Video Game Tropes: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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* [[Evolutionary Retcon]] <br />As graphics technology improves, the appearance of the enemies changes so they are scarier, more detailed, and/or more and more lifelike.
* [[Evolutionary Retcon]] <br />As graphics technology improves, the appearance of the enemies changes so they are scarier, more detailed, and/or more and more lifelike.
* [[Faux First Person 3D]] <br />A way to simulate 3-D graphics by arranging 2D elements into a perspectivical picture.
* [[Faux First Person 3D]] <br />A way to simulate 3-D graphics by arranging 2D elements into a perspectivical picture.
* [[First Person Ghost]] <br />In [[First Person Shooter]] games, you can never see any part of your body other than perhaps your arms.
* [[First Person Ghost]] <br />In [[First-Person Shooter]] games, you can never see any part of your body other than perhaps your arms.
* [[Fixed Camera]] <br />The camera in a game shifts, but you can't control it.
* [[Fixed Camera]] <br />The camera in a game shifts, but you can't control it.
* [[Flip Screen Scrolling]] <br />A continuous gameworld scrolls only in full-screen intervals, or is otherwise rendered as a series of "screens".
* [[Flip Screen Scrolling]] <br />A continuous gameworld scrolls only in full-screen intervals, or is otherwise rendered as a series of "screens".
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* [[Check Point]] <br />A point to which the player can return after play has been interrupted, especially by player character death.
* [[Check Point]] <br />A point to which the player can return after play has been interrupted, especially by player character death.
* [[Check Point Starvation]] <br />A severe lack of [[Check Point|Check Points]].
* [[Check Point Starvation]] <br />A severe lack of [[Check Point|Check Points]].
* [[Color Coded Armies]] <br />Opposing sides in a strategy game can be told apart by their color.
* [[Color-Coded Armies]] <br />Opposing sides in a strategy game can be told apart by their color.
* [[Color Coded Multiplayer]] <br />Identical PC's can be told apart by their color.
* [[Color-Coded Multiplayer]] <br />Identical PC's can be told apart by their color.
* [[Comeback Mechanic]] <br />A feature that provides assistance to losing players or players near elimination.
* [[Comeback Mechanic]] <br />A feature that provides assistance to losing players or players near elimination.
* [[Controllable Helplessness]] <br />Video games that allow you to control your character (somewhat) even while helpless.
* [[Controllable Helplessness]] <br />Video games that allow you to control your character (somewhat) even while helpless.
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* [[Non Combatant Immunity]] <br />No enemies will try to attack you, or be capable of killing you, until you have the means to fight back.
* [[Non Combatant Immunity]] <br />No enemies will try to attack you, or be capable of killing you, until you have the means to fight back.
* [[No Points for Neutrality]]<br />Lets face it, being neutral sucks in video games. Those goody-two-shoes and bastard villains get all the development.
* [[No Points for Neutrality]]<br />Lets face it, being neutral sucks in video games. Those goody-two-shoes and bastard villains get all the development.
* [[One Hit Polykill]] <br />When a bullet goes through its target and can continue to hit more targets.
* [[One-Hit Polykill]] <br />When a bullet goes through its target and can continue to hit more targets.
* [[Only Smart People May Pass]] <br />Any barrier that requires the heroes to solve some kind of puzzle or [[Riddle Me This|riddle]] in order to pass.
* [[Only Smart People May Pass]] <br />Any barrier that requires the heroes to solve some kind of puzzle or [[Riddle Me This|riddle]] in order to pass.
* [[Outside the Box Tactic]] <br />Certain enemies are vulnerable to tactics that are bizarre or otherwise not intuitive at first glance.
* [[Outside the Box Tactic]] <br />Certain enemies are vulnerable to tactics that are bizarre or otherwise not intuitive at first glance.
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* [[Point of No Return]] <br />A place in the story where it becomes impossible to revisit earlier points.
* [[Point of No Return]] <br />A place in the story where it becomes impossible to revisit earlier points.
* [[Pop Quiz]] <br />A sudden general knowledge quiz regarding obscure facts about the events, characters and monsters in the game universe.
* [[Pop Quiz]] <br />A sudden general knowledge quiz regarding obscure facts about the events, characters and monsters in the game universe.
* [[Power Up Motif]] <br />An auditory cue that a powerup is in play.
* [[Power-Up Motif]] <br />An auditory cue that a powerup is in play.
* [[Pressure Plate]] <br />A door that's powered by a floor plate that trips when stood upon.
* [[Pressure Plate]] <br />A door that's powered by a floor plate that trips when stood upon.
* [[Press X to Not Die]] <br />During a cinematic event, you are instructed to press a button to trigger events or dodge attacks etc.
* [[Press X to Not Die]] <br />During a cinematic event, you are instructed to press a button to trigger events or dodge attacks etc.
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* [[RPG Elements]] <br />Where a non-[[RPG]] is given some aspects of one (menu battles, equipment, levels).
* [[RPG Elements]] <br />Where a non-[[RPG]] is given some aspects of one (menu battles, equipment, levels).
* [[RP Gs Equal Combat]] <br />The only way to get equipment, skills and levels is to fight things.
* [[RP Gs Equal Combat]] <br />The only way to get equipment, skills and levels is to fight things.
* [[Run Don't Walk]] <br />Modern games have characters run by default; walking is more difficult to do.
* [[Run, Don't Walk]] <br />Modern games have characters run by default; walking is more difficult to do.
* [[Rules of the Game]] <br />An area of the game with special rules or restrictions.
* [[Rules of the Game]] <br />An area of the game with special rules or restrictions.
* [[Save Point]] <br />A specific spot where the player is allowed to save.
* [[Save Point]] <br />A specific spot where the player is allowed to save.
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* [[Time Trial]] <br />A game mode where the game keeps track of how long you've been playing a level.
* [[Time Trial]] <br />A game mode where the game keeps track of how long you've been playing a level.
* [[Tube Travel]] <br />In which you get somewhere by going through a tube.
* [[Tube Travel]] <br />In which you get somewhere by going through a tube.
* [[Unexpected Shmup Level]] <br />Whoa, my trusty steed! Forsooth, we must pause to do a [[Shoot Em Up]] level!
* [[Unexpected Shmup Level]] <br />Whoa, my trusty steed! Forsooth, we must pause to do a [[Shoot'Em Up]] level!
* [[Veteran Unit]] <br />An equivalent of a [[Character Level]] in [[Real Time Strategy]] games
* [[Veteran Unit]] <br />An equivalent of a [[Character Level]] in [[Real Time Strategy]] games
* [[Videogame Set Piece]] <br />An occurrence that is not part of the game's typical gameplay/engine mechanics (e.g. monsters suddenly smashing down doors).
* [[Videogame Set Piece]] <br />An occurrence that is not part of the game's typical gameplay/engine mechanics (e.g. monsters suddenly smashing down doors).
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=== Common non-gameplay-related tropes: ===
=== Common non-gameplay-related tropes: ===
* [[Thirty Day Free Trial]] <br />Offering the game free for a limited time so that new players can try it out.
* [[30-Day Free Trial]] <br />Offering the game free for a limited time so that new players can try it out.
* [[Addressing the Player]] <br />Once you enter your name, the game brings it back later as part of the plot or gameplay.
* [[Addressing the Player]] <br />Once you enter your name, the game brings it back later as part of the plot or gameplay.
* [[Alchemic Elementals]] <br />Four specific monsters (variations are rare) are often used to represent an element.
* [[Alchemic Elementals]] <br />Four specific monsters (variations are rare) are often used to represent an element.
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* [[Coup De Grace Cutscene]] <br />After you defeat a boss, a cutscene shows you delivering the final blow.
* [[Coup De Grace Cutscene]] <br />After you defeat a boss, a cutscene shows you delivering the final blow.
* [[Crate Expectations]] <br />Crates are ''everywhere'' in video games and serve all kinds of different purposes.
* [[Crate Expectations]] <br />Crates are ''everywhere'' in video games and serve all kinds of different purposes.
* [[Cruelty Is the Only Option]] <br />Hey, you! Yeah, ''you!!!'' [[Kick the Dog|Kick this puppy!]] What's that, you say? [[Video Game Cruelty Potential|You say that'd be mean?]] That you're not [[Karma Meter|evil]]? Well, ''that's too [[Precision F Strike|fucking]] bad!!! '''Now kick that puppy!!!!!!!!'''''
* [[Cruelty Is the Only Option]] <br />Hey, you! Yeah, ''you!!!'' [[Kick the Dog|Kick this puppy!]] What's that, you say? [[Video Game Cruelty Potential|You say that'd be mean?]] That you're not [[Karma Meter|evil]]? Well, ''that's too [[Precision F-Strike|fucking]] bad!!! '''Now kick that puppy!!!!!!!!'''''
* [[Cutscene]] <br />Non-interactive sequences inserted into the action of a game.
* [[Cutscene]] <br />Non-interactive sequences inserted into the action of a game.
* [[Death Cry Echo]] <br />When a character is killed, they give off a dying scream, which is repeated (getting fainter) like an echo.
* [[Death Cry Echo]] <br />When a character is killed, they give off a dying scream, which is repeated (getting fainter) like an echo.
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* [[Excuse Plot]] <br />A bare-bones plot that's only there as a justification for the gameplay.
* [[Excuse Plot]] <br />A bare-bones plot that's only there as a justification for the gameplay.
* [[Exposition Break]] <br />A break in the gameplay to provide you with [[Exposition]].
* [[Exposition Break]] <br />A break in the gameplay to provide you with [[Exposition]].
* [[Fackler Scale of FPS Realism]] <br />A scale that measures how close [[First Person Shooter]] games are to real-world shooting and combat.
* [[Fackler Scale of FPS Realism]] <br />A scale that measures how close [[First-Person Shooter]] games are to real-world shooting and combat.
* [[Foreboding Architecture]] <br />Games which allow you to predict when enemies will appear based on the room or visuals you're seeing.
* [[Foreboding Architecture]] <br />Games which allow you to predict when enemies will appear based on the room or visuals you're seeing.
* [[Gameplay Guided Amnesia]] <br />Because the character knows things the player doesn't, sometimes the character gets amnesia to excuse the explanation to the player.
* [[Gameplay Guided Amnesia]] <br />Because the character knows things the player doesn't, sometimes the character gets amnesia to excuse the explanation to the player.
* [[Gay Option]] <br />A game that allows the character to pursue romantic ties with a same-sex character.
* [[Gay Option]] <br />A game that allows the character to pursue romantic ties with a same-sex character.
* [[Golden Ending]] <br />The only "real" ending; [[Multiple Endings|the rest]] [[Nonstandard Game Over|just tell you]] [[Its a Wonderful Failure|how you screwed up]].
* [[Golden Ending]] <br />The only "real" ending; [[Multiple Endings|the rest]] [[Nonstandard Game Over|just tell you]] [[It's a Wonderful Failure|how you screwed up]].
* [[Golden Path]] <br />The exact combination of choices that will make the best (usually with the most content) playing experience.
* [[Golden Path]] <br />The exact combination of choices that will make the best (usually with the most content) playing experience.
* [[Heroes Prefer Swords]] <br />In an RPG, the main character always uses a sword.
* [[Heroes Prefer Swords]] <br />In an RPG, the main character always uses a sword.
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* [[Involuntary Group Split]] <br />The characters are forced by a suddenly falling pile of rock, to continue their journey alone.
* [[Involuntary Group Split]] <br />The characters are forced by a suddenly falling pile of rock, to continue their journey alone.
* [[Irrelevant Importance]] <br />An important object that's already been used and hence irrelevant is still prevented from being destroyed or lost by the game.
* [[Irrelevant Importance]] <br />An important object that's already been used and hence irrelevant is still prevented from being destroyed or lost by the game.
* [[Its Up to You]] <br />It's the main character's job to do absolutely every task of any significance.
* [[It's Up to You]] <br />It's the main character's job to do absolutely every task of any significance.
* [[Journey to Find Oneself]] <br />After the end of a game, one character goes off on his own to wander the world.
* [[Journey to Find Oneself]] <br />After the end of a game, one character goes off on his own to wander the world.
* [[Late Character Syndrome]] <br />A character who comes to the party too late in the game for the player to want to go through the effort of using him.
* [[Late Character Syndrome]] <br />A character who comes to the party too late in the game for the player to want to go through the effort of using him.
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* [[No Gear Level]] <br />A level or piece of the plot where you've been stripped of your weapons and/or equipment.
* [[No Gear Level]] <br />A level or piece of the plot where you've been stripped of your weapons and/or equipment.
* [[No Item Use for You]] <br />You can't use certain or any items in certain situations.
* [[No Item Use for You]] <br />You can't use certain or any items in certain situations.
* [[No Plot No Problem]]<br />Forsaking any plot or character development so that the game is purely about the gameplay itself.
* [[No Plot, No Problem]]<br />Forsaking any plot or character development so that the game is purely about the gameplay itself.
* [[Now Where Was I Going Again]] <br />OK, I saved my place three months ago and I'm picking the game up again... so where was I supposed to go?
* [[Now Where Was I Going Again]] <br />OK, I saved my place three months ago and I'm picking the game up again... so where was I supposed to go?
* [[Omnicidal Neutral]] <br />Games that let you be not good nor evil but to take on ''everybody''.
* [[Omnicidal Neutral]] <br />Games that let you be not good nor evil but to take on ''everybody''.
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* [[Saving the World]] <br />Typical ''modern'' video game plot.
* [[Saving the World]] <br />Typical ''modern'' video game plot.
* [[Scenery As You Go]] <br />As you walk along a bridge or walkway, it creates itself, allowing you to continue.
* [[Scenery As You Go]] <br />As you walk along a bridge or walkway, it creates itself, allowing you to continue.
* [[Schrodingers Gun]] <br />Where several story possibilities exist, but the one that will actually happen depends on the player's actions and choices.
* [[Schrodinger's Gun]] <br />Where several story possibilities exist, but the one that will actually happen depends on the player's actions and choices.
* [[Schrodingers Question]] <br />You determine reality by answering a question whose answer you don't know.
* [[Schrodinger's Question]] <br />You determine reality by answering a question whose answer you don't know.
* [[Shoplift and Die]] <br />Stealing from a shop can be hazardous to your health.
* [[Shoplift and Die]] <br />Stealing from a shop can be hazardous to your health.
* [[Sidetrack Bonus]] <br />It can be a good idea to go the wrong way.
* [[Sidetrack Bonus]] <br />It can be a good idea to go the wrong way.
* [[Songs in The Key of Panic]] <br />Certain events cause a song in video games to speed up.
* [[Songs in The Key of Panic]] <br />Certain events cause a song in video games to speed up.
* [[Space Filling Path]] <br />Rooms always have to have stuff in them, or twist or turn or generally make you spend more time in them than necessary.
* [[Space Filling Path]] <br />Rooms always have to have stuff in them, or twist or turn or generally make you spend more time in them than necessary.
* [[A Space Marine Is You]] <br />In [[Science Fiction|sci-fi]] [[First Person Shooter|First Person Shooters]], starring a [[One Man Army|member of the military]], you will be a [[Silent Protagonist|mute]] [[Space Marine]].
* [[A Space Marine Is You]] <br />In [[Science Fiction|sci-fi]] [[First-Person Shooter|First Person Shooters]], starring a [[One-Man Army|member of the military]], you will be a [[Silent Protagonist|mute]] [[Space Marine]].
* [[Speaking Simlish]] <br />A language, generally for [[NPC|NPCs]], made up of nonsense sounds strung together like actual words.
* [[Speaking Simlish]] <br />A language, generally for [[NPC|NPCs]], made up of nonsense sounds strung together like actual words.
* [[Stalactite Spite]] <br />Inanimate cones of limestone can see players coming and fall appropriately.
* [[Stalactite Spite]] <br />Inanimate cones of limestone can see players coming and fall appropriately.
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* [[Wasted Song]] <br />This is the [[Video Games/Awesome Music|best music ev]]--HEY! Where'd it go?
* [[Wasted Song]] <br />This is the [[Video Games/Awesome Music|best music ev]]--HEY! Where'd it go?
* [[What Are You Looking At]] <br />[[NPC|NPCs]] just stand and stare blankly into the distance when you're not talking to them.
* [[What Are You Looking At]] <br />[[NPC|NPCs]] just stand and stare blankly into the distance when you're not talking to them.
* [[What the Hell Player]] <br />When the player does something weird or cruel, another character will call him out on it.
* [[What the Hell, Player?]] <br />When the player does something weird or cruel, another character will call him out on it.
* [[A Winner Is You]] <br />An ending sequence that's little more than a single line and a pixelly picture.
* [[A Winner Is You]] <br />An ending sequence that's little more than a single line and a pixelly picture.
* [[You Must Be This Tall to Enter]] <br />Once you receive a particular item that lets you enter a previously inaccessible area, you will need it all over the place to simply continue on your journey.
* [[You Must Be This Tall to Enter]] <br />Once you receive a particular item that lets you enter a previously inaccessible area, you will need it all over the place to simply continue on your journey.

Revision as of 10:06, 8 January 2014

An article in this index will be about these things:

  • Gameplay mechanics--including mechanics borrowed from Tabletop Games.
  • Characterization and setting tropes specific to game characters and settings.
  • Setting tropes that aren't necessarily specific to games but are used in games to the degree they are pretty much stock elements, or without which many games would be unrecognizable/unplayable.

NOTE: Please do not add tropes to this index if they can instead be put in one of the sub-categories.


Tropes related to technical aspects of video games:


  • Two and A Half D
    A sidescrolling platform game in a three-dimensional world.
  • Three Quarters View
    A method of portraying three dimensional space in a two-dimensional plane. Basically, it's a tilted bird's eye view perspective in which both the top and front of an object is seen at the same time, and the vertical axis indicates both height and depth.
  • Ambidextrous Sprite
    An asymmetric sprite will be perfectly mirrored--meaning it will "switch sides" depending on what side is visible.
  • Arcade Perfect Port
    Once the golden standard for ported video games when the difference in processing power between arcade and home was substantial.
  • Automatic New Game
    If the game can't find a previous save file, it skips the usual choice of "New Game" / "Continue Game" and starts up a new game by default.
  • Back That Light Up
    Handheld game consoles can be lit in several ways.
  • Camera Centering
    Quickly focusing the camera behind the player so you can see the same direction they are.
  • Camera Perspective Switch
    When the camera switches between first and third person perspective, or vice versa, either manually or dynamically.
  • Cel Shading
    A kind of rendering process that makes 3D models look like cartoons.
  • Combat and Support
    A pair of combat roles players can select between based on their respective play-styles.
  • Console Cameo
    A replica of the console a game is on (or another console by the same company) appears in the game.
  • Cut and Paste Environments
    Repetition of levels/environments, either in part or whole.
  • Dialogue Tree
    Dialogue which proceeds by selecting options from a list.
    • Shall I Repeat That
      When, at the end of a long set of text or dialogue tree, the person with whom you are speaking asks to start the entire conversation over.
  • Digital Avatar
    Your custom persona inside the game (and elsewhere in Cyberspace).
  • Digitized Sprites
    Converting an existing or pre-made image into a sprite.
  • Dynamic Loading
    Techniques used to hide Loads and Loads of Loading.
  • Elaborate Equals Effective
    Items and weapons will have a better look as they grow stronger.
  • Essence Drop
    Dead enemies drop some intangible thing (usually spheres) that refill your health, magic, etc.
  • Event Flag
    Something that happens that triggers something else (possibly totally unrelated) to occur.
  • Evolutionary Retcon
    As graphics technology improves, the appearance of the enemies changes so they are scarier, more detailed, and/or more and more lifelike.
  • Faux First Person 3D
    A way to simulate 3-D graphics by arranging 2D elements into a perspectivical picture.
  • First Person Ghost
    In First-Person Shooter games, you can never see any part of your body other than perhaps your arms.
  • Fixed Camera
    The camera in a game shifts, but you can't control it.
  • Flip Screen Scrolling
    A continuous gameworld scrolls only in full-screen intervals, or is otherwise rendered as a series of "screens".
  • Freelook Button
    The ability to switch from player control to camera control (when you can't have both), and simply observe all the gameworld's Scenery Porn from the character's perspective.
  • Freeware Games
    Games which have either been created for free distribution, or are formerly commercial titles that have been released from their copyright obligations.
  • Game Favored Gender
    When gender differences lead to one gender being more useful than the other.
  • Going Through the Motions
    3D games have a recognizable set of animations for each character which are repeated throughout the game.
  • Graphics Induced Super Deformed
    Video game characters have big heads in-game due to the low pixel count they take up.
  • Head Swap
    Same body, different head.
  • Hyperactive Sprite
    Sprites which will not have an idle mode, thereby being animated as if moving when it should be standing still.
  • Isometric Projection
    A form of graphical projection that fakes a third dimension when only 2D graphics are available.
  • Kill Screen
    When an older game gets played so far past expectations that it results in a Game Breaking Bug.
  • Loading Screen
    Please wait, your trope description is loading.
  • Magnet Hands
    Characters in Platform Games will always be holding their weapon, no matter what kind of crazy acrobatics they're engaged in.
  • Mook Debut Cutscene
    A short, usually wordless cutscene runs when you meet a new kind of mook.
  • Multi Platform
    Any software program, particularly a Video Game, that is simultaneously developed and (usually) simultaneously released for more than one system.
  • Point Build System
    The opposite type of Game System to the Class and Level System, you spend points to buy stats & skills.
  • Post Processing Video Effects
    Common visual effects that are applied after the scene is rendered by the game engine.
  • Ratchet Scrolling
    Scrolling controlled by the player but only operating one-way.
  • Real Time With Pause
    The ability to affect gameplay while it's paused.
  • Repeatable Quest
    Quests that can be repeated.
  • Respawn Point
    When you die, there's a designated place your new body pops out.
  • Scripted Event
    Events in video games which are programmed to unfold in the same way each time.
  • Shareware
    A popular form of game distribution, especially during the 1990s.
  • Side View
    A video game perspective in which all objects are viewed strictly from the side, with little or no amount of their tops or bottoms visible.
  • Skybox
    A graphical representation of the sky that "wraps around" a computer game-world, and is used to simulate the "sky" of a game-world.
  • Soft Reset
    The ability to restart just the game, without having to reboot the system.
  • Sound of No Damage
    A sound effect played when something is hit without taking damage.
  • Sprite Polygon Mix
    Fifth-generation systems often used fully 3D backgrounds with sprite characters, or static backgrounds with polygonal characters.
  • Suddenly Blonde
    A character's design must be constrained due to technical limitations.
  • Tech Demo Game
    A game that has such high hardware requirements, it's almost like a tech demo for said hardware requirements. It can also refer to games that make an obvious push to show off power (such as a game for a video game console).
  • Thematic Series
    A series of loosely connected games.
  • Top Down View
    A bird's eye view of the action.
  • Vector Game
    Any game that uses a vector graphics display.
  • Video Game Geography
    The consequences of making maps fit to a game instead of the other way around.
  • Who Forgot the Lights
    They made it dark for atmosphere. Pity you can't see anything.
  • Wrap Around
    A mechanic where the edges of the screen are hyperspatially connected: move past the left side, and you appear on the right.
  • Zip Mode
    An out-of-story way to quickly get from one area to another, to minimize Back Tracking.

Common gameplay tropes:

Common non-gameplay-related tropes: