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Spelunker (Video Game)

 Spelunker (Video Game)
type
TVTItem
 Spelunker (Video Game)
label
Spelunker (Video Game)
 Spelunker (Video Game)
page
Spelunker
 Spelunker (Video Game)
comment
For the similarly named freeware roguelike-like Spelunky, click here.Classic video game created by Tim Martin in the early 1980s and published by Brøderbund. Spelunker is about, as you'd expect, a guy who explores a large cave and looks for treasure. He has dynamite to help him blow up large rocks, flares to ward off bats, and a limited air supply. Adding a bit of fantasy to the game is the frequent appearance of ghosts, which need to be warded off with an air blaster. A pretty simple game.Except for one thing: its sadistic level of difficulty.The spelunker himself can die very easily from a wide variety of things, including some you wouldn't expect: His own dynamite, of which the blast radius isn't actually visible (the entire screen flashes white when it goes off) Notably, the later Square Enix versions WOULD give the bombs a visible blast radius. Any enemy Bat droppings Falling in a small pit that's less than one half the already small safe fall distance His own flare landing on top of him on the way down Most infamously of all, falling less than his own height! (on NES version. The height of the player character was increased, while the vertical distances traveled were decreased.) And what's worse, when you're on a rope or a ladder, if you push left or right, you can actually slide off and end up dying in midair before you had a chance to jump off! The computer originals, mercifully, allowed jumping off of ladders and ropes safely by holding jump and tapping the stick, a luxury not allowed on the NES version.That one involving falling is particularly nasty, due to the gameplay mechanics. The spelunker can only jump a short distance, can't change his direction in midair, and falls straight down instead of slightly forward when walking off an edge. Your jumps must be very precise, or you will die from the fall — in midair, no less.On the original 8-bit computers, it was fairly well received, but the NES game was widely forgotten in America, but became a Cult Classic in Japan due to its hilariously unforgiving difficulty and the ludicrous weakness of the player character. The game ended up being returned to used video game stores in high numbers when players got frustrated with it, but later developed a following among fans of Nintendo Hard games. As a result, there have been several Japanese sequels and fangames, including an arcade release by Irem, an In Name Only sequel that turned it into an action RPG, and even a remake for Playstation Network in the form of Spelunker HD, which adds multiplayer play and cartoony animations mocking the deaths, but also adds a lot of Anti-Frustration Features like lives and a save feature to soften the blow. More recently, Spelunker Party was developed for Steam and the Nintendo Switch.The game actually inspired a Japanese expression: スペランカー体質, literally "constitution of a spelunker", which means someone who gets hurt badly from minor injuries.
 Spelunker (Video Game)
fetched
2023-11-05T10:30:20Z
 Spelunker (Video Game)
parsed
2023-11-05T10:30:21Z
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Dropped link to SmurfettePrinciple: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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SmurfettePrinciple
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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DBTropes
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_14f6a42b
type
Cartoon Bomb
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_14f6a42b
comment
Cartoon Bomb: These can be used.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_14f6a42b
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1.0
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_14f6a42b
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_1be7d298
type
Easy-Mode Mockery
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_1be7d298
comment
Easy-Mode Mockery: For Spelunker HD's "Rope Assist," which makes getting on and off a rope safely less of a pain in the ass than in the NES version. It mocks you by placing a Japanese "new driver" symbol over your head for all to see, and prevents certain advanced techniques.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_1be7d298
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_1be7d298
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_23b059ec
type
Bedsheet Ghost
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_23b059ec
comment
Bedsheet Ghost: One of the enemies.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_23b059ec
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1.0
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 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_27b418da
type
A Winner Is You
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_27b418da
comment
A Winner Is You: Expected in the NES version. Incredibly aggravating in Spelunker HD when you've just gone through 100 levels of Platform Hell to get there.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_27b418da
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Gratuitous English
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_2e6a41e0
comment
Gratuitous English: The opening theme of the anime, possibly a shout-out for Spelunker's American origin.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_2e6a41e0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_2e6a41e0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_56b5a6b7
type
Nostalgia Level
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_56b5a6b7
comment
Nostalgia Level: The early levels in Spelunker HD.
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_56b5a6b7
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_62259825
type
Nintendo Hard
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_62259825
comment
Nintendo Hard: As demonstrated here.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_62259825
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_62259825
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70321789
type
Video Game Remake
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70321789
comment
Video Game Remake: Spelunker HD, which expands the game's original 6 levels to 100 levels, including a separate set of 100 multiplayer-only levels, while also adding new types of environments. Spelunker World and Spelunker Party, two almost identical remakes, which add RPG style progression and equips. The only difference between the two is that World is full of free-to-play mechanics, and has regular collaboration content, while Party gives a more traditional experience.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70321789
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1.0
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70321789
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70d8269d
type
Excuse Plot
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70d8269d
comment
Excuse Plot: "You need to go to the Earth's Core to help heal it from it's corruption!"... That's the whole gist of the plot of Spelunker Party. World doesn't even try to pretend there is a plot.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70d8269d
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1.0
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_70d8269d
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_7d0b5cb5
type
Platform Hell
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_7d0b5cb5
comment
Platform Hell: The NES version has vanishing ground that drops you to your death, secret power-ups that can get you killed, invisible keys on the second loop, and lets you kill yourself by jumping while walking down a slope. Spelunker HD takes all of these and makes them even worse...though it is quite generous with extra lives.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_7d0b5cb5
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_7d0b5cb5
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_80e5008f
type
Steam Vent Obstacle
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_80e5008f
comment
Steam Vent Obstacle: Some mounds regularly vent out steam that needs to be avoided.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_80e5008f
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1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_80e5008f
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_80e5008f
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_835d63a4
type
The Anime of the Game
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_835d63a4
comment
The Anime of the Game: Titled Spelunker is a Teacher, it's basically about the hijinks of the titular character as a teacher in a Japanese school.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_835d63a4
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1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_835d63a4
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_835d63a4
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_8df14c99
type
One-Hit-Point Wonder
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_8df14c99
comment
One-Hit-Point Wonder: And boy is the protagonist quite a wonder.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_8df14c99
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_8df14c99
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_92dfffae
type
Retraux
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_92dfffae
comment
Retraux: Spelunker HD includes a "classic graphics" mode, which mimics the look and sound of the NES version, even though it also contains a lot of new content.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_92dfffae
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_92dfffae
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_97293a99
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Stock Money Bag
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_97293a99
comment
Stock Money Bag: Someone has left bags with $ symbol on them underground.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_97293a99
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1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_97293a99
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_97293a99
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_aa5d87af
type
Secret Level
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_aa5d87af
comment
Secret Level: There are two exits from Stage 99 ... one of which requires an additional key not found in the stage. At least, not found in Stage 99...
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_aa5d87af
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_aa5d87af
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: A possibly unintentional one, but Spelunkette looks very much like MEIKO.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c75df49a
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 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c75df49a
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9597a03
type
Self-Deprecation
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9597a03
comment
Self-Deprecation: In the Nintendo eShop page for Spelunker Party, the titular character is labelled "the Weakest Action Hero", and even the game's own Excuse Plot practically has the Call to Adventure wonder if he really would help going on the quest at all.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9597a03
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 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9597a03
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9cab11
type
Falling Damage
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9cab11
comment
Falling Damage: Exaggerated in this game, and part of what makes it so difficult. The player character dies in mid-air, even if he could have grabbed a vine or something on the way down. He can't even walk over very tiny gaps the way many other 2D platformers allow you to.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9cab11
featureApplicability
1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9cab11
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1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_c9cab11
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ce9a1c4a
type
Underground Level
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ce9a1c4a
comment
Underground Level: The entire game.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ce9a1c4a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ce9a1c4a
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1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ce9a1c4a
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d2c3c6bf
type
Game Lobby
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d2c3c6bf
comment
Game Lobby: Spelunker HD allows up to 6 players to play online. Good luck finding more than one other person to play with, due to the game's unpopularity. You must wait in a lobby for players to join, then start the game when you're ready.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d2c3c6bf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d2c3c6bf
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1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d2c3c6bf
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d38f49f0
type
Ruins for Ruins' Sake
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d38f49f0
comment
Ruins for Ruins' Sake: Several levels in Spelunker HD.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d38f49f0
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1.0
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d38f49f0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d6f284a3
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Anti-Frustration Features
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d6f284a3
comment
Anti-Frustration Features: In Spelunker HD, there is an option to turn on "Rope Assist," which makes getting on and off a rope safely less of a pain in the ass than in the NES version. It mocks you for doing this by placing a Japanese "new driver" symbol over your head for all to see, and prevents certain advanced techniques. On Spelunker World and Spelunker Party, all of Spelunker's techniques are clearly explained to you when you first need them. Also, the bomb radius problem is fixed by having the explosion cause a noticeable ring of death.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d6f284a3
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1.0
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d6f284a3
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d933263
type
Have a Nice Death
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d933263
comment
Have a Nice Death: Spelunker HD adds cartoony death animations and even lampshades it in the tutorial, where you're told "In the tutorial, you have unlimited lives. Now's a good chance to find out what kinds of things can kill you."
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d933263
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1.0
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 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_d933263
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_e2decfff
type
With Lyrics
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_e2decfff
comment
With Lyrics: The main theme has had lyrics written for it in Japan (they mainly talk about how weak the spelunker is and how much he dies). The anime's opening theme is actually a remix of the game's main theme and the stage clear theme, sung from the viewpoint of the titular Spelunker, albeit entirely in hilariously disjointed and nonsensical Engrish.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_e2decfff
featureApplicability
1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_e2decfff
featureConfidence
1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game)
hasFeature
Spelunker (Video Game) / int_e2decfff
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_edb7b3ad
type
Respawn Point
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_edb7b3ad
comment
Respawn Point: The last place you picked up an "important item." Since most "important items" are at the end of long corridors filled with death, this forces you to go through the corridor 'again' every time you die.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_edb7b3ad
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_edb7b3ad
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_f2dadf81
type
Evil Twin
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_f2dadf81
comment
Evil Twin: In Spelunker HD's single-player mode, perhaps to compensate for the lack of getting killed by other players' mistakes in multiplayer. Spelunker World and Spelunker Party has him be one of the four playable characters, admittedly being effectively nothing more than a alternative skin for the titular character.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_f2dadf81
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_f2dadf81
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Everything Trying to Kill You
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ffd816e7
comment
Everything Trying to Kill You: Ghosts, burst of steam, own bombs, fall traps, you name it.
 Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ffd816e7
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1.0
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Spelunker (Video Game) / int_ffd816e7
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Spelunker (Video Game)

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

 Spelunker (Video Game)
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A Winner Is You / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Almost Out of Oxygen / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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American Video Games / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Epileptic Flashing Lights / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Everything Trying to Kill You / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Falling Damage / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Game Lobby / int_43351528
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Job Title / int_43351528
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Numbered Sequels / int_43351528
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One-Hit-Point Wonder / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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One-Hit Wonder / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Plot-Irrelevant Villain / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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The Many Deaths of You / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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With Lyrics / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Wizard Needs Food Badly / int_43351528
 Spelunker (Video Game)
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Not the Fall That Kills You / int_43351528