Defenseless Enemies in Video Games

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of video games and literature, I must say that these three characters have left quite an impression on me.

It’s common knowledge that the difficulty level of video game opponents can fluctuate significantly. The average ones can be defeated, some can make you feel annoyed, while others can be so tough that they might cause you to give up or at least reconsider playing. On the other hand, there are opponents whose purpose seems to be merely to provide a challenge and be conquered.

In most cases, these adversaries may launch attacks, yet their threat is often minimal. They are usually defeated effortlessly, and it requires more focus to suffer defeat by them compared to defeating them. Compared to other video game enemies, these particular foes are particularly weak in terms of defense.

5. Spark Mandrill

Infamous Weakness

In the world of Mega Man X, the towering Reploid known as Spark Mandrill stands out as one of the largest Maverick bosses. Known for his lack of intelligence, love for indulgence, and a certain level of laziness, this character might seem easy to handle at first glance. However, appearances can be deceiving because Spark Mandrill can prove quite challenging in battle, especially if one is not well-prepared. His attacks have an astonishing reach, with a punch that generates multiple shockwaves spanning the screen being just one example. Moreover, all of his attacks pack a substantial punch when it comes to causing damage.

Considering all that we know, it’s not just disrespectful but also misleading to call him a vulnerable opponent without any defenses. However, this perception is largely contradicted by a unique vulnerability. If X has previously defeated Chill Penguin, they will possess the Shotgun Ice as one of their special abilities. Spark Mandrill is extremely weak against the Shotgun Ice, to the extent that he can be repeatedly frozen without sustaining any damage. This is achieved by timing the attack perfectly when he thaws, and then immediately attacking him again. With the right sequence, Spark Mandrill can be defeated solely using the Shotgun Ice. Thus, Spark Mandrill is one of many seemingly invincible adversaries who only require the right weapon to render them defenseless.

4. Negative Man

Joke Boss

This character, known as Negative Man, is a manifestation of deep-seated self-loathing. While he has the ability to attack, these attacks are rare and barely scratch an opponent’s health bar. Instead, his combat style revolves around humbling himself. He frequently declares that he cannot win, which is often true. In a display of his perceived worthlessness, he doesn’t shy away from pleading with Lucas and his companions to defeat him. After being defeated, he seems to lose his aggression, becoming more subdued.

In a translation of the game “Mother 3”, one of his notable quotes seems to express feeling worthless, similar to another weak enemy in the original “Mother” game. Given that the protoplasm’s original name translates to “what’s the point of me?” in Japanese, it becomes clear just how much this character wallows in self-pity.

Despite his trembling words, Negative Man maintains a decent amount of health points. However, because he lacks effective fighting skills, this only delays the obvious outcome. This situation can easily make one frustrated, even when pity is already present.

3. Schelemeus “Skelly”

Training Dummy

Practice dummies are often found in various game genres and serve as a type of character that isn’t exactly an enemy but can still be attacked. Unlike traditional enemies, they cannot retaliate but exist solely for players to hone their skills on. Their purpose is to help players learn and perfect different combos, improving their ability to adapt against real opponents who can fight back. In some games, these dummy characters may be set to counterattack, while in others, they remain stationary, absorbing any attacks the player throws at them. Skelly from Hades falls into the latter category.

Occasionally, these characters are living beings or, in Skelly’s case, undead. Alternatively, they might just be dummy targets for training. Similar to many of his kind, Skelly is almost invincible, with an enormous amount of health points. Even if his health is depleted, he simply revives, as good as new. In his previous life, Skelly was a formidable warrior, comparable to heroes like Odysseus. Now, he works for an unnamed entity, helping Zagreus on his quest. His lively conversations make it easy for him to bond with Zagreus, despite the fact that his sole function is to be repeatedly attacked by Zagreus using the various weapons at his disposal.

In a humorous twist on the usual scenario, if Skelly develops a strong bond with Zagreus, he will ask to be permanently killed by Zagreus in a dramatic fashion. This moment carries a hint of gravity, as it appears that Zagreus has killed his friend and sparring partner for good. Yet, in the next instant, Skelly miraculously resurrects, unscathed, claiming he was merely pulling a prank on Zagreus. This incident underscores the fact that Skelly cannot be killed, not even by the mightiest form of the Blade of Chaos. In the sequel, Hades 2, Skelly reappears as Schelemeus, offering his assistance to Melinoë, Zagreus’s sister.

2. Magikarp

Literally Cannot Attack

The list would be incomplete if not for this infamous punchline of a Pokemon. Most forms of Magikarp are infamously useless, with its signature move, Splash, doing nothing when used. That said, it can usually learn at least one or two moves that do some form of damage before it evolves, such as Tackle, Flail, and in some cases, Bounce. Even so, its reputation precedes it as one of the most infamously awful Pokemon, with various jokes in and outside the universe, based on this premise.

It’s possible that the least beneficial type of Magikarp originates from the role-playing game (RPG) called “Pokemon Conquest,” developed by Tecmo Koei. In this unique game, Pokemon are trained by characters inspired by figures from the Edo Period, much like in the “Samurai Warriors” series. This game introduces an interesting twist where each species of Pokemon has one move it can continuously use, as long as it’s not disabled. Sometimes, this singular ability can be beneficial; for instance, various basic stage dragon-type Pokemon are always locked into using Dragon Rage, which can quickly defeat many early opponents by dealing 40 HP damage with each attack.

In contrast, Magikarp is at a disadvantage with this mechanism, as it can only use the move Splash. The reason for weakening this already weak character might be due to the fact that in Conquest, victories aren’t solely determined by who eliminates everyone else. It is theoretically possible for a Magikarp to win certain stages just by surviving and avoiding attacks. However, this doesn’t make it any easier to deal with its ineffectiveness in direct combat, which is often the case as battles usually devolve into such situations anyway.

In this scenario, only two fighters, Nobuchika and Takeyoshi, have a special connection with the Magikarp evolutionary chain, referred to as a Perfect Link. It’s advisable to use a fighter accompanied by a Magikarp alongside other combatants for protection, allowing it to avoid being weakened by defeats. As Magikarp accumulates enough attack points through its splashing, it will transform into the formidable Gyarados in the game Conquest. This new form can eliminate up to three adversaries with a precise Aqua Tail strike. Fighters with Magikarp are essentially bonus targets, but be prepared to encounter them strategically placed across the map. Since Magikarp doesn’t have the ability to attack independently, they can typically be defeated quickly by other Pokemon.

1. Previous Lex

Plot-Relevant Joke Boss

Appears in: Bookworm Adventures 2
Role: Boss of Book 6: Chapter 5
Developer: PopCap Games

Occasionally, a character may be left vulnerable in the plot, not to add excitement or logic, but for narrative purposes. Previous Lex serves as an illustration of this concept. In the original game, the notion of an antagonistic Lex, the main character from Bookworm Adventures, was explored. By Book 2, Chapter 7: Mirage Mania, Lex encounters numerous illusory adversaries that mimic former and upcoming enemies. The last one is Mirage Xel, a darker version of Lex who possesses some power. Yet, being a mirage, he is fundamentally an unreal entity, even within the story itself.

In the game “Bookworm Adventures 2”, Lex encounters trouble following the completion of Book 4: “Fractured Fairytales”. Mysterious portals reveal that characters from different books can move freely around the library. To resolve this issue, Lex retrieves a Magic Pen kept in the library. However, he is swiftly attacked and the pen is snatched by the attacker. This antagonist resembles Lex but wears a mechanical propeller helmet, earning the name ‘EviLex’.

Following Lex’s enlightenment at the end of Book 5: “The Monkey King,” the Jade Emperor informs Lex that he cannot overcome ‘EviLex’. The rationale behind this becomes clear in Book 6, Chapter 5: “Back To The Library”. Previously, Lex had obtained a time-traveling helmet, similar to EviLex’s, and was employing it to seize the pen before EviLex could. After a series of intense conflicts involving characters like Moby Dick and Odysseus, the final adversary is revealed. Instead of a formidable EviLex, the opponent turns out to be a puzzled past version of Lex, who mistakenly labels Lex himself as ‘EviLex.’

In my experience, conquering this version of Lex proves to be more challenging than defeating him; it demands constant strategy and focus. Interestingly enough, he seems weaker compared to his strength during Chapter 4, perhaps because he was caught off guard. With a swift strike, the Magic Pen has returned to the hands of Present/Future Lex once more.

2024-12-22 11:35