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Rate the best "character action" games
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ForsakenLotus
Member
I know Enslaved: Odyssey to the West has mediocre combat. I know it's slow and clunky and there isn't enough variety. I know gameplay is, generally, the most important element in a character action game...
But I have to at least mention Enslaved. It has a gorgeous world, a very well told (if basic) story, interesting characters, excellent voice acting, and a ton of atmosphere. It's not the best character action game by any means, but it's an overall really good game that deserves more recognition than it's gotten.
But I have to at least mention Enslaved. It has a gorgeous world, a very well told (if basic) story, interesting characters, excellent voice acting, and a ton of atmosphere. It's not the best character action game by any means, but it's an overall really good game that deserves more recognition than it's gotten.
I think they have always been niche games, on the 4 pages so far we're been talking about maybe 20 games? The earliest of them being the first DMC game, which means that's 20 games that scratch this particular itch in 14 years
But yes get a Wii U anyway
ForsakenLotus
Member
Thinking about it, the character action genre is basically the fighting genre in terms of its fanbase. On one hand, you have games with meticulous, deep, masterful gameplay like DMC4 and Bayo, and fans that are absolutely diehard fans - very similar to fans of fighting games like Guilty Gear and other highly technical fighters. Then you have what we can call the general audience, the people who like stuff like God of War which has average gameplay but does other things really well - basically Mortal Kombat fans.
It's unfortunate that the biggest fans of the genre largely dismiss, hell make fun of stuff like God of War.
Also, where exactly do we put games like the Arkham series? Personally, I put them above the generally accepted best like DMC3 and Bayo because it has enough depth to have a lot of fun and a good challenge without alienating the average game and is better at just about everything else (story, characters, graphics, voice acting, atmosphere, etc). But I don't know if the Arkham games should be in the same category as DMC and Bayo.
It's unfortunate that the biggest fans of the genre largely dismiss, hell make fun of stuff like God of War.
Also, where exactly do we put games like the Arkham series? Personally, I put them above the generally accepted best like DMC3 and Bayo because it has enough depth to have a lot of fun and a good challenge without alienating the average game and is better at just about everything else (story, characters, graphics, voice acting, atmosphere, etc). But I don't know if the Arkham games should be in the same category as DMC and Bayo.
I don't like god of war because it's gross and boring, not because of some elitist vision of it being for casuls.
I'm not great at any of the CAGs I've played. Good enough to play through on hard, but not like that crazy shit you see people do on youtube.
Batman games do not belong to the same genre. They have very little nuance and depth. They're beat-em-ups, and it's perfectly valid to enjoy them as such.
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
They never needed a new name. (and "character action" is silly) They're just beat-em-ups.
Sanctuary
Member
They aren't really though. They are a bit more technical than something like , Double Dragon, Bad Dudes or Final Fight. Plus, a few of them have "leveling up" options, which are essentially not in the majority of beat 'em ups unless you count Altered Beast, and even that's pushing it.
Before first person shooters basically shoved out every other game under the genre, these kinds of games used to just be "Action" or "Action Adventure".
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
"Action" is perfectly fine.
And Street Fighter 2 is infinitely more technical than Street Fighter. Are those in different genres?
And Street Fighter 2 is infinitely more technical than Street Fighter. Are those in different genres?
Genre names have always been pretty arbitrary, first and third person shooters are genres named after a perspective
Platformer is a genre that could be applied to any game where you have a jump button and need to use it with any level of precision
Fighting games could be any game that has any combat at all in them
All of these are as silly as character action, but the key element is they're short cuts, if I used any of those terms to describe a game you would know exactly what I'm talking about
Action, as you suggest, is even more vague than character action, can you name many games that don't have any action?
I don't think character action is a perfect name for the genre, but most people know what you're talking about when you it, so like all genre names it serves a purpose
As you said, combat is not the focus of Enslaved. It's a story based game with some platforming and some combat. Different focus, different genre. It's like comparing Journey to Mario Galaxy. Sure, you jump around in Journey, but that's not the point.
ForsakenLotus
Member
I honestly don't buy that notion. At worst, the Arkham games are like score chasing games that can be brute forced by relative skill but it takes real skill and patience to be legitimately good. When you are fighting a group of 20 enemies with different weapons, enemy strengths and weaknesses, environmental stuff, etc. It takes some real skill to dispatch them without getting hit while stringing together a long combo and using a plethora of tools and attacks.
If you play something like Bayonetta without exploring the combat systems and nuances that doesn't make the gameplay poorer, and for whatever reason some people play Arkham games and their ilk very simply and complain that it's just a button masher.
To be fair, Enslaved and God of War have a lot more in common than Journey does to Mario. Enslaved just has very basic combat. But the overall package is great to me.
Combat is not the focus in Batman games, it has to share it´s time with exploration, stealth sections and puzzles so combat in the end makes less than 30% of the game. Bayonetta and DMC focus 100% on combat. There may be the occasional puzzle, platforming or shooting section (specially in Bayo1) but most of the game, by a wide margin, is focused on combat. Arkham games are very good games but focus on different things and can´t really be compared to the likes of Bayo. BTW, I like the combat system in Arkham games, it´s nice and engaging but is too simple, even when you are facing 20 enemies of different types.
Also, God of War isn´t dismissed because "lol, casual game" but rather because the whole combat system has serious flaws and not much depth when compared to DMC/Bayo/etc... it being designed to reward the player for as many effort as possible is only another reason on why "hardcore" character action games fans don´t like it.
I think the Arkham combat engine is the first to really nail accessible beat 'em up mechanics in 3D. It took two generations of 3D gaming to really get to that point too. There's nuance to it but it's unnecessary unless you're aiming to optimize encounter XP or score highly in combat challenges, which are side-content. Similarly, Streets of Rage 2 and Final Fight could be pretty demanding and meticulous if you're doing a challenge run. More-so than Arkham. As for genre, you know, because budgets are so high and people are trying to capture as big of an audience as possible, many games tend to delve into multiple genres in order to be robust. The big one is a smattering of RPG mechanics. Arkham Asylum in particular had stealth sequences and beat 'em up gameplay in a metrovania structure. City focused less on stealth, more on beat 'em up gameplay and open world exploration.
Revengeance is great. The focus is less on combo abuse and more about how to kill enemies as quickly as possible without taking damage, and I feel that's basically the goal of the Ninja Gaiden games. The lessened difficulty in Rising's case is offset by a rating system. It's also a game that plays to its strengths: combat combat combat. And when it doesn't, failing stealth is less offensive and less punishing than failing jank platforming or fps. The bosses are great, and it's also very funny. I don't get the people crying out from a lack of depth: you're not getting a whole lot from any game sans combo kings like the latter Devil May Cry games despite how engaging you feel they are.
Really don't understand Shinobi PS2. Game didn't feel good to play at all.
Revengeance is great. The focus is less on combo abuse and more about how to kill enemies as quickly as possible without taking damage, and I feel that's basically the goal of the Ninja Gaiden games. The lessened difficulty in Rising's case is offset by a rating system. It's also a game that plays to its strengths: combat combat combat. And when it doesn't, failing stealth is less offensive and less punishing than failing jank platforming or fps. The bosses are great, and it's also very funny. I don't get the people crying out from a lack of depth: you're not getting a whole lot from any game sans combo kings like the latter Devil May Cry games despite how engaging you feel they are.
Really don't understand Shinobi PS2. Game didn't feel good to play at all.
Wowfunhappy
Member
You can't, unfortunately. I've looked into this. There's a bunch of threads on the topic but no one has managed to do it
My list really just pertains to how much enjoyment and fun I've had learning the systems in each game.
Real deal tier:
God Hand
Bayonetta 2
Gunstar Super Heroes
Alien Soldier
Vanquish
DMC 3
Ninja Gaiden 2 (Xbox 360/PS3)
Good tier:
Metal Gear Revengeance
Bayonetta
Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)
Hidden gems:
Gungrave 1 and 2
OZ: Over Zenith
Real deal tier:
God Hand
Bayonetta 2
Gunstar Super Heroes
Alien Soldier
Vanquish
DMC 3
Ninja Gaiden 2 (Xbox 360/PS3)
Good tier:
Metal Gear Revengeance
Bayonetta
Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)
Hidden gems:
Gungrave 1 and 2
OZ: Over Zenith
diamond_is_not_crash
Unconfirmed Member
Those donut combos in transformers devastation look pretty promising.
The combat system is pretty good. I've almost Platinumed the game (95%) and the combat system has a surprising amount of depth.
Everything that isn't the combat system is absolute garbage, though. It deserves its 55 Metacritic and there's no reason to play it, unless you're looking for a mechanically competent hack-n-slash. The fan service isn't even good enough, at least you can skip cutscenes.
Get it, you could do worse, like I said before, I enjoyed it a lot more than God of War III Remastered.
It's a bad game that does one thing well, thankfully, that one thing is like all you do in the game.
I wouldn't call it a character action game, though. It's more like a Dynasty Warriors-style hack-n-slash with a deeper combat system and panties. You run through terribly generic levels, until you get to the next closed off combat encounter and hack and slash your way to 1000+ hit combos.
I love Vanquish as much as anyone, but I don't understand the impulse to involve it in this discussion. Whatever its Japanese action flair, it's still ultimately more similar to Gears of War than to God Hand.
The Arkham games don't belong in the same genre because they have so many other prominent non-combat elements – stealth, puzzles, etc. That makes them action-adventure games, in the same genre as Zelda or Assassin's Creed. I don't know that putting things into different genres based only on relative "nuace and depth" is very useful.
A game with Arkham's combat system, but where that was the sole mechanical focus of the game, would be in the same action genre. It just wouldn't be as good as some other games in the genre.
The Arkham games don't belong in the same genre because they have so many other prominent non-combat elements – stealth, puzzles, etc. That makes them action-adventure games, in the same genre as Zelda or Assassin's Creed. I don't know that putting things into different genres based only on relative "nuace and depth" is very useful.
A game with Arkham's combat system, but where that was the sole mechanical focus of the game, would be in the same action genre. It just wouldn't be as good as some other games in the genre.
I already said my praise for Armstrong but that doesn't change the fact that the majority of the bosses are boring. Parry isn't anything special once you're good at it and since the barrier of being skilled in parrying is very small the difficulty becomes nonexistent.
You know those fake video games made for TV shows that are shown sometimes? That's Revengeance to me.
Sumio Mondo
Member
Favourite hack 'n slash game, you mean? That'd be MGRising: Revengeance from last gen. I also really liked Killer is Dead. Screw the haters on that one.
Anarchy Reigns is also PGames most underrated work, I personally like it more than both Bayonetta games. Yeah, I mean it. No, I'm not crazy. I just enjoy beat 'em ups more.
Also, Ninja Blade by From Software was underrated (yeah, there was too many QTEs, but the combat was fun enough).
My favourite old action games though? God Hand, Otogi and Onimusha 2.
Anarchy Reigns is also PGames most underrated work, I personally like it more than both Bayonetta games. Yeah, I mean it. No, I'm not crazy. I just enjoy beat 'em ups more.
Also, Ninja Blade by From Software was underrated (yeah, there was too many QTEs, but the combat was fun enough).
My favourite old action games though? God Hand, Otogi and Onimusha 2.
Bayonetta ( maybe B2 deserves this spot, but I like this one just a tiny bit more)
W101 ( this game isn't getting nearly enough love here. my GOAT of 2013)
Bayonetta 2
God Hand ( had more fun with this than any DMC 3)
MG R ( overally pretty basic, the secondary weapons are pretty much useless and the gameplay is fun but lacks depth compared to the other Platinum games)
Is this satire because character action is a really vague term?
W101 ( this game isn't getting nearly enough love here. my GOAT of 2013)
Bayonetta 2
God Hand ( had more fun with this than any DMC 3)
MG R ( overally pretty basic, the secondary weapons are pretty much useless and the gameplay is fun but lacks depth compared to the other Platinum games)
Is this satire because character action is a really vague term?
Supermanisdead
Member
bloodborne? lol
Pyramid head
Banned
I certainly don't get out of the Arkham games what I get from games like Bayonetta. In fact, the combat bores me to the point that I avoid it whenever possible and stick to the skies or call in the Batmobile in the case of Arkham Knight and run over any thugs who try to pick a fight.
The Arkham series combat has always felt more 'rythem action' than 'character action' to me; kinda like Guitar Hero without the music.
As for God of War, nobody is dismissing it, it's a hugely popular series. It just caters to a different audience and doesn't provide the same type of satisfaction as other games.
The chainsaws are certainly overpowered. In fact, the official guide pretty much reccomends you use nothing else when going for PP runs. Many of the other new weapons in Bayo 2 felt lacking compared to Bayo 1's arsenal. The bow, chainsaw, hammer, scythe, flame/ice spray things and chain chomp, despite looking cool, just weren't that much fun to use. Give me gunchucks, shotguns and Kilgores any day.
badcrumble
Member
Bayo 2's arsenal would have been amazing added on to Bayo 1's arsenal but doesn't stand on its own as well, yeah.
I still want to see a combined Bayo 1/2 saga game someday with the full combined arsenal from both games, Bayo 2-level enemy hitstun reactions during all of Bayo 1, Umbran Climax all throughout, 4 total health bars/5 total magic bars with all of the hearts/pearls from both games, and a general rebalancing of encounters and enemy damage output to compensate for how much more powerful and flexible you'd be.
I still want to see a combined Bayo 1/2 saga game someday with the full combined arsenal from both games, Bayo 2-level enemy hitstun reactions during all of Bayo 1, Umbran Climax all throughout, 4 total health bars/5 total magic bars with all of the hearts/pearls from both games, and a general rebalancing of encounters and enemy damage output to compensate for how much more powerful and flexible you'd be.
Triggerhappytel
Member
It gets a lot of praise because it handles the balance between combat-adventuring-platforming-puzzling-exploration better than most other series out there outside of Zelda. It's not a pure character action game, but then it has a lot more to offer than those games which is personally why I prefer it.
Auto-Reply
Member
I'm not a fan of character action games and have not played many, I hate Devil May Cry's art design.
Strangely enough I love Bayonetta.
So:
1. Bayonetta 1
2. Bayonetta 2
3. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance
That's it, I have played God of War 3 but I don't consider that to be in the same genre and if I did, it's not in the same league, vastly inferior to the Platinum stuff.
Strangely enough I love Bayonetta.
So:
1. Bayonetta 1
2. Bayonetta 2
3. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance
That's it, I have played God of War 3 but I don't consider that to be in the same genre and if I did, it's not in the same league, vastly inferior to the Platinum stuff.
Hydrogen Bluebird
Member
I've enjoyed most God of War games but playing through God of War: Ascension now doesn't seem to be too enjoyable for me. The story is pretty bland, or maybe it takes too long before a coherent plot is presented. Gameplay is pretty tired at this point, and it had no actual alternate weapons too unlike in the previous games (just the ones you pick up). Some encounters I feel are poorly designed, especially when the camera zooms out too much to the point that you can't actually see where Kratos is.
Manny Calavera
Member
Bayonetta 2 is definitely my favorite and head above the rest. I played it three times in a row when it was released and it's among my favorite games of this generation. The whole game is just so enjoyable and so much fun to play.
Next one would probably be the first Bayonetta.
Next one would probably be the first Bayonetta.
No because its one of the few action games where the actual attack matter just as much as general movement.
IronicSonic
Member
Bayonetta 2
Sin & Punishment
Vanquish
Alien Soldier
Bayonetta
Metal Gear Rising
Shinobi III
Sin & Punishment
Vanquish
Alien Soldier
Bayonetta
Metal Gear Rising
Shinobi III
SOME-MIST
Member
If s&p counts, I rewrite my list to put s&p2 at #1. Always been a rail shooter to me so I didnt include it. Alien soldier is great too - still play it till this day as part of the treasure box ps2 collection, but it doesn't feel right adding it to the list.
Weltall Zero
Member
On one hand the purist in me isn't confortable with games like Sin & Punishment, Vanquish, Alien Soldier and Shinobi III being called character action games. On the other Alien Soldier is fucking amazing and seeing it mentioned warms my cynical bitter heart...