ANIMALS I HAVE SPOOKED IN VIDEOGAMES: A GUIDE
June 19, 2015 5:47 AM Subscribe
There are also many opportunities for simulated animal-startling in the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Chickens, cats, other birds, bugs, horses, to name a few. Come to think of it, that game is largely based on animal spooking.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 6:02 AM on June 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Salvor Hardin at 6:02 AM on June 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
For exactly these reasons, I really regret that in the two playthroughs I've been watching of Witcher 3, neither of them chase or otherwise interact with the various domesticated animals -- the geese especially, but there are also dogs and cats (who occasionally walk into pubs). Roach, the Universe Horse who exists in all places at once unless she is stuck in a copse of trees or glitching invisible but for her eyes, doesn't totally make up for that.
posted by automatic cabinet at 6:06 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by automatic cabinet at 6:06 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
There's a scene in Bayonetta 2 where you're wandering around what is basically Venice, and since you're in an alternate purgatory-dimension, every person in the town is a vague, humanoid outline. They can't see you or interact with you at all. The sole exception is a single cat early in the level, which you can't interact with but is fully drawn and just stares at you the whole time it's on-screen.
This, of course, makes perfect sense, because we all know cats can see in to all possible realities.
posted by Itaxpica at 6:17 AM on June 19, 2015 [13 favorites]
This, of course, makes perfect sense, because we all know cats can see in to all possible realities.
posted by Itaxpica at 6:17 AM on June 19, 2015 [13 favorites]
Fond memories of the screwing bunnies in Shadow Warrior
posted by GallonOfAlan at 6:23 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by GallonOfAlan at 6:23 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
An interesting thing I've started to notice is that one of the hallmarks of Nintendo's Wii U games is little birds just sort of sitting wherever it is you're going that kind of flutter away when you get too close. Off the top of my head I can tell you this happens in Super Mario 3D World, Mario Speedwagon 8, and Splatoon, and no doubt others. I've become curious as to where it started, and how it's become A Thing.
posted by DoctorFedora at 6:34 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by DoctorFedora at 6:34 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
I latch onto the underside of a cow (or at least a cow-shaped animal) and ride it like I’m a Greek hero sneaking past a cyclops
This guy is a pro.
posted by johnnydummkopf at 7:00 AM on June 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
This guy is a pro.
posted by johnnydummkopf at 7:00 AM on June 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
Fond memories of the screwing bunnies in Shadow Warrior
It's in Witcher 3 too! Geralt's talking to some guy, and in the background are some bunnies makin' more bunnies.
posted by Bunny Boneyology at 7:02 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's in Witcher 3 too! Geralt's talking to some guy, and in the background are some bunnies makin' more bunnies.
posted by Bunny Boneyology at 7:02 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
An interesting thing I've started to notice is that one of the hallmarks of Nintendo's Wii U games is little birds just sort of sitting wherever it is you're going that kind of flutter away when you get too close. Off the top of my head I can tell you this happens in Super Mario 3D World, Mario Speedwagon 8, and Splatoon, and no doubt others.
Used to eerie effect in Eidolon, an outstanding post-apocalyptic narrative walking simulator.
posted by trunk muffins at 7:34 AM on June 19, 2015
Used to eerie effect in Eidolon, an outstanding post-apocalyptic narrative walking simulator.
posted by trunk muffins at 7:34 AM on June 19, 2015
There is a whole game in this, I reckon – like Shadow of the Colossus crossed with Gorkamorka
That was the moment where I came to love this article. However, one technical issue:
> The marriage does not last long, as the mine detects the elephant as a target, and detonates.
Merely as a point of construction, it'd be slightly funnier (by about 0.17 funny-units, a tiny but still measurable quantity) to say:
> The marriage does not last long, as the mine detects the presence of an elephant and detonates.
...because this personifies the mine, and also helps bring out the absurdity of what he's doing. But anyway. Actually, the whole article is terrific.
On Nintendo birds, that all originated in Mario 64. It also has scenery fish that exhibit flocking behavior.
posted by JHarris at 7:45 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
That was the moment where I came to love this article. However, one technical issue:
> The marriage does not last long, as the mine detects the elephant as a target, and detonates.
Merely as a point of construction, it'd be slightly funnier (by about 0.17 funny-units, a tiny but still measurable quantity) to say:
> The marriage does not last long, as the mine detects the presence of an elephant and detonates.
...because this personifies the mine, and also helps bring out the absurdity of what he's doing. But anyway. Actually, the whole article is terrific.
On Nintendo birds, that all originated in Mario 64. It also has scenery fish that exhibit flocking behavior.
posted by JHarris at 7:45 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
..because this personifies the mine, and also helps bring out the absurdity of what he's doing. But anyway.
(JHarris, you already hitting the brosé this early?)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:50 AM on June 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
(JHarris, you already hitting the brosé this early?)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:50 AM on June 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
That'll do, Corporal Fucknasty. That'll do.
posted by echocollate at 7:57 AM on June 19, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by echocollate at 7:57 AM on June 19, 2015 [8 favorites]
Is there a stereotype about the Irish feeding pigs? I would have guessed that was more a Welsh thing.
posted by maryr at 8:06 AM on June 19, 2015
posted by maryr at 8:06 AM on June 19, 2015
Counter-Strike chickens
posted by infinitewindow at 8:20 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 8:20 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
Word is the next Metal Gear game contains an entire subquest devoted to annoying animals, attaching balloons to them and sending them rocketing up into the sky, accompanied by startled bahs and moos, to be collected later and sent back to your base.
posted by JHarris at 8:34 AM on June 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 8:34 AM on June 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
METAL GEAR LXXXII: DOG BOTHERER
posted by Doleful Creature at 8:44 AM on June 19, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by Doleful Creature at 8:44 AM on June 19, 2015 [8 favorites]
Does turning monsters into chickens in Heretic count? Because that might have been the pinnacle of 90s PC FPS experience.
posted by brennen at 9:46 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by brennen at 9:46 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
The superb iphone game ALTO'S ADVENTURE has birds that are spooked when you board by. One of the early achievements was to spook X number of birds (which really just means "keep boarding for a while").
I am happy to see, upon checking, that it is an ongoing kept statistic. 12,190 so far! Which makes me feel way better about being stuck on this last 2 3-flip challenge for weeks now.
posted by phearlez at 10:05 AM on June 19, 2015
I am happy to see, upon checking, that it is an ongoing kept statistic. 12,190 so far! Which makes me feel way better about being stuck on this last 2 3-flip challenge for weeks now.
posted by phearlez at 10:05 AM on June 19, 2015
The Metal Gear Wiki page on the balloons is here: Fulton Surface-To-Air Recovery System. Apparently these things saw real-world use! My favorite game fact from the page, though is:
During the MSF's deployment to Costa Rica, an unknown group also attempted to use the Fulton system, in order to extract enemy personnel. The MSF thwarted these attempts by shooting down the balloons in various so-called "Pooyan Missions."
If you don't know what Pooyan is, watch this, then, watch this. Kojima remains awesome.
posted by JHarris at 10:08 AM on June 19, 2015
During the MSF's deployment to Costa Rica, an unknown group also attempted to use the Fulton system, in order to extract enemy personnel. The MSF thwarted these attempts by shooting down the balloons in various so-called "Pooyan Missions."
If you don't know what Pooyan is, watch this, then, watch this. Kojima remains awesome.
posted by JHarris at 10:08 AM on June 19, 2015
This is the best video I could find in like the minute I devoted to finding it of a sheep captured by balloon.
posted by JHarris at 10:15 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by JHarris at 10:15 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Am I the only one who does this in real life? I am an unrepentant pigeon chaser.
posted by Andrhia at 10:20 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Andrhia at 10:20 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
The MGS:V animal capture mechanic reminds me of MacGyver's horse stealing method.
posted by codacorolla at 11:02 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 11:02 AM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
I can't even count the number of mice, cats, dogs, sheep, cows, bears, giraffes, elephants, whales and giant squid I have spooked playing Katamari Damacy.
It's okay, though. They're in the sky now. Can you see them twinkling? AND WHEN I ROLL YOU UP, YOU'LL TWINKLE TOO!
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:49 AM on June 19, 2015 [8 favorites]
It's okay, though. They're in the sky now. Can you see them twinkling? AND WHEN I ROLL YOU UP, YOU'LL TWINKLE TOO!
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:49 AM on June 19, 2015 [8 favorites]
This, of course, makes perfect sense, because we all know cats can see in to all possible realities.
In the Witcher books, cats are the only animals that are sensitive to magic. The books are excellent, by the way. They were the inspiration for the game series, not vice versa.
In the latest game, you can charm the animals as well. Their eyes will glow white and they'll follow you slowly as long as they're under your influence. It's quite creepy to have a pack of charmed dogs or sheep follow you around.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 11:51 AM on June 19, 2015
In the Witcher books, cats are the only animals that are sensitive to magic. The books are excellent, by the way. They were the inspiration for the game series, not vice versa.
In the latest game, you can charm the animals as well. Their eyes will glow white and they'll follow you slowly as long as they're under your influence. It's quite creepy to have a pack of charmed dogs or sheep follow you around.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 11:51 AM on June 19, 2015
An interesting thing I've started to notice is that one of the hallmarks of Nintendo's Wii U games is little birds just sort of sitting wherever it is you're going that kind of flutter away when you get too close.
Animal Crossing has some little yellow birds that do this; looks like they appeared back in 2008's Animal Crossing: City Folk.
posted by redsparkler at 11:59 AM on June 19, 2015
Animal Crossing has some little yellow birds that do this; looks like they appeared back in 2008's Animal Crossing: City Folk.
posted by redsparkler at 11:59 AM on June 19, 2015
Also, now that I think of it, blue birds in Super Mario Sunshine leave blue coins if you splash them enough.
posted by JHarris at 12:05 PM on June 19, 2015
posted by JHarris at 12:05 PM on June 19, 2015
I'm not sure if "spooking" encompasses "clicking on sheep until they explode", but surely I'm not the only one who spent a lot of time on that back in the Warcraft II days.
posted by dorque at 12:13 PM on June 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by dorque at 12:13 PM on June 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
Those chickens can defend themselves.
posted by JHarris at 12:41 PM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by JHarris at 12:41 PM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
I can't even count the number of mice, cats, dogs, sheep, cows, bears, giraffes, elephants, whales and giant squid I have spooked playing Katamari Damacy.
The best is the crab level because of the SPROINGGG this make when you pick them up.
posted by maryr at 12:42 PM on June 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
The best is the crab level because of the SPROINGGG this make when you pick them up.
posted by maryr at 12:42 PM on June 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
Yes! It's possible to kill the chickens!
(Please, don't kill the pigs.)
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:50 PM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
(Please, don't kill the pigs.)
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:50 PM on June 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Fond memories of the screwing bunnies in Shadow Warrior
It's in Witcher 3 too! Geralt's talking to some guy, and in the background are some bunnies makin' more bunnies.
pics plz
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:53 PM on June 19, 2015
It's in Witcher 3 too! Geralt's talking to some guy, and in the background are some bunnies makin' more bunnies.
pics plz
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:53 PM on June 19, 2015
I really regret that in the two playthroughs I've been watching of Witcher 3, neither of them chase or otherwise interact with the various domesticated animals
Well, here's a minute or two of Witcher 3 domestic animal harassment action for you.
posted by sfenders at 7:38 PM on June 19, 2015
Well, here's a minute or two of Witcher 3 domestic animal harassment action for you.
posted by sfenders at 7:38 PM on June 19, 2015
If I recall correctly, there's a bird that sits on the signpost in the original Animal Crossing that means something, like a new notice being posted. I think it does fly away when you get close, though.
There's a special title you get in Tales of Symphonia for bothering every dog in the world as Colette. She names them.
posted by NoraReed at 9:15 PM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
There's a special title you get in Tales of Symphonia for bothering every dog in the world as Colette. She names them.
posted by NoraReed at 9:15 PM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
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posted by capricorn at 5:56 AM on June 19, 2015 [13 favorites]