Worst gaming cliches

S

supermariofan

Dry Bowser
What are some of the cliches you're sick of seeing in video games? Be sure to list some video games for examples of said cliches. I don't have a number 1 but I do have some cliches that piss me off:


Quick Time Events (Resident Evil 4): Okay I'm putting down my controller after what I went through so I can enjoy a cutscene and-- oh shit! *quickly picks up controller then dies before pushing the button* damn it!

Escort Missions (Skyward Sword, Resident Evil 4, Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga): These are the dumbest types of supporting characters in video games! They are either slow (hurry the fuck up so I can continue my mission) or very stupid (Either stay behind me or hide somewhere so I don't accidentally hit you or shoot you and so you don't open yourself to the enemy you dumbass!)

Hubworld missions (No More Heroes, Sonic 06): Well do you feel equiped and ready for your next mission? Well too bad! You gotta do this shit first: You need to do certain lame ass missions that are so goddamn simple you could be thinking "Why don't YOU do this then you lazy fuckers?! I ain't doing this shit!" and then you can move on with your next quest.

Water levels (Ocarina of time, Donkey Kong 64, countless Mario games): Since water reduces your speed and your physics, there is so little you could do underwater, I always find these levels to be boring because of not much you can do and you move so painstakingly slow, and the controls can get a little finicky at times.

Silent protagonists (The Zelda series, the Mario series, Half Life, Call of Duty Ghosts): Almost every single one of these protagonists are so uninteresting. If you're not gonna make the characters talk, at least do something to make them interesting. Try to make us care for them in some way. I want to relate to the character I'm playing as throughout the game!
 
Quick Time Events are fine if you expect them

look at heavy rain, the whole game consists mostly of quick-time events, and it's perfectly fine.
 
theres one cliche i hate more than water levels in terms of "levels"

ice levels.

the ice levels in mario games are fucking uncontrollable because your sliding across the place like its not even funny anymore
 
Any stories that have a prophecy involved. Ugh I hate them.

Quick Time events are also pretty dumb. Was disappointed to find out that Bayonetta has them but at least Bayonetta 2 got rid of the instant death QTEs.
 
half life is very deliberately silent

the idea was all the feelings and thoughts you had were yours, not just what the character is saying

you're supposed to insert yourself into the character

now I will admit that there's some dumb stuff that happens due to this, like in episode 2 where you could've just told everyone what G-man said, and Eli would've believed you, but yknow
 
Glitchy said:
Desert levels are worse, especially in Fire Emblem.
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So much this. Those chapters are always a pain in the ass.

Probably one of my least favorite chiche is the "helper x betrays protagonist(s) y" chiche. It just happens too damned much. I'd point out some of the games it's in, but that would be considered spoilers so eh.
 
Glitchy said:
Desert levels are worse, especially in Fire Emblem.
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Please.

Fog. Of. War.

I feel silent protagonists are perfectly fine in not very story-driven games, to be honest.
 
supermariofan said:
Button Mashing (Mario Party, Banjo Tooie): Nothing more exciting than getting your thumbs fucking sore, huh?!
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Index finger yo
 
Mic blowing (Mario Party DS, Nintendoland, Bowser's Inside Story): A little worse than button mashing. There are certain times when I blow into my DS (especially in Mario Party) where I feel like I'm about to pass out! Seriously! Who came up with that feature?!
 
QTE's for bosses are infinitely more worse than other ones, especially if the bosses are nothing but QTE's. It sucks when you expect an epic climax and then it's just "Press A to not die!" over and over.
 
supermariofan said:
Button Mashing (Mario Party, Banjo Tooie): Nothing more exciting than getting your thumbs *bleep*ing sore, huh?!
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I'm also left-handed so controller handling is so awkward, but I guess I learned to mash with my nondominant hand.

Perhaps it's not a cliche, but I can't stand how game designers design women, especially those "armed" for combat.

Also, the silent protagonist cliche really needs to die off. It's the reason Mario's personality was stripped even though he has potential to be a much more interesting character (shown outside the games).
 
Mario Party Σ said:
Perhaps it's not a cliche, but I can't stand how game designers design women, especially those "armed" for combat.
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THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Characters telling protagonists in the game to press certain buttons on a controller even though they don't fucking have one (Metal Gear Solid, Star Fox Adventures, Zelda): Okay I understand helping the players work certain mechanics, but I prefer on-screen instructions, not characters telling the protagonists to do that shit, it's so awkward watching those cutscenes! I can just imagine what the characters are thinking in their head: "What the hell is this guy on? What select button?"
 
I think it's more awkward when there's a conversation with the silent protagonist.

Gawd, I hate the silent protagonist cliche. I know it's supposed to be "you", but it just doesn't work.
 
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