This week our latest addition to the team, Ella McConnell, takes a look at her favourite gas-mask wearing computer characters. We're not overly sure what this says about our new colleague, nor are we sure if we like it or not.
That said, we've had all sorts work here down the years so it's not likely to cause too much of a stir in the offices... Perhaps one day, one of us might be lucky enough to be asked to don one. Until then, Ella will make do with these five fine fellows.
Top Five Gas Mask Wearers in Video Games
Let's face it: video game characters (or rather their designers) don't always have the best fashion sense. I mean, look at the cast of pretty much every Final Fantasy game (the likes of Auron and Balthier are excluded, however, due to being both stylish and badass); Tetsuya Nomura really needs to try and rein in that belt fetish of his before the 3DS FF game comes out. Gas masks have been one of video game devs' more recent obsessions, be it as Killzone's Helghast, the Blackwatch in Prototype or any number of faceless mooks (see TV Tropes if you don't believe me/think you have the willpower to tear yourself away from the site afterwards). While sometimes characters have legitimate reasons for using them (they also apparently make half decent bras), a lot of the time they seem to be just for show.
With that in mind, let's sort the real deals from the posers and take a look at some of the gas mask brigade's shining stars (sympathetic wheezing optional).
1. The Pyro (Team Fortress 2)
The gender of this menace would give Alan Partridge plenty to think about
Arguably the king (or queen; Valve's still teasing us about that one) of video game gas mask wearers. With a homemade flame thrower, sexy fire retardant suit and a special talent for spy checking (read: spraying everyone in the vicinity with flames and hoping for the best), your friendly neighbourhood Pybro is a staple member of most TF2 teams. The Pyro's gas mask is responsible for giving him his distinctive mumbling speech and fortunately in no way impedes the wearing many of the game's stylish hats. Whether setting things alight, putting them out or getting backstabbed by a vengeful Spy, it's hard not to like the Pyro. And, as he himself would say, "Mpphhh mphh mphhhh mphhh mhh!"
2. Psycho Mantis (Metal Gear Solid)
Infamous for thoroughly violating the fourth wall (having him tell you that you haven't saved very often is pretty terrifying, although his reaction when attempting to try the same thing on the PS3 is priceless), the psychic Psycho Mantis wears his gas mask in order to prevent other people's thoughts from entering his head uninvited and to hide his horribly scarred face. As his name suggests he's pretty crazy (to be fair he did have a bit of a rough childhood), merrily doling out torture sessions and brainwashings to all and sundry. However, just before his death he did help Snake, opening a secret passageway for him and commenting that using his powers to help someone else for a change felt "kind of nice." Dawwww.
3. The Scarecrow (Batman: Arkham Asylum)
The Arkham Asylum interpretation of The Scarecrow character, complete with gas-mask and syringe glove... The latter popular in Glasgow
A very smart man gone insane (it's always the way, isn't it?), Jonathan Crane uses his expert knowledge of psychology and biochemistry to quite literally terrifying ends. His gas mask, as well as serving as an icon of terror, also protects him from the hallucinogenic effects of his own fear gas. With his parts in Arkham Asylum quite possibly being the best in the game (come on, you can't say wandering around as You-Know-Who - no, not Voldemort - for those few precious minutes wasn't fun), it was almost a shame to see him go. That said, he's a dangerous psychopath and well deserves his place in Arkham. Additionally, those needles must be pretty dirty by now; Bruce may want to make sure he's up to date on his tetanus jabs.
4. Combine Overwatch/Civil Protection (Half Life 2)
Seemingly worn by the Combine race as well as their aforementioned human minions, gas masks were originally required due to City 17's air being unbreathable (something that was later dropped from the game). Since this alteration, however, Civil Protection officers continue to wear the masks in order to hide their identities from their fellow citizens (gotta keep on top of that beating quota or else you risk losing your bonuses). Gas masks are also a necessity for the transhuman Overwatch soldiers as they also contain their vocoders; it's quite difficult speaking without vocal chords, you see. Additionally, being told to pick up that can just wouldn't be the same without it being garbled at you through a gas mask first.
5. Mr Foster (Killing Floor)
Like a city banker who had to give his bonus back to the public he ruined, Mr Foster looks sharp as he murders people
Dressed to impress in a sharp - if a little rumpled - pinstripe suit and purportedly the star of a top London karaoke bar, Mr Foster was in the middle of writing an autobiography when the zombie outbreak hit. It's a shame that its final chapter "An Orgy of Skull Cracking and Mutant Warfare in the Big City" is unlikely to ever get published; sounds like a charming little bedtime read to me.
More of Ella's crazed (and totally not fetish fuelled) ramblings can be found on Twitter; read at your peril.
Ella is a new addition to the Cadred.org team and, not unexpectedly, is an avid gamer. Despite claiming to generally favour the PC over consoles, she admits that she'd have a go on Gears of War 3 if given the chance. I mean, who doesn't want to be a neckless pile of man meat voiced by John DiMaggio?
Originally published on Cadred.org on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:38:20 +0100 by Richard Lewis.
Archived from It's A Gas as part of tf2esports.com's preservation of Cadred.org's TF2 coverage. All rights remain with the original author and Cadred.org; reposted for historical reference.