Hack and Slash... Played out and boring?

Captain_Brian

Is anyone else just plain tired of hack and slash RPGs?

I just picked up Titans Quest and couldn't play more than 15 minutes of it. I just really don't give a damn anymore if I get some random weapon with random statistics from some random monster after the repetative and boring activity of moving my mouse over enemy after enemy.

I tried going back to Diablo 2 and it was the same thing, just boring.

I used to love games like this, but now I'd rather just sit and look at a blank screen than play them.


Maybe if it was more first person with actual skill involved, kind of like how Oblivion's combat is, or Mount & Blade. But just sitting there, killing pinata after pinata, is just boring no matter how 'enchanted' the candy is.

Is the hack and slash genre dead? And is it becuase of games like Oblivion?

cj iwakura

2d hack'n'slashes are always fun. 3d ones... not so much.

But I'm pretty sure it is dead, yes. The last one I really liked was Guardian Heroes.

Mxzylpt

1)The combat in Oblivion isn't all that skill based.

2)This genre isn't dead at all you're just burned out on it.

EDIT: And I was under the impression that Guardian Heroes was more of a beat em up. Unless games like Streets of Rage and Viewtiful Joe are considered hack and slash?

apotheos

It is a really fun diversion. I've not played any new ones since Diablo II, and I very much look forward to Diablo III (if it ever exists) because of it. Blizzard put a ton of polish into D2 which made it a sublime experience even if it was totally repetative game play.

But I agree that as a genre its pretty much devoid of real play value. You need only look at online Diablo II addicts to see what kind of player really cleaves to that sort of gameplay dynamic and say "No, thank you sir. I've had enough for now".

TelMarine

cj iwakura wrote:

2d hack'n'slashes are always fun. 3d ones... not so much.

But I'm pretty sure it is dead, yes. The last one I really liked was Guardian Heroes.

that is a beat em up.

bananabread

I think it's due to the rise of MMORPG's. Stuff like WoW that offers similar combat and a similar reward system, but with the added bonus of being able to show it off to other people in this large world.

HadjiQuest

It's dead because it was stagnant to begin with.

There's no way to really innovate, so you ended up with an every-game-is-exactly-the-same scenario.

I'd like to say Dark Messiah and Enclave type games are the successor, but they're not free roaming. I also think Oblivion is too in-depth to be a full on successor.

cj iwakura

TelMarine wrote:

cj iwakura wrote:

2d hack'n'slashes are always fun. 3d ones... not so much.

But I'm pretty sure it is dead, yes. The last one I really liked was Guardian Heroes.

that is a beat em up.

Eh, I guess have my genres crossed, but that always struck me as a hack'n'slash... since, well, Serena hacks and slashes everything in sight.

DisruptorX2

Hack and Slash has been boring for some time now. In fact, other than Diablo, its always been boring.
And yes, Oblivion, which came out a few months ago, totally has something to do with that.
[spoiler:17b162ea55]no[/spoiler:17b162ea55]

Kami

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

apotheos

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

But do you play many other hack'n'slashes?

yalborap

I suppose it depends heavily on your definition of Hack n' Slash.

If it's stuff like Diablo/Gauntlet, then yeah, it's a little stagnant.

If it includes, say, Devil May Cry or God of War(others might put these in the 'beat em up' category), then it's still going strong.

DisruptorX2

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

apotheos

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

... which would be a long time ago. Over 6 years. Thus, nostalgia.

Orogogus

Are there all that many hack and slash games?

Diablo 1 & 2
Darkstone
Revenant
Nox
Harbinger
Sacred
Dungeon Siege 1 & 2
Titan Quest

...and a mess of Roguelikes, I guess. And of those, I think only the Diablos, Dungeon Sieges, Titan Quest and Nox really made any significant impression. Do people have a wider definition (since mine is basically "Diablo clone")?

Kami

apotheos wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

But do you play many other hack'n'slashes?

Actually, I don't own any other hack'n'slashes.

Diablo II (and the original, but moreso the sequel) have spoiled me.

And yes, nostalgia can be had for a current-gen game, because I've played other games since that time.

I wasted so many summer vacations with Diablo 2.

Couscous

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

The same way people get nostalgic about the Dreamcast.

Houk

titmouse wrote:

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

The same way people get nostalgic about the Dreamcast.

I remember playing Diablo 2 in high school. I've since graduated from college and gotten a real job. It more than qualifies for nostalgia certification.

TelMarine

Orogogus wrote:

Are there all that many hack and slash games?

Diablo 1 & 2
Darkstone
Revenant
Nox
Harbinger
Sacred
Dungeon Siege 1 & 2
Titan Quest

...and a mess of Roguelikes, I guess. And of those, I think only the Diablos, Dungeon Sieges, Titan Quest and Nox really made any significant impression. Do people have a wider definition (since mine is basically "Diablo clone")?

besides the Diablos, Darkstone was pretty fun and Nox was fun, but Nox multiplayer was extremely fun.

apotheos

Kami wrote:

apotheos wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

But do you play many other hack'n'slashes?

Actually, I don't own any other hack'n'slashes.

Diablo II (and the original, but moreso the sequel) have spoiled me.

And yes, nostalgia can be had for a current-gen game, because I've played other games since that time.

I wasted so many summer vacations with Diablo 2.

See. That is the way to do it. Sample it like a peculiar wine, one that only goes down well in the brusk chill of autumn, when served with fresh venison.

DisruptorX2

Meh, I guess so. I played diablo 2 off and on for quite a few years after it came out though, so it doesn't really feel as old as it is. I have nostalgia for the original, because I haven't played it much in ages.

Other than those hack and slash games listed, there's also trash like BG: Dark Alliance, and those new Gauntlet games.

I guess you could consider the Dynasty Warriors games hack and slash, too. I played 2 and 3 to death, they were fun games.

Houk

just fyi apotheos, your headbanned pun was stellar. :^::^:

I'm still waiting for my 3d-ified-but-still-2d-sidescroller Final Fight to come along. I'm very tempted to get an x360 just for Castle Crashers, cuz it looks that good.

Kami

Houk wrote:

titmouse wrote:

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

The same way people get nostalgic about the Dreamcast.

I remember playing Diablo 2 in high school. I've since graduated from college and gotten a real job. It more than qualifies for nostalgia certification.

Exactly. It reminds me of a more simple time in my life.

Hell, I even remember writing the day I beat Diablo inside of my closet doorframe, with permanent marker, so if I ever moved out of that house (which I did), that one achievement would stay with it, enshrined in that room.

BTP

I thought this had something to do with a game starring those two robots from Reboot who could always make me laugh.



Anyways, what's the new one coming out for Xbox 360? Castle Crashers, or something like that? That looks to be worth trying.

Houk

Kami wrote:

Houk wrote:

titmouse wrote:

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

The same way people get nostalgic about the Dreamcast.

I remember playing Diablo 2 in high school. I've since graduated from college and gotten a real job. It more than qualifies for nostalgia certification.

Exactly. It reminds me of a more simple time in my life.

Hell, I even remember writing the day I beat Diablo inside of my closet doorframe, with permanent marker, so if I ever moved out of that house (which I did), that one achievement would stay with it, enshrined in that room.

I was actually playing D2 when 9/11 happened. Came out of a map into the chatroom and saw everyone going crazy about who-knows-what, turn on the tv and see the towers burning. Not a cool memory.

Kami

Houk wrote:

Kami wrote:

Houk wrote:

titmouse wrote:

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

The same way people get nostalgic about the Dreamcast.

I remember playing Diablo 2 in high school. I've since graduated from college and gotten a real job. It more than qualifies for nostalgia certification.

Exactly. It reminds me of a more simple time in my life.

Hell, I even remember writing the day I beat Diablo inside of my closet doorframe, with permanent marker, so if I ever moved out of that house (which I did), that one achievement would stay with it, enshrined in that room.

I was actually playing D2 when 9/11 happened. Came out of a map into the chatroom and saw everyone going crazy about who-knows-what, turn on the tv and see the towers burning. Not a cool memory.

...

woah

apotheos

That...was a very early time of day to be playing D2.

I remember using laptops and creating a Diablo 1 LAN at the back of my Introduction to Programming class first year of university.

That was a bit random. Sorry.

OtakuD00D

cj iwakura wrote:

2d hack'n'slashes are always fun. 3d ones... not so much.

But I'm pretty sure it is dead, yes. The last one I really liked was Guardian Heroes.

That, and 3D ones are rarely done right.

Houk

apotheos wrote:

That...was a very early time of day to be playing D2.

I remember using laptops and creating a Diablo 1 LAN at the back of my Introduction to Programming class first year of university.

That was a bit random. Sorry.

Yeah, I had my japanese class real early and would play every day after getting back. Though I actually misremembered; when walking back from class, campus was pretty much empty. When I got back, first thing I did was jump into Diablo chat, which was when I read craziness and flipped on TV. Pretty much every class after mine had been let out/cancelled, but for whatever reason nobody had come around to our building.

Edit: a bunch of guys in my high school comp classes had installed D1 and played network games all the time. I actually really really hated D1, and was really reluctant to play D2. But my friends pushed and prodded and finally got me hooked.

DisruptorX2

OtakuD00D wrote:

cj iwakura wrote:

2d hack'n'slashes are always fun. 3d ones... not so much.

But I'm pretty sure it is dead, yes. The last one I really liked was Guardian Heroes.

That, and 3D ones are rarely done right.

Lu Bu approaches

[] pursue
[] do not pursue

Renzo

DisruptorX2 wrote:

OtakuD00D wrote:

cj iwakura wrote:

2d hack'n'slashes are always fun. 3d ones... not so much.

But I'm pretty sure it is dead, yes. The last one I really liked was Guardian Heroes.

That, and 3D ones are rarely done right.

Lu Bu approaches

[X] pursue
[] do not pursue

You got your ass kicked.

Restart (Y/N) ?

Orogogus

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Other than those hack and slash games listed, there's also trash like BG: Dark Alliance, and those new Gauntlet games.

I guess you could consider the Dynasty Warriors games hack and slash, too. I played 2 and 3 to death, they were fun games.

The defining feature of a hack and slash, to me, is that you keep replaying it after you've beaten it so that you can get even better loot or level up even harder. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and similar games always struck me as gussied up versions of Double Dragon (i.e., beat 'em ups). You hammer the attack button until the last cutscene is done, ideally with friends, and that's pretty much it. Not that Diablo clones are necessarily much more complex, but they usually use a different carrot.

I guess my litmus test would be whether or not Progress Quest really speaks to the game's appeal.

BaronVonSnakPak

castle crashers, man.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eqQmCbuvTjs

castle crashers.

lazerbeard

Captain_Brian wrote:

Oblivion

Funny, I thought Oblivion's combat was boring as hell too. Personally I prefer something a bit more versatile, its not because of Oblivion, but because of Ninja Gaiden, or Prince of Persia.

RainbowDespair

I was rather amused to see this after finishing a marathon of Titan Quest playing. My melee Elementalist shall defeat Legendary mode!

Has combat in hack & slashes ever been that involving? I thought the appeal was in trying to create your ideal character through equipment & skills. Combat is just to let you see whether or not your character build was doing well or not (oh and to hopefully watch your character cut down hordes of enemies effortlessly).

Now if someone took the deep character development of Titan Quest or Diablo 2 & combined it with combat as skill intensive as Devil May Cry 3, now that would be one awesome game.

skace

I got hooked on Fate for awhile. So the appeal is still there for me. I'll most likely enjoy the hell out of Ultimate Alliance, whose series has always been likened to Diablo. And Hellgate London should shape up nicely.

Echo

I want to re-play some D2, but I can't find my D2X CD. :x I don't want to play it without the stuff in the expansion.

Spackle

Hack n Slash is the one genre I can always come back to and enjoy it to the fullest. I've been playing some Titans Quest, doing a pyromancer through norm mode and it's a really solid game. I've got D2 installed but haven't gotten into it. Save that for a long weekend

I'd say you're just burned out.

Hotlead Junkie

I always thought the idea of a hack-n-slash was the idea of throwing as many enemies at you at once (your character most likley has a cutting weapon) and seeing if you can survive the hoarde. Challenging hack-n-slash games are usually fun, easy ones are usually tedious.

mrcheesypants

BaronVonSnakPak wrote:

castle crashers, man.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eqQmCbuvTjs

castle crashers.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQ_zRJ2S-lc&mode=related&search=



This is one of the many games that makes me want to get a 360.

varland

Houk wrote:

Kami wrote:

Houk wrote:

titmouse wrote:

DisruptorX2 wrote:

Kami wrote:

This thread is hilarious, simply because I just got done re-installing Diablo II/expansion, and playing over Battle.net for a few hours.

I've done it year after year, and it's always pretty fulfilling, and always highly nostalgic.

Diablo II came out like around the time the PS2 did, how can you have nostalgia for a current gen game? o_O

The same way people get nostalgic about the Dreamcast.

I remember playing Diablo 2 in high school. I've since graduated from college and gotten a real job. It more than qualifies for nostalgia certification.

Exactly. It reminds me of a more simple time in my life.

Hell, I even remember writing the day I beat Diablo inside of my closet doorframe, with permanent marker, so if I ever moved out of that house (which I did), that one achievement would stay with it, enshrined in that room.

I was actually playing D2 when 9/11 happened. Came out of a map into the chatroom and saw everyone going crazy about who-knows-what, turn on the tv and see the towers burning. Not a cool memory.

But you were saving the world from Satan, a few towers falling is nothing in comparison.