Hack and slash

Hack and slash, which literally means "cut and slash", refers to a type of game that is primarily emphasized in combat. The term hack and slash were used in its beginnings to describe a style of table-role-playing game, from which the different MUDs, MMORPGs and role-playing video games were derived. In action genre video games that have an arcade/console style, the term has a different use, since it specifically implies a focus on real time combat with melee weapons rather than the use of guns or fists.

Related topics

Beat 'em up, Metroidvania, Roguelike, RPG

What is hack and slash?

The term is used to refer to games of a violent nature that do not have a specific plot or an important objective. It is then based on melee fighting using weapons rather than guns or fists.

History of hack and slash

Golden Axe in 1989 was acclaimed for its visceral hack & slash action and the use of cooperative mode and was influential through its selection of multiple protagonists with different fighting styles. It is considered one of the strongest beat ’em up beat titles for its fantasy elements, distinguishing it from the urban environments seen in other ’em ups beat’. The games are based on tridimensional combat in the third person.

Looking back in history, hack and slash is a term that has its roots in ancient “pen and paper” role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons. It was initially used to describe the campaign in which players would be involved, which as its name describes it, one with a minimal or no story, but with a lot of battles. The first quote from this can be found in a D & D Dragon magazine, an article published in the 1980s by the editors, Jean Wells and Kim Mohan.

Later, the term hack and slash moved from board games to video games, as many of the previous video games had visual features and game styles similar to D & D games. The term was often coined to refer to the early 2D beat-em-ups that included optional weapons in them, as well as action games such as Golden Axe and Final Fight. It should be noted that beat-em-up games were games where the player’s characters only used martial arts with fists or kicks as in River City Ransom. Only if the game has weapons for players to use is the appropriate term in its description.

Characteristics of hack and slash

Some characteristics of this type of game are:

• It is a game that aims to eliminate enemies and destroy scenarios to achieve level advancement.
• It is mainly based on combats.
• It has a beat´em up
• The characters carry some kind of weapon to fight body to body.
• It can be combined with adventure, role-playing and horror

Origin of the name

The origin of this genre to the genre evolved from the classic beat ’em up, but with the characteristic that the character controlled by the player carried a sword, axe or some other sharp-edged weapon to face waves of enemies.

Featured games of the hack and slash genre

Some of their most outstanding games in the market are the following:

• God of War for PS4: is an action-adventure A mixture of combat, a very technical and refined game, with a narrative sensitivity that gives more value to the saga. Kratos and Atreus’ journey through Nordic mythology is a journey full of surprises, large, open and interconnected areas, secrets, side quests and many different activities to discover.
• God of War: Ghost of Sparta for PSP: action-adventure video game. Not considered the most innovative of the series or the longest, but Kratos continues to successfully demonstrate why he is the God of War.
• God of War 3: Remastered for PS4: also, from the action-adventure genre that was born on July 15, 2015. Full of visual enhancements and one of the best games of recent times that attracted customers for its powerful new look.
• Dragon’s Crown Pro for PS4: action-adventure An excellent cooperative 2D and beat’em up action game from Vanillaware and ATLUS, Dragon’s Crown, initially released in 2013 for PS3 and PS Vita.
• NieR: Automata for PC – PS4: The action-adventure genre possesses all the virtues and qualities of a Platinum Games job. One of the most extraordinary videogames that have emerged within the videogame market.
• Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Impact for PSP: action and fighting Game of repetitive combats but which stands out for its multiplayer, especially the cooperative, which adds more interest to a too invariable game system.
• God of War 3 for PS3: From the action-adventure genre was released on March 18, 2010. It is considered a great game of Kratos’ trilogy and his fight against the cruel divine designs. Visually full of technology and with almost perfect combat mechanics, the game is replete with spectacular situations that will be recorded on our retina.