Reviving Enemy: Difference between revisions

The idea of a creature which gets back up after it appears to be dead is quite popular in fiction (cases in point; [[Not Quite Dead]] monsters and protagonists). It makes them seem more intimidating, ensures that the hero is challenged, and in some cases keeps things more family friendly by making sure that no one [[Killed Off for Real|actually dies]].

 

 

Note that these shouldn't be confused with [[Respawning Enemies]], which can be defeated normally but are constantly being replaced by their fellows.

 

 

This might involve [[I Surrender, Suckers]] for human(oid) enemies and [[Deader Than Dead]] for supernatural ones. It often overlaps with [[Roaming Enemy]] (particularly in adventure games) so that the player can avoid them. [[Mecha-Mooks|Robotic]] and [[The Undead|Undead]] enemies are especially prone to this. Sister trope to [[Attack Its Weak Point]] and subtrope of [[For Massive Damage]]. Contrast [[Respawning Enemies]]. If they are the sort with a specific weakness, means for defeating this sort of enemy can include an [[Achilles' Heel]] (which may be a [[Weaksauce Weakness]]) or [[Finishing Move]] (particularly a [[Coup De Grace]]).

* Solomon Grundy does this in ''[[Batman: Arkham City]].'' After damaging the generators powering him a few times, he'll fall to the ground and you'll be given the opportunity to "Finish Off Grundy." Batman will jump on top of him, only to get grabbed by Grundy and have to break free of him through a [[Quick Time Event]].

* Vampires in ''[[Soul Reaver]]'' - Nosgoth vampires go limp when defeated but have to be submerged in water, burned or [[Impaled with Extreme Prejudice]] or their regeneration will kick in a moment later. One of the bosses is actually impaled by someone else and will rise to fight you if you pull out the spear.

* Red (or Blood) Skeletons from many ''[[Castlevania]]'' games. ''[[Portrait of Ruin]]'' adds Red Axe Armors.

* Gooches, in the [[ZX Spectrum]] game ''Heartland''.

** This carries over into ''[[Paper Mario]]'', where Dry Bones will automatically revive after 1 or 2 turns of being down unless you [[Kill It with Fire]] or end the battle before then.

* Globins in ''[[The Binding of Isaac]]'' collapse into inanimate piles of meat when killed; however, they'll regenerate after a few seconds unless you destroy the meat pile as well. Stronger Globins can actually ''flee'' while in this form, making them tougher to bring down permanently.

** In ''[[Mega Man X|Megaman X3]],'' the mini-bosses Bit and Byte {{spoiler|and Vile}} can be defeated with any weapon, but will survive and reappear as main bosses in the final stage. However, if they are killed using the specific weapons they are vulnerable to, they will be [[Killed Off for Real]] and different bosses will be appear in the final stage instead.

* In ''[[Wario World]]'' the larger enemies must be punched two or three times into unconsciousness, at which point they can be thrown around or used for attacks. However, if left alone they will get back up and require the same amount of hits to knock down.

* In ''[[Prince of Persia]] 2: The Shadow and the Flame'', skeletons will revive with full health a few seconds after being slashed into a pile of bones. The same applies to the brown skeletons in the SNES version of ''[[Prince of Persia]]''.

 

* ''[[City of Heroes]]:'' The higher-end members of the Freakshow do this with annoying regularity. And in the final mission of the Imperious Task Force, {{spoiler|Nictus-infused Romulus will do this three times before he stays down for good}}.