Compiling a list of scary enemies from horror games can sound like a broken record for some gamers. You can only cram Pyramid Head, necromorphs, hunters, and whatever the heck is in Amnesia onto one top 10 list for so long before it becomes a tired concept. In light of that, today I'll take a swing at a slightly least tired concept: 10 enemies that can strike fear into the hearts of gamers despite not being in a horror game.
1. Basilisks - Dark Souls
Lurking within the depths of the sewers of the Undead Burg, the basilisk may look silly at first glance...up until it exhales a large cloud of fog. Not just any fog, fog that instantly kills you and curses you, leaving you at half health until you buy a rather expensive (well, early game at least) purging stone. Trust me, it only takes one unfortunate encounter before you begin to fear those bug-eyed frog creatures, and tread more carefully through those rank sewers.
2. Metroids - Metroid series
There's a reason not many intelligent lifeforms explore the planet Zebes. As if the dangerous creatures and space pirates on the surface weren't enough, these mysterious beings dwell within the depths of the planet, and are out for one thing and one thing only: your brain. Dealing an impressive amount of damage once latched on, you soon fall into the struggle of "laying down bombs like crazy" JUST to get it off of you. Keep your ice beam at the ready and your finger on the trigger when you enter a room full of Metroids.
Oh, and if you think they got less scary when they grew up, you're wrong. REALLY wrong.
3. SA-X - Metroid Fusion
If there's one thing that Metroid games have always had going for them, it's their ability to convey atmosphere. Their ability to give the player the feeling that you're isolated on a desolate planet filled with things out to kill you. Metroid Fusion is different. Early on in the game, Fusion makes one thing very clear: You are not alone. Stranded, yes, but something is without a doubt stalking Samus. In your first encounters with SA-X, you are only given one option: RUN. This, combined with the panicky music, the intimidating power of the fully upgraded Power Suit, and the parasite inside it make SA-X one of the most intimidating enemies in the entire series. My advice? Wait until you can't hear footsteps.
4. Ghasts - Minecraft
I could actually make a case for most of the mobs in Minecraft, but for now I'll focus on this flying beast. The Nether is already hellish, with its lakes of lava, towering fortresses, and zombified pigmen, but ghasts are the reason that you should always bring stacks of cobblestone when you want to make a Nether settlement. As if their ear piercing screeches weren't enough, they also serve the role as a floating, mobile creeper with more than one bullet in the chamber. Your best course of attack is to either A) Deflect their fireballs, which is a pretty big gamble, B) Try to take pot-shots with arrows, or C) Cut your losses and run. Suddenly, you start to appreciate a world infested with skeletons, zombies, and giant spiders.
5. Overly Aggressive AI - Civilization V
To start this one off, let me list off the Leaders that are most prone to starting wars:
Atilla the Hun (Hunnic Empire), Shaka (Zulu Empire), Montezuma (Aztec Empire), Genghis Khan (Mongolian Empire), and Augustus Caesar (Roman Empire) just to name a few.
Not only do these Civs have itchy trigger fingers, some are also prone to expanding far into territory you hoped to claim, building vast armies for shiggles, and they LOVE to act like there's nothing wrong and then all at once try to rush you. They're not in it for a cultural victory, they're not in it for the Wonders, they're not even in it for a Science victory. They're out for blood. They're out for total domination. It doesn't matter what the difficulty is set at, what type of map you play on, or how many Civs or City-States you have crammed onto it. When you find out one of these empires is in your world (or worse, your neighbor), your game becomes a race against the clock to be ready to defend yourself and your cities when they eventually come knocking on your door with catapults and swordsmen. You think you have the chops to win wars? You think your empire can stand the test of time? These empires will test that, and test it well.
6. Redeads - Legend of Zelda series
Where to begin with these things? For starters, Redeads are zombie-type monsters similar to Gibdos that are WAY more creepy. They start out by either standing completely still or curled up in a fetal position, emitting low, ominous moans. When aggro'd, they start to lumber towards Link, before finally emitting a bone-chilling shriek, jumping on the now paralyzed hero, and biting his head and neck repeatedly. The only way to escape is to mash the A and B button before finally slashing up the redead. Hmm, sounds vaguely familiar...
If that wasn't enough, what happens after they die (again) is even more creepy. After Link lands the final hit on a redead, its corpse attracts its brethren. The other redeads will gather around the fallen until it disappears. Nobody's sure why they do this, but fans have narrowed it down to two possibilities:
1) These redeads are merely mourning the death of their fallen comrade.
2) THEY'RE EATING ITS CORPSE.
*shudders* I can't wait to take a warm shower after I post this.
7. Headcrabs - Half Life series
A headcrab is an alien that's part-crab, part-spider, part-parasite, and part-OH MY GOD WHAT'S IT DOING TO THAT GUY'S HEAD. One of the most common enemies you encounter in the Half-Life series, the headcrabs are most notorious for their gross appearance, lightning fast jumping attacks, and their abilities to turn other people into a type of zombie. When they become mature, they become more menacing and they're able to spawn multiple baby headcrabs. Apparently that wasn't enough for Valve, because in Half-Life 2 they introduce two more species of headcrab: the Fast Headcrab and the Poison Headcrab. Just remember to watch your head and keep your finger on the trigger. The apocalypse is fixing to be a very dangerous one.
8. Deathclaws - Fallout series
Fun fact: Deathclaws were the product of genetic mutations and enhancements to the Jackson's Chameleon.
These genetically engineered reptiles were made to serve as the foot soldiers in "close-combat search-and-destroy" missions during the Great War. After the relatively brief war was over, the deathclaws were allowed without much protest to make their own nests around what was left of the United States. When traversing the Mojave Desert or the Capital Wasteland, one has to be wary of their blinding speed and their long, sharp claws. One slash from one of those beasts can make quick work of your limbs and your health, so it's always important to conserve stimpaks. They're scarce enough as it is, but you'll REALLY start to wish you had more when you face a pack of these beasts.
9. Wallmasters - Legend of Zelda series
Picture this: You're walking through a dungeon, looking around, trying to figure out a puzzle. All of a sudden you see a shadow looming above you and then *BAM*, you're swept up and taken to the beginning of the dungeon. It wouldn't be that bad if the hand that grabbed you wasn't so creepy. Seriously, it looks like belongs in an old creepy mansion playing an organ sinisterly. Plus, nobody likes to lose their progress in a dungeon, so yeah you're gonna be scrambling around when you see one of those things hovering around.
10. Dr. Jonathan Crane (The Scarecrow) - Batman Arkham Asylum
If this was a Top 10 list rather than just a list of ten enemies, Scarecrow would probably be the top of the list for me. The first time you see Scarecrow, he's in a sealed room making three other doctors go mad as he unleashes his fear toxin. With no way for Batman to break in, he's forced to watch those poor suckers slowly die as the toxin does its work. It's obvious this encounter won't be the last, as Crane would periodically try his hand at making the Cape Crusader go mad. The result is a series of disturbing sequences, including an alternate timeline where Batman is being hauled into Arkham by The Joker (all inside Bruce's head, of course). As Batman is forced to face his fears through interesting gameplay sequences, we wonder how he manages to stay calm even after Scarecrow's meddling.
It becomes clear why when after the last encounter, Scarecrow remarks:
"How are you doing this? You have ingested enough toxins to drive ten men insane! What are you?"
It kinda forces you to wonder who is more unhinged: The inmates of Arkham Asylum or the guy that puts them there?
Thank you for reading my latest blog installment! Stick around for my next installment in 2Spooky Month next Friday, and be sure to look out for any other blogs participating, as well!