Pulsating energy blobs in the old
NES game
Gradius and its brother
Life Force that mimic your ship's actions (i.e.
movement and
attack). Very useful, as they double and triple your ship's
firepower, and can block
enemy attacks when positioned correctly.
Options can not be destroyed, but will drift off of the screen upon the destruction of your craft. If you're quick enough, you can recapture them when your ship regenerates.