History NightmareFuel / XComApocalypse

* The GameOver cutscene. You thought the original ''UFO Defense's'' one was bad? [[https://youtu.be/iCnRYV9apmc?t=20 Apocalypse's game over is quite possibly WORSE]], first showing a shadowed alien with ambient sound effect, before showing several explosions on Earth, ending with the planet getting distorted and fading out. At least in ''UFO Defense'' and ''Terror from the Deep'', Earth continues to exist (but poisoned), here, the planet is straight-up gone without a trace.

* The GameOver cutscene. You thought the original ''UFO Defense's'' one was bad? [[https://youtu.be/iCnRYV9apmc?t=20 Apocalypse's game over is quite possibly WORSE]].

** "[[https://youtu.be/NWxn4FNBozk?list=PLA94551885A87EFD2 Shadows]]". Out of context, you'd expect this track to be straight from [[VideoGame/SilentHill Silent Hill]] or something, what with the ominous droning and the heartbeat towards the end.
** "[[https://youtu.be/vVVinV3J_uc?list=PLA94551885A87EFD2 Beyond the Light of Day]]", on the other hand, wouldn't be out of place in a VideoGame/ResidentEvil game.

* The entire [[CrapsackWorld grim setting]] of the game. [[ApocalypseHow The Earth's environment has been destroyed]], and the only hope of survival lies in [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Judge Dredd-esque]] mega-cities where the PoliceAreUseless and not so different to the criminals they go up against, FantasticRacism towards [[AndroidsArePeopleToo androids]] and [[HalfHumanHybrid human-alien hybrids who mean no harm]] is commonplace and actually semi-supported by the government, crime is prevalent and three major criminal syndicates are waging war with each other, [[ApocalypseCult crazy cults hailing the end of the world]] are popping up, [[Film/TotalRecall Total Recall]]-stype PrivateMilitaryContractors are supressing the rights of off-planet miners, and two not so different [[FictionalPoliticalParty political parties]] are waging an all-out "with us or against us" war. The main populace have been manipulated and dumbed down to the point of which they don't seem to know how to get anywhere without the aid of a taxi, and just to top off the nightmare, an AlienInvasion of [[EldritchAbomination borderline-eldritch horrors]] from AnotherDimension is occurring. X-COM, which is still (generally) on the side of good, has now become another corporation with a willingness ([[IDidWhatIHadToDo and sometimes NEED]]) to [[EveryManHasHisPrice bribe]] and [[RabidCop attack]] other corporations and even the lower populace, and even allow massive wide-scale destruction by [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever gigantic alien monsters]] so as to exploit the MonsterProtectionRacket. Even if you ''win'' you see the war has apparently taken a massive toll on Mega-Primus, with much of the city being scorched and the cutscene showing a charred [=MegaPol=] station still smoking (with one character even audibly noting that "that's good, the fires are under control"). It's also unclear whether the team that was sent through to the Alien Dimension for the final mission actually survived the trip back home too, as their Annihilator crash-lands on a strip of blasted highway after a narrow escape, and there's a fade to black after the final message.

* The game's soundtrack in general is frightening beyond words. With the exception of some action-orientated pieces of SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic, a lot of the tracks are NothingIsScarier incarnate, and wouldn't seem out of place in a [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Metroid]] or [[VideoGame/DeadSpace Dead Space]] game.

* The entire [[CrapsackWorld grim setting]] of the game. [[ApocalypseHow The Earth's environment has been destroyed]], and the only hope of survival lies in [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Judge Dredd-esque]] mega-cities where the PoliceAreUseless and not so different to the criminals they go up against, FantasticRacism towards [[AndroidsArePeopleToo androids]] and [[HalfHumanHybrid human-alien hybrids who mean no harm]] is commonplace and actually semi-supported by the government, crime is prevalent and three major criminal syndicates are waging war with each other, [[ApocalypseCult crazy cults hailing the end of the world]] are popping up, [[Film/TotalRecall Total Recall]]-stype PrivateMilitaryContractors are supressing the rights of off-planet miners, and two not so different [[FictionalPoliticalParty political parties]] are waging an all-out "with us or with them" war. The main populace have been manipulated and dumbed down to the point of which they don't seem to know how to get anywhere without the aid of a taxi, and just to top off the nightmare, a AlienInvasion of [[EldritchAbomination borderline-eldritch horrors]] from AnotherDimension is occurring. X-COM, which is still (generally) on the side of good, has now become another corporation with a willingness ([[IDidWhatIHadToDo and sometimes NEED]]) to [[EveryManHasHisPrice bribe]] and [[RabidCop attack]] other corporations and even the lower populace, and even allow massive wide-scale destruction by [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever gigantic alien monsters]] so as to exploit the MonsterProtectionRacket.
* Many of the aliens seen in the game have creepy appearances and abilities, and in particular the sheer level of BodyHorror that surrounds them. Their BizarreAlienBiology is just so unnatural and grotesque that it's hard to see just HOW they could've all evolved naturally, let alone [[BeePeople all from the same species]]. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Brainsucker.html Brainsucker]] is a [[Franchise/{{Alien}} Facehugger]] {{Expy}} and LivingWeapon that rather than implanting a embyro into the victim instead puts them under alien control. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Multiworm.html Multiworm]] is a hideous [[BigCreepyCrawlies giant worm]] with MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily that is automatically born carrying embryos, which after a while [[ChestBurster burst from the creature]] and eat its body. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Hyperworms.html Hyperworm]], the resulting offspring, has even more teeth and even has [[UncannyValley disturbingly human-like eyes]]. The next stage of alien life, the [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Anthropod.html Anthropod]], is a ugly, vaguely elephant-like HumanoidAbomination that is [[ItCanThink capable of wielding guns, hiding from attacks, and using various devices]]. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Psimorph.html Psimorph]] is physically a Trypophobic's nightmare, [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever at least twelve feet tall]], and has PsychicPowers. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Spitter.html Spitter]] is a headless BeastOfBattle that spits corrosive acid at humans and their allies. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Megaspawn.html Megaspawn]] is essentially a living alien tank. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Popper.html Popper]] is a floating ActionBomb. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Skeletoid.html Skeletoid]], seen on the right of the page image, is a VERY creepy looking skeleton-like creature with PsychicPowers and flight. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Queenspawn.html Queenspawn]] is a vaguely octopus-like HiveQueen with lots of sharp claws. Finally, the [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Overspawn.html Overspawn]] is a [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever massive]] hideous abomination with elephant-like trunks with mouths growing out of its chest.
** Their vein-covered, discoloured OrganicTechnology can also be quite unnerving to some players, in particular their home dimension, which is one big WombLevel where ''EVERYTHING'' is organic, ranging from [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Maintenance%20Factory.html factories that look like giant hearts]] to [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Control%20Chamber.html control facilities that look like weird mushrooms]].

* The GameOver cutscene. You thought the original ''UFO Defense's'' one was bad? [[https://youtu.be/iCnRYV9apmc?t=20 Apocalype's game over is quite possibly WORSE]].

* The entire [[CrapsackWorld grim setting]] of the game. [[ApocalypseHow The Earth's environment has been destroyed]], and the only hope of survival lies in [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Judge Dredd-esque]] mega-cities where the PoliceAreUseless and NotSoDifferent to the criminals they go up against, FantasticRacism towards [[AndroidsArePeopleToo androids]] and [[HalfHumanHybrid human-alien hybrids who mean no harm]] is commonplace and actually semi-supported by the government, crime is prevalent and three major criminal syndicates are waging war with each other, [[ApocalypseCult crazy cults hailing the end of the world]] are popping up, [[Film/TotalRecall Total Recall]]-stype PrivateMilitaryContractors are supressing the rights of off-planet miners, and two NotSoDifferent [[FictionalPoliticalParty political parties]] are waging an all-out "with us or with them" war. The main populace have been manipulated and dumbed down to the point of which they don't seem to know how to get anywhere without the aid of a taxi, and just to top off the nightmare, a AlienInvasion of [[EldritchAbomination borderline-eldritch horrors]] from AnotherDimension is occurring. X-COM, which is still (generally) on the side of good, has now become another corporation with a willingness ([[IDidWhatIHadToDo and sometimes NEED]]) to [[EveryManHasHisPrice bribe]] and [[RabidCop attack]] other corporations and even the lower populace, and even allow massive wide-scale destruction by [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever gigantic alien monsters]] so as to exploit the MonsterProtectionRacket.

* Many of the aliens seen in the game have creepy appearances and abilities, and in particular the sheer level of BodyHorror that surrounds them. Their BizarreAlienBiology is just so unnatural and grotesque that it's hard to see just HOW they could've all evolved naturally, let alone [[BeePeople all from the same species]]. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Brainsucker.html Brainsucker]] is a [[Franchise/{{Alien}} Facehugger]] {{Expy}}) and LivingWeapon that rather than implanting a embyro into the victim instead puts them under alien control. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Multiworm.html Multiworm]] is a hideous [[BigCreepyCrawlies giant worm]] with MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily that is automatically born carrying embryos, which after a while [[ChestBurster burst from the creature]] and eat its body. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Hyperworms.html Hyperworm]], the resulting offspring, has even more teeth and even has [[UncannyValley disturbingly human-like eyes]]. The next stage of alien life, the [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Anthropod.html Anthropod]], is a ugly, vaguely elephant-like HumanoidAbomination that is [[ItCanThink capable of wielding guns, hiding from attacks, and using various devices]]. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Psimorph.html Psimorph]] is physically a Trypophobic's nightmare, [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever at least twelve feet tall]], and has PsychicPowers. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Spitter.html Spitter]] is a headless BeastOfBattle that spits corrosive acid at humans and their allies. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Megaspawn.html Megaspawn]] is essentially a living alien tank. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Popper.html Popper]] is a floating ActionBomb. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Skeletoid.html Skeletoid]], seen on the right of the page image, is a VERY creepy looking skeleton-like creature with PsychicPowers and flight. The [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Queenspawn.html Queenspawn]] is a vaguely octopus-like HiveQueen with lots of sharp claws. Finally, the [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Overspawn.html Overspawn]] is a [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever massive]] hideous abomination with elephant-like trunks with mouths growing out of its chest.

** The revelation of their true motives - all the aliens you've been fighting, believing they were being led by a higher-ranking alien group to conquer Earth? Turns out, they're all just a bunch of (presumably) genetically engineered meat robots for the [[BigBad Micronoids]] - microscopic [[PuppeteerParasite parasites]] that once injected into a victim's bloodstream by either a [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong Brainsucker]] or [[http://ufopedia.csignal.org/apocapedia/Micronoid%20Aggregate.html Micronoid Aggregate]], take control and put them under the command of their HiveMind. Once they get inside a host, they automatically gain all the knowledge, memories and abilties of their victims, similar to [[VideoGame/MetroidFusion the X]]. [[OhCrap And they've specifically chosen humans as their new preferred hosts]].

* The entire [[CrapsackWorld grim setting]] of the game. [[ApocalypseHow The Earth's environment has been destroyed]], and the only hope of survival lies in [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Judge Dredd-esque]] mega-cities where the PoliceAreUseless and NotSoDifferent to the criminals they go up against, FantasticRacism towards [[AndroidsArePeopleToo androids]] and [[HalfHumanHybrid human-alien hybrids who mean no harm]] is commonplace and actually semi-supported by the government, crime is prevalent and three major criminal syndicates are waging war with each other, [[ApocalypseCult crazy cults hailing the end of the world]] are popping up, [[Film/TotalRecall Total Recall]]-stype PrivateMilitaryContractors are supressing the rights of off-planet miners, and two NotSoDifferent [[FictionalPoliticalParty political parties]] are waging an all-out "with us or with them" war. The main populace have been manipulated and dumbed down to the point of which they don't seem to know how to get anywhere without the aid of a taxi, and just to top off the nightmare, a AlienInvasion of [[EldritchAbomination borderline-eldritch horrors]] from AnotherDimension is occurring. X-COM, which still (generally) on the side of good, has now become another corporation with a willingness ([[IDidWhatIHadToDo and sometimes NEED]]) to [[EveryManHasHisPrice bribe]] and [[RabidCop attack]] other corporations and even the lower populace, and even allow massive wide-scale destruction by [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever gigantic alien monsters]] so as to exploit the MonsterProtectionRacket.

* The game's soundtrack in general. With the exception of some action-orientated pieces of SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic, a lot of the tracks are NothingIsScarier incarnate, and wouldn't seem out of place in a [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Metroid]] or [[VideoGame/DeadSpace Dead Space]] game.

** The primary Cityscape theme "[[https://youtu.be/eFwJf56EBAI?list=PLA94551885A87EFD2 Dawn Over Barrier Walls]]", is a dark, sinister piece that sounds a little like [[Series/TwinPeaks Laura Palmer's theme]], and can make you think about the conditions people are being put through in the game's post-apocalyptic CrapsackWorld.