These days, more and more emphasis is being placed on the story within games. Back in the olden days, Link just wandered around the land and just happen to be given a sword by an old man. Nowadays he’s drawn into adventure, and it looks like its going to take 70 hours to finish this next one. But how good are these stories? Are they immersive enough to, in horror games, scare you? Have you ever been scared in a video game or rpg, and if not, is it even possible?
I’ll have to say I haven’t delved into the genre too deeply, but I have yet to have a video game really creep me out, even when playing Eternal Darkness in the dark. Sure, a lot of crazy stuff happened, and I was probably even startled a few times, but at no point did I get shivers up my spine. I’ve also never been genuinely scared by playing in an rpg, though I’ve had fun playing characters who are scared and freaked out. I might be an odd case since movies and tv never really scare me either, except for documentaries. Maybe they ought to make An Inconvienent Truth video game!
The recent Call of Cthluhu game had some genuinely creepy moments. The problem was that the experience was derailed by annoying gameplay at times.
F.E.A.R. I thought was very well done as well. The story was skimpy and strange but it was genuinely really creepy and intriguing. I also really enjoyed the way it wasn’t scary all the way through – you got your creepiness mixed in with some fun straight up gun fights which wound up relieving the tension that had built up a bit.
Doom3 (sorry, I have to go back to it) was just annoying as it had guys jumping out of shadows all the time, nothing deeply scary.
I, however, really dislike horror movies and that sort of thing so I never watch them. That may have some bearing on what works on me.
scared, how the heck do you actually define fear?
But anyways, Eternal Darkness, perfect pick for the title photo, nothing in a game or movie ever got to me as well as the “please reinsert your controller” message just as some enemy was sucking out my life.
Eternal Darkness, as Abe said, was one of the best for me. I haven’t played F.E.A.R. yet, but I’ve heard that’s the best game from the last few years. There were a few sparse moments in Half Life (both 1 and 2) that got to me.
Alien vs. Predator 2 for the PC, the first few Marine missions were spectacular! They really went to town on the scary environmental things that they put into your first few run-ins with the Aliens and the Predator. Cieling pipes bursting randomly, people screaming down hallways, even at some points Aliens that would be sitting perfectly still like statues until you were already well into a room, then jumping into action. I loved it! It even scared Sucilaria as she was in the room watching me play.
Maybe it’s just me, but I thought the original Silent Hill was pretty scary. At the ‘lighter’ points in the game, it was quiet…too quiet. At the darker points it was downright terrifying – you couldn’t even see the enemies for goodness sake! Oh, but you could hear them! Oh yes, you could hear their unearthly cries and shambling sounds.
I think the scariest point in the original game for me was when you went out of the hospital/mall (can’t remember which) into the ‘town’, which was now permanently dark, and also full of the alternate world’s rusty metal, and you were set upon by ape-men-monsters who were faster than you and 100% terrifying. And you knew that if they caught you they would do unspeakably dirty and painful things to you.
“you were set upon by ape-men-monsters who were faster than you and 100% terrifying. And you knew that if they caught you they would do unspeakably dirty and painful things to you.”
Sounds like this one experience I had at Dupont Circle. Oh wait, I’m not supposed to talk about that.
Without question the game that scared me the most was Silent Hill 2. The game in it’s entirety didn’t scare me so much as the portion of the game where you’re in that underground prison. If you have never played the sequel, play it exclusively for that scene. It’s quite disturbing, spooky, and nerve-racking
Different kinds of “Fear” come to light in two games I can think of.
Doom3 (yeah ok i know) had some very very good moments of “OH SH*T” screamed at loud at 2 am. Game designers did a very good job of light and shadow in the game. Hiding things in plain view was also a very good aspect of the game. Things you dont think of jumping out to scare the crap out of you. Case in point after the initial portal opening head into the bathroom in the military section and enjoy.
the second games name escapes me and I dont think i can bare to stare at the Playstation website looking for the name any longer. Came out shortly after PS2’s debut. Took place in Japan in a haunted house in the mountains you played a character trying to solve the mystery of the house and your armed with only the camera.
it was the subtle aspects of the game that freak you out. Take for example you walk down a halway at one part and hear the thud thud thud of something falling down steps but see nothing on the stare case next to you, 5 min later you walk back through and you notice something opaque at the top of the steps and you stop.. and stare at it going “WTF is that?” then suddenly it moves and falls one step at a time until you realize its a head… then it disapears. Or how bout the lady with the half severed head/ broken neck who slowly crawls out from under the stairs in the courtyard…
stuff like that that sends shivers down my spine. But man was it a great game.
Fatal Frame
I agree that game was deliciously creepy, but the control style with the camera was too frustrating for me. Boss fights in particular were more challenging than need be with the constant switching from 3rd person to 1st person and back. Overall they did a great job of using ghosts in that game (haven’t played the sequels but I assume they’re similar).