{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20","type":"mechanic","id":"metroidvania--family-group-20","lang":"en","title":"Saving, death and transport","summary":"Checkpoints and transport determine the cost of returning. Failure repeats a section of the route, while opened shortcuts make that section shorter.","updatedAt":"2026-10-21","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20.md","aliases":["Saving and returning"],"tags":["Metroidvanias","Systems"],"sourceIds":["source-1696c3167e4356ed"],"sources":[{"id":"source-1696c3167e4356ed","title":"Hollow Knight","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Checkpoints, death consequences, and transport determine the cost of returning and trying again."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-group-20-variants\"></a>\n\n- Control points. Rule: After defeat, the hero returns to the last activated location. <a id=\"variant-mv-220\"></a>\n- Rest with restoration of peace. Rule: Replenishment of supplies is associated with the revival of ordinary threats... <a id=\"variant-mv-221\"></a>\n- Automatic or manual saving. Rule: The recording rule determines how much progress survives exit and defeat. <a id=\"variant-mv-222\"></a>\n- Penalty for death. Rule: Defeat takes away currency, resource or part of the current state. <a id=\"variant-mv-223\"></a>\n- Return of the lost. Rule: Going to the place of death allows you to return the abandoned resource. <a id=\"variant-mv-224\"></a>\n- Saved discoveries. Rule: Abilities, important items, or open cuts survive defeat. <a id=\"variant-mv-225\"></a>\n- Local release after trap. Rule: An error returns the hero to the nearest safe point with a given price. <a id=\"variant-mv-226\"></a>\n- Fast movement between nodes. Rule: Open stations connect distant areas without a complete retracement. <a id=\"variant-mv-227\"></a>\n- Return to the shelter. Rule: An item or ability transports the hero to a resting point. <a id=\"variant-mv-228\"></a>\n- Elevators, trains and transport lines. Rule: Regular world connections become available after launching or gaining clearance. <a id=\"variant-mv-229\"></a>\n- Own point of return. Rule: The player places a temporary or permanent point of convenient return... <a id=\"variant-mv-230\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"The author's working taxonomy of mechanics, access rules, structural patterns and support systems. This is not an industry standard or a statement that every item is required or present in every game. Hybrids and support are highlighted separately. Any finite list is limited by the level of detail; combinations and new options remain open."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"metroidvania","id":"family-group-20","title":"Metroidvanias","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/metroidvania/#family-group-20","categoryIds":["section-4"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-21","title":"Saving and returning","description":"Checkpoints and transport determine the cost of returning. Failure repeats a section of the route, while opened shortcuts make that section shorter.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/hollow-knight-bench.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"crop":{"x":450,"y":225,"width":788,"height":563},"game":"Hollow Knight","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/367520/ss_92c7e8f34c00bdb455070ecdd5b746f0d2f6d808.1920x1080.jpg?t=1776125684","credit":"Team Cherry","rights":"© Team Cherry. All rights reserved.","caption":"A bench as a rest and return point","alt":"Hollow Knight: the Knight rests at a Dirtmouth bench, a save point and a return location after death.","markers":[{"x":61.5,"y":79,"label":"The bench establishes a return point"}]},"tips":["Balance the repeated route’s length together with the obstacle’s difficulty.","Use shortcuts to reward learning the world’s connections."],"examples":[{"title":"Hollow Knight","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/metroidvania"}}