>>714334898 (OP)Barrels are just objects that are easy to create in a video game either with sprites or 3D and they're easily recognizable. You can do many things with barrels. Decor, store shit in them, have them be breakable, you can hide in them, you can roll on them or have them roll down and be an obstacle. Put a fire on it and make it red then you have the archetypical explosive barrel.
Imagine getting a Barrel Blowie. That one animation really set something off in me all those years back.