Tuesday, 17 October 2006

By: Devin Korwin

Rag doll is a common feature in video games today, pioneered by games like Unreal Tournament and Tribes. The term "rag doll" (often spelled: ragdoll) denotes the physics used when dealing with a character's movements, most clearly evident in a lifeless body. Rarely done well, this list outlines some of the more interesting and tastefully done instances of it's use in video games.



5. Rag Doll Kung Fu
This game certainly needs to be mentioned for its unusual use of rag doll- for Kung Fu fighting, rather than simulating the impact of a bullet wound. Delivered over Steam, the game was created by Mark Healy, a Lionhead artist, and it was designed to be a casual gaming experience with a bit of comedy brought on by the impact of a fist or foot. The game uses a typical Street Fighter style, but was heavily dependent on the mouse to move the characters’ limbs as if they were string puppets. The entire game was based on the concept of rag doll gameplay and all motion feature stretchy, over-the-top action.

4. Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
Psi-Ops was a truly unique game. Even with above average reviews this game still passed right through most people's radar. Taking the role of a stereotypical military man, you use psychic abilities to defeat your enemies, which usually involved throwing them into a red barrel (exploding, of course). Being able to pick up an enemy and make him use his own gun on himself is certainly entertaining enough to give this game the number 4 spot.

3. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 doesn't even use true ragdoll yet it still deserves to be on this list, if not solely for the complexity and detail in the death animations. Even though this game doesn't use true rag doll physics, it is certainly convincing, even more so than most games with death animation's floppy, cotton filled counterpart (I'm looking at you, Battlefield 2). Shooting an enemy in the knee will send them to the ground appropriately, which is quite amusing atop a staircase. Shooting an enemy in the hand will cause them to drop their weapon, and shining the laser sight of your gun in their eyes for too long will make them put their hand in front of their face to block the light. Other developers should take note.

2. Max Payne 2
The rag doll in Max Payne 2 is one of the most distinguishing features in the game. The quick save feature, combined with an old lady NPC, hand grenades, and a small, classically furnished room equals hours of unscripted fun. Seeing how long you can juggle an enemy in the air with a machine gun could easily be a game in itself. This was one of the earliest games to use rag doll physics along with lots of character control and remains to be one of the most memorable uses of this technique.



1. Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2, like Psi-Ops, actually incorporates the lifeless rag dolls of nameless enemies into game play. There is a certain thrill the first time you pick up a Combine Soldier with the blue gravity gun and throw his body into a wall, watching it fall in a windmill-like fashion. The rag doll is not only extremely well done, but demonstrates the sheer power of your weaponry and gives the player the feel of omnipotence, if only for a short time. The beautiful physics engine transfers flawlessly to other Source-powered games, like Day of Defeat: Source, Counter Strike: Source, and countless other mods.

The representation of the death of evil henchmen is going to continue to improve over the years. In future games like Indiana Jones, a system called Euphoria will be used to make rag doll more realistic than ever. AI will adapt to situations on the fly, mixing traditional rag doll with numerous animations and interaction with the environment. The future looks bright for death physics in video games.