Is 'Something-like' truly a viable description for video games

(CyberVonCyberus) #1

Often we hear games being called “Soul-like”, “Rogue-like” and other stuff-like… ect.
However is this truly a viable description for a game ? Let’s take ‘soul-like’ for example since it is what I’m most familiar with.

When I hear soul-like the first thing I expect is that the game will be similar in gameplay to dark souls, however this tag is often used wrong as many of the games called souls-like have maybe 1 or 2 things in comon with dark souls, otherwise they are action RPGs and it is the only thing in comon.
This often creates false expectations since the games have little in comon.

I also find it absurd that Dead Cells is called a souls-like, the only thing in comon is the health potion working like Estus flask, otherwise it has nothing in comon even the combat system which is dodge based is it’s own thing and has nothing to do with dark souls

(GatoCommodore) #2

@CyberVonCyberus said:
Often we hear games being called “Soul-like”, “Rogue-like” and other stuff-like… ect.
However is this truly a viable description for a game ? Let’s take ‘soul-like’ for example since it is what I’m most familiar with.

When I hear soul-like the first thing I expect is that the game will be similar in gameplay to dark souls, however this tag is often used wrong as many of the games called souls-like have maybe 1 or 2 things in comon with dark souls, otherwise they are action RPGs and it is the only thing in comon.
This often creates false expectations since the games have little in comon.

I also find it absurd that Dead Cells is called a souls-like, the only thing in comon is the health potion working like Estus flask, otherwise it has nothing in comon even the combat system which is dodge based is it’s own thing and has nothing to do with dark souls

shitty game description wants to get certain other franchise to hype up to their game
hack and slash/action RPG would fit perfectly like you said.

money is the motive

(CyberVonCyberus) #3

In the end, this false advertising hurts the sales more than it benefits it.
Attracting the wrong audience to your game will result in them leaving it alongside a bad review.

#4

@CyberVonCyberus said:
In the end, this false advertising hurts the sales more than it benefits it.
Attracting the wrong audience to your game will result in them leaving it alongside a bad review.

I think that’s generally true and I agree, but how do you feel about some games or marketing teams that pretty much piggyback their own success off of similar models in other popular games? Paladins and Battleborn come to my mind first compared to the almighty Overwatch. All of them seem successful to me. (Also, I’ve never played any of them so don’t want to get into the BB vs OW debate on who came first and all that; I’m just using the first example that came to mind to make a point.)

(TheStrangerous) #5

It’s natural people will draw comparisons ot everything.
The whole thing about familiarity and all. Then again nothing is original, you know “7 types of stories”, “Good artists copy great artists steal” and "‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ ".

What still grind my gears is the term “GTA clone”, seriously… after so many years, people still do that? Ridin’ on R*'s cucumber?

(CyberVonCyberus) #6

@TheStrangerous said:
It’s natural people will draw comparisons ot everything.
The whole thing about familiarity and all. Then again nothing is original, you know “7 types of stories”, “Good artists copy great artists steal” and "‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ ".

What still grind my gears is the term “GTA clone”, seriously… after so many years, people still do that? Ridin’ on R*'s cucumber?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOhWHlpB9ws

I understand some games are not going to be always 100% original, afterall it is only normal to try and copy successful ideas and try to improve them.

What bugs me the most is how every game gets judged for not being similar enough to another similar game. The dark souls serie is a clear example:
When dark souls was released everyone shat on it for not being just like demon souls then when Ds2 was released, again since it had changed so many mechanics (although the PVE wasn’t that great) everyone started saying it was the worst game in the world and Ds1 became the best of the serie, and finally when Ds3 was released which changed the pace of the game into much faster combat with faster dodges everyone said it was a failed Bloodborne clone and Ds2 became the best game in the world apparently.

Comparisons and nostalgia way too often causes people to have biased opinions about the games they play and being unable to apreciate the game for what it is, although thankfully there is still people who can look at the game for what it is.

(watsyurdeal) #7

Thing is using genres or games for comparison helps people understand what they are buying, since demos, betas, free to plays, etc are common in the main stream industry.

We’re lucky our game is so easy to recommend, just hard to learn from the start.