So you may or may not know that horror games make up my absolute favourite genre. Just love them. It's why Quake appealed so much, over say, Counter-Strike. I love them because of the agency: instead of watching dumb screamy people walk around dark houses without turning the lights on, I get to sit in my living room and stand at the entrance of a room, and not go in. It's so satisfying.
I go in eventually, of course. Resident Evil (the crows!) is a breeze compared to something like Project Zero, the first of which had me screeching at the telly (and throwing the rumblepak across the room) while my flatmate shook with laughter from the sofa.
Anyway, I am pleased and entertained to read that Clive, of Wired, is even worse than me.
I'd only been playing BioShock for 15 minutes, and already I was trembling like a little girl.
Friend, little girls are tough as nails. But anyway:
In a game, of course, the fourth wall is obliterated, and you actually do have the choice about whether to go into The Bad Room or to run screaming. If you're a total coward (like me) this ability to control your fate induces considerably more suspense, because I head-game myself into a frenzy. I'll start down a corridor, hear something freaky up ahead, then freeze in panic. Maybe if I stay quiet the monster will go away? Shit, maybe it's already headed this way, and I should move! But if I move the monster will hear me ... so maybe I should stay quiet ... gaaaaah!
There it is. Agency. Great horror movies have characters whose agency is still within reach, like The Ring and Ring 2 (the Japanese versions!). Speaking of which, holy crap, Project Zero 3
That's it. I'm building a horror collection when I get back to London.
I'm a horror game fan entirely because of Silent Hill. SH2 is some of the best storytelling in any adventure game, and gets at some pretty deep fears of mine (and everyone's).
Posted by: JC Fletcher | August 29, 2007 at 06:22
Project Zero 3 is a bit rubbish really. Mind you, I never really got along with the first one.
System Shock 2 still stands out for me as the scariest game. Bioshock doesn't seem as scary, but the first time I went up against a Houdini Splicer was nerve-wracking.
Posted by: Tom | August 29, 2007 at 07:14
It's funny that you mention agency as a crucial element to horror. After a first prototype, we redesigned The Path to remove agency wherever we could. We felt that it was giving too much control and power to the player, while the horror in our story comes from having none.
But then again, you play a little girl in a forest with strange men. And not some hulking marine boy.
Posted by: Michaël Samyn | August 29, 2007 at 07:55
I keep telling people that the horror genre is the best thing out there for games, and everyone agrees; mainly because they're all too scared to play them. They make you feel absolutely alive, I feel theres no other genre out there that can affect you as much as horror.
Posted by: cptalbertwesker | August 29, 2007 at 08:16
have you ever played Haunting Grounds?
its a fine horror title, with a good dose of creepy laden moments for your shivering pleasure
haunting grounds gamespot review
Posted by: Miguel Young | August 29, 2007 at 15:19
The reason why horror games are good is because they are more about content than about gameplay mechanics. Something many game designers could learn form.
Posted by: Michaël Samyn | August 30, 2007 at 23:45