Stupid Video Game Troupes

[RiffRaff]

What do you think is the stupidest video game troupe? Which one drives you nuts?

For me it when a character needs to shout the name of their attack every time they do it. You see this a lot in Japanese developed games and recently giving the Tales of series a shot with Berseria I think that particular game brought the troupe to new levels of ridiculousness. All 4 party members are screaming move names all at the same time in constant succession. Who the fuck thought that would be a good idea? Who actually enjoys that?

I also don't like having to kill animals to add an extra pocket to my backpack. Hunting should be completely optional in games where it's not the games primary focus. 'Glares at Ubisoft'

 

[modern_moron]

Silencers

I'm no gun expert, but it's my understanding they make no discernible difference to sound level. (Lower the decibel level, but still BANG BANG very loud)

I'd like to make a shooty stealthy game like Hitman where the silencers don't actually work as everyone has become familiar with them.

And when people complain that they're broken I can say they're working as intended.

 

[Queen of Philosophy]

I'll have to mention two story tropes:

Video games or not, the idea of the Chosen One always sends shivers down my spine.

Amnesia is another that always makes me roll my eyes. It's not impossible to write a good story and include a character with amnesia but, let's be honest, in most cases this is just an excuse to not develop backstory/character interaction and add a stupid and unnecessary hint of a mystery plot inside the game.

 

[RiffRaff]

I'll have to mention two story tropes:

Video games or not, the idea of the Chosen One always sends shivers down my spine.

Amnesia is another that always makes me roll my eyes. It's not impossible to write a good story and include a character with amnesia but, let's be honest, in most cases this is just an excuse to not develop backstory/character interaction and add a stupid and unnecessary hint of a mystery plot inside the game.

I don't want to spoil the amnesia troupe too much, but the new Paper Mario game has a ton of fun with it and it got some really solid laughs out of me

The chosen one is definitely tired as hell. I can usually look past it if the game's gameplay is solid enough and I don't need a good story to keep pushing forward, but since this troupe is mainly prevalent in RPGs that's a pretty big problem lol.

 

[Queen of Philosophy]

I don't want to spoil the amnesia troupe too much, but the new Paper Mario game has a ton of fun with it and it got some really solid laughs out of me

The chosen one is definitely tired as hell. I can usually look past it if the game's gameplay is solid enough and I don't need a good story to keep pushing forward, but since this troupe is mainly prevalent in RPGs that's a pretty big problem lol.

I haven't played Paper Mario but yeah, you can totally make a good story out of an amnesia plot (can't think of any video game example right now but Christopher Nolan did quite a good job with his Amnesia). Now Chosen One... For me, it takes a really good writer to create a compelling storyline with this trope. Maybe that's why I don't care for a lot of RPGs?! Skyrim was a huge exception but well, I cannot say I cared about the main story D:

 

[CelicaCrazed]

I would say needing to grind to progress is a big annoyance. Actually anything that is clearly added just to artificially lengthen a game and doesn't add anything else to the experience.

 

[Slimybearreturnsv866.5]

Silencers

I'm no gun expert, but it's my understanding they make no discernible difference to sound level. (Lower the decibel level, but still BANG BANG very loud)

I'd like to make a shooty stealthy game like Hitman where the silencers don't actually work as everyone has become familiar with them.

And when people complain that they're broken I can say they're working as intended.

Well when you have gravity defying throwing objects I don't think their too fussed with realism for their weapons

 

[Seymour Demonica]

Silencers

I'm no gun expert, but it's my understanding they make no discernible difference to sound level. (Lower the decibel level, but still BANG BANG very loud)

I'd like to make a shooty stealthy game like Hitman where the silencers don't actually work as everyone has become familiar with them.

And when people complain that they're broken I can say they're working as intended.

This might interest ya:

 

[Nova]

What do you think is the stupidest video game troupe? Which one drives you nuts?

I can't stand the Tragedians from Pathologic, with their stupid masks and melodramatic performances dirtying the very concept of theater--
Sorry, I just realized you probably meant tropes. Whoops, my mistake!

 

[modern_moron]

Well when you have gravity defying throwing objects I don't think their too fussed with realism for their weapons

Oh I could cover that, too.

Throwing weapons that work as intended only when you're at correct distances, otherwise your target just gets hit with the handle and maybe gets a bruise or something.

I'd more or less just want to see a developer use popular expectations for these kinds of things to fuck with people.

A favorite of mine with this sort of thing was The Indie Stone adding bleach to the game and some players getting upset that there was no in-game warning that drinking bleach would kill their character.

 

[DeScruff]

Hmmm stupidest trope... Does Unique NPC count?
By that I mean, a Unique NPC we are introduced to and obviously does not fit in with any of the other characters. Oh look everyone has realistic hair and hair colors, except Mr.Yugioh protagonist over there, but hes totally cool don't worry.

*Lights flip - Gunshot - Lights flip back on*
Oh No! Generic NPC #2! has been killed Who could it be? Was it... Generic NPC #5. It was totally you Generic NPC #5 I know it! Ive had my eye on you all this time, you just looked... too generic.

- Actually Trails from Zero played with this idea =P

(Yeah it was well done!)

 

[Startyde]

When any characters *gasps* at any situation. Almost exclusively English VA's for JP made games (looking at you FF7R). They should know better and just be quiet. A silent expression can also speak volumes.

 

[Seymour Demonica]

When any characters *gasps* at any situation. Almost exclusively English VA's for JP made games (looking at you FF7R). They should know better and just be quiet. A silent expression can also speak volumes.

Or just over-exaggerated exclamations, which actually usually happens in JP dubs.

*slight bump* "GYUAH!?"

 

[Xeo]

I'll have to mention two story tropes:

Video games or not, the idea of the Chosen One always sends shivers down my spine.

Amnesia is another that always makes me roll my eyes. It's not impossible to write a good story and include a character with amnesia but, let's be honest, in most cases this is just an excuse to not develop backstory/character interaction and add a stupid and unnecessary hint of a mystery plot inside the game.

The only game I can think of, at least at the moment, that utilized Amnesia well was well, Amnesia: The Dark Descent. As it damn well better, given it's named from it. But it was the main plot device in that game, and for very good reason. The big "reveal" at the end makes the name make sense and makes all the pieces fall into place together. And made an already groundbreaking game (at the time) that much more amazing.

 

[Dreggsao]

The only game I can think of, at least at the moment, that utilized Amnesia well was well, Amnesia: The Dark Descent. As it damn well better, given it's named from it. But it was the main plot device in that game, and for very good reason. The big "reveal" at the end makes the name make sense and makes all the pieces fall into place together. And made an already groundbreaking game (at the time) that much more amazing.

Disco Elysium also did amnesia really well. I loved that you could roleplay as someone that only pretends not to remember.

 

[Queen of Philosophy]

The only game I can think of, at least at the moment, that utilized Amnesia well was well, Amnesia: The Dark Descent. As it damn well better, given it's named from it. But it was the main plot device in that game, and for very good reason. The big "reveal" at the end makes the name make sense and makes all the pieces fall into place together. And made an already groundbreaking game (at the time) that much more amazing.

Yeah, I thought about Amnesia and Disco Elysium but I've never personally played them, so... I do think I have Dark Descent on my PS4 library though. Might give it a try one of these days!

 

[AllCutUp1136]

Escort quests... specifically WoW escort quests. Don't know how it is in retail now... I play on a <cough> WotLK server...

 

[AtomicBanana]

I think making money from killing things that should not have money. Like, how does the economy even work when you can spend your day smashing the lowest level non aggressive enemies and make enough to pay for a night at an inn after like 5 kills?

 

[modern_moron]

I think making money from killing things that should not have money. Like, how does the economy even work when you can spend your day smashing the lowest level non aggressive enemies and make enough to pay for a night at an inn after like 5 kills?

I'd actually love to see a fantasy RPG with a fully fleshed out (and unfair) economy

Like how Geralt in the Witcher books hardly ever even has money on him to buy new clothes let alone sleep in an inn or buy food.

 

[Xeo]

Escort quests... specifically WoW escort quests. Don't know how it is in retail now... I play on a <cough> WotLK server...

They've gotten better in that for one, there are fewer of them. And for two the NPCs you escort usually aren't made of cardboard and actually can fight. They will also keep up with you while mounted most of the time now. (Some of them even bother to mount up when you do.) There are actually a few between Legion and Battle For Azeroth that actually HELP and make even your normal quests easier while you have them with you. There's two that come to mind that absolutely fucking SHRED anything that dares aggro on you. But those two are bigger, actual prominent characters. But it was actually a neat "escort" quest. (I use the term loosely because realistically these NPCs could be escorting you with how powerful they are. But you're just having a chat with them as you go, and actually being treated like the heroic badass your character realistically is, rather than some chump fetch-quest bitch.)

Wow has changed a lot since Wrath, some argue for the worse, some argue for the better. It depends on your mindset. The game is significantly easier and less rewarding in some cases due to that fact. But it's also much easier to delve into headfirst, much, much more overall user-friendly. But one thing absolutely cannot be ignored or argued. The quest design has improved DRAMATICALLY. This was probably most noticeable in Mists of Pandaria where we first started seeing dynamically flowing questlines that started to embrace phasing, rather than just being static. It's gotten better and better since. Questing now flows silky smooth like butter.