menu / int_f8d1500a
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1.0
 Playable Menu / int_f8d1500a
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1.0
 Takeshi's Challenge (Video Game)
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Playable Menu / int_f8d1500a
 Playable Menu / int_ffbcb90e
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Playable Menu
 Playable Menu / int_ffbcb90e
comment
In the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Arcade Game, gameplay begins with a screen in which Indy selects Easy, Medium or Hard difficulty by entering one or three doors. Naturally, the "Hard" door is the least simple to reach.
 Playable Menu / int_ffbcb90e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Playable Menu / int_ffbcb90e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
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Playable Menu / int_ffbcb90e

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 A Dance of Fire and Ice (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Antichamber (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Baba is You (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Dr. Brain (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Duck Game (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Dwarves Vs Zombies (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Fable III (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Fancy Pants Adventures (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Fly'N (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Grezzo 2 (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Kasumi Ninja (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Katamari Damacy (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Knytt Underground (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Piglet's Big Game (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Psychonauts (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Rocket Knight Adventures (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Rogue Squadron (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Spelunky (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Super Cosplay War Ultra (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Super Mario Sunshine (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Ultimate Chicken Horse (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu
 Winnie the Pooh's Rumbly Tumbly Adventure (Video Game) / int_a09f1b72
type
Playable Menu