Summary
Falling can be interpreted in several ways across a variety of video games. Some use it as a core gameplay mechanic, while others implement gravity in its simplest form by limiting the height that players can safely fall from before they start losing health.
For the most part, gamers should attempt to avoid deadly falls in most video games, but death isn’t the only thing that dissuades players from taking a damaging tumble. Sometimes, a player’s hard-earned progress can be lost with an ill-timed fall, which makes for a surprisingly effective punishment.
Players familiar withQWOPknew they were getting into something ridiculous when they checked outGetting Over It with Bennett Foddy.The simple gameplay loopinvolves players controlling a man in a pot using a sledgehammer to help him ascend and cross great distances.
Over time, players will learn how to manipulate this simple tool to reach great heights, but this success is almost always temporary. A single mistake will cause players to fall and lose a ton of progress, which is especially frustrating when the sarcastic narration chides the player for failing to achieve their goal for the umpteenth time.
The Witcher 3is one of the greatest video games that countless gamers can’t seem get enough of. The game was perfect in almost every department, but one small complaint fans had at the time revolved around how unforgiving the fall damage in the game was.
While Geralt was quite weak during the early hours ofThe Witcher 3, steady progress andpowerful equipment ensured that players would barely face any issuesin the mid to late-game, barring certain bosses and the DLC content. However, fall damage remained consistent no matter what, which meant that a single fall from a justifiable height could still spell Geralt’s doom. This was equally amusing and frustrating for many players.
WhileDark Soulsmay be one of the hardest games ever made, players can either level up to the nines or improve their skills to beat the toughest bosses without facing too many problems. However, it’ll become abundantly clear that the one thing players have to avoid at all costs is falls from deadly heights.
Environmental awareness becomes key in boss fights where falling is a realistic possibility. No matter how strong the Chosen Undead may be, a single misstep is enough to deplete all their health and force players to recover their hard-earned Souls.
Wander can’t exactly die inShadow of the Colossus, but there are other ways that this game punishes players for making mistakes. Given how the bulk ofthis title’s gameplay involves players climbing massive monstersand hitting their weak spots, it’s easy to see why a single fall can be frustrating for players.
As the name suggests, most of the Colossi are gigantic and can only be climbed once players figure out the spots where Wander can hold on to for dear life. If he runs out of stamina or players don’t maintain a strong grip, then it’s easy to fall, forcing players to climb the gigantic monster once again.
WhileDeath Strandingplays around with some forms of combat, the vast majority of the game revolves around traversal, with players being tasked with delivering packages from one spot to another. This may sound boring, butDeath Strandingdoes just enough to keep this gameplay loop as engaging as possible.
Carrying a heavy load means that players must be careful and not let Sam slip and fall from a great height. This may lead to valuable packages being damaged, forcing players to either make the climb again or take a longer route around whatever obstacle is causing them issues.
The Climb 2is a huge improvement over its predecessor, letting players immerse themselves in the act of scaling tall cliffs as they try to make it to the top of each stage. To make things interesting, some levels start using hazards to make handholds less reliable, forcing players to move as quickly as possible.
There’s a decent chance of players falling, and they must attempt to avoid this at all costs. Not only will failure force them to restart the climb, but the sense of artificial vertigo is enhanced to the point where some people may start feeling queasy after too many falls.
A hit co-op title that many gamers can’t get enough of,Chained Togetheris a hilarious title. In it, gamers must accomplish platforming challenges while being bound to other players via a chain. This is used cleverly in stages where cooperation between players is key to ensuring success.
Chained Togethercan be frustrating early on, which is why any accomplishments players enjoy in the later stages feel all the more rewarding. Swinging around and coordinating movements to avoid traps is a ton of fun and helps this game stand out as one of thebest co-op indie titlesfor a laugh. That is until the group falls to their doom, and the blame game starts.
As one would expect ina game built around parkour, movement inMirror’s Edgefeels fluid and satisfying despite the first-person perspective. This means that an ill-timed move can cause Faith to tumble to her death, which isn’t ideal for obvious reasons.
Over time, players will master expert parkour moves and execute swings, wall jumps, tough landings, and wall runs in quick succession. Even the best players can make mistakes, with a single slip leading to a deadly fall that forces players to restart.
