Poll: What makes for better horror?

[OneManBand]

I've been debating with myself lately trying to think of what makes for the best kind of horror in video games. Obviously since there are a lot of choice to go with and I'm rather biased I thought I'd open up a discussion and get some opinions from everyone.

Personally I'm a fan of suspense horror games. There is just something about being held that the edge of your seat wondering what you'll be facing next, not knowing if you'll be able to handle the next monster, and wishing there was a "hide under your blanket" option for some of the encounters.

At least if the suspense is done right. Too much suspense and the edge wears off, and if it's killed to soon, or done poorly then you're usually left with a Gore-Fest, or with Survival Horror, which while not being bad, doesn't give you that same easily squished and weak human feeling that good survival horror does.

 

[Fingolfin High-King of the Noldor]

I think the whole survival thing is terrifying. Thinking that no one else is alive but you and your all alone besides a few random people and....what ever happens to have infected and/or killed all the other people. I have never liked the ghost/monster horror thing.

Random voice: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!

Occupant: All right see you, it's been good.

I mean is that really so hard?

 

[OneManBand]

I think the whole survival thing is terrifying. Thinking that no one else is alive but you and your all alone besides a few random people and....what ever happens to have infected and/or killed all the other people. I have never liked the ghost/monster horror thing.

Random voice: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!

Occupant: All right see you, it's been good.

I mean is that really so hard?

No. Because almost everyone of those occupants is white. And everyone knows how we like to do stupid things. Like split up.

 

[Fingolfin High-King of the Noldor]

I think the whole survival thing is terrifying. Thinking that no one else is alive but you and your all alone besides a few random people and....what ever happens to have infected and/or killed all the other people. I have never liked the ghost/monster horror thing.

Random voice: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!

Occupant: All right see you, it's been good.

I mean is that really so hard?

No. Because almost everyone of those occupants is white. And everyone knows how we like to do stupid things. Like split up.

You raise a valid point.

 

[Clashero]

The perfect horror game would always LOOK like it's trying to kill you, but never quite accomplish it. Why? Because dying breaks immersion and suspension of disbelief, making you remember "Oh, it's a game". That falling rafter won't scare you again after you reload your last save when you die, so the game should attempt to not kill you. What's the catch? If the game gets too easy then you'll see right through it ("oh, so it's only making me think I'm in danger"). It's difficult to balance perceived threat versus real threat. If a game is always creepy, 100% of the time, you're always alert, which after some hours into the game makes it less scary overall. You should have a false sense of safety in some areas. Stay too long in those "safe" areas, and you'll be attacked again (Fatal Frame III is the perfect example... if you stay too long in any area, Kyouka the unkillable Ghost-lady who is very keen on touching you in a very deadly way, will appear, and you can only run until she gives up on you). Also, some parts of the game should have some sense of urgency. Again, like in Fatal Frame III, there's a point in the game where you get a Candle. If the candle runs out, the world turns monochromatic and Kyouka can appear anywhere, as well as you being more likely to be attacked. This means you have to move, fast. Combat should be enough to get you by, but not the main means of overcoming your enemies. The game should emphasize running or hiding. I swear this is the last time I'll cite Fatal Frame III as an example, but when you play as Kei, you can hide from ghosts and, especially, Kyouka. Here the game is very good at providing perceived danger: when Kyouka passes by your hiding spot, she'll stop and look directly at where you are, then goes away.. My heart was pounding so hard that I was sure she'd hear it through the TV screen.
No religious references, no secret cults, no slasher villains.

 

[sgtshock]

I voted suspense horror. Some of the scariest games I've ever played; the Thief games, FEAR (though that was somewhat action horror), and Afraid of Monsters (mod for Half-Life 1) scare the crap out of you not with sudden shocks or buckets of gore (well, again, Fear has that too), but with genuine dread of what's around the next corner.