History Main / RPGElements

* A pair of games known as the ''VideoGame/CrimeCrackers'' duology were released by Media Vision as [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] titles for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation (one of them was even one of the first ten games ever released for that console). These games used {{Animesque}} artstyles for the characters and environments made by Kokomai of "Akaijutsu Club" and used an engine that was more of a middle ground between ''VideoGame/{{Wolfenstein 3D}}[=/=]VideoGame/BlakeStone'' and ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'''s engines, but also allowed things like transporting elevators to give the illusion of multiple floors in the same map (like [[VideoGame/DukeNukem Duke Nukem 3D]] which included elevators that teleported you as one of its mapping effects), a specialized guarding system for blocking attacks from enemies, the ability to level up via Experience Points (the second game only), and probably one of the least used RPG elements in First Person Shooters, a multiple-character party set up (3 in the first game, 4 in the second game with the option to switch characters at the start of most levels). Some environments could even damage all of your characters simultaneously, and of course if all of them died, it was game over. The targeting system is also a bit out of place compared to other first person shooters, stopping you in place while you aim a crosshair at anything on screen and your shots will shoot towards the crosshair instead of straight ahead]. It was probably not the biggest thing since sliced bread, but it's existence was the inspiration for another FPS [[VideoGame/NaferiasReignInvasionOfTheDarkMistress modification for Duke Nukem 3D]] with far more build up on the RPG Elements (among other things) so far.

* An OlderThanTheNES example: ''VideoGame/DungeonsOfDaggorath'' for the Tandy UsefulNotes/ColorComputer 2- ostensibly an early first-person dungeon-crawler, but deeper. Killing creatures increased your strength, and therefore both your health and damage; your strength was also the factor in "revealing" magical items that were more powerful than mundane ones once revealed. You were free to roam through the first three levels of the Dungeon at will, but as the second level's creatures would splatter you in one hit, and the ''third'' level had magical creatures that you couldn't even ''see'' without a magical torch, you were far better off hunting down every last creature before moving on.

* The UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} port of ''VideoGame/PointBlank1994'' is a collection of minigames in which you use a gun controller (like Duck Hunt). It has a singleplayer RPG mode that replaces regular RPG battles with the minigames. The stats don't affect the actual minigames, but determine which ones you play, how many losses you can take before GameOver, etc.

* The UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor version of ''VideoGame/MarioGolf''. You'll gain ExperiencePoints from completing events and winning tournaments in-game, which you can use to [[CharacterLevel level up]] your character and increase stats like distance and straightness of your shot. In fact, most portable versions of a ''Mario Golf'' or ''Mario Tennis'' game made by Camelot, with the exception of ''Mario Tennis Open'', have had RPG Elements and a Story Mode in them where in the first few, your goal is to become the greatest player ever by defeating Mario, so they aren't so much "sports games with RPG elements" as [[InvertedTrope "RPGs with golf/tennis games in place of battles."]]
* ''World Court Tennis'' for the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 has a "Quest" mode in which you walk around an overworld and have RandomEncounters with other tennis players.

* ''VideoGame/DarkWizard'' for UsefulNotes/SegaCD used units that leveled up, could be equipped with exchangable gear (if they weren't monster types), and even evolved or got class changes, despite being fundamentally a strategy game.

* Digital distribution platform UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} has introduced a leveling system, heavily tied to its Steam Trading Cards. A higher Steam level earns you [[BraggingRightsReward bragging rights]], friends list slots (useful not only for gamers with a lot of friends, but for ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' traders who like to keep in touch with people they know are reliable buyers and sellers of metal, promos, and unusuals), and profile customization slots (again, not just for showing off - among the Profile Showcases you can earn is a display of items for trade, or an additional text box which can be used to list your services.)

* Often overlooked RTS ''VideoGame/{{Dragonshard}}'', being based on the TabletopGame/{{Eberron}} campaign setting of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', has RPG elements out the wazoo. In addition to requiring gold and crystal shards for building, killing enemies also gives you experience points, which lets you make certain unit types stronger. Not to mention the levelling up of hero characters and the meticulous inventory management aspect. In fact, it can get so complicated that micromanaging becomes a requirement, and failure to do so results in a quick death from the computer AI.

It seems to occur most often in [[FirstPersonShooter FPSs]], [[TurnBasedStrategy strategy]] [[RealTimeStrategy games]] (usually VeteranUnit), [[SportsGame sports sims]], ActionAdventure games, and the occasional FightingGame, especially those that allow you to build your own character from the ground up. Compare CommonTacticalGameplayElements. Not to be confused with ElementalPowers used in [=RPGs=].

[[folder:Meta]]
* RPGMechanicsVerse
[[/folder]]

** Reached its zenith in ''VideoGame/YuGiOhReshefOfDestruction'', where compared to its immediate predecessor VideoGame/YuGiOhTheSacredCards, duelist level, deck capacity and domino (cash) gains have been greatly reduced (think just 1 or 3 points more in deck capacity after every duel) while the deck costs of power cards has been greatly increased (with “Raigeki” in particular having its deck cast tripled, from 50 to 150). This, in addition to the game ramping up in difficulty more abruptly, ensures that most players will not see the endgame, lest they spend thrice as much time grinding as actually progressing. And even then, victory is not assured, as by the time you get to Marik, the game’s computer-controlled duellists start to actively cheat (like running 3 copies of Swords of Revealing Light in their decks—which you can’t—or starting the duel with more than 8000 life points).

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', the Hero from ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' has gameplay elements borrowed from his home series. His special attacks are reliant on a ManaMeter and won't work if he lacks MP (which, thankfully, he can recover from landing normal attacks), and one of his specials pulls up a menu with a selection of powerful spells, similar to the [=RPGs=]'s turn-based battles.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'': All games utilize an experience system where gems representing points are obtained from defeated enemies, as well as certain large gem clusters found around the game world. Once enough of these have been gathered, they can be spent to upgrade and strengthen Spyro's and, in the third game, Cynder's attacks. In addition, the last two games allow Spyro, and later Cynder, to permanently increase their health and mana bars by collecting special items, and ''Dawn of the Dragon'' introduces an equipment system where Spyro and Cynder can put on various pieces of armor found through the game that grant different buffs and abilities if worn.

* The UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor version of ''VideoGame/MarioGolf''. You'll gain ExperiencePoints from completing events and winning tournaments in-game, which you can use to [[CharacterLevel level up]] your character and increase stats like distance and straightness of your shot. In fact, any portable version of a Mario Sports game made by Camelot (''Mario Golf'' and ''Mario Tennis'' series) so far has had RPG Elements and a Story Mode in them where your goal is to become the greatest player ever by defeating Mario, so they aren't so much "sports games with RPG elements" as [[InvertedTrope "RPGs with golf/tennis games in place of battles."]] However, ''Mario Tennis Open'' for 3DS [[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/04/camelot_justifies_no_rpg_mode_in_mario_tennis_open does't have RPG elements at all.]]

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' is perhaps the most RPG-like the series has ever been since ''Zelda II''. There's a much greater focus on ResourcesManagementGameplay, different equipment have different stats and stat buffs can be obtained from consumable items as well (something that the Zelda series has generally avoided until now), and it has a sort of "experience" system where you can trade the Spirit Orbs you win from Shrines for Health or Stamina upgrades.

* ''LightNovel/BakaAndTestSummonTheBeasts'', where IQ means [[RankedByIQ rank]], examination means SeriousBusiness and academic performance means ExperiencePoints.

* The UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} port of ''VideoGame/PointBlank'' is a collection of minigames in which you use a gun controller (like Duck Hunt). It has a singleplayer RPG mode that replaces regular RPG battles with the minigames. The stats don't affect the actual minigames, but determine which ones you play, how many losses you can take before GameOver, etc.

* In the Flash game ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy 3.3: Bullet Heaven'', you can collect coins from killed enemies and buy upgrades like more lives, stronger and faster shots, etc. Of course, these stats cap at a certain point; it seems to be more of a way to let newcomers to the BulletHell genre start out slow and work their way up. Any non-hardcore player will need max upgrades to survive the later levels and bonus levels.

** ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' has {{Character Level}}s and a SkillTree.

* ''VideoGame/AliceMadnessReturns'' managed to cram in some RPG Elements in addition to its HackAndSlash combat, heavy platforming focus and minigames. Your main weapons ([[KnifeNut Vorpal Blade]], [[GatlingGood Pepper Grinder]], [[GrenadeLauncher Teapot Cannon]] and [[DropTheHammer Hobby Horse]]) all had four tiers and were improved by investing points into them (although the 4th tier was available only as a DLC). That, and there was an occasional DialogueTree, although it didn’t have much impact on things.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'': All games utilize an experience system where gems representing points are obtained from defeated enemies, as well as certain large gem clusters found around the game world. Once enough of these have been gathered, they can be spent to upgrade and strengthen Spyro's and, in the third game, Cynder's attacks. In addition, the last two games allows Spyro, and later Cynder, to permanently increase their health and mana bars by collecting special items, and ''Dawn of the Dragon'' introduces an equipment system where Spyro and Cynder can put on various pieces of armor found through the game that grant different buffs and abilities if worn.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'': All games utilize an experience system where gems representing points are obtained from defeated enemies, as well as certain large gem clusters found around the game world. Once enough of these have been gathered, they can be spent to upgrade and strengthen Spyro's and, in the third game, Cynder's attacks. In addition, ''Dawn of the Dragon'' introduces an equipment system where Spyro and Cynder can put on various pieces of armor found through the game that grant different buffs and abilities if worn, and allows the two dragons to permanently increase their health and mana bars by collecting special energy gems.

Well-implemented, this can give a game added depth and customizability, or allow players who might not be as good to spend a little time leveling up to make the game easier, creating a roundabout way to introduce DifficultyLevels to the game. Badly implemented, it seems like tacked-on attempt to appeal to a broader demographic, or be seen (critically) as a better game.

These have been around almost as long as console and computer [=RPG=]s have, and became more common during the mid-90s, which time a HUGE number of developers seemed to want to add more complexity to their games (and they hoped increased sales thanks to the prestige that came from having "RPG Elements" printed on the back of the box), even if the elements in question weren't anything more than HitPoints.

Seems to occur most often in [[FirstPersonShooter FPSes]], [[TurnBasedStrategy strategy]] [[RealTimeStrategy games]] (usually VeteranUnit), [[SportsGame sports sims]], ActionAdventure games, and the occasional FightingGame, especially those that allow you to build your own character from the ground up. Compare CommonTacticalGameplayElements. Not to be confused with ElementalPowers used in [=RPGs=].

* StandardStatusEffects and {{Status Buff}}s

* In ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'', your {{BFG}}s level up with use, and your health bar levels up as you score kills. Apparently a justified example where Nanotech, the technology responsible for your health meter and your weapons, is absorbed from fallen enemies, eventually increasing your stock (levelling up your health) as well as your weapons' (increasing their power)

* ''VideoGame/{{Parkasaurus}}'': If an exhibit contains two dinosaurs of the same species and opposite sexes, the player can place a nest in there. If the dinosaurs are happy enough, an egg will appear the next day, and it will inherit colours and traits from its parents.