10 Times Video Game Realism Went Too Far
7. Refuelling Your Bike (Days Gone)
In the post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested wasteland of Days Gone, bikes are the new "man's best friend". Seriously, everyone in this game loves a bit of two-wheeled action, to the extent that maintaining and upgrading protagonist Deacon's ride is one of the core components of the experience.
You'll also have to refuel your bike's tank whenever it runs dry, which, on paper, might seem like a really immersive game mechanic. But in practice? Having to constantly worry about fuel consumption detracts from the fun of exploring the open world, while also making you repeat the same mundane refuelling task over and over again.
Most games would give the bike unlimited fuel so that players can drive around and let loose, but Days Gone doesn't do that. You can't speed around like a madman, smashing into zombies and zooming up steep ramps. Your tank runs out of juice far too quickly - even when upgraded - and as a result, you'll regularly have to put the game on hold while you hunt down a fuel canister, or travel to a camp for a refill.
This constant stopping-and-starting badly hurts the pacing of an already plodding story, forcing you to take your time and drive slowly and carefully, which absolutely nobody wants to do when they're riding a goddamn motorbike on the open road.
And while fuel is relatively easy to come by (although, on occasion, you will find yourself stranded in the wilderness with an empty tank), Days Gone would've been a much more fun ride - pun intended - if the bike was a bit less high-maintenance.