10 Video Game Mechanics We Can't Believe Were Left To Die

5. Jumping Between Multiple Playable Characters

Seen in: Conflict: Desert Storm, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Brute Force, Mindjack

What's better than playing as a character, or a duo in co-op? Playing as an entire platoon of individuals, all with special attacks, personalities and ways to tackle the task at hand.

Something like Conflict: Desert Storm on PS2, for example, let you hop between four different soldiers, all equipped with different gear, that could be stationed anywhere on the map for the A.I. to take over.

This meant you could leave a sniper atop a hill, covering your infiltration as you chase a target, knowing they'd take care of any problems automatically. You could even continue to check in, seeing the A.I. do its thing up-close, as you worked towards that final goal.

Hardly any games would do anything like this going forward, as the internet meant online multiplayer was the way instead.

Brute Force was another awesome Xbox exclusive with squad mechanics where four heroes were open at once, and Insomniac's EA-riddled Fuse still had their signature approach to fun weapons across the platoon, providing variety in the field. Even Driver: San Francisco applied this approach to driving, letting you set up crashes or ambushes by "jacking" into an oncoming car and cutting off your opponent.

There's just so much more to do with teleportation and solo-based group mechanics in gaming.