Editing Action-adventure game (section)

== Definition ==
An action adventure game can be defined as a game with a mix of elements from an [[action game]] and an [[adventure game]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rollins |first1=A. |last2=Morris |first2=D. |title=Game Architecture and Design |publisher=Coriolis Ed |year=2000}}</ref> especially crucial elements like puzzles<ref>{{cite web |last=Luban |first=Pascal |date=2002-12-06 |title=Designing and Integrating Puzzles in Action-Adventure Games |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/designing-and-integrating-puzzles-in-action-adventure-games |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Game Developer |language=en}}</ref> inspired by older adventure games.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |year=2014 |title=Chap. 1 — Game Genres |url=https://www.di.ubi.pt/~agomes/tjv/teoricas/01-genres.pdf |publisher=[[University of Beira Interior]] |page=8}}</ref> Action-adventures require many of the same physical skills as action games, but may also offer a storyline, numerous characters, an inventory system, dialogue, and other features of adventure games.<ref name="fundamentals">{{cite book|last=Rollings|first=Andrew|author2=Ernest Adams|title=Fundamentals of Game Design|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=2006|url=http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_gamedev_1/54/14053/3597646.cw/index.html|isbn=0-13-168747-6}}</ref> They are typically faster-paced than pure adventure games, because they include both physical and conceptual challenges.<ref name="fundamentals" /> Action-adventure games normally include a combination of complex story elements, which are often displayed for players using audio and video. The story is heavily reliant upon the [[player character|player character's]] movement, which triggers story events and thus affects the flow of the game.<ref name=Puzzle2>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/designing-and-integrating-puzzles-in-action-adventure-games|title=Designing and Integrating Puzzles in Action-Adventure Games|last=Luban|first=Pascal|page=2|work=Gamasutra|publisher=Think Services Game Group|date=2002-12-06|access-date=2009-02-05}}</ref> Popular examples of action-adventure games include ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[God of War (franchise)|God of War]]'',<ref name="fundamentals" /> ''[[Grand Theft Auto (franchise)|Grand Theft Auto]]'', and ''[[Tomb Raider]]'' series.<ref name="Gal">{{cite book |last1=Gal |first1=Viviane |last2=Le Prado |first2=Cécile |last3=Natkin |first3=Stéphane |last4=Vega |first4=Liliana |title=Writing for Video Games |publisher=Proceedings Laval Ritual (IVRC) |year=2002 |url=http://cedric.cnam.fr/PUBLIS/RC359.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030706103927/http://cedric.cnam.fr/PUBLIS/RC359.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2003 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Relationship to other genres ===
There is a good deal of controversy over what actually constitutes an action-adventure game.<ref name="Rollings" /> One definition of the term "action-adventure" may be '"An action/adventure game is a game that has enough action in it not to be called an adventure game, but not enough action to be called an action game."<ref name=justadventure>{{cite web|url=http://www.justadventure.com/articles/ActionAdventures/AA.shtm|title=A Brief&nbsp;– But Comprehensive&nbsp;– History of the Action/Adventure Genre|author=Aya|date=2005-08-02|access-date=2009-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129103800/http://justadventure.com/articles/ActionAdventures/AA.shtm|archive-date=2009-01-29|url-status=dead}}</ref> In some cases an action game with puzzles will be classified as an action-adventure game, but if these puzzles are quite simple they might be classified as an action game.<ref name="fundamentals" /><ref name="NGen15">{{cite magazine|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=15 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=March 1996|pages=28–42|quote=Action-adventure&nbsp;– A game which is nearly all action (see action game), but that also includes a good deal of strategy and more advanced problem solving.}}</ref> Others see action games as a pure genre, while an action-adventure is an action game that includes situational problem-solving.<ref name=justadventure /><ref name="NGen15" /> Adventure gamers may also be purists, rejecting any game that makes use of physical challenges or time pressure.<ref name="fundamentals" /> Regardless, the action-adventure label is prominent in articles over the internet and media. The term "action-adventure" is usually substituted for a particular subgenre due to its wide scope.