Combat Overload: 7 Games That Rely Too Heavily on Fighting

While combat can be an exciting and engaging aspect of video games, it isn't necessarily the only way to entertain and challenge players. However, some games seem to rely too heavily on combat as the main gameplay mechanic, which can lead to a monotonous and tiresome experience for players. In this article, we will explore seven games that have too much combat and discuss their gameplay, setting, as well as the pros and cons of each.

1. Tomb Raider (2013)

The 2013 Tomb Raider reboot aimed to bring a fresh perspective to the iconic franchise and transform its protagonist, Lara Croft, into a more relatable and realistic character. While the game excels in its narrative and character development, it stumbles in its over-reliance on combat. Gunfights and enemy encounters are frequent, which can make the game feel repetitive and detract from its more engaging exploration and puzzle-solving elements.

• Pros: Compelling narrative, strong character development, engaging exploration, and puzzles.
• Cons: Excessive combat, repetitive gunfights, emphasis on action over exploration and puzzles.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim, the fifth entry in The Elder Scrolls series, is well-known for its vast open world, immersive exploration, and seemingly endless side quests. However, the game's combat is far less inspired. Much of the gameplay involves hacking and slashing enemies, casting spells, and using archery. While there is some strategy involved in choosing the right weapons and managing your stamina, combat can become a chore as you progress through the game.

• Pros: Massive open world, immersive exploration, countless side quests.
• Cons: Tedious combat, unbalanced difficulty, lack of variety in enemy encounters.

3. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla is a visually stunning game that brings players to the Viking era with its expansive open world and rich historical storytelling. However, the game falls short in its reliance on combat. Rather than focusing solely on stealth and assassination, Valhalla heavily features open combat, often against groups of enemies. This shift in gameplay can be jarring for fans of the series and lead to a less engaging experience.

• Pros: Beautiful graphics, expansive open world, rich historical storytelling.
• Cons: Overemphasis on combat, less focus on stealth and assassination, repetitive gameplay.

4. Cuphead

Cuphead is a visually unique game inspired by the art style of 1930s cartoons. The gameplay consists almost entirely of boss battles, which often involve a plethora of projectiles and enemies to dodge, requiring quick reflexes and precise timing. While the game is challenging and captivating in its art style, the relentless focus on combat can become tiresome and discouraging for some players.

• Pros: Unique art style, challenging gameplay, excellent soundtrack.
• Cons: Overwhelming combat focus, limited exploration, potentially discouraging difficulty.

5. Rambo: The Video Game

Based on the popular action movie franchise, Rambo: The Video Game attempts to bring the film's intense combat to the gaming world. Unfortunately, the result is a monotonous on-rails shooter that fails to capture the excitement and intensity of the films. The game consists primarily of shooting enemies and avoiding their fire, making for a repetitive experience with little variation in gameplay.

• Pros: Faithful to the film franchise, intense action.
• Cons: Repetitive gameplay, limited interaction, monotonous combat.

6. Alone in the Dark: Illumination

Alone in the Dark: Illumination is a survival horror game that attempts to blend action and horror elements. However, the game relies too heavily on combat, undermining the tense atmosphere that is crucial to a successful horror experience. Players must constantly battle hordes of supernatural creatures, making the experience more about managing ammunition and fighting off enemies than genuine suspense and fear.

• Pros: Interesting concept, blending action and horror elements.
• Cons: Reliance on combat, diminished horror atmosphere, repetitive gameplay.

7. Horizon: Forbidden West

Horizon: Forbidden West, the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, expands and improves upon its predecessor in many ways, including an even more expansive open world and refined combat mechanics. However, the game still suffers from an excessive focus on combat as the primary gameplay loop. While the various machines and creatures present unique challenges, the constant fighting can become tiresome for players seeking more depth and variety.

• Pros: Expansive open world, refined combat mechanics, engaging story.
• Cons: Excessive combat focus, limited exploration options, lack of variety in gameplay tasks.

Conclusion

While combat is an essential aspect of many video games, an over-reliance on fighting can detract from other exciting and engaging aspects of gameplay, such as exploration, puzzle-solving, and narrative development. For players seeking a more balanced gaming experience, it's essential to consider how heavily a game focuses on combat before diving in.