10 Utterly Terrifying Underwater Video Game Creatures

Mario 64 is remembered for innovating games and bringing them into the 3D world. With its bright colors, cheerful music, and lovable characters the last thing most players expected was to find themselves face to face with a polygonal horror deep underwater.

But in Stage 3, the ironically named Jolly Roger Bay introduced thousands of children to a terrifying face peering at them from the inside of the sunken ship. Unagi the Eel waits for Mario, only its face visible as the plucky plumber dives into the depths. That face, however, has large, dead eyes and a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth.

Approach too closely and Unagi shoots out, attempting to take a bite out of Mario's blue overalls and players are greeted by the seemingly endless body of the massive eel. If this was the only time Mario encountered the menacing Muraenidae, it would be no problem. But then the second mission has you lure Unagi out AGAIN and chase it around trying to snatch a shiny star off its tail.

In future titles of Mario, Unagi became known as Maw-Rays, a play on the word Moray and would continue to terrify players whenever Mario took the plunge into the water.