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Glossary Entry: Instakill
Quick Definition
Instakill (or instadeath) refers to something, usually an attack or hazard, that will kill a character instantly, regardless of how many hit points the character has. The term itself is a portmanteau of instant kill or instant death.
A very common example of an instakill hazard appears in platformers: if you see large spikes on the ground, walls, or ceilings, you can expect to see your character die the second they touch them. Bosses sometimes have Instakill attacks; whether or not this is a good thing depends on the game. In many cases, these are cheap ways of introducing fake difficulty in a game, which is usually extremely annoying.
A very common example of an instakill hazard appears in platformers: if you see large spikes on the ground, walls, or ceilings, you can expect to see your character die the second they touch them. Bosses sometimes have Instakill attacks; whether or not this is a good thing depends on the game. In many cases, these are cheap ways of introducing fake difficulty in a game, which is usually extremely annoying.
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