TPWW Forums  

Go Back   TPWW Forums > o f f t o p i c > video games forum
Reload this Page The current state of horror games: are they all kind of the same?
Register Members List Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-27-2023, 08:57 AM   #1
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
The current state of horror games: are they all kind of the same?
Horror games, like pretty much every genre, have gone through a lot of changes throughout the years. From the early days of Sweet Home to Resident Evil's action-leaning approach to the psychological horror angle of Silent Hill to the first-person shooter take with F.E.A.R. However, on one of my time-wasting excursions online, I noticed that a lot of games have basically resorted to one type of presentation, that being the walking simulator. I may be generalizing and I don't know all of the particulars of each title, but on the surface, they all seem to be presenting the same set up. You've got the first-person view, a mystery that needs uncovering, an appropriately creepy locale of some sort, and just walking around looking at things and experiencing scripted events. Just from a visual standpoint, there doesn't seem to be much setting them apart. Take a look at these random shots from eight different games and try to distinguish one from another.





































They all seem to be following the mold P.T. set, which is confusing seeing as that wasn't even a game so much as a tech demo. Even Resident Evil got in on the first-person presentation action. Nothing against it, per se, but could it be a bit of a creative rut for horror games? Am I reading this all wrong? Are there other waters in the realm of horror games nowadays that are separate from what I'm talking about? What's your take?



No matter what may happen to me, just remember Lzzy Hale gave me the bedroom eyes...



...again.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 09:54 AM   #2
drave
 
drave's Avatar
 
Posts: 25,481
drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)drave makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
those last two of the chick with the guitar are scary AF
drave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 09:55 AM   #3
Sepholio
3 Dicks Out For Trips
 
Sepholio's Avatar
 
Posts: 29,725
Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
drave going to hale
Sepholio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 06:42 PM   #4
Fignuts
Hey Mister!
 
Fignuts's Avatar
 
Posts: 54,952
Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
Nah there are other options out there with different aesthetics. It's just that there are a lot of games aping P.T.'s feel because the hype and appreciation of it has stayed relatively strong to this day.
Fignuts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 06:47 PM   #5
Sepholio
3 Dicks Out For Trips
 
Sepholio's Avatar
 
Posts: 29,725
Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
P.T. still the best horror game I've ever played.
Sepholio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 07:03 PM   #6
Fignuts
Hey Mister!
 
Fignuts's Avatar
 
Posts: 54,952
Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Fignuts makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
Been hearing a lot about Lost in Vivo.
Fignuts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 07:31 PM   #7
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
This post is sponsored by your prom night
Quote:
Originally Posted by drave View Post
those last two of the chick with the guitar are scary AF
Scary sexy.

Actually a chick that intense and aggressive can be kind of intimidating.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 07:38 PM   #8
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
This post is sponsored by the code of kayfabe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sepholio View Post
P.T. still the best horror game I've ever played.
I never understood the excitement. What's even the story, if any? What's been put out there is more assumption than actuality. It has nothing to do with Silent Hill, which is probably the biggest reason more than anything else why the reveal at the end was so shocking. It even states at the beginning that it wasn't a reflection of what the final product was going to be and we never saw any of those assets. Top it off with the fact that you're not really doing anything other than walking around and seeing things happen, I took it as more of an impressive display of what could be done with the technology than anything else. That's not to say it wasn't a frightening experience, but I view it as an interesting piece of gaming history if nothing else. Kojima went on to better things and is probably happier, I imagine.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 08:18 PM   #9
Sepholio
3 Dicks Out For Trips
 
Sepholio's Avatar
 
Posts: 29,725
Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
There wasn't really story, but the pacing of it and the it's design just made it subconsciously terrifying on levels that games never touch upon. Has you feeling the need to look over your shoulder for something thats never there. The hair on your neck standing at attention. It just hit different.

The story I guess if anything was a descent into actual insanity. Doing the same thing over and over and over again expecting differences that never come...until one day they do.
Sepholio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 08:23 PM   #10
Sepholio
3 Dicks Out For Trips
 
Sepholio's Avatar
 
Posts: 29,725
Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
Like it really is quite a good look into actual insanity. Amnesia had it's brand of insanity back in the day but P.T. was much more real. It didn't use weird effects and sounds to display that you were losing it. It drove you through true repetitive insanity until you were questioning everything around you and whether it was real or part of the madness.
Sepholio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2023, 08:23 PM   #11
Sepholio
3 Dicks Out For Trips
 
Sepholio's Avatar
 
Posts: 29,725
Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Sepholio makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
Literal chills right now just thinking about it.
Sepholio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2023, 07:17 PM   #12
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
This post is sponsored by Quicken
See, it's just my fortune that I make a thread like this and then I stumble across a video like this that kind of flies in the face of what I was saying. Some of these seem pretty interesting, even though virtually all of them want to stick to that first-person experience. I suppose that would be the most terrifying way to go about making a horror title, though.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2023, 08:27 PM   #13
Lock Jaw
Skibbidy Lock Jaw
 
Lock Jaw's Avatar
 
Posts: 88,641
Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)Lock Jaw makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
Need to make another Luigi's Mansion
Lock Jaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2023, 11:08 PM   #14
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
This post is sponsored by the Million Dollar Championship belt
Visage is probably the top dog in terms of doing something interesting with this presentation. The changing environments can really fuck with you. Layers of Fear does pretty much the same thing, but it's too funhouse-y to really be considered terrifying. Madison looks like another good entry.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2023, 08:46 PM   #15
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
This post is sponsored by the Enforcers
Some more upcoming titles. Similar presentations, but, man, those are good looking environments. Some of the ideas are at least interesting.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2023, 08:51 PM   #16
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
This post is sponsored by the Culligan Man
You know, thinking about it some more, I think I'm being a bit unfair towards P.T. here. If anything, you can trace a lot of these games' ideas to Slender: The Eight Pages. A flashlight, a spooky setting, lots of walking. Like, nothing but walking. Lather, rinse, repeat.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2023, 05:54 AM   #17
M-A-G
Higher. Further. Faster.
 
M-A-G's Avatar
 
Posts: 21,097
M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)M-A-G makes a lot of good posts (200,000+)
This post is sponsored by the Bigfoot pizza from Pizza Hut
It has come to my attention that Alan Wake will be getting a proper sequel, so I guess that's one more in the pile of games to come that'll shake things up somewhat.
M-A-G is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:47 AM.

Forums Home - TPWW - Archive - Top

Powered by vBulletin®