History Main / FlashofPain

* The Binding of Isaac has enemies flashing deep red when hit while the player character has a subtle flash and MercyInvincibility. The [[PaletteSwap multicoloured]] [[UndergroundMonkey Champion]] variants of regular enemies will flash in whatever colour contrasts their body the most.

The Flash of Pain will definitely be used on a boss that is ImmuneToFlinching, because it conveys that the player's attacks are actually landing damage. Especially important if the boss has a [[AttackItsWeakPoint weak point on its body]] that must be hit in order to cause any damage (in which case usually just the weak part of the enemy will flash). Sometimes the player also flashes in a different color when hit, when the game doesn't feature MercyInvincibility.

* Most bosses in ''{{Kirby}}'' games, along with some stronger enemies.

In many video games, enemies that don't die from one hit will blink a different colour when damaged. Most of the time, it tends to be white, although it may come in different variants, like red.

* Most mobs in ''{{Minecraft}}'' jump back a bit and flash red when you hit them, including players.

* In many of the FinalFantasy games, enemies will "flash" or otherwise demonstrate that they'd been attacked with a special effect. Even as early as the original VideoGame/FinalFantasyI for NES, the flashes would be color-coordinated to the type of weapon or spell used.

* Many {{Konami}} games do this when bosses are hit combined with [[TurnsRed turning red]] such as ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheArcadeGame'', ''VideoGame/TheSimpsons'', and ''VideoGame/{{X-Men}}''.

** In ''MarvelVsCapcom'', certain characters, like the Hulk, could take a shot without flinching, flashing red to show they did this. Hidden character Mecha-Zangief could take an infinite number of shots at the cost of being unable to block.

* The enemies in ''Batman: Return of the Joker'' blink red and crates blink white after getting hit.

* Characters in ''VideoGame/{{Mushihimesama}}'' series flash yellow though.

A related analogue occurs in first-person videogames, where because the player is [[FirstPersonGhost unable to see their own character]], if the player takes a hit the ''entire screen'' will flash momentarily to indicate damage.

The Flash of Pain will definitely be used on a boss that is ImmuneToFlinching, because it conveys that the player's attacks are actually landing damage. Especially important if the boss has a [[AttackItsWeakPoint weak point on its body]] that must be hit in order to cause any damage (in which case usually just the weak part of the enemy will flash). Sometimes player can flash in a different color too when hit, when the game doesn't feature MercyInvincibility.

* The enemies in the original ''VideoGame/BlasterMaster'' games do this.
* ''{{Lagoon}}'' applies this to the player character, Nasir, as well as enemies.

* Larger enemies, bosses and walls in ''HeavyBarrel''

* Enemies and bosses in ''Spin Master'' blink red when hit.

* The ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' series of games: regular enemies with flash invisible for about 2 frames, while bosses and Mega Man himself flash white.
* Many enemies in ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}''. Sometimes, a boss will flash yellow when an attack will just stun it, and red when attacks start to damage it for real.
* Most bosses in ''{{Kirby}}'' games, along with some stronger enemies.

* If a boss in ''VideoGame/MoonCrystal'' is hit, the entire screen flashes white.
* Bosses and some other things with multiple hitpoints seem to blink white in 2D ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games.
** Any fight with Robotnik changes his sprite, making him look directly at the player, mouth open screaming with a more frayed mustache upon being hit.

* The enemies in ''Batman: Return of the Joker'' blink red and crates blink white after getting hit.

* Bosses in the first ''VideoGame/AdventureIsland'' game blink purple when hit. Subsequent games use white color instead.
* Strangely enough, enemies and bosses in ''VideoGame/{{Bug}}!'' only flash red in the Sega Saturn version. The PC version subverts this.
* Enemies in ''DynamiteHeaddy'' always flash white with the same little sound effect whenever they take damage without dying.

* Character in ''VideoGame/{{Mushihimesama}}'' series flash yellow though.
* Enemies in ''VideoGame/DonPachi'' series have been known to flash different color depending on game. In one game, they flash blue while in the other, they flash gold color.

* Bosses in ''[[VideoGame/SpaceInvaders Super Space Invaders / Majestic Twelve]]'' flash when hit on a vulnerable area.
* Bosses and some enemies in arcade ''Bells And Whistles'' flash when hit.
* Enemies in ''VideoGame/{{Dogyuun}}'' flash yellow when damaged.

* One of the few Mario examples, are the bosses in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' a.k.a ''Super Mario USA'' mainly due to it ''not originally'' being a Mario game...

* Most mobs in ''{{Minecraft}}'' jump back a bit and flash white when you hit them, including players.

* Enemies in ''RadiantSilvergun'' flash white when hit.

* Enemies in ''DonPachi'' series have been known to flash different color depending on game. In one game, they flash blue while in the other, they flash gold color.
* In ''Spheres Of Chaos'', it's possible to add an option for the whole screen to flash when a black hole is hit.
* Enemies and bosses in ''{{Zanac}} Neo''.
* Flashes of pain often happen in ''ZeroWing''.
* Bosses in ''[[SpaceInvaders Super Space Invaders / Majestic Twelve]]'' flash when hit on a vulnerable area.

* The ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' series of games; usually they will flash white.

* Most mobs in ''{{Minecraft}}'' jump back a bit and flash white when you hit them.

* Bosses and enemies in ''{{Shantae}}'' series either flash when damaged or not.

* Enemies with multiple hitpoints and bosses in ''[[BattleCity Tank Force]]'' flash white.
* Bosses blink white ''LastAlert''.

* Enemies and bosses in ''SpinMaster'' blink red when hit.

* Many enemies in ''VideoGmae/{{Metroid}}''. Sometimes, a boss will flash yellow when an attack will just stun it, and red when attacks start to damage it for real.

* All of the ''VideoGmae/{{Contra}}'' games have the enemies flash when your shots are dealing damage, but in ''Contra: Hard Corps'' the bosses and minibosses go through an almost psychedelic pattern of colors while taking damage. It's especially unsettling with the larger bosses.
* If a boss in ''VideoGmae/MoonCrystal'' is hit, the entire screen flashes white.

* Bosses and some enemies in arcade ''BellsAndWhistles'' flash when hit.

* Bosses in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games.
** Link flashes in red, too.

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