10 Video Game Clichés That We Secretly Love
2. The Hero Can't Swim
Though video game protagonists are capable of incredible feats, be it conjuring magic or withstanding dozens of bullets, it's hilariously widespread that gaming heroes can't even dip their little toe in a small body of water without quickly drowning.
Honestly, it's probably easier to name the video game characters who can swim - Ecco the Dolphin is cheating, by the way - because it's so accepted that water is a "look but don't touch" fixture in most games.
While it's undeniably silly that most Rockstar protagonists, Assassin's Creed's Altair, Halo's Master Chief, and so on die if they touch a drop of water, it's actually a blessing in disguise for one big reason.
Most water levels are absolute garbage. Looking at you, Doom Eternal.
Though there are obvious exceptions to water levels being painfully agonising slogs, for the most part it's a relief when developers decide to keep the player character on dry land, no matter the mild suspension of disbelief required to accept it.