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A narrative that takes an unexpected turn. Commonly, plot twists come in the form of revealing that the player character is not actually who they thought.
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.
Bosses are enemies that fight you at the end of a level or at a significant point in the story.
Characters that are designed to be scantily-clad.
Attributes are a numerical representation of a character's abilities who have their roots in RPGs. Today, attributes have spilled over to a wide range of game genres.
Backtracking is the act of navigating through previously explored areas, usually for the purpose of progressing in an objective-based adventure game. Players who are lost may also backtrack to reorient themselves.
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.
An overworld is a simplified view of the game world that allows players to freely move to different locations or levels.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, commonly refers to the programmed behaviors of NPCs in a game, whether it's the fact that a soldier takes cover behind a wall in Gears of War, or that townspeople cheer upon your arrival to their village in Fable.
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.
Passwords are codes used to save a player's progress, primarily during the 8-bit era and, to a lesser extent, the 16-bit era.
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 mechanic used mainly in Japanese RPGs of both the action and turn-based variety.
A map that is updated in real-time as you play a level. Usually seen in FPSs and RPGs.
Any person that is in an Army.
An industry game design convention that's appeared in many games over the years. The fetch quest involves sending the player out to collect a certain number of items, and return them to complete the quest. A staple of the RPG and Adventure game genre.
A game where you eventually receive a map of an area. Like in Metroid Prime you have map download stations to get a map outline of the area. This is the same concept in the exploring Castlevania games.
The single most important thing in the world, love is a powerful story telling element that can connect characters or drive a story. There are many video game characters who have fallen in love with someone or something.
The player character is seen at a distance from a number of different possible perspective angles. There is generally a movable camera but it can also be in a fixed position. It most commonly refers to a viewpoint behind the player character.
A type of game in which the player gives commands by inputting complete words and sentences. Often associated with the adventure genre.
Currency has all forms in video games. It is used to buy characters, vehicles, weapons, and more.
Games that let you choose the path you take through the story-line.
Multiple endings is a term used to describe different outcomes or conclusions to a game based on the previous actions of the player.
It's not just for airplanes anymore: Game mascots and MMO players alike have taken to the skies. Players can use flight to quickly navigate large levels, find hidden items, or take opponents down.
Console games that derive from a past PC exclusive release, either due to popular demand or poor sales.
Enemies that appear out of nowhere and force the player into a battle.
Extraterrestrials appear in many video games in a variety of styles. Sometimes they're evil, sometimes they're benevolent, and sometimes they're very similar to humans.
Survival is a concept that signifies that the player's life is constantly in jeopardy.
Games based on literature. This does not include licenses of another adaptation.
These are games you don't need a console to play. You plug in a controller to the TV and you're ready to play.
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