Checkpoints have been a staple of gaming ever since this medium moved on from its arcade roots. Instead of frustrating experiences that forced players to cough up as many coins as possible, games became more lenient with the lives and chances that were given to a player. Instead of forcing them to start from scratch, most games gave players the option to save their progress at a certain juncture to let them come back at a different time or restore said save if they ended up experiencing a game over.
However, even this wasn't enough for players who didn't exactly like the idea of manual saving. Forgetting to make saves could lead to players losing out on a ton of progress, and it was clear that games had to evolve to accommodate a modern player's needs. This led to the rise of the now-popular checkpoint system, which automatically brought players back to a certain point upon death without any player input. Here are some of the most unique ways in which games have used this mechanic, with some instances being particularly creative.
8 Undertale
Undertale is the first game that most people would think of when it comes to checkpoint subversion. Elements in the environment that give the player determination function as a save point, with this point conveyed rather eerily during a Genocide run.
What makes this save system so unique is that Undertale actively acknowledges the power of rewriting one's mistakes. Flowey himself reloads a save every time he loses against the player, making for one of the most engaging final boss fights of all time.
7 BioShock
BioShock is an excellent first-person shooter that spawned a trilogy of its own. The games feature Vita-Chambers that players would respawn at whenever they lost health.
It was a unique way of adding checkpoints in the game, even if it had its fair share of detractors. These Vita-Chambers were used for all three games and served as a great way of making the player take their actions seriously without encouraging save-scumming.
6 Dark Souls
Dark Souls is a glorious action-adventure RPG that needs no introduction. The brutal difficulty of this title was easily one of its most alluring aspects, with players feeling an immense sense of joy whenever they managed to find a bonfire after getting through a grueling area that they died in over and over again.
Of course, Dark Souls' checkpoints are also a bit of a double-edged sword. While players can use their Souls with this Bonfire and also save their progress if need be, using a bonfire respawns all enemies in an area too. It might be a great way to grind, but players who spent a ton of hours trying to take down one particular enemy would be sad to see that all this effort was ultimately meaningless.
5 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Most Castlevania and Metroid games have iconic save rooms that players can use for a much-needed breather. These rooms heal the player and ensure that no progress is lost if death occurs after this point.
However, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night actually has a unique twist on this mechanic, with players encountering a fake save room as they explore the castle. Resting in this area leads to Alucard being trapped in a nightmare, where a short cutscene leads to a memorable boss battle with a Succubus.
4 Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is an excellent JRPG that is hailed as one of the best titles in this genre. This classic game includes many clever design choices, including a moment in a sewer that will stick with players long after they're finished playing this experience.
In this particular level, monsters attack the player whenever they make any kind of noise. This extends to the save point in this area as well, where triggering it will lead to the familiar 'ding' followed by a group of monsters getting attracted to this noise and attacking the player!
3 Final Fantasy 12
Final Fantasy 12 is considered by many to be one of the most underrated games in the genre. The combat system might be a departure from previous entries, but players who give this game a chance will find themselves enjoying one of the most epic tales told in the series.
The game has an enemy called Crystalbug, which fools players into thinking it's a Save Crystal. Encountering it leads to a fight, and players who defeat these enemies will unlock a legitimate Save or Gate Crystal after this encounter.
2 Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight is a love letter to retro platformers, with this indie darling being beloved by many as one of the best modern platformers around. The retro aesthetic of Shovel Knight is just a front that hides its excellent level design, fun characters, and challenging boss battles.
The games also use the checkpoint system in a unique way. Players will find various glass globes scattered across a level that can save their progress. However, players who want more treasure can actually smash these checkpoints to get loot, although they won't be able to spawn at this point later down the line.
1 System Shock 2
System Shock 2 is an excellent immersive sim that fans of the genre absolutely adore. The incredible atmosphere, entertaining antagonist, and gameplay freedom mean that players can have a pretty engaging and different experience across multiple playthroughs.
This title is considered a spiritual predecessor to BioShock, and the Vita-Chambers from that game were inspired by the Regeneration Stations in System Shock 2. For 10 Nanites, players could regenerate in these stations if their health ran out. Of course, given how easy it was to spam quicksaves, most people never really bothered to engage with this mechanic.