Throwing down the gauntlet, I need anyone to help me find a game very similar to another series....

[Swift24]

I am going to be straight up about it. I have been hard at work, for YEARS to find a game very similar to atmosphere, story, and general gameplay feel ever since I played Parasite Eve. No game over the years has came close, and that depresses me. It's not like Parasite Eve was ever some ground breaking game or anything, but for some reason I can NOT explain it struck such a chord with me that I just love it. It really did have a detrimental disappointing affect on me when I learned that a true sequel was reduced to a handheld I will never own.

It used to never be an issue to play pretty much anything I wanted, but now that I am older and am pulling 14 hour shifts at my job, I just can't do that anymore. My off time is extremely valuable and I don't get a lot of it.

With that said, I don't mind listing some stuff I have played through that I ALSO liked, but I want something dark and heavy with story. Whether it be narrative focused or tells it's story through atmosphere.

I have played so many games over the years, so the only hope I have in throwing out my interests is to list stuff recently that I loved to death:

-I love the Silent Hill series. The only thing keeping me from downpour is I want to wait for it's price to fall a bit. The reviews make it feel like a gamble.

-Fatal Frame series was amazing, but I don't think they make them anymore, and I know they don't for 360.

-L.A. Noire. Different kind of ilk, but I loved it all the same.

-Both the Condemned's.

-Used to love Resident Evil, can't go back to that anymore. It went the way of Action.

-Loved the clock towers.

-Loved forbidden Siren.

-Didn't care for Alan Wake.

-Haven't played deadly premonition yet but I ordered it.

-Played Penumbra and F.E.A.R and anything that followed them. Didn't care for them.

-Bioshock was lost on me.

I only own an xbox360 and a pc currently, which is a shame, cause there are quite a few sony exclusives that I really liked. Oh well. For those not familiar with Parasite Eve, I strongly suggest if you own a playstation you pick it up. It really is a great game. Elements of that game were a heavy emphasis on rpg elements as well as heavy with atmosphere and a phenomenal soundtrack.

ANY feedback and help would be appreciated more than you can ever believe.

 

[Swift24]

A friendly bump for a final shot at feedback.

 

[TyrunnAlberyn]

Edit: Or apparently I can't read. Amnesia followed Penumbra, so you have played that I assume?

Well, if atmosphere and story are important to you, I can also suggest Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (with fan patches to fix the bugs). It is rather more RPG-ey than most of the other titles you mentioned, but it does also seem to have the things you crave.

 

[lacktheknack]

The problem is that you're looking for a truly atmospheric horror game. That's rare nowadays, even in the indie scene. The best recommendation I can give is Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but that's probably too visceral.

I'd also recommend The Path, but it's VERY hit-and-miss on whether you like it or not, and isn't good for people who don't have time to sit around and accomplish nothing.

 

[BreakfastMan]

Now, I have a rather... Unorthodox suggestion, but I think it works nonetheless. That suggestion is the most recent Batman games from Rocksteady. More specifically, Arkham Asylum. The game is dripping in a heavy, almost gothic atmosphere. Everything from the architecture to the audio diaries really helps to contribute to the atmosphere.

Also, check out the STALKER games, Metro 2033, and EYE: Divine Cybermancy. All dripping in a dark atmosphere, and all quite good.

Finally, I would say the 2 Dead Space games, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, Sanitarium (available through GOG), Chronicles of Riddick, and the first Darkness game are also worth a look for you. Hope those help.

 

[Rawne1980]

As someone said above, atmospheric horror is pretty rare at the moment.

Parasite Eve was a great game. The first 2 Resident Evil's and Silent Hills were also good for that edgy bit of tension.

The main problem with horror games now is they went the way of action like you say. They swapped out atmosphere with cheap shock horror which doesn't build an atmosphere it just means after a couple of jump shocks you know it's coming.

Amnesia is pretty decent but thats about it.

 

[random281]

Have you tried Parasite Eve 2? It's Currently available on PSN or PS1 if you can find a copy.

I think you'll find it's surprising similar.

 

[Wuffykins]

Damn. If it wasn't for the fact it's fairly difficult to track down a copy and it takes some tweaking to get running on a modern system, I'd say go play System Shock 2. That is a game with plenty of atmosphere to go around.

As for games that are probably easier to get a hold of, unfortunately I can't think of anything at the moment.

 

[Swift24]

Edit: Or apparently I can't read. Amnesia followed Penumbra, so you have played that I assume?

Well, if atmosphere and story are important to you, I can also suggest Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (with fan patches to fix the bugs). It is rather more RPG-ey than most of the other titles you mentioned, but it does also seem to have the things you crave.

I always get recommended Vampire and Call of Cthulu the most, I haven't touched Vampire yet, but I plan on doing so very soon, I have already played Cthulu. Sorry about the confusion, but yeah I have played Amnesia as well.

The problem is that you're looking for a truly atmospheric horror game. That's rare nowadays, even in the indie scene. The best recommendation I can give is Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but that's probably too visceral.

I'd also recommend The Path, but it's VERY hit-and-miss on whether you like it or not, and isn't good for people who don't have time to sit around and accomplish nothing.

The Path? Do tell me more! I never heard of the name before.

Now, I have a rather... Unorthodox suggestion, but I think it works nonetheless. That suggestion is the most recent Batman games from Rocksteady. More specifically, Arkham Asylum. The game is dripping in a heavy, almost gothic atmosphere. Everything from the architecture to the audio diaries really helps to contribute to the atmosphere.

Also, check out the STALKER games, Metro 2033, and EYE: Divine Cybermancy. All dripping in a dark atmosphere, and all quite good.

Finally, I would say the 2 Dead Space games, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, Sanitarium (available through GOG), Chronicles of Riddick, and the first Darkness game are also worth a look for you. Hope those help.

Wow, Arkham Asylum? I never got that one before. It's really strange that I haven't touched it yet cause I have always been a batman fan. I can't believe I forgot to list Metro 2033 though. That part with the one monster stalking you in that abandoned burned library I think it was is striking really close to what I meant. Never heard of EYE, and I haven't touched the STALKERS. Awesome recommendations all the same! I recognize Sanitarium by name, but I will have to look at pictures later: I may have played that but just haven't committed anything to memory from it.

Have you tried Parasite Eve 2? It's Currently available on PSN or PS1 if you can find a copy.

I think you'll find it's surprising similar.

Eh, I played it and all, but it lacked a certain "umph" the first had. Both great games, but it kind of lacks to the original. Sequel curse. I know. D:

Damn. If it wasn't for the fact it's fairly difficult to track down a copy and it takes some tweaking to get running on a modern system, I'd say go play System Shock 2. That is a game with plenty of atmosphere to go around.

As for games that are probably easier to get a hold of, unfortunately I can't think of anything at the moment.

I get System Shock as a healthy recommendation from close friends, but I could never get that game to work on my system. XD

 

[lacktheknack]

The problem is that you're looking for a truly atmospheric horror game. That's rare nowadays, even in the indie scene. The best recommendation I can give is Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but that's probably too visceral.

I'd also recommend The Path, but it's VERY hit-and-miss on whether you like it or not, and isn't good for people who don't have time to sit around and accomplish nothing.

The Path? Do tell me more! I never heard of the name before.

It's Little Red Riding Hood, six times over, at different ages. Each Red Riding Hood has a wildly different personality and trapping, which manifests in her own personal wolf.

For each, you arrive at the end of a road where it devolves into a trodden path. Your instructions are "Get to Grandmother's house, and stay on the path!"

Doing this will make you fail, and you'll have to try again.

Instead, you have to wander around OFF of the path, looking at the various things scattered throughout the woods around you. I wouldn't dream of spoiling some of the stuff that goes down, but I will say that it's a big study in atmosphere and foreboding, and not much else. I personally love it, but I have friends who dismiss it as hipster "gaems arr arrt" junk, and I can really see why. Tale of Tales has a nasty reputation as the ultimate in obscurist hardly-a-game experimentation.

If you're still curious, try the Steam demo. If that hooks you, try the whole thing - it's ten bucks.