3. The Locust: Okay, so technically they’re not really aliens in a sense because they’re from the same planet as the humans in the Gears universe, but they’re not from Earth, so they qualify enough for my tastes. Their conflict with a faction within their own race that spilled over into humanity is somewhat unusual. Usually conflicts are more direct between the various races involved. The hint that the Locust may in some distant past be linked to humanity in an evolutionary sense is incredibly robust for story ideas.
2. Yoda: Of every creature in the Star Wars universe, none are so unusual and incredible as the little green jedi master Yoda. With no real clues as to where he came from or who his people are, he’s swathed in equal parts mystery and badassness. There’ve only been a couple games where he was a playable character (mostly because his incredible martial prowess has only been recently revealed) but in each he was incredibly impressive, flipping through the air like a tiny, lightsaber wielding gymnast. His jumbled yet comprehensible manner of speaking lends him a unique air as well that many jokingly recreate.
1. Xenomorphs: They’re creepy, they’re crawly, they’ve got one too many mouths and they are undoubtedly one of the most frightening creatures to emerge from anyone’s imagination. Everything about them is disturbing; their long talons and spiny tails, acidic blood and vaguely human yet stunningly alien forms, not to mention their horrifically predatory life cycle. Dying is bad enough, but to be cocooned and await a gory, brutal death with complete awareness is maddeningly horrific. Seeing these sleek killing machines rushing towards you inspires a feeling of fear like little else. They’re also a sheer joy to play. Controlling them can be a little disorienting at first with all their wall-walking, but tearing your way through a squadron of marines effectively makes you feel like some dark god, an unstoppable engine of mayhem.
