Quick definition:A bonus that gives the player an additional attempt, so that one more defeat can be survived before the game ends, usually collected or earned as a reward.
Meaning
An extra life is a reward that increases the number of times the player can fail. It is most associated with platform and arcade games. Lives were a feature of arcade design, where a set number of attempts made each coin last longer and kept games from being too short.
Extra lives can be found in the world, bought, or awarded for reaching a score or collecting items. They give a sense of progress and a small safety net, so that players feel rewarded for exploring and mastering difficult sections. Some games hide them in secret places as a prize for observant players.
When lives run out, the game usually ends or sends the player back to an earlier point. Newer games often drop the system, using unlimited retries and checkpoints instead. The idea survives as a nostalgic symbol, appearing in logos, jokes and tributes.
Origin:Extra life comes from the idea of a player having a limited number of lives, a system used in arcade games to give several tries per coin. Collecting an extra life let players continue longer without paying again. The phrase became standard in games and is now used even for health systems that no longer count lives.
Example:Midway through a platform level, Ewan spots a small icon floating above a high ledge. He jumps carefully to reach it, and a jingle plays as his life counter rises from two to three. A few minutes later, he falls into a pit, but he is still in the game.
Did you know?Extra lives are often awarded for reaching score thresholds or collecting a hundred small items. Many modern games have dropped lives, since they can restart progress at checkpoints, but the symbol of an extra life remains a popular reference.
