Combat is a central feature to many games. We’re not very good at depicting conflict resolution in an interactive way unless it involves swinging a sword or firing a gun. A debate is difficult to simulate, but ballistics are not.
Recently, there’s been some effort spent at coming up with other ways to have the player solve their problems without resorting to violence. Many games are eschewing combat entirely or giving you more options about just what kind of monster you want to be. It’s refreshing, since we’ve kind of been stuck on this one note for action games since the ‘80s.
I’m going to say right off the bat that Everhood is perhaps my favourite depiction of not-quite-fighting that I’ve encountered in a long time. It contains all the excitement of a good dust-up but without any real blows being exchanged. It’s just too bad it also finds new and innovative ways to frustrate me.
Source: Destructoid Review: Everhood