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A game that uses a mixture of 2D & 3D techniques. Commonly used to describe the use of either 3D graphics restricted to a 2D perceptive, or 2D graphics used to fake the appearance of a 3D perceptive.
Sure, these days have almost every game sporting the newfangled 3D, but way back when, everyone had to live with plain old 2D. 2D, or two dimensions, limit the game to scrolling backgrounds, but some games even now make use of this basic concept.
Achievements are extra challenges added into video games that sometimes carry a point value or unlock bonus material, and are sometimes solely for bragging rights.
Games with stories that involve aliens invading another planet.
An often used plot device where the main character wakes up and has lost all their memories. The game usually centers around getting your memory back or uncovering the events that lead to your confusion.
This concept occurs in many RPGs and Sci-Fi games. The Ancient Advanced Civilization Technology is often a giant weapon (Halo Rings, Giant of Babil, etc.) that becomes a major plot focus in the stories of these games.
When someone is androgynous, they have a mix of masculine and feminine aspects, or they have the appearance of being in between male and female. A common aesthetic in Japanese media and games.
Artificial life-forms ("robots") specifically designed to mimic the appearance of human beings. Although this is a male-specific term, with female-looking machines actually being "gynoids", the term "android" is generally used universally in video games.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, commonly refers to the programmed behaviors of NPCs in a game, whether it's the fact that a soldier takes cover behind a wall in Gears of War, or that townspeople cheer upon your arrival to their village in Fable.
Attributes are a numerical representation of a character's abilities who have their roots in RPGs. Today, attributes have spilled over to a wide range of game genres.
Neglectful and/or abusive parents and parental figures.
A mechanic used mainly in Japanese RPGs of both the action and turn-based variety.
Bats, hammers, wrenches, maces, staves, or even brass knuckles. These are weapons intended for blunt trauma rather than cutting or slicing.
Bosses are enemies that fight you at the end of a level or at a significant point in the story.
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.
Games that let you choose the path you take through the story-line.
Also called a "Boob Slider", this is an interface that allows players to interactively increase or decrease the size of a character's breasts usually as a part of character creation.
The race of androids in the Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Universe series.
Feline animals commonly kept as pets. There are many different breeds and varieties.
Chiptunes are musical compositions that are synthesized by a computer or console sound chip.
While modern chemistry defines 118 atomic elements, video games more often deal with classical elements as described in ancient philosophy, mainly fire, water, earth, and air. In many games, each element is stronger against certain elements, but weaker against others.
A cliffhanger is a type of ending where the fate of the characters, the world, or everything in the world is left unresolved. In most cases, they are revealed in sequels.
A clone is a being created as a perfect genetic duplicate of another being, right down to the DNA.
Collectibles are items such as coins, rings, gems, packages etc. that can be gathered, usually for some kind of reward, or sometimes to simply beat a level. Often (almost too often) the source of earning achievements and trophies on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Collective consciousness is best defined as a group or race of beings possessing no minds of their own, but act and are controlled in service of a greater overall purpose, much like ants. They make great villains!
Typically found in fighting games, combos are a series of strung-together moves.
The cutscenes are nothing but the pages of a comic book. Audio is usually dubbed over to give them a little more life.
Connectivity is a feature in some game systems that enables them to connect to other systems to unlock extra content or other unique functionality.
The continue is a classic gaming concept, and usually arises when the player "dies" or fails in the game. Usually some loss is tied to a continue, in a form of a "life" or something of other value.
Crafting allows players to create their own items with the correct ingredients. It is used mainly in MMOs and RPGs.
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