Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of tabletop role-playing games, carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general. In video games, the usage specifically implies a focus on combat with hand-to-hand weapons. In other contexts it is more general, and an archer or unarmed martial artist may participate as fully in a hack and slash game, or be as hack-and-slash oriented as an individual, as an armed melee fighter. In modern video games the term "hack and slash" is used more specifically to refer to action games in which the combat revolves around repetitive melee combat, or "button-mashing," such as the Dynasty Warriors or Sengoku Basara series.
Contents |
Hack and slash has its roots in "pen and paper" RPGs such as Dungeons & Dragons, 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 magazine 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."[1] The article goes on to report the experience of one D&D player who claimed that "when she plays in tournaments, she does run into the "hack and slash" type of player, but most of them are adolescent males. These types of players not only aggravate her, but other, more mature players as well."[1]
Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to video games, usually starting in D&D-like worlds.[2] This form of gameplay can now be found in a wide range of action role-playing games, including games such as Lineage,[3] Diablo,[4] Dragon Slayer, Babylonian Castle Saga, Hydlide, Dragon Buster, Ys, Crystalis, Mana, Soul Blazer, King's Field, Tales, Star Ocean, Princess Crown, Monster Hunter, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and Demon's Souls.
This form of gameplay also extended beyond role-playing video games, to beat 'em up action games, such as Golden Axe,[5][6] Knights of the Round, The King of Dragons, Dungeons & Dragons Collection, Guardian Heroes, and Dungeon Fighter Online.
Notable third-person combat-based action games in this genre include Devil May Cry,[7][8] Onimusha,[8] Ninja Gaiden, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Heavenly Sword,[7][8] God of War, Genji, No More Heroes, Conan, Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade, Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno,[7] Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage, Drakengard, Drakengard 2, Dynasty Warriors, Severance: Blade of Darkness, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Rygar: The Legendary Adventure, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, Rune, Darksiders and X-Blades.
Both variations of the term are often written in hyphenated form and with the conjunction contracted, e.g. hack-and-slash, hack 'n' slay.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||