Can a generic game do genre as well as a game made for the genre?

[gonster]

6th edition Basic Rulebook used to be in print, but it no longer is (available on DriveThruRPG though.)

The 5ed version was called Sidekick.

[Shauncat]

One strength I think GURPS has over a more specialized wargame is "the mashup".

Like, if I wanted to play a game about fighter jets, and my choices came down to GURPS, and the best modern aerial combat game on the market, I might choose GUPRS because...

This isn't modern combat! Turns out aliens are invading, and you gotta go shoot them down! If I was to try to do that with the specialized game, it would turn out as "reskinning", and not be nearly as granular.

[RPGPundit]

A generic game can do a specific genre, if its within the range of the game's ability (all generic games have power-levels), and if the game isn't just run out-of-the-box, but modified to fit the right genre elements.

RPGPundit