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Logging is the process of cutting down trees for timber. This is an important aspect in many strategy games.
Gnomes are a race of mythological creatures, which are usually much smaller versions of humans.
Basilisks are small serpentine creatures that can kill adventurers with a single glance or turn them into stone. It is classically referred to as the "king of all snakes" and its name literally means "little king".
Device used by games with text boxes to show that a mysterious and/or unknown character is talking. Mostly used in games coming from Japan (at least nowadays).
Series of names given to an unknown character(or a character not wanting to be revealed yet due to plot reasons) when he/she/it is talking through text boxes. Can be represented by "???", "Mysterious Boy/Girl/Man/Woman, "Unknown", "Person X", or many others.
Even in the 3D era, games that featured worlds on 2D plains, or in rectangular prisms were rife, but in the last few years this has changed considerably. More and more games' environments are being mapped spherically.
Platforms that are manipulated by weight. Too much weight on one side can drastically alter the equilibrium. *Not to be confused with Unstable Platforms*
Some rooms or items have twisted contortions, unnatural laws of gravity, or a generally confusing (yet working) architecture.
Footprints are visible marks left behind by a character walking.
After losing the allotment of lives, using a continue does not penalize the player. With no punishment for losing all lives, it makes limited lives superfluous.
Skeeters are giant bugs with the ability to move freely on top of water, much like real-world water striders.
A segmented platform that, when stepped on, will move erratically in a set pattern. The clue is to not fall off until the destination is reached.
An enemy in the Super Mario Galaxy series.
This concept deals with platforms that phase in and out of existence as time passes. It is used to create tricky platforming situations requiring excellent timing to overcome.
Whittles are friendly wooden creatures that make their debut in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They often speak in broken or simple phrases.
A hostile artificial intelligence, or "rogue AI", is a synthetic being that has turned on its creators. Among the most famous rogue AIs from video games are SHODAN (System Shock) and GLaDOS (Portal).
A situation where it is hard to tell which parts of the game world can be interacted with, and which are just for show. Mostly associated with point-and-click adventure games, where players often respond by clicking wildly around the screen until they find something.
The Shinespark is the charged jump maneuver that Samus can do after running at full speed, then by pressing down on the D-pad to hold the charge, then by preforming the dash move against a slope, and finally by jumping shortly after. This is first seen in Super Metroid. It really only needs to be used to view a secret message by Nintendo in Metroid Fusion. Samus can Shinespark horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
A hand gesture to indicate approval. Often used when verbal communication is not possible (such as during stealth sections, at long distances, or when a character is mute).
The odd way characters move in games developed (though not exclusively) in Japan.
The true final playable part of a game that presents itself after the game's supposed ending.
Some games include a special feature that plays all cutscenes in sequence and links them together with sections of prerecorded gameplay.
Mantis-like creatures native to the planet Zebes in the Metroid universe. Normally feral, Mother Brain's telepathic control turned them into fearsome space pirates.
A hand gesture signaling disapproval. It is the opposite of a thumbs-up.
Bulls are a species of floating, plant-like creatures that make multiple appearances in the Metroid series.
A group of villains, each with a different characteristic and ability (or gimmick) that insist on fighting the protagonist one at a time. They may have ridden together, but they never die together.
The inclusion of skateboarding, snowboarding, or other X-Games fare as a diversion. Popular in the 2000s during the height of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.
Players are presented with what appears to be a consequential choice, yet no matter what the player selects, the outcome is the same.
Grabbing the attention of a nearby enemy NPC. Usually leads to them attacking.
Quest givers that task the player with killing an enemy or specific number of enemies.
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