History NightmareFuel / FinalFantasyIV

Given this is the first game in the series to get its own NF page, we think it's safe to say this is exactly where shit hit the fan. VideoGame/FinalFantasyV is a LighterAndSofter sequel, but it has its own [[NightmareFuel/FinalFantasyV fair share of frights]].

[[caption-width-right:320: Pictured: the [[ChestMonster Trap Door]], [[OhCrap the only enemy in the game that is...]] well, ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a simple door]]''. Artwork by Creator/YoshitakaAmano, [[UncannyValley hence the (added) scariness]].]]

* [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Kainazzo/Cagnazzo]], particularly in the DS version, where he is disturbingly jittery, and... legs just [[UncannyValley should not bend that way]].

* Rydia's DisneyDeath, which involves her falling off a ship and Yang failed to save her. Keep in mind that [[AdultFear she was only a seven-year-old child at that time]].

The main article for the NightmareFuel [[NightmareFuel/FinalFantasy found in the]] ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series states that somewhere in the franchise's history, all of the [[BringMyBrownPants pants-crappingly]] scary stuff, which started as something occasional, became the norm.

* And last but not least, the final boss of the game; Zeromus. The end result of Zemus being forced to remain unmoving, but conscious, for years on end after betraying his peers. He had many years to stew in his hatred for those who had consigned him to this fate, and after finally being struck down, all the hatred and anger in his body erupted forth and congealed into a new form. At first, he appears to merely be a floating specter resembling a hairy troll, but after having the light of a Crystal shone upon him by Cecil, his true form spills forth into a mountain of sinew, chitin and bone with starry blue boils and a silhouette that is at once [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm completely unreadable but uniquely unmistakable]] in most versions of the game.

* The Count spell, also known as Doom. While the game is full of unique spells with fantastic special effects and bizarre results, Count/Doom is especially nefarious: Its nightmarish animation shows a Grim Reaper rising from the inflicted character (which is also used in Death's animation) as a countdown appears over their head, killing them instantly once it reaches 0. There's absolutely ''nothing'' in the game quite like this spell, and the only enemies that can use it are found in two rooms midway through the final dungeon, so running into it is sure to incite panic in players. To top it all off, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knln-M-wSg&t=5m25s the sound it makes]] sounds ''[[UncannyValley a bit too human]]'' to be in this 16-bit game that otherwise uses no audio samples.

** Even worse, while appalled, Kain was willing to finish the job and [[WouldHurtAChild outright kill Rydia]] with no questions asked. It took Cecil being willing to commit treason against Baron to keep him from doing so, and even then he's quick to recommend they use force if Rydia didn't come with them. Keep in mind that ''he is [[NiceGuy Cecil's]] best friend,'' and almost a co-protagonist up this point before all the brainwashing and HeelFaceRevolvingDoor antics.

* Zeromus is pretty scary. It's basically a dark elf with so much hatred that it can continue to live on as a grotesque monster after it dies. In fact, that was its backup plan. Its main plan was to hypnotize Cecil and Golbez into being its puppets. In the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version, his response to Fusoya and Golbez fighting him is a simple "Die trying."
-->'''Zeromus:''' My name is Zeromus, and [[AbstractApotheosis I am the hatred]].
** Even more so in the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS version, with a TERRIFYING voiced performance.

* The Evil Masks/Wicked Masks you encounter during the final stretch of the final dungeon before fighting Zeromus were only made more horrifying in the DS version.

* The Mom Bomb, an early and reasonably straightforward boss. Before you piss her off she just looks like your everyday Bomb... until she's about to explode, at which point she turns into [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Mom_Bomb_%28Final_Fantasy_IV%29?file=Amano_Mombomb.jpg this]].
* And then there's Scarmiglione's OneWingedAngel [[http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120706161940/finalfantasy/images/thumb/4/4a/Scarmiglione-FFIV-Amano.jpg/250px-Scarmiglione-FFIV-Amano.jpg form]].
* One name to fear them all: Doctor Lugae. Think about what he did to Edge's parents.

** Even worse, while appalled, Kain was willing to finish the job and [[WouldHurtAChild outright kill Rydia]] with no questions asked. It took Cecil being willing to commit treason against Baron to keep him from doing so, and even then he's quick to recommend they use force if Rydia didn't come with them. Keep in mind that ''he is [[NiceGuy Cecil's]] best friend,'' and almost a co-protagonist up this point [[spoiler: before all the brainwashing and HeelFaceRevolvingDoor antics]].

** [[spoiler:At least in that version, ''they are''.]]

* Zeromus is pretty scary. It's basically a dark elf with so much hatred that it can continue to live on as a grotesque monster after it dies. In fact, that was its backup plan. Its main plan was to hypnotize [[spoiler:Cecil and Golbez]] into being its puppets. In the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version, his response to Fusoya and [[spoiler:Golbez]] fighting him is a simple "Die trying."

* And then there's [[spoiler:Scarmiglione's OneWingedAngel [[http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120706161940/finalfantasy/images/thumb/4/4a/Scarmiglione-FFIV-Amano.jpg/250px-Scarmiglione-FFIV-Amano.jpg form]]]].

* [[spoiler:Rydia's DisneyDeath]], which involves her falling off a ship and [[spoiler:Yang failed to save her]]. Keep in mind that [[spoiler:[[AdultFear she was only a seven-year-old child at that time]]]].
* The Count spell, also known as Doom. While the game is full of unique spells with fantastic special effects and bizarre results, Count/Doom is especially nefarious: Its nightmarish animation shows a Grim Reaper rising from the inflicted character (which is also used in Death's animation) as a countdown appears over their head, killing them instantly once it reaches 0. There's absolutely ''nothing'' in the game quite like this spell, and the only enemies that can use it are found [[spoiler:in two rooms midway through the final dungeon]], so running into it is sure to incite panic in players. To top it all off, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knln-M-wSg&t=5m25s the sound it makes]] sounds ''[[UncannyValley a bit too human]]'' to be in this 16-bit game that otherwise uses no audio samples.

* What happens with Rydia after Fabul is also surprisingly frightening, especially if you're a kid roughly as old as Rydia herself and playing the game spoilerless for the first time. The game actually does a fairly decent job maintaining the illusion that Rydia is gone - she's out of the party for longer than almost anyone else (four whole dungeons and all the content in between them and after Zot) and Edward at one point says he saw her be ''swallowed'' by Leviathan. Even in the SNES version, it is abundantly clear what all the adults think happened to their token child and they're all very shaken by it. Especially once you get to Tororia, you're probably resigned to Rydia being dead forever (unless you're savvy enough to realize they wouldn't get rid of her so soon).

* [[CreepyDoll Calcabrina]]. From the mere knowledge of the fact that you're fighting possessed dolls, to them cheerily telling your heroes that they are out for their blood (paraphrased oh so slightly), to their general appearance and movement, to the incredibly apt sound of their theme music. The DS version just takes it up one more notch.

* The Count spell, also known as Doom. While the game is full of unique spells with fantastic special effects and bizarre results, Count/Doom is especially nefarious: Its nightmarish animation shows a Grim Reaper rising from the inflicted character )which is also used in Death's animation) as a countdown appears over their head, killing them instantly once it reaches 0. There's absolutely ''nothing'' in the game quite like this spell, and the only enemies that can use it are found [[spoiler:in two rooms midway through the final dungeon]], so running into it is sure to incite panic in players. To top it all off, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knln-M-wSg&t=5m25s the sound it makes]] sounds ''[[UncannyValley a bit too human]]'' to be in this 16-bit game that otherwise uses no audio samples.

-->'''Zeromus:''' I am the wellspring of darkness, fueled by Zemus' unbridled hate! I am he who is called Zeromus! I am he who knows naught but '''''HATE!'''''

* The Count spell, also known as Doom. While the game is full of unique spells with fantastic special effects and bizarre results, Count/Doom is especially nefarious: Its nightmarish animation shows a Grim Reaper rising from the inflicted character as a countdown appears over their head, killing them instantly once it reaches 0. There's absolutely ''nothing'' in the game quite like this spell, and the only enemies that can use it are found [[spoiler:in two rooms midway through the final dungeon]], so running into it is sure to incite panic in players. To top it all off, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knln-M-wSg&t=5m25s the sound it makes]] sounds ''[[UncannyValley a bit too human]]'' to be in this 16-bit game that otherwise uses no audio samples.

[[caption-width-right:320: Pictured: the [[ChestMonster Trap Door]], [[OhCrap the only enemy in the game that is...]] well, ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a simple door]]''. Artwork by Creator/YoshitakaAmano, [[UncannyValley hence the (added) scariness.]]]]

The main article for the NightmareFuel [[NightmareFuel/FinalFantasy found in the]] ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series states that somewhere in the franchise's history, all of the [[BringMyBrownPants pants-crappingly]] scary stuff, started as something occasional, became the norm.

Given this is the first game in the series to get its own NF page, we think it's safe to say this is exactly where shit hit the fan. VideoGame/FinalFantasyV is a LighterAndSofter sequel, but it has its own [[NightmareFuel/FinalFantasyV fair share of frights.]]

** And several of those Trap Doors have absolutely nothing behind them, just an empty room.

* Zeromus is pretty scary. It's basically a dark elf with so much hatred that it can continue to live on as a grotesque monster after it dies. In fact, that was its backup plan. Its main plan was to hypnotize [[spoiler:Cecil & Golbez]] into being its puppets. In the PSX version, his response to Fusoya and [[spoiler:Golbez]] fighting him is a simple "Die trying."
-->'''Zeromus:''' My name is Zeromus, and I am the hatred.
** Even moreso in the DS version, with a TERRIFYING voiced performance.

* [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Kainazzo/Cagnazzo]], particularly in the DS version, where he is disturbingly jittery, and...legs just [[UncannyValley should not bend that way.]]
* Evil Wall/Demon Wall. You get the last Dark Crystal, start to walk away, and all of the sudden, a grotesque demon partially-emerges from the wall behind you and starts closing in! It doesn't help that it is a timed boss and once it reaches a certain point, it starts to kill off your party one by one. Not to mention [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDe-v2OCINU the music]], which really gets across the message that you have to finish it quickly, or bad stuff will go down.

* And then there's [[spoiler: Scarmiglione's OneWingedAngel [[http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120706161940/finalfantasy/images/thumb/4/4a/Scarmiglione-FFIV-Amano.jpg/250px-Scarmiglione-FFIV-Amano.jpg form]] ]]

* Has anyone ever given thought about the notion of landing on a moving airship from a large height when that airship is driven by ''giant propellers''?!
* [[spoiler: Rydia's DisneyDeath]], which involves her falling off a ship and [[spoiler: Yang failed to save her]]. Keep in mind that [[spoiler:[[AdultFear she was only a seven year old child at that time]]]]
* The Count spell, also known as Doom. While the game is full of unique spells with fantastic special effects and bizarre results, Count/Doom is especially nefarious: its nightmarish animation shows a Grim Reaper rising from the inflicted character as a countdown appears over their head, killing them instantly once it reaches 0. There's absolutely ''nothing'' in the game quite like this spell, and the only enemies that can use it are found [[spoiler:in two rooms midway through the final dungeon]], so running into it is sure to incite panic in players. To top it all off, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knln-M-wSg&t=5m25s the sound it makes]] sounds ''[[UncannyValley a bit too human]]'' to be in this 16-bit game that otherwise uses no audio samples.

[[caption-width-right:320: Pictured: the [[ChestMonster Trap Door]], [[OhCrap the only enemy in the game that is...]] well, ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a simple door]]''[[note]] artwork by Creator/YoshitakaAmano, [[UncannyValley hence the (added) scariness.]] ]]

[[caption-width-right:320: Pictured: the [[ChestMonster Trap Door]], [[OhCrap the only enemy in the game that is...]] well, ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a simple door]]''[[note]] artwork by Creator/YoshitakaAmano, [[UncannyValley hence the (added) scariness.]]]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Amano_Trap_Door_1592.jpg
[[caption-width:190: [- Pictured: the [[ChestMonster Trap Door]], [[OhCrap the only enemy in the game that is...]] well, ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a simple door]]''[[note]] artwork by Creator/YoshitakaAmano, [[UncannyValley hence the (added) scariness.]][[/note]]]] -]