Power-up

This article is about a video game design element. For other uses, seePower up (disambiguation).

Invideo games,apower-upis an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to theplayer characteras agame mechanic.This is in contrast to anitem,which may or may not have a permanent benefit that can be used at any time chosen by the player. Although often collected directly through touch, power-ups can sometimes only be gained by collecting several related items, such as the floating letters of the word 'EXTEND' inBubble Bobble.Well known examples of power-ups that have enteredpopular cultureinclude the power pellets fromPac-Man(regarded as the first power-up)and the Super Mushroom fromSuper Mario Bros.,which ranked first inUGO Networks'Top 11 Video Game Powerups.

Items that confer power-ups are usually pre-placed in the game world, spawned randomly, dropped by beaten enemies or picked up from opened or smashed containers. They can be differentiated from items in other games, such asrole-playing video games,by the fact that they take effect immediately, feature designs that do not necessarily fit into the game world (often used letters or symbols emblazoned on a design), and are found in specific genres of games. Power-ups are mostly found in action-oriented games such asmaze games,run and guns,shoot 'em ups,first-person shooters,andplatform games.

History and influence

Origins of the term

The term "power-up" is an example ofwasei-eigo(Japanese pseudo-Anglicisms); the sense was coined in Japanese as a compound of "power"(パワー,pawā,noun)and "up"(アップする,appusuru,verb),literally "to up someone's or something's power or abilities". The general meaning ofX-upin Japanese is "this will increase your X", and this construction is regularly used in areas such as advertising.

First instances

TheSuper Mushroomis an idealized representation of theAmanita muscariafungus.

Pac-Manfrom 1980 is credited as the first video game to feature a power-up mechanic.Every maze in the game contains four Power Pellets which temporarily give Pac-Man the ability to eat ghosts, turning the tables on his pursuers. The effect of the power-up was illustrated by one of the firstcut scenesto appear in a video game, in the form of brief comical interludes about Pac-Man and Blinky chasing each other around.The power pellet entered popular culture with a joke onvideo game controversiesregarding the influence of video games on children.

Acutscenein the originalPac-Mangame comically exaggerates the effects of the power pellet.

In 1984,Sabre Wulfintroduced power-ups in the form of flowers which, when blossoming, provided effects such as speed up and invincibility.

In 1985,Super Mario Bros.introduced theSuper Mushroom,which has entered popular culture,being described as "thequintessentialpower-up ".The original game idea was to have an always big Mario as a technical advance, but later the power-up was introduced to make him "super" as a bonus effect.The development team thought it would be interesting to have Mario grow and shrink by eating a magic mushroom, just like inAlice's Adventures in Wonderland.Other power-ups introduced in this game were the Super Stars andFire Flowers,which gave Mario invincibility and the ability to shoot fireballs at enemies, respectively.

Konami's 1985 gameGradiushad the first use of a selection bar where the player could select which power-up effect to trigger, instead of having a fixed instant effect.

In 1986 and the years after, the concept of permanent power-ups appeared in theaction role-playinggenre in the form ofperks.

Types of power-ups

Power-ups can be classified according to the type of benefit they give the player.

Offensive abilities

Power-ups can give players a new weapon, or transform the player character into a more aggressive form that increases its attack power or makes some enemies vulnerable. This also includes "nukes", which are weapons that destroy every enemy on the screen at once; these are prevalent in many different genres includingvehicular combat,run and guns,andplatform games.The effect of the power-up can be time-limited, have a limited number of uses, last until the player is hit, last until the player is killed, or last untilgame over.

Examples:

• Mega Manseries: Weapons are earned from the Robot Masters/Mavericks upon defeating them. The weapons are kept until the game is turned off (unless apasswordis used which can bring the player back to a point after the weapon was acquired) or when the game is completed.
• Donkey Kong:The hammer that Mario (Jumpman) can use to destroy barrels and fireballs.
• Pac-Man:Power pellets can be picked up by Pac-Man, allowing him to attack ghosts. This also makes Pac-Man temporarily invulnerable.
• Super Mario Bros.:The player can smash overhead bricks by jumping into them after picking up a Super Mushroom, and can throw fireballs at enemies after picking up aFire Flower.In addition to those two, there are ice flowers, mini mushrooms, mega mushrooms, hammer power, etc. Mario loses the Super Mario effect after being hit; if he has also collected a Fire Flower, then this is lost along with it.
• Jak and Daxter:In the first game, collecting Red Eco increases Jak's attack power, while Yellow Eco gives the ability to shoot fireballs from his hands. In the next two games, Dark Eco can be used to transform into Dark Jak, giving a more powerful melee attack, and access to additional unlockable abilities.
• Doom:In secret areas, the player can find Berserk packs that greatly increases the damage fromDoomguy's fist, allowing him to kill most of the weaker enemies in one or two hits without spending any ammunition

Defensive abilities

Defensive power-ups typically consist of items likeshields(usually a "force field") surrounding the character that deflects projectiles or absorbs a certain amount of damage, or invincibility/invulnerability. In the case of invincibility, this is nearly always granted as a temporary bonus; otherwise it would negate the challenge of the game.

Invincibility (or "invulnerability" ) comes in two main forms: either the player character merely becomes intangible to harmful things, or can also damage enemies by contact. In either case the character is often still vulnerable to some threats, such as bottomless pits. In many games, invulnerability is also temporarily granted after the player gets hit or loses a life, so that the character will not be hurt/killed twice in quick succession. The effect is commonly indicated by making the player character flash or blink or by musical cues.

Examples:

• Mario:TheStarman,which grants temporary invulnerability and the ability to defeat enemies by touch.
• Sonic the Hedgehog:There are several kinds of defensive power-ups in theSonicfranchise. Thefirst gameintroduced the Shield, which would protect Sonic from being hit one time. This would prevent the player from losing Rings and lives, enclosing Sonic in a spherical barrier. There are several variations of this item as well, including the Thunder/Magnetic, Aqua/Water, and Fire/Flame Shields. These games also feature the Invincibility box which grants temporary invulnerability, and the ability to defeat enemies by simply touching them.
• Blur:This game also features defensive power-ups like shield and repair to prevent the player's car from getting wrecked. Some power-ups can be fired backwards to destroy opponents behind the player.
• Clash of Clans:The Grand Warden's Eternal Tome ability makes all surrounding friendly units with a certain range to be invulnerable to damage from defense towers for—depending on the level—3.5, 4, 4.5 or 5 seconds at ability levels 1, 2, 3 or 4, respectively.
• Splatoonseries:The Armor power-up coats the player in one layer of armor and prevents enemy attacks from "splatting" the player. If the player takes enough damage that would otherwise splat them, a layer of armor breaks while the player is restored to full health and given a short period of invulnerability. Unlike most defensive power-ups, the player can have multiple layers of armor at once.

Evasive abilities

Some power-ups consist of items which help the player avoid or escape enemies or enemy weapons. This category includes "speed boosts" and other power-ups which affect time, which can be temporary, permanent, or cumulative, and "invisibility" power-ups which help the player avoid enemies.

Examples:

• Rainbow Islands:The shoe power-up, which makes the player character move more quickly.
• R-Type:The 'S' icon, which increases the player's speed every time one is collected.
• Unreal Tournament,Quake I & II:The Invisibility power-up, which turns the player into an indistinctwireframeor shadow. Similarly, radiation suits serve to deflect certain types of weapons as well.
• Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII:The Dashmateria,which allows Zack to move at double speed to help avoid enemy attacks.
• Jak and Daxter:The Blue Eco, which enables Jak to run faster and jump higher. It is also used to activate the ancient Precursor machinery found throughout the world, opening doors and activating floating platforms. Due to this, Blue Eco can also be considered an Access ability.
• Sonic the Hedgehog:The Power Sneakers/Speed Shoes item in this series temporarily increases the speed, accelerations and jump height of the player character.
• Super Metroid:The Speed Booster is a permanent power-up that givesSamus Aranthe ability to run incredibly fast, destroying any enemy in her path. She can also perform a technique with the Speed Booster called the "Shinespark", which allows her to do an invincible charge in 6 possible directions, at the cost of draining health.

Access abilities

Some power-ups help the player enter new or previously inaccessible areas, or "warp"to another level. Access abilities, depending on the game, can be required to progress normally or be entirely optional.

Examples:

• Super Mario Bros. 3:The warp whistle, which allows player to first go to a warp zone, then advance to another world of a higher value, and the hammer, which allows players to take shortcuts on the overworld game map. Mario also acquires a Raccoon Leaf which allows him to fly, sometimes to hidden areas.
• Mega Manseries:The Rush power-ups, which allow the player to attain power-ups not possible by any other means. The most common are Rush Jet, Rush Coil, Rush Marine, and Rush Search. Also notable are some of the capsule upgrades in theXspin-off series.
• Metroidseries:Various weapons (such as the Ice Beam and the Power Bomb) are permanent power-ups that not only give Samus Aran additional offensive capability but also allow her access to various doors.

Health and life reserves

Health-restorative power-ups typically consist of items which restore losthealth(most typically in medical kits, food, or as energy), or items which increase health capacity and1-ups(which give an extra chance to continue playing after losing, commonly called a 'life').

Examples:

• Mario:TheSuper Mushroomsand1-up Mushroomsgive Mario the ability to take an extra hit and extra lives (respectively).
• Wonder Boy:Fruits recharge the continuously dwindling player energy.
• Doom:First aid kits restore part of the player's health.
• The Legend of Zelda:Theheart containerspermanently increase the player's total health capacity, while heart power ups each refill one heart container worth of lost health.
• Jak and Daxter:Green Eco, the most common type of Eco in the game, restores Jak's health.
• Clash of Clans:The Healing Spell causes all friendly troops (ground or air) to regain some health depending on the level each pulse (for forty pulses) in 12 seconds.
• Sonic the Hedgehog:The Extra Life box, represented in earlier games with an icon of the character the player is controlling, and in later titles by an icon reading "1-up", grants an extra life whenever it is collected.

Ammunition and power reserves

In some games, using certain items or abilities requires the expenditure of a resource such as ammunition, fuel or magic points. Some games use a single resource, such as magic points, while others use multiple resources, such as several types of ammunition. Some games also have power ups which increase the player's maximum ammunition or power capacity.

Examples:

• Half-Life:Ammunition for guns.
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time:Obtaining "Magic Jars" restoresmagic points,which are expended by many items and other special abilities.
• Descent 2:Energy power-ups restore energy, which is required to fire most primary weapons, and to use some other equipment such as the headlight and afterburner.
• Mega Man:While the default weapon has an unlimited number of shots, the other six weapons can only be fired by expending 'weapon energy', of which each weapon has its own separate reserve. Obtaining a 'weapon capsule' recharges a portion of the currently selected weapon's energy.
• Monster Legends:Monsters have a certain number of energy points depending on their rarity. Making a move costs some energy, which must be replenished at the cost of a turn (or by using special moves that give some energy points back to the user, or the whole team).

Token abilities

Other power-ups consist of items whose main feature is that they are found in large numbers, to encourage the player to reach certain spots in the game world. They have various cumulative effects, often granting the hero an extra life.

Examples:

• Super Mario Bros.:Collecting 100 coins grants the player an extra life.
• Super Mario Bros. 2:Collecting 5 cherries causes a Starman powerup to float up from the bottom of the screen.
• Sonic the Hedgehog:Collecting at least one ring lets the player take a hit at the cost of losing all rings. Collecting 100 rings grants the player an extra life.
  • Additionally, in many games in the series, acquiring all seven Chaos Emeralds and collecting at least 50 rings allows the player to activate Super Sonic mode, which grants flight, increased speed and invulnerability to most forms of damage, but gradually consuming rings over time, and expires when the player runs out of rings.
• Crash Bandicoot:Collecting 100 Wumpa fruits grants the player an extra life.
• Donkey Kong Country:Collecting 100 bananas grants the player an extra life.

Trick power-ups (or power-downs)

Trick power-ups try to trick the player into grabbing them, only to result usually into damage, removed abilities, or player death.

Examples:

• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels:Poison mushroom.
• Bonk's Revenge:Fake power-up containers that actually release an enemy.
• Sonic 3/Sonic & Knuckles/Sonic 3 & Knuckles:Item Monitors that bear Eggman/Robotnik on them will cause Sonic to be hurt if he opens them.
• Metroid Fusion:Some Energy or Missile Tanks are actually enemies in disguise, and usually lead to a room with the real power-up.
• Rise of the Triad:Items like the Shrooms and Elasto reduces the player control.

Attaining power-ups

There are many different methods of obtaining power-ups:

• In many games, particularlyplatform games,there is one prevalent object scattered throughout each level that serves as a container for power-ups. In series such as theCastlevaniaandNinja Gaidengames this object is a candle or lantern, while in theMariofranchise, the oft-used container is the "question block". In theSonic the Hedgehogseries, the power-ups in the 2D titles are usually found in cubic static TVs (named "monitors" ), while in 3D games they are enclosed in capsule-like boxes.
• Inbeat 'em upgames, level-themed objects such as crates, barrels, or mailboxes serve as containers.
• In many games, such as theMega Manseries, power-ups can be obtained through the elimination of enemies.
• In some games, power-ups may be left within plain view, such as inR.C. Pro-Am.It is also typical for games to require the player to travel a certain way or perform a specific action in order to attain said power-up, such as bombing through specific blocks inSuper Metroid.
• Power-ups can also be obtained by interacting with certain objects at specific points in the level, e.g. the tractor-trailer truck inSpy Hunter.

Treasure chests

In many video games, especiallyrole-playing video games,treasure chestscontain various items,currency,and sometimes monsters. For certain role playing games, some chests are actuallymimics,in which a monster looks like a chest, but will attack the player when they attempt to open it. This is notably seen in theSeiken DensetsuandDragon Questseries.

Treasure chests provide a means for the player to obtain items without paying for them in stores. In some cases, these chests contain items that cannot be purchased at stores. Chests may be locked, requiring a key of some sort. For certain games, keys can only be used once, and the key is destroyed during its use. For other games, having a particular type of key means that the player can open any of the chests with a matching lock.

For most games, once a chest has been opened, the contents remain empty, although they may be repopulated with possibly different items during different stages of the game. This is different from perishable containers, such as crates and jars, which tend to reappear if the player exits the area and then returns.

Selection bar

Gradiusselection bar

Instead of having players collect a power-up that is instantly activated, the players may be allowed to select which power-ups they want to use. This is commonly implemented through a 'selection bar' which contains a number of power-up effects. To access the bar, the player must collect power-up items; the more they collect, the further along the bar they can access. The more powerful power-ups are traditionally placed further along the bar, so that more effort is required to obtain them. The selection bar was first used inKonami's 1985 game,Gradius.

Perks

See also:Perks

"Perks" are a variation of the power-up mechanic,but permanent rather than temporary. The concept of permanent power-ups dates back to the earlyNESaction RPGs,Deadly Towers(1986) andRygar(1987), which blurred the line between the power-ups used inaction-adventuresand the experience points used inconsole RPGs.An early video game that used perks, and named it as such, was the 1997computer RPGgameFallout.Perks have been used in various other video games in recent times, includingfirst-person shooterssuch asCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare,Modern Warfare 2,andKilling Floor,as well asaction gameslikeMetal Gear Online.