Out-of-this-world icons

Where did Chewbacca come from? 10 iconic extra-terrestrial characters

Credit: Javier Miranda

Although we can't all jump on a spaceship to explore other planets yet, science fiction has given us a glimpse into what creatures from distant worlds might look like. From cute and funny to sinister and menacing, many of these extraterrestrial characters have touched our hearts and become unforgettable. ALF, E.T., and Chewbacca are just a few of the iconic names from other planets we'll explore in this article. Let's get started!

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We are off to a great start! One of the most famous figures in science fiction cinema, the iconic Darth Vader first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

Anakin Skywalker -his real name- comes from a planet called Tatooine, but he's much more than just an alien. His character evolves as the story progresses, demonstrating great emotional and psychological depth. His legendary black mask and his deep voice are some of the characteristics that best define The Dark Lord of the Sith.

Did you know that Washington National Cathedral features a gargoyle on its facade with the face of this character?

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Ridley Scott's 1979 film Alien is one of those that made many of us fear encounters of the third kind.

Although many people refer to it simply as "the alien," the extraterrestrial species in the film is called the Xenomorph, and it is quite terrifying. Its most fearsome features include its elongated head, slick skin, and, of course, its jaws lined with sharp teeth.

The predatory nature of the Xenomorph enables it to adapt to various environments and hunt any prey, including humans. If, after all this, you still feel like encountering alien species, remember: "In space, no one can hear you scream."

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But now, let's set aside the terrifying aliens and focus on the ones we like better.

The Looney Tunes is an undisputed classic, and among its members, we all remember Marvin the Martian. As his name suggests, Marvin is not from Earth, and he stands out with his iconic look: old Roman-style war helmet, green uniform, and sneakers. In addition, his large, expressive eyes cover a large part of his face.

Although we really like Marvin, we have to remember that his evil plan in the show was aimed at us: his main goal was to destroy Earth. Luckily for us, he never succeeds!

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Some characters instantly give off good vibes, and that's exactly the case with E.T., the star of one of the most beloved movies for both adults and children.

While the 1982 movie doesn't reveal the name of his home planet, we do know that his name, E.T., stands for "Extra-Terrestrial." His glowing finger, huge eyes, and gentle nature are some of the defining characteristics of this friendly alien.

But E.T. is not just a pretty face; he has powers we humans could only dream of. He possesses telekinetic abilities, the power to heal wounds, and can even communicate telepathically!

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When it comes to wise extraterrestrials, we can't overlook the incredible Yoda.

One of the most famous and remembered characters of the Star Wars universe, Yoda stands out for his greenish skin, bald head, big eyes, and long and pointed ears. Despite being only 2 to 3 feet tall, Yoda is incredibly powerful. He's a master of lightsaber combat and possesses a wisdom that few other characters can rival.

Calm and patient, Yoda is also known for his unique way of speaking, often putting together his sentences in object-subject-verb order, something rare in our language.

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If you think an alien can't make you laugh out loud, it means you haven't watched the ALF TV show.

In 1986, a friendly extraterrestrial appeared on our television screens to make our days a bit more fun. Even though ALF came from a distant, completely different planet, he spoke perfect English and had a great sense of humor that fit right in with ours.

ALF, short for "Alien Life Form," came from the planet Melmac. After his spaceship crash-landed on Earth, he was taken in by the Tanners, who made him a part of their family (well, you know, except for the family cat).

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Maybe because he's not green or blue and doesn't have giant eyes or pointed ears, we sometimes forget Superman is also an alien.

But just because he looks like an ordinary human from Earth doesn't mean he lacks extraordinary powers. Along with his heat vision, super speed, and super strength, he has one ability we all dream of: he can fly "faster than a speeding bullet!"

Superman was born Kal-El, and he came from the planet Krypton. To save him from Krypton's destruction, his parents sent him to Earth, where he landed in Smallville. There, he was adopted by the Kent family, and the rest is history!

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Leonard Nimoy was the first actor to bring to life a character that has crossed generations: the unforgettable Spock from the Star Trek franchise.

His bowl-cut hair and pointed ears are among the most iconic and often imitated features when people dress up as this beloved character. But, in addition to his peculiar appearance, he also has amazing powers, such as superintelligence and telepathic abilities.

Although Spock was born on the planet Vulcan, he is actually half-human, as his father is Vulcan, but his mother is from Earth. His Vulcan side makes him a very logical being, but his human side also gives him emotions and feelings that other Vulcans lack.

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With an appearance somewhat reminiscent of ALF but a completely different personality, Chewbacca is one of the most beloved characters of the Star Wars franchise. Known for his courage and loyalty, Chewbacca has been a part of the saga since the very first film, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).

Chewbacca is a member of the Wookiee species and comes from the planet Kashyyyk. His appearance is imposing: standing about 7 feet tall, Chewbacca is covered in thick, long brown fur, with deep-set eyes and prominent teeth. In addition, his characteristic voice also makes him a very special character.

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Okay, we know we promised 10 characters on this list, but we had to make an exception for Simpsons fans. We wouldn't dare separate Kang and Kodos!

These two creatures with funny names are the extraterrestrial beings that often appear in The Simpsons Halloween specials. As beloved as other classic characters, Kang and Kodos come from the planet Rigel VII and are known for their intelligence and ambition to conquer Earth. This duo has become very popular, showing up in many episodes with a lot of unforgettable moments and lines.

HIGH SCORES AND NOSTALGIA

Let's Remember The 10 Best Arcade Games

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While today's virtual recreation options are many and varied, the arrival of arcade games in the early 1970s revolutionized the entertainment world and left a mark on entire generations. It's impossible not to feel a bit nostalgic when thinking of these incredible games. From the revolutionary Pac-Man to other iconic Donkey Kong, we all had our favorites. What was yours?

Today, we have compiled 10 of the best arcade games to bring back the joy and excitement they once gave us. Let's play!

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Outer space and its possibilities were a recurring theme in the 1970s games. You probably already know which one we are talking about now. You guessed it right: it's the unforgettable Space Invaders.

Released by Taito Corporation in 1978, this game was so fun and addictive that it quickly became a hit. With a classic format, players had to shoot a laser at invading ships coming from the top of the screen. Space Invaders was one of the first games to track high scores, which unleashed a competitive fever among players.

Adrenaline, tension, and fun were combined in this great game that defined the idea of "shooting games" and marked the childhood and adolescence of many of us.

Credit: Senad Palic

Continuing with the space theme, another classic arcade game appeared in 1979, the mythical Asteroids by Atari.

If fighting against various enemies and obstacles was your thing, you've played Asteroids. In this classic, players had a ship that traversed space among asteroids and enemy flying saucers. Avoiding collisions with asteroids and attacking rival ships was a big challenge.

However, the level of difficulty didn't make Asteroids players any less passionate. From the beginning, this game found success, gaining a loyal fan base and becoming one of the best-selling games of its time.

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This list would never be complete without mentioning one of the most popular games of all time: the legendary Pac-Man.

Pac-Man, played around the world by people of all ages, genders, and nationalities, was a revolution in the world of video games.

Released by Namco in 1980, this arcade game was an instant hit, and it elevated its iconic and colorful characters to global fame: the one and only Pac-Man and his "adversaries" Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. Do you remember them all?

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In 1981, Nintendo launched a game that would become an absolute success: Donkey Kong.

In this classic arcade game, a particular character named Jumpman had to overcome stairs and other obstacles to save the damsel Paulina from the formidable Donkey Kong. But do you know who this Jumpman was? That's right! He later became the iconic video game figure known as Mario Bros. While he was not yet called Mario in this game, it marked his debut as the popular character we know today.

Donkey Kong was one of the first arcades to include a series of diverse and challenging levels, and it became one of the best-selling games at the time!

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In 1981, Sega released a game developed by Konami that quickly conquered gamers. In Frogger, players used the famous joystick to control the little frogs through congested routes and tricky obstacles and get them back home. As the game progressed, the obstacles increased in speed and difficulty, making it not only fun and addictive but also very dynamic!

Due to its simplicity and lack of violence, this game was a hit regardless of the gender and age of the players.

But there is one thing that will instantly bring this game to mind: its iconic music! Do you remember it?

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Two years after the successful Pac-Man, the arcade witnessed the debut of the iconic Ms. Pac-Man!

That's right, Pac-Man's girlfriend also had her own game, and it had nothing to envy the original. Released by Midway in 1982, Ms. Pac-Man came out as a sequel game and was one of the first video games to have a female protagonist.

This game was very well received by gamers at the time, as it had everything they loved about Pac-Man, plus several improvements. A bit more challenging than the original, Ms. Pac-Man featured the beloved female protagonist and the four ghosts, this time called Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Sue.

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Of course, we can't forget to include a video game celebrity: the one and only Mario Bros.

As we already mentioned, Mario's first appearance in a game didn't even feature his name in the title, and he went by a different name. But his character in Donkey Kong was so well received that Nintendo decided to develop a video game for the beloved Mario.

Mario Bros., released for arcades in 1983, had not only Mario but also his co-star, his funny little brother Luigi, fighting and jumping in each level against obstacles and enemies.

Mario Bros. became a very popular arcade game in its time and was the starting point for the development of the legendary franchise that now bears that name.

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When it comes to fighting games, Street Fighter II -released in arcades in 1991 by Capcom- gets a special mention among arcade classics.

Unlike Street Fighter I and other games that preceded it, Street Fighter II allowed the players to choose from a diverse group of characters, all fighting to become the best warrior in the world. At the same time, each character had unique abilities and characteristics. If you had the chance to play it, you probably remember some of them, such as Ryu, Ken, or Chun-Li.

In addition to its multiplicity of characters, Street Fighter II presented innovative features like the "combo system" (allowing players to apply several attacks in a row) and the "versus mode" (with which you could challenge a friend to play). Thus, this game marked the path that fighting games would take in the following decades.

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But in 1992, we welcomed a game that, for many experts, not only surpassed Street Fighter but also became an emblem of fighting games.

We are talking about the unforgettable Mortal Kombat, with its legendary and fearsome characters that include Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, Raiden, and Sonya, among others. In addition, each character had an interesting backstory that revealed a certain depth in the characters' crafting.

But what really set Mortal Kombat apart was its unusual level of graphical violence, which naturally attracted many gamers. Do you remember the "fatalities"? Did you have a favorite character?

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If sports games were your thing, you probably played NBA Jam. This classic was released in 1993 by Midway Games and was undoubtedly very well received by the public.

Among its best features was the possibility of choosing between real NBA players of that time, making fans get excited every time they could play.

On the other hand, the graphics style and the game speed were some of the most valued features among the players.

Remember the "Boomshakalaka!" and "He's on Fire!" by Tim Kitzrow? What a time!