It takes a lot to creep me out, but this enemy design from Naughty Dog's upcoming survival game The Last of Us, recently tweeted out by Evan Wells, co-president of Naughty Dog,  certainly does it.

Maybe it's the fungal parasite thing...something that is fairly terrifying in itself even when it's only attacking ants. Or maybe the way the victims head expands and protrudes like some sort of Lovecraftian flesh-melon that's been left in the sun to rot.  Ultimately, the subtly of the design does a fantastic job of also reflecting the biology taking place. And it's the reality of the design that really gets me.

Comments

  • Avatar
    AdjacentKitten
    12 years ago

    There goes my sleep tonight, right out the window.

  • Avatar
    Binary-79
    12 years ago

    Its nice to see that enemy design can still be fresh even today.

    Also the Hair at the back is really creepy :O

  • Avatar
    Neon Vanguard
    12 years ago

    I've always wanted to fight waffle-coral-dudes.

    Yeah, I'm... not feelin' it.

  • Avatar
    Okolem
    12 years ago

    Looks delicious.

  • Avatar
    fyrefang12
    12 years ago

    Looks like there's some nice fried chicken on his face...

  • Avatar
    CakeinaBox
    12 years ago

    Oh gosh. Cordyceps. The idea that fungi could grow right into your brain and control you and just completely disfigure you is terrifying to me. I really liked this design as soon as I saw it, since I've read a lot about that sort of fungi.

    It really does look like a fungi though. Like what you see growing on your tree, or something. It's frightening because it's this parasite, feeding on your flesh and energy, and you'll never get it out without killing yourself because it has gotten into your brain and completely changed all your behaviour. The thought of the process of changing is scary. How much would that hurt?

    How easily is it spread? It isn't a conventional zombie. It's an animalistic fungus monster that could possibly easily spread to your face with spores and fill you up with fungus too and everything about that makes me shudder. The way it looks might not be terrifying to everyone, but the idea of it and what being around something like that could mean scares me. So I really like this monster design, because it also invokes a lot of basic fears in me. Seeing one would be scary. Being around a dead one, that is also probably terribly dangerous, and if I ran into one, there would be so many things I could not be sure about that it would be probably best to just hide and then run. And I really like that.

  • Avatar
    Joseph Christ
    12 years ago

    Notice how they have no eyes. Sound and stealth might play some really big roles here.

  • Avatar
    fallouttalove3
    12 years ago

    i think it's a really fantastic enemy design...when it's just sitting there on the table. the little details of the fuzz in the middle of the fungus, the texture of the surface, the crack in the middle of the face, that is what makes this design so creepy. it's realistic. however, when they are running at you at full speed, screaming, I think the only thing you will be able to see is a guy with a flower stuck to his face. HOWEVER, the idea of an enemy with no eyes and only ears will hopefully create some interesting gameplay perspectives. color me intrigued.

  • Avatar
    lemith
    12 years ago

    Hmm, pretty creepy, the thought of such a base organism inhabiting your body.

  • Avatar
    joetm
    12 years ago

    Reminds me of popcorn.....

  • Avatar
    Eric
    12 years ago

    I SHIGGY DIGGY

  • Avatar
    Strikernofear
    12 years ago

    And there goes my lunch.

  • Avatar
    drake and his fortune
    12 years ago

    Looks like fungus

  • Avatar
    BundleOfFunyuns
    12 years ago

    Fungus Face. This girl must have been so picked on in school. "FUNGUS FACE FUNGAS FACE NYEHEHEHEHEEEE"