Reapers

An enemy type appearing as hostile tree monsters in Ultima Runes of Virtue II and undead adversaries in Corpse Killer and Darkwatch.

Action

Games

1994–2000

Years

Platforms

About

In Ultima Runes of Virtue II, Reapers are stationary, aggressive tree-like monsters that attack players with magic and physical limbs. In the FMV game Corpse Killer, they appear as part of the undead horde raised by the villainous Dr. Hellman. In the gothic western shooter Darkwatch, Reapers constitute the primary undead enemy faction serving the vampire lord Lazarus.

Within the broader Ultima franchise, these entities debuted in early mainline entries before transitioning to the action-oriented gameplay of the spin-off Ultima Runes of Virtue II. In this portable title, players must utilize ranged weapons like the magic axe or fire wand to bypass their defensive positioning without taking heavy damage.

For the live-action shoot-'em-up Corpse Killer, designed by Digital Pictures during the 1990s full-motion video boom, these adversaries required quick reflexes during light-gun style segments. Players utilized specialized ammunition, such as Datura cartridges, to neutralize them across various tropical locales, including graveyard and jungle stages.

In Darkwatch, developed by High Moon Studios, the design of these enemies reflects a blend of Western tropes and gothic horror. The faction features distinct visual variations, including standard melee grunts wielding dual scythes and firearm-equipped variants that utilize civil-war era weaponry. Their presence serves as a mechanical baseline for the game's unique reputation system, where players choose to absolve or condemn their souls after combat.