Analysis of a Game Genre
Action-Adventure
The action-adventure genre is quite self explanatory, it combines the elements of both the action and adventure genres. Action adventure games tend to have a huge focus on gameplay mechanics and combat but, at the same time, have a large, beautiful and diverse, world to explore and find secrets hidden in all kinds of places. The games story is usually based around the gameplay concepts and characters, but that isn't always the case.
Action-adventure games also tend have some secrets or collectibles, as well as side quests, to encourage the player to explore the world more and reward them for doing so. The legend of Zelda (a series of action adventure games) does this very well, combining the use of tools and items with adventure elements, using these tools to get to hard to reach areas and find treasures like hearts, which increase your health.
There are many types of action-adventure games, some are more linear and don't offer as large a world but still keep to the same basic system of offering areas for the player to explore. However, the majority of these types of action-adventure have more focus on combat, be it a beat-em-up, a shooter or any other type, rather than adventure. Games like Devil May Cry and Gears of War have this linear narrative while still keeping to the tropes of the action-adventure genre (e.g. exploration, collectibles). Although most linear action-adventure games are centered more around combat; there are some, like Tomb Raider, which change this by having more adventure tropes and using puzzles more than actual combat, mostly.
Image: http://86bb71d19d3bcb79effc-d9e6924a0395cb1b5b9f03b7640d26eb.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/gears-of-war-3-cog-tags-location-3-screenshot.jpg
The themes given to action-adventure games a very diverse, some will have a darker tone and story than others and there are others which use much lighter tones but still have an epic story like the darker games. There is also a thin line between fantasy and realistic settings, most games of this genre, even when set in a modern city, will likely have some fantasy elements (e.g. monsters, magic, sci-fi etc.) and these elements will likely be a focus in the game's story, missions and mechanics.
The way action-adventure games represent characters is usually positive, however sometimes racist and sexist stereotypes can take up a character's personality. These stereotypes are used for comedy or to make the character easier to either like or hate, but sometimes are just there for no reason, Like women were in the Grand Theft Auto games.
Characters in action-adventure games will likely have some depth to their personality, these tend to be characters important to the story. Although some minor characters, like in The Elder Scrolls - Skyrim, will be able to actually converse with the player and the player can even propose marriage to them. This can make the world feel more alive, as characters can either like or hate you, helping the player to feel more immersed. But it doesn't go much further than that and the NPCs don't always feel different when talking to them as some will say the same things.
Image: http://oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/thumb/3/39/NPC_Maven.jpg/468px-NPC_Maven.jpg
Most action-adventure games use very common codes and conventions, there's a large world, usually set in a historical timeline or a fantasy world of it's own, the combat is usually in real time rather than turn-based (although that can be used too), some will use free running (e.g. Assassin's Creed), usually has a dark, serious story and epic quests and side quests. Most action-adventure games with an open world will have a mode of transport and/or fast travel to allow players to get from one place to another quickly.
Side quests are in pretty much every game with an open world and they tend to be accessible at any time between mission or quests, usually depending on how far through the main story you are. Read Dead Redemption does this in a great way, side quests are unlocked as you progress though the story and some are relevant to the story as well. One side quest, unlocked after you complete the story, actually has the true ending to the game in it.
There are many types of action-adventure games, some are more linear and don't offer as large a world but still keep to the same basic system of offering areas for the player to explore. However, the majority of these types of action-adventure have more focus on combat, be it a beat-em-up, a shooter or any other type, rather than adventure. Games like Devil May Cry and Gears of War have this linear narrative while still keeping to the tropes of the action-adventure genre (e.g. exploration, collectibles). Although most linear action-adventure games are centered more around combat; there are some, like Tomb Raider, which change this by having more adventure tropes and using puzzles more than actual combat, mostly.
Image: http://86bb71d19d3bcb79effc-d9e6924a0395cb1b5b9f03b7640d26eb.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/gears-of-war-3-cog-tags-location-3-screenshot.jpg
The themes given to action-adventure games a very diverse, some will have a darker tone and story than others and there are others which use much lighter tones but still have an epic story like the darker games. There is also a thin line between fantasy and realistic settings, most games of this genre, even when set in a modern city, will likely have some fantasy elements (e.g. monsters, magic, sci-fi etc.) and these elements will likely be a focus in the game's story, missions and mechanics.
The way action-adventure games represent characters is usually positive, however sometimes racist and sexist stereotypes can take up a character's personality. These stereotypes are used for comedy or to make the character easier to either like or hate, but sometimes are just there for no reason, Like women were in the Grand Theft Auto games.
Characters in action-adventure games will likely have some depth to their personality, these tend to be characters important to the story. Although some minor characters, like in The Elder Scrolls - Skyrim, will be able to actually converse with the player and the player can even propose marriage to them. This can make the world feel more alive, as characters can either like or hate you, helping the player to feel more immersed. But it doesn't go much further than that and the NPCs don't always feel different when talking to them as some will say the same things. Image: http://oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/thumb/3/39/NPC_Maven.jpg/468px-NPC_Maven.jpg
Most action-adventure games use very common codes and conventions, there's a large world, usually set in a historical timeline or a fantasy world of it's own, the combat is usually in real time rather than turn-based (although that can be used too), some will use free running (e.g. Assassin's Creed), usually has a dark, serious story and epic quests and side quests. Most action-adventure games with an open world will have a mode of transport and/or fast travel to allow players to get from one place to another quickly.
Side quests are in pretty much every game with an open world and they tend to be accessible at any time between mission or quests, usually depending on how far through the main story you are. Read Dead Redemption does this in a great way, side quests are unlocked as you progress though the story and some are relevant to the story as well. One side quest, unlocked after you complete the story, actually has the true ending to the game in it.
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