Unusual genre combinations (like adventure+football in Roy of the Rovers)

[cwpab]

Besides the game in the title, what are the most unusual video game genre combinations you have experienced?

Other examples could be the Inca series (adventure+space shooter) and the Star Trek 1992-1993 games (same).

I'd like to play a pinball RPG or something.

[Nich]

Besides the game in the title, what are the most unusual video game genre combinations you have experienced?

Three football-themed games came to my mind.

• Soccer Pinball
  
• Soccer Rivals turns football management into a board game.
  
• Soccer Director combines football with a business simulation, and is every bit as dull as it sounds.
  

[cwpab]

Thanks, Nich! If perhaps a bit too football/CPC specific. 

The first game, Soccer Pinball, seems fun, even if the only soccer thing it has is the "goal" mechanic, where you score goals and a lost ball is a goal against you.

The 80s had more weird games than it may seem. Of course, if anyone knows more unusual genre combinations for any retro machine, feel free to mention them!

[andycadley]

On the football theme, Street Gang Football was a bit weird, a kind of football game crossed with a beat em up.

Maybe there was just a "football but different" thing going on in 80s video games?

[eto]

Starball on the Atari ST

a pinball combined with a mix of a ballbreaker and shooter game


I absolutely loved this one

[cwpab]

I checked Starball and it seem like a pretty cool pinball game, but I still haven't seen any signs of blocks to be broken Breakout-style or laser shooting.

Am I missing something?

[eto]

I checked Starball and it seem like a pretty cool pinball game, but I still haven't seen any signs of blocks to be broken Breakout-style or laser shooting.

Am I missing something?

The blocks are not static but moving. And the blocks are arcade style enemies with the occasional missiles that need to be shot.

So one part is pinball
and the other part is a mix of shooter and breakout.

fusion(pinball,(fusion(breakout,shooter))

[abalore]

There are lots of arcade + adventure / puzzle examples, some good examples are in the Dizzy saga and many others come to my mind. But I guess the question is about the weirdest examples.

For me Ninja Scooter Simulator deserves a special mention. The only thing it has to do with ninjas is the name and the cover illustration. Not even the hero sprite tries to look like a ninja. I think they added 'ninja' because just 'scooter simulator' was not very appealing.

[cwpab]

Okay, I finally saw why Starball is special. It's all explained here. One of the stages is like Space Invaders and other is like Breakout! 

BTW, the Kirby breakout clone for the Game Boy looks amazing and has cool gameplay variations. Not a genre combination, but still.

Oh, and Ultimate Pinball Quest for the Amiga seems to veer into even more unexplored territory, as all stages look super weird and closer to a fantasy-themed RPG.

[cwpab]

I recently discovered (randomly) Scientific, a French game that mixes centipede... with quiz show! https://www.cpcgamereviews.com/s/3/#scientific

It's supposedly very bad and we shouldn't play it (especially because most don't speak French), but...

[Shaun M. Neary]

There are lots of arcade + adventure / puzzle examples, some good examples are in the Dizzy saga and many others come to my mind. But I guess the question is about the weirdest examples.

For me Ninja Scooter Simulator deserves a special mention. The only thing it has to do with ninjas is the name and the cover illustration. Not even the hero sprite tries to look like a ninja. I think they added 'ninja' because just 'scooter simulator' was not very appealing.

The Dizzy type puzzle/adventure still goes strong today. Look up 'Sally Face' on modern consoles. Works the same way as Dizzy but dark as hell, and some scenes provide nightmare fuel!

As for Ninja Scooter Sim, the game itself is nothing more than a Metro Cross clone except on a scooter. I wouldn't be surprised if the Metrocross Engine was ripped off for it. It looks identical from the flooring to the font. It's also interesting that they called it Ninja Scooter as in the UK market at the time, all things Ninja were about to be banned! Seriously! The word ninja spread such widespread panic in the UK that even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had to be changed to Hero Turtles and Michaelangelos nunchuck scenes were censored until his weapon was changed to the Turtle line! 

On the subject of crossing genres for our glorious Amstrads involving Ninjas, BMX Ninja anyone? A Yie Ar Kung Fu style game involving... dudes on BMX's?