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Gaming Boards => Video Game General Discussion => Topic started by: Tiger on November 23, 2013, 06:59:03 pm



Title: Survival Horror Games
Post by: Tiger on November 23, 2013, 06:59:03 pm
Have any of you tried some of these games?  Slenderman doesn't count either.

I haven't played any of these games, but they sure look like a lot of fun.  I know I'd probably be more scared playing these than anyone else on this site, but it's so engaging to even watch someone play it on YouTube.

Games/Series I want to try:

Penumbra (Overture, Black Plague, Requiem)
Amnesia (The Dark Descent, A Machine for Pigs)
Outlast


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: DoubleGunz on November 23, 2013, 08:40:04 pm
The Last of Us. Best.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: JabbaScrub on November 24, 2013, 01:59:59 am
I've only played two Horror games that I liked. Dead Space is definitely one you need to play if you haven't. Most of its scares are jump-scares, but not in a crappy Slenderman way. It builds the atmosphere up nicely, and when you get overwhelmed it gets pretty tense. With surround sound turned up high, the ship creaks and there are all sorts of creepy noises in the background. The only game I've played with better sound design is Bioshock. Amnesia is supposed to have great atmosphere, but for me the sanity mechanic is just too out of place and breaks the immersion. The few times I was in the dark  hearing noises, I was genuinely afraid. When I get my PC I'm going to look for a mod to remove that mechanic.

I can't speak for anything else. The ones you listed all look nice, but every other horror game is more about action than true horror. Dead Space is about the closest to action I think you can get.

I hope this goes without saying, but you're not a real man if you don't have on headphones full blast with the lights off.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: Tiger on November 24, 2013, 02:51:12 pm
Sadly, I don't have headphones and like I said, I haven't played any of these games yet, but I do turn off the lights when playing BioShock, although that isn't really a horror game.

I think I also prefer the games where you are defenseless but to run, unlike Dead Space, although I do recognize Dead Space's great attributes as well.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: JabbaScrub on November 24, 2013, 10:26:20 pm
Being totally defenseless has its drawbacks. I'd like to see a game where the player has a chance to stand their own. When faced with an enemy, you would have a choice to run or engage them. This would present a fight-or-flight confrontation and make every encounter even more intense. Sadly, I've never seen horror games give the player that choice. It's either kill all enemies, or run from them.

You don't have any headphones at all? For horror games, I would at least recommend getting a cheap pair (~$20). You'd be surprised just how much a difference sound makes. Give this a watch if you think I'm exaggerating:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWJN3GNJbJs

I felt my heart physically spasm at 1:04 the first time I saw this. Granted, it was in 720p in-game and I was quite drunk.

I still say give Dead Space a chance. Having guns doesn't impact the horror aspect as much as you might think. Plus, you implied you scare easily. This would be a great introduction to the genre, and for iirc $4 on the Steam Store/ $7 GameStop, you really can't go wrong.


Most importantly, worry more about immersing yourself in the game more than doing good at it. Pretend you are the character.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: The Krazy One on November 25, 2013, 01:21:32 pm
Would the Silent Hill series be considered for this? Never played them but watched my brother play the one that was on the Wii that was a remake of an earlier one.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: CitizenSoldier3 on November 25, 2013, 07:19:36 pm
I remember a demo on xbox that you were a cop investigating murders and you only had a pistol and flashlight in builds at night without power. I shot a bum by accident cuase I saw fast movement across my flashlight.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: JabbaScrub on November 25, 2013, 09:34:18 pm
I remember a demo on xbox that you were a cop investigating murders and you only had a pistol and flashlight in builds at night without power. I shot a bum by accident cuase I saw fast movement across my flashlight.
Alan Wake. I have no idea what the gameplay is like. My friends say it is one of their favorite games, but many people hated it.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: Tiger on November 26, 2013, 01:04:52 am
Being totally defenseless has its drawbacks. I'd like to see a game where the player has a chance to stand their own. When faced with an enemy, you would have a choice to run or engage them. This would present a fight-or-flight confrontation and make every encounter even more intense. Sadly, I've never seen horror games give the player that choice. It's either kill all enemies, or run from them.
That's actually a really good idea.  It would be neat to see that implemented.

You don't have any headphones at all? For horror games, I would at least recommend getting a cheap pair (~$20). You'd be surprised just how much a difference sound makes.
I have headphones that came with my iPhone, but that's it.  My brother's gone through a few pairs of expensive headphones and none of them have been all too reliable.  None of them were bad companies either.  Also as a huge fan of music and musical compositions of video games and movies, I'm quite aware of the affect of music.  I was in band all throughout high school and am still in one today.

I still say give Dead Space a chance. Having guns doesn't impact the horror aspect as much as you might think. Plus, you implied you scare easily. This would be a great introduction to the genre, and for iirc $4 on the Steam Store/ $7 GameStop, you really can't go wrong.
I wasn't trying to say I wouldn't play the game, I was just speculating what appealed to me the most initially without hands-on experience.  I've seen the metacritic reviews on the Dead Space series; the first two games have great ratings.  What are the graphical requirements for the first game though?  My dad's desktop isn't very powerful.

Most importantly, worry more about immersing yourself in the game more than doing good at it. Pretend you are the character.
Believe me, I often do this far too much.  This isn't an issue with me. :P


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: JabbaScrub on November 26, 2013, 01:28:26 am
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That's actually a really good idea.  It would be neat to see that implemented.
It's my job   :)  (soon)

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I have headphones that came with my iPhone, but that's it.  My brother's gone through a few pairs of expensive headphones and none of them have been all too reliable.  None of them were bad companies either.  Also as a huge fan of music and musical compositions of video games and movies, I'm quite aware of the affect of music.  I was in band all throughout high school and am still in one today.
You don't need anything fancy. I use the $20 Skullcandy ones (not in-ear) and they work just fine. It's depressing trying to listen to music on them but they do the job for gaming. Still, TV speakers will do if you don't have that option. I'm the same on that last part.  :P

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I wasn't trying to say I wouldn't play the game, I was just speculating what appealed to me the most initially without hands-on experience.  I've seen the metacritic reviews on the Dead Space series; the first two games have great ratings.  What are the graphical requirements for the first game though?  My dad's desktop isn't very powerful.
Just wanted to make sure you didn't think it was too action-ey. The second is too much so for me, and DS3.. I will never play. I'm not sure about the requirements, but it's a very old game. You can probably find them on the Steam Store. IMO horror games should be played with a controller.

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Believe me, I often do this far too much.  This isn't an issue with me
Awesome. I just wish games tried harder to facilitate this. Dead Space's menus are in-game as projections from Isaac's suit. I can't think of any similar uses.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: Squire Grooktook on November 26, 2013, 04:28:27 am
Would the Silent Hill series be considered for this? Never played them but watched my brother play the one that was on the Wii that was a remake of an earlier one.
Play Silent Hill 2. Many people consider it one of the best games of all time, and one of the best horror games of all time of course.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: Tiger on December 02, 2013, 09:04:40 pm
Awesome. I just wish games tried harder to facilitate this. Dead Space's menus are in-game as projections from Isaac's suit. I can't think of any similar uses.
Fable III wasn't a great game, but it definitely had an interesting menu system that was part of the main story plot.


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: JabbaScrub on December 03, 2013, 12:34:28 am
Awesome. I just wish games tried harder to facilitate this. Dead Space's menus are in-game as projections from Isaac's suit. I can't think of any similar uses.
Fable III wasn't a great game, but it definitely had an interesting menu system that was part of the main story plot.
Hmm, I've never played it. I'll look into that.  O0


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: JabbaScrub on December 03, 2013, 01:38:15 am
Weird. This is the second time I've stumbled upon a hardly talked-about subject after it was brought up in this topic.


Awesome. I just wish games tried harder to facilitate this. Dead Space's menus are in-game as projections from Isaac's suit. I can't think of any similar uses.
Fable III wasn't a great game, but it definitely had an interesting menu system that was part of the main story plot.
http://gamasutra.com/blogs/DeclanKolakowski/20131202/206080/Thematic_Storytelling_Through_Menu_Design.php

Being totally defenseless has its drawbacks. I'd like to see a game where the player has a chance to stand their own. When faced with an enemy, you would have a choice to run or engage them. This would present a fight-or-flight confrontation and make every encounter even more intense. Sadly, I've never seen horror games give the player that choice. It's either kill all enemies, or run from them.
That's actually a really good idea.  It would be neat to see that implemented.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2fQCopQFeE#t=160


Title: Re: Survival Horror Games
Post by: Tiger on March 07, 2014, 04:02:10 am
With my new destkop, I can play any game on the PC now; most likely on high graphics considering it runs Battlefield 4 on Ultra smoothly.  With my friend's family sharing, I installed Amnesia: The Dark Descent today.  Not sure if I'm gonna play it though :I