Cyberdemon
| Cyberdemon | |
|---|---|
| Doom character | |
 The Cyberdemon and the Doomguy (Doom Marine) on the cover of Doom II: Hell on Earth | |
| First game | Doom (1993)[1] |
The Cyberdemon is a fictional character in the Doom gaming-franchise by id Software, where it was introduced in the first-person shooter game Doom in 1993. Since then, it has appeared in several other id games, including Doom II: Hell on Earth, Doom 3, Doom RPG and Wolfenstein RPG (as the Harbinger of Doom), and the other media related to them. The Cyberdemon became one of the most iconic characters of the Doom series along with its protagonist, the "Doomguy", and is often described as one of the most memorable bosses in video gaming history.
Appearances
The Cyberdemon is not mentioned in the manual for the original PC version, possibly so as to make his appearance a surprise for the player. The manual for the console versions describe him as "half unfeeling machine, half raging horned devil. This walking nightmare has a rocket launcher for an arm and will definitely reach out and touch you."[2] In the first Doom, the Cyberdemon is the fastest character, with 4,000 hit points (an equivalent of 40 direct rocket hits), receiving no splash damage from explosions.[3] The Cyberdemons return in Doom II: Hell on Earth, where one is depicted on the cover art and the title screen.[4] A redesigned Cyberdemon is the final boss in the reboot game Doom 3,[2] where it is described as the "Hell's mightiest warrior" and can be killed only with the Soul Cube.
In the action role-playing game Doom RPG, the Cyberdemon is created by an occultist scientist Kronos. In Wolfenstein RPG, the Cyberdemon appears as the Harbinger of Doom, summoned by the Nazis at Castle Wolfenstein during World War II. American commando William "B.J." Blazkowicz defeats it using the Spear of Destiny, destroying its right leg and left arm, and the Harbinger vows that it would have a rematch with Blazkowicz's descendent in the future, which happens when Stan Blazkowicz faces it in Doom II RPG.
An entire plot of the Doom comic is based on the Doomguy's frantic search for the BFG 9000 that he can use to destroy the Cyberdemon.[5] In the Doom novels, the Cyberdemon's mechanical parts are steam powered and the characters call them "Steam Demons". A miniature figure of the Cyberdemon was included with the 1996 video game collection id Anthology and another appears in the 2011's Doom: The Boardgame.[6]
Reception
In 2008, IGN featured the Cyberdemon among their seven favourite monsters of gaming, adding that "in many ways, the granddaddy of the modern gaming monster, the Cyberdemon, is as fearsome today as he was 15 years ago."[7] That same year, GamePro listed the Cyberdemon as the 16th most diabolical video game villain of all time.[8] In 2010, this "classic (and terrifying) boss" was selected by GameSpot as one of the 64 contesters in their "All Time Greatest Game Villain" poll.[9][10] In 2010, Play Magazine included Cyberdemon on the list of top ten scariest game monsters.[11] IGN put this "one mean son of a bitch" at 69th place on their 2011 list of top villains in gaming.[3] On the list of the "coolest" video game villains by Complex in 2012, the Cyberdemon placed as 13th.[12] In 2013, Complex ranked the original encounter with Cyberdemon as the 12th best boss battle of all time,[13]
In 2006, The Boston Phoenix ranked the Cyberdemon as the 13th greatest boss in video game history, adding that "in the annals of lazy game journalism, little stacks up to GamePro magazine's 'pro tip' for conquering Doom's baddest foe: 'To defeat the Cyberdemon, shoot at it until it dies.'"[14] (The widespread claim, occurring in many places on the Internet, that this 'pro tip' was published by GamePro, however, is erroneous, as it was actually created as a gag by Andrew "Linguica" Stine, co-founder of Doomworld.[15]) In 2008, IGN ranked the fight against the Cyberdemon as 46th top video game moment, calling it "every bad boss you've ever fought rolled into one."[16] It was also ranked as the 48th top gaming moment by NowGamer in 2011.[2]
References
- ↑ "Cyberdemon (Doom) - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 2008-10-31. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "48. Facing The Cyberdemon In Doom - 50 Greatest Games Moments". NowGamer. 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Cyberdemon is number 69 - IGN". Archive.is. 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "DOOM II Screenshots for Macintosh". MobyGames. 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "10 Years of Doom - The Doom Comic". Doomworld. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "Gra Roku 2011: Doom: The Boardgame" (in (Polish)). Nagroda.gry-planszowe.pl. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "The Monsters of Gaming - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 2008-10-31. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "The 47 Most Diabolical Video-Game Villains of All Time - Good Gear Guide by PC World Australia". Pcworld.idg.com.au. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "All-Time Greatest Game Villain - Full Villain List". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "All Time Greatest Game Villain - Behind the Villains". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "The Top 10 Scariest Game Monsters". NowGamer. 2010-07-03. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "13. Cyberdemon — The 50 Coolest Video Game Villains of All Time". Complex. 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
- ↑ "12. Cyberdemon — The 25 Best Boss Battles Of All Time". Complex. 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
- ↑ "The 20 Greatest Bosses in Video Game History - #13: The Cyberdemon". Thephoenix.com. 2006-10-13. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "What issue did that infamous "PROTIP" come from? - Doomworld Forums". Doomworld.com. 2007-03-26. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ↑ "The Cyberdemon - #46 Top Video Game Moments". Uk.ign.com. 2011-11-29. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
External links
- Cyberdemon article at the Doom Wiki
- Cyberdemon (Doom 3) article at the Doom Wiki
- Cyberdemon at Giant Bomb
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