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Author: plotlessviolence

Nov 18th 2012 at 4:52:30 PM

I don't think I'm describing the trope I'm trying to introduce very well.
Breathing would not be an example because there's no common gameplay mechanic about interactive breathing; no genre based around breathing.

I'm talking about where a game subverts a gamer's conventional expectation that he be in control of some action.
For example, a stealth game where the game automatically turns you invisible right before you'd be spotted.
A platform game where the game jumps for you (Assassin's Creed).
An FPS where the game automatically shoots for you.

A good example is the first level of CoD:Black Ops where it turns out you can complete it (on Hardened difficulty, even), without ever firing your weapons except at two spots.  Demonstrated here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RULv6HbgEjY .  My point is the game is a shooter; it is about shooting enemies, not stealth, but you can beat this level without shooting because the "game plays itself": all the scripted explosions allow you to complete that level without the most obvious form of interaction (shooting).

Another example would be in New Super Mario Bros Wii U, where if you fail a level too many times, the game will literally play itself (a computer-controlled Luigi will beat that level for you).  In this case, I think that's a good thing because it lessens frustration, but it's still the same trope: non-interactivity in a scenario where consumers have grown to expect interactivity.