History ShockAndAwe / VideoGames

** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'': [[HighHeelFaceTurn Trish]] is a demon who can fire lightning bolts from her hands and charge her fists and feet with electricity. Her playable apperances in later games have her channeling lightning magic into her guns for extra damage, similar to how Dante charges his guns with red demonic energy. In addition, she advertises her lightning powers by wearing a corset top with a lightning symbol over the cleavage. Dante's [[CoolSword Alastor]] weapon also has an electric element to it.

* ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' had the [[LightningGun Thunderbolt]]. It could not be used underwater without killing yourself and everyone around you.

** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' has Colonel Volgin, who can generate static electricity through his body and channels it through held rounds of ammunition. He can also launch said ammunition like a rail gun. However, he’s a [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]], as he doesn’t have the {{Required Secondary Powers}} needed by this trope. Because of this, he’s [[ScarsAreForever covered in scars]] from the previous times he’s used his power, has to wear a rubber suit to prevent further damage, and is [[IronicFear terrified of lightning]].

** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' has Colonel Volgin, who can generate static electricity through his body and channels it through held rounds of ammunition. He can also launch said ammunition like a rail gun.

** Add-on pack ''RedAlert: Aftermath'' adds Tesla Tanks and Shock Troopers, who respond to you in Arnie-style zingers, including "''Shock''ing! Hahaha!"

*** The Automatron DLC adds the Tesla Rifle, which has the ChainLightning effect. Automatron robots can also have alightning gun as an arm weapon. The Tesla Cannon returns in the [[BribingYourWaytoVictory Creation Club]], and is game-breakingly powerful.

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': Electricity is the main attack of the Vortigaunts (and the Voltigores in ''[[VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce Opposing Force]]''). You can play as a Vortigaunt and use this attack yourself in the bonus level of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 expansion pack, ''VideoGame/HalfLifeDecay''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}''. The eponymous character can acquire electric abilities with the proper copy ability since ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure'':

* ''Videogame/PhantasyStarOnline'' has the Zonde spell line which is one of the more useful spell lines. (Though ElementalRockPaperScissors is very important in this game.)

* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' has the Tesla Claw in the first and second games, the Tesla Barrier and Plasma Coil in the second and third, the Spitting Hydra in the third, and shock mods from the second game on. Both UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 entries feature the Lightning Ravager/Shockwave Ravager, a [[LightningLash lightning whip]]!

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'': Hit someone hard with a Mishima character (Jinpachi, Heihachi, Kazuya, Jin/Devil Jin, Lars, or Reina) and you'll see an aura of lightning around their limb. This doesn't actually do any electrical damage, however (although Lars has some attacks that seem to produce an actual current, though to what extent is unknown).

** Raijin, a RecurringBoss in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', named after the Japanese God of Thunder. Appropriately, he's partnered with [[BlowYouAway Fujin]] (God of Wind).

* For a post-Old Republic ''Franchise/StarWars'' example, Starkiller from ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed'' makes excessive use of Force Lightning, primarily because it's got a very useful stun effect.

* Gilius Thunderhead uses lightning magic in ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe 1''. In part 2 he has switched to DishingOutDirt though.
* The Jupiter class of adepts in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' use meteorological phenomenon such as lightning to attack, and indeed, lightning is some of their most powerful attacks. Jupiter lighthouse also features lightning puzzles.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Grow}}'' games:

* Ky Kiske of ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' [[CallingYourAttacks rides the lightning]]. His half-Gear son Sin in ''Overture'' has similar powers [[DisownedParent though he refuses to acknowledge that he has anything in common with Ky]].
* Electricity is the main attack of the Vortigaunts in ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' (and the Voltigores in ''[[VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce Opposing Force]]''). You can play as a Vortigaunt and use this attack yourself in the bonus level of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 expansion pack, ''VideoGame/HalfLifeDecay''.

* The Titans of the ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'' series, the traditional ultimate unit of the Wizard/Academy/Tower faction since the second game, are giants that fling lightning bolts at their unlucky foes. The Titans of the fifth game take it even further; the default Titans can call lightning from the sky to strike their enemies (useful in situations where a ranged attack wouldn't be as effective) and the alternate upgrade, the Storm Titan, can ''summon stormclouds on the battlefield''. And the more magic oriented Heroes can make good use of the lightning bolt and chain lightning spells available in most of the games.
* Scorpion, the FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/HongKongNinja'', has the ability to generate electric blasts and hurl lightning balls as his main attack.

* Cole [=McGrath=], protagonist of ''VideoGame/InFAMOUS'', commands all manners of electricity based attacks, from [[LightningCanDoAnything grenades and shields to localized lightning strikes]]. You'll need all the powers you can get as [[NintendoHard the enemies are NOT pushovers]]. There's also unique electric powers for [[KarmaMeter the good and bad skill trees]], and [[MundaneUtility rail grinding and levitating]] to boot. There is even a Trophy labeled "Shock and Awe" in the sequel, where you Thunder Drop onto a group of five or more enemies.
* In the first ''VideoGame/JetSetRadio'', some of the enemies at Grind Square continuously spread electricity through some of the rails. In ''Jet Set Radio Future'', every time you get into an encounter with the cops, they will put up electrified fences to make sure you can't escape.

* Benimaru Nikaido of ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters''. And from one of the series it derived from, Kim Dong Hwan of ''[[VideoGame/FatalFury Garou: Mark of the Wolves]]''.

* All three games in the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' trilogy feature the [[PsychicPowers PSI]] attack PK Thunder. Unlike most examples, this attack cannot be controlled and targets a random enemy. And as of Mother 3 it is one of the two PSI attacks not affected by PSI Shields or PSI Counter Devices.

''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' reverses this by making PK Thunder the most controllable move Ness and Lucas can use, and it's just as easy to block as any other projectile.

* ''VideoGame/Myth'': Fetch shoot lightning from their hands.