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What's the most recognizable video game enemy for people who aren't into video gaming?
- Thread starter DiipuSurotu
- Start date
Case could be made for Metroid(larva) over Slime or Rabbids imo. Iconic series is named after them!
Ducks from Duck Hunt if they count too that could be a little older for the new generation though.
I won't credit zombies as a video game original creation but I don't recall a big fictional work that introduces zombie dogs the way Resident Evil did. I think you show them this concept and most will have nightmares of these things from any Resident Evil game. Take a beloved animal and turn it into something diabolical and downright scary. 2nd antagonist(s) you face in Resident Evil, a practical staple in some form in the long running series.
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The Space Invader being the symbol of gaming might wind up in a 'floppy discs save icon' situation in a bit, as I see Space Invaders showing up less and less in collections and arcades.
I'd say that and Pac-Man Ghosts. The ghosts might 'actually' be more famous than Pac-Man.
(And I think Koopas might be more recognisable than Goombas just because their design is more complex).
I'd say that and Pac-Man Ghosts. The ghosts might 'actually' be more famous than Pac-Man.
(And I think Koopas might be more recognisable than Goombas just because their design is more complex).
The real answer lies in "who would your grandparents recognize?"
Beyond just some Western/Japanese nerds who have very serious opinions about children's television and read fanfiction (cough), who would balding bankers, Afghani tribesmen, 70s rock stars, coal miners, Syrian rebels, foreign diplomats, and your Boomer aunt recognize as a video game enemy?
Overwhelmingly it's going to be the Space Invader aliens or Pac Man ghosts by some fantastic distance.
Beyond just some Western/Japanese nerds who have very serious opinions about children's television and read fanfiction (cough), who would balding bankers, Afghani tribesmen, 70s rock stars, coal miners, Syrian rebels, foreign diplomats, and your Boomer aunt recognize as a video game enemy?
Overwhelmingly it's going to be the Space Invader aliens or Pac Man ghosts by some fantastic distance.
Pac-man ghosts. The answer might have been goombas but people probably don't even know their called that
the question is about non gamers. i don't think anyone would recognize the pigs if they didn't play the game.
she was in her 40s when the PacMan craze was going on so this isn't really surprising to me.
Case could be made for Metroid(larva) over Slime or Rabbids imo. Iconic series is named after them!
In Japan there's slime merch and adverts plastered everywhere. I did not see a single metroid.
I think you could argue for Goombas, Creepers (Minecraft), and Pacman ghosts.
I would say Goombas moreso than Bowser just because they are present in the first level of almost every single Mario game.
Given Minecraft's popularity and being the best selling game of all time, Creepers are definitely up there. They're the most iconic enemy in the game.
Pacman ghosts are the pacman ghosts. Very well known even today.
I would say Goombas moreso than Bowser just because they are present in the first level of almost every single Mario game.
Given Minecraft's popularity and being the best selling game of all time, Creepers are definitely up there. They're the most iconic enemy in the game.
Pacman ghosts are the pacman ghosts. Very well known even today.
Metroid series and the characters are bigger outside of Japan though!
Should be the ghosts if you're thinking from a worldwide perspective.
I'm tempted to say Super Mario's Goombas too, because even if Nintendo is non-existent in places like India, 80s and 90s folks (maybe also 00s folks) did play and recognise Super Mario on computers and famiclones.
I'm tempted to say Super Mario's Goombas too, because even if Nintendo is non-existent in places like India, 80s and 90s folks (maybe also 00s folks) did play and recognise Super Mario on computers and famiclones.
Nintendo doesn't really push it or make it a prominent franchise though. I think that's it's undoing, a couple of suspect games in the series should not mean making it obsolete.
Even before those games, it still wasn't selling and was never popular because it'sa niche genre. No one outside of core gaming places will know what a metroid is. If you showed it to Joe Schmoe, they would say it looks like a facehugger ripoff. Which it technically is.
The ape from Donkey Kong is a good one too.
I voted for PacMan ghosts. I think if most people, not even videogame players, saw those ghosts they'd recognize them as being from pacman or a game, where as the Goomba or ape, or something else, someone who has no idea might think they could be from a cartoon show or something.
I voted for PacMan ghosts. I think if most people, not even videogame players, saw those ghosts they'd recognize them as being from pacman or a game, where as the Goomba or ape, or something else, someone who has no idea might think they could be from a cartoon show or something.
I only know of Slime because I love JRPGs but a common person in the states isn't going to know what that thing is. Neither should win this(i voted for Ghosts) just brought up suggestions up above and I feel Metroid is more prominent than a few of the choices up above.
If it wasn't for Mario + Rabbids, I probably wouldn't. Maybe the Rayman series was a cultural phenomenon at some point and I just missed that?
I'm still baffled as to why OP thought they belonged on this poll
Pac-Man Ghosts 100%. Everyone and their mom has played Pac-Man at some point. Either at an arcade or on a smartphone. Plus, Pac-Man has to be the first groundbreaking, internationally well known and popular video game franchise besides Tetris. I can't even count how many TV shows/movies from the 80's use the iconic Pac-Man/Ghosts sounds when they have a scene at an arcade or something.
2nd would be most enemies from the Mario games, especially Bowser, but since that's missing from the poll - Goomba and/or Koopa Troopa.
3rd would be Dr. "Eggman" Robotnik from Sonic, but that's just my opinion and upbringing speaking.
2nd would be most enemies from the Mario games, especially Bowser, but since that's missing from the poll - Goomba and/or Koopa Troopa.
3rd would be Dr. "Eggman" Robotnik from Sonic, but that's just my opinion and upbringing speaking.
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?!?!?!?!
Minecraft is still consistently one of the biggest and most active games in the world among all age groups.