Posted May 25, 2007 at 11:59AM by Glen D. Listed in: Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 3, PSP, Xbox 360, Opinions & Analysis Tags: Blizzard, BFG
Ó

The QuickJump QuickList: The ten weariest game cliches ever - Image 1


Game developers come up with cool and innovative ideas all the time. However, it's a fact that right around the time that everyone starts thinking that the idea is fresh and cool, some other developer rips it off and feeds it to us again with a different flavor. The strange thing is that we all embrace cliches like they were avant garden.

So what do we do? Put together some crusade to fight game cliches? Nah, if we do that, people would rip it off and we'll be part of yet another cliche that we ourselves started. Heck, even lists are cliches. So what isn't? We don't know, but we better start the list before we all lose our minds.

Here are the weirdest game cliches in the game kingdom:

10. The Stormtrooper syndrome - This is one of the most rampant game cliches that traces its root to old-school movies. There you are, the dashing hero, you just saved the girl and you two just busted out of the enemy fortress. The alarms blare out loud, enemy soldiers are on a hot pursuit, they ram your ride if you're in one or shoot hundreds, if not thousands of assault rifle rounds. For some reason, they forgot that you're the hero, and no matter how many of them there are or how many years they trained, they'll never hit you. They never learn!

9. Bases were made to be blown up - Yup, enemy villains have that wasteful habit of building large, expensive bases that always seem to self-destruct after you fight the boss. Of course, you'll never get caught in the blast. Who are they kidding?

8. Indestructible doors and chests - Hmm.... A wooden door is blocking the path to where I need to be. Just my luck, someone locked it. Oh well, it looks like nobody's going to mind if I use some unconventional tools to open it surgically. Let's try the trusty pistol. BANG! No dice. Maybe the shotgun will do the trick. KA-BRAM! Damn, it's tougher than it looks. Maybe, but nothing's tough enough for the BFG! KABLAMIST! Whoa! What manner of Tibetan oak is this door made of?

So much for realistic gameplay. Oh well, I better find the key. I hope enemies try to stop me because I'm feeling pretty generous with my ammo today.

The QuickJump QuickList: The ten weariest game cliches ever - Image 1


7. Main character must-have - Nope, it's not a gun nor is it a sword. Main characters need razors to maintain that mustache-free face. You can have a goatee, but no hair above the mouth, please. No self-respecting hero can have it. Let's not even get into female main characters and shaving.

6. The RTS Rule - Almost every real-time strategy game that has a setting of an Earth-like world from any time after the 1800's has to have a human or American faction in it. Impossible Creatures doesn't count. It's just a guy, a girl and freaky crossbreeds, for crying out loud.

5. The almost-useless ultimate weapon - Unless you're cheating, you only get the best weapons and other gear in a game when you've practically beaten everyone there is worth beating unless there are super bosses like the Weapons from the Final Fantasy series or Baal from the NIS games.

4. Baptism by sewer - If you want to be a hero, you have to be willing to go where the sun don't shine. You did it in the Final Fantasy games, you used it as an escape route in Metal Gear Solid 3 and just about every FPS has a sewer level. We thought we were safe in Diablo II because we didn't think they had sewers at the time, but we guess Blizzard showed us. No offense to Mario and the Ninja Turtles.

The QuickJump QuickList: The ten weariest game cliches ever - Image 1


3.The village jinx - This is especially true in RPGs. The people in the first village you stay in better go to evacuation mode when they spot you. Your presence usually means that enemy troops will come in and pillage the poor hamlet and you can't do nothin' bout it because you're still too weak or young or both. By the way, notice that hardly anyone has a toilet in the houses that they never lock? Of course, the scoundrel that you are, will take advantage and loot them clean.

2.Character types - Does it even matter if they give classes some other names? Everybody will be a derivative of a warrior, priest, mage and elf.

1. The party-joiner impulse - It doesn't matter who they are, what they're doing or where they come from: People will join your party and forget about their families and jobs to be part of your posse. No wonder you have that Messianic complex. Strangely enough, you end up solving the biggest problems in their lives along the way in some crazy side-quest.

Did we miss anything? If so, post them in the comments section for future references. Thanks to Tim Y., Gino D., Nicolo S., Ceasar S., Ryan C., and Chris L. for all the great ideas! Special thanks to Ian C. for christening the column and doing last week's banner, and big thanks to Karl B. for this week's banner.


Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

Bookmark / Find this article on:


87 Comments


Sort by:
   by First (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » FIRST

owned


   Re: Demonsweat (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » .

You missed the silent protagonist... aka, the mute bastard who doesn't seem to care enough about anything to speak his mind. Also missed the rag-tag group of unlikely heroes who set out to save the world against the odds.

   Re: Gino D. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-05-25
 » Crono... Crono...

Wake up, Crono!

   Re: asdf (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » wierdo

haha spelled "wierdest" wrong. You guys are wierd.

   Re: TridekTwo (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Leveling

"Here I am starting my quest! Luckily everyone around me is weak and the though ones will only appear when I'm strong as well!"

Basic RPG cliché. When you're level one, you'll only find other level ones and so on. It's lucky that your home city is surrounded by weak monsters, where others that are far away ar completely screwed!

   Re: Anonymous (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » spelling..

No, it is "weird".

   Re: ReservoirDog (Unregistered) - 2007-05-27
 » Why, WHY?

are you always the bad guy...lol...

in GTA a guy starts blasting at you and you get the wanted level...

and in Hitman 2 i was in disguise in the mission "invitation to a Party" and that Spetzna agent started to shoot me and the guards did nothing but after awhile of getting shot at the Guards start shooting me

THOSE BASTARDS!!!...lol...
   by AppledBlood Candy v2.0 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Not first.

See?

   by Advertising -
   by spiderman (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » you missed

the "i'm invincible in the beginning, but then a bad dude takes away all my weapons and armor, and i become weak, and i have to work to get my cool stuff back"


   Re: mahes (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » gah!

I HATE THAT!!!! That should've definitely been in the top 10

   Re: James (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Good idea

That one could replace the one about facial hair. Nothing above the lip? Gordon Freeman begs to differ -- I'd listen to him, he's pretty bad-ass.

   Re: yup (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » yup

triple yup

   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » kaching

how about those things that happens almost every story where someone/something is captured and youre neither there nor have the powers to stop it, then you have to go on a journey to save he/she/it no matter what.

   Re: KIRBYTIME (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Seen it, done it

I've seen that cliche too many times in the Metroid Prime series. It'll eventually come to the point where Samus's power-ups are so loosly fitted, all she'd have to do is trip and let them fall into some kinda vent.
   by Wonkizzle (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Bloody hell?

Wheres all the villian cliches?

They all have some crazy power trip, and have to take over the world.

"Ive got to take over the world for supreme powah! And to do that, I have to let the heros get dangerously close to beating me, but then ill just whoop out my super awesome invincible pants and put their asses to shame because no one can beat me! BWAHAHAHAH" [/sarcasm]

Not to mention just about every boss will tell you that he cant be beaten, cuz hes obviously THAT hardcore xD

Nice article.


   Re: Tealwolf (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » haha

Very nice description, because I can see all of our favorite baddies doing that...

   Re: Starayo - 2007-05-25
 » Recommended reading for all villains:

Never leave home without it!

http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html
   by Advertising -
   by bradius (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » villain cliches

OR completely explain his master plan.


   Re: Chris (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » and

Somebody always gets lost or kidnapped, and you have to go find/rescue them. it could be a random person that just joined up with you, who the real player could careless about, but you never have the choice to just let them die... *sigh* lol

I wonder what zelda would've been like if Link would've just said f*ck it, I'm tired of this, I'm gonna go fish today instead!!

   Re: smokeelaa - 2007-05-25
 » I know one thing

The wouldn't have been a Zelda 2

   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » yes there will still be

grandpa the smith was supposed to rescue the princess in the first place if it wasnt for his asma attack.
   by Chris (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » ...and...

Somebody always gets lost or kidnapped, and you have to go find/rescue them. it could be a random person that just joined up with you, who the real player could careless about, but you never have the choice to just let them die... *sigh* lol

I wonder what zelda would've been like if Link would've just said f*ck it, I'm tired of this, I'm gonna go fish today instead!!


   Re: KIRBYTIME (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Yeah, or...

Or he could just hook up with his other girls that are the same age, but he only regards them as 'friends'.

Or turn ghei -__-
   by Hanky (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » What about bosses?

What about bosses? I mean, if the final boss, the leader of all your enemies, really do see you as a threat, wouldn't he send out all he has in the first level? Try beating 3000 soldiers and 10 bosses, plus the final boss, in the first stage. How's that for a challenge?

The weird thing is, the final boss always lets 3000 of his soldiers die before it's time to get his 4SS out of his sofa. Plus, even if a game DOES end with the hero dieing by the shots of the final boss, the final boss still believes he can rule the world despite that he no longer has any soldiers left! :D


   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » what if there was a game

you take on all the mini bosses and LAST Boss at the very beginning. afterward you continue to play all throughout the game with just regular baddies

   Re: cX (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Yeah... what if....

Thank god people like you don't make games.
   by Dezerith - 2007-05-25
 » Bosses taking their time!?!

Or when a villain who's been trying to kill you for like, 3 years, then finally has you in the palm of his hand, all tied up, and then he decides to SAVOUR THE MOMENT!?!?! I mean, OH MY GOD he's been terrorising you for like 3 years why not kill him on the spot!!??!!!?!?!


   Re: Advertising -


   Re: PurpleShadow (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » well...

If you've been waiting, you might want to make sure the moment doesn't slip by as a little "eh?".

   Re: Noobicious (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » lmfao

That's seriously true. Oh for gods sake, you're the bad guy! Blow his *****ing brains out before his friends rescue him 10 years later.
   by 360 fan (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » What about the...

Where the hell did you come from, cliche?

All those games where you painstakingly murder everyone in your path, room after room. Not only are they all dead, but you even searched every corner of each room, to make sure that you didnt miss anything. Confident that there is nothing in the rooms behind you, you flip a switch.

Suddenly, there is a group of enemies charging at you from the room you just came from!

   by nate (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » EVERYTHING IS ULTRAVIOLENT

Why is it in EVERY game harboring some kind of voilence, EVERYTHING that isn't on your team is trying to kill you? In RPGs especially, even the squirrels and magical, floating fish randomly attack you out of nowhere, even if you're level 99, toting armor that shoots lasers and a sword twice as big as you.


   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » next gen

nowadays programmers are improving games specially on m.m. online r.p.g. monsters that are ways below your level just stands still, continue whatever it is doing or run away from you. i remember chasing monsters fleeing from me on the ps1 game Guardian crusade and some other console RPGs.
   by Naroon-X (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Just let em live...

I hate it when your main character has a chance to kill the very enemy who will cause you nothing but misery and woe for the next 10 hours of the game, but instead they just sit there and read their whole life's story and let them escape. COME ON!

   by LoL (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » HAHA


That one could replace the one about facial hair. Nothing above the lip? Gordon Freeman begs to differ -- I'd listen to him, he's pretty bad-ass.



Quick Jump just got OWNED!!!! :P


   Re: Jerico G. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-05-25
 » Lol indeed

This is no divine, all knowing, absolute truth list. We're all free to add what should have/n't been included.

   Re: jockstrap (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » ...

Big Boss/Naked Snake anyone?

   Re: hjjh (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » moustaches

Same with Mario, and Haggar, and probably lots of others that don't immediately come to mind.
   by anon (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Stupid magical object

The game premise must be about a magical object given to the good people by some powerful being. Only the good people are too dumb to use the object's power for defence and some bad guy comes and steals it to take over the world.

   by Ash (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » What about...

The Birish or posh bad guy? Most games have one, Liquid Snake from MGS,Sephiroth and Seymour from FF, etc.

   by jerses (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » animals

Animal always atack you... even the cute ones and they are willing to die for no reason... maybe they think you will steal from them. (why do animals need items and money if you never see them buying stuff in the town)? Animals hate party´s . Sorry for my english :P


   Re: Viper (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » LOOOOL

you re right why does animals carry money they should give xp or pelts for you to sell but nooooo they carry money in there cute little furry bags and magic potions and weapons!!!

   Re: Noobicious (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » lol

How the little 4 horned squirrel with nothing but a 1 damage nut throw attack fights you when you're lv 9999999 and he's lv 1. Then when he dies, he drops his 2gp which he has no reason to have.
   by DESU (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » How about the young hero?

I'm so sick of most Japanese RPG's where the main hero is almost always a young kid/teenager who uses a sword as a weapon. Ugh.


   Re: ~ (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » ~

alternative being a middle-aged man with a AK47 ?

   Re: ... (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » ...

It helps appeal more to the younger audience ;)

   Re: Chester (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Fail

"alternative being a middle-aged man with a AK47 ?"

No, just don't make every hero male, holding a sword and being 10 years old you f.u.c.k.i.n.g weeaboo.

   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » question

would you want a game that has a ten year old kid as a hero and totes an AK47? a super cutely deformed version of Duke Nukem perhaps?
   by Demonsweat (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Biggest cliche ever

The female partner with gigantic bazongas.


   Re: Boobs are good (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » BAZONGAS

im gona get called pig for this, but best clechie ever is right, couse its one of the stupiedest (all be hotties) ones of all time
   by Das Kobold (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » "hidden" items

There is always the health pack or ammo hidden under the stairs or behind the "indestructible crate". When will the villians ever learn to hide that stuff somewhere else?

   by PSProdigy - 2007-05-25
 » I can't believe you guys didn't say this...

What about the fact that shooting a guy in the heart only takes away part of his health, and he's still standing up, feeling fine, shooting at you? Or when you slash them across the face with a sword? And of course you have to take turns and make sure the fight is completely fair...

   by DH3K_aka_KBobTwo1K - 2007-05-25
 » A little disappointing.

I would've also considered: Exploding Barrels
Crates
perfectly flat floors in natural enviornments
Not being able to use your enemy's weapons
Assault rifles, shotguns, rocket lauchers and snipers
Frag grenades more about the exposion and less about the fragments(pet peeve sorry)
Same ol' generic enemies(scorpion, skeleton, wasps, undead)
Boss fights are always broken up into different stages

OK some of these might not even be that good, w/e I'm not del'ing.


   Re: MGSnake727 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-28
 » 1st 2

i think that exploding barrels and crates should have been at the top of the list.
   by tom (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » missed one

you missed only one thing qj, part 2 in a 3part series is 99.9% ALWAYS dissapointing , if you dont believe me look at these star wars II/star wars VI/waynesworld2/lordoftherings2/pirates of the carribean2/halo2/fusionfrenzy2/kotor2/spiderman2/xmen2,there are soooo many more but i cant think right now


   Re: Glen D. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-05-25
 » LOL!

Point taken. very true.

   Re: 360 fan (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » More or less

Thats not really a cliche, just an unfortunate mechanic of being the "middle" of the story. The second does not have the the wow factor of the first one, and it lacks the spectacular grand finale ending of the third.

Also, most of what you listed there are some really fantastic, sucessful titles. Not dissapointments by any stretch. Kotor 2 however, I agree was crap wrapped in garbage.

   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » i liked

Super Mario 3
Metal Gear Solid 2 + 3
Crash Bandicoot Warped
Gradius 3
Street Fighter 2
Tenchu 2
Darkstalkers 2 Night Warriors / 3 Vampire Saviour
Tekken 2 / 3
Grand Theft Auto 3
Devil May Cry 3
God Of War 2
Final Fantasy 3
Gran Turismo 2
Star Ocean 2
Sims 2
Half Life 2
and hundreds more of version 2's and 3's

   Re: huggybear4sh (Unregistered) - 2007-05-29
 » god of war

god of war 2 was brilliant though, but strangely enough youre right, i want to play GoW one again but not #2
   by Gamer (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » 3L337

How about bullet time

so many games out with bullet time or "slow motion" which is more or less exactly the same thing. Countless Matrix games use it, MaxPayne was one of the first. Red Steel has it. List goes on and on.

   by Mike (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » .

Here's another one. Most games always have an older person who heard of a rumor or legend and somehow, everytime, it's real.

   by Reneid Klein (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Let's not forget

How your super fabulous special attack that takes thirty seconds of powering up, dancing, spinning and flipping before executing is NEVER interrupted by the villains.

"Wow, he's spinning that sword around in the air, COMPLETELY unguarded...I think I'll watch."


   Re: nic (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » lol

LOL!! I totally agree bud.
   by Master InuYasha - 2007-05-25
 » hmmm

How about if i just want to stick my sword in some random villagers stomach, wont that due any good?
Oh, I wish I can hold my piss and ***** like the main character, played for 70+ hours in FFXII and still haven't used a restroom. Oh, heres one for realism. If i am going 200+ mph, and hit a wall, I dont think i will still be alive, but lo and behold, in GT4, I can still race. Talk about indestructable cars, ***** talk about hard as hell walls.


   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » every has this

invisible barriers stopping you from doing things the programmer didnt want you to. in most GTA games bridges has invisible barriers which stops you from crossing it etc. you cannot fall from most cliffs.
   by Cecil (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Another

How about the female party member that is really a princess/leader from the place that you just happen to have to go to to get a bridge built?

How about the alarming number of party members that have amnesia?

A party member that can steal, but can't mug. . . just stab them when you take their money!

A childhood friend that turns out to be the ultimate enemy . . .


   Re: Cecil (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » More

A boss fights you and has unlimited health and does 9999 damage with every hit . . . until you fight him a second time.

a guy touches you and you lose health; you touch that guy and . . . you still lose health.

you walk into an enemies castle unannounced and there is a billion traps and a thousand puzzles. You mean to tell me he goes through this every time he goes to the kitchen to make a sammich?

The hero can leap 40 feet above the ground to attack something, but he is stumped by a fence/5ft wall/curb. . .

   Re: Mr. D In Action (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » @ Cecil

"a guy touches you and you lose health; you touch that guy and . . . you still lose health."
Jellyfish dude. XD

   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » hmmn

Bosses cannot storm/murder the hero with all of his minions at the start of the game. and not one boss ever have conquered anything at all.
   by MR SUSHI (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » I don't like sushi

(this goes back to the classics)

final boss always comes back, using the same basic plan, only with a slightly different twist.

Robotnik: "Hmm... he smashed all those machines... lets try it with THESE machines, he'll never see it coming!!!"

Bowser: "Gee, he keeps getting thru my castles. Lets try THESE castles..."

   by ultimadium (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » lets not forget

Didn't B.J brancovitz have a beard in wolfenstien3d when you read the storyline? duke nukem was the best hero of all time for FPS's

   by Aryn (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » An all too common cliche...

How about the "You are a soldier going after the enemy forces in order to save the world, somehow all you have is a handgun and 12 bullets (or the crappiest sword or knife in the city)" cliche that begins most action games? I mean, no sane person would go against unknown or massive forces with just that kind of crap. (Note: I am not referring to games where there is actually a logical explanation for the lack of equipment, but there is not usually one in first person shooter games)

And add to that the "We all know you are our last hope (and possibly have saved our city already), but will still make you pay through the 4SS for the equipment you need to defend us and kill off our enemies" cliche in any action or RPG game where you can buy stuff. I mean, if you are so important and hailed as being the potential savior of the world in a city would a real store owner value ripping you off over his continued existence and his family's welfare?


   Re: KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » yeah true

like mario and cloud really had to pay for items.

i also remember castlevania on GBA where there is a military man goes all the way to dracula's castle, disregards his safety, just to sell you stuff and even guard your gal.
   by shrimpdude - 2007-05-26
 » Uhh...

No mustache? Er...how about Mario?


   Re: Glen D. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-05-26
 » LOL!

Mario... good one. You got me there


Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add  to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!