Monster Ock, Spider-Man (2000)

“Take a breather Spidey, it’s over.” That’s what 2000’s Spider-Man would have you believe following climatic boss battles with multi-armed jerk Doctor Octopus and symbiotic serial killer Carnage. However dear readers, it was very much not over. Enter Monster Ock

Monster Ock is not so much an enemy or even a boss, really. They’re a writhing, poorly pixelated mass of mayhem. A grotesque amalgamation of gargling, digitized screams, and limbs that’ll rip your arachnid-ass to shreds. Sometimes I still hear the noises of Monster Ock as a voice on the wind and shiver.

For what felt like the longest four minutes of my life, I fled in terror through six levels of sickly-green hallways, blast doors, and chutes before reaching the surface and salvation. Working against me were shoddy camera angles, rubber band AI at its most terrifying, and voice line gems from our wall-crawler like “Pressure’s really building”—no shit, spidey!

Eventually, mercifully, we escape. “Perfect end to a perfect day,” we quip as Captain America and Venom of all people pick us up in a Quinjet. I’m too frazzled to care by this point. —Eric Schulkin