Friday, 20 November 2009

• Truly Creepy Games

  
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  For a similar topic and for the sake of revisiting of a good post, check out Konrad's list of scariest games.
  
  It's the time of year when the days just keep getting shorter and colder. By five, it looks like it's ten and the waking world takes on a slightly more eerie atmosphere. But hey, some people like to feel a little creeped out, right? It's that thought that's gotten me thinking about some of the scariest games I've ever come into contact with.
  
  I've spent a good deal of my time on this planet being a gamer, but only a handful of games have made me want to keep the lights on at night. That, I think, is the best indicator of whether a game has achieved true creepiness. If it startles me, makes me shiver, or has me looking over my shoulder at the door of my bedroom, I know the game has done its job.
  
  Now then, what games have gotten it right over the years? Here's a few:
  
  

  
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  Friday The 13th (NES) - The first (and only time) I played this was at a sleepover when I was seven. That was enough. The very idea of a killer out to get you was scary enough at that age, but this game added a whole lot more to that equation. Between its incredible difficulty and the random messages that one of your friends had been murdered, this game gave new meaning to the phrase "Life sucks and then you die".
  
  

  
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  Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES) - This was actually a pretty deep game for its time, blending platforming, exploration and RPG elements into one pretty scary package. The game had a day/night system, where at night the enemies became more numerous, stronger, and more concerned with killing you. Even during the day when Simon walks into the game's various towns, the people act really sketchy, giving you vague information, and some even flat out lie to you. This one (again, as a youngin') definitely left me feeling a little jumpy.
  
  

  
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  Resident Evil (PS1) - The first game in the Resident Evil series most certainly solidified itself as one of the most frightening games of its age. Think about it - you're a police officer, alone in a massive mansion with limited resources and ravenous zombies waiting in all of the dark, scary corners. Plus, every so often you find a some rambling diary or piece of paperwork that adds to the mystery. That feeling of not knowing what's in the next room or how long your bullets will hold out really added to the suspense.
  
  Of course, four or five sequels and several spin-offs later, the series has lost some of its initial freak-out factor, but they still offer enough thrills and chills to stay at the head of the pack.
  
  Perhaps the main reason I mention these three is that they I encountered them all fairly early in my gaming career, so their thrills and atmospheres were still fresh and, with the exception of Friday The 13th, worth playing because of that. However, also of note are games like Silent Hill, Doom 3 and BioShock, all of which are unique on their own and certainly all have moments that still make my skin crawl.
  
  What games creep you out?
  
  

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