hack and slash

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Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as guns) as secondary weapons. It is a sub-genre of beat 'em up games, which focuses on melee combat, usually with swords.

The term "hack and slash" was originally used to describe a play style in tabletop role-playing games, carrying over from there to MUDs, massively multiplayer online role-playing games, and role-playing video games. In arcade and console style action video games, the term has an entirely different usage, specifically referring to action games with a focus on real-time combat with hand-to-hand weapons as opposed to guns or fists. The two types of hack-and-slash games are largely unrelated, though action role-playing games may combine elements of both.

Types of hack-and-slash games

=Action video games=

In the context of action video games, the terms "hack and slash" or "slash 'em up"{{cite magazine |title=Complete Games Guide |magazine=Mean Machines |date=May 1992 |issue=20 (28 April 1992) |pages=6, 14, 18, 20, 22, 26 |url=https://archive.org/details/Mean_Machines_Complete_Games_Guide_1992-05_EMAP_Images_GB_suppliment_issue_20/page/n4/mode/1up}}{{cite magazine |title=First Samurai |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=15 November 1991 |issue=121 (December 1991) |pages=28–30 |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-121/page/n27/mode/2up}} refer to melee weapon-based action games that are a sub-genre of beat 'em ups. Traditional 2D side-scrolling examples include Taito's The Legend of Kage (1985) and Rastan (1987),{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Kristan |title=Taito Legends Power-Up |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/taito-legends-power-up-review |website=Eurogamer |access-date=11 April 2021 |date=4 January 2007}} Sega's arcade video game series Shinobi (1987 debut){{cite news |last1=Gass |first1=Zach |title=10 Awesome Hack and Slash Games That Aren't God of War |url=https://screenrant.com/best-awesome-hack-slash-games-arent-god-war/ |access-date=11 April 2021 |work=Screen Rant |date=11 May 2020}} and Golden Axe (1989 debut),{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/goldenaxegen/review.html |title=Golden Axe Review |author=Greg Kasavin |publisher=GameSpot |date=30 November 2006 |access-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204233037/http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/goldenaxegen/review.html |archive-date=4 February 2009}}{{cite web | url = http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/185688/golden-axe-beast-rider/ | author = Patrick Shaw | date = 16 May 2008 | access-date = 7 October 2008 | title = Golden Axe: Beast Rider | publisher = GamePro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017133630/http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/185688/golden-axe-beast-rider/|archive-date=17 October 2008}} Data East's arcade game Captain Silver (1987), Tecmo's early Ninja Gaiden (Shadow Warriors) 2D games (1988 debut), Capcom's Strider (1989),{{cite book |last1=Weiss |first1=Brett |title=Classic Home Video Games, 1989-1990: A Complete Guide to Sega Genesis, Neo Geo and TurboGrafx-16 Games |date=9 July 2018 |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=978-0-7864-9231-2 |page=206 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lmRjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA206}} the Master System game Danan: The Jungle Fighter (1990), Taito's Saint Sword (1991), Vivid Image's home computer game First Samurai (1991), and Vanillaware's Dragon's Crown (2013). The term "hack-and-slash" in reference to action-adventure games dates back to 1987, when Computer Entertainer reviewed The Legend of Zelda and said it had "more to offer than the typical hack-and-slash" epics.{{cite magazine |title=Nintendo Software |magazine=Computer Entertainer |date=August 1987 |volume=6 |issue=5 |page=12 |url=http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/newsletters/video_game_update/computer_entertainer_aug87.pdf#page=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123024827/http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/newsletters/video_game_update/computer_entertainer_aug87.pdf |archive-date=23 November 2019 |url-status=live }}

In the early 21st century, journalists covering the video game industry often use the term "hack and slash" to refer to a distinct genre of 3D, third-person, weapon-based, melee action games. Examples include Capcom's Devil May Cry, Onimusha, and Sengoku Basara{{cite web|url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/feature/2015_basara01/02.html|title=The Story behind Development of "Sengoku BASARA"|publisher=Capcom|date=24 December 2015}} franchises, Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors and 3D Ninja Gaiden games, Sony's Genji: Dawn of the Samurai and God of War, as well as Bayonetta, Darksiders, Dante's Inferno,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ugo.com/games/dantes-inferno-review|title=Dante's Inferno Review - UGO.com|date=5 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225144/http://www.ugo.com/games/dantes-inferno-review |archive-date=5 November 2013 }}{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=Will |date=6 June 2021 |title=Heavenly Sword Review |url=https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/heavenly-sword-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525192950/https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/heavenly-sword-review/ |archive-date=25 May 2022 |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=VideoGamer |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Pementel |first1=Michael |title=A Timeless Hack And Slash Historical Adventure: Remembering 'Onimusha: Warlords' |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3540280/timeless-hack-slash-historical-adventure-remembering-onimusha-warlords/ |access-date=11 August 2021 |work=Bloody Disgusting |date=7 January 2019}} and No More Heroes. The genre is sometimes known as "character action" games, and represent a modern evolution of traditional arcade action games. This subgenre of games was largely defined by Hideki Kamiya, creator of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta.{{cite news |last1=Hovermale |first1=Chris |title=How Devil May Cry's arcade inspirations shaped character action games |url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/how-devil-may-cry-s-arcade-inspirations-shaped-character-action-games-545783.phtml |access-date=30 April 2021 |work=Destructoid |date=10 March 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In turn, Devil May Cry (2001) was influenced by earlier hack-and-slash games, including Onimusha: Warlords (2001){{Cite magazine |date=December 2001 |title=Afterthoughts: Devil May Cry |url=http://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-149-december-2001 |access-date=9 March 2024 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |page=56}} and Strider.{{cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=1 January 2007 |title=Strider 1/2 |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/strider-1-2-review |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=Eurogamer.net}}

=Role-playing games=

The term "hack and slash" itself has roots in "pen and paper" role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), 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 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."{{cite journal

| last1 = Wells | first1 = Jean | author-link1 = Jean Wells

| last2 = Mohan | first2 = Kim | author-link2 = Kim Mohan

| title = Women want equality - and why not?

| journal = Dragon #39

| volume = V

| issue = 1

| pages = 16

| publisher = TSR Hobbies, Inc.

| date = July 1980

}}

Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to role-playing video games, usually starting in D&D-like worlds.{{cite web |author=David Myers |title=The attack of the backstories (and why they won't win) |url=http://www.loyno.edu/~dmyers/F99%20classes/AttackOfTheBackstories.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201202321/http://www.loyno.edu/~dmyers/F99%20classes/AttackOfTheBackstories.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2008 |website=Loyola University New Orleans}} This form of gameplay influenced a wide range of action role-playing games, including games such as Xanadu{{cite web|title=Hack and Slash: What Makes a Good Action RPG?|work=1UP.com|date=18 May 2010|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9030743|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110629035402/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9030743|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2011|access-date=2 March 2011}} and Diablo.{{cite web |author=Kruse |first=Cord |date=5 September 2008 |title=Diablo III: Timeline, Expanded RPG Elements, iTunes D3 Music |url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16949 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606161326/http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16949 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |access-date=7 October 2008 |website=Inside Mac Games}}

References

Category:20th-century neologisms

Category:MUD terminology

Category:Role-playing game terminology

Category:Video game genres

Category:Video game terminology

hack and slash

Types of hack-and-slash games

=Action video games=

=Role-playing games=

See also

References