History Main / AbilityRequiredToProceed

* In ''Hellfire'' (an expansion pack to the original ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''), you cannot reach the insect hive until the farmer character knows you well enough to talk to you about his problems (and then to give you the explosives you need to create an entrance to the hive).

* The Music/{{Vocaloid}} fan game VideoGame/SingularStone has certain areas that required a specific character's ability or a copy of the Air Ball item for a specific character :

* The Music/{{Vocaloid}} fan game VideoGame/SingularStone has certain areas thate required a specific character's ability or a copy of the Air Ball item for a specific character :

[[folder: Tabletop Game]]

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]'' averts this trope by having all key items in a store waiting to be purchased, while ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'' averts it by giving you every essential puzzle-solving ability in the introductory area.

** The trope is prominent in the remake, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaISatellaview'', where it interestingly combines with BrokenBridge. Certain obstacle-clearing items or events only appear or occur during certain broadcast weeks (for example, the Candle is needed in order to access the western portion of the map, but is only sold after the first week). One could wait until a later week and try to sequence break, but this defeats the purpose anyways, and the player only having one hour a week, or certain items becoming [[PermanentlyMissableContent unobtainable]].

** ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent'' has two instances of this, with entrance to the plot-important levels gated by acquiring the transformations of the available Pseudoroids before new ones can be unlocked. First is the Oil Field, which has a gate locked by three switches [[PlotTailoredToTheParty conveniently blocked with obstacles matching each of your forms]]. Second is the Quarry area, which is hidden behind contraptions that the forms acquired since the last gate are needed to overcome.

One way to control the plot of a video game is to place [[BrokenBridge barriers]] in the hero's path. A destination may be unreachable without access to water transport because the main character has SuperDrowningSkills. You may need to become immune to fire before moving on because the next level is set in a FireAndBrimstoneHell environment. Perhaps you need to enlist the help of a specific NPC, or acquire a specific item, in order to get past the annoying guard.

** ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy5'': which adds an additional number of items such as the shovel and a second type of hammer, but also the items that are necessary only for extra loot, like the Cloud Boots.

* While levels that ''require'' an ability to clear always give you the ability right before you need it, ''VideoGame/{{Sonic|TheHedgehog}}'' games since ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' have generally had bonuses hidden behind gates and platforms that need clever applications of the games' various Color Powers use to breach. Since they're single-use, this often requires picking up the power and then finding a way hold onto it instead of using it when you're otherwise supposed to. In Colors, this would also mean passing by paths you can't access the first time you play a stage, and then replaying it again after unlocking that ability in a later stage.

* in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'' the field skills from blades are mostly used for side quests and hidden items , but there are a few spots in the story that require it , and may require you to upgrade the skills by doing certain tasks or get more blades

* ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'' uses this trope in typical Metroidvania style. For sheer-walled shafts you need the WallJump or Wall Climb; to break the blue barriers you need [[ChargeAttack Charge Flame]]; other-colored barriers need to be destroyed by a like-colored enemy or their projectile, sometimes via the Bash ability; to cross large spike pits or gaps you need DoubleJump, Bash, Glide, or a combination of all three; and for the wooden post switches and certain breakable floors you need the GroundPound. Furthermore, in the UpdatedRerelease, certain secrets in the main game are locked until you have the new Dash and Light Burst abilities acquired in the BonusDungeon.

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', your Gummi Ship must have a sufficient Speed Stat in order to challenge the BonusBoss battles in the first two areas. Attempting to access them with a slower Ship causes the Gummi Ship to turn around.

* ''VideoGame/Subnautica'' accomplishes this by making several areas impossible or at least severely impractical to access without the right equipment. For example most obviously, extensive exploration of deep underwater biomes becomes easier after you craft an air tank, then a bigger tank, then a rebreather and then finally submersibles. Another example is the wreck of the ''Aurora'', which requires a lead-lined diving suit to protect from the radiation leaking from the ship's damaged fusion reactor.

* ''VideoGame/SweetHome'' gives each member of your party a unique item that is used to solve the many puzzles in the game: Kazuo's lighter to burn certain objects, Asuka's vacuum to restore frescoes, Taguchi's camera to reveal hidden clues on said frescoes, Akiko's first aid kit to cure status ailments, and Emi's key to unlock doors. With PermaDeath in place in this game, the loss of even one party member can make some puzzles unsolvable, forcing you to either find an item that can replicate the dead party member's function (taking up your very limited inventory space in so doing) or find another way to proceed.

** The trope is prominent in the remake, ''BS Zelda no Densetsu'', where it interestingly combines with BrokenBridge. Certain obstacle-clearing items or events only appear or occur during certain broadcast weeks (for example, the Candle is needed in order to access the western portion of the map, but is only sold after the first week). One could wait until a later week and try to sequence break, but this defeats the purpose anyways, and the player only having one hour a week, or certain items becoming [[PermanentlyMissableContent unobtainable]].