Comments on: How to save survival horror http://www.infinitelives.net/2008/10/01/how-to-save-survival-horror/ Exploring the value of games-as-iconography in art, literature, and popular culture Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:14:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: nothinglefttogive http://www.infinitelives.net/2008/10/01/how-to-save-survival-horror/#comment-1563 nothinglefttogive Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:50:57 +0000 http://www.infinitelives.net/?p=522#comment-1563 the running from/fighting/make a choice fast segments from nemesis were always pretty effective.... the running from/fighting/make a choice fast segments from nemesis were always pretty effective….

]]> By: Kevin Bunch http://www.infinitelives.net/2008/10/01/how-to-save-survival-horror/#comment-800 Kevin Bunch Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:40:42 +0000 http://www.infinitelives.net/?p=522#comment-800 Must comment: At our recent "horror game night" we ran Clock Tower, on PS1. And wow! Despite the fact that the game has aged terribly visually, and the voice acting is mid-90s atrocious, the game gets across the fear factor for the very reasons you mentioned. You can't FIGHT Scissorman; he can only be stunned, and hid away from. It was a blast watching my friend playing the game freak out because Scissorman was breaking into his hiding place, and he worried his character was too scared to fight him off. I'm not really going anywhere with this, only confirming that I think you've hit the nail on the head. Freaky events can only go so far. I admit, though, there's a certain fear factor in Dead Rising, when you're still a low level, weak, and have to battle through a zombie horde. But I think that's a different sort of fear, entirely. Must comment: At our recent “horror game night” we ran Clock Tower, on PS1. And wow! Despite the fact that the game has aged terribly visually, and the voice acting is mid-90s atrocious, the game gets across the fear factor for the very reasons you mentioned. You can’t FIGHT Scissorman; he can only be stunned, and hid away from. It was a blast watching my friend playing the game freak out because Scissorman was breaking into his hiding place, and he worried his character was too scared to fight him off.

I’m not really going anywhere with this, only confirming that I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Freaky events can only go so far.

I admit, though, there’s a certain fear factor in Dead Rising, when you’re still a low level, weak, and have to battle through a zombie horde. But I think that’s a different sort of fear, entirely.

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