RPGs Took Over Every Video Game Genre - IGN

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The world's in love with leveling up.

By Ryan ClementsUpdated: Feb 5, 2018 8:22pm UTC1 commentsThe role-playing game, a tradition as old as the controller and older still, has endured decades of changing game design with no sign of ceasing its steady march.With a sense of adventure beating in its chest and a fierce devotion to character stirring its legs, the RPG has made itself known in all corners of the world. And over time, other genres have adopted the RPG's ways, especially as game archetypes bleed together and fuse into new and intoxicating combinations.It's safe to say that the RPG has taken over every video game genre out there, but this domination shouldn't surprise us. The RPG is founded on a handful of core principles, including the telling of a story and the growth of a character or group of characters. These principles pervade human desire -- not just video games. Tracking a visual representation of progress satisfies our most fundamental needs, and the joys of following a story go back as far as storytelling itself.If you insist that RPGs just aren't for you, that's all well and good. But take note of all the various ways RPGs have left a mark on the world of gaming. Nothing is untouched.

Action

Defining Characteristics: action (duh), explosions, guns, swords Notable RPG Hybrids: Dishonored, Castle Crashers, Devil May Cry series Why It Works: Action for the sake of action has its own charms, but runs the very real risk of wearing out fast. Fusing an experience system into character development and weapon unlocks provides the action with a sense of purpose. This system creates a great loop, where the satisfaction of the action also fulfills a secondary purpose of growth and advancement.Action games also use items and equipment often, from weapons to runes and everything in between. These make a natural fit with the RPG way of life, granting players with an enhanced degree of control over their characters.

Fighting

Defining Characteristics: one-on-one competition, character rosters, special moves Notable RPG Hybrids: Street Fighter Alpha 3, Dissidia series Why It Works: RPGs celebrate the ideals of a hero more than any other genre. Part of the charm of fighting games is the diversity and complexity found in a roster of fighters -- each character a wealth of opportunity and possibility. Fusing this specialized cast of heroes with the character building of an RPG makes for a winning combination.We needn't look further than Dissidia Final Fantasy and its sequel Duodecim to find the potential for this combination. Dissidia showered players with a stunning collection of more than 20 characters to train, equip, and level up, while maintaining the thrill of the fight.

Platformers

Defining Characteristics: running, jumping, merriment Notable RPG Hybrids: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Dust: An Elysian Tale Why It Works: Similar to action games, RPG elements fuel the running and jumping of platformers with a purpose other than survival. They also open up platformers to the possibility of combat systems, which add an additional layer of play to platform traversal. And of course, with RPG favorites like chests and secrets dotting the map, players are more likely to explore the world around them.This fusion made video game history in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which enhanced an already successful formula with experience points, attributes, spells, familiars, and a host of other features common in the grand RPG style.

Puzzle

Defining Characteristics: falling blocks, bright colors, head scratching Notable RPG Hybrids: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Enough said. Why It Works: Why not? Puzzle Quest turned heads in 2007 with its unusual -- even rare -- blend of game types. Once again, the drive to earn experience and level up creates additional motivations for players other than earning a high score, clearing blocks, matching colors, aligning tiles, and whatever else needs to be done.Furthermore, gamers weary of everyday game types are more likely to enjoy something new -- even odd. When Puzzle Quest came along, it was just odd enough to win hearts all over the world.

Racing

Defining Characteristics: cars, races, c'mon guys Notable RPG Hybrids: Blur, Need for Speed: Most Wanted Why It Works: Cars are an abstract type of character, but many gamers attach to them as they would a human (or semi-human) hero. Adding a progression or development system to a car seems obvious, providing players with better, faster rides and a reason to cherish a car more than just "object that gets me from Point A to Point B."Need for Speed: Most Wanted featured an abstract form of leveling by encouraging players to complete objectives for upgrades. Bizarre Creations' 2010 racer Blur tasked players to hunt for "fan points" -- which might as well have been experience points.

Strategy

Defining Characteristics: units, grids, advanced thought processes Notable RPG Hybrids: XCOM: Enemy Unknown, StarCraft II, Final Fantasy Tactics Why It Works: Strategy games come in many different shapes and sizes, but they fit extremely well with RPG design elements. So much so that the two genres together form the strategy RPG sub-genre. Why such a perfect union? The two share many common themes, including a penchant for meticulous, thoughtful play and a turn-based structure.Obvious examples, like XCOM and its famed predecessor, merge upgradeable characters and skills with the decision making and tactical play that makes strategy games so compelling. And classics like Final Fantasy Tactics show, with remarkable acuity, that customizable units make everything better!Even real-time strategy games like StarCraft II feature light shades of RPG systems, noticeable in the player-driven unlocks of the single-player campaign.

Sports

Defining Characteristics: sports Notable RPG Hybrids: SSX, Madden NFL 13 Why It Works: Look at all those players moving around the field/rink/ring/course, they're like a bunch of little wizards, with special abilities and affinities! It's like magic! (Editor's Note: this guy doesn't play sports games, folks!)Tomfoolery aside, sports games have implemented RPG systems to great effect, including Madden NFL 13, which allowed gamers to assign points after practice to increase player statistics. In SSX, the snowboarders leveled up to access better gear. Proving that even the least nerdy genre in gaming can proudly flex its nerdy bits.

Shooter

Defining Characteristics: crosshairs, guns, supply crates Notable RPG Hybrids: Call of Duty series, Halo 4, Borderlands 2 Why It Works: One of the most popular RPG fusions in game design today, shooters have taken on leveling elements more readily than most other genres -- especially when it comes to online multiplayer modes. Gamers love competition, and having a level listed next to their handle to back up their skill makes that competition all the more vicious.The Call of Duty series has thrown itself in this direction, with extremely complex systems supporting its multiplayer suites. Halo 4 recently followed, integrating an advanced leveling system so every Spartan earns experience, equipment, abilities, and more with every match.Then, of course, we have the Borderlands series, which is just as much RPG as it is shooter. With randomly-generated weapon drops and skill trees accompanying its outrageous sense of humor, Borderlands 2 is designed for both shooter and RPG crowds. With a game like that, everybody wins. And they did, because Borderlands 2 is awesome. Ryan Clements writes for IGN and thinks RPGs make everything better, especially... other RPGs! You can follow him on Twitter at @PwamCider and hear about his quirky life.

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