This is a trope that's very common in old-school video games, especially arcade games and arcade-like games. Basically, when you die, you come back to life... right at the very spot where you died or at least right on the screen, and lose no progress. The thing is, that does not mean that Death Is a Slap on The Wrist. In fact, this design element is most common in games which have a distinct lives limit, and running out of lives could mean starting the level over, or ending the game altogether.