10 EXACT Moments You Knew Video Game Characters Were Doomed

7. Who's Afraid Of A Little Thunder? - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

metal gear solid 3 volgin
Konami

This entry is less about the "oh, he's definitely dead" moment and more of "oh he's definitely dead and this is why". After all, Volgin is one of the main antagonists of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and, more than this, hadn't appeared in it's preceding sequels so he was destined for death. And although this isn't the last we see of him in the MGS timeline, it's worth talking about a masterful piece of foreshadowing.

Throughout the campaign, the electro-kinetic Colonel Volgin will react to stormy weather by uttering the phrase "kuwabara kuwabara", which is essentially a Japanese equivalent to "knock on wood". In the wacky world of Hideo Kojima, this is even shown to potentially have an effect, as it clears up heavy rainfall and parts the clouds at least once.

However, coming close to the end of the game, a storm gathers over Volgin. This time he doesn't recite his catchphrase and instead scoffs, barking "who's afraid of a little thunder". Nothing Kojima does is accidental however, and three games into the series, some gamers would pick up that this is definitely going somewhere.

That somewhere is 300 million volts to Volgin's body as he's inevitably struck by lightning, causing him to combust. Guess being superstitious was his real superpower.

Contributor

Coming from a content creation background that now spans over two decades, Psy cut her teeth on personal video production and community radio. Originally joining the team as a writer and presenter, she added video editing duties to her responsibilities over time and became the longest-standing editor of the irreverent gaming show Tues Your Own Adventure. Psy has worked on many previews and reviews, long-form editorials (either her own, or supporting as an editor), as a frequent quizmaster and more. Praised for the two-pronged attack of her hard work ethic and light-hearted editing style, Psy is otherwise known as a font of retro video game knowledge which has caused her to rack up many gaming quiz wins. Outside of WhatCulture, Psy runs First Aid Spray Podcast - a long-running channel that focuses on Resident Evil in all of it's forms. You can follow her on BlueSky at http://psywhite.bsky.social and Instagram at http://instagram.com/therealpsywhite