Top Ten Game Cliches

1up.com has a piece examining game cliches that are just done. Really. From the article: "2.) Pushing crates. Note to evil masterminds everywhere: We understand that you're trying to run a business, which involves receiving equipment and food somehow. But leaving those giant crates just lying around your warehouse for any one-man army to use for supplies and climbing? It's no wonder most startup criminal organizations fail within the first five years. Even seen in: God of War (PS2) 4.) Ridiculous portrayals of females. Women have breasts. Get over it. Even seen in: Soul Calibur II (PS2/XB/GC)"

Comments

Clcihes can be good

[Shadow Wrought]

The biggest cliche, and the one not mentioned, is that health, ammo, and everything else you need are all strewn about waiting for you to pick them up. I can't think of a FPS, or RPG I've played where that has not been the case. So long as a part of gaming requires you to obtain food, then crates will be there to ensure that you have to actually go to the trouble of opening them to get the goodies. Would they be happier with boxes?

As for the exploding fuel cans, 55 gallon drums which splode are just too cool knock;-)

Prince of Persia: WW

[th0mas.sixbit.org]

I think it was pretty unfair to use this game as an example of unneccessary bullet time usage. The game is about time travel. Plus, the creators were very inventive with the concept - you have sand tanks that, when broken, reverse time temporarily. Considering much of the game consists of hard combinations of "run on wall, jump to pole, swing off pole, duck under spikes, roll to edge, jump to cloth, leap across doorway", it was a needed feature to not have every misstep result in "game over" and start and the beginning of the level again.

Cliche #11

[LoverOfJoy]

Disappearing platforms. You have to jump quick or it'll disappear or drop. Wait a few seconds and it reappears. Somewhere in SuperMario Heaven SuperMario God is chuckling.

Items.

[MrCopilot]

In development of a game now. Strategy FPS sort of. We specifically outlawed these Game Cliches:

#1 Weapons are not just hovering about. Easy fix, poulate the world with places that would ordinarily have guns & ammo.

#2 Coins/Health. All items have to be in context. Dead Enemies exploding into coins & health is bullshit we all know it. Sure, dead guy might have a few bucks, but they don't just fall out of his pocket.

#3 Why can't I see my feet, Damn it. Still working this one out. I do know some of the reasons now.

#4 Killing everything is not the way to win. Single player against 2000 enemies is fine, but as an objective, kill all 2000 sucks. Objectives need to be difficult without shooting anything. Enemies should impede your progress not be your progress.

#5 Realism. Why go through all the trouble to make it all look so real and then break the realism with bullshit short cuts.

Ship Date. When its done. I'll be sure to let you know. Linux & Windows.

Now I've made a list. Look Ma I'm a journalist too.