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Sure, these days have almost every game sporting the newfangled 3D, but way back when, everyone had to live with plain old 2D. 2D, or two dimensions, limit the game to scrolling backgrounds, but some games even now make use of this basic concept.
Anthropomorphism is the concept of an object, concept or character that has human qualities or traits, such as speech, a level of intelligence similar or higher than a human's and self consciousness. "Anthro" means "of human" and related to the concept of humanity.
Bats are small, very social flying mammals. They may frequent caves or haunted houses.
The concept of moving blocks around to certain areas such as highlighted squares, or switches, or in order to get past a maze.
Feline animals commonly kept as pets. There are many different breeds and varieties.
Chiptunes are musical compositions that are synthesized by a computer or console sound chip.
While modern chemistry defines 118 atomic elements, video games more often deal with classical elements as described in ancient philosophy, mainly fire, water, earth, and air. In many games, each element is stronger against certain elements, but weaker against others.
Collectibles are items such as coins, rings, gems, packages etc. that can be gathered, usually for some kind of reward, or sometimes to simply beat a level. Often (almost too often) the source of earning achievements and trophies on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
A non-interactive sequence within a game most often used for plot advancement.
The main line of distinction between victory or failure in video games, death is the process of a biological being ceasing to be alive.
Dragons were originally messengers from heaven, according to early Buddhist texts. In games, they can be among the most fearsome of adversaries, but there are some exceptions.
Flip screen (or flick-screen) describes a way of dividing the game world into fixed screens, displayed one at a time. It's commonly found in 2D platformers, especially prior to the 16-bit era.
A type of stage themed around, or made entirely out of, food - often confectionery.
A frog is a small and usually green amphibian that can swim, hop, and ribbit. Sadly, most of them aren't princes.
Game Over originally appeared in pinball machines, and later, arcade machines. When players lose at a game, it is game over.
These spooky entities are the spirits of the dead, returned from beyond their graves for generally sinister purposes. There's generally about even odds whether a particular ghost will be helpful or malevolent towards the living, but some ghosts just want to be left alone entirely.
Gravity is a physical phenomenon, specifically the mutual attraction between all objects in the universe. In a gaming setting, gravity determines the relationship between the player and the "ground," preventing the player or game objects from flying off into space, and hopefully acting in a predictable/realistic manner.
In many games there is a ranking system, the players with the highest point value are listed in a "high score" table.
A gameplay mechanic allowing players to store their items and freely carry them around.
It's arguably the one move that symbolizes the medium to those outside it. The ability to jump, be it onto a building, a platform, or a skull, is one of the all time most important abilities ever put in a video game.
The concept of lives in video games evolved to let the player get a second chance after failing once. The most recognizable symbol is the heart.
A mascot is an iconic character heavily used in the advertising and marketing of a product, franchise, business, or company. Notable mascots include Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Ulala, Mickey Mouse, and the Big Daddies.
Ever since Pac-Man, games have had us navigating mazes.
These are often a departure from the conventional gameplay of a game. There have also been compilations; games including only minigames. The Mario Party series has a lot of minigames, too!
Platforms conveniently moving you towards your destination to allow the crossing of large expanses which would otherwise be impossible to cross.
Game cartridges that are shaped differently from other ones for the same console. While they are more commonly associated with unlicensed games, there have been occasions where these were seen with official releases: mainly ones that incorporate special hardware.
By definition, a pirate is a (mostly naval) robber without commission from a sovereign nation. While maritime robbery has been around since ancient times, Piracy had its highpoint during the 17th century. They are easily identified by the "Jolly Roger", which is the traditional name of the famous skull flag.
Pixel art refers to digital images composed of visible pixels, drawn with individual pixel-level intent and precision.
Power Ups can be used to give the controlling character, or any other character, temporary or permanent upgrades.
Puzzles may need to be solved before the player can progress to the next section of the game. Often it may not be clear to players exactly what the puzzle is, or whether the an in-game items needs to be attained before it is even possible to solve it.
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