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A term for a humanoid creature with animalistic features which can comprehend everything from slightly feral humans to savage monsters with trace amounts of anthropomorphism.
A boss fight is a culminating challenge that pits the player against one or more enemies representing a greater threat and/or difficulty than those previously faced. These scenarios typically feature unique antagonists.
Hand-drawn or computer-generated animation.
Charging is the action of pressing & holding down a button or particular direction on the controller. Its purpose is to build up a powerful blast or burst of energy to take out an opponent or cause critical damage.
Special codes or button combinations used to gain powers or advantages in a game. Generally hidden.
Demons are generally creatures of evil, usually from Hell, who are often totally untrustworthy even when they're not murdering everyone and destroying everything in their path.
Dragons were originally messengers from heaven, according to early Buddhist texts. In games, they can be among the most fearsome of adversaries, but there are some exceptions.
A physical confrontation between two opponents without any outside interference.
Enemy Capture is a game mechanic that enables the player to capture or charm enemies. The capture mechanics and the ways enemies are used are myriad, but the effects are always beneficial to the player.
This concept is for games where at least one of the main characters is female.
FMVs are pre-rendered videos used in place of real-time graphics. Using FMV was an attempt to make videogames look "more like movies", sometimes with CGI animation and others with live-action actors speaking directly to players. The downside is that FMV requires a lot of disk space, and live-action FMV in particular can look terrible by comparison.
Game Over originally appeared in pinball machines, and later, arcade machines. When players lose at a game, it is game over.
This tag is for all games and characters that deal in the concept of gods, demigods, half-gods and the like.
A humanoid construct given life through magic. The materials used to create a golem vary greatly.
A winged creature from Greek mythology with the body of a bird and the head of a woman. Generally depicted as a winged woman with grotesque features with a mind full of bad habits.
Health is a value that gauges how much damage players can take in a game before they die or pass out. Also known as life in some games. Health is usually represented by a bar or a percentage instead of an exact amount. Found in most non sport games
Special or stronger units than standard ones, usually found in strategy games. This is not necessarily the same thing as a superhero or a game's protagonist.
When a character or group of characters does something extremely brave on behalf of another character or group of characters, knowing that they will get killed or seriously injured in the process.
A heavily armored soldier in the service of a lord or cause. Typically a champion of good and a defender of the innocent.
Female ninja.
The single most important thing in the world, love is a powerful story telling element that can connect characters or drive a story. There are many video game characters who have fallen in love with someone or something.
A love triangle is when three (or more) people are in some kind of romantic relationship with each other. They can become messy and complicated. It may or may not be competitive.
The concept of affecting the universe through supernatural methods, breaking the fundamental laws of science.
The meter which is used to gauge how much power there is left to use magic abilities.
A weapon that has been forged and/or imbued with mystical energy, magic, or some other supernatural force. It is often required to solve a specific puzzle, or vanquish an impossible foe.
From Beat-em-ups to fighting games to modern FPS, one dude hitting another has made an enjoyable pastime.
Legendary, stealthy assassins from Japan's feudal era, who are well-trained in the art of the sword, and who may or may not have access to magical powers.
By definition, a pirate is a (mostly naval) robber without commission from a sovereign nation. While maritime robbery has been around since ancient times, Piracy had its highpoint during the 17th century. They are easily identified by the "Jolly Roger", which is the traditional name of the famous skull flag.
The game incorporates a real time game clock, where one hour in game is equal to one real world hour.
Many games allow you to add characters to your playable group upon fulfilling certain conditions. This is a central mechanic of many RPG franchises, including Fire Emblem and Suikoden. These can be NPCs or even enemy characters that the player persuades to join their cause, through sidequests or dialogue options.
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