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Phediuk · Apr 19, 2017

These are for those little groups of games that have converged on an oddly specific model of game design. They're too few in number to have a common name, but they're easily grouped together anyway.

Here's a few I had in mind:

Cold war simulators where you stare at a map the whole time and watch helplessly as the world veers toward nuclear war

Shadow President

Balance of Power

Defcon

First-person Japanese action games that are sort-of-but-not-quite FPSes where you mostly punch and/or stab people

The Super Spy

Shien's Revenge

Breakdown

Futuristic racing games where there's no other racers and you just have to complete obstacle courses

Eliminator

Skyroads

Avoid Sensory Overload

Platformers where you're a blob with eyeballs

Smart Ball

LocoRoco

Drop Alive

post more.

SatoAilDarko · Apr 19, 2017

No De Blob?

Platy · Apr 19, 2017

For a game that sold like 5 million on the fucking wiiu, there are INCREDIBLY SMALL amount of party fighters around.

Also, 2D pixel art game with a shovel

Skyzard · Apr 19, 2017

How many games like Mario Kart are there that are good?

Sonic Racing Transformed, Blur and BlazeRush.

Modnation would have been good if the framerate was better on the cool levels you could download and the loading times weren't so bad.

And that's it.

Maybe CTR if we're going way back.

PtM · Apr 19, 2017

AiRace are such obstacle racers. I feel that's a rather sizeable genre.

Napalm_Frank · Apr 19, 2017

Skyzard said:
How many games like Mario Kart are there that are good?

Sonic Racing Transformed, Blur and BlazeRush. Modnation would have been good if the framerate was better on the cool levels you could download.

Crash Team Racing remaster with online is gonna happen and it's gonna be the best game ever made.

Nightii · Apr 19, 2017

I wish the video game industry made more Open World AAA Games and less Microgenres.

But seriously, I need more rail shooters that are just that.

Alphahawk · Apr 19, 2017

How'd you forget about Putty Squad for PS4 OP.

eyeball_kid · Apr 19, 2017

I always wanted to like Defcon, but it was never quite War Games enough for me. BTW, whatever happened to that dev studio?

Speaking of microgenres, are there any other games like Harpoon? I loved that as a kid, but I never played anything else like it.

Stopdoor · Apr 19, 2017

Super Smash Bros. is like its own genre, which is mostly itself, Playstation All-Stars, and other D-tier knockoffs like Cartoon Network, TMNT, and the Wii Force Unleashed 2 game. Party fighter? Brawler? I dunno.

Pikmin is some sort of genre, like halfway between an RTS and some squad based thing, which I could maybe group Little King's Story on the Wii with.

duckroll · Apr 19, 2017

Really nice OP. I love the examples and it made me think of weird quirky similarities in some games I've played. Here's my contribution, and maybe someone can think of modern entries in this microgenre:

Construction themed sidescrolling puzzle/action

Helmet

Hard Hat Mack

Wrecking Crew

Stumpokapow · Apr 19, 2017

Games that are like part RPG, part text adventure, part simulation, part kingdom manager.

Oregon Trail

King of Dragon Pass

7 Grand Steps

Hero of the Kingdom

Anno · Apr 19, 2017

eyeball_kid said:
I always wanted to like Defcon, but it was never quite War Games enough for me. BTW, whatever happened to that dev studio?

They've been off making Prison Architect.

Defcon is a cool experience, if not necessarily the strongest game. The sound design really helped wrap up the whole package for me to feel really shit and kinda hopeless about the world when I played it.

Skikkiks · Apr 19, 2017

Distance/Nitronic Rush would fit into that future racing category.

mindsale · Apr 19, 2017

duckroll said:
Really nice OP. I love the examples and it made me think of weird quirky similarities in some games I've played. Here's my contribution, and maybe someone can think of modern entries in this microgenre:

Construction themed sidescrolling puzzle/action

Helmet

Hard Hat Mack

Wrecking Crew

Does Drill Dozer count for this sub genre?

PSqueak · Apr 19, 2017

Platy said:
For a game that sold like 5 million on the fucking wiiu, there are INCREDIBLY SMALL amount of party fighters around.

Also, 2D pixel art game with a shovel

Because non of them has managed to come even close to nintendo mascot fighter games.

Red hot Rumble? Sucked
Tv dream fighters mega mix (or whatever)? Sucked
Punch time Explosion? Both iterations sucked.
TMNT Smash up? sucked.
PSASBR? best attempt but ultimately inferior in every way.
Shrek? i had forgotten it existed.

The only one close enough is the Jump super and ultimate stars games, but those were made by nintendo too, so they don't count.

Basically, companies have given up on this one.

mindsale · Apr 19, 2017

PSqueak said:
Because non of them has managed to come even close to nintendo mascot fighter games.

Red hot Rumble? Sucked
Tv dream fighters mega mix (or whatever)? Sucked
Punch time Explosion? Both iterations sucked.
TMNT Smash up? sucked.
PSASBR? best attempt but ultimately inferior in every way.
Shrek? i had forgotten it existed.

The only one close enough is the Jump super and ultimate stars games, but those were made by nintendo too, so they don't count.

Basically, companies have given up on this one.

Brawlhalla is upcoming, too. I've been playing it at PAX East for years, it's been novel to watch it grow. Not nearly Smash though.

Wood Man · Apr 19, 2017

Japanese Arcade Quiz Games Themed After Other Games

Quiz King of Fighters:

Quiz of Dragons (Themed after King of Dragon):

Stumpokapow · Apr 19, 2017

Platformer Racing

Sonic 2 Multiplayer Mode

Kirby Gourmet Race

Raskulls

Speedrunners

Runbow

Phediuk · Apr 19, 2017

Stumpokapow said:
Platformer Racing

Sonic 2 Multiplayer Mode

Kirby Gourmet Race

Raskulls

Speedrunners

Runbow

Dashin' Desperadoes on the Genesis is one of these too.

Platy · Apr 19, 2017

Stumpokapow said:
Runbow

Runbow is also on the weird genre that is like "kinda platformer and has lots of indie game characters cameos" that you can find on games like super meat boy and the bit trip series

Fancolors · Apr 19, 2017

Does hunting games still count as a microgenre? I can only think of Monster Hunter, Toukiden, Soul Sacrifice and Freedom Wars. Weird considering how well MH sells every time.

Phediuk · Apr 19, 2017

Fantasy-themed post-Doom pre-Quake first-person shooters with action-adventure/RPG elements

Witchaven

Hexen

Powerslave

PtM · Apr 19, 2017

Fancolors said:
Does hunting games still count as a microgenre? I can only think of Monster Hunter, Toukiden, Soul Sacrifice and Freedom Wars. Weird considering how well MH sells every time.

MH isn't really a hunting game, it's Boss Battles: The Game.

duckroll · Apr 19, 2017

mindsale said:
Does Drill Dozer count for this sub genre?

Sort of I guess? It doesn't quite fit exactly because while it does have the drill thing going for it, it's largely a pure action game with crazy designs. I think what those games share in common is that they're somewhat grounded and non-flashy, themed around stages and obstacles which are construction themed, and the characters all wear protective helmets. It's a pretty weird quirk!

VlaudTheImpaler · Apr 19, 2017

This reminds me of a game I posted in a thread of obscure games a while back.

VlaudTheImpaler said:
I'll have you know that this thread sent me on an 2 hour hunting spree in order to figure out the name of this game.

Warpath (Classic)

I used to play the crap out of this game and thanks to this thread I found out that there is a way I can play it today.

Link to download: http://www.synthetic-reality.com/warpath.htm

Thank you so much. It's a blast from the past.

And holy crap they have a newer version! How did I miss this?

Link to download: http://www.synthetic-reality.com/warpath32.htm

Video for those who are interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ7Txf8hZEY

If there is anything else like it I'd love to know.

Glowsquid · Apr 19, 2017

Tube shooters with trippy atmosphere and thumping electronic soundtrack

Tempest 2000

Nanotek Warrior

N2O Nitroux Oxide

Makai · Apr 19, 2017

Puzzle games where every level seems simple but is actually completely impossible until you miraculously figure it out

Steven's Sausage Roll

Jelly no Puzzle

Stumpokapow · Apr 19, 2017

Makai said:
Puzzle games where every level seems simple but is actually completely impossible until you miraculously figure it out

Steven's Sausage Roll

Jelly no Puzzle

Snakebird is like this

ItsTheNew · Apr 19, 2017

Wario Ware Micro Games Inc.

Makai · Apr 19, 2017

Stumpokapow said:
Snakebird is like this

Good one. I knew I was missing one.

Glowsquid · Apr 19, 2017

Fighter plane racing games

Bravo Air Race

N-Gen Racing

MACH: Modified Air Combat Heroes

Skydrift

duckroll · Apr 19, 2017

Stumpokapow said:
Games that are like part RPG, part text adventure, part simulation, part kingdom manager.

Oregon Trail

King of Dragon Pass

7 Grand Steps

Hero of the Kingdom

I haven't played it yet, and it's kinda pricey since it's new on Steam, but I've seen Josh Sawyer of Obsidian pimping a new game in this genre called Battle Brothers: http://store.steampowered.com/app/365360/

You run a mercenary outfit travelling the land and it's a mix of turn based RPG tactical battles, simulation stuff, and text adventure like Oregon Trail. Might be worth keeping an eye on!

randomkid · Apr 19, 2017

this reminded me of a thread I made ages ago about Professor Layton clones, a little boomlet that came and went by 2012. Stump and I tried to define the characteristics at the end of the thread but I still can't think of a good bolded name for it.

Brhoom · Apr 19, 2017

Games where you don't know what the fuck you must do and google doesn't help because no one played the game

Lord of Ostia · Apr 19, 2017

PSqueak said:
Because non of them has managed to come even close to nintendo mascot fighter games.

Red hot Rumble? Sucked
Tv dream fighters mega mix (or whatever)? Sucked
Punch time Explosion? Both iterations sucked.
TMNT Smash up? sucked.
PSASBR? best attempt but ultimately inferior in every way.
Shrek? i had forgotten it existed.

The only one close enough is the Jump super and ultimate stars games, but those were made by nintendo too, so they don't count.

Basically, companies have given up on this one.

Rivals of Aether isn't bad.

Stumpokapow · Apr 19, 2017

Brhoom said:
Games where you don't know what the fuck you must do and google doesn't help because no one played the game

I have no idea what game that is but:

The Void

GAF OT from 8 years ago:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364328

More_Badass · Apr 19, 2017

Narrative adventures designed to look like you're interacting with a phone (bonus points if the messages occur in real time and/or the story is about privacy and surveillance)

Sara Is Missing

Mr Robot

Lifeline

A Normal Lost Phone

Replica

WiiRevolution1 · Apr 19, 2017

What I like to call "The RPG Maker Horror" Genre.

They are not RPGs, but top down horror games created in RPG Maker. Basically:

The Witch's House

Mad Father

Misao

Ib

Corpse Party*

Yume Nikki

And I love these games despite never playing them. Only watched LPs on youtube. I want to play them but have no pc. What I wouldn't give for a NS/3DS/PSV/PS4 version since I own those. Its insane how much I like them without even playing them.
*Aside from Corpse Party which did make its way to PSV & 3DS.

Additionally while not made in RPG Maker:

Yomawari: Night Alone

Corpse Party: Blood Drive

Can also be considered RPG Maker Horror games since they are also top down horror games. I want more. I want to know why Corpse Party 2 has been MIA so long and I want to see the Yomawari's team next game!

Edit: Also other things these games have in common: Girl Protagonists, awesome stories, and great scares. Surely a genre of its own.

Glowsquid · Apr 19, 2017

PS1-era first-person shooters set in some sort of hovering vehicle

Blam! Machine Head

Tunnel B1

Defiance

Shadow Master

PtM · Apr 19, 2017

Glowsquid said:
PS1-era first-person shooters set in some sort of hovering vehicle

Forsaken

Stumpokapow · Apr 19, 2017

More_Badass said:
Narrative adventures designed to look like you're interacting with a phone (bonus points if the messages occur in real time and/or the story is about privacy and surveillance)

Sara Is Missing
Mr Robot
Lifeline
A Normal Lost Phone
Replica

These are not quite phones, but they in a very similar orbit:

Emily is Away

Majestic (this is definitely the coolest example ever but it can't be conveyed through a screenshot)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcTDMYq3xCw
(the game would actually call you in real life and send you instant messages on your actual instant messenger -- seriously about 20 years ahead of its time)

Glowsquid · Apr 19, 2017

PtM said:
Forsaken

By "hovering", I didn't meant 6DOF games, but rather games where you only hover a few feets above the ground. Here's some gameplay of Machine Head and Tunnel B1 to show what I'm talking about.

More_Badass · Apr 19, 2017

Cyan said:
Genre-shifting clickers that aren't really clickers (or are they...?)

A Dark Room

is it a clicker or is it a...?

A Dark Room is seriously amazing. I'll never forget my first time playing.

Arulan · Apr 19, 2017

duckroll said:
I haven't played it yet, and it's kinda pricey since it's new on Steam, but I've seen Josh Sawyer of Obsidian pimping a new game in this genre called Battle Brothers: http://store.steampowered.com/app/365360/

You run a mercenary outfit travelling the land and it's a mix of turn based RPG tactical battles, simulation stuff, and text adventure like Oregon Trail. Might be worth keeping an eye on!

I won't discourage more publicity to Battle Brothers. It's a fantastic game that has gotten little attention outside of enthusiast communities, but I'm not sure it quite fits what Stumpokapow described. It's a lot closer to Mount & Blade with a little Darklands in there as well.

charlequin · Apr 19, 2017

WiiRevolution1 said:
The Witch's House

Mad Father

Misao

Ib

Corpse Party*

Yume Nikki

ss_002aba5579b512941d6db5b16ac4f95517cb54b8.600x338.jpg

413444-yume-nikki-windows-screenshot-one-of-the-dream-areas-a-forest.png

Just to drive the point home visually, lol.

More_Badass · Apr 19, 2017

Arulan said:
I won't discourage more publicity to Battle Brothers. It's a fantastic game that has gotten little attention outside of enthusiast communities, but I'm not sure it quite fits what Stumpokapow described. It's a lot closer to Mount & Blade with a little Darklands in there as well.

Six Ages is, however
http://sixages.com/
Being the spiritual successor to Kingdom of Dragon Pass

charlequin · Apr 19, 2017

Stumpokapow said:
Emily is Away

Cibele

and

Digital: A Love Story

also in this genre.

Serge84 · Apr 19, 2017

Space flight-sims mixed with arcade style dogfighter. Games like Colony Wars trilogy and Blast Radius.

Reverend Funk · Apr 19, 2017

This thread is badass

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I believe any game made before 1997 is "essentially cave man art."

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