History CombatPragmatist / VideoGames

* The protagonists of the ''Videogame/{{Yakuza}}'' series are all brutal fighters who will use just about anything they can get their hands on in a fight. Not only are they willing to kick or stomp on an enemy while they're on the ground, they're willing to slam them around any surface they can find (up to suplexing them on railings). They're also not above using any weapon they can get their hands on, including blades and guns if they're available.

** Nero is this to a greater degree than Dante, not only bringing out his own firearm Blue Rose to every fight, but also by nature of being a much more ''brutal'' fighter, partially because he’s more inexperienced compared to Dante and Vergil, but also because he’s a lot less interested in showboating. His unique Buster attacks in ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 DMC4]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry5 DMC5]]'' showcase this well, with punishing techniques to bludgeon foes and turn their weapons on each other. These include using Agnus’s artificial Bianco Angelos as living rockets, pinning a Hell Caina to the floor to blow out its head execution-style, ripping a Hell Judecca’s blades from its arms to launch it at them, and '''''[[spoiler: getting stabbed by Vergil with Yamato only to turn it back on him, or, even bigger, plucking him out of the sky to perform a DDT on him!]]'''''

** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'' also has myriad ways in which players can safely dispose of rank-and-file soldiers, such as destroying weapon caches to deprive his enemies of ammunition, or destroying food stores to force his enemies to fight on empty stomachs (and also possibly distract them with food, which can be spoiled or poisonous).

** Nero is this to a greater degree than Dante, not only bringing out his own firearm Blue Rose to every fight, but also by nature of being a much more ''brutal'' fighter, partially because he’s more inexperienced compared to Dante and Vergil, but also because he’s a lot less interested in showboating. His unique Buster attacks in [[''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' DMC4]] and [[''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' DMC5]] showcase this well, with punishing techniques to bludgeon foes and turn their weapons on each other. These include using Agnus’s artificial Bianco Angelos as living rockets, pinning a Hell Caina to the floor to blow out its head execution-style, ripping a Hell Judecca’s blades from its arms to launch it at them, and '''''[[spoiler: getting stabbed by Vergil with Yamato only to turn it back on him, or, even bigger, plucking him out of the sky to perform a DDT on him!]]'''''

** Nero is this to a greater degree than Dante, not only bringing out his own firearm Blue Rose to every fight, but also by nature of being a much more ''brutal'' fighter, partially because he’s more inexperienced compared to Dante and Vergil, but also because he’s a lot less interested in showboating. His unique Buster attacks in DMC4 and DMC5 showcase this well, with punishing techniques to bludgeon foes and turn their weapons on each other. These include using Agnus’s artificial Bianco Angelos as living rockets, pinning a Hell Caina to the floor to blow out its head execution-style, ripping a Hell Judecca’s blades from its arms to launch it at them, and '''''[[spoiler: getting stabbed by Vergil with Yamato only to turn it back on him, or, even bigger, plucking him out of the sky to perform a DDT on him!]]'''''

** As of ''Tekken 8'', a good chunk of the roster is playing dirty.

* Downplayed in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'' when Fire God Liu Kang gives Raiden the amulet of thunder and lightning to even the odds against Outworld's magical kombatants.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'', one of the protagonist's main abilities is the ability to pick up and throw ''anything.'' Priceless golden idols, enemy corpses, {{Distressed Damsel}}s, you name it, he can throw it. Damsels can also be used for a host of things besides the reward you get for rescuing them, including the [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential infamous]] [[ActionBomb "damsel bomb"]] trick. Other pragmatic tricks include getting a BallisticDiscount at a shop, and luring enemies into the vicious {{Death Trap}}s meant for you.

* Sora in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' is this; he's somewhat lacking in true swordsmanship, so he uses his Keyblade as a club. The second game, in particular, gives him numerous Action Commands that depict him disarming opponents and attacking from behind.

** Forte in ''[[VideoGame/RuneFactory4 the fourth game]] will use her LethalChef skills to use and she'll throw Disastrous Dishes that ravage enemies HP and severely lower their statuses.

* [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Wario and Waluigi]] are these. Even though they live in a world where most characters can perform flashy super attacks (including them), they often resort to cheating and dirty tactics. Whether it's tossing bombs, brute force, blinding the opponent or set some monsters on their tracks, [[BumblingHenchmenDuo these two]] will stop at nothing to beat the competition.

** In the ''First Order'' adaptation, Caster Cu Chulainn ambushes, blinds EMIYA with an exploding rock and tricks him with a copy of himself, and kills Saber Alter while she was busy fighting the others.

** Jacqui Briggs and Cassie Cage are the [[GenerationXerox daughters]] Jax and Sonya respectively and follow in their parents' example of using technology to fight. Jacqui is the only member of her squad who doesn't use any kind of magic, instead relying on kickboxing and her {{ArmCannon}}s. Cassie combines aspects of her parents, Johnny and Sonya, by using groin attacks, guns and drones.

** Johnny Cage from ' with his GroinAttack fits this trope. He also uses ''Creator/BruceLee'''s Jeet Kune Do.
** Stryker, Sektor and Cyrax also count. Stryker, being a police officer, has a gun, a nightstick, a stun gun, a flashlight, and a grenade (because... explosions are cool). Sektor and Cyrax, being robots, have a variety of gadgets, such as explosives (missiles and bombs, respectively), flamethrowers (Sektor), energy nets (Cyrax), and a chest saw (Cyrax).

** Jarek and Kira are fellow Black Dragon members to the aforementioned Kano in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' and ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'' respectively and employ some of his moves with knives. Kira also uses Sonya's [[AHandfulForAnEye Kiss of Death]] move.

** Jacqui Briggs and Cassie Cage are the [[GenerationXerox daughters]] Jax and Sonya respectively and follow in their parents' example of using technology to fight. Jacqui is the only member of her squad who doesn't use any kind of magic, instead relying on kickboxing and her {{ArmCannon}}s. Cassie combines aspects of her parents Johnny and Sonya by using groin attacks, guns and drones.
** Considering the high stakes of Mortal Kombat and the ever-encroaching threats of both Outworld and Netherrealm, Earthrealm's Kombatants can't afford the luxury of playing nice or fair.

*** The Renegade interrupt has Shepard respond in kind, killing [[HeroKiller Kai-Leng]] by breaking his sword (his only weapon), unfurling their [[KarmicDeath own omniblade]] and [[KickTheSonOfABitch stabbing him in the gut.]]