10 Video Game Moments That Blew Us Away (Even Though We Saw Them Coming)
These gaming moments weren't surprising but they were still cool as hell!
More often than not, the most shocking moment in a video game is a jaw-dropping twist or a tragic death that nobody saw coming. Even though Aerith's murder in Final Fantasy VII and BioShock's ending were gobsmacking, they wouldn't have the same gut-punch if they were flagrantly telegraphed. As such, it's understandable why the biggest turning points in a story aren't hinted at.
And yet, certain gaming moments have become legendary, despite the fact they weren't unexpected at all. Knowing a beloved character is living on borrowed time can be more depressing, especially when they speak hopefully about the future. Even when you know the hero is going to face off against their sworn enemy, it doesn't necessarily make the fight any less enthralling, especially if it provides a massive challenge.
And if a game boasts an innovative mechanic or a unique weapon, the developers might parade it around in advertisements rather than keeping it a secret. Although spilling the beans can ruin the experience, it can also heighten it, since players will be hyped to try out the game's biggest selling point.
Despite the fact there are few surprises on this list, these ten gaming moments still managed to blow everybody away.
10. The Sanity Effects - Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
It's ironic how the Sanity Effects in Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem repeatedly caught players off-guard, considering it was the game's defining feature.
Throughout this cosmic adventure, our 12 heroes encounter all sorts of paranormal creatures. Every time you confront a ghoul, demon, or ancient deity, your Sanity Meter slightly depletes.
A low Sanity Meter results in various hallucinations, including creaky footsteps, statues moving, or hanging bodies appearing in the background. These mind-bending moments can get pretty meta, pretending the game has restarted or acting like the save file has deleted.
Players are warned early on the illusions can't harm them unless the Sanity Meter is empty. For this reason, there's no real reason why the Sanity Effects should bother anyone.
Nevertheless, the Effects never stop being scary, no matter how many times they're experienced. Even when you recognise the Sanity Effects can't hurt, the creepy visuals and sounds are likely to rattle anyone (especially after experiencing an audio hallucination of babies crying for ten minutes straight).
As freaky as it is to battle Lovecraftian beings and primordial entities, there's nothing more frightening in Eternal Darkness than losing your mind.