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{{One Scene Wonder}}s in VideoGames.
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* The Weighted CompanionCube from ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' is one of the game's most famous icons and is prominent in the game's merchandise, as well as a popular subject in fan art. The companion cube does not speak or move or threaten to stab you and only appears in a single level of the game, but is much more well-known than the protagonist, Chell. Hell, it even got a [[CompanionCube trope]] named after it!
** The defective personality cores in the last act of ''VideoGame/Portal2''.
*** [[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: "Spacespacespacespace! Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!" ]]

*** [[/folder]]

[[folder: "Y'know what I hope is in space? Fire. I hope you go to space, and you catch on fire." ]]

*** [[/folder]]

[[folder: "The probability of you dying violently in the next 5 minutes is 87.61%." ]]

* In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' The wounded soldier Nero talks to, nicknamed by Nero and summarily dubbed by the fanbase "Crew Cut," is inexplicably popular. It probably has something to do with the fact that he's a normal person caught in the madness of Devil May Cry, becoming something of an AudienceSurrogate for the fans in the process. Fans were enthralled to see him alive (whether or not he's kicking is up in the air) [[FreezeFrameBonus in the background of a gameplay sequence in the Gamescom trailer]]. The TGS trailer [[AscendedExtra further alluded to him]], with Nico referring to a "Soldier Boy" who told her that the city's HellOnEarth problem is worldwide.
* Creator/PatrickStewart in The ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion''. Apart from his opening cutscene voiceover, he had maybe 10 minutes of screen time as the Emperor before being killed. Creator/SeanBean gets about 30. The only reason there are so few other voice actors in the game is because they blew an inordinate amount of their budget to get him for that one role.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout3'':
** Creator/LiamNeeson lends his voice talent to the main character's father although most of the main quest centers around your father, he only appears in the very beginning of the game and for a brief period in the third act. Tragic, really.
** Also, Creator/MalcolmMcDowell's performance as President Eden is brief but brilliant, and it wouldn't be ''Fallout'' without Creator/RonPerlman's intro: "War. War never changes."
** Harold, the mutant from the previous two games who had a plant sprouting out of his head by the second, makes an appearance for a sidequest in the third, the plant on his head turning into a full-blown tree with Harold stuck inside.
* [[DrillSergeantNasty Sergeant Dornan]] in ''VideoGame/Fallout2'', one of the most memorable NPC's despite being little more than an extra. Despite his relative insignificance to the plot (you can rather easily bypass him at camp Navarro), the Sarge's got a "talking head" and voice acting which [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkKkHmFOfKE must be heard to be believed.]]
* The Goomba's Shoe from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' is one of, if not ''the'' most beloved power-up in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series, despite the fact that it only appears in ONE level from ONE game of the entire [[LongRunners Mario franchise]]! That is, unless you buy certain e-Reader cards for ''Super Mario Advance 4''. Too bad [[NoExportForYou the cards weren't available internationally]], although all the e-Reader levels [[AuthorsSavingThrow are included in the Virtual Console version]]. It did get a reference in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'' with the [[http://www.mariowiki.com/Sockop Sockops]], a green pitcher-plant monster that Luigi gets to hop around in at one point, and it was reintroduced in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'' with an altered form that resembles a stilleto. It also got a ShoutOut in ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand''.
* ''VideoGame/YoshisNewIsland'': "Suddenly...[[AssPull warping through space and time]]...[[spoiler:King Bowser]] appears". This is the TrueFinalBoss, by the way, and no elaboration about the "why" and "how" is given. We also have [[spoiler:Mario]] revealing himself to be [[spoiler:Mr. Pipe]] in the post-credits, only if [[spoiler:Bowser]] himself is defeated first.
* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** Peter Jessup voices [[KillerRobot Sovereign]] for ''two'' scenes, yet manages to freak out the entire fan community with a single, all-encompassing BadassBoast on behalf of the [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]];
-->'''Sovereign''': [[/folder]]

[[folder: You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it. ]]

-->'''"[[/folder]]

[[folder: I am Sovereign. [[spoiler: And this station is mine! ]]
]]"'''
** Matriarch Benezia, Liara's mother and Saren's right-hand woman, only actually shows up for two scenes and one audio recording [[spoiler: before she's killed whilst performing SuicideByCop, as it's the only way to free her from [[BrainwashedAndCrazy indoctrination]]]].
** Matriarch Aethyta, [[spoiler: Liara's [[OneGenderRace father]]]]. She affects one small sidequest, and has only one set of conversation options, which show that she's SeenItAll in her thousand-year life and has no qualms about sharing it. The [[CoolOldLady cool old ladies]] don't get much cooler, or older.
--->''"I saw a krogan drink a liquified turian on a dare six or seven centuries back. Nobody came out of that one looking pretty."''
** A slightly more traditional example from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' is Creator/AdamBaldwin's brief appearance as [[MemeticBadass Kal'Reegar]], a quarian ''commando'' with a ''rocket launcher''. Despite only appearing in two places, he's gained a huge fan following.
--->'''Kal'Reegar:''' The geth might get me, but I'm not dying of an infection in the middle of a battle! That's just insulting!
** Okeer. Literally a one-scene wonder - a highly intelligent and borderline philosophical character who serves as a traditionalist counterpart to Wrex's reformist idealism, Okeer eloquently explains traditional krogan morality to Shepard while sounding utterly badass. And he provides Shepard with [[spoiler: Grunt, sacrificing himself]] in the process.
** [[LeeroyJenkins Private Jenkins]], the doomed squadmember from the first game who dies ''two minutes'' into your first mission. Even in-universe, he's occasionally mentioned fondly by various ''Normandy'' crewmembers.
** Niftu Cal, the drugged up volus who think's he's a biotic god.
** Rila, Samara's middle daughter. She only appears at the end of the monastery mission, but her HeroicWillpower and LastStand really left a mark.
* Lancer in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. He is the first enemy encountered in the game's introduction and does little but fight with Archer and all but kill Shirou, after which he spends most of the time in the background . He only gets a bit of spotlight [[spoiler:in Unlimited Blade Works when he helps Rin and Shirou by keeping Archer occupied, and later rescues Rin by killing Kotomine and scaring off Shinji while ''missing his heart''. Oh, and inadvertently saving Shirou posthumously by making Gilgamesh sooty]]. Outside of that he's basically the poster boy for TheWorfEffect, [[spoiler:being killed off by the TheDragon in the other two routes.]] Yet he's almost as GAR as Archer for the fandom.
** [[spoiler:On the other hand, in Fate route...he DOES fight Gilgamesh in a duel to the death HeroicSacrifice...against orders. And without complaints.]]
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' there are a very few high-ranking [=NPCs=] that get an occasional memorable scripted scene.
** Saurfang was a minor NPC until he was made Supreme Commander of the Might of Kalimdor. His epic speech that rallied Horde and Alliance alike catapulted him into MemeticBadass territory, from which he has never returned.
** Just about any time Millhouse Manastorm shows up.
** "You face Jaraxus, '''EREDAR LORD OF THE BURNING LEGION!'''" Jaraxus was a BaitAndSwitchBoss in the Trial of the Crusader raid, but his hammy introduction line has long stuck with fans. He also has a fairly memorable card in Hearthstone.
** In Wrath of the Lich King, when Tirion Fordring appears for any significant speaking role, it's usually worth waiting and watching.
** LargeHam or not, the ex-Death Knight, Thassarian, easily steals the spotlight of any questline in which he is involved.
** Grand Apothecary Putress. He sends low-level players out on some really shady quests and then you don't hear from him for 40 levels. At level 75, though, he re-emerges at Wrathgate - crashing a war between Horde/Alliance and the Scourge - [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome with a fucking vengeance.]]
---> "Did you think we had forgotten? Did you think we had forgiven? Behold, now the terrible vengeance of the Forsaken! '''Death to the Scourge, and DEATH TO THE ''LIVING!'''''
** And then did that sterling dead man own seventy shades of bejeezus out of the Horde, the Alliance ''and'' the Scourge - ''Including Bolvar [[FanNickname 'Dragon Puncher']] Fordragon, Saurfang Jr. and the eponymous Lich King, fucking Arthas himself.'' Many players - particularly Undead players - would have sworn allegiance to that man on the spot.
** Interrogator Khan was just a minor background character in ''Burning Crusade'' whose only real role was a background event in the Alliance allied settlement of Telaar. However, he quickly became widely memorable in the fandom due to how uncharacteristically sadistic and brutal he was compared to the normally peaceful and friendly Draenei.
* Although technically a One-Level Wonder, [[BadassPreacher Father Grigori]] in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', who like most examples achieves this with his first line. "You have already met my, hehe, 'congregation'."
* Creator/JohnCleese appears as an NPC in a single quest in ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire''. With a name like Sir Roderick Ponce Von Fontlebottom the MagnificentBastard, and being voiced by John Cleese, it's not surprising that he's easily one of the most memorable characters in the game. In his first appearance he ''blasts an enemy fighter when it was preparing to fight him''. And if you beat him you can claim his musket as a reward, then run around through fantasy Imperial China blasting people with a musket.
* [[ColdSniper Captain MacMillan]] from ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 4: VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' is extremely popular within the fandom and has achieved a MemeticBadass status despite only appearing in two levels. He returns in ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Modern Warfare 3]]''.
** [[spoiler: Dimitri Petrenko's return as an NPC]] in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps''.
* Mike the helicopter pilot in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''. Notable for blowing shit up as the ''only'' backup you'll ever receive in the game, and promptly getting shot down as soon as the one level is finished. Players also remember him because Leon shows [[SayMyName far more pathos over Mike's death]] than even the two police officers he traveled with at the beginning of the game.
* The bug-like sentry bots in ''VideoGame/Doom3'' show up only a handful of times, but their presence gives the player an immense relief. They sport a bright headlight and a machine gun, and will quickly locate and kill any hidden enemies while spouting a series of agitated beeps and clicks. Arguably, they could be the only characters in the game the player may feel an emotional connection to, especially because they look and sound surprisingly adorable.
* The Green Biker Dude from the ''VideoGame/MegaManX2'' intro. On screen for barely 5 seconds, and he's still one of the most memorable ''X'' series characters. (The five seconds do involve him popping a sweet wheelie and then exploding.)
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' has so, so many; minor bosses who are only in one stage tend to be among the most beloved in the fanbase. This includes the likes of [[WarmUpBoss Batta the Beast]], [[SmallNameBigEgo Glass]], and [[BrokenRecord Denning]] from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade Blazing Blade]]''; [[MemeticMolester Gheb]] from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Sacred Stones]]''; and Oliver from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'', the last of which was popular enough that he returned in the next game [[spoiler:as a recruitable unit]]. There's also the 3-13 Archer, a nameless allied NPC from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'', who is often considered one of the greatest units in the game. Similarly to the 3-13 Archer. ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' (specifically the ''Conquest'' route) has Haitaka, a generic boss that's surprisingly really strong, and Rallyman, a generic Master of Arms that has ''four'' Rally skills on him, when having more than one is costly. You can also capture them and add them to your army, which increases their popularity. However, one of the most major examples is Dheginsea, the Black Dragon King, who is one of the world's most powerful beings and plays an essential role in the backstory of the Tellius games... he appears ''three times between the two games''.
* ''VideoGame/BattleGaregga'' has the bonus flamingoes that you can trigger on Stage 2 and [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential attack]] for masses of extra points. Because [[Every10000Points points give you extra lives]], and extra lives (or rather, [[ScrappyMechanic the suicide of]]) are necessary to keep the game's DynamicDifficulty under control, the flamingoes are very popular amongst fans.
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** Riordan from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' is something of one. His debut? He snaps the neck of the man keeping watch over him, whom you have distracted for about two seconds, and then introduces himself with a bow, seeming quite pleased to meet you, with a warm-yet-badass voice. He also reveals he knew Duncan, your mentor. Later, he gives you information and allows you to get some powerful items for free. [[TheStrategist After that, he shows he's not just another BadAss in a game full of badasses, but also knows how to keep his eye on the ball]]. The next time he appears, he makes TheReveal of why the Grey Wardens aren't just useful, but necessary. And then he gets possibly [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome the most amazing send-off of any character, minor or major, in any video game ever]].
** A minor Carta thug in Orzammar has a performance so [[LargeHam over the top]] when you beat him, you'll want to bring him along for the rest of the game.
** The pirate queen Isabela's only major scene happens when you visit Denerim's brothel for the first time. She'll teach the Duelist specialization for Rogues if you beat her at a rigged game of cards...or if you have sex with her regardless of your gender, which can become a three- or ''four''some depending on your companions. Her character was so popular (mostly due to players asking how to get the foursome or [[GirlOnGirlIsHot all-girl threesome]]), that she was brought back for ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' as a full party member and possible love interest, as promiscuous, morally suspect, and far more pirate-y than ever, and a bottomless well of {{Double Entendre}}s and horrible puns. She also returns in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' for the multiplayer mode, though she doesn't interact with the main story in any way.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', Movran the Under (or [[FanNickname Clanboss Goathucker]]), the Avvar chief whose response to the death of his son is to throw live goats at Skyhold (as in the building itself). He's actually fine with you killing his kid, because he recognizes the guy had it coming, but he's gotta do ''something'', so he throws a goat. He appears only while the player decides his punishment, [[LargeHam hamming it up]] the whole time.
** Also in ''Inquisition'', you get a MauveShirt treatment of several people in the [[BoisterousBruiser Iron]] [[HornedHumanoid Bull]]'s mercenary company, Bull's Chargers. They're seen again, but mostly as scene dressing in Bull's personal quest. The writers only got one scene to characterize the [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits motley crew]], and by TheMaker they succeeded wildly. Among them are an explosive happy dwarf, a city elf who is quite pleased that she is now paid to kill humans, a medic who never puts down his sword and explains to everyone how a poultice is supposed to be used, and a mute that everyone suspects is an exiled prince. The standout is the exiled Dalish elf who is [[ImplausibleDeniability quite insistent that she is an "archer", and totally not a mage]]. The glowing crystal on top of her "[[MagicStaff bow]]" is just an old elven aiming trick.
* [[spoiler:Creator/DavidHasselhoff]] as the American Vice President in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3''
* The opening cinematic of ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' Brood Wars, we get to see what would be a terran defense against the zerg, as well as some of the units not being affected by GameplayAndStorySegregation and fighting as good as they should in theory (this means that a single marine '''will''' lose against a lone zergling, and that the [[KillItwithFire firebats]] attack can kill both enemy and friend), afterwards we get to see a random marine who [[OneHitKill easily]] takes down two zergling, which a previous one couldn't even [[MoreDakka after depleting his entire ammo]] with his rocket launcher[[note]]In the Starcraft universe, the type of Gauss Rifle that was used in the first war had a secondary fire option, [[/note]], earning mentions of being the first [[VideoGame/StarCraftII marauder]].
** Note that this marine is black, wearing sunglasses, and is more concerned with rocking out to guitar solos than his impending death.
* Poseidon in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarIII''. All of the other gods have at least one other appearance in the game, but Poseidon only shows up during Kratos and the Titans' siege of Mount Olympus [[spoiler:due to being killed during it]]. But boy, is his role in that part SugarWiki/{{m|omentOfAwesome}}emorable.
* ''[[VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'': "I AM ERROR." A short appearance and [[MisBlamed name that seemed the result of a glitch or poor translation]] endeared Error to the fans forever.
** In [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaCDiGames the CD-i games]], several minor characters are immensely popular like Morshu, who only has two scenes.
--->'''Morshu''': "Mmmmmm... richer."
*** And of course, [[AllThereInTheManual King Harkinian]]. He only appears in the intro to ''Faces of Evil'' and is only important to the plot of ''Wand of Gamelon'', and even then only appears in the intro and ending. Come the advent of YouTubePoop, he's one of the most popular characters EVER.
--->'''The King''': [[MemeticMutation I wonder what's for dinner...]]
*** Link in The Wand Of Gamelon. He only appears in the opening and closing cutscenes.
* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' fandom is largely convinced that Rief's sister Nowell from ''[[VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn Dark Dawn]]'' will return as a player character in the next game. All we know about her presently is that she doesn't like her little brother getting into danger, and that she ''does'' like Captain Piers enough to [[PutOnABus go for an unplanned joyride with him]].
* [[BigBad Father Balder]] in ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' is heard in voice, but doesn't appear on screen till the end of the game, but easily steals the show when he does due to his badassery and crossing the MoralEventHorizon.
* Many of the psychopaths from ''VideoGame/DeadRising'' and especially ''VideoGame/DeadRising2'' are these due to only having two cutscenes each to get their characterization from. The big ones though are probably the [[LargeHam STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE manager]] and Adam from the 1st game and [[KnightTemplar Brandon]] and [[AxCrazy Slappy]] from the second.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''
** WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse only shows up at the very end of the [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI first game]], after the FinalBoss is dealt with. This was apparently enforced by Creator/{{Disney}}, who had reservations about their mascot being prominent in such an unproven franchise. It was only after the first game became a success that Mickey start becoming more involved within the series' plot.
** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]] is nothing more than a {{Superboss}} in both Kingdom Hearts I and II, yet being one of Creator/SquareEnix's most popular villains, he is obviously this.
** [[spoiler:[[WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}} Chernabog]]]] from the very first game combines this with TheArtifact. A GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere who's fought in the endgame, he was originally supposed to have a bigger role as the leader of TheHeartless, but that was changed halfway through development. That said, he was still kept in the game as a boss solely because he was that popular.
** ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'' has one that seemed to exist solely for the trailers, and lasted for all but ''two seconds''. Oh, hi there, [[spoiler:Vanitas.]] Oh, bye, [[spoiler:Vanitas]]! This was addressed and justified in [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII the next game]].
** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' displays [[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} Cinderella's]] evil stepfamily in minor roles who only appear in one episode per scenario. Yet, their appearance in Aqua's scenario, ''[[MoralEventHorizon especially]]'' their last cutscene ([[spoiler:where their pure hatred of Cinderella summons an Unversed to murder her, putting the whole ''universe'' in danger because she's a Princess of Heart]]), is one of the most noticeable scenes in the franchise, and solidifies the Tremaines as among the most evil characters in the franchise.
* ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance]]'':
** Monsoon appears in only one scene but he leaves a huge impact on the protagonist, Raiden. [[MemeticMutation His infamous speech on memes]] and [[AwesomeBosses/MetalGear his incredible boss fight]] afterwards helped leave an impact on players as well.
** Senator Armstrong only really appears for the last 20 minutes of the game, [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere shows up with no preamble to be the final boss fights]], and yet is such a FountainOfMemes that he instantly became a fan favorite. It helps that he gets [[AwesomeMusic/MetalGear some of the most awesome boss music]] in the form of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI It Has To Be This Way]]."
* Nightmare only appeared very briefly as the FinalBoss at the very end of [[VideoGame/KirbysAdventure one game]] in the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' franchise, yet he remains one of its most iconic villains. Probably helps that he's the one who started the VileVillainSaccharineShow trend the series is famous for.
** Speaking of which, Zero from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3'' is equally (in)famous, if not more, appearing right out of nowhere with absolutely no foreshadowing and immediately becoming the most memorable part of the game, largely for the shocking scene where it [[EyeScream rips its own bleeding eye out]].
** Zero Two from ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' is perhaps even more memorable than its predecessor/original form, no thanks to the strangely dark and moody atmosphere of its boss battle that is unlike anything else in the series.
** Drawcia from ''VideoGame/KirbyCanvasCurse''. She only has one appearance, yet she starts the trend of the TrueFinalBoss soul forms of BigBad main villains.
* The Great Mighty Poo from ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay''. The living definition of the ultimate ToiletHumor. And the aria about poo will stick in your mind long after you've finished the game.
* The fisherman from ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy'' only appears briefly, but is memorable to fans of the game for his insanely creepy laugh, provided by none other than Franchise/{{Batman}} himself, Creator/KevinConroy.
* The Puffstool from the first ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'' game. Only appears once, yet turns your troops into the BrainwashedAndCrazy Puffmin, giving them mushrooms for heads and having them beat the living shit out of you. Don't do shrooms, kids.
* Wael from ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity'', the [[BlueAndOrangeMorality extremely strange]] god of secrets. In the endgame, they may [[DarkHorseVictory come out of nowhere]] try to convince the Watcher to [[spoiler:cast the souls Woedica stole into parts unknown]]. And what reason do they give for doing this? [[spoiler:They explicitly state it's for no logical or rational reason whatsoever, [[ItAmusedMe just because]]]]. Despite all this, however, the way they offer it and the context alike make it a strangely convincing idea many consider, and a fair number go through with.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'''s TroubledProduction means many characters in the game were designed for prominent roles in earlier drafts and then relegated over many rewrites to minor parts. A good, early example is Loqi, who has a striking design and shows up in a fabulous IncomingHam scene, but is only fought while hidden in a generic mech enemy that unceremoniously explodes.
* ''VideoGame/CopyKitty'' gives us [[spoiler:Isotope]], a creepy, destructive EvilCounterpart to Boki. Being a [[spoiler:Cyber]], she lives up to the hype the story makes them out to be, and has a simple but fun moveset to copy. She only appears in the last two missions of Hard Mode as Boki's TrueFinalBoss, but she makes the most of her brief screentime.
* ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'' gifts us with Face [=McShooty=]. He is a simple man with one simple desire: getting shot in the face. He gives the player a quest to do just that and he is just so excited about it, shouting at the top of his lungs the entire time until you finally give him what he wants.
* ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'':
** Orangered and Periwinkle get only a minute or two of screentime during an optional sidequest, but they’re very well liked for their gorgeous designs, charismatic personalities, and unique battle gimmick.
** The Chapter 6 boss, One_Wing. After regaining his true form, he delivers an epic MotiveRant that happens to be one of the funniest scenes in the game. His boss fight is also remembered for being quite a bit tougher than anything else you’ve fought up until that point.
** The Sky Queen, who summons the party long enough to drop a major [[TheReveal Reveal]], seemingly set herself up as the new BigGood, and then [[spoiler:get swiftly killed off by Boxxyfan]] all in the same scene.
** [[spoiler: '''''Legion''''']], the GreaterScopeVillain and the freaking TrueFinalBoss himself. While he’s teased and hinted at a few times throughout the game, he doesn’t show up in person until the last few minutes of one specific route, in a way that blasts the entire plot totally off its rails. Rest assured, those few minutes will be far darker and more intense than anything else so far.
* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'': Javier Escuella seems to have become one after the release of ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2''. In his one scene, the game portrays Javier as another member of the gang who didn't really care for John Marston while lying about it to his face, but the prequel turns this around and shows that [[spoiler:Javier's life before Dutch van der Linde was ''terrible'', that he once saved John's life, that he was a [[HiddenDepths skillful musician and fisherman]], and how despite his UndyingLoyalty to Dutch he was conflicted about turning on John]]. Now his scene shows how far the previously well-dressed and somewhat good-natured Javier has fallen. His two fates--[[spoiler:he's either captured by his former friend and KilledOffscreen or just shot InTheBack while running away]]--are [[AlasPoorVillain also much sadder now that we know him better]].
* Queen Vanessa in ''VideoGame/AHatInTime''. She only appears in one level, but said level is a major OutOfGenreExperience, shifting from a lighthearted cute-as-heck platformer to ''SurvivalHorror'', of all things. It also helps that her backstory, revealed in one of the Time Rifts, is intertwined with that of the Snatcher, another fan favorite character with a more prominent role.
* ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'': Keemstar just gets one audio-only scene where he, as the President of the United States, announces the country's surrender to the Combine. It is one of the most well-known cutscenes in the game for its unintentional goofiness.
* The many wacky side characters in ''Videogame/Yakuza0'', due to it being the one that popularized the franchise in the west. The examples are Mr Shakedown, Mr. Libdo, Esobe the Oblitarian, Yuki and Pocket Circuit Fighter, who [[AscendedExtra went on to reappear]] in Kiwami, 6 and Like a Dragon.
* [[spoiler: Quiet Robe, an actual living Chozo]] shows up in ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' to give Samus an {{Infodump}} on what happened with his people and the events that occurred on planet [=SR388=]. Once he's finished with his information, he's killed by a sentry.
* [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 Poppi]]]] makes a ''very'' brief appearance at the end of ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'', yet this one moment was enough to make longtime fans of [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles the series]] lose their collective minds!
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