After playing F.E.A.R. 3 I got to thinking of how different horror games are now compared to what they were during their golden era of the mid 90s to mid 2000s. So I threw together a little collage that helps visualize the evolution of the genre. Due to drastically different mechanics and action-centric gameplay, no longer can the majority of horror games be called "survival horror." Instead, what we have now is an entirely new genre - action horror - combing elements from both. Funny that the series that essentially defined and popularized the survival horror genre in 1996 would go on to do the same almost ten years later with 2005's Resident Evil 4 and the action horror genre. Being a horror lover in general I naturally dislike the emphasis on action that so many modern horror games use. Personally I'll always be a fan of classic survival horror. That's not to say I don't enjoy action horror (because I do) but in terms of sheer effectiveness action horror doesn't even come close to the terrifying and thrilling experience of survival horror games.
UPDATE - After posting this on Reddit it got a real good discussion going on horror games. Way more than I expected. Check it out here http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/o8u95/survival_horror_vs_action_horror/
UPDATE 2 - My image is now on Kotaku! Yay! http://kotaku.com/5874272/resident-evil-3-vs-resident-evil-4-separating-survival-horror-from-survival-action?tag=infographic
Glad someone defined the line between the 2. I would always ask gamers what games were like Silent hill, Resident Evil, and they'd always point me to some combat-based game with supernatural elements to the environment or story. I have RE4 and 5, and havent played either. Good games,but not my interest. I can remember in the late 90s, always complaining about how the characters were so limited, but now I realize that was part of the creepiness that made these games so good.. I guess the new generation see's scary a lot different than we did,since they don't have to make up for the limited visual effects anymore. Back then you had to emerse yourself into the game. Its amazing that a polygon ghost horseman could make you turn your screen off, but I had plenty of late night "Ok I cant play this alone anymore" moments, that just arent in most modern 'horror' games. But I'm always on the hunt for those modern titles that dont rely on new technology for high ratings,but keep the fear element as the center of focus.
ReplyDeleteWith each new generation comes new appeal for the horror genre. Not just in videogames either. Such as horror films of the 80s and 90s are drastically different than those of today. Thankfully we have a few titles very faithful to those types of classic horror games such Penumbra and Amnesia.
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