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What Makes a Great Horror Game?
This week on Wired, author Clive Thompson asserts that videogames make better horror than Hollywood. I'm inclined to agree; I'm not a big fan of horror movies but I eat horror games like candy. What is it about games that make them so effective at making terror entertaining? The simple act of inserting YOU into the action is a big part of it. Thompson also has some other thoughts:"Games already seem like dream states. You're wandering around a strange new world, where you simultaneously are and aren't yourself. This is already an inherently uncanny experience. That's why a well-made horror game feels so claustrophobically like being locked inside a really bad -- by which I mean a really good -- nightmare." -Clive Thompson, Wired
There's something fascinating that goes on when you play a horror game. You dread what's around the corner but at the same time you're dying to see it. (Hopefully not literally.) I'm waist-deep in BioShock this week and I still jump out of my skin whenever I hear a noise. One time a neighbor knocked at the door and I jerked my head up. My first instinct: They're coming to get me. Play the BioShock Demo to get a taste for yourself.
Not all horror games are created equal. The real secret is creating tension and dread. What are the key ingredients? Here's a quick rundown of what I think makes a horror game stick out. Am I missing any? Mail me!
BioShock succeeds on all fronts, which is probably among the many reasons it's getting such rave reviews. If you play it, make sure you have clean underwear handy.
-Fargo
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