Vehicular Combat: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}{{page should be category}}

[['''Vehicular Combat]]''' is a [[Video Game]] genre in which the action takes place inside motor vehicles (often [[Weaponized Car|armed]]), whether they be cars, boats, or sci-fi craft. These games usually have one requirement; the destruction of all enemies. Some games add racing, [[Escort Mission|escort]] or other gameplay elements, while others are barely above the [[Shoot'Em Up]] level. Generally, these games focus on fast-paced action, as opposed to [[Role -Playing Game]] elements.

Generally, Vehicular Combat gameplay works in one of two ways: The player is the same individual throughout a career, and must upgrade and modify his/her vehicle with better weapons, parts and armor to beat back increasingly more difficult challenges, or the player may choose from a variety of different vehicles, each with its own unique skills and abilities. The ''[[Interstate '76]]'' is a good example of the first style, while the ''[[Twisted Metal]]'' series is a good example of the second style. Some games use a mix of both aspects, allowing a player to choose a vehicle and then modify it accordingly.

Most of these will be [[Driving Game|Driving Games]]s. See also [[Mecha Game]], which is often similar, just with [[Humongous Mecha]].

* ''[[Interstate '76]]'' and its sequel, ''[[Interstate '76|Interstate '82]]''. Notable for using a [[Simulation Game]] approach involving locational damage, realistic physics and salvaging equipment between missions.

* The later games in the ''[[Burnout]]'' series are like the [[Fighting Game]] version of this genre, mixed with traditional racing. The battling is all done through physical ramming and grinding than with guns.

* The 1999 game ''[[Redline (1999 video game)|Redline]]'' is a hybrid [[Vehicular Combat]] / [[First-Person Shooter]]. The player can go around on foot shooting a handheld gun, or he can get into various cars armed to the teeth with the usual futuristic weaponry.

* ''Streets of [[Sim CitySimCity]]'' had the added bonus of being able to play in cities created in [[Sim CitySimCity]] 2000, using the "Urban Renewal Kit" included.

* ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' and its successors get an honourable mention. They might not be pure [[Vehicular Combat]] games, but they feature this style of gameplay heavily, both in missions and when speeding around wreaking havoc.

* ''[[Rock Nn' Roll Racing]]'': Since you and your opponents' cars are armed (with [[Frickin' Laser Beams|lasers]], [[Macross Missile Massacre|missiles]], mines and such) and you get bonus cash for each enemy destroyed during the race, [[Vehicular Combat]] is thus strongly encouraged.

* ''Destruction Derby'': Two variants of [[Vehicular Combat]] here : the regular races, where the main goal is to arrive first, but you get points by making your opponents spin or outright destroy them ; and the Destruction Derby mode, where you and your opponents are all gathered in an arena, and the goal is to be the last one standing.

* DOS game ''Deathtrack''. Machine guns, lasers, missiles, "terminators" (little destuctive robots)... Sometimes mafiosos would appear before a race and tell you to kill a specific driver for some cash.

* ''[[Blur (video game)|Blur]]'' is a recent example, featuring licensed [[Cool Car|Cool Cars]]s, but very cartoony weapons, and [[Wacky Racing]] abounds.

* ''[[Post Apocalyptic Mayhem]]'' keeps the action going in one direction like a race but nonetheless awards wins to the most prolific destroyer. Each of its six cars has distinct weaponry, lending each a different play experience.

* ''[[Auto Assault]]'' expanded this into an [[Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game|MMORPG]].

* The many vehicle sequences in ''[[Halo]]''.

* ''[[Bandits: Phoenix Rising]]'' is a linear action story with differing objectives in each level, in contrast to most games of the genre.

== [[TabletopReal Games]]Life ==