When people pick up a new game, one of the most important aspects is some solid combat,even if it’s optional. There are a lot of easy solutions for simple and fun combat, but some developers go a step above the rest and make theirs a bit unconventional.
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Challenging how tough combat takes place or even putting a unique spin on a classic style of in-game fighting can be a massive draw to a new game. Some of the most iconic games of all time also happen to feature some incredible combat, even if they won’t all go down in history as the greatest stories ever told.
10DiveKick
When youthink of fighting games, you probably think of intense combos and a lot of special moves. Instead of lengthy combo chains and a whole lot of punches, Dive Kick goes in a different direction, one with just jumps, dives, and kicks.
That may sound like an overly simplistic game at first, but the fast-paced and hilarious gameplay will keep you coming back for more rounds. The game only gets better if you’re playing with a group of friends, so go ahead and get your dive kick on.
9Cuphead
While you could say thatCupheadis a simple run-and-gun platformer, it really is so much more than just that. First, playing as an anthropomorphic cup that can shoot bullets out of its fingers is quite different from most titles.
Then there’s the fact that most of the game is simply you againstsome aggressive and difficult bosses. Centering an entire game around mostly boss fights was a risk, but one that paid off, and it only makes sense since Cuphead is unconventional in almost every respect.
8Banjo-Kazooie
Heading back to the good old days of the Nintendo 64,Banjo-Kazooieis a fantastic game with some unconventional combat. By the time this game had come out, Nintendo fans were well accustomed to the idea of jumping on an enemy to beat them.
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This game decided that a big red bird can be used as a weapon, something that results in some funny animations in which Kazooie shoots her eggs at enemies to defeat them from a distance. Bashing baddies with a bird is a unique way to fight.
7The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth
There are a ton of dungeon-crawling games that see you heading from room to room to battle enemies with guns, butThe Binding of Isaac: Rebirthwent a bit of a different route. Considering this is another fantastically original game, it only makes sense the combat would be unique.
The weapon you’ll have to come to grips with using is simple tears. That might sound weird, and maybe it is a bit weird, but the simple weapon adds a layer of challenge to what can feel like a fairly familiar style of gameplay.
6Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
ThePokemonseries does not get enough credit for introducing one of the most unconventional forms of combat around to the masses for the first time. There aren’t many kids' games that will let you pit animal-like creatures against each until one has fainted.
The battle system makes ita fairly simple turn-based RPG, but the nature of the being doing the battle, and the many things you have to take into account within each encounter really do make the series stand out from other turn-based RPGs on the market.
5Splatoon
One of the most popular genres in all of gaming is the shooter genre, but the problem is, a lot of people don’t want their kids playing violent shooters. Enter theSplatoonseries. These shooters use ink instead of actual bullets, providing a ton of unconventional combat choices.
Aspects of the Splatoon games feel familiarto other shooters, but there is enough that the developers had to work with that there really isn’t any other game out right now that feels similar. This series is a must-try regardless of your age.
4Undertale
A list like this wouldn’t be complete without mention ofone of the most famous RPGsin recent years.Undertaletook the idea of unconventional combat, turned it on its head, and then threw a dance party on top of it while screaming quotes from the game.
You can play the game like any other RPG if you want to, but you can take the unconventional route and talk out your issues with every enemy in the game. It’s incredible how much care was put into this unique combat system.
3Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
TheSuper Smash Brosseries as a whole created a unique and unconventional fighter that strayed from just about any other game of the genre. Sure, you can make Nintendo characters battle, butthe many incredible stagesand items that add to the gameplay make it unconventional.
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If a fight isn’t going your way, all you need is a solid PokeBall or Trophy to change the entire flow of battle. The game offers so many options, and you can customize it all to your needs, creating a legendary fighter that no one has come close to replicating.
2Bomberman
Mostly forgotten these days, the Bomberman series deserves some love for having incredibly unconventional combat. There are not all that many games where you plant bombs and kick them at your opponent. Even better, there’s an added puzzle aspect from the map layouts and player movements.
The classic game is still loved to this day, and many people are just waiting for an incredible new entry. A creative mind will be able to bring the gameplay into the modern era with some fun twists to make the unconventional combat even wilder.
1Shadow Of The Colossus
Like Cuphead,Shadow of the Colossusis another game that tasks you with taking on a gauntlet of incredible bosses. The combat in this game is unlike any other as you have to solve puzzles to even be able to damage the Colossi.
Figuring out how to handle a tower-like creature or one of the many other fantastic bosses that don’t get enough love is a joy. No fight feels the same, and no fight feels like any other from other games in the genre, making Shadow Of The Colossus unconventional and legendary.
