Great Horror Game Suggestions [Archive]

Obsidian

26 Sep 2009, 6:20pm

I've never really liked movies or games designed to scare me. The whole thought seems pretty bizarre to me but since reading Lynx's article on Kosakovia I've decided I want to really give one a shot.

Since I don't have Half Life 2 Episode 2 and am naturally opposed to mods I'd like some advice on which to play. I'm easily turned off by bad graphics and presentation hopefully the game will be somewhat recent. I know there are plenty of old, creepy games so that rules out a lot of them. I don't want creepy; I want shit my pants scary. I also don't play any consoles now so PC only, please. Make me jump, scream like a pansy, not sleep for days, whatever, bring it on. I'll say thanks in advance because I probably won't want to later once you pick guys pick out a game for me.

TiberiusLazarus

26 Sep 2009, 6:24pm

Snarkasm

26 Sep 2009, 6:25pm

Yep, F.E.A.R. should do it.

Condemned can also get pretty freakydeaky, but I don't know if it's full-on horror.

Winfrey

26 Sep 2009, 6:26pm

I thought Penumbra was pretty creepy. Not sure if it will warrant your playing it though. I only played it a little bit then got bored/frustrated with it.

TiberiusLazarus

26 Sep 2009, 6:29pm

I thought Penumbra was pretty creepy. Not sure if it will warrant your playing it though. I only played it a little bit then got bored/frustrated with it.

Man, I really need to sit down and play through Penumbra. I bought the pack as part of a steam sale and barely played an hour of it :/

Obsidian

26 Sep 2009, 6:34pm

The natural choice is F.E.A.R. The grpahics are still decent and if you'd rather you can skip to the 2nd for a more recent game, but you will miss out on a decent amount of story.

Also, why are you opposed to mods?
I played FEAR 2 and wasn't at all scared. Hopefully the first is better? I'm opposed to mods because A: They tend to have low production values being made by small groups of people with small amounts of funding over small periods of time and B: I don't know, I just am.

GnomeWizardd

26 Sep 2009, 7:23pm

Fear 2 was freaky but not as much as Fear 1

Obsidian

26 Sep 2009, 7:30pm

Meh, it was definitely gory but I wouldn't consider it scary or even very "freaky". Maybe slightly creepy in the school.

UPSLynx

26 Sep 2009, 7:55pm

FEAR will scare you. I consider it to be the scariest thing I've ever played, or even experienced for that matter (sans getting lost in the slums of Chicago, and getting lost in the South Side of Los Angeles at E3.)

Some would say Bioshock is a good scare-game. I didn't find it very scary myself, others found it horrifying.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was a fun FPS with some really good scares in it. a lot of the things in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. are psychological and interacting with the unexpected. It's kind of a niche game though. I loved it, but some don't seem to 'get' it.

DOOM 3 has some classic-type scares. Monster closets, loud noises, ect. I love FEAR better because they play with your mind and make it significantly harder to guess when a scare is coming up. DOOM 3 had some predictable moments, but averaged some good scares regardless.

Remember, the effectiveness of scary games is enhanced by how much you're will to 'participate', if you will. Only play at night in a darkened room, crank the audio up, sit close to the display, no distractions, ect. You have to want to be scared, rather than trying to make the game prove itself.

Basil

26 Sep 2009, 8:37pm

Some would say Bioshock is a good scare-game. I didn't find it very scary myself, others found it horrifying.
Another vote for not so scary, still a great game which stuck a good balance of creepy moments/gore and good old FPS action.

If you want to be genuinely scared go play System Shock (2) with the lights off and sound up. Yes it's an old game but it's a classic :D
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Edit; Forgot to mention Dead Space, mate of mine hails it as the second coming, I never bothered to get it though so can't really tell you if it's any good.
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Winfrey

26 Sep 2009, 9:55pm

Dead Space = Resident Evil in space

it's pretty good, the scares wear off after a bit though. Same monster in the closet tactics as Doom or Resident Evil.

_k_

26 Sep 2009, 10:51pm

I would be playing FEAR for its great scare tactics and awesome game play style if mas0n wasn't a douche and still "looking" for the CDs when he borrow the FEAR set from me.

Koreish

27 Sep 2009, 3:08am

The first FEAR was a lot more of a psychological scare than the second. The second was more about how much blood they can throw at you rather than scare factor. I remember there was one horror game (can't remember the name right now.) that would make it look like your game had crashed. That was always fun.

Myrmidon

27 Sep 2009, 3:13am

I would have gone with Doom3 as well. I seem to be the only person that had a serious problem with F.E.A.R. Couldn't stand the AI or the storyline (motives and voice acting were positively painful), although the horror aspect was moderately frightening.

I think the real secret may just playing horror games in the dark, alone, with surround sound. What really did it for me in Doom 3 was being a kid in the basement in the middle of a thunderstorm. An imp screamed at my back left (where the lightswitch in the office was), the lights in the game went out, and then the LIGHTS IN MY ACTUAL ROOM went out. I only realized it was the power going out when a few seconds later the computer died, too. Scared the CRAP out of me.

Koreish

27 Sep 2009, 3:21am

That would have been the greatest game ever if that was actually part of the game for everyone.

Myrmidon

27 Sep 2009, 3:32am

I think you can download the mod for it somewhere. :P
That would have been the greatest game ever if that was actually part of the game for everyone.

Obsidian

27 Sep 2009, 4:49am

I played Bioshock when it first came out. It was pretty good but I don't think it was very scary. I think I got a little past half way through Dead Space before I got really bored. Has anyone played Condemned? That seems like it might be what I'm looking for but I haven't tried it.

Canti

27 Sep 2009, 11:50am

Play Resident Evil 1 in the basement with the lights out at 2 AM when you're 12 years old. Trust me it's terrifying. Or the Fatal Frame series.

Starman

27 Sep 2009, 6:15pm

Silent Hill 1 is the most frightening game I've ever played. It has MGS1 graphics, but it still scared the hell out of me when I first played it in 2006. I know it's a console game, but I don't think F.E.A.R even compares. I did like F.E.A.R. though.

GrayFox

27 Sep 2009, 7:56pm

System Shock 2 has to be one of the best scary games, Buts its graphics have really started to show there age.

Most recent scary one ive played with dead space, It was solid.

edit: Fear is not a scary game, Neither is doom 3, If your scared by either your a very easily scared person.

Snarkasm

27 Sep 2009, 8:54pm

Obs, I mentioned Condemned above. It's pretty good.

Grimnoc

27 Sep 2009, 8:55pm

Aliens vs. Predator 2, specifically the Marine campaign.

*I'll go with the minority here and say that while F.E.A.R was pretty creepy at parts, I wouldn't consider it outright scary.

primesuspect

27 Sep 2009, 9:11pm

Only one video game has ever scared me: the original Doom.

I think it was more of a "right game at the right time" sort of thing; no game before Doom ever tried the "ravenous demon lurking behind a dark, silent corner" bit. It was a first, and really opened my eyes.

AlexDeGruven

27 Sep 2009, 9:46pm

UPSLynx

27 Sep 2009, 11:56pm

edit: Fear is not a scary game, Neither is doom 3, If your scared by either your a very easily scared person.

*I'll go with the minority here and say that while F.E.A.R was pretty creepy at parts, I wouldn't consider it outright scary.

You guys are both nuts.

I don't scare very easily (that said, I'm not a 'super cool tought guy' either) and FEAR has been one of the most effective at getting me. Again, it's all about how you play it, and you're willingness to participate and want the scare.

Myrmidon - The AI in FEAR was particularly good, if I remember correctly. I know many people praised the game for it's AI and it's tactics in gunfights. what didn't you like about it?

Myrmidon

28 Sep 2009, 1:47pm

kryyst

28 Sep 2009, 2:31pm

If you've got a console and can find a version for yours I've found Fatal Frame to be about the scariest game I've ever played.

As for Fear I never really found it scarier either. It has some good shock value, but never really found it creepy, the 2nd one was even less so.

Grimnoc

29 Sep 2009, 3:03pm

Might sound kind of weird, but the original Half Life was great for me on that end. Not necessarily Horror, per se, but the game was so immersive (even when I was playing it in 2002, which was the first time I had the time to sit down and really play through it) that every little thing jumping out gave me a start for a while.

I can definitely agree with you there. Though it wasn't a horror game, or even traditionally "scary" for that matter, it somehow still managed to get under my skin. Maybe it was just the constant isolation and the feeling that it just went on and on (due to how Valve designs their "levels"). I'm not sure what it was but I was quite creeped out at points, of course I was also much younger which may have helped.

Starman

29 Sep 2009, 4:19pm

I don't get the scariness of HL1. When I first played it, it was exciting, but not scary. I think you move too fast to get really scared. You can outrun practically any threat other than the Marine grunts (because they have hitscan guns) and without the sense of being unable to easily escape danger, the only option left for horror is an ambient horror, which is arguably present in Xen, but I didn't feel it myself.

Cliff_Forster

29 Sep 2009, 4:30pm

The problem with games being scary is they are often so action oriented that they are not given enough time to build enough tension. Time to connect with the character, actually feel like it will be a loss if they die, its all so hard to create when gamers demand constant action.

I liked Parasite Eve on the original playstation because it was a game that took its time building that tension so that the scares were fairly effective, but the gameplay suffers as a result.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite_Eve_%28video_game%29

I will say, the first time I played the original Call of Duty on PC, I had this sense of immersion where life and death actually felt like it mattered. So while it had no elements of horror, it did provide a tension packed experience that close calls would sometimes scare the player.

UPSLynx

29 Sep 2009, 5:12pm

Although it's been a few years, I seem to remember being very nonplussed with enemies being too clairvoyant. I ALWAYS try to play FPSs stealthily, I love getting a good position or being sneaky first. Like I said, a few years, so I can't remember exactly why I was nonplussed.

In addition to the AI, I remember hating the dialogue and voice acting. Maybe I'll reinstall and boot the game up just so I can bitch about it. :)

A Myrmirant!

I never felt the fear and tension of Half-Life, but that's easily attributed to the fact that back then in 1999-2000, I used to cheat in games. it was all sv_cheats 1, impulse 101, and god for me. And noclip from time to time. It was pathetic. So I beat the game, but none of the atmosphere mattered to me.

I have since changed my ways.

Starman

29 Sep 2009, 8:42pm

Guyute

30 Sep 2009, 9:38pm

AVP I

ardichoke

1 Oct 2009, 1:38am

I'm having difficulty getting into Parasite Eve. I've had it for years and never played it until this summer (except repeating the beginning up to the park). I just finished the boss fight on the roof of the hospital and am disinclined to continue playing.

I loved PE, though I didn't really find it to be scary. I played it through a ton of times. I actually managed to beat the Chrysler Building too. Sadly the memory card that has that save on it went missing years ago. The day I realized that was one of the saddest days of my life, so much play time, so much time collecting the rare cards to get the super tool kit, so much time tricking out my weapons, collection junk etc. just to beat that crazy hard boss at the top of the Chrysler Building all lost due to a missing memory card.

Ampersand

2 Oct 2009, 7:41am

20 questions with primesuspect

/thread

primesuspect

2 Oct 2009, 7:49am

What's up? What are you doing? What are you wearing? Wanna play TF2? Why do you mostly play soldier? Ever think about healing for once? What did you eat for dinner? Can I facebook friend you? Will you write a soldier guide for IC?

Koreish

2 Oct 2009, 5:25pm

Will you write a soldier guide for IC?

Winfrey already did that, back when TF2 was young and still had that new game smell to it.

_k_

2 Oct 2009, 5:33pm

Its still the same too. Jump every where, juggle everyone, rocket shovel when all else fails.

rolleggroll

2 Oct 2009, 9:40pm

Its still the same too. Jump every where, juggle everyone, rocket shovel when all else fails.

I thought it was to pair up with a medic and ignore everyone else dieing while pwning face and talking trash? oh wait.

Winfrey

2 Oct 2009, 9:59pm

Nobody heals me anymore :(

/miss eggy

ardichoke

3 Oct 2009, 5:37am

Where did this converstion come from? This was a horror game thread I thought.

Koreish

3 Oct 2009, 6:51am

Nobody heals me anymore :(

/miss eggy

I'd heal you if I ever got around to playing medic again and you weren't Sniper so much.

And Ardichoke this conversation spawned from Prime. Blame him.

Obsidian

3 Oct 2009, 9:36pm

I don't really care who jacked my thread. I got 312 points and 115,000+ heals as a medic last night :D

lordbean

3 Oct 2009, 10:01pm

/un-derail thread

Doom 3 startled me the first couple of times it spawned an imp right behind me. Unfortunately, having an imp spawn behind is a good summary of the ENTIRE FREAKING GAME. Before I was even halfway through it, I was getting to the point where if I saw something start to spawn in front of me, I knew I had to spin around and blindly fire my shotgun. 9 times out of 10 it'd kill an imp that had just spawned.