Hack and slash

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Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up, [1] [2] refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as guns) as secondary weapons. It is a sub-genre of beat 'em up games, which focuses on melee combat, usually with swords. Third-person hack and slash games are also sometimes known as character action games and spectacle fighters.

Contents

The term "hack and slash" was originally used to describe a play style in tabletop role-playing games, carrying over from there to MUDs, massively multiplayer online role-playing games, and role-playing video games. In arcade and console style action video games, the term has an entirely different usage, specifically referring to action games with a focus on real-time combat with hand-to-hand weapons as opposed to guns or fists. The two types of hack-and-slash games are largely unrelated, though action role-playing games may combine elements of both.

Types of hack-and-slash games

Action video games

In the context of action video games, the terms "hack and slash" or "slash 'em up" [1] [2] refer to melee weapon-based action games that are a sub-genre of beat 'em ups. Traditional 2D side-scrolling examples include Taito's The Legend of Kage (1985) [2] and Rastan (1987), [1] [3] Sega's arcade video game series Shinobi (1987 debut) [1] [4] and Golden Axe (1989 debut), [5] [6] Data East's arcade game Captain Silver (1987), [1] Tecmo's early Ninja Gaiden (Shadow Warriors) 2D games (1988 debut), [1] Capcom's Strider (1989), [2] [7] the Sega Master System game Danan: The Jungle Fighter (1990), [1] Taito's Saint Sword (1991), [1] Vivid Image's home computer game First Samurai (1991), [2] and Vanillaware's Dragon's Crown (2013). [4] The term "hack-and-slash" in reference to action-adventure games dates back to 1987, when Computer Entertainer reviewed The Legend of Zelda and said it had "more to offer than the typical hack-and-slash" epics. [8]

In the early 21st century, journalists covering the video game industry often use the term "hack and slash" to refer to a distinct genre of 3D, third-person, weapon-based, melee action games. Examples include Capcom's Devil May Cry , Onimusha , and Sengoku Basara [9] franchises, Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors and 3D Ninja Gaiden games, Sony's Genji: Dawn of the Samurai and God of War , as well as Bayonetta , Darksiders , Dante's Inferno , [10] [11] [12] and No More Heroes . The genre is sometimes known as "character action" games, and represent a modern evolution of traditional arcade action games. This subgenre of games was largely defined by Hideki Kamiya, creator of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. [13] In turn, Devil May Cry (2001) was influenced by earlier hack-and-slash games, including Onimusha: Warlords (2001) [14] and Strider. [15] [16]

Role-playing games

The term "hack and slash" itself has roots in "pen and paper" role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), denoting campaigns of violence with no other plot elements or significant goal. The term itself dates at least as far back as 1980, as shown in a Dragon article by Jean Wells and Kim Mohan which includes the following statement: "There is great potential for more than hacking and slashing in D&D or AD&D; there is the possibility of intrigue, mystery and romance involving both sexes, to the benefit of all characters in a campaign." [17]

Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to role-playing video games, usually starting in D&D-like worlds. [18] This form of gameplay influenced a wide range of action role-playing games, including games such as Xanadu , [19] and Diablo . [20]

See also

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<i>Strider</i> (1989 arcade game) 1989 platforming video game

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<i>Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom</i> 1994 arcade game

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<i>Knights of the Round</i> (video game) 1991 video game

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<i>Magic Sword</i> (video game) 1990 video game

Magic Sword, fully titled as Magic Sword: Heroic Fantasy, is a side-scrolling fantasy hack-and-slash game released by Capcom for arcades in 1990. The game casts the player as a hero who must fight his way through a mystical tower in order to save the world. The player can use a sword, axe or magic, and can also rescue and recruit potential allies of various character classes, each of which has its own special abilities. Three years earlier, Capcom had released the similar Black Tiger.

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<i>Onimusha: Warlords</i> 2001 action-adventure hack and slash video game

Onimusha: Warlords, known in Japan as Onimusha, is an action-adventure hack and slash video game developed and published by Capcom for the PlayStation 2. The first entry of the Onimusha series, it was originally released in 2001. An updated form as Genma Onimusha for the Xbox was released in 2002. The original Warlords version was ported to Microsoft Windows, although it was only available in China and Russia. A remaster for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One was released in 2018, with a Windows version following in 2019.

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<i>Devil May Cry</i> (video game) 2001 video game

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<i>Rastan</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Rastan Saga, known as Rastan in North America, is a side-scrolling hack and slash arcade video game released by Taito in 1987. It was a critical and commercial success and was ported to home platforms.

<i>Bayonetta</i> Video game series

Bayonetta is a series of hack and slash action-adventure games created by Hideki Kamiya, developed by PlatinumGames, and owned by Sega. The franchise was introduced in 2009 with Bayonetta. Two sequels were released, Bayonetta 2 (2014) and Bayonetta 3 (2022), as well as a spinoff, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (2023). In the games, players control a witch nicknamed Bayonetta as she wields dual pistols, shooters in her high heels, and long, magically transforming hair which becomes a deadly weapon.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Complete Games Guide". Mean Machines . No. 20 (28 April 1992). May 1992. pp. 6, 14, 18, 20, 22, 26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "First Samurai". Computer and Video Games . No. 121 (December 1991). 15 November 1991. pp. 28–30.
  3. ↑ Reed, Kristan (4 January 2007). "Taito Legends Power-Up". Eurogamer . Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 Gass, Zach (11 May 2020). "10 Awesome Hack and Slash Games That Aren't God of War". Screen Rant . Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Greg Kasavin (2006-11-30). "Golden Axe Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  6. ↑ Patrick Shaw (2008-05-16). "Golden Axe: Beast Rider". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  7. ↑ Weiss, Brett (9 July 2018). Classic Home Video Games, 1989-1990: A Complete Guide to Sega Genesis, Neo Geo and TurboGrafx-16 Games. McFarland & Company. p. 206. ISBN   978-0-7864-9231-2.
  8. ↑ "Nintendo Software" (PDF). Computer Entertainer . Vol. 6, no. 5. August 1987. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 23, 2019.
  9. ↑ "The Story behind Development of "Sengoku BASARA"". Capcom. December 24, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Dante's Inferno Review - UGO.com". November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05.
  11. ↑ Heavenly Sword Review, VideoGamer.com, 04/09/2007
  12. ↑ Pementel, Michael (7 January 2019). "A Timeless Hack And Slash Historical Adventure: Remembering 'Onimusha: Warlords'". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  13. ↑ Hovermale, Chris (2019-03-10). "How Devil May Cry's arcade inspirations shaped character action games". Destructoid . Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  14. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, December 2001 issue, p. 56.
  15. ↑ Fahey, Rob (2007-01-01). "Strider 1/2". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  16. ↑ Jones, Darran (24 Apr 2010). "The Making of... Strider". Retro Gamer (76). pp. 48-53.
  17. ↑ Wells, Jean; Mohan, Kim (July 1980). "Women want equality - and why not?". Dragon #39. TSR Hobbies, Inc. V (1): 16.
  18. ↑ David Myers. "The attack of the backstories (and why they won't win)" (PDF). Loyola University New Orleans. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-12-01.
  19. ↑ "Hack and Slash: What Makes a Good Action RPG?". 1UP.com . May 18, 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  20. ↑ Kruse, Cord (2008-09-05). "Diablo III: Timeline, Expanded RPG Elements, iTunes D3 Music". Inside Mac Games. Archived from the original on Jun 6, 2019. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
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