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An action role-playing game or '''Action RPG''' is a type of Computer and Console Role-playing Game which requires quick action or reflexes from the player. So-called "'' Diablo '' clones" and other Hack And Slash games are also part of this genre (see History ). Although the precise definition of the genre varies, the typical action RPG features a heavy emphasis on combat, often simplifying or removing non-combat attributes and statistics and the effect they have on the character's development.1 Additionally, combat always takes place using a real-time system (hence the "action") that relies on the player's ability to perform particular actions with speed and accuracy to determine success, rather than mainly using the player character's attributes to determine this. However, RPGs that use this style of combat system but give equal focus to non-combat elements such as '') are instead referred to as Computer Role-playing Game s. Although certainly not the first, '' Diablo '' and its sequels helped revitalize the action RPG genre. Other examples include '' Crystalis '', the '' Mana '' series, '' Kingdom Hearts '', and '' Dungeon Siege ''. GENRE BLURRING Some action RPGs decrease the importance of character attributes far enough to also be considered '') are also sometimes referred to as action RPGs, although this is often debated.2 It is fair to say that the Action-RPG genre, and the Action-Adventure genre have greatly influenced each other, and are closely related. HISTORY One of the first games to fuse real-time action with RPG elements was the Cult Hit '' Dungeons Of Daggorath '' for the TRS-80 Color Computer . Released in 1982 , ''Daggorath'' combined a typical Dungeon Crawl with real-time gameplay requiring quick keyboard presses. While Western developers continued to explore the possibilities of real-time RPG action, Japanese developers, with their recent interest in the RPG genre, tweaked the formula a bit to create a new brand of action/RPG. The company at the forefront of this was Nihon Falcom . Falcom's '' Dragon Slayer '', released in 1984 , was a simple real-time treasure grab game. However, its sequel, '' Xanadu '', released in 1985 , was a full-fledged RPG, with character stats and a large quest. What set ''Xanadu'' apart from other RPGs was its action-based combat. The game was immensely popular in Japan, setting records for PC game sales. The next two years would see the release of two games that would further define the action/RPG genre in Japan: Nintendo's '''' also implemented an RPG-esque system with action elements, making it closer to an action-RPG than other ''Zeldas''. '' Ys '', on the other hand, used true RPG principles. While not very popular in the West, the long-running ''Ys'' series has been very strong in Japan with many sequels, remakes and ports in the decade that followed its release. In late 1987 , FTL Games released '' Dungeon Master '', a critically acclaimed dungeon crawl game that redefined the genre and set the standard for real-time 3D action/RPGs for the next several years. When released in Japan in 1990 , ''Dungeon Master'' became the first action/RPG to achieve the number one sales rank in both Japan and the U.S. 1990 would see the release of '' Crystalis '' for the NES . It featured ''Zelda''-like gameplay blended with genuine RPG elements, such as experience points, statistics-based equipment, and a Magic-casting system. In 1991 , Squaresoft released '' Seiken Densetsu '' for the Game Boy , also known as '' Final Fantasy Adventure '' in the West. Like ''Crystalis'', the action in ''Seiken Densetsu'' bore a strong resemblance to that of ''Zelda'', but added more RPG elements. ''Seiken Densetsu 2'', also known as '' Secret Of Mana '', implemented an innovative multiplayer function, and further developed its combat with more diverse weaponry and Spell-casting . '' Landstalker '', by Climax Entertainment, was released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis. This action/RPG used an isometric perspective, as opposed to the standard top-down view of ''Ys'' and ''Zelda'', and also used more puzzle-solving and platforming elements than previous games in the genre. Outside of Japan, '' in 1992 . This innovative game was a technological marvel, using a fully 3D first-person perspective combined with real-time action and a surprisingly deep role-playing experience. One of the game's developers, Warren Spector , would go on to help develop more games combining action and RPG gameplay, such as '' System Shock '' and '' Deus Ex ''. In 1996 , a stagnant PC RPG genre was revitalized by Blizzard's '' Diablo '', an action/RPG that used a Point-and-click interface and offered gamers a free online service to play with others that maintained the same rules and gameplay. ''Diablo'' Since then, the genre has remained constantly popular, with games appearing on nearly every system. The 32-bit era saw several popular games, such as '''', '' Kingdom Hearts '' and '' Super Paper Mario ''. SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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