10 Video Game Items You Should Never Pick Up
5. That Green Herb - King's Field IV (2001)
Long before FromSoftware were subjecting players to the unflinching hardships of the Soulsborne games, the Japanese developers were revelling in their masochistic cruelty within The King's Field series.
The Kings Field games contained many of the hallmarks the team is known for. Challenging enemy encounters, interconnecting levels (including illusory walls), and epic boss fights were all part of the experience. Likewise, this series is also brimming with traps, with one of the harshest appearing in King's Field IV.
Also known as King's Field: The Ancient City, this game begins with a grand cinematic explaining the origins of the titular evil city and a mysterious idol before handing control over to the player.
Immediately, players are presented with the sight of a lava pit on the left and a tantalising green herb on the right. Rather than walking straight into a fiery pit, the smart option would appear to be to head towards the herb to see if it can be picked. Which it can.
But in a fiendish FromSoftware trick, collecting this plant will cause the ground to weaken below you and send you falling into the lava if you then step on the wrong spot.
Even back then FromSoftware couldn't be trusted.