LogFAQs > #984349410

Oh...I think you watched the wrong thing for Specimen 8. See, here's the part that's awesome about how his lore works with his design.

In actuality, Specimen 8 is a vengeful forest spirit who attacks people who show violent tendencies (hence why he only starts pursuing you after you pick up the axe.) The notes left in his area shows the fate of a hunter who was unlucky enough to enact the rage of Specimen 8 as he was forced to bunker in his cabin as the pounding outside gets louder. And louder. And louder. Until the notes stop, and you see a pile of bones in the corner before meeting the Specimen. Which is odd, because the door to the cabin was still boarded shut. But see, here's where I think you watched the wrong thing for him. Because his chase is actually amazing and stressful.

Yes, Specimen 8 is slow, but he creates a grainy affect on the screen when he's around, with a darkness pooling out around him. But here's where it gets interesting. You have to keep him in your line of sight at all times. Because if you cut a corner or have any kind of wall blocking him, he will suddenly warp into a hell dimension and zoom right through the wall and up to you, which explains the fact that he entered a boarded up cabin without breaking it down before.

And the best part is if you die to Specimen 8, you arrive in his dimension, which is prominently shown as a decrepit forest trail with a blood-red sky. And with only one way forward, you march onwards in this never-ending walk until you meet the Deer Lord, towering over you with his cloak open invitingly. Because those faces that are in his cloak? They are all of the souls he has previously assimilated, screaming in endless agony. And you are but one more as this chase has come to a close.

It's a sick design with a sick backstory that plays into its gameplay super well. I hate that it's this far down, but I suppose that's what happens when context like this isn't at the forefront of the conversation. (Also, his design is based on The Beast from Over The Garden Wall alongside notes from creatures from Native American mythology, specifically the Wendigo, which is another source of intrigue to his origins.)