HA11 Task 1 The Greatest Genre Ever

In this task, I will produce an analysis of the Action/Adventure genre. This will include the genre's characteristics, the narrative structure and the representation of characters which the games in this genre. Games that contain this genre are as followed, The Legend of Zelda, BioShock Infinite, Red Dead Redemption and much more.

These games all contain similar codes and conventions such as the story being linear but also allows you to adventure around the map with no restraint. Another similarity is that you play as a pre-made character that you control the outcome for. If you die the character dies.

Analyse the genre’s characteristics

The Action/Adventure genre is essentially a story that you are following. You are playing as the main character in that story and your actions throughout the game determine the outcome of the story. For example, you are controlling the character's life, if you lose too much health you will die and the story with revert to your last save. This is also an aspect within BioShock Infinite.


One of the codes and conventions to the Action genre is that they usually contain a combat system of some sort, normally containing guns as the main weapon. In BioShock Infinite, the combat system contains you using guns/special ability's to defeat opponents.


The codes and conventions to the Adventure genre are that when you play games that contain the adventure genre, have a linear story, however, the game doesn't restrict you from entering certain areas in the map. This happens in Red Dead Redemption and BioShock Infinite. The fact that the story is linear should make you feel like you are just following a straight line toward the end, however, because you can go anyway in the game with no restriction makes it a more enjoyable experience

Video of BioShock Infinite Exploration

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Analyse the narrative structures

Action/Adventure usually have the same or similar narrative structures across all the games which allow for them to engage with the codes and conventions included within the genre. The narrative structure of these genres have remained similar over the years.

One of the codes and conventions of these games is the fact that the character you play as usually have some sort of power/special ability that you have to use to help/save people throughout the story. In BioShock Infinite, you have access to special abilities. These are used to defeat enemies and help the another character escape.


The narrative structure of games in the action/adventure genre can really contain whatever you want as the story can be as wild and wacky as you want and it will still fit the genre. Example's of this are with BioShock Infinite, This games narrative structure is very wild. You are, essentially, in a different time paradox which has alternate endings. The Action part of the narrative structure is expressed throughout gameplay. The player can decide to shoot an enemy and that may deviate the outcome of the story. The story of games in the action/adventure genre can really contain whatever you want as the story can be as wild and wacky as you want and it will still fit the genre. Example's of this are with BioShock Infinite, This games narrative structure is very wild. You are, essentially, in a different time paradox which has alternate endings.


Analyse the representation of characters

Game curators usually create a character that is Male as the protagonist of the game. The developers do this as a way to attract the main par of the audience which is Males. Females in games are not represented too often and if they are they are not the main protagonist. They are more of a sidekick. There are a few games where you can play as a female for the protagonist for example, Tomb Raider.


Racism is a big factor in video games. BioShock Infinite has got quite a bit of racism represented throughout the game. One cutscene near the beginning you are dragged into this raffle at a fair. You select a ball from a basket and you have to make a moral decision whether or not to through the ball at the couple, a white male and a black female, or through it at the announcer. The same outcome happens either way.

BioShock Infinite Racism Cutscene

After generating a bit of research on the audience that plays the genre, Action/Adventure in games I found out a couple of things. These genres are becoming more popular within the gaming community and the main audience that plays it are Males in the 20's to their 30's closely followed by males in the late teens and in their 30's to 40's. Females are having an increase in amount of females playing action/adventure games but still remain the lesser percent in the audience.