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SkeleTONS: nearly every bony bastard in the gaming universe

A pictorial history of our skinless friends, from NES to PS3

Words: Brett Elston, GamesRadar US

Let’s take a step back for a spell – remember these guys, terrorizing Simon and Trevor Belmont? No? Then you must not be old like us. Oh, 1986...

Eight more bits somehow made the Castlevania IV skelleys less substantial, with hovering bones that don’t actually connect to joints.

Couple of years later we saw Dracula X and Castlevania: Bloodlines, both with their own assortment of deformed dog/hunchback/grabby sacks ‘o’ bones.

What would any stroll through Castlevania’s past be without a nod to the very special reaper of souls, Mr. Grim? We love ya buddy, even if you’re a stupidly difficult jerkass occasionally voiced by Norm MacDonald.

Anyone play or know how to say Astyanax? Didn’t think so. Probably should’ve included it in our list of mispronounced game names, huh?

Final Fantasy is absolutely loaded with monsters, so choosing which skeletons to rip was like deciding which grain of sand is sandier than the rest. These boys hail from the first, third and fourth games in the series.

Capcom used to have its own RPG powerhouse back in the day, known as Breath of Fire. Looks like these are more adept than your typical skeleton though, all riding horses and stuff.

The second game is available on Wii’s Virtual Console, apparently filled with more shockingly capable undead minions. Not sure why they wear armor though... isn’t the point of it to protect your vital organs? Just go nuts dude, you can’t die twice.

Next page – Zelda, Lost Vikings and Dragon Quest!


 
43 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
FierceDeity  - 1 year 25 days ago 
first
stalfos ftw
Tasty_Pasta  - 1 year 25 days ago 
Lol @ Chrono Cross! Skelly was my favorite character in that game :D
smallberry  - 1 year 25 days ago 
WooHoooo Manny Calavera! *cough*PC adventure game*cough*

Anyway great article. Can't wait for T-Dar episode 25!
skyguy343  - 1 year 25 days ago 
was waiting for Mega Man 4

btw : fartbonerlol, didnt see THAT coming(sarcastically)
Basketcase676  - 1 year 25 days ago 
Guitar hero series? Grim Reaper lol

Bano-tooie, Grunty was a bag of bones in that :P

Sorry, just needed to say those...ill be off now.
x_Flib_x  - 1 year 25 days ago 
WHATEVER YOU SAY TIMESPLITTERS 2 IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!
GoldenMe  - 1 year 25 days ago 
Shizcakes, that's a lot of skeletons.

I happen to remember Lost Vikings the most. By god that was an awesome game.

Great Article GR!
rickrossthaboss  - 1 year 25 days ago 
umm dry bones anyone?
TrIp13G  - 1 year 25 days ago 
When I was younger, the only thing I remember about playing Uninvited is the ghost killing me.
Oh, and nice coverage of the CV skeletons. Classic.
Wizrai  - 1 year 25 days ago 
No Devil May Cry-ish skeleton?
ElkRider1  - 1 year 24 days ago 
You missed out Murray, from the Monkey Island franchise! How could you?
lava_lamp  - 1 year 24 days ago 
i wish i could get my hands on a copy of grim fandango i loved pyschonauts and i want to play Shaffer's other games now. (cant wait for brutal legend)
vincenzo  - 1 year 24 days ago 
No Maximo? or was i the only one that played that game...
drprofessor  - 1 year 24 days ago 
Nice list. I played Astyanax and have a vague ability to say it properly lol. Was also fun identifying all those street fighter characters by there posture and skeleton.
GamesRadarBrettElston  - 1 year 24 days ago 
@ ElkRider1

Murray is just a floating skull from what I remember. This was full skeletons. However, I do indeed now have a folder full of skulls for another day...
Ravenbom  - 1 year 24 days ago 
Wow! Holy complete complete list Batman! Or Brettman, if you will...
And people say that Americans are just getting fatter year by year. Clearly they all have eating disorders, and are trying to make up for their inadequacies by attacking other sprites.
Defguru7777  - 1 year 24 days ago 
I love the Bowser skeleton from New Super Mario Bros.
Defguru7777  - 1 year 24 days ago 
I love the Bowser skeleton from New Super Mario Bros.
oreomonkey  - 1 year 24 days ago 
sıɥʇ ǝʞıן ǝɯosǝʍɐ ɯı ƃɯo
oreomonkey  - 1 year 24 days ago 
wow.... that was not supposed to say that
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