It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature: 5 Games That Embraced Its Mistakes

Games are like life—imperfect, chaotic, and sometimes downright glitchy. Yet, out of these flaws emerge some of the most memorable and beloved features that define the gaming experience.

In the realm of game development, for example, what may initially seem like a bug can often evolve into a celebrated feature that players come to cherish. Let's take a look at five games that not only embraced their mistakes but turned them into iconic features that shaped the industry.

Combos
Street Fighter II

From Capcom

Street Fighter II revolutionized fighting games with its combo system, but this innovation wasn't part of the initial design. Players discovered that by quickly inputting specific sequences of attacks, they could chain moves together for devastating combos. What started as a glitch became a defining feature of the fighting game genre, encouraging strategic button inputs and elevating competitive play to new heights. Now almost every modern fighting game is built around effectively utilizing combos, and it all stemmed from an unintended consequence. 

Rocket Jumps
Quake

Quake, known for its fast-paced action and innovative gameplay, accidentally birthed a phenomenon known as rocket jumping. Originally a result of a physics glitch where firing a rocket at your feet would propel you skyward, this maneuver became a skillful technique embraced by players. Rocket jumps added a vertical dimension to Quake's multiplayer matches, allowing for creative movement strategies and high-flying combat that set the game apart from its peers. It’s a technique used in even more modern games, including Valorant and Halo.

Wavedashing
Super Smash Bros. Melee

Super Smash Bros. Melee introduced wavedashing, a technique that emerged from unintended mechanics in the game's physics engine. By air dodging diagonally into the ground, players could slide across the stage with increased mobility and unique attack options. Although not originally intended by the developers, wavedashing became a staple technique in competitive play, adding depth and nuance to the game's already diverse roster of fighters, and is one of the main components of Melee’s competitive longevity. Though wavedashing doesn’t originate from Melee (a mechanic similar to it already appears in Tekken Tag Tournament and Marvel vs. Capcom), it’s in Melee that the unintended mechanic truly became popular.

Nuclear Gandhi
Sid Meier’s Civilization

From 2K Games

Though this glitch isn’t the most industry-changing among the list, no “bugs that became a feature” list is complete without mentioning “Nuclear Gandhi”. Originally a programming oversight where Gandhi's peaceful nature took an unexpected turn towards nuclear aggression due to a coding error, this bug became a beloved aspect of the series. Players found humor and challenge in dealing with Gandhi's sudden warmongering tendencies, turning him into a legendary figure within the game's community. Subsequent installments of Civilization intentionally kept this feature, cementing Nuclear Gandhi as a quirky yet enduring part of the franchise.

Wall Jumping
Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. revolutionized the platformer genre, but did you know that one of its signature moves, the wall jump, was initially a bug? In the original game, if Mario collided with a wall while moving towards it, he would briefly stick to it before sliding down. However, players discovered that by pressing the jump button at the right moment, Mario can defy gravity and leap off the wall. Instead of removing this unintended behavior, Nintendo recognized its potential, incorporating it as a feature in the just as iconic Super Mario 64. It has since become a beloved feature of the Mario series.

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