Ah, action games... This is the first genre of video game to be created, in the wee early days of arcades and primitive console devices. With the simplistic programming needed to make games work on such slow, simple machinery, creativity was very necessary to make a game engaging and immersive. To this day, the action game genre is going as strong as it ever has, despite the advent of so many other genres of games on the market today. So, what is it about action games that makes them so beloved, to the point they are nigh immortal?
Well, it's rather simple. For one thing, action game is a very generalized genre title for a multitude of gaming types. One of the most well-known types of action game is the classic platformer, such as Super Mario Bros, or Sonic the Hedgehog. These classic games feature running like mad through levels, avoiding obstacles, collecting items and powerups, and defeating nefarious enemies. Another genre that falls into the action games category feature more of a role playing aspect. Your hero walks through an open world, with an over head (usually) view, and collects weapons, items and levels, while defeating enemies and solving puzzles. Terranigma and Zelda are prime examples of this beloved trope.
Action Games - A Buffet of Fun
Some would also debate that overhead "shoot'em up" games, made popular in arcades with titles like Smash TV fall into the action games genre too. These games usually have a similar overhead view, as you annihilate wave after wave of enemy with augmented weapons, making your way to the unholy boss that awaits you at the end of each level. These are really but a few subgenres of game that are commonly classified in the action game genre, so the variety of unique gameplay concepts, wide open worlds and amazing stories are what make action games so loveable to many generations of gamers. So, with that in mind, what kinds of action games are available today, and what do different platforms have to offer the gaming connoisseur?
It would be unfair to directly compare the free action games on market to the free action games offered on alternative platforms, so let's look at them as separate categories for fairness' sake. People interested in retail action games would do well to take an interest in handheld consoles of modern times.These consoles are on par with two-generation-old TV consoles, and have all of that graphical and processing power at their disposal. Handheld consoles receive a lot of affordable action games, some remakes of classics, some new and innovative. People who love classic 2D action games will find an unending plethora of titles up their alleys on the Nintendo DS, 3DS and the Gameboy Advance. The PSP also has a wide array of unique action game experiences to be enjoyed. The advent of touch interfaces has opened up a whole new way to experience these action-packed titles!
But, don't count out traditional consoles of recent generations either. With internet connectivity being a standard, DLC is a great way to get original, classic-styled action games on all three of the major consoles, and there do remain many dedicated developers creating innovative and gorgeous 3D action games of so many types for these consoles as well.
Flash Action Games Are Becoming More And More Popular
However, in today's gaming topography, if you want to play action games, the free market is really where it's happening! And the best action games in this sector are in fact powered by Flash. Unlike some other game genres whose processing or graphical requirements make Flash a challenging platform to use, action games are where this platform really shines true.
Flash's versatility with both vector and raster graphics means that a developer can create new, unique visual styles for action games, but also, can create pixel art and mimic the classic style of arcade or 8/16-bit consoles for that wonderful nostalgic feel that is so highly sought after now. Every genre of action game imaginable, from the Zelda-like action adventure, to the fast-paced Mario-style platforming of side scrolling games has been implemented with gusto in many amazing Flash games that would be worth a retail price... but they're free!
If you want to play the best action games of today, then GamezAdvisor.com is where you can find them at. You may think it's hard to easily find these, and get ratings on them unlike retail games, but you would be wrong. Has it ever felt so good to be wrong? Probably not!
Take a look at independent game reviewers and general gaming sites, and you will find that increasing attention to the Flash (also known as browser game) game platform. A good example of an intuitive reviewer is "Five Minutes to Burn", who can be found on Blip, Youtube, or easily through a quick search. IGN, Gamefaqs and other community-based sites also praise many Flash games of action genre as well as others. So, it's pretty easy to find an action games list that includes classic and modern retail titles, as well as the endless cornucopia of Flash titles that are to be had.
On a final note, Flash is becoming an increasingly powerful platform, and with the porting of Unity to Flash, as well as other 3D engines, Flash and browser gaming are quickly beginning to brin g 3D action games to the menu.This just adds to the variety of action game deliciousness Flash has served up for free for over a decade!
