Most Ridiculous Video Game Elements

Video games aren't exactly made to mirror real life. In real life, money can't be found in trees and there's no save option. Looking at a video game is terms of real life can produce amusing results. Here's some of the more ridiculous video game elements we have grown accustomed to. I do wish finding a couple of bucks was as simple as pulling up a bush, though.

1. Finding money in bushes, trees, under rocks
Did you visit the village store only to find you're 12 Rupees short of getting a new shield? No problem, just cut the grass, pick up some rocks, and maybe slam into a tree. In video games that require the player to purchase items, it's usually fairly easy to roam the landscape and get rich.

2. Ammo everywhere!
You're knee deep in enemies and running out of ammo. That's okay, just look in alleys or corners. There's probably a small stockpile there. Some enemies like the ones in Resident Evil 5 are so thoughtful, they drop ammo when they die. How convenient.

3. The never ending life
Remember the good old days when dying in a game actually meant something? You had to replay an entire level or mission. Worse, if you were out of lives you had to replay the entire game. Nowadays with automatic saving and the ability to save whenever you feel like it in many games, dying lost its impact. I think having the PS3 or Xbox 360 unexpectedly freeze during a game is the "new" dying.

4. The sidekicks that don't die, help, or attack
Perhaps this is my favorite one. You still do die in games, (or have the freezing problem) but what about your trusty sidekicks? You just watched them get shot in the head 20 times and they're still standing. Amazing. You're being attack by zombies, soldiers, or aliens. You're on a "team" that includes A.I., do they help you? Nope. You're left to collect all the gas cans, kill all the enemies, or figure out the puzzle. I guess they're there for moral support. They look like they're shooting, but they aren't hitting anything. The A.I. just wants to show you how it's done without actually doing it.

5. No health kit required
Fighting hordes of Locusts or bandits? There's no time for patching yourself up with a health kit, just hide behind something until your health regenerates. It could be a box, a door, or a car. Just wait a few seconds until your power comes back and you're good to go.

6. Your character has 50,000 pockets and the world's strongest back
Ever wonder were your character stores all of their weapons, money, food, and ammo? In Fallout 3, my petite female character could easily run around with over 100 pounds worth of items on her. That's even before the "Strong Back" perk. The Hardcore mode in Fallout New Vegas should drastically change this, though.

If you stop and think about it, these elements in video games can be sort of ridiculous. If games didn't have some of these elements, I believe they wouldn't be as enjoyable. As video games evolve into complex stories, it's necessary to maintain a smooth flow. Not redoing missions over or having to worry about health kits helps the player feel immersed in the game.

Sources:

Personal Experience