Difference between revisions of "Action versus adventure video games"
(→Properties) |
|||
(13 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | In general, video game players know the difference between an action game and an adventure game, but there is still a gradient from one genre to the other. In order to more accurately quantify the difference, I have identified specific properties found in games that I think indicates what causes a game fit into genre or the other. Obviously, no | + | In general, video game players know the difference between an action game and an adventure game, but there is still a gradient from one genre to the other. In order to more accurately quantify the difference, I have identified specific properties found in games that I think indicates what causes a game fit into one genre or the other. Obviously, no single game property can determine which genre a game fits into, but the more that match, the more "pure" the fit. |
==Properties== | ==Properties== | ||
These are the specific properties I have identified that I feel can be used to accurately determine whether a game is an action or adventure game and are also fairly easy to gauge as a yes or no. Other properties may much more accurately determine a game's genre, but are greatly a matter of opinion (e.g., do I feel like I'm exploring when I play the game?), so I don't include them. | These are the specific properties I have identified that I feel can be used to accurately determine whether a game is an action or adventure game and are also fairly easy to gauge as a yes or no. Other properties may much more accurately determine a game's genre, but are greatly a matter of opinion (e.g., do I feel like I'm exploring when I play the game?), so I don't include them. | ||
− | * '''Limited Lives''': Does the player have a limited number of attempts to beat the game before the game is over and they must restart or continue, or are they given unlimited attempts. | + | * '''Limited Lives''': Does the player have a limited number of attempts to beat the game before the game is over and they must restart or [[continue]], or are they given unlimited attempts. |
* '''Stage-based:''' Are portions of the game broken up unto discrete sections that must be completed, or does they player have free movement to move between them? | * '''Stage-based:''' Are portions of the game broken up unto discrete sections that must be completed, or does they player have free movement to move between them? | ||
* '''Straightforward Maps:''' Must the player roughly follow a single path to the end of a map with few decisions or backtracking, or are their many possible routes? | * '''Straightforward Maps:''' Must the player roughly follow a single path to the end of a map with few decisions or backtracking, or are their many possible routes? | ||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
* '''Temporary Power-ups:''' Are power-ups kept for a limited time, number of uses, or until death, or do you keep them for the rest of the game? | * '''Temporary Power-ups:''' Are power-ups kept for a limited time, number of uses, or until death, or do you keep them for the rest of the game? | ||
* '''Unbeatable:''' Does the game go on forever, or can you finish it? | * '''Unbeatable:''' Does the game go on forever, or can you finish it? | ||
− | * '''Title Screen Story:''' | + | * '''Title Screen Story:''' Can the game's entire story be described in a paragraph on the title screen, or is there character dialogue, cut-scenes, and an advancing plot? |
− | The more yes-answers, the more action oriented the game is, the more no-answers, the more adventure oriented it is. Naturally, not every game can neatly answer each of these questions with a yes or no, so, when the true answer is a gray area, I try my best to answer fairly. For example, in [[The Legend of Zelda]], you technically only have one life before you get a game over, but, since you have unlimited continues and get to keep your items after death, I consider it equivalent to unlimited lives. | + | The more yes-answers, the more action oriented the game is, the more no-answers, the more adventure oriented it is. Naturally, not every game can neatly answer each of these questions with a yes or no, so, when the true answer is a gray area, I try my best to answer fairly. For example, in ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', you technically only have one life before you get a game over, but, since you have unlimited continues and get to keep your items after death, I consider it equivalent to unlimited lives. |
==Games== | ==Games== | ||
− | This list currently focuses on [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games. I've excluded traditional RPGs which would answer no for | + | This list currently focuses on [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] games, though I will add more in the future. I've excluded traditional RPGs which would answer no for the bulk of the questions, as well as sports simulators |
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
Line 83: | Line 83: | ||
| 11 | | 11 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | [[Double Dragon]] | + | | [[Double Dragon (NES)|Double Dragon]] |
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
Line 141: | Line 141: | ||
| style="background-color:#FF7070;" | No | | style="background-color:#FF7070;" | No | ||
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
− | | | + | | 9 |
|- | |- | ||
| [[Contra]], [[Super C]] | | [[Contra]], [[Super C]] | ||
Line 173: | Line 173: | ||
| 8 | | 8 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Double Dragon [[Double Dragon II: The Revenge|2]] & [[Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone|3]] | + | | Double Dragon [[Double Dragon II: The Revenge (NES)|2]] & [[Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone|3]] |
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
Line 398: | Line 398: | ||
| 5 | | 5 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ( | + | | [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (video game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] |
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
Line 443: | Line 443: | ||
| 4 | | 4 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | [[A Boy and His Blob: Trouble | + | | [[A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia]] |
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
| style="background-color:#FF7070;" | No | | style="background-color:#FF7070;" | No | ||
Line 458: | Line 458: | ||
| 4 | | 4 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | [[DuckTales ( | + | | [[DuckTales (video game)|DuckTales]] and [[DuckTales 2]] |
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
| style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | | style="background-color:#70FF70;" | Yes | ||
Line 582: | Line 582: | ||
The main purpose of this categorization is to help determine if a game should be described as an "action-adventure" or "adventure-action." | The main purpose of this categorization is to help determine if a game should be described as an "action-adventure" or "adventure-action." | ||
− | [[Category: Video Game | + | ==Links== |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | [[Category: Game Terminology]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Video Game Genres]] |
Latest revision as of 16:57, 2 August 2023
In general, video game players know the difference between an action game and an adventure game, but there is still a gradient from one genre to the other. In order to more accurately quantify the difference, I have identified specific properties found in games that I think indicates what causes a game fit into one genre or the other. Obviously, no single game property can determine which genre a game fits into, but the more that match, the more "pure" the fit.
Contents
Properties
These are the specific properties I have identified that I feel can be used to accurately determine whether a game is an action or adventure game and are also fairly easy to gauge as a yes or no. Other properties may much more accurately determine a game's genre, but are greatly a matter of opinion (e.g., do I feel like I'm exploring when I play the game?), so I don't include them.
- Limited Lives: Does the player have a limited number of attempts to beat the game before the game is over and they must restart or continue, or are they given unlimited attempts.
- Stage-based: Are portions of the game broken up unto discrete sections that must be completed, or does they player have free movement to move between them?
- Straightforward Maps: Must the player roughly follow a single path to the end of a map with few decisions or backtracking, or are their many possible routes?
- No Exploration: Is the player not expected to explore the map, or can bonuses be found for those who search around?
- Forced Stage Order: During normal game play, must the player complete stages in a pre-planned order, or can they finish sections in any order?
- Instant Death: Can a single mistake kill the player regardless of hit points or power-ups (pits, spikes, lava, etc.)?
- No Health: Will a single mistake of any kind kill the player based on their starting condition, or can they make multiple mistakes before dying?
- No Continues: If the player runs out of lives, do they get a limited number of chances to continue from where they left off, or must they restart the game?
- Time Limits: Under normal conditions, will a player die if they don't finish a stage in specified time?
- Temporary Power-ups: Are power-ups kept for a limited time, number of uses, or until death, or do you keep them for the rest of the game?
- Unbeatable: Does the game go on forever, or can you finish it?
- Title Screen Story: Can the game's entire story be described in a paragraph on the title screen, or is there character dialogue, cut-scenes, and an advancing plot?
The more yes-answers, the more action oriented the game is, the more no-answers, the more adventure oriented it is. Naturally, not every game can neatly answer each of these questions with a yes or no, so, when the true answer is a gray area, I try my best to answer fairly. For example, in The Legend of Zelda, you technically only have one life before you get a game over, but, since you have unlimited continues and get to keep your items after death, I consider it equivalent to unlimited lives.
Games
This list currently focuses on NES games, though I will add more in the future. I've excluded traditional RPGs which would answer no for the bulk of the questions, as well as sports simulators
Game | Limited Lives | Staged-based | Straightforward Maps | No Exploration Reward | Forced Stage Order | Instant Death | No Health | No Continues | Time Limits | Temporary Power-ups | Unbeatable | Title Screen Story | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Galaga | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
Pac-Man | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
Tetris | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
Double Dragon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 10 |
Spy Hunter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
Super Mario Bros. | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 10 |
Bubble Bobble | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 9 |
Contra, Super C | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | 9 |
Castlevania | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 8 |
Double Dragon 2 & 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | 8 |
Life Force | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | 8 |
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | 8 |
Ninja Gaiden 1, 2, 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 8 |
Battletoads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 7 |
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | 7 |
The Goonies | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | 7 |
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | 7 |
Super Mario Bros. 2 | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | 7 |
Super Mario Bros. 3 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7 |
Guerrilla War | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | 6 |
Little Nemo: The Dream Master | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 5 |
Gauntlet | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | 5 |
Kirby's Adventure | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | 5 |
Mega Man 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 5 |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | 5 |
Bionic Commando | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | 4 |
Blaster Master | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 4 |
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | 4 |
DuckTales and DuckTales 2 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 4 |
Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 4 |
River City Ransom | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | 3 |
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | 2 |
The Goonies II | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | 2 |
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | 2 |
Metroid | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 1 |
The Legend of Zelda | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | 0 |
Purpose
The main purpose of this categorization is to help determine if a game should be described as an "action-adventure" or "adventure-action."