The media often attribute video games with the promotion of nothing but violence and misanthropy. We couldn’t disagree more; blowing off steam in the virtual world is a far better way to wind down than robbing a post office or rioting on the streets!
Here we take a look at some of the finest items in the history of gaming that do not inflict pain and suffering, instead they seek to indulge the gentler side of human nature, allowing us to bask in the simple joy of having helped our fellow man.
1. Game: Doom (1993)
Item: Soul Sphere
The oldies, as they say, are the goodies and they don’t come any older or better than this. Doom exploded over PC’s in 1993 thanks to the distribution of the first nine levels as shareware. Doom’s plot revolves around a demonic Martian putsch and they’ve got a health item to match; the Soul Sphere.
Each Soul Sphere contains the essence of a tormented shade, smash the sphere, consume this blue ethereal treat and watch your health rocket to over 100. Sacralicious.
More info2. Game: Final Fantasy 7 (1997)
Item: Megalixer
Many players have triumphed over the games toughest bosses due to one of these little beauties, restoring HP and MP to every member of the party. Interestingly in Japan this item is known as the ‘last potion’, the developers intended it to be a final measure, used only to secure victory in the most desperate of circumstances.
More info3. Game: Battfield Series (2005)
Item: Defib Paddles
An experienced medic who knows how to use these bad boys can be the deciding factor in whether a squad tastes the sweet ambrosia of victory or the bitterest ashes of defeat. Used to instantly resurrect players, they can turn a foxhole into a fortress and keep even the most desperate of offensives alive.
Can also be used for a heart stopping insta – kill. That which giveth can taketh away.
4. Game: Diablo (1996)
Item: Potion of Full Healing
Diablo, the archetype of ‘hack ‘n’ slash’ dungeon crawlers also possesses the archetypal healing potion; red, glass bottled and purchased from a grumpy NPC trader for a few gold pieces. An invaluable item to posses when getting swarmed by ghouls or fighting big red himself.
Potion of Full Healing – A Dungeons & Dragons, 12 sided dice, neck-bearded classic.
More info5. Game: Dwarf Fortress (Still in development – estimated completion 2032)
Item: Hospital
Undoubtedly one of the most complicated games ever created. It models everything from fluid dynamics to animal physiology. In the ASCII world of Dwarf Fortress a well run hospital can provide the full complement of medical services; bones are fixed and plastered, cut’s are stitched and wounds sutured. While a poorly run hospital quickly becomes a misery-esque nightmare for injured dwarfs, barely surviving on irregular rations of food and water, their wounds fester as they wait for the inexperienced bone doctor to have one more go at setting that leg…
A functioning hospital is essential to the survival of any fortress.
More info6. Game: Rise of the Triad (1995)
Item: Priest Porridge
Rise of the Triad was a wild ride of infinite bullet MP40’s, magic baseball bats and missile weapons that spewed absolute phantasmagoric mayhem. A welcome counter to the dark, serious, and at times lonely Doom, ROTT’s items were as varied as it’s weapons, one allowed you to turn into a dog who possessed a head bursting bark, whilst another simulated the psychedelic effects of Psilocybin mushroom.
The finest health item Priest Porridge, heals 20 hp, toss an explosive at it though, warm it up, heals 50. Mmm.. warm oats for breakfast.
More info7. Game: Super Mario Bros (1985)
Item: Mushroom
The consumption of mushrooms for their medical and psychotropic effects stretches far back into human pre-history, some say it was the consumption of these fantastic fungi that propelled our species to its current position of planetary dominance. Eat the mushroom and grow in size and power – this is what the crimson plumber teaches us.
More info8. Game: Unreal Tournament Series (1999)
Item: Big Keg O’ Health
This collection of hyper-neon, uber-fragging shooters is far removed from the faux realism that pervades in today’s top titles. One memorable mod gave players the ability to spawn a nuclear missile and ride it Strangelove style around the map.
The spinning, floating and highly luminous, Big Keg O’ Health was the centre point of the games all time favorite, capture the flag map: Face. Placed between the opposing teams’ bases it was an irresistible lure to attacking players, giving them a super health boost of 100, hopefully enough to survive the inevitable hail of fire from the sniper packed roof…
More info9. Game: Duke Nukem 3D (1996)
Item: Atomic Health
Back in the 90’s Duke was so utterly cool that he gained health from raw atomic power. By feasting on these incredibly dense neutronium nuclides he gets a bonus 100 health, allowing him to kick more alien ass, crack more quips and take his misogyny to a whole new level.
Sadly now he gets his ego boosts from writing with poop on a whiteboard.
More info10. Game: Fallout 3 (2008)
Item: Strange Meat
Fallout 3 was always going to get a mention in this list; with one of the largest inventories of health regenerating items, how could the post-nuclear RPG escape our attention? With such wonders as Nuka Cola Quantum and Fancy Lad’s Snack Cakes it was a difficult choice but eventually Strange Meat won us over with its enigmatic charm, just what is it made of? Tastes funny… a bit like pork…
More info11. Game: Mine craft (2009)
Item: Golden Apple
Thousands of years ago you’d have to travel to the Garden of the Hesperides and seduce the Nymphs of Atlas for this one. Today just download everyone’s favorite survival ‘cube ‘em up’ and combine eight bars of gold with one red apple to get this shiny fruit. The only item in the game to restore you to full health. Delicious.
More info12. Game: Enemy Territory Quake Wars (2007)
Item: Stroyent
Stroyent wonderful, wonderful Stroyent, manufactured on Stroggos by a “stroyent processing creature” from corpses harvested across the galaxy. It doubles as health and ammunition for the Alien Strogg hordes. If the Strogg invasion force achieved victory the entire population of the earth was to be rendered into this super powered meat smoothie. Stroyent – made with 100% human meat.
Stroyent was also the subject of one of the early (and highly successful) viral marketing campaigns.
More infoGame: Sim City 2000 (1994)
Item: Hospital
Most of the items in this list benefit only a single player, providing them with a decisive advantage in their bid to crush their virtual enemies. As a foil to this self obsession we offer an item of an entirely different nature, an item that benefits every stratum of society and embodies that highest of civic virtues; public health. Simcity 2000’s hospital provides cutting edge care to a whopping 15,000 virtual citizens, changing and saving lives with every passing minute.
But to really appreciate why the Simcity 2000 hospital is one of the greatest Video Game Health Item of all time you need to read this 20 chapter forum mega epic.
More info
Need I say more.
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