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I just read the PC ZONE reveiw of "Aliens versus predator 2". Not only did they love it, they thought it was the scariest game ever to hit the PC. I played the demo, and although PCZ described it as "a little dissapointing", I still loved it, and jumped out of my chair frequently. My question to the panel today is: "what makes a games scary?"
Some particularly scary games that I can think of are the afformentioned AvP2, PCZ's previous scariest game: System Shock 2 (outstanding, and geniunely panic-enducing), Half-life gave the odd creepy moment, and I beleive some of this Resident Evil business can grant some heebie-jeebies. So what is it that these, or at least the scariest of them, have in common?
Well, the scariest part of SS2 was by far the Cargo Bay section. It was dark, there were cargo containers everywhere obscuring your view, and I think most importantly, there were three levels. The thing was that the monkeys and Hybrids you had to face were so loud that no matter what level they were on or what box they were behind you could here them just as clearly. Thus, the effect was that when you were ready for them, they weren't there. And when you weren't... BLAM. ouch.
Just to compound this, you were constantly low on ammo and health, and the chaps you were fighting packed quite a punch, so there was by no means any guarantee that you would be able to take them on if you found them, or that you would see them before they'd already shot you to pieces.
SO, to sum up, the winning formula for SS2, and I think it works just the same for AvP2, is suggestion. They might be there, they might not. But if they are there, you need to figure it out, because (and here's the other clincher) you doubt very much the whole time if you can kill whatever comes at you.
SS2 was rediculously scary. And AvP2 is worse. Best get some clean underwear together.
Some particularly scary games that I can think of are the afformentioned AvP2, PCZ's previous scariest game: System Shock 2 (outstanding, and geniunely panic-enducing), Half-life gave the odd creepy moment, and I beleive some of this Resident Evil business can grant some heebie-jeebies. So what is it that these, or at least the scariest of them, have in common?
Well, the scariest part of SS2 was by far the Cargo Bay section. It was dark, there were cargo containers everywhere obscuring your view, and I think most importantly, there were three levels. The thing was that the monkeys and Hybrids you had to face were so loud that no matter what level they were on or what box they were behind you could here them just as clearly. Thus, the effect was that when you were ready for them, they weren't there. And when you weren't... BLAM. ouch.
Just to compound this, you were constantly low on ammo and health, and the chaps you were fighting packed quite a punch, so there was by no means any guarantee that you would be able to take them on if you found them, or that you would see them before they'd already shot you to pieces.
SO, to sum up, the winning formula for SS2, and I think it works just the same for AvP2, is suggestion. They might be there, they might not. But if they are there, you need to figure it out, because (and here's the other clincher) you doubt very much the whole time if you can kill whatever comes at you.
SS2 was rediculously scary. And AvP2 is worse. Best get some clean underwear together.
SS2 is a fantastic Sci-fi horror RPG for the PC. It's got a great plot and is geniunely scary, as well as having rediculously cool cyberpunk themes. I'm getting the impression that a lot of people on these forums are more interested in console gaming than the PC, which is a shame partly because the PC is the best but mostly coz nobody will be familiar with my fave games, like Deus Ex and SS2. SS2 is far scarier and more atmospheric. If you got a PC you should try it. It doesn't even need a 3D card.
I think it all dependson how you play the game.
In the middle of the afternoon, with the radio or some non-atmospheric cd playing over the soundtrack, while you're distracted from the game, nothing will really be scary.
On the other hand, late at night, no lights, the only sound being what the game plays to you, all your attention is focused on every detail of what is happening in the game.
Maybe the soundtrack is edgy and raw, like the piano music in parts of the asylum on shadowman, and things happening are either unexpected to make you jump, or anticipated and left to play on your mind until they finally happen.
In the middle of the afternoon, with the radio or some non-atmospheric cd playing over the soundtrack, while you're distracted from the game, nothing will really be scary.
On the other hand, late at night, no lights, the only sound being what the game plays to you, all your attention is focused on every detail of what is happening in the game.
Maybe the soundtrack is edgy and raw, like the piano music in parts of the asylum on shadowman, and things happening are either unexpected to make you jump, or anticipated and left to play on your mind until they finally happen.
The thing about Silent Hill wasn't the gore.
Yes there was some, but it was the atmosphere of unsettling, nasty threat.
The sounds, not being able to see very much...it was like playing Jacobs Ladder.
God onlys knows what the PS2 version will be like, but I'm getting it Friday.
Just hope I don't suffer the same disappointment I did with Smackdown 3.
And Castle Wolfenstein and Alien Vs Predator 2..all out either now or next week.
Excellent.
Yes there was some, but it was the atmosphere of unsettling, nasty threat.
The sounds, not being able to see very much...it was like playing Jacobs Ladder.
God onlys knows what the PS2 version will be like, but I'm getting it Friday.
Just hope I don't suffer the same disappointment I did with Smackdown 3.
And Castle Wolfenstein and Alien Vs Predator 2..all out either now or next week.
Excellent.
Silent Hill is a mindjob.
Silent Hill 2 looks even more intense.
Resident Evil games are gory, not scary. A couple of jumpy moments but overall just shoot-zombie-run games.
Check out Silent Hill for a truly adult horror.
Silent Hill 2 looks even more intense.
Resident Evil games are gory, not scary. A couple of jumpy moments but overall just shoot-zombie-run games.
Check out Silent Hill for a truly adult horror.
Just wait till you play Silent Hill 2!!
i know this is abit bad but any way what game is SS2? i think that Resident evil games where the scariest when your playing in the dark and your in a dark place or Tyrant or Nemisis is after you
I just read the PC ZONE reveiw of "Aliens versus predator 2". Not only did they love it, they thought it was the scariest game ever to hit the PC. I played the demo, and although PCZ described it as "a little dissapointing", I still loved it, and jumped out of my chair frequently. My question to the panel today is: "what makes a games scary?"
Some particularly scary games that I can think of are the afformentioned AvP2, PCZ's previous scariest game: System Shock 2 (outstanding, and geniunely panic-enducing), Half-life gave the odd creepy moment, and I beleive some of this Resident Evil business can grant some heebie-jeebies. So what is it that these, or at least the scariest of them, have in common?
Well, the scariest part of SS2 was by far the Cargo Bay section. It was dark, there were cargo containers everywhere obscuring your view, and I think most importantly, there were three levels. The thing was that the monkeys and Hybrids you had to face were so loud that no matter what level they were on or what box they were behind you could here them just as clearly. Thus, the effect was that when you were ready for them, they weren't there. And when you weren't... BLAM. ouch.
Just to compound this, you were constantly low on ammo and health, and the chaps you were fighting packed quite a punch, so there was by no means any guarantee that you would be able to take them on if you found them, or that you would see them before they'd already shot you to pieces.
SO, to sum up, the winning formula for SS2, and I think it works just the same for AvP2, is suggestion. They might be there, they might not. But if they are there, you need to figure it out, because (and here's the other clincher) you doubt very much the whole time if you can kill whatever comes at you.
SS2 was rediculously scary. And AvP2 is worse. Best get some clean underwear together.
Some particularly scary games that I can think of are the afformentioned AvP2, PCZ's previous scariest game: System Shock 2 (outstanding, and geniunely panic-enducing), Half-life gave the odd creepy moment, and I beleive some of this Resident Evil business can grant some heebie-jeebies. So what is it that these, or at least the scariest of them, have in common?
Well, the scariest part of SS2 was by far the Cargo Bay section. It was dark, there were cargo containers everywhere obscuring your view, and I think most importantly, there were three levels. The thing was that the monkeys and Hybrids you had to face were so loud that no matter what level they were on or what box they were behind you could here them just as clearly. Thus, the effect was that when you were ready for them, they weren't there. And when you weren't... BLAM. ouch.
Just to compound this, you were constantly low on ammo and health, and the chaps you were fighting packed quite a punch, so there was by no means any guarantee that you would be able to take them on if you found them, or that you would see them before they'd already shot you to pieces.
SO, to sum up, the winning formula for SS2, and I think it works just the same for AvP2, is suggestion. They might be there, they might not. But if they are there, you need to figure it out, because (and here's the other clincher) you doubt very much the whole time if you can kill whatever comes at you.
SS2 was rediculously scary. And AvP2 is worse. Best get some clean underwear together.