Categorizing hybrid games

[RayB]

I'm curious if anyone can has and can share their "rules" when trying to categorize games into different style...

For example, Super Mario Bros is a platform game. It scrolls and the main play mechanic is jumping around across gaps, on platforms, etc.

So what's Mario Bros? There's jumping and platforms, but no scrolling. It even pre-dates the time when we started using the term "platformer". (OK, bad example considering I would classify Mario Bros under my "retro classics" list, but you get the point!)

Now what about Shinobi? It's also a scrolling game where you can jump up and down some platforms, but you can shoot ninja stars and slash with a sword. Is this a Platform game? Or is it a Beat-em-up? I've even seen these kinds of games classified as "shooters" because you can shoot a weapon.

Fighters. Are they strictly one on one or can they be scrolling? Does that make Fighters and Beat Em Ups the same category? Now what if the character has a gun?     Are you getting dizzy yet?

~Ray B.

[Crowquill]

Personally, I categorize games based on the primary goal and/or play mechanic. While shinobi has the player "shooting" ninja stars, you can't progress through the game without jumping around the platforms, or jumping to hit a boss in the weak spot. I'd consider Mario Bros and even Donkey Kong to be platform games.

I look at games in these categories or a hybrid of two:

Maze
Platform
Shooting
Fighting
Beat-em-up
Adventure/RPG
Racing
Puzzle
Sports
Music
Gambling
Mature
Miscellaneous

A few examples of hybrid categories are Konami's Aliens, whose gameplay is mostly shooter, but with a good dose of beat-em-up mechanics thrown in. Another one is Cadash, a platform/RPG. Is Roadblasters a racing game or a shooting game? Both play mechanics are utilized equally.

In the end though, it's still a judgement call.