10 Pointless Video Game Mechanics Nobody Used

5. Survival Skill - Fallout: New Vegas

Skyrim busywork
Obsidian

The survival skill is the perfect example of a useless feature. The game makes such a big deal out of the mechanic and devotes an entire portion of the tutorial to learning how it works. But it simply isn't worthwhile getting into.

It demands you sink valuable skill points into it, just to be able to craft certain items. And most of the time, the higher tier items aren't worth it. They add minute buffs to stats and never do anything that a good old-fashioned stimpack could manage. Or the bountiful range of drugs that can be used regardless of skill.

The skill wasn't worth it in the first place, so players didn't bother investing in it. When there was no obvious detriment to not using the skill, players just didn't bother, and campfires got reduced to passing thoughts.

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I like video games, writing and writing about video games. Expect sarcasm and the dry wit of a Brit. And the occasional rant of a unhappy Scot. You know... the usual.