Clowns are no joke in gaming

Picture this. You've just lost your son. Panic sets in. Where could the little wretch have got to? Not to worry, there's a witness - someone who saw him only moments before... perhaps they could help you find him?

Those were my initial thoughts after my ungrateful young son ran off after I'd bought him a balloon during the prolonged introductory scenes in Heavy Rain on the PS3. Surely the amiable looking clown/balloon salesman would be able to help me find him? He'd handed over that red balloon but seconds earlier. He could at least point me in the right direction, right? But no... his nonchalance simply confirmed what I'd always suspected... clowns are evil, pure and simple.

And so there it is, my inspiration for this post. My aforementioned witness wouldn't even raise a gloved finger to help me look for poor old Jason (RIP). But he's by no means the worst of his kind; they're a nasty breed, all of 'em.

For all your alien Necromorphs (Dead Space), struggles against the evil Oro cult (Condemned 2) or creepy confrontations with Alma (FEAR 2), there's little in the world of gaming as scary as the humble clown. Whether it's that menacing grin, the wild hair, grotesque makeup, oversized shoes or baggy trousers, there's something deeply sinister about them.

We at Megabits decided to take a look at some of the others you may have had the misfortune of meeting:
Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal) - Ah, a name that surely belongs to someone cute and cuddly? Perhaps he gives out candy canes to passers by or has hair that looks like candy floss? Nope, not this fella. Among the most sinister of clown folk, Sweet Tooth earned his place in history as a real badass in the cult racing game Twisted Metal. Known for his flame red hair (literally) and iconic ice cream truck, this evil critter is to make a comeback on Sony's PS3 in 2011. Be afraid.

Adam (Dead Rising) - Clowns are scary enough. Make them psychotic and give 'em chainsaws and they're a whole lot scarier! Adam confronts you in Wonderland Plaza by the Space Rider rollercoaster... and you thought the zombies were nasty.

Zombie clown (Left 4 Dead 2) - Don't like clowns, then avoid Dark Carnival - there are hundreds of the big-shoed freaks dotted about the place. Put aside the wild makeup and their ravenous tendencies and there is some comedic value to them though - try whacking them in the face to make their nose honk (there's even an achievement for your efforts).

Joker (Batman: Arkham Asylum) - Batman's nemesis takes a starring role in Arkham Asylum - one of the best games of last year (check the review after the jump). The wily old Joker is repulsive enough but watch him pump the rather potent Titan concoction into his veins and he becomes even more gruesome and threatening.


Any other clowns we've forgotten? We're not talking about the likes of Krusty... we wanna hear about the really evil ones! Let us know...

(Photo credit: San Diego Shooter)