Video games have been a source of entertainment for decades, but they have also given rise to numerous urban legends and myths about curses associated with certain titles. These tales often blend elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural, captivating the imaginations of gamers and non-gamers alike. Below are some notable examples of cursed video games that have become part of gaming folklore.
Polybius[]
An arcade a famous in Polybius.
Polybius is perhaps the most famous cursed video game legend. Allegedly released in 1981 in Portland, Oregon, this arcade game was said to induce severe psychological effects on players, including memory loss, seizures, and hallucinations. The game supposedly featured mesmerizing geometric patterns that entranced players to the point of addiction. Rumors circulated that government agents were involved in monitoring the game’s performance and collecting data from it, linking it to mind control experiments like MKUltra. However, despite its notoriety, there is no concrete evidence that Polybius ever existed; it is widely regarded as an urban legend.
Berzerk: Evil of Otto[]
A Evil Otto in Berzerk.
Evil Otto’s personality is largely undefined; he does not exhibit complex emotions or motivations beyond his primary function of chasing the player. His design reflects a simplistic yet menacing demeanor, primarily conveyed through his ever-present smile. In various adaptations and sequels, such as Frenzy (1982), he is depicted as controlling the robots (referred to as Automazeons) that populate the game’s environment. This relationship suggests that Evil Otto may be seen as both a leader and a threat, orchestrating the actions of these robotic minions while simultaneously pursuing the player.
In Berzerk, if players take too long to complete a room, Evil Otto appears and begins to chase them. He moves through walls and cannot be killed or destroyed by any means available to the player. The only option for survival when confronted by Evil Otto is to evade him; contact with him results in instant death for the player character. This mechanic creates tension within the game, forcing players to balance their offensive actions against robots with defensive maneuvers against Evil Otto.
Sad Satan[]
Sad satan in video games a urban legends.
In Sad Satan, players navigate through dimly lit corridors from a first-person perspective. The gameplay lacks traditional goals or win conditions, creating an atmosphere of unease and disorientation. Players encounter blurred graphics and audio samples that loop over one another, including recordings of infamous murderers like Charles Manson. The sound design also features distorted music clips, such as “I Love Beijing Tiananmen,” contributing to the game’s unsettling ambiance.
As players progress, they are periodically interrupted by full-screen images that can be disturbing in nature. Many of these images reference child abuse and notorious criminals involved in high-profile cases, such as Jimmy Savile and Tsutomu Miyazaki. This thematic focus on crime and abuse is central to the game’s experience.
Conlusion[]
These examples illustrate how video games can inspire urban legends rooted in fear and fascination with technology’s potential impact on mental health and reality perception.
Source[]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybius_(urban_legend)