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. Hack-and-slash
action games
An action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes a large variety of sub-genres, such as fighting games, beat 'em ups, shooter games, and platform gam ...
are sometimes known as character action games.
The term "hack and slash" was originally used to describe a play style in
tabletop role-playing games, carrying over from there to
MUD
A MUD (; originally multi-user dungeon, with later variants multi-user dimension and multi-user domain) is a Multiplayer video game, multiplayer Time-keeping systems in games#Real-time, real-time virtual world, usually Text-based game, text-bas ...
s,
MMORPGs, and
role-playing video game
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
s. 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"
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),
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
's
arcade video game series ''
Shinobi
A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance, espionage, infiltration, deception, ambush, bodyguarding and their fighting skills in martial arts, including ninjutsu.Kawakami, pp. 21– ...
'' (1987 debut)
and ''
Golden Axe'' (1989 debut),
Data East's arcade game ''
Captain Silver'' (1987),
's early ''
Ninja Gaiden'' (''Shadow Warriors'') 2D games (1988 debut),
Capcom
is a Japanese video game developer and video game publisher, publisher. It has created a number of List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil' ...
's ''
Strider'' (1989),
the
Sega Master System game ''
Danan: The Jungle Fighter'' (1990),
Taito's ''
Saint Sword'' (1991),
'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.
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
is a Japanese video game developer and video game publisher, publisher. It has created a number of List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil' ...
's ''
Devil May Cry'', ''
Onimusha'', and ''
Sengoku Basara'' 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'',
[Is Dante's Inferno Divine or a Comedy of Errors?]
UGO Networks, February 9, 2010[Heavenly Sword Review]
VideoGamer.com, 04/09/2007 and ''
No More Heroes No More Heroes may refer to:
Music
* ''No More Heroes'' (album), a 1977 album by The Stranglers
** "No More Heroes" (The Stranglers song), the title track
* "No More Heroes", a song by Westlife from the album ''Where We Are''
Video games
* ...
''. 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''. In turn, ''
Devil May Cry'' (2001) was influenced by earlier hack-and-slash games including ''
Onimusha: Warlords'' (2001)
[''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', December 2001 issue, p. 56.] and ''Strider''.
[Jones, Darran (24 Apr 2010). "The Making of... Strider". ''Retro Gamer'' (76). pp. 48-53.]
Role-playing games
The term "hack and slash" itself has roots in "
pen and paper"
RPGs such as ''
Dungeons & Dragons'', denoting
campaigns
Campaign or The Campaign may refer to:
Types of campaigns
* Campaign, in agriculture, the period during which sugar beets are harvested and processed
*Advertising campaign, a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme
*Bl ...
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
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' 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."
Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to
role-playing video games
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
, usually starting in ''D&D''-like worlds.
This form of gameplay influenced a wide range of
action role-playing game
An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre.
Definition
The games emphasize real-time combat where the player h ...
s, including games such as ''
Xanadu
Xanadu may refer to:
* Shangdu, the ancient summer capital of Kublai Khan's empire in China
* a metaphor for opulence or an idyllic place, based upon Coleridge's description of Shangdu in his poem ''Kubla Khan''
Other places
* Xanadu (Titan), ...
'' and ''
Diablo''.
See also
*
Action role-playing game
An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre.
Definition
The games emphasize real-time combat where the player h ...
*
Beat 'em up
*
Dungeon crawl
A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video games an ...
*
List of beat 'em ups, including hack-and-slash games
*
Powergaming
*
Roguelike
*
Slasher film
References
{{Martial arts
20th-century neologisms
MUD terminology
Role-playing game terminology
Video game gameplay
Video game genres
Video game terminology