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A video game trope, most often seen in platformer bosses. The enemy will be preparing some sort of attack, and a crosshair or some other target marker will appear on the screen and follow the player around, showing where the attack will land. Sometimes this can make sense when used with JawsFirstPersonPerspective, but usually there's no reason for the target marker to be there apart from making the attack easier to avoid. May also manifest as a LaserSight. It's one of the AcceptableBreaksFromReality provided by video games, because an attack that's impossible to know where/when it's coming would be FakeDifficulty for the player, especially if {{Hitscan}} is involved.

A variation of this would be a [[ShadowOfImpendingDoom shadow on the ground]], indicating an object that is going to fall on that spot. This is sometimes the case with enemies that throw rocks or other heavy objects, or ones that jump up and try to land on you from above.

This term may also apply to NPC enemies that seem aware they have been targeted, when they would [[TheAllSeeingAI realistically have no way of knowing they were being aimed at]]. Enemies may be target aware if they move or change direction suddenly as the player's crosshair crosses or pauses on them when they were not "watching" the player at the time.

The non-VideoGame version is the BondGunBarrel.

----
!Examples:

!!Bosses

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Action Adventure ]]

* In ''VideoGame/Bomberman64'', the mecha boss Cerberus telegraphs its machinegun attack by sending out a laser; when it touches Bomberman, a set of crosshairs flashes around him, and then the boss starts shooting.
* The TrueFinalBoss of ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' has a lightning attack preceded by a crosshair to show you where it's going to hit. He also uses a crosshair to indicate where his OneWingedAngel form is going to land.
* In ''VideoGame/DeadlyCreatures'', while fighting the shotgun-toting Struggs, a red crosshair marks the spot where he's aiming -- when it turns brighter, he's about to fire.
* In ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'', Ruin Guard's missile attack will mark you with red crosshairs as long as the missiles can [[HomingProjectile home onto you]].
* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'': Quadraxis has a variant: The target marker appears on Samus' visor. In Morph Ball form, it shows up as a laser.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'':
** The Deku Toad, MiniBoss of Lakebed Temple, uses the "shadow that tells you where it's going to land" variation. Hopefully, it misses by at least a tad[[note]][[{{Pun}} pole]][[/note]].
** Blizzeta, the boss of Snowpeak Ruins, relies on the player using the reflection in the ice floor Link is running on.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'': During the boss battle with Byrne, purple crosshairs appear on Link right before Byrne launches his claw at him.
%%* Done with one of the late game bosses in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]''. (Please explain which one)

%%[[/folder]]

[[folder: Arcade ]]

%%* In ''VideoGame/RoboCop 2'' (the Creator/DataEast UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame), Cain uses this before certain attacks. %%"Uses this" is very vague and doesn't explain anything.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Beat Em Up ]]

* ''[[VideoGame/AlienVsPredatorCapcom Alien vs. Predator]]'' beat-'em up features a mad Predator as the penultimate boss. When he's about to use his shoulder cannon, his signature triangle crosshair will lock on the player. Jump away quickly - it ''hurts''.
* The first boss battle in ''VideoGame/{{Battletoads}}'' is seen from the [[JawsFirstPersonPerspective boss perspective themself]], which includes a crosshair targetting the 'toads.
* All bosses which fire cannons in ''VideoGame/CastleCrashers'' mark their attacks with red targets.
* In ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonNeon'''s fifth and sixth stages, crosshairs mark where the Killacopter will fire its MacrossMissileMassacre. The final boss, Giga Skullmageddon, telegraphs his [[OneHitKill deadly]] super combo attacks in a similar manner.
* In the mobile game ''Final Destiny'', all bosses can use special attacks. These are marked by red marks on the ground, which indicate where the bosses are about to hit, with very few exceptions, which are very unique attacks, telegraphed by an exclamation mark instead.
* ''VideoGame/JitsuSquad'' have you facing the EvilWizard, Raven, who can create seals on the ground which opens portals summoning the heads of gigantic monsters to chomp on you. The moment he uses this attack, ''do not step on the seals''.
* The third ''VideoGame/KnightsOfValour'' game have you battling Yuen Shao, who sics a war machine into the area and launch exploding projectiles into the air. The game helpfully highlights where they will land by crosshair circles around your feet - you'll need to run within two seconds a crosshair shows up or take damage.
* In the SNES game of ''Film/MightyMorphinPowerRangersTheMovie'', Cannon Top (the second level boss) fired missiles that landed on the crosshair that appeared over the rangers, who had to evade them.
* ''VideoGame/NinjaShadowOfDarkness'' have areas in the forest and mountain stages where [[BoltOfDivineRetribution stray lightning bolts]] will rain down from the heavens and electrocute you, but you know where they'll hit via sparks emitting from the floor.
* ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTurtlesInTime'' uses this in a JawsFirstPersonPerspective during the first fight against The Shredder (the one when you have to throw his {{Mooks}} at him).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Eastern RPG ]]

* Xigbar in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' uses this with JawsFirstPersonPerspective.
** Appears again in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' during [[spoiler: the boss battle with Braig, Xigbar's original human self.]]
** Also appears in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' whenever you're fighting a cannon type monster (also a few of the bosses)
* In ''VideoGame/Mother3'', the hulking Natural Killer Cyborg's ominously named "[[WaveMotionGun End of the Century Beam]]" attack places crosshairs on all of your {{P|layerCharacter}}Cs' HitPoint counters before launching the giant screen-filling beam. As this is a TurnBasedCombat game, the crosshairs are purely for intimidation.
%%* Almost all the attacks of [[spoiler:Super Dimentio]] from ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' work like this. %%"Work like this" doesn't explain anything.
* The eponymous ''VideoGame/TrillionGodOfDestruction'' telegraphs its attacks with squares that start with a white crosshair, then yellow, then red right before the attack lands. Complicating things is the fact Trillion can launch many attacks at once and carpet the area with overlapping threat zones. On the other hand, training your Overlord's speed stat makes the warnings last longer, giving more turns to thread the needle.
* ''VideoGame/HybridHeaven'' does a PuzzleBoss variation of this -- the hulking white-colored monster that chased the player during Chapter 2 returns alongside a red-colored copy, and both will try to tag-team the player; White will chase after the player while Red launches fireballs. The trick is to lure White into the crosshairs of Red's projectiles, eventually killing it after enough hits. Afterwards, you have to lure Red into charging into a large gate that will drop the monster down a pit, but sometimes Red will catch on and try to snipe you with more fireballs instead of charging.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fighting Game ]]

* In the tournament stages of the ''VideoGame/HiryuNoKen'' series, a target marker will appear on your fighter to warn you what you need to defend. This also works in reverse: a target will appear on your opponent when you have an opportunity to make a certain attack.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
** Some Final Smashes (Snake's in ''Brawl'', Pit's and Bowser's in ''Ultimate'', Duck Hunt in all the games they appear in, Zero Suit Samus in ''4'') have the affect of producing a crosshair which the player using the final smash can toggle to aim at the opponent, allowing the intended victim to try to escape. The dragoon also has a crosshair effect once you collect all three parts.
** A few special moves also generate a crosshair on opponents, including [[VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising Palutena's]] Autoreticle and [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Sora's]] Sonic Blade.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: First Person Shooter ]]

* In ''VideoGame/Section8: Prejudice'', red hemispheres appear on the ground to show the path that the bomber Thorne's called in will attack. The blast radius is bigger than the hemispheres, though.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Hack And Slash ]]

* In ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes2DesperateStruggle'', Halfway through her fight, Rank 4 leaps onto a high platform and starts sniping at you. She tracks you with a laser sight, which grows much more opaque just before she fires.
* In ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' several bosses have attacks that create a marker before the attack hits. For example, in each battle with Shavronne she has a spell that fills most of the arena with Storm Call markers indicating where lightning will strike in about 2 seconds. There are also the Flameblast and Storm Call skills for the player.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Maze Game ]]

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPC'' have levels where rocks, [[AnvilOnHead anvils]], and occasionally [[AmphibianAtLarge giant frogs]] are regularly dropped into the stage, capable of killing your titular hero in a single hit. They can be avoided by making a run for it as soon as their shadows appear.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: MMORPG ]]

* ''VideoGame/TreeOfSavior'': It is very common for bosses to telegraph where they're going to hit with their attacks using red-glowing danger zones and arrow lines. The first bosses fought provide plenty of warning, but as time goes on the grace period shortens, and bosses start forgoing the use of these danger zones entirely.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
** Many bosses and encounters feature effects that broadcast the locations of attacks in advance. Regularly, bosses create areas that will damage the player. Bad juju, harmful magic, fire pits, and collapsing earth are just some examples of things you need to watch out for. The colloquialism for these areas is "Not standing in the fire."
** In ''Cataclysm'', Blizzard introduced an Achievement called "Stood in the Fire" as an homage to World of Warcraft's reliance on this mechanic in raids and dungeons, however the achievement itself is not an example of this; it is actually for being randomly killed by the expansion's BigBad out in the world when he carpet-bombs a zone. The Skyship battle in Icecrown Citadel is a better example, as the rockets fired from one ship to another during the fight put target markers on the ground where they'll land.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': Nearly every attack in the game is accompanied by an indicator of some kind that shows not only where the attack will land, but what special mechanics the attack has. It's implied that your character's ability to see (most) of your foes' attacks in advance is [[CombatClairvoyance part of their gift of the Echo]]. The attacks that ''don't'' have an indicator are either [[AlwaysAccurateAttack completely unavoidable]], or are meant to be indicated by the enemy's body language instead.
* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', most bosses make liberal use of AreaOfEffect attacks, which usually come with a second or two of advance warning. Aside from any special mechanics for a given boss, the main strategy for fighting them amounts to "avoid the [=AoE=]".
* ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'': There are two warning variants, a red ring of magic on the ground for impending area-of-effect attacks and a bullseye over the player character's head for snipers and other targeting attacks. If you see either, better dodge or find cover.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Platformer ]]

* The Great Mighty Poo in ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' throws balls of...[[DungFu well, guess]]. These show shadows on the ground where they will land to allow you to avoid them, since there's no way to see them off the top of the screen.
* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'':
** N. Gin's boss battle in ''Videogame/CrashBandicoot2CortexStrikesBack'' uses an interesting variation of this, where the places the missiles are going the hit is indicated by their ''shadow''. In ''Videogame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy'' they are replaced by crosshairs proper.
** The first boss of ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity''.
* ''VideoGame/TheCrownOfWu'' has a robotic GiantCrab boss who can send a wave of missiles into the air, followed by the boss arena being covered by crosshairs about to be hit by exploding projectiles in less than five seconds. They can get ''really'' dense in the last stages of the boss battle.
* Some of the bosses in ''VideoGame/DynamiteHeaddy'' have an arrow with a tone to give the player a hint on how to avoid damage. The first boss that does this uses it in this trope's fashion.
* Done beautifully on ''VideoGame/{{Gex}}: Enter The Gecko'' like the example above with the final boss, Rez. After a while, the perspective switches to Rez's eyes (while you still control Gex) with Rez firing rockets after he locks on to you.
* [[HumongousMecha General Tor]], the final boss of ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'', has at least two attacks which causes blinking crosshairs to appear: A [[MacrossMissileMassacre rain of missiles]], with the crosshairs appearing with equal spacing all over the rooftop you're fighting on (and then between ''those'' an instant later on Hard or his later attacks); and a row of large, instant explosions that trigger once the crosshairs end their "locking on" animation.
* In ''VideoGame/Intrusion2'' crosshairs indicate where HumongousMecha boss MACE's fists will land and where his electric field attack will form.
* In one fight, Baron Praxis from ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'' uses a MacrossMissileMassacre attack that does this.
** Cyber-Errol from ''VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander'' also has this attack during one fight. He also has a variant with one missile, which is guided. The crosshair keeps following Jak even after it fires (unlike the MMM attack).
* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
** In ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'', panels briefly flash yellow to indicate which ones are about to be struck. The crosshair variant is also seen frequently, the various cannon viruses, some Navis (Search Man in particular), and a number of battle chips making use of it. The shadow variant shows up as well and almost always is used as a warning sign for [[CollapsingCeilingBoss falling rocks]].
** Also used as a game mechanic in the later games, where attacks with crosshairs will hit an invisible target or one with MercyInvincibility.
** Burai from ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 2'' takes it a step further. If you lock on to him, he will actually break the targeting cursor.
** Search Man from ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'' will fire homing missiles at Mega Man if his lock-on touches him.
** Blast Hornet from ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'' will use this as a DesperationAttack, making bees home in on you.
** Cyber Peacock from ''VideoGame/MegaManX4'' locks onto you before he fires his [[HomingProjectile homing]] explosive FeatherFlechettes.
** Deerburn the Gazelleroid of ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent'' points out the exact location where he plans to do his rocket headbutts and diving kicks. It's supposed that he's a [[WarmupBoss tutorial on attack patterns]] for newbies to the genre.
** In the arcade game ''Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters'', an attack Wily performs when his health is reduced is a ring of explosions, the location of which is identified by a crosshair. It's about to fire when the crosshairs read "ROCK ON!" (Pun or JapaneseRanguage? You decide!)
%%* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' does this a few times, some examples have about thirty missiles, and the target goes from white to red to show how long till they hit. One is easy, but the swarm they use can be tricky if you're also avoiding other attacks.
%%** At one point you actually see the cross hair through the boss' eyes.
* ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc'': The battle with Razor involves parts where you are locked in a room and forced to hide behind furniture while a giant crosshair of his rifle dominates the screen and follows you.
* ''VideoGame/ShantaeHalfGenieHero'': Crosshairs appear during the boss fight with Wilbur (a giant memory-eating SandWorm) to indicate where it will shoot its eye at you.
* In ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', the [[FinalBoss Death Egg Robot]] has an attack where it flies off the screen before coming crashing back down to try to crush Sonic. However, it takes a while to lock onto the blue blur, with a visible crosshair following Sonic. Once it stops moving, that's your cue to get away as the Death Egg Robot comes crashing down where the crosshair is.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Vexx}}'', the [[RecurringBoss second fight]] against the sumo boss equips him with a pair of bracelets that can... control flying rocks, for some reason. (Just run with it.) When he's about to summon from stones from the sky to hit you, a crosshair appears on the ground, telling you to ''get away.''
%%* ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' has this for the final boss's fireball attacks (and small red arrows showing where rocks fall and make holes in the platform). %%"This" is not a substitute for an explanation.
%%** ''Yoshi's Island'' also had it for a couple minor enemies, such as the baseball dudes that would throw eggs at you.
* ''[[VideoGame/{{Shinobi}} Shinobi III]]'': In Round 3 (Body Weapon) Joe will eventually travel through a fairly squicky WombLevel to reach and confront the grotesque and huge bioweapon boss Hydra. Along the way the Hydra will surface in the background and target Joe with a computerized array. If the crosshair touches Joe it locks on and the Hydra blasts him with an energy beam breath weapon. If Joe blocks the Hydra's line of sight though, the targeting array temporarily shuts down as the Hydra submerges and waits for him to become visible again.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Point And Click ]]

* ''VideoGame/RaidOnTaihoku'' takes place during the titular air raid. A few levels require you to run across the city in the middle of a bombing, where the game will throw a red circular crosshair indicating the explosion's radius, that you must run over before it blows.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Time Strategy ]]

* In ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'', the final Zerus mission has a boss battle with Kerrigan (your hero unit) against an ancient Zerg. You can see in advance where the major area attacks are going to fall, marked with bright glowing outlines.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Run And Gun ]]

* Miniclip's ''VideoGame/Commando2'' series of games, from the second game's second stage onwards, introduces enemy snipers who can attack you even before appearing onscreen, where a crosshair will appear and tail behind you, dealing damage if you're hit. You'll need to uncover the sniper, after killing them the crosshair dissappears.
* One of the bosses in ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps'', a CombiningMecha, has a move where a crosshair appears on the floor, and then it fires out a lot of explosives into the air. Seconds later, the explosives land on the entire floor [[ViolationOfCommonSense EXCEPT the crosshair]]. Needless to say, if you were standing/jumping outside the crosshair, prepare to be blown into bits.
* ''VideoGame/IronMeat'' have shiny red crosshairs, with a ''skull'' symbol, appearing on locations about to be bombarded by falling projectiles, that you need to run over quickly to avoid getting hit.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Shoot Em Up ]]

%%* ''VideoGame/{{Fraxy}}'' has the Remote Blast part. Bonus points for going at 3 different speeds, including ''instantaneously''. If the part is looped, even better. %%No context.
* Green's Seven Force's Tiger Force in ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes'' either uses a small crosshair, which indicates where it will fire a small beam to, a very large crosshair which indicates where it will fire a large explosive (that covers the entire area of the crosshair), or a dotted line that indicates where it's going to shoot a laser beam.
%%* Some bosses in the ''VideoGame/RaySeries'' use these to telegraph attacks such as {{Macross Missile Massacre}}s. %%"These" cannot substitute context.
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject''
** A laser from a boss is usually announced with a thin white beam you must stay away from.
** ''Most Valuable Vajra'', Shou's [[ThatOneAttack ridiculously hard spellcard]]: When a circle appears, one of the pairs of lasers is going to move its origin point there! While still rotating. The spellcard is borderline impossible to capture on anything above easy (and even then, it's only capturable on easy because the easy version only has one pair of lasers, not two).
** Inverted in ''VideoGame/TouhouGensokyoLotusLandStory'', where one of Yuuka's spellcards has a circle show up. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgxBdiNTOB0#t=30s That circle is the safe spot; everything else is filled with bullets.]]
* ''VideoGame/CarrierAirwing'': Both the Tu-126 "Moss" and the boss of the Mediterranean stage will attempt a MissileLockOn on your jet. If it's succesful you'll hear a warning klaxon and a MacrossMissileMassacre and a fast-moving missile will attempt to hit you respectively.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Stealth ]]

* During the sniper battle with The End in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', occasionally there's a short period where you're looking at Snake through The End's scope, just before he fires. This doesn't happen very often, but when it does it's a serious ''Oh, crap!'' moment.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Third Person Shooter ]]

* Several bosses in ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' --including Vay Hek, Kela de Thaym and the Ambulas proxies (or rather Frohd Bek's capital ship overlooking the battle)-- will attack the Tenno through carpet bombing the area, with shrinking rings indicating the spots you ''don't'' want to be on.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Tower Defense ]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time]]'', the Zombots in Ancient Egypt, Pirate Seas, Wild West, and Far Future have a missile attack, which is indicated by a/multiple crosshair(s).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Turn Based Strategy ]]

* When the [[ColdSniper Hunter]] in ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' ''[[DownloadableContent War of the Chosen]]'' prepares to fire his [[AlwaysAccurateAttack Tracking Shot]], a very visible target area appears on the ground around the intended victim(s). Anyone who's still inside the area by the Hunter's next turn ''will'' regret it regardless of cover or how many buildings are between them and the Chosen. Thankfully, the target area is fairly small, so avoiding the shot is both easy to do and means the Hunter just wasted a full turn (although he prefers targeting your own snipers, which prevents them from sniping back after they were forced to move).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western RPG ]]

* The Great Shard of ''VideoGame/FableII'' telegraphs its DeathFromAbove beam with a crosshair.
* ''VideoGame/{{Underhero}}'' features this during the boss fight against T. Bur to let you know when to avoid getting hit by the huge laser when it locks on. [[spoiler:You end up using this to your advantage once the boss is stunned and you have access to a button that activates the laser, getting it to aim at him since you don't have any of your own weapons for this battle]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Games ]]

* The weapon of the final boss of ''VideoGame/BallRevamped III: Gemini'' has visible crosshairs that try to target you. If you touch them, the boss immediately shoots you to death.
* In ''VideoGame/UltimateCrabBattle'', the eponymous crab can at one point fire a laser [[EyeBeams out of a]] [[FacelessEye giant eye]]. A crosshair appears, telling you where to dodge.

!!Non-Bosses
* In ''VideoGame/TotalWarShogun2'', naval strikes are marked with a flaming arrow. Initially, nearby units ignore the marker, but after a few seconds, they realize what's about to happen and start fleeing in every direction.
* The snipers in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' use laser sights of their team's color (along with their scopes), so you know whether that crosshair is protecting your exit or pinning you down.
** Sentries controlled with a Wrangler project a team-colored laser beam which is visible not just where it points but also in mid-air so the Engineer, who doesn't have a Sniper's first person view of the weapon, can tell where exactly the thing is pointing.
** In Mann vs. Machine mode, sniper bots also have entire visible beams to make up for how many of them are typically out at once.
* The normal and rocket sentries in ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' have laser sights as well.
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''
** The cannons on the Egg Fleet in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' have crosshairs that appear on the ground. Apparently the characters can see them too: "Get away from those target markers!"
** In later games such as ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' a targeting reticle will appear over nearby targets while Sonic is airborne to let the player know which one Sonic will charge towards when using the Homing Attack.
* One type of Heartless in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' has a target marker that looks like a Heartless emblem appear on the ground.
* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry''
** ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'' features a non-boss example in a haunted temple, accompanied by a very creepy voice that growls "GET OUT", and you have ten seconds to do so before the ghost sniper (?) focuses on you and fires a shot.
** The level "Krak Shot Krok" of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble'' has you constantly stalked by an offscreen Kremling sniper. The crosshair flashes for about a second before he takes a shot, and it briefly pauses as he actually fires. There's also a bonus level where you play as the sniper and blast enemies, and eventually shoot the coin to collect it.
*** Another later level does a variant with lightning. There is a flash of lightning in the sky to indicate where the lightning is going to land on the ground. Which is very necessary, as the lightning anticipates your movements and fights fairly intelligently.
** ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'' has a level where you're riding on a rocket barrel and a bunch of pirate crabs take aim at you with a big on-screen crosshair, before firing some kind of anchor-chain projectile that ends up wrecking their own ship.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
** The cannon on the Halberd stage in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' occasionally tracks one of the players with these.
** A player who assembles the Dragoon gets to aim his instant death attack with a crosshair as everyone else evades. Snake's [[LimitBreak Final Smash]] is similar.
** Assist trophy [[VideoGame/FatalFrameMaidenOfBlackWater Yuri Kozukata]] stands in the background and photographs the fighters, represented by the frame of her Camera Obscura's lens panning around the screen.
* I-No's Megalomania attack in ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear XX'' has warning boxes labled 'danger' in the pattern the attack will hit. Of the three versions, blocking still results in tons of damage, and one can only be dodged by double-jumping outside of the danger zone.
* In a game based off ''VideoGame/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'', you play as various dinosaurs and human characters. In one level where you play as a compsognathus, you have to avoid a human hunter trying to shoot you by staying out of the targeting circle.
%%* That inconspicuous blinking targeting laser for the Terran nuke in ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}''. The only attack that has both an early warning and a counter. In ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'', the player doing the launching sees the full crosshairs - everyone else just sees the dot.
* The kangaroo Noise in ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' have target markers to indicate where they'll land.
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', the cursor for setting a Tingle Bomb appears on the screen so you'll know where to get away from when he sets it.
* In most of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games post-NES, there is a shadow that appears to warn the player of the Wallmaster that is about to drop down from above.
* Covenant Elites in ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' appear to be aware of the ''player's'' crosshairs, as they can be standing perfectly still with their back to the player, and [[TheAllSeeingAI all of a sudden start moving]] the second you have a headshot lined up.
* The snipers in ''VideoGame/AgentUnderFire'' have some very conspicuous {{laser sight}}s. You get shot if you happen to cross them.
* In ''VideoGame/{{N}}'', the Gauss turrets have visible crosshairs that try to follow and target you.
* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestSwords'' for the Wii is played from the first-person perspective, and any ranged or magical attacks thrown by the enemy will show their point of impact on the screen, where you are then supposed to move your shield to block it. In addition, the point of impact's ''color'' tells you what type of attack it is: red is blockable, orange is magical, and blue is repellable - if you hit a blue projectile attack just before it would cause damage, you send it back where it came from. Some enemies (read: a ''lot'' of enemies) can only be killed by successfully repelling a ranged attack.
* ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' has a couple of examples. The snipers have visible laser sights, and at one point the player must bypass an energy weapon which takes time to charge a shot. An expanding pool of light appears where the shot is about to hit, giving an alert player just enough time to avoid it.
** The engine itself supports [[EventFlags triggers]] based on where you look, among other things.
* In ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'', the Drakk robots will track you with a laser, and then zap whatever is painted by that laser. You better get away before that happens. Of course, the entire laser beam is visible...
* Sometimes in the Berlin levels of ''VideoGame/{{Walker}}'', you'd move to a new area with no-one in it, just a flashing crosshair on the ground. That would be the Luftwaffe on a bombing run, then. Best not be underneath. In the Los Angeles level, enemy suicide bombers will run from your crosshair if targeted.
* ''VideoGame/FreedomForce vs. The 3rd Reich'' when you're in Cuba and Russian bombers are attacking. A target appears on the ground where the bombs are dropped. Its best to avoid standing in that target.
* The Meteor skill in ''VideoGame/DiabloII'' places a flaming bullseye on the ground where the meteor will impact. While this applies both to the monsters' and players' meteors, monsters aren't bright enough to know they should avoid standing on a big flaming target.
* In ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3: Uprising'', the Allies have an artillery vehicle called the Pacifier FAV. Before shooting its slow-traveling but long-ranged and [[ImpressivePyrotechnics EXTREMELY]] explosive shell, it marks the target area with crosshairs. Getting inside the crosshairs may be hazardous to your health.
* ''[[VideoGame/RType R-Type III]]'' has an ''inversion'' of this trope. In stage 4, [[LethalLavaLand a metal melting plant]], a crosshair appears at certain points of the stage. You must make an effort to [[http://www.shmups.com/reviews/rtype3/rt3level4/r-type00.gif position yourself INSIDE the crosshair]] or else you will be crushed by a HUGE [[DeadlyWalls metal]] [[DescendingCeiling compactor]].
* ''VideoGame/HeavenDust'': When you point your gun, a crosshair sometimes appears over where the bullet will hit.
* ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' (aka Lightening Force) has the Air Raid stage. At various points in the stage, multiple crosshairs will attempt to lock onto your character. If they do, one of the battleships in the background or foreground will fire directly at you.
* ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' features a short passage in which the player has to fight thei way through a bunch of mooks while seeing themself through the scope of Nord's sniper rifle. Just a bit later they have to evade Nord's sniper rifle again, this time in the normal third person perspective but with a clearly visible red laser sight showing where the sniper is aiming.
* ''VideoGame/Hitman2SilentAssassin'' displays a message when a sniper spots you.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'': you'll be able to see where a Gekko is aiming if Snake is wearing the Solid Eye.
* In at least the second and third ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' games, the player receives a warning in the form of screaming red text if an enemy is aiming a headshot at the player character.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', the [[DemonicSpiders Trap Door]] enemies in the [[ThatOneLevel Sealed Cave]] will track down a party member in one round, then cast ''[[OneHitKill Nth Dimension]]'' (formerly ''Disrupt'') on them. Then it will move on to the next party member... While this attack can be reflected, you need good anticipation, because the crosshair and spell are two parts of the same action.
* In the Platform/SegaGenesis game ''VideoGame/XMen2CloneWars'', there's a mutant with a jetpack in the background who tries to shoot you during most of the Asteroid M level. You can see his crosshair. He actually does become the level boss at the end, but by then he's in the foreground and he no longer has a visible crosshair.
* In ''VideoGame/RollingThunder 3'' for Platform/SegaGenesis, if you take too long in a mission before the exit or boss, there will be a sniper that will try to kill you with crosshairs marked. This is averted in the plane hijack level for obvious reasons.
* ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis 2'' and its successors have the "Crisis Sightings"--red expanding circles that appear around a bullet about to hit you. When one appears, release the pedal or you will lose one life.
** ''Crisis Zone'' has something similar, and accompanies it with a beep. The delay between a sighting and the damage is ''much'' shorter than in ''2''.
* ''VideoGame/RazingStorm'' colors the sightings red or blue to indicate which player will take damage, and yellow triangles signify incoming missiles or grenades.
* In one level of ''VideoGame/Rayman2TheGreatEscape'', an out-of-range robot pirate is [[ExplodingBarrels throwing explosive barrels at you]], and a crosshair appears on the ground where one's going to land. You actually need to get the robot to throw a barrel onto a certain breakable section of the ground in order to move forward, which makes the crosshair quite useful for determining whether it's going to land there or not.
* ''Franchise/SpiderMan''
** ''VideoGame/TheAmazingSpiderMan1990'': When climbing buildings, your spidersense tells you when something's about to fall on you.
** ''VideoGame/SpiderManShatteredDimensions'': Part of the first Amazing Spider-Man level is viewed from the sniper scope of Kraven the Hunter.
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar: Dark Crusade'':
** One of the Tau Commander units can call in an [[KillSat orbital strike]] anywhere in a radial area, which manifests itself in a [[PillarOfLight beam of light]] that grows wider and then pretty much obliterates any forces unlucky enough to be standing there; those units having about, oh, half a second to move as soon as they see the light.
** The Skyray Missile Gunship places some HUGE crosshairs when it opens fire, although I'm pretty sure they're only visible to the player who ordered it.
** The Imperial Guard can call in Earthshaker artillery strikes, manifesting as a canister emitting red smoke. The command squad's strafing run, however, is not highlighted.
** A bizarre crosshair symbol appears whenever the Force Commander calls in an orbital bombardment (as if the [[PillarOfLight Pillars of Light]] appearing weren't a big enough clue).
** Anytime a unit is teleported to the battlefield, the location shows up as five red triangles on the ground. The more reactive players will time it with a CrosshairAware attack of their own.
** Most bosses in ''Dawn of War II'' highlight the ground with a glowing symbol a few seconds before hitting it with a devastating attack.
* The Spitfire class in ''VideoGame/DungeonFighterOnline'' has a skill called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDMS4Omo1FA&feature=player_embedded "Neil the Sniper"]] where they take control of an offscreen sniper and use him to fire 3-5 powerful shots.
* In ''Videogame/IndianaJonesGreatestAdventures'', the escape from Club Obi-Wan at the beginning of "Temple of Doom" has you avoiding crosshairs that try to pelt you with machine gun fire. Luckily, there are plenty of [[ConcealmentEqualsCover tables and pianos to hide behind]].
* ''VideoGame/ActionDoom2UrbanBrawl'' does this briefly at the beginning of a sequence where you run across a field, hiding behind hay bales from a sniper hiding in a tree. The viewpoint switches briefly from the player character's to the sniper's viewpoint, with a crosshair overlaid. It's used to notify you about the sniper's presence and position in the first place. After his first shot, though, the game switches back to first-person perspective.
%%* This is the main disadvantage of flashlights and laser sights in ''VideoGame/Battlefield3'', though they can be switched off in order to facilitate an ambush. %%"This" is not context.
* Crosshairs indicate where missiles will land during ''VideoGame/Intrusion2'' 's snowboarding stage.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', aggro'd enemies will strafe to avoid your ranged attacks/spells, but only if your crosshair is actually on them. Aim slightly to the side and they won't bother, as if they know you won't hit them. The game's {{Painfully Slow Projectile}}s also do not help.
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' NPC ranged attackers will strafe from side to side to make themselves harder to hit with ranged attacks and NPC mages will ''leap'' to avoid ranged attacks ... sometimes even when you're supposedly ''hidden from them''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Messiah}}'': A crosshair appears on your person whenever you're targeted by someone with a firearm (much like the crosshair that appears on the people you are targetting.)
* A few champions in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' have abilities that telegraph where they're going to land, such as Veigar's Dark Matter, Xerath's Arcanopulse, Pantheon's ultimate Grand Skyfall, and Caitlyn's ultimate Ace in the Hole (which, for bonus points, uses an actual crosshair over the champion whom she's targeting)
* In ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'', Naoto's OneHitKill attack summons several floating, glowing crosshairs onto the screen. If the opponent [[UnblockableAttack so much as brushes up against one of these]], the attack triggers.
* Hilarious example from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue''. When [[HandsomeLech Kagura]] goes up against a female fighter (except [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld Rachel, Kokonoe]], [[PervertRevengeMode Makoto]] or either form of [[SingleTargetSexuality Tsubaki]]), his match intro shows three crosshairs coming up over the girl in question, followed by a little readout that gives their BWH measurements. He then makes a comment and starts the fight. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWX5ncUvc7o Check it out]].
-->'''against [[SuperMode Mu-12]]''': "Do you believe in destiny...?"\\
'''against [[EmotionlessGirl Nu-]][[{{Yandere}} 13]]''': "How touchy."\\
'''against [[CatGirl Tao]][[BigEater kaka]]''': "Aren't you hungry? How about dinner on me?"\\
'''against [[HospitalHottie Litchi]]''': "Now this... is a fine specimen."\\
'''against [[MsFanservice Bullet]]''': "Now, that's... pretty amazing."\\
'''against [[TheCutie Noel]]''': "If I win, I get to take you to dinner."\\
'''against [[TokenMiniMoe Platinum]]''': "This isn't good."\\
'''against [[WholesomeCrossdresser Aname]]''': "Not another ''dude''..."\\
'''against [[RobotGirl Nirvava/Ada]]''': "Is this... legal?"
** Taken to ridiculous extents, crossing with ComputerIsACheatingBastard and TheAllSeeingAI. When you respawn from being KO'd in battle, you select your location - seems useful if you want to distance yourself from the fray, right? ''Wrong.'' The enemies can see your crosshair before you respawn and will chase you down. It's okay if you're going against [[MightyGlacier Chaos]], not so good if it's... anyone else, really.
* In ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2'''s multiplayer, a red target marker appears on the player's radar when an opponent calls a [[DeathFromAbove drone strike]].
* In ''Hany on the Road'' for the Platform/PCEngine, the volcano stage has shadows appearing where lava rocks are about to fall.
* Turrets in ''Videogame/SpaceEngineers'' highlight the targeted component with crosshairs visible to both the target and the turret's ship.
* The spy player in ''VideoGame/SpyParty'' can see the beam from the sniper's laser sight, giving them an idea of where their opponent may be looking.
* In ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'', whenever an enemy uses a ground-based area of effect attack, the visual cue is an expanding white circle or cone in the targeted area, which 'fires' when it reaches the outer border. Foes which use mortar-based attacks which fill up half the screen in waves are also fairly common, especially amongst bosses.
* The Oracles of ''VideoGame/TreeOfSavior'' can use [[CombatClairvoyance Forecast]] to see danger zones prior to every enemy's attack, allowing them to move out of the way beforehand.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' indicates AOE attacks with markers on the ground. Players targeted for certain attacks or mechanics will get a marker floating over their heads. Some bosses in the ''Heavensward'' expansion have attacks which mark a character or location with bright orange arrows, indicating the party needs to stack on them to avoid damage (or instant death).
* The enemy snipers in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' telegraph their shots with a laser beam that stretches between them and their target. Very handy as their shots tend to be very deadly.
* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefront2015'', Greedo's lock-on ability has a reticle appear on all enemies in range and ends with Greedo firing his shot at any that don't find cover.
* In ''VideoGame/TombRaider2013'' and [[VideoGame/RiseOfTheTombRaider its sequel]], if you get any game that's alerted to Lara's presence in your sights, you have a split-second at best to pull the trigger before it either runs away or, if it was already moving, changes direction almost instantly. This makes startled herbivores the most difficult-to-hit entities in the game by a considerable margin, especially while wielding a bow due to its projectile travel time and the slight delay between pressing the shoot button and Lara actually releasing the arrow.
* Hostile snipers from ''VideoGame/FarCry3'' onwards kindly announce their presence to the player with bright red targeting lasers emitted from their scopes. If the beams are panning back and forth slowly, you've nothing to worry about. If they're panning jerkily and quickly, they're searching for you. And if they're pointing at you dead-on, [[ThisIsGonnaSuck well...]]
* In ''VideoGame/XCOM2'', when ADVENT calls in reinforcements, a red flare appears on the ground where they'll land, and the camera even pans to the exact location to make sure you really don't miss it. You then have until the start of the next turn to get your troops in position for a proper reaction shot welcome party.
** A downplayed example is the ADVENT Officer's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mark]] ability that places a visible blue target marker on the victim. The ability increases other ADVENT troops' aim against the marked target and focuses their fire on it for that turn, so if one of your operatives got marked and survived the following bullet storm, better move them to out of sight ASAP or [[NoOntologicalInertia kill the Officer]].
* ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'':
** In ''VideoGame/Splatoon1'', a spinning crosshair of sorts marks the area where an [[DeathFromAbove Inkstrike]] is about to fall. For the sake of your well being, keep your distance.
** ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'':
*** The game introduced the Tenta Missiles, which cause a reticle to appear underneath you, and the ensuing rockets will be marked by small circles on the ground. The large reticle also has a small bit that points towards the general direction of the player firing the Tenta Missiles.
*** In Salmon Run, a small fishing lure floats in green ink and emits a pulse when it gets close to players just before Maws erupts from the ink to [[OneHitKill feast on Inklings]]. You ''need'' to get away before then; even the Inkjet will ''not'' save you as they surface quite high.
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