It's important to address the many controversies that Activision Blizzard has been at the center of, with the accusations being nothing short of appalling. It's a shame that higher management has been so flippant when it comes to employee wellbeing, especially since said employees have developed some amazing games.
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Hopefully, developers who have poured their hearts and souls into these titles won't suffer because of the errors of the higher-ups. After all, some Activision Blizzard games feature amazing melee combat that will keep fans coming back for more as they get invested in these experiences.
8 World Of Warcraft
A Legendary MMORPG With Simple Yet Engaging Melee Combat
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence (online interactions not rated)
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
There are many classes players can use in World of Warcraft, with some interesting ones relying on melee combat skills to take out foes. While the combat itself can feel simplistic at times, this is to be expected from an MMORPG.
Warriors, Paladins, Monks, and Death Knights are some great classes players can use to turn melee combat into a blast, especially when they gain a ton of levels and acquire the best skills for each class. High-level raids become a great testing ground for a melee combatant's skills, since they serve as a valuable line of defense and keep these foes engaged while spellcasters and other ranged combatants take out enemies from a safe distance.
7 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
The Melee Combat Isn't Complicated And Doesn't Need To Be
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
- Released
- November 16, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
It's a shame that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines released on the very same day as Half-Life 2, dooming its performance for good. It didn't help that the game was loaded with bugs and featured a ton of cut content that hampered the second half of what is otherwise a mesmerizing experience.
Early on in Bloodlines, players will usually rely on melee combat to get the job done, leaping at enemies to suck their blood and using both their fists and powerful melee weapons to whack some sense into enemies. The combat system is pretty serviceable, and it's a shame that the lack of polish in the latter half means that players must rely on ranged weapons for some of the game's toughest boss fights.
6 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
Controlling A Team Of Beloved Marvel Superheroes And Smashing Enemies Into A Pulp Is A Blast
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
- Released
- September 15, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- 3+
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Players love both Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and its sequel for letting players fulfill their wildest fantasies of amassing a team of superheroes and steamrolling past their enemies in style. Each superhero is a blast to control and feels unique without confusing players with their movesets.
As one would expect, Ultimate Alliance 2 refines the gameplay from the first title to make for a smoother and more satisfying experience. Taking on some of the most iconic Marvel foes and teaming up with beloved superheroes feels great, especially if players check out this game with a friend.
5 Diablo 4
The Combat Is Great, With A Melee-Oriented Playstyle Being More Than Viable
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
Diablo 4 may have its fair share of issues that stem from its grindy progression, but the combat itself is a cut above previous titles in the series. Every class feels great to control, with melee-oriented characters finding it easy to get up in an enemy's face and make them regret their actions as they're brutally slaughtered.
As players acquire more loot and abilities, the melee combat becomes incredibly satisfying. Taking on bosses and exploring tough dungeons is a blast as players push their chosen build to its very limits and come out victorious after harrowing enemy encounters time and time again.
4 X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Lunging At Enemies And Ripping Enemies Apart With Claws Feels Great
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
- Released
- May 1, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
No one expected the video game adaptation of X-Men Origins: Wolverine to be so much fun to play, with this video game tie-in being the rare example of a title being better than the movie it was inspired from. Logan is ruthless and loves lunging at his foes to rip them apart.
The game may be a tad too short, but this means that players will thoroughly enjoy every combat encounter without getting bored. Leaping across the environment to punish enemies trying to maintain a distance from Logan never gets old, with his claws tearing them apart in brutal displays that make X-Men Origins: Wolverine more cathartic than it has any right to be.
3 Prototype 2
Polishes The Brutal Combat From The First Game
Prototype 2
- Released
- April 24, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature - Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
It's a shame that Prototype has become a forgotten IP in the realm of modern gaming, especially since both games let players enjoy a dark superhero fantasy for the ages. The second game lets players control James Heller as they take on the protagonist of the first game, who has become a villain and threatens the world with his diabolical actions.
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While Alex Mercer's heel turn was poorly explained, fans didn't mind once they saw the wealth of gameplay improvements in Prototype 2. Button combinations for certain abilities weren't impossible to execute anymore, with players exploring the world and transforming their bodies into makeshift weapons that could tear apart their enemies in style.
2 Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
Both The Red And Black Suit Are Great To Use In Combat
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Animated Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence (PC, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360) E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Animated Blood, Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes (PS2, PSP, DS)
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Beat 'Em Up
Web of Shadows stands out in the eyes of many as one of the most underrated Spider-Man games ever made. The Symbiote-packed story lent itself to some amazing set pieces as players took on iconic Symbiote foes along with some beloved characters infected by this alien parasite.
The game takes some dark turns that feel compelling, even if the story's presentation could've benefited from some extra work. Switching between the Red and Black Suit to use the full array of moves in Spider-Man's arsenal feels great and lets players take out enemies in style regardless of whether they're grounded, in the air, or even crawling on walls.
1 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Focus On Deflection And Sword Combat Is Challenging Yet Satisfying To Master
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released
- March 22, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the hardest FromSoftware games ever made, with the game discarding almost all of its RPG elements to let players enjoy an action game first. Instead of letting players change weapons, they must use Sekiro's katana and master the art of deflection as they take on several challenging bosses.
There's nothing more satisfying than nailing multiple deflections in a row, filling up an enemy's stagger meter, and leaving them open for a Deathblow. As one would expect, the boss fights are where Sekiro's combat system shines, pushing players to their very limits as they use every trick in their arsenal to come out victorious against these dangerous foes.
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