History NightmareFuel / Starcraft

* The Battle on the ''Amerigo''. It starts off with NothingIsScarier as the Dominion squad infiltrates the derelict science vessel to demolish it [[NukeEm with a nuclear bomb]], in a scene that wouldn't be out of place in ''{{Film/Alien}}''. The squad reaches their destination and one of the soldiers comments in a TemptingFate attitude and cracks open a can of beer -- right before his [[JumpScare head is abruptly impaled from behind and dismantled by a Zerg claw]] and he gets hoisted out of sight by ''[[NothingIsScarier something]]'' while still audibly gurgling in his death throes. Seconds later, a pack of Hydralisks, presumably left behind by Kerrigan in the preceding mission, then swarms into the room and starts administering a CurbStompBattle to the rest of the small squad (see the page image above, where a Marine runs out of ammo and starts firing his sidearm point-blank at one in desperation). One Marine manages to bellow to the squad's Ghost technician, who has himself been [[HeroicBSOD frozen in place by pure fear]] the whole fight:

* The entire Protoss campaign is one large DarkestHour in the entire storyline, with the Terrans having lost multiple worlds to the Zerg and the Zerg now rampaging across the Protoss homeworld of Aiur. The Protoss have a chance to help end the war earlier but CivilWarcraft breaks out with the return of the Dark Templar and the Conclave won't set aside their differences and actively impede the war effort to defeat the Zerg. At that point off the story, the possibility of losing the war to the Zerg seems very real.

''[[[SoundOnlyDeath sqlch]]]''\\

* The Battle on the ''Amerigo''. It starts off with NothingIsScarier as the Dominion squad infiltrates the derelict science vessel to demolish it [[NukeEm with a nuclear bomb]], in a scene that wouldn't be out of place in ''{{Film/Alien}}''. The squad reaches their destination and one of the soldiers [[TemptingFate comments that they're all safe]] and cracks open a can of beer -- right before his [[JumpScare head is abruptly dismantled by a Zerg claw]] and he gets hoisted out of sight by ''[[NothingIsScarier something]]''. A pack of Hydralisks, presumably left behind by Kerrigan in the preceding mission, then swarms into the room and starts administering a CurbStompBattle to the entire squad. One Marine manages to bellow to the squad's technician (who has been [[HeroicBSOD frozen in place by pure fear]]):
-->"[[YouAreAlreadyDead We're all dead]]! ''[[TakingYouWithMe Blow it!]]'' '''''[[BetterToDieThanBeKilled BLOW IT!!!]]'''''"
* The ParanoiaFuel of the cinematic showing a Protoss attack on a Dominion military encampment on Char. First, a lookout spots a broken Dragoon making its way through a pass near the camp; after waking up his sergeant, the unit's mobile artillery piece [[CutscenePowerToTheMax obliterates the Dragoon in one shot]]. The lookout starts whooping and cheering in celebration -- when a fireball [[MoodWhiplash abruptly]] [[NotEnoughToBury destroys the lookout]] and his watch post, and another Dragoon appears (seemingly decloaking) in front of the sergeant, who in turn barely has time to [[FaceDeathWithDignity glare]] as the automaton in front of him [[StrippedToTheBone burns him to ash with a ball of plasma]]. (Bear in mind, the sergeant is [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill not even wearing Marine armour]].) And behind this, a dozen or more Dragoons also appear, likely due to an Arbiter that flies overhead, and they casually [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill turn the camp's tents]] into a burning wreck. Most of the platoon or company that formed the encampment probably didn't even have time to know what was going on before they were killed.

-->"We're all dead! ''Blow it!'' '''''BLOW IT!!!'''''"

* [[EvilSoundsDeep "Magnificent,]] [[WhamLine isn't it?"]] [[spoiler: Who says this? Samir Duran. He is making [[BeyondTheImpossible Zerg-Protoss hybrids.]] And he serves [[GreaterScopeVillain a bigger, still unseen master...]]]]

* The opening cinematic in ''Brood War''. It takes place in a WWI-style trench at night. It starts with a desperate Marine getting ambushed and chopped by a Hydralisk before a Firebat [[KillItWithFire fries them both]], with the Marine still alive through the process (briefly). The Firebat promptly gets blown up by a nearby explosion, possibly from their own Vespene gas tanks. The cinematic then cuts to another desperate Marine barely rescued from two oncoming zerglings by another Marine. The first Marine asks the other one where the air support is. The older man, who [[DespairEventHorizon has all but given up]], wordlessly points at the Battlecruiser hovering above them, which abandons them soon after at [=DuGalle=]'s orders, eerily similar to how Mengsk left Kerrigan behind at New Gettysburg. The view zooms out and out from the Marine staring skyward and his placidly sitting companion, as hordes of zerglings are rapidly [[ZargRush closing in on the trench]] and the cinematic [[NothingIsScarier cuts to black]].

* The opening cinematic in ''Brood War''. It takes place in a WWI-style trench at night. It starts with a desperate Marine getting ambushed and chopped by a Hydralisk before a Firebat [[KillItWithFire fries them both]], with the Marine still alive through the process (briefly). The Firebat promptly gets blown up by a nearby explosion, possibly from their own Vespene gas tanks. The cinematic then cuts to another desperate Marine barely rescued from two oncoming zerglings by another Marine. The first Marine asks the other one where the air support is. The older man, who [[DespairEventHorizon has all but given up]], wordlessly points at the Battlecruiser hovering above them, which abandons them soon after at [=DuGalle=]'s orders, eerily similar to how Mengsk left Kerrigan behind at New Gettysburg. The view zooms out and out from the Marine staring skyward and his placidly sitting companion, as hordes of zerglings are rapidly [[NothingIsScarier closing in on the trench]] and the cinematic cuts to black.

* The first major cinematic in the original game has a pair of patrolmen ambushed by a pack of Zerg in the middle of the night. Made even worse when the ''immediate next mission'' has the player's base under regular siege by a horde of Zerg, against which they must defend for [[TimedMission 30 minutes]], in a major DifficultySpike for a new RTS player.
--> '''Sarge:''' Its a Zergling, Lester. Smaller type of Zerg. They ain't be out this far, unless... [[ExplainExplainOhCrap oh, shit]].\\
''[both soldiers turn around to see a pack of Zerglings accompanied by a Hydralisk, which have already surrounded their vehicle]''\\

''[[[SoundOnlyDeath sqlch]]]''
* The Battle on the ''Amerigo''. It starts off with NothingIsScarier as the Dominion squad infiltrates the derelict science vessel to demolish it [[NukeEm with a nuclear bomb]], in a scene that wouldn't be out of place in ''{{Film/Alien}}''. The squad reaches their destination and one of the soldiers [[TemptingFate comments that they're all safe]] and cracks open a can of beer -- right before his [[JumpScare head is abruptly dismantled by a Zerg claw]]. A pack of Hydralisks, presumably left behind by Kerrigan, then swarms into the room and starts administering a CurbStompBattle to the entire squad. One Marine manages to bellow to the squad's technician (who has been [[HeroicBSOD frozen in place by pure fear]]):
-->"We're all dead! Blow it! '''BLOW IIIT!!!'''"
* The ParanoiaFuel of the cinematic showing a Protoss attack on a Dominion military encampment on Char. First, a lookout spots a broken Dragoon making its way through a pass near the camp; after waking up his sergeant, the unit's artillery piece [[CutscenePowerToTheMax obliterates the Dragoon in one shot]]. The lookout starts whooping and cheering -- when a fireball [[MoodWhiplash abruptly destroys]] the lookout and his watch post, and another Dragoon appears (seemingly decloaking) in front of the sergeant, who in turn barely has time to [[TheStoic glare]] as the automaton in front of him [[StrippedToTheBone burns him to ash with a ball of plasma]]. And behind this, a dozen or more Dragoons also appear, likely due to an Arbiter that flies overhead, and they casually [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill turn the camp's tents]] into a burning wreck.

* It gets worse in the sequel. Better graphics mean more opportunities to give the Zerg stuff like sacs and pustules and tentacles and so forth. There's even a series of missions involving helping a group of colonists from a Zerg assault and infestation. The second mission alternates, every five minutes or so, between day and night. During the day, you run around blowing up creepy-looking but inert infested structures. At night, the former colonists come out and try their level best to eat you and your troops. Worse, if you choose the "bad ending" mission, [[spoiler:the colonial leader succumbs to an infestation and tries to kill Raynor]], in a lovingly-rendered cutscene. Thank you, Blizzard, for ''that'' charming image...
* The opening cinematic in Brood War. It takes place in a WWI style trench at night. It starts with a desperate Marine getting ambushed and chopped by a Hydralisk before a Firebat [[KillItWithFire fries them both]], with the Marine still alive. It then cuts to another desperate Marine barely rescued by a Ghost from two zerglings. The Marine asks the other one where the command is. The older man, who [[DespairEventHorizon has all but given up]] points at the Battlecruiser above them which abandons them soon after, similar to how Mengsk left Kerrigan behind. The view zooms out as hordes of zerglings are [[NothingIsScarier closing in to the trench]]...

* Mira Han. While she has some funny moments, her eyes put into absolute UncannyValley territory.

* The [[TheManBehindTheMan Dark]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Voice]] and his [[HeinzHybrid Hybrids]], and [[BadFuture what]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWEKnowIt will]] [[KillThemAll happen]] [[spoiler:if Kerrigan is killed]]. [[spoiler: Even the freakin' '''[[EldritchAbomination Overmind]]''' was scared of this thing]].

* The opening cinematic in Brood War. It takes place in a WWI style trench at night. It starts with a desperate Marine getting ambushed and chopped by a Hydralisk before a Firebat [[KillItWithFire fries them both]], with the Marine still alive. It then cuts to another desperate Marine barely rescued by another from two zerglings. The Marine asks the other one where the command is. The older Marine, who [[DespairEventHorizon has all but given up]] points at the Battlecruiser above them which abadons them soon after, similar to how Mengsk left Kerrigan behind. The view zooms out as hordes of zerglings are [[NothingIsScarier closing in to the trench]]...

** [[spoiler: TheReveal that it's ''Amon'' who's behind protoss and zerg' uplifting is even more nightmarish. Khala, the unity so dearly cherished by protoss? A tool to enslave them... which exactly what happens in ''Legacy of Void'', as Amon made brainwashed protoss kill their brethren and all other life. Overmind, the Highmind of Zerg? It's deprived of freedom of will, and made to serve Amon's genocidal plans. It even knew that after the Zerg would have exterminated the Terran and Protoss the Hybrids would destroy it, and hated this. Fortunately, it managed to work around his brainwashing.]]

* The [[EldritchAbomination Dark]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Voice]] and his [[HeinzHybrid Hybrids]], and [[BadFuture what]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWEKnowIt will]] [[KillThemAll happen]] [[spoiler:if Kerrigan is killed]]. [[spoiler: Even the freakin' '''[[EldritchAbomination Overmind]]''' was scared of this thing]].

* The [[EldritchAbomination Dark]] [[BigBad Voice]] and his [[HeinzHybrid Hybrids]], and [[BadFuture what]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWEKnowIt will]] [[KillThemAll happen]] [[spoiler:if Kerrigan is killed]]. [[spoiler: Even the freakin' '''[[EldritchAbomination Overmind]]''' was scared of this thing]].

* The Defiler's Plague spell isn't just HollywoodAcid (which would be bad enough), but a weaponized, cancer-inducing virus as well.

-->"We're all dead! Blow it! ''BLOW IIIT!!!"''

** [[spoiler: TheReveal that it's ''Amon'' who's behind protoss and zerg' uplifting is even more nightmarish. Khala, the unity so much cherished by protoss? A tool to enslave them... which exactly what happens in ''Legacy of Void'', as Amon made brainwashed protoss kill their brethren and all other life. Overmind, the Highmind of Zerg? It's deprived of freedom of will, and made to serve Amon's genocidal plans. It even knew that after the Zerg would have exterminated the Terran and Protoss the Hybrids would destroy it, and hated this. Fortunately, it managed to work around his brainwashing.]]

* The [[EldritchAbomination Dark]] [[BigBad Voice]] and his [[HeinzHybrid Hybrids]], and [[BadFuture what]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWEKnowIt will]] [[KillThemAll happen]] [[spoiler:if Kerrigan is killed]]. [[spoiler: Even the Overmind was scared of this thing]].

'''Sarge:''' [[FamousLastWords Huh?]]\\

[[caption-width-right:350:"Get away from us, you bitch!"]]

--> '''Sarge:''' Them's a zergling, Lester. Smaller breed o' Zerg. But they wouldn't be out all this way without -- [[ExplainExplainOhCrap aw, shit]].\\
(''both soldiers turn around to see a pack of hydralisks swarming around and over their vehicle'')\\

(''the lead hydralisk roars and charges them'')\\
(*''[[SoundOnlyDeath sqlch]]''*)
* The Battle on the ''Amerigo''. It starts off with NothingIsScarier as the Dominion squad infiltrates the derelict science vessel to demolish it [[NukeEm with a nuclear bomb]], in a scene that wouldn't be out of place in ''{{Film/Alien}}''. The squad reaches their destination and one of the soldiers [[TemptingFate comments that they're all safe]] and cracks open a can of beer -- right before his [[JumpScare head is abruptly dismantled by a Zerg claw]]. A pack of hydralisks, presumably left behind by Kerrigan, then swarms into the room and starts administering a CurbStompBattle to the entire squad. One Marine manages to bellow to the squad's Ghost (who has been [[HeroicBSOD frozen in place by pure fear]]) that they're all dead:
-->"We're hosed, man! Blow it! ''BLOOOOOOOW IT!!!"''

* The infested terrans. There's almost nothing left of their humanity, and the do enough damage to kill any unit with their suicide attack. Specifically the point in the campaign where a marine asks, "Do you hear that?" and then one pops up right in front of you.

* The Defiler's Plague spell isn't just HollywoodAcid (which would be bad enough), but a weaponized, cancer-inducing virus as well.

** [[spoiler: TheReveal that it's ''Amon'' who's behind protoss and zerg' uplifting is even more nightmarish. Khala, the unity so much cherished by protoss? A tool to enslave them... which exactly what happens in ''Legacy of Void'', as Amon made brainwashed protoss kill their brethren and all other life. Overmind, the Highmind of Zerg? It's deprived of freedom of will, and made to serve Amon's genocidal plans. It even knew that after zerg would have exterminated Terran and Protoss Hybrids would destroy it, and hated this. Fortunately, it managed to work around his brainwashing.]]