Hack and slash

Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS; also written hyphenated as hack-and-slash, or with a contracted conjunction as in hack 'n' slay) or slash 'em up, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature a few projectile-based weapons as well (such as guns) as secondary weapons. It is a sub-genre of beat 'em up games, which focuses on melee combat usually with fists. Hack-and-slash action games are sometimes known as character action games.
The term "hack and slash" was originally used to describe a play style in tabletop role-playing games, carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and role-playing video games. In arcade and console style action video games, the term has an entirely different usage, specifically referring to action games with a focus on real-time combat with hand-to-hand weapons as opposed to guns or fists. The two types of hack-and-slash games are largely unrelated, though action role-playing games may combine elements of both.
Types of hack-and-slash games.
Action video games.
In the context of action video games, the terms "hack and slash" and "slash 'em up" refer to melee weapon-based action games and a sub-genre of beat 'em ups. Traditional 2D examples include Sega's arcade video game series "Shinobi" (1987 debut) and "Golden Axe" (1989 debut), Data East's arcade game "Captain Silver" (1987), Taito's "Rastan" (1987) and "Saint Sword" (1991), Tecmo's early "Ninja Gaiden" ("Shadow Warriors") 2D games (1988 debut), Capcom's "Strider" (1989), the Sega Master System game "" (1990), and Vanillaware's "Dragon's Crown" (2013).
Journalists covering the video game industry often use the term "hack and slash" to refer to a distinct genre of 3D, third-person, weapon-based, melee action games. Examples include Capcom's "Devil May Cry", Koei Tecmo's "Dynasty Warriors" and 3D "Ninja Gaiden" games, Sony's "God of War" and ', as well as "No More Heroes", "Bayonetta", "Darksiders", "Dante's Inferno", and "Sengoku BASARA". The genre is sometimes known as "character action" games, and represent a modern evolution of traditional arcade action games. This subgenre of games was largely defined by Hideki Kamiya, creator of "Devil May Cry" and "Bayonetta". Other games that have been referred to as "hack-and-slash" games include the "Souls" series, ', and "".
Action games that utilize hack-and-slash combat may be controlled mostly by frequently pressing a button or two, or with gestures from motion controllers, like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, or the PlayStation Move controllers, which can simulate the swing of a sword or other melee weapon.
Role-playing games.
The term "hack and slash" itself has roots in "pen and paper" RPGs such as "Dungeons & Dragons", denoting campaigns of violence with no other plot elements or significant goal. The term itself dates at least as far back as 1980, as shown in a "Dragon" article by Jean Wells and Kim Mohan which includes the following statement: "There is great potential for more than hacking and slashing in "D&D" or "AD&D"; there is the possibility of intrigue, mystery and romance involving both sexes, to the benefit of all characters in a campaign."<ref name="Wells/Mohan"></ref>
Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to role-playing video games, usually starting in "D&D"-like worlds. This form of gameplay influenced a wide range of action role-playing games, including games such as "Lineage", "Xanadu" and "Diablo".