Plants are pretty much everywhere in video games. There are the plants we hardly notice, the background scenery or forest ofan incredible open world. Or what about plants as resources, the flowers and herbs that can be crafted into potions? You can even find plants that act as convenient hiding spots, like the seemingly endless amounts of tall grass in video games.
Sometimes, though, these plants are alive. Okay, technically all plants are alive, but we’re talking about those plants in video games that take on the form of iconic bosses, wise sages, or quirky karate masters. Here’s a look at the best, from random encounters to your garden-variety zombie killer.
This angry flower can be found on the first Inkwell Isle in the tough-as-nails platformer Cuphead. Don’t be deceived by Cagney Carnation’s innocent look, because he quickly turns into a rage-filled floral nightmare. He may be one of the earliest bosses in the game, but you’ll still need to have mastered the basic mechanics to take him down.
While his first phase isn’t particularly difficult, he gets substantially harder during the second stage of the fight. His thorny roots cover the bottom of the level, forcing you to hop from platform to platform to avoid Cagney’s projectiles and spikes.
Let’s face it, Chop Chop Master Onion is easily the best rapper who also happens to be a living plant. After all, he is a karate master with his own dojo where he teaches PaRappa the Rapper how to bust a rhyme. He’ll have you kicking, punching, and chopping in no time.
PaRapper the Rapper isn’t Master Onion’s only appearance, though, as he also appears in thehighly-underrated spin-off, Um Jammer Lammy. He’s a character that many have forgotten about over the years, but maybe it’s time for Chop Chop Master Onion to make a return.
To be fair, just about anything fromPlants Vs. Zombiescould be on this list, as the game revolves around a whole cast of living plants, but perhaps the most iconic of these is the basic Pea Shooter. It’s an adorable little plant whose sole purpose is to spit out peas at the encroaching zombies, dealing minor damage.
In Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, they can be upgraded into a number of different forms, from a Pea Shooter that fires toxic peas to a six-shooter known as the Law Pea, complete with a cowboy hat. Who wouldn’t want one of these growing in their garden?
The Legend of Zelda series is full of off-beat characters, and this endearing Korok is one of the most interesting to come from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Koroks are little forest spirits made of wood and greenery who are scattered throughout Hyrule, rewarding those who find them with Korok seeds.
Hestu is a big, friendly Korok who loves to make music with his maracas, and by trading him seeds, he will increase your inventory space. There are 900 total Korok seeds to be found and you might be wondering what you get by collecting all of them. Unfortunately, all Hestu has to give is a golden poo for your troubles. Congratulations?
Harold’s story in theFalloutseries is rather tragic. A mutant who was slowly taken over by a tree, Harold has been a part of the series since the beginning, having traveled all over the wasteland, watching the world struggle to survive. His story culminates in a brilliant quest given to you in Fallout 3, where Harold has been rooted to the ground and stuck living in one place for decades.
The thing is, he also gave life to the surrounding area, which was named Oasis by a group of followers that worship Harold. Despite this, Harold just wants to finally die, and gives you the option to help him do so. It’s one of the more memorable encounters in Fallout 3, especially if you’ve been following Harold’s story since the original game.
Chances are, if you’ve played aKirbygame, you’ve gone up against Whispy Woods, the living apple tree. It often serves as the first boss you face off against, which has made it one of the most iconic bosses, not just in the Kirby series, but in video games as a whole.
Whispy Woods has appeared in literally dozens of Kirby games, and has even been featured as a stage in theSuper Smash Bros.series. This apple-slinging tree has lasted through several console generations, and we’re probably going to see more of Whispy Woods when Kirby gets a new game.
After crashing his ship on an unknown planet, Captain Olimar discovers the Pikmin, a race of colorful little plant creatures who follow his every command. These helpful sprouts come in avariety of different colors, each type with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Red Pikmin are strong and good at fending off enemies, while blue Pikmin can survive in water.
With each entry in the series, the Pikmin have gotten more advanced, with brand new types of Pikmin being discovered. Since their arrival on the Gamecube in 2001, the Pikmin have grown to be some of the most loved creatures in Nintendo’s history.
There are many iconic monsters in theFinal Fantasyseries, many of them plant-based like the ever-annoying Malboro, whose Bad Breath ability is the bane of every RPG fan. Perhaps none are as recognizable as the Cactuar, however, which has become a beloved mascot for the series.
Ever since its first appearance inFinal Fantasy VI, Cactuar has gone on to become a Final Fantasy mainstay. They are so popular, that they have even crossed over into other video games, includingDragon Quest Xand a few Mario sports titles.
If you thought Cagney Carnation was an angry flower, he has nothing on Flowey, the main villain in Toby Fox’s incredible Undertale. Don’t mistake Flowey’s politeness for weakness, as he is about as evil as evil can be, driven by a kill-or-be-killed mentality.
Yourinteractions with Flowey throughout Undertaleare some of the game’s highlights, as Flowey has a great backstory and routinely breaks the fourth wall. The final battle against the monstrous Photoshop Flowey is one of the most memorable fights in the game, and he’s since become an iconic part of what makes Undertale special.
Petey Piranha is a classic Mario boss who was first encountered inSuper Mario Sunshineon the Gamecube. Since then, he’s gone on to be an antagonist in tons of different Mario games, popping up in everything from Super Smash Bros. Brawl toMario Party.
It seems that Petey is also a bit of a sports fanatic, considering his appearances as a playable character in theMario Tennisseries, as well as in both theMario KartandMario Golfseries. He’s become one of the most lovable andiconic characters in the Mushroom Kingdom, and he’s likely not going away anytime soon.
