Summary
Hack and slash games have evolved considerably since the genre’s inception. It’s easy to label these games as button-mashing extravaganzas full of elaborate set pieces, but there’s more to these games than meets the eye. A combination of great level design, enemy variety, numerous abilities, and excellent presentation go a long way in making most hack-and-slash games more engaging.
It’s easy to blast certain games for not living up to critical or fan expectations, butthese titles can pleasantly surprise playersby showing how competent they are — even if they don’t fully stick the landing. Some of the most polarizing hack-and-slash games have a ton of things working for them that fans can still enjoy as long as they manage to look past certain rough elements in each title.
TheDevil May Cryseries featuressome of the greatest hack-and-slash gamesof all time, but not all of these titles hit the ground running.Devil May Cry 2is a great example of the same, with this game being hated by the masses for dumbing down the gameplay and destroying a lot of what made Dante such an iconic protagonist. So, it’s easy to see why fans were less than enthused to see the announcement of aDevil May Cryreboot that looked like it was changing too many things for most fans' liking.
The lack of challenging combat and major changes to Dante’s character were frowned upon by most fans, leading toDmC: Devil May Crybeing lambasted for forsaking a lot of what made the series so special in the first place. It’s easy to draw this conclusion, but fans willing to give this reboot a chance will love the stylish combat, invigorating visuals, and a surprisingly great story that gives every character their moment in the spotlight.
The switch to character action and hack-and-slash combat was worrying for manyFinal Fantasyfans. The series had struggled to redefine its identity, andFinal Fantasy 16needed to nail its core gameplay loop while doing justice to this historic JRPG series to satiate fans. Unfortunately, in the eyes of some fans, the easy combat and a focus on quick-time events were frowned upon by many players who felt thatFinal Fantasy 16was all style and no substance.
It can be challenging to ignore the poor side quest design and lack of enemy variety, butFinal Fantasy 16deserves way more credit than it gets. Some of the hunts are a joy to undertake, and the game’s cinematic qualities are through the roof. The game’s story is rife with political intrigue, while the Eikon battles are spectacular affairs with crescendoing music and high stakes that never fail to deliver. The combat itself may be easy at points, but there are ways to combineClive’s abilities and techniquesto decimate most enemies in style.
To this day, it’s hard to believe thatLollipop Chainsawwas written by none other than James Gunn himself. With the legendary Suda51 serving as the game’s director, the potential for this game to succeed was immense. Unfortunately, the incredible presentation and fun story couldn’t make up for a combat system that wore out its welcome and became a chore to interact with by the time players reached the end of this game.
Thankfully,Lollipop Chainsawdoesn’t overstay its welcomeand lets players enjoy a tight, action-packed romp with a zany premise, colorful visuals, and violence out the wazoo. TheRePOPedition of the game spruces up the visuals to make them more remarkable, giving players an excuse to check out a game that is highly entertaining despite its flaws.
APS3 exclusive that isn’t talked aboutall that often,Heavenly Swordbrought a ton more to the table than most people give it credit for. The game looked positively breathtaking at the time and can still wow players with its impressive visuals. Ninja Theory are masters of the hack-and-slash genre, andHeavenly Swordfeatures engaging gameplay that makes every sword slash as satisfying as can be.
Unfortunately, the bulk of the main story is forgettable to the point where players can’t be bothered with Nariko’s motivations. Even with Andy Serkis serving as the game’s antagonist, cliché writing and a short runtime turnHeavenly Swordinto a one-and-done experience. Still, it’s a good one-and-done experience instead of simply a tolerable one, which makes this polarizing title worth checking out for fans of underappreciated hack-and-slash games.
The hype forKingdom Hearts 3was through the roof before its release.The previous mainline entry was a must-play on the PS2, with its fun blend of JRPG systems & hack-and-slash combat making for a winning combination that was perfected from the first game. While the story was convoluted in many ways, seeing familiar Disney characters interact with original and established Square Enix characters was novel.
However, the combat ofKingdom Hearts 3coupled with a disappointing story left many fans with a bitter taste in their mouths. Expectations were perhaps unrealistically high for this highly anticipated title, and players who approach the game with a more balanced mindset are likely to enjoy a colorful and engaging hack-and-slash game that serves up an explosion of colors with each stage. It’s far from the best game in the series, but it’s definitely the most playable. Fans looking for a charming action game with an interesting story will love whatKingdom Hearts 3brings to the table.
