History Main / Backtracking

When done right, backtracking can make an area feel far more real than if you just followed a straight line through it. It can also show contrasts, such as a familiar area going through major changes (such as exploring the DoomedHometown before and after its destruction), or having familiar scenery but completely different enemies and gameplay. Also, in games where the protagonists get more abilities over time, heading back through previous areas much faster due to newly accessible shortcuts (as well as new areas) and blowing everything away easily can contrast with how much trickier navigating and surviving a location was before (this can be one of the biggest strengths of the MetroidVania genre).

Due to this, backtracking tends to be much-maligned. However, backtracking in itself is a [[TropesAreTools neutral trope that can be used for good or evil]], and [[{{Metroidvania}} certain]] [[ImmersiveSim genres]] even have it as a central gameplay aspect.

Due to this, backtracking tends to be much-maligned. However, backtracking in itself is a [[TropesAreTools neutral trope that can be used for good or evil]], and [[MetroidVania certain]] [[ImmersiveSim genres]] even have it as a central gameplay aspect.

Due to this, backtracking tends to be much-maligned. However, backtracking in itself is a [[TropesAreTools neutral trope that can be used for good or evil]], and certain series even have it as a [[MetroidVania central gameplay aspect]].

Examples are not used for this trope, as the nature of AccentuateTheNegative would probably result in it devolving into [[ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontLike Complaining About Video Games You Don't Like]].

Compare LevelInReverse, where the route you take through the level and/or the level geometry itself is reversed/rotated.

A video game trope, this involves instances where you must go back through a section (whether a single room, an entire level or more) you have already visited before.

When done badly backtracking can be one of the purest types of {{filler}} there is, with you being forced to go through lots of already-explored areas for no reason other than to extend the play-time of the game.

When done right backtracking can make an area feel far more real than if you just followed a straight line through it. It can also show contrasts, such as a familiar area going through major changes (such as exploring the DoomedHometown before and after its destruction), or having familiar scenery but completely different enemies and gameplay. Also, in games where the protagonists get more abilities over time, heading back through previous areas much faster due to newly accessible shortcuts (as well as new areas) and blowing everything away easily can contrast with how much trickier navigating and surviving a location was before (this can be one of the biggest strengths of the MetroidVania genre).

Examples are not used for this trope as the nature of AccentuateTheNegative would probably result in it devolving into [[ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontLike Complaining About Video Games You Don't Like]].

See also LevelGrinding. Compare and contrast RemixedLevel.

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->''Backtrack, backtrack, fucking backtrack, gotta do this shit again''\\
''Backtrack, backtrack, fucking backtrack, o'er and o'er and o'er again!''\\
''This game sucks, it's really painful, got a pang of deja vu,''\\
''Hey, good to see you, I remember seeing this crap 5 hours ago!''
-->--'''[[ThatGuyWithTheGlasses Paw]]''', "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3utQsGyE1U The Backtracking Song]]", sung to the tune of "Ode To Joy". [[hottip:*:As seen in the [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/paw/specials/14866-mg001 Review of "Total Distortion"]]'']]

->--'''[[ThatGuyWithTheGlasses Paw]]''', ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3utQsGyE1U The Backtracking Song]]'', sung to the tune of ''Ode To Joy''. (As seen in the [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/paw/specials/14866-mg001 Review of "Total Distortion"]]'')

-> "And here I am again. I just walked one big fucking circle today"
->-- Ellie, from DeadSpace2, which ironically, had less backtracking than its predecessor.

See also LevelGrinding.

''This game sucks, it's really painful, got a pang of d? vu,''\\

When done right backtracking can make a area feel far more real than if you just followed a straight line through it. It can also show contrasts, such as a familiar area going through major changes (such as exploring the DoomedHometown before and after its destruction), or having familiar scenery but completely different enemies and gameplay. Also, in games where the protagonists get more abilities over time, heading back through previous areas much faster due to newly accessible shortcuts (as well as new areas) and blowing everything away easily can contrast with how much trickier navigating and surviving a location was before (this can be one of the biggest strengths of the MetroidVania genre).

A video game trope, this involves instances where you must go back through an section (whether a single room, an entire level or more) you have already visited before.

->--'''[[ThatGuyWithTheGlasses Paw]]''', ''[[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/paw/specials/14866-mg001 The Backtracking Song]]'' (sung to the tune of ''Ode To Joy'')