History Main / NocturnalMooks

* In JRRTolkien's [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Middle-earth novels]], the orcs, trolls and other assorted evil creatures operate mostly at night, partly because they can see in the dark while their victims can't, but largely because most of them are weakened by direct sunlight.

** The Stalchildren of Hyrule Field from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' are your first introduction to just how NightmareFuel-packed the game is going to be. Especially after how cheerful the game has mostly been so far. After an adventure in a village of magic children and their living tree, you go outside the village to quest. Pretty field! Dainty music! [[ThatOneMook Killer pineapples of doom]]! ...okay, maybe not safe, but even the monsters look festive! And then it gets dusk. And then the music stops. And then...'''they come.''' Skeletons from the ground, able to appear no matter where you run. Kill them, more pop up. Kill more...[[spoiler:a GIANT one pops up.]]

[[quoteright:219:[[GJJoe http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/night-viper6.jpg]]]]

** The [[EverythingsWorseWithBears Telekinetic Bears]] are actually there day-round, although they stay off the beaten track. However nighttime adds Pyrokinetic Cougars to the mix, who like to stake out previously safe zones.

* In the ''QuestForGlory'' games, wandering around at night is suicide at the beginning. However, once you gain enough experience, the nocturnal mooks start showing up during the day as well.

* In ''{{Minecraft}}'', Most Mooks only come out in the at night or in dark caves, and die if they touch sunlight. It's made [[ItGotWorse Worse]] by the fact that the game completely averts {{Hollywood Darkness}}.

[[quoteright:219:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/night-viper6.jpg]]

* In J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth novels, the orcs, trolls and other assorted evil creatures operate mostly at night, partly because they can see in the dark while their victims can't, but largely because most of them are weakened by direct sunlight.

** The Stalchildren of Hyrule Field from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' are your first introduction to just how NightmareFuel-packed the game is going to be. Pretty field! Dainty music! [[ThatOneMook Killer pineapples of doom]]! ...okay, maybe not safe, but even the monsters look festive! And then it gets dusk. And then the music stops. And then...'''they come.''' Skeletons from the ground, able to appear no matter where you run. Kill them, more pop up. Kill more...[[spoiler:a GIANT one pops up.]]

* ''IAmLegend'' qualifies - The vampires qualify as this to Neville, the "hero". While he is himself a sort of subversion from the vampires' perspective; moving about during the daytime with ease to gather supplies and other necessary items, resetting traps and such for the vampires to fall into during the night.

* ''TheLegendOfZelda'' has many types of enemies that only come out at night, but the ones that come out during the day are to be no less annoying.
** The Stalchildren of Hyrule Field from ''{{Ocarina of Time}}'' are your first introduction to just how NightmareFuel-packed the game is going to be. Pretty field! Dainty music! [[ThatOneMook Killer pineapples of doom]]! ...okay, maybe not safe, but even the monsters look festive! And then it gets dusk. And then the music stops. And then... '''they come.''' Skeletons from the ground, able to appear no matter where you run. Kill them, more pop up. Kill more... [[spoiler: a GIANT one pops up.]]
** Certain beasts only show up at night in TwilightPrincess as well. And who could forget the effects of [[TheCorruption Twilight]] itself?

* In the latest versions of ''{{Minecraft}}'', mobs can only appear in places where light is low enough, such as at night, so you'd better be home by sundown unless you like being mauled, shot at, and exploded. Two of the hostile mobs burst into flames when the sun rises.

* ''{{Psychonauts}}'' has certain beasts appear in the real world when it is nighttime - particularly noticeable are the giant red-eyed bears which hunt Raz and populate the forest areas.

*** This troper heard that after the Battle of Helm's Deep the entire cast and crew threatened to quit if they had to shoot any more night battles.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/night-viper6.jpg
[[caption-width:219:[[GIJoe Cobra]]'s Night Vipers like to [[ParanoiaFuel watch you when you sleep]].]]

* ''FinalFantasyXII'' uses something mechanically similar, but using the flavor of weather conditions. Many mooks will only attack you if the weather's right.

** The Stalchildren of Hyrule Field from ''Ocarina of Time'' are your first introduction to just how NightmareFuel-packed the game is going to be. Pretty field! Dainty music! [[ThatOneMook Killer pineapples of doom]]! ...okay, maybe not safe, but even the monsters look festive! And then it gets dusk. And then the music stops. And then... '''they come.''' Skeletons from the ground, able to appear no matter where you run. Kill them, more pop up. Kill more... [[spoiler: a GIANT one pops up.]]

* ''Psychonauts'' has certain beasts appear in the real world when it is nighttime - particularly noticeable are the giant red-eyed bears which hunt Raz and populate the forest areas.

* In the latest versions of {{Minecraft}}, mobs can only appear in places where light is low enough, such as at night, so you'd better be home by sundown unless you like being mauled, shot at, and exploded. Two of the hostile mobs burst into flames when the sun rises.
* In DeadRising, the zombies get glowing eyes and a large number increase at night. Good times.

* PlayedWith in {{Pikmin}}. One of the common enemies is only active at night (unless provoked), but you only have a chance to fight it in the daytime when it's asleep, as you leave the planet every night.

* In the latest versions of {{Minecraft}}, mobs can only appear in places where light is low enough, such as at night, so you'd better be home by sundown unless you like being mauled, shot at, and exploded. Two of the four kinds of hostile mobs burst into flames when the sun rises.

* ''IAmLegend'' qualifies - Neville, the "hero", moves about during the daytime with ease to gather supplies and other necessary items, resetting traps and such for the vampires to fall into during the night. Slightly subverted that the vampires hibernate during the day, but are aware if they are attacked or such, but are not able to resist.

* The Imps in ''RuleOfRose'' are usually accompanied by darkness. They are mostly met in the badly lit parts of the airship, and when the power goes down they start appearing almost everywhere. Likewise, in the final chapter orphanage there's no fear of enemies until the sun goes down. After that, you can't spit without hitting an Imp.

*** This troper heard that after the Battle of Helm's Deep the entire cast and crew threatened to quit if they had to shoot any more night battles.

* In DeadRising, the zombies get glowing eyes and a large number increase at night. Good times.

[[caption-width:219:Cobra's Night Vipers like to watch you when you sleep.]]

* In the latest versions of {{Minecraft}} all the hostile mobs are nocturnal, as being in direct sunlight causes them to burst into flames.

* ''[[TheLegendOfZelda Majora's Mask]]'' has many types of enemies that only come out at night, but the ones that come out during the day are to be no less annoying.
** Then there was the Stalchildren of Hyrule Field from ''Ocarina of Time''. Who could forget those guys?

Nocturnal Mooks, naturally, only appear in the dark of night. Often several stages deadlier than their daytime brethren, the darkness surrounding the hero adds to the problem as they attempt to locate and slay the foul beasts within.

* ''IAmLegend'' qualifies - Neville, the "hero", moves about during the daytime with ease to gather supplies and other necessary items, resetting traps and such for the vampires to fall into during the night. Slightly subverted that the vampires hibernate during the day, but are aware if they are attacked or such, but are not able to resist.

* ''TheWitcher'' loves this trope. The vast majority of monsters will refuse to show themselves in daylight, to the point that most areas in the day are classified as "safe" zones, with visitable vendors, shops, inns and townspeople. At night all citizens but Geralt and the guards (if any) are locked up inside their homes and inns as beasts roam the countryside/city, attacking all those who are in their way.
** For example, the first chapter in the game has Geralt visiting the outskirts of Vizima, arriving during the night only to be attacked by a pack of barghests. Continuing, Geralt can be attacked by Ghouls, Drowners and The Beast, none of which appear during the daytime.

* In DeadRising, the zombies get glowing eyes and a large number increase. Good times.