Stop Calling Games "Clones" Already

Genshin Impact shocked the world with its massive success, but some have given it the mocking name "Breath of the Waifu."

[isarai]

Stop being offended already.

Seriously, clone, metroidvania, rougue-like, souls-like, etc etc are just descriptors, they aren't inherently anything else unless you project your own overanalyzing opinion on it. They accurately, and efficiently give someone a good idea as to what the game entails.

I honestly would've NEVER played many games including Genshin Impact if they weren't described as such, in fact that's what drew me to Genshin Impact was the thought of a BotW experience on a more powerful home console, i'm glad it was more than that but that's my point. It ain't a bad thing, let it be, when a better term comes along it will be replaced, till then chill tf out.

[Ratty]

Clone does have negative connotations to it even if everyone using the term might not realize it. At least to me it sounds like it's unoriginal and/or just trying to ride on another game's popularity. Maybe I'm just old and never realized that it evolved into something positive.

To be honest, I'm much less inclined to play a game described as a clone of another.

[zenintude]

Guess what bro, this is not new. FPS were all called “DOOM-clones” until someone came up with a better, more descriptive term for the type of game they were describing...

https://doom.fandom.com/wik...

So maybe just come up with a better term and we’ll all start using it.

[Atom666]

Cuts the other way to me. For example, Bloodstained games are 100% Castlevania clones, and as a result, they've been instant buys for me.

So I guess it depends on the game being "cloned." But most of the time, it seems that it's basically: "Game ______ is very similar to much-beloved Game________."

I don't see that as inherently negative. A BotW clone sounds great to me.

But I understand that the term sort of takes away from that sense of originality of a title. However, 9/10 times, aren't these games clearly TRYING to be similar to popular games?

(And Breath of the Waifu is just plain funny.)

[lucian229]

except a lot of people are straight calling games that are "likes" Pure rip offs

[Atom666]

You have a percentage that are clear rip-offs. Those mostly don't last.

Your hardcore fans will try to knock any "competition," but if they're being honest, someone "cloning" their favorite game is a good thing. If they liked the original, they should hope to play more of them.

If a game comes out and clones BotW, and does very well, I would also think we should be even more excited for BotW2. Competition only serves to help our favorites try harder.

[TravsVoid]

It deserves every bit of that name lol, this guy must really love microtransactions.

[angh]

Was playing quite a bit in genshin and you don't have to pay a fine to achieve everything this game have to offer. For f2p game that is really good, and i never felt i need to spend real cash.

[BrainSyphoned]

How about you stop calling yourself a journalist since you are all clones.

[CrimsonWing69]

Breath of the Wild clone!

[DarkZane]

As if Breath of the Wild was even original.

[CrimsonWing69]

Uh, (insert whatever clone that Breath of the Wild cloned, here).

[Vanfernal]

Boo freaking hoo. If this "journalist" knew ANYTHING about the industry he would know the term "clone" isn't even a despective term. It's what is used to describe a game in the same vein as another. Some game clones are better than the original, some are worse. But it's just a simple way to give someone an overall idea of what a game is about.

There's plenty of Zelda clones, Castlevania clones, Dark Souls clones, Street Fighter clones... It only means that they are games in the same genre that share plenty of fundamental similarities with the original games. But let's be edgy and get offended because people are being mean to a game that was CLEARLY inspired by BOTW.

[SIdepocket]

Stop telling us how to use logic and common sense.

[Vits]

I don't think there is a issue with using "clone" itself. The issue comes when you only use it to description a game. Because you set some expectations that might be way off. Genshin Impact is a perfect example of that. It does take stuff from Zelda, like the gliding and climbing. But the way combat works, the way physics don't really play a role on exploration, the way progression is made and the story/lore is presented are completely different. And more akin to something like a MMO.

[Inverno]

Genshin was first described as a BoTW clone by gaming journalists, you only got yourselves to blame. At this point it's just jokes and memes, most have already noticed the differences. Stop pretending to be so offended.

[Stanjara]

I wanted BotW, and I got BotWaifu. Sounds good to me.

[Excited2play]

I think in this instance the term clone is the best descriptor for Genshin Impact. I don't mean that in a negative way either.

If it was billed as a Zelda-like for example people might think it was more like OOT than BOTW.

I've been playing it on PS4 and it's so far it has been a good experience.

Hopefully we get a sequel.

[Knightofelemia]

If it's a clone so what look at how many games copied Mario Kart like Crash Team Racing, Dante's Inferno is a clone of God of War, All Stars Battle Royal is a clone of Super Smash Bros, Quantum Theory is a clone of Gears of War.

Companies will jump on that formula everybody wants their cut of the pie before the next fad comes out it always happens.