20 MORE Pointless Video Game Mechanics Nobody Used

9. Binoculars - Dark Souls (2011)

From the moment Dark Souls drops players into the decaying world of Lordran, they're left to fend for themselves as they figure out where to go and how the game's mechanics work. Given the lack of direction that's provided, newcomers will likely spend a large chunk of their time exploring Firelink Shrine, the area they arrive at after completing the tutorial.

Here, players will meet important NPCs in addition to obtaining some useful items to help them on their journey. One of the items that players can find here is the binoculars, which are located on a corpse lying at the edge of a cliff in the graveyard.

This item does exactly as expected and allows players to get a closer look at their surroundings. Being one of the earliest tools players can obtain, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that this item is a central mechanic. While skilled players have found ways to use the binoculars to aim at distant enemies, surveying the environment doesn't come with any mechanical advantage during regular play.

A variation of this item has appeared in every Soulsborne game, with each one being as unnecessary as the last.