Just re-learned that the best name for my beloved genre of games that I suck at ie high octane, combo-based action games that include Metal Gear Rising, Bayonetta, Hi-Fi Rush, DMC 5 etc. is truly “Spectacle Fighter(s)”! Heard it a while ago but it didn’t stick until recently getting reminded of it.
I used to use the phrase “Character Action” which despite still getting used always felt, to me, too broad & not at all as evocative as “Spectacle Fighters” which I feel gets to the core of why those games have appeal. Not only are they a close relative to the straight up fighting game genre with heavy emphasis on precision combos, move cancelling, hitboxes etc. but they also become elegant ballets of stylish combat that’s as fun to pull off as it is to watch especially in the hands of an expert. The “Combo MAD” tag of Youtube videos is overflowing vids for that very reason.
Been scouring the Steam category for “Spectacle Fighters” & I’m enjoying the fact mid-tier & indie outfits are & have been working to build up the genre beyond just the mainstream AAA company titles out there
