A well-invested game will have many layers of meaning, allowing players to peel back each layer to uncover the message that the developers want to convey. From branches and blades of grass to expansive open worlds, every element has its reason for existence. And enemies in games are no exception.
They not only exist as challenges we need to overcome, but they also contain stories, origins that you need to decipher and piece together to understand their purpose in the game.
Here is a list of 8 bizarre monsters in games and the stories behind them.
Mantiqueen – The Outer Worlds
In The Outer Worlds, each enemy has its own story and origin. Among them, the Mantisaur is a hybrid of a mantis and a dinosaur, turning it into a gigantic monster.
Although a big monster means equally fierce battles, the hidden message behind the Mantisaur is a concern about the future: fearing that technology will get out of our control, fearing that nature will reclaim what rightfully belongs to it.
The Mantiqueen was created to emphasize this message further. And because of their terrifying design, we feel even more fear about this scenario.
Wraith – Evolve
The Wraith monster in Evolve, with its “blink-and-miss” combat mechanism, makes gameplay scarier and more supernatural than ever.
Wraith has a fast movement speed, can float in the air, and its weapons are sharp claws. The developers wanted to create a monster with a bit of “King Kong” and a lot of “Predator”. It’s like the offspring of King Kong and Predator. In fact, the Wraith even has a kidnapping move similar to King Kong abducting Ann Darrow and climbing the Empire State Building.
Makkapitew & Wendigos – Until Dawn
As the game progresses, Until Dawn reveals to players that wendigos are the “authors” of countless deaths occurring on the mountain. According to mythology, wendigos stem from Algonquian tales and are faithfully recreated in Until Dawn.
Makkapitew is the strongest monster among wendigos, and in Algonquian, it means “the one with large teeth.” This makes sense because this monster is always bloodthirsty, seeking to eliminate anyone who dares to approach its territory.
The event of the character Hannah Washington transforming into Makkapitew symbolizes Hannah’s isolation from her group, as wendigos in folklore are creatures that live separately and are shunned by society. The monster version of Hannah, Makkapitew, embodies the cruelty and abandonment she endured previously.
Watchers – Metro Series
Watchers are a hybrid monster between wolves and goblins, with a distorted form resulting from nuclear war.
Although initially inspired by a novel, the design of Watchers resembles Barghest from the board game Dungeons and Dragons more. Barghest is a large dog with black fur and a curse of death. The term “ghest” refers to “ghost,” and Barghest means “town-ghost.” This is a remnant of a former world taking the form of a grotesque dog.
In Metro Exodus, Watchers are renamed Watchmen to reflect their behavior: one will scout, and when it detects prey, it will sound the alarm for the entire pack to come attack.
Sewer Centipede – Dark Souls 3
Initially, it appears in watery areas, taking the form of a woman with long black hair floating in the air. But when confronted, it “transforms” into a horde of mutated Grudge, ready to “devour” anyone who gets too close.
Although the back of the Sewer Centipede resembles a woman, its front has dozens of arms and hands like a spider. Not to mention it has pale skin.
In Japanese folklore, Sewer Centipedes share many similarities with Jorōgumo. They are supernatural monsters (Yōkai) capable of transforming into stunningly beautiful women. Additionally, Jorōgumo also refers to certain spider species in Japanese, so when translated, it can be understood as “woman-spider.”
And even when in woman form, the reflection of these monsters underwater still shows a spider. According to Jorōgumo stories, they often dwell near ponds, waterfalls, just like in Dark Souls 3.
Behemoth – Horizon: Zero Dawn
Behemoth resembles a rhinoceros without a horn, and they are machines with terrifying destructive power.
According to the game’s storyline, Behemoths are tasked with bringing resources to forges to create more machines. They often travel in packs to deliver supplies to designated locations.
Alongside the Metal Devil, the name Behemoth originates from mythology. With roots in Babylon, Behemoth is a mythical creature of great strength. Hence, it always triumphs over humans in battles.
Accordingly, Behemoth takes the form of an elephant or a buffalo, or sometimes a rhinoceros. Horizon: Zero Dawn drew inspiration from the rhinoceros for its design.
Chain Chomps – Super Mario Series
Famous in the Super Mario series, Chain Chomps are black balls on chains. They can bark and attack players when they get too close. With huge teeth and round eyes, they resemble a shark mixed with Pac-Man.
However, Shigeru Miyamoto – the creator of Mario – stated that Chain Chomps embody his childhood fear. He was very scared of dogs that intended to bite him, but fortunately, they were chained so he was unharmed, just a few inches away from the dog’s face.
Later, he incorporated this fear into Super Mario Bros. 3, making players somewhat panic when facing it for the first time. As for why Chain Chomps resemble balls, it might be because Shigeru wanted to highlight their sharp teeth.
Mermaid Princess – Rule Of Rose
This is the story of a 19-year-old girl named Jennifer who tries to uncover the clues about her mysterious past at an orphanage. On her journey, Jennifer encounters the Mermaid Princess, a girl named Clara in the orphanage. At that moment, she is tied up and hanging from the ceiling.
The Mermaid exhibits self-harming behaviors, reflecting her unstable mental health. This is believed to be a consequence of abuse by the orphanage’s principal, Hoffman. Therefore, this could be the reason why her body is covered in cuts, and there is even a surgical scar on her abdomen indicating she may have been pregnant unintentionally.
This is an extremely terrible and horrifying situation, prompting loyal fans of this game to try to dissect and explain the elements within it. And of course, upon release, this game sparked significant controversy within the gaming community.
Source: What Culture translated by Gearvn