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For the American non-profit organization, see Power Up. POWER UP, the "Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up" is an American Non-profit organization and film Production company

In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. This is contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player. In Pencil and paper games and Computer and video games an item is an object within the game world that can be collected by a player- or occasionally a Although often collected directly through touch, power-ups can sometimes only be gained by collecting several related items, such as the letters of the word 'EXTEND' in Bubble Bobble. is an Arcade game by Taito, first released in 1986 It was ported soon for numerous Home computers and Game consoles The game features twin Bubble Well known examples of power-ups that have entered popular culture include the power-pills from Pac-Man and the Super Mushroom from Super Mario Bros.

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. Popular culture (or pop culture) is the Culture — patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance — is an Arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution is a Platform game developed by Nintendo in late 1985 and published for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a sequel to the 1983 game Mario They can be differentiated from items in other games, such as RPG, by the fact that they: take effect immediately, feature designs that don't necessarily fit into the game world (often used letters or symbols emblazoned on a design), and are found in certain genres of games. A computer role-playing game ( CRPG) is a broad Video game genre originally developed for personal computers and other home computers Power-ups are mostly found in action-oriented games such as maze games, run and guns, shoot 'em ups, first-person shooters, platform games, puzzle games, and vehicular combat games. See also [[Game classification]] Video games are categorized into Genres based on their Gameplay interaction A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large A first-person shooter ( FPS) is an action Video game from the Shooter game The initial development of Maze War Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles Puzzle video games are a genre of Video games that emphasize Puzzle solving Vehicular combat (also known as car combat) games are typically video or Computer games where the primary focus of play concerns Automobiles

Contents

Types of powerups

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

Offensive ability

Gives a new weapon, or transforms the player character into a more aggressive form that increases its attack power or makes some enemies vulnerable. This also includes "smart bombs", which are weapons that destroy every enemy on the screen at once; these are prevalent in many different genres including vehicular combat, run and guns, and platform games. Vehicular combat (also known as car combat) games are typically video or Computer games where the primary focus of play concerns Automobiles A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles The effect can be time-limited, last until the player is hit, last until the player is killed, or last until game over. Game over is a traditional message in video games which usually signals the end of the game

Examples:

Defensive abilities

Typically consists of items like shields (usually a "force field") surrounding the character that reflects projectiles or absorbs a certain amount of damage, or invincibility/invulnerability. In the case of invincibility is nearly always granted as a temporary bonus, because otherwise it negates 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:

Evasive abilities

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.

Access abilities

Items which help the player enter new or previously unaccessible areas, or "warp" to another level. Access abilities, depending on the game, can be required to progress normally or be entirely optional.

Examples:

Health and life reserves

Typically consists of Health (most typically in med. Health is a Game mechanic used in computer and Video games to give value to characters, enemies NPCs, and related objects kits, food, or as energy) or 1-ups (which give an extra chance to continue playing after losing, commonly called a 'life').

Examples:

Token abilities

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.
Examples:

Trick power-ups

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

Examples:

Attaining power-ups

There are many different methods of attaining power-ups:

Treasure chests

In many video games, especially computer role playing games, treasure chests contain various items, currency, and sometimes monsters. A computer role-playing game ( CRPG) is a broad Video game genre originally developed for personal computers and other home computers Fictional currency is Currency in works of Fiction. It is often invented bearing little or no resemblance to any modern or historic currency For certain role playing games, some chests are actually mimics, which is a monster that looks like a chest, but will attack the player when they attempt to open it. A mimic is a shapechanging aberration in the Dungeons & Dragons Role-playing game. This is notably seen in the Seiken Densetsu and Dragon Quest series. published as Dragon Warrior in North America until the 2005 release of Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King, is a series of role-playing

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 can't 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.

Power-ups in shoot 'em ups

Image:Ddp power-up.jpg
An "instant" power-up from DoDonPachi

Shoot 'em up games have several unique aspects regarding power-ups that contrast it from other genres. is a Manic shooter Arcade game developed by Cave and published by Atlus, in 1997. Firstly, power-ups come from different sources than in other games. In some games, particular kinds of enemies or ground structures need to be annihilated to reveal powerups. Another common method of revealing power-ups is through the successful destruction of entire formation of enemies; usually the enemies are similarly colored or shaped. A power-up mechanic specific to shoot 'em ups is one that allows the player cycle through various types of abilities, either automatically or when shot. This allows the player to pick it up when it is of the type they want; this mechanic is used in many games, including 1943, Alpha Mission, and Side Arms. 1943 The Battle of Midway (1943 Midway Kaisen in Japan is a vertical Scrolling shooter Arcade game released by Capcom in June Alpha Mission ( ASO Armored Scrum Object in Japan) is a vertical Scrolling shooter Arcade game created by SNK in Side Arms Hyper Dyne ( J: "Zettai Gattai" is a 1986 Arcade game created by Capcom.

Common Power-ups in shooter games include:

Companion fighter: A small object that follows the character and fires whenever the character fires- Commonly called a Wingman. Usually, the companion fighter has the same weapon as the character. In Gradius, the character's companion fighters are called options. Capcom's Forgotten Worlds game allowed the character to purchase companion fighters called satellites, though in this game each satellite had its own unique weapon (like homing missiles or napalm bombs). In Tyrian, Companion ships are available as a sidekick weapon, with a different weapon than the player's. Tyrian is a Computer game developed by Eclipse Productions (later named World Tree Games) and published in 1995 by

Directional shot:Fires additional shots behind and/or to the sides of the character.

Flamethrower: Generally a powerful weapon with a short range, flamethrowers sometimes allow the player to fire continuously by holding down the button. In some games, the flamethrower can destroy incoming shots.

Force field: Temporarily protects the character from harm.

Guided missile: A shot that homes in on the closest target.

Laser: Usually a powerful single beam that only travels in a straight line away from the character. In some games, like Konami's Gradius, lasers will travel through several enemies.

Multi-directional shot: A weapon that fires several shots (usually three to seven). These shots usually fan out in front of the character and cover a wide area. A good example is the Spread gun in Konami's Contra series. In games that feature ships, like Stinger and Star Soldier for the NES, multi-directional weapons can extend to cover the character's rear.

Power shot: Makes the character's shots more powerful. The arcade classic Gauntlet contains a power up that makes the character's attack stronger. In Tyrian purple orbs and metal bars increase the power of the front and rear guns, usually resulting in greater rate of fire, changes in appearance of the beam or blast, increase of the number of bullets shot all with an increase of power. Tyrian is a Computer game developed by Eclipse Productions (later named World Tree Games) and published in 1995 by Some Tyrian weapons can even pass through enemies and scenery. In the Super Arcade Modes of Tyrian 2000, if you grab a weapon pod of the same colour two or more times in a row, immediately powers that weapon up and also gives you an extra life until the weapon is at maximum power.

Rapid Fire: Allows a faster rate of fire.

Reflecting shot: This power up makes the character's attacks bounce off solid surfaces. This is another power up found in the Gauntlet games.

Wide shot: The power up increases the number of shots the character fires. Rather than causing the attacks to spread out, the number of forward facing shots increases. In Capcom's 1942, a common power up doubles the number of shots the character fires, going from two to four.

Power-up Crates

Power-up crates are small boxes that appeared in Real-Time Strategy games, most noticeable the Command & Conquer series, whereas when touched by one of the player's units, gave the player a random power-up. A real-time strategy ( RTS) Video game is a strategic game that is distinctly not turn-based. Command & Conquer (often abbreviated as C&C or CNC) is a Video game franchise, mostly of the The power-up might give the player a free unit or it might upgrade the unit that picks it up. The power-ups included at first a Nuke, better Speed, Invincibility, Healing, Reveal Map, etc. Later games upgraded the unit further by promoting it, enhancing power, more armor, etc. In the game Command & Conquer: Red Alert, power-ups also appeared in the water because it was the first game in the series where the player could build ships. Command & Conquer Red Alert is a Real-time strategy Computer game of the Command & Conquer franchise, produced by Westwood Studios In the earlier games, there were fake crates. When the player's unit touched the crate, a bomb would explode and destroy all units within range, much to the players' dismay.

Selection bar

Gradius selection bar
Gradius selection bar

Instead of having the player collect a power-up that is "instantly" activated, an alternative means of powering up a player is to allow them to select which power-ups they want to utilize. This is method 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 in Konami's 1985 hit, Gradius. () is a leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys Trading cards, Anime, Tokusatsu, Slot machines is a horizontally-scrolling Shoot 'em up released by Konami in 1985 for Video arcades It was originally released in Europe as

Origins of the term

"Power-up" and "1-up" are examples of a common form of wasei-eigo (Japanese pseudo-Anglicisms), in which the word "up" is prefixed by some desirable quality. are Japanese Pseudo-Anglicisms English constructions not in use in Anglophone countries nor by English native speakers but which appear in Japanese. The general meaning of X-up in Japanese is "this will increase your X" and this construction is regularly used in areas such as advertising. This is similar to another phrase, X get!, as seen in Super Mario Sunshine's Japanese version's "Shine Get!" phrase. is a Platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube.

Dictionary

power-up

-noun

  1. (video games) A special item which, when obtained, provides the player with some asset that is necessary for or makes easier the process of beating the game.
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