Cliches in games

[SCG]

Originally posted by Felch X
One way you could avoid the hit point cliche would be to base damage on where you're hit, and to penalize you accordingly, a leg shot slowing you down, an arm shot disabling that arm, and a head shot killing you. Likewise, harder enemies wouldn't have to deal more damage and have more life, they could be quicker and more accurate than the disposable ninjas.

there are quite a few online muds that have that feature (limb damage), with 100% damage only being fatal all the time to head and torso. some even have alternative ways to gain experience outside of the hack-n-slash model

[Jaguar]

Guns that always spawn at the same place so you know where to get them. This isn't so bad, except when coupled with another cliche: the Uber-gun that rules them all. Every game then becomes a race to the uber-gun's spawning spot. (007 Nightfire is the worst when it comes to this. There is a rocket launcher that is heat-seeking, so you can fire it randomly and it will hit someone, and it knows to go around walls. :eek!:)

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by SCG


there are quite a few online muds that have that feature (limb damage), with 100% damage only being fatal all the time to head and torso. some even have alternative ways to gain experience outside of the hack-n-slash model

In early 2000 there was this great game Soldier of Fortune that had this concept very nicely done...

26 hit zones, being able to gut people, shoot off limbs, forearms, a full pair of legs (with a shotgun of course) and naturally head shots...

In multiplayer this is even better as the shotgun has more power (don't really know why) so you can do all kinds of crazy stuff with it.. Anyway it isn't very popular, and I don't know why!!!


Btw Loinbruger, you need the BG series, the storyline is great not to say fantastic!(it's not about a loner whose wife etc have been killed...)

[St Leo]

Chainmail bikinis can get rather cliche. Disciples probably does the best in that respect of all the fantasy games. A lot of the female units in it are wearing comfortable clothes.

Paperdoll artifact management annoys me. Why can't I wield two swords at the same time? I liked the Heroes II model where I could have twelve or so swords simultaneously.

Faux realism annoys me. I think you all know what that is.

[asleepathewheel]

I hate how the princess is ALWAYS in another castle. Whats up with that?

[Adagio]

What also bothers me, in strategy games is the undo-what-you-just-did thingy...

Here's an example: In Tropico 2, in first level, you have 3 things to do: Build 3 different buildings. Ok, not that hard, you quickly build those 3 buildings in some logical places and then win the level... Level 2 is continiuing the story: You're still on the same island, you have build the same buildings... BUT:
ALL those 3 buildings are now placed in wrong places, because it loads a new save-game instead of continiuing the old save-game.

You simply get the feeling, the story doesn't fit


I also hate the fact, that in every game (SP), there's always 1 (for few) leading-role, who's sole purpose is to kill hordes of enemies... Would be better if they had fewer enemies, who'd be much tougher to kill...

Originally posted by Trajanus
In early 2000 there was this great game Soldier of Fortune that had this concept very nicely done...

Great game

[Adagio]

oh, and one more thing:

Why is it often (not always, but often), that the game has supernatural influence... I have many times seen where it starts a completely normal story, but after short time, your character finds out, the enemy is the reincanation of the Devil himself (or believes he's the devil himself)...

[Tuberski]

Did anyone ever play Phantasie I,II, III?

Phantasie III had you regularly getting your leg or your arm chopped off, with no way to regain it.

ACK!

[HolyWarrior]

One example that always got me:

In Might and Magic VIII, a fully loaded party could run down a herd of centaurs, WITHOUT using magic!

That is just wrong...

[Malleus]

Originally posted by War of Art
Mana.
Need I say more? Isn't this "food from heaven" anyway?

-Jam

Only because this always bugs me:

Mana (ma·na) [Maori, integrity, charisma, prestige.]
n.

1) A supernatural force believed to dwell in a person or sacred object.
2) Power; authority.

NOT the Jewish food from heaven.

M

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior
(007 Nightfire is the worst when it comes to this. There is a rocket launcher that is heat-seeking, so you can fire it randomly and it will hit someone, and it knows to go around walls. :eek!:)

That's not a heat seeking rocket. They are manually controlling it.

[FlameFlash]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
That's not a heat seeking rocket. They are manually controlling it.

Never played the game, but that's just funny.

In a game I have it has the same thing... can't remember what the weapon is called but when you shoot you suddenly go into "bullet view" and ride the missile until it blows up.

Here's a cliche just to stay on topic:

The world has either ended and your characters are trying to make ends meet by playing through the game in this semi-alter reality... or the world is on the brink and only your small group of characters can save the day.

[St Leo]

Does anyone else hate games that have stories? Those really tick me off. I want some free-form action where I am shooting aliens because I am a deranged psychopath and not because they are actually threatening.

[Adagio]

I hate games that doesn't have any good story...

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by St Leo
Does anyone else hate games that have stories? Those really tick me off. I want some free-form action where I am shooting aliens because I am a deranged psychopath and not because they are actually threatening.

that's called multiplaying

particularly, if you're a deranged psychopath, try SoF1 (i'm really trying to promote it hehe). It is simply made for sickos who love shotgun action, and there's no story, just carnage and slaughter