We've all done it. In Super Mario Bros 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, we scoured tirelessly for the Tanooki Suit, even though it was merely an alternate version of the Super Leaf with the nearly useless added ability of becoming an immobile stone statue for roughly eight seconds. In Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Genesis, we endured seemingly endless iterations of that maddening "3D" bonus stage in an attempt to collect the otherwise inconsequential Chaos Emeralds, all just for the chance to briefly become "Super Sonic" before the end of the game. In The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time for the N64, successfully collecting shards of Heart Containers meant either being completely prepared or woefully vulnerable when it came to your final encounter with Ganandorf. Collectibles have been present for nearly as long as video gaming has existed, and up until recently there has been little to no reason to question their inclusion.
