Games - Collection-fest

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	Games - Collection-fest

In video games, a collection-fest or collectionfest is a game where the majority of the gameplay involves collecting items to advance the game; in particular, the term is often used as a complaint when a game features a plethora of items to collect that have little or no use to the player, other than as an arbitrary lock-and-key system that limits progression. Usually, the game would have one major item that must be collected in each level to proceed through the level, and a number of minor items that can unlock certain bonuses.

If done in moderation, item collecting can be a good play mechanism; but when used in excess it tends to make the game a chore by making the player perform similar tasks that seem to have no relevance in the game other than "you just have to do it". Ammunition and health items do not count, neither does money, unless money is the item you have to collect to advance the game. Collection-fests are usually platform games, although it is sometimes applied to RPGs that feature many fetch quests.

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is considered a "good" example of a collection-fest. Each level consists of a hub and a series of sub-stages, each of which has a key at the goal; collecting keys allows the player to unlock areas of the hub, and eventually reach the boss. Since many of the stages are unique and offer different challenges, the player often ignores that the only reason he/she is completing the stages is to reach the key at the end. Each stage also features a set of clue bottles; collecting all the bottles in a stage gets the player the combination to a vault which holds a special move for Sly to use. The bottles are completely optional, and are usually not far off the beaten path, making them easy to collect; as such, they do not detract from the gameplay.

Donkey Kong 64 is considered a "bad" example of a collection-fest, there are a multitude of items to collect, many of which are required collecting. Here's a rundown of the items that are found in the game:

Golden Bananas: There are 201 of these scattered throughout the game, and the player needs to collect a certain number in order to enter any given level.
Bananas: Each level has 500 of these, 100 for each of the 5 Kongs. In order to advance to the boss of a stage, the player must feed Scoff enough bananas so his weight counterbalances Troff on a giant scale, and unlocks the door to the boss. This requires the player to play through each level up to 5 times to unlock the door.
Banana Medals: If a Kong collects 75 bananas in a stage, they receive a banana medal; there are 40 in the game. Collecting 15 of these will unlock a mini-game, which the player has to play to finish the game.
Boss Keys: The player gets one for beating each boss in the game and must collect all eight to open K. Lumsy’s cage, K. Lumsy will then help the player get to the last fight against King K. Rool.
Blueprints: In the last stage to stop King K. Rool's death machine—the Blast-O-Matic—the player is given a limited amount of time to stop him; but if the player brings blueprints to Snide the Weasel, he'll sabotage the machine and buy the Kongs more time—more blueprints means more time.
Nintendo & Rareware Coins: In the last stage, these two coins are needed to unlock the area where the last boss key is found; both of these are gotten by beating the two mini-games, one of which is unlocked with the banana medals.
Battle Crowns: These are awarded by playing in the arena, The player needs at least four to complete the last stage.
Banana Fairies (pictures of): One of the Golden Bananas is a reward for photographing the 20 Banana Fairies. The camera needs film (a type of ammo) to work.
In addition, the game has the following health/ammunition/money items:
* Watermelons & Melon Crates (health)
* Banana Coins (money)
* Supply Crates (Ammo-normal weapon)
* Oranges (Ammo-grenade)
* Crystal Coconuts (Ammo-special attacks)
* Headphones (Ammo-musical instruments)
* Banana Camera Film (Ammo-camera)

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