We’ve all fought our fair share of enemies throughout our gaming lives. some of them are pretty silly and cartoony and others are more serious in their tone. Regardless of whether they are childish or more adult, did you ever stop to think exactly how frightening some of them actually are? Well, that’s what this article is about so I’m just going to cut to the chase. In no particular order, here are 6 video game creatures that you (probably) never realized how terrifying they were until I said something about it.
6. Sluagh
Game: The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
It’s been awhile since this game has popped up into my subconscious. If you’re not familiar with this game (which is possible since it hasn’t been around for awhile), the Sluagh are these weird-looking creatures that reside in the Underworld.
They have a habit of devouring souls as well. The only problem is that Sluagh pretty much act on their own accord. Nothing is really keeping them under control or telling them what to do. They basically scavenge.
Keep in mind too that in The Legacy of Kain series, there are only two realms: the Material Plane and the Spectral Plane. The Material Plane is, like you’d imagine, where all living things reside. That leaves the Spectral Plane as the only place your soul can go. I’m sure you can pretty much imagine the fear that would consume you if you knew that there’s a chance your eternal soul would be devoured upon entering the afterlife by misshapen feral spirit creatures.
Also, when consumed by Sluagh, your soul will forever be gone and won’t ever find peace. Good luck on your Nosgoth deathbed.
5. Malboro
Game: Final Fantasy series
If you’re not familiar with Final Fantasy monsters in any way, Malboro’s are pretty nasty creatures that cause just about every single status effect in the game with their signature Bad Breath move. Because of this, they’re often regarded as one of the more difficult enemies in the totality of the series. They’re also pretty ugly, but you can see that from the picture I posted.
Why are they a more terrifying bundle of “Holy s***” than you thought? It’s not the looks. Keep in mind that the Bad Breath attack is basically afflicting your characters with illness AKA status effects. Pretty much the realistic equivalent of this would be if you were afflicted with every damn illness all in one go thanks to the breath of a land-dwelling anemone. Can you imagine, if you were one of those characters, how much pain you’d be after taking this thing’s breath head-on?
I could probably keep going with a list of possible illnesses this thing could actually be inflicting on you, but I think you get the point.
I hate this thing in Final Fantasy VIII by the way.
4. Remlit
Game: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
You might not have known what this thing is until you saw the picture. I honestly didn’t even know it had a name. I was prepared to name it “possessed purple cat with a weird face” until I looked it up. Remlits are Skyward Sword’s cats. They are usually rather docile and cat-like during the day, but when night comes around…watch your ass!
It doesn’t help that these kitties are rather aggressive to you and can, surprisingly, cause a lot of damage, but they are also immortal. You can’t take them out with a sword or bash them into oblivion with a shield. You can’t even throw them off of Skyloft because the damn things fly right back up to continue their murderous onslaught.
They also like to use their kitty wiles on you. Every time you strike them, whether they’re docile or demonic, they run and cower with their cute little mews echoing in your ears. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel sorry for them only for them to cut you again when you get close.
Screw you, Remlits!
3. The Heartless
Game: Kingdom Hearts series
The wonderful world of Disney can’t always make the darkest things be kid-friendly (just see The Hunchback of Notre Dame AKA my favorite Disney film) and the Heartless are no exception.
For those of you who haven’t played the Kingdom Hearts series, the Heartless are the most common enemy throughout that usually take the form of black, shadowy husks who’s only goal is to take people’s hearts and turn them into a Heartless.
If you look at that well enough, I probably don’t need to go any further about why the Heartless are a chilling edition to my list. I’ll bulletpoint it though:
- What we have is a form of dark mass that acts completely on one instinct–thus having no personality of their own.
- Their goal in existence–to extract the hearts of anyone they come in contact with which, of course, is a very vital element to a person’s health.
- Once extracted, you are transformed into one of them thus becoming nothing more than another soulless shell–a husk of your former self–that also will only act on one instinct for the rest of their existence.
And it’s not like most people have a say in the matter or can fight it off. There’s always exceptions (i.e. main characters), but as far as the typical regular, there’s no fighting it: if a Heartless catches you, your heart is gone and you’re finished. Disney and Square Enix can cartoon this up anyway they can in the games, but people are still having their hearts forcefully removed from the chest cavities only to become a mindless shell of their former self doomed to either be this way for the rest of their lives or meet an untimely end by a keyblade.
2. Piranha Plant
Game: Super Mario series
I think every gamer should be familiar with these guys. If you don’t remember, Piranha Plants are the enemies in Super Mario games that hide out in pipes, chomping away or spewing fireballs all over the place. They also look like a venus flytrap on steroids.
I’m sorry, but venus flytraps are already kind of mortifying when you think about it. The fact that you would take that and add serrated teeth into its gaping maw doesn’t do well to defeat that feeling. The fact that venus flytraps DON’T have teeth is what keeps them from actually injuring an unlucky person; now they have freaking teeth.
On top of that, they hide from your view. At least the terrible venus flytraps and other related plants are out in the open where you can see them (as long as you recognize them). Piranha Plants are like the moray eel in plant form–hiding out in crevices and the like.
Oh, but don’t worry. You won’t feel the pain of their teeth gnashing down on your flesh if you find yourself caught in their jaws. You’ll be too numb from the scorching pain of their fireballs to feel anything.
Hellish things are going on in that Mushroom Kingdom, I tell you.
1. Worms
Game: Worms series
Bet you didn’t expect this. I’m counting these little guys because you do fight against them in the games despite also playing as them. Worms aren’t especially a horrible bunch. Afterall, they help keep our soil and dirt all nice and healthy. The ones in the game are freaking adorable with their little mousy cries of victory and defeat…
…but where the hell do they get the arsenal they possess? Seriously, these worms have access to weapons on near nuclear levels (Holy Bomb anyone?). Obviously, these worms are very experienced either in weapons manufacturing or they have secret connections on the worm black market. either way, it’s a rather daunting matter.
Worms are invertebrates which also consist of some of our world’s insects. These animals already outnumber us millions and millions to one. We’d be worried if they grew to a substantial size to overthrow us, but imagine what would happen to us if they also learned how to use weaponry from all walks of military life.
You’ll be wishing you never stepped on those bugs as a kid when you feel the force of a baseball ball hit your face, the erratic pain of machine gun bullets, the explosive power of a Holy bomb, or whatever else they have in their arsenal.
Well, that pretty much fills out my list. Hope you enjoyed reading, but now I want to hear what enemies from video game’s past you find terrorizing once you’ve thought about it for a moment. Take your time…there’s no rush on this. Just leave a comment down below when you’re ready.
*Piranha Plant sculpture in featured image done by Jaime Margary.
