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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.
Games that feature co-operative play for 4 players.
Running at 60 FPS is standard for arcade & PC games, but hardware restrictions of consoles often force developers to aim for lower framerates in order to preserve visual detail or allow greater scale. 3D console games hitting 60 FPS are thus uncommon, though the trend of re-releasing games on newer hardware has technically resulted in more 3D console games hitting 60 FPS.
8-bit can be a reference to actual computing power, or it can be a retro look for videogames that want to recall a bygone era.
The ability to fling oneself around an environment gracefully. Wall-running, jumping, massive drops, climbing, and other physical activities are what acrobatics is all about.
Advanced Computer Modeling (ACM) is the technique used by RARE to create pre-rendered 3D models for Donkey Kong Country. This technique had a fundamental change in how game art was created.
Games that feature stages in which the player is forced to continually progress, chased by a relentless and lethal threat that covers the entire height/width of the screen.
Part ad, part game. Advergames are designed to promote a specific brand or product, usually outside the game industry.
Air moving with a considerable force from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Used in games to slow things down, speed them up, or make them hover.
Albatoss is a flying enemy from Super Mario Bros 2. They often drop Bob-Ombs from their claws.
Characters either begin with multiple outfits, unlock them through play, or purchase them as in-game items. These costumes are sometimes integral to play.
Animals and Creatures that serve to populate levels and give the world life. Usually passive and may try to avoid or runaway from the player, But some may become hostile to the player once attacked/provoked. Some may not be able to be interacted with at all either being in the background/foreground or too far away.
A sun that bobs down at Mario. First appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3, an then across various other Mario games.
Animals that follow you or help you on your journey.
Anthropomorphism is the concept of an object, concept or character that has human qualities or traits, such as speech, a level of intelligence similar or higher than a human's and self consciousness. "Anthro" means "of human" and related to the concept of humanity.
Ants are small insects that live in nests and work together for a queen. Can be gene-modified to grow huge.
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.
Some games don't feature a traditional co-op mode that makes the players equal partners, but allows a second player to participate in the game to assist player one albeit with significantly different gameplay mechanics.
Different gameplay mechanics for different players. Sometimes uses different input devices.
A mode in which a game will play a gameplay demonstration video as a means to entice players into playing the game.
An atmospheric phenomenon that causes a fantastic natural light display.
The game automatically saves for you when you reach certain points. Implemented in order to reduce frustration for forgetful savers.
Levels that progress forward by themselves at a fixed rate.
A location or scenery that is reminiscent of fall. Autumnal settings involve trees shedding their leaves and usually feature yellows, browns and reds.
An immature childish person. It wears diapers and whines a lot, much like old folks. Babies are considered cute by most people.
Videogame bosses, generally enormous ones, that take up the entire background of the screen you fight them on, usually only extending the body parts they attack with (and for some reason, their weak point) into the foreground where the player can interact with them.
Backtracking is the act of navigating through previously explored areas, usually for the purpose of progressing in an objective-based adventure game. Players who are lost may also backtrack to reorient themselves.
Platforms that are manipulated by weight. Too much weight on one side can drastically alter the equilibrium. *Not to be confused with Unstable Platforms*
Banzai Bills are the Bullet Bills larger cousins. They advance slowly and can be defeated by a single jump attack.
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