Games with Multiple Characters, Styles of Play

[Pezcore343]

Hey guys, I was having the darndest time thinking of something. Have you ever played a game where there were a few different playable characters and each one offered a unique style of play to the game. Perhaps each character has their own kind of level in the game, or perhaps you could switch characters on the fly to switch up gameplay option. Either way, what are some games you can think of that use a mechanic like this.

I'm looking more for different characters (in the same game) that legitimately play differently rather than just having a slightly different move set or different stats. I know I'm posting this in classic gaming but feel free to use modern examples as well.

(As an idea of kind of what I'm talking about think sort of like Sonic Unleashed how the daytime and nighttime levels are basically different games. It doesn't have to be that drastic of a difference necessarily but that's sort of what I mean.)

[Kroogah]

Sonic Adventure 1 and 2. 1 especially. Although Tails was just "replay Sonic's level and try to beat Sonic" Knuckles, Amy, Big and E-102 all had different styles of gameplay.

[skaar]

Er... TMNT for 360 did that recently (badly)

Maniac Mansion is probably the best answer I could come up with. There was a game where it made a huge difference how it played.

How about Gauntlet? ;)

[Sudo]

Live-A-Live on SNES.

[Pezcore343]

Wow just from some initial research it seems that Live-A-Live is pretty much dead on the money for the kind of thing I was looking for, kind of keeps the same broad genre going with similar mechanics but with a different gameplay style for each chapter if I'm reading correctly. Anyone know of any other examples? Especially any non-RPG examples?

[Sonicwolf]

Sonic Adventure 1 and 2. 1 especially. Although Tails was just "replay Sonic's level and try to beat Sonic" Knuckles, Amy, Big and E-102 all had different styles of gameplay.

Beat me to it. Both Sonic Adventure games are fine examples of games with multiple characters and styles of play.

Im blank on other games though.

[Haoie]

This is a good question. Games where selectable characters who aren't just cosmetic changes!!

My example is most Castlevanias from recent years.

[ryborg]

My example is most Castlevanias from recent years.

And non-recent years, ie Castlevania III, my favorite of the NES series.

[j_factor]

Threads of Fate has two different characters, each with a very different style of combat. The cool thing about the game is that you go through the same areas and meet the same people, but the plot is different, even though a lot of the same things happen.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance uses both Kain (Blood Omen) and Raziel (Soul Reaver). They play pretty differently, although you have to play both, it's not optional. I guess you could say that about Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 though.

Speaking of Sonic, Sonic Heroes has the "switching on the fly" style. You have one fast character, one "tough" character, and one flying character. The concept probably would've been better for a non-Sonic game, but it's not terrible.

I guess The Lost Vikings (and its sequel, Norse by Norsewest) is along those lines too.

[grolt]

Wonder Boy III on the Master System uses this excellently. You start off regularly with the sword, but are later able to replay the same levels using completely different characters with completely different play mechanics. You can become a bird to fly above levels and reach new areas, a fish to swim, a mouse to get into small areas and even a lion to cut through special blocks. Definitely more than just sprite swapping.

Psycho Fox on the SMS also has a similar conceit, but you don't necessarily have to swap characters to finish the game like you do in WBIII.

[jb143]

Wasn't there a X-Men game where each character plays a different level?

[kupomogli]

Yuusha 30 for the PSP. Not out yet, but you have four characters who each have a completely different style of play.

One characters plays like an action/rpg(similar to castlevania,) another action(Zelda,) another strategy/shootemup(smash tv/total carnage,) another plays like a real time strategy(warcraft.)

However. The unique thing about it is you have 30 seconds to complete each objective. Has a very unique look to it if you ask me. From the mission selection screen it has Mission 001, so I'm guessing it'll have atleast 100 different objectives per character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr-NPObsvmM

I there's been atleast one RPG mentioned as well. Probably one RPG that takes it to probably the highest priority of this subject would be Wild ARMs 2.

On Wild ARMs 2 each character is completely different in their style(aside from Ashley and Brad who are mostly similar.) From force abilities to how the characters learn their abilities. Kanon has multiple special attacks that are learned similarly to abilities on SaGa Frontier; use this ability you'll have a specific percentage to learn this ability. Tim learns his abilities through having specific runes equipped having many various magic spells you may not see on Lilka. Lilka learns her abilities through magic crests, again having alot that Tim doesn't. Marivel learns her attacks through enemies, just like a Blue Mage on your average FF.

The RPG list is pretty much endless on this aspect though. Wild ARMs 2 is the most diverse I think. The other Wild ARMs games are pretty diverse as well, as are alot of other games.

There are also alot of action games that play like this to tell you the truth. Someone already mentioned the Castlevania series.

Castlevania 64 and Legacy of Darkness. Schneider uses a whip and sub weapons, Cornell Crescent plays similar to Schneider but faster and can change into a werewolf, Carrie Fernandez has magic that homes in, while Henry Oldrey plays using a gun.

Castlevania Curse of Darkness. Sucks and Trevor plays like a watered down and pathetic version of Leon(why did you ruin Trevor IGA :(. CV3 hates you now.) However, two entirely different styles of play.

Almost any other exploration based CV game. But then what about Castlevania 3? In the Japanese version, Grant's main weapon is throwing daggers, not just stabbing with the dagger, but he's also fast and can climb walls. Sypha uses extremely powerful spells and sucks at about everything else. Alucard shoots long range fireballs and can transform into a bat. Then finally, Trevor is just a complete badass, like every other Belmont with a whip and leather armor(manly.)

Has anyone mentioned the Mega Man X series yet? All I have to do is just say Mega Man and Zero and that pretty much gets the point. Mega Man X4 is the first time Zero was actually completely different from Mega Man. He plays more like a simplified fighting game/action platformer while Mega Man plays like, well, Mega Man. Then when they released the crappy Mega Man X7, Axl plays just like Mega Man but different. Let's not forget about Vile in Mega Man Maverick Hunter X who had a pretty unique way of playing.

Then Mega Man again. This time it's Mega Man Powered Up. After defeating the Robot Masters without using their specials, you gain the ability to use them throughout the stages using only their specific powers(Guts Man was given the ability to lay blocks now to make himself useful but he's horrible.) So there is quite a difference in characters when you can only use one ability. Then there is Roll who uses a Melee weapon. Whether it's an umbrella or she's copying Arthur from Ghouls n' Ghosts with the spear and armor she's got that three hit strike(she's no Zero though.)

There are definitely others.

[Superman]

The only thing I can think of offhand is Guardian Legend for the NES. It is part action/rpg and part shooter. I know it's not exactly what you are looking for a far as characters go, but it combines two drastically different types of game play.

[Pezcore343]

Thanks for all the input guys, this is excellent.

[Phyeir]

Can't believe I haven't seen Resident Evil thrown into the mix yet. Resident Evil did have a slight difference between Jill & Chris (keys & amount held), but Resident Evil 2 made a big difference in the story experienced (and completing with one character opened up an altered Scenario B for the other character)

Also there is Cannon Spike. On the surface it's a basic beat-em-up, but each characters weak and strong moves are different & varied (some are projectiles, others are fighting moves that are close range), plus the levels are shuffled for each character in the order that they are played.

[Diosoth]

Sonic Adventure 2 isn't as good as SA. They took Sonic, Knuckles and Gamma from SA and made you play through them twice.

Then there was Heroes... The "speed" class was useless since pretty much everyone runs as fast as Sonic does now. Plus it didn't do anything. At least power and flight had SOME functional difference, but all 4 teams were identical.

[j_factor]

Wonder Boy III on the Master System uses this excellently. You start off regularly with the sword, but are later able to replay the same levels using completely different characters with completely different play mechanics. You can become a bird to fly above levels and reach new areas, a fish to swim, a mouse to get into small areas and even a lion to cut through special blocks. Definitely more than just sprite swapping.

Technically, though, you're the same character, and you transform into the different forms. But I suppose that's more of a nitpick than a real distinction.

On the subject of transformations, Ecco 2's transformations were pretty interesting, but they were level-specific so I guess it doesn't really count.


Wasn't there a X-Men game where each character plays a different level?

You're probably thinking of Arcade's Revenge.

[kupomogli]

Wasn't there a X-Men game where each character plays a different level?


You're probably thinking of Arcade's Revenge.

X-Men Mutant Apocalypse for the SNES. The initial levels with each character is different. Every level after you play the characters first levels are the same though.

[Sudo]

Folklore for PS3 is another game I forgot to mention in my other post. You play as two different characters, and while you traverse through mostly the same levels, you see things from different points of view and the styles of combat are different.

[crom]

no super mario bros 2?

super dodgeball

mass effect

[Astrosmash]

ToeJam & Earl?

ToeJam was faster and had a shorter lifebar; Earl was slower and had more life. Not the most dramatic difference, but enough to affect how willing the player is to run from enemies vs. to stay and fight, and in two-player mode (what other way is there to play this game?), it can also affect how the players make strategies to get through different obstacles.

[Cornelius]

The early TMNT games were pretty different for each of the characters, as was the Simpsons 4 player arcade game.

Sort of like Guardian Legend would be Blaster Master.

Maybe the Lego games?

[Damon Plus]

Some games:

-Ufouria (Nes) Four different characters, each with a different walking speed, jump, and special habilities.

-LOTR TT and LOTR ROTK (GBA) You have 5-6 characters in each game, and every one of them has a different story and levels (some of them are repeated, though)

-Sonic 3 and Knuckles ( Genesis) Even though the levels are mostly the same, the paths you take in them are different depending on the character you choose

-Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (PC) Not different characters, but at one point of the game, you have the option to choose between three gameplay modes, each one with its own scenarios and puzzles