I have Fatal Frame 2 on PS3. Tried to play it a few months ago, and I literally got stuck within the first hour. Kept wandering through the house and couldn't find where to go to advance the next 'plot point'.
Too niche and probably released way too deep into the PS2's lifespan (September 2006). But yeah, it'd definitely make my list. Anyone that likes Silent Hill should find a way to check it out.
I should have mentioned the number of skeptics who expect a bomba because they doubt Mikami and Tango. That's the real kicker. Skepticism on sales is perfectly normal and good games do suffer bad sales even with the backing of talented developers. But if there were a select group of people in this industry who could get a free pass during the pre-review period I know for sure Mikami would have to be on that short list.
well, what would you classify as horror though? I love the last of us, but the game didn't necessarily scare me in any moment, but it used a lot of great sound design, and made me anxious a lot of time in some encounters (specially on survivor, didn't play grounded yet), the enemy design is good and their sound is unnerving. I mean, i would easily put it above left 4 dead that while a great game, i wouldn't classify as horror in my opinion for example.
I dont know, maybe its just my mindset but I cant think of fighting with humans no matter how tense the fights are as survival horror. I remember playing that basement sequence and thinking ND should one day make a full game revolving only around weird creatures as enemies with that kind of atmosphere. I agree with you though. What is there in TLOU in terms of horror is much much better than L4D. I too would put TLOU over L4D anyday of the week.
It's a good space horror-themed shooter, with a decent selection of scary bits and some really atmospheric areas to explore. Generally fun gameplay and competent storytelling due mostly to the fact that it's kept minimal and Isaac doesn't open his mouth.
The first one is great on the first playthrough. If you come back to it after playing DS2 you realize that it's got a few too many jump scare sequences and the necromorphs have slightly less bite. Dead Space 2 may as well be a haunted house ride with all the jump scares. The set pieces and gun play are top tier which helps... but those aren't supposed to be the centerpiece of a horror game. DS1 it is, but it pales in comparison to Resident Evil and it's very different from RE4 or TLoU imo.
Hmm. I disagree with a lot of this. I think Dead Space and its sequel are truly excellent horror games with tons of great gameplay elements (the dismemberment system, HUD in suit, anti-gravity sections). They play really, really well and the sound design is phenomenal. They also mix in lots of moments where you are anticipating attacks that never come, these games have downtime. Take the
return to the Ishimura in 2 for example. You don't fight anything the first 30 minutes or so.
But as I said earlier, I don't believe a horror game needs to be slow or make you feel extremely vulnerable to be classified as one. Everybody has its own definition of a horror game it seems.
I mean, Braindead is a horror movie but it's completely different in tone and atmosphere than say The Shining.
I'm a fan of horror and Dead Space made me upset. All feeling of horror went away when there was an alien around each and every corner. It wasn't even scary anymore, everything was expected and it became a bore. Also nothing scary about corpses flopping around like a rubber chicken on the floor. Nice atmosphere, but not good enough to make the game interesting.
To be fair to the Capcom employees, they might have someone they have to answer to if they don't praise their own game. Nothing too serious, but maybe a nuisance caused. At least from what I know of the company work environment.
Hmm. I disagree with a lot of this. I think Dead Space and its sequel are truly excellent horror games with tons of great gameplay elements (the dismemberment system, HUD in suit, anti-gravity sections). They play really, really well and the sound design is phenomenal. They also mix in lots of moments where you are anticipating attacks that never come, these games have downtime. Take the
return to the Ishimura in 2 for example. You don't fight anything the first 30 minutes or so.
But as I said earlier, I don't believe a horror game needs to be slow or mak you feel extremely vulnerable to be classified as one. Everybody has its own definition of a horror game it seems.
That spoiler is the only thing in DS2 that felt remotely like a horror game. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I smiled almost entirely through that sequence while my heart rate skyrocketed.
We are in agreement that the system mechanics in DS1 and DS2 are great. They made great use of the space setting to come up with interesting combat scenarios. Unfortunately most of the game and fighting was done in hallways and rooms that served as a meat grinder for endless waves of enemies. DS2 felt more like Gears of War at way too many points for my taste.
DS2 may be the lucid dream of horror games. I guess being a badass in hell can have it's appeal too.
Hmm. I disagree with a lot of this. I think Dead Space and its sequel are truly excellent horror games with tons of great gameplay elements (the dismemberment system, HUD in suit, anti-gravity sections). They play really, really well and the sound design is phenomenal. They also mix in lots of moments where you are anticipating attacks that never come, these games have downtime. Take the
return to the Ishimura in 2 for example. You don't fight anything the first 30 minutes or so.
But as I said earlier, I don't believe a horror game needs to be slow or make you feel extremely vulnerable to be classified as one. Everybody has its own definition of a horror game it seems.
I mean, Braindead is a horror movie but it's completely different in tone and atmosphere than say The Shining.
That part of Dead Space 2 is great, as is the kindergarden. Was super disappointed in Dead Space 3's wimpy lack of any form of baby/child necromorphs. And that godly stomp after taking a necromorph down, so extremely satisfying. Love the seamless, non-pausing UI too.
Love the necromorph designs in general too. Dismemberment is an awesome mechanic as well, especially combined with the nonconventional "tool" weapons (yet another thing I dislike in 3--normal-ass guns that deal normal-ass non-dismembering damage)
I love the "religion" of it all too, one of the best horror elements IMO. And the audio logs as well.
I'm a fan of horror and Dead Space made me upset. All feeling of horror went away when there was an alien around each and every corner. It wasn't even scary anymore, everything was expected and it became a bore. Also nothing scary about corpses flopping around like a rubber chicken on the floor. Nice atmosphere, but not good enough to make the game interesting.
At least the game knew when to let players breathe and allow the atmosphere and environment tell the story, a skill since forgotten in subsequent modern AAA horror games. That's even where the sequel failed to me, aside from that one part in Chapter 11 or so.
Hoping Evil Within knows how to do that without Action, Action, Action.
I just checked the full list and am glad to see other games like Limbo, Deadly Preminition, and Alan Wake on there even if I don't consider all of them to completely be horror games. Those are three of my top five favourite games of 2010.
yeah i thought this was pretty interesting too. you can compare it with fatal frame, which despite being a poor seller compared to resi and silent hill like siren, really seems to have caught on with western developers.
That part of Dead Space 2 is great, as is the kindergarden. Was super disappointed in Dead Space 3's wimpy lack of any form of baby/child necromorphs. And that godly stomp after taking a necromorph down, so extremely satisfying. Love the seamless, non-pausing UI too.
Love the necromorph designs in general too. Dismemberment is an awesome mechanic as well, especially combined with the nonconventional "tool" weapons (yet another thing I dislike in 3--normal-ass guns that deal normal-ass non-dismembering damage)
I love the "religion" of it all too, one of the best horror elements IMO. And the audio logs as well.
Great article, this in particularly stands out to me a lot:
Being weaponless or using a one-hit kill health system in a horror game is all well and good, but it leads to a flat, binary experience. Either you're hiding or you're dying.
Absolutely hate the trend of Amnesia-likes with instakill, defenseless gameplay and hiding that often doesn't even work. It's an exercise in frustration, not horror. I'm not hiding in fear, I'm sitting on my ass hoping the AI actually works like it's supposed to instead of magically seeing through walls or shadows (which it often does).
Horror games really need to go back to fighting for your life, though Dead Space in the end did end up going too far toward action/combat. There's definitely a delicate balance involved in horror combat, but cutting out combat isn't the best solution IMO.
Got to play some Resident Evil 4, when i put my hands on it (now that it is on Steam).
When F.E.A.R. came out, that made me jump from my seat on various occasions! Bioshock had a moment or two where the awesome believable sound scares you to death. Also Manhunt was extremely disgusting, not so scary, but disgusting.
At least the game knew when to let players breathe and allow the atmosphere and environment tell the story, a skill since forgotten in subsequent modern AAA horror games. That's even where the sequel failed to me, aside from that one part in Chapter 11 or so.
Hoping Evil Within knows how to do that without Action, Action, Action.
As much as I dislike Dead Space, that's actually a valid point. The atmosphere really was the best part and there wasn't a constant in-your-face story.
I really don't get this. If your game is great, then why not list it? If someone asked Miyamoto to name the best platformers ever, then he damn well better list Mario.
EDIT: One western dev listed Siren: Blood Curse (aka the worst game in the series, albeit still good), so the series wasn't completely ignored by Western devs.