It’s easy to assume thatmost Nintendo gamesdon’t focus on combat as a primary gameplay loop, and this is true to an extent. However, not all of Nintendo’s first or third-party developers need to be quirky and appeal to younger audiences.
Some of the best games on Nintendo hardware feature ranged combat that’s a blast to master. As long as players did everything in their power to avoid damage, they could take tactical positions in battle and take potshots at enemies from a distance without endangering themselves.
After the massive success ofMonster Hunter World, it was clear that future games in the series would try and emulate its success.Monster Hunter Riseis no exception, adhering to a lot of whatWorlddid right while adding new gameplay mechanics, such as a wirebug that essentially functioned as a grappling hook.
WhileMonster Hunteris a series known for its melee combat, players who want to fend off enemies from a distance can choose to master one of the three ranged weapon types inRise. Light Bowguns, Heavy Bowguns, and Bows are all a blast to use, especially in a well-balanced squad where one player can damage enemies from afar while the monster’s attention is grabbed by other close-quarters hunters.
Splatoonis one of the most unique shooter franchises players can check out. The third mainline entry perfects the gameplay even further, letting players enjoy the simple yet engaging gameplay of coloring a stage and establishing their dominance on the map.
Taking out opponents is secondary, with players loving the act of covering enemies with their paint and making them lose precious seconds respawning. There are several “weapons” players can use to make things easier for themselves, based on what type suits their playstyle the most.
Thebeauty ofBreath of the Wildis something fans will appreciate as they explore this vast world, but they can only relax for so long. Eventually, players will happen upon enemies that must be defeated or avoided, with most players preferring the former option.
Link has several weapons along with bows that boast special properties based on how challenging it was to acquire this ranged weapon. Players can use everything from regular to bomb arrows in combat, preserving their supplies as they take out enemies from a distance with well-aimed headshots.
After a lengthy wait, fans were finally treated toa newMetroidgame in the form ofDread. The classic side-scrolling action was accompanied by tense chases as Samus avoided the dreaded EMMIs using fun stealth mechanics.
Against regular enemies, Samus can use her blasters to kill them from a distance, which is recommended. While players can use melee attacks from time to time, it’s better to prevent Samus from incurring avoidable damage and just take out enemies from afar, where she’s usually safe from harm.
Tears of the Kingdomadded new powersthat completely changed the way players approach the game. This includes a Fuse mechanic where players can combine anything with their weapons to augment their power.
As a result,Tears of the Kingdomonly has regular arrows that can be fused with several other things to enhance their damage or give them special effects. While this can slow things down as players painstakingly fuse an item numerous times with their arrows to maximize the damage of each shot, it’s a small price to pay for players to enjoy surprisingly compelling ranged combat where anything can happen based on the player’s fusions.
The remaster ofMetroid Primemade many fans happy, realizing that they could go through this phenomenal game with a fresh coat of paint. Samus' powers translate well to a first-person setting as players take out hostiles and solve puzzles to make progress, with the remastered version modernizing the controls to make it easier to play than ever before.
As the game progresses,Samus gets to use several powersthat unlock new routes to secrets or other levels. She can also utilize her newfound techniques in combat, letting her take out a wealth of challenging opponents without breaking a sweat as long as players don’t put her in harm’s way too many times.
