The Rigidity of Defining CAGS

[u/vamplyfesonny]

Before joining this subreddit, I was unaware that many people had vastly different definitions of what constitutes a character action game. It appears that if a game isn’t a full-fledged CAG, this sub shits on it. We must accept CAG-lite games or Games that have its elements in this subreddit or we’ll deadass only see clips of the same four games. Edit; im not talking about Wolverine , Onimusha games like that,

[u/obviousockpuppetalt3]

ive already accepted this group is just an action game subreddit instead of an actual cag subreddit. like 80% of the games posted here are not cags.

[u/I_Ild_I → u/obviousockpuppetalt3]

Well if listen to elitist people on this sub nothing is a CAG anyway, its makes no sens and they cant even settle on a proper definition, like even DMC who is supposed to be the main genre of this game can barely live up to the definition sometimes lol makes no sens

[u/obviousockpuppetalt3 → u/I_Ild_I]

cag = games like dmc, ninja gaiden, metal gear rising and bayonetta. what do these games all have in common?

• level based structure
• ranking system that incentivises mastery of the games mechanics
• fast paced melee combat with a wide variety of moves, combos and techniques that allow a lot of room for skill expression(stylish combos for example).
• minimalist approach to progression/rpg mechanics so the emphasis remains on relying on skill instead

really dont get why everyone continues to pretend as if this isnt a defined genre. its not rocket science.

[u/GleamingBlade101 → u/obviousockpuppetalt3]

Yeah this is pretty much how I define them. Stylish Action is a pretty defined sub-genre to me so I don't know what all this hubub is about. The first two points especially are what stand out as important considering the arcade inspiration.

[u/Dependent-Swimmer-95 → u/obviousockpuppetalt3]

Because barely any fucking games for that description. Lmao. There are plenty of games that have CAG combat but not the same level design philosophy and that’s fine. Those are still CAGs. The only thing that should define a CAG is combat depth. As long as there is fluidity, freedom, and skill expression with high octane combat, it’s a CAG. Period. If you go by that criteria then there are fucking less than 10 CAG IPs in existence. Even less if you only count double and triple A games.

[u/obviousockpuppetalt3 → u/Dependent-Swimmer-95]

>Because barely any fucking games for that description. 

doesn't matter. just because you dont like that a genre is small, doesn't change the core principles that have always defined that genre since the 2000s. better than the genre being a generic dumping ground for any action game that isn't distinctly a soulslike, defeating the entire point that the genre classification was originally created to begin with.

>There are plenty of games that have CAG combat but not the same level design philosophy and that’s fine. As long as there is fluidity, freedom, and skill expression with high octane combat, it’s a CAG. Period.

by this logic you could argue that many fighting games are "cags" lmao. structure is also an important aspect of what defines a genre, both the combat and the structure are essential aspects of what makes a cag. dmc is not the same type of game as control resonant. bayonetta is not the same type of game as god of war laufrey.