With Dead Space 2's launch a day away, we polled our Twitter community to find out what elements of video games truly inspire fear in players. Read on for their thoughts.
Dead Space fever is overtaking the GamePro office, and the editors here are getting in their time with the game before spoilers ruin the scares. Before the game hits the general public, we posed the following question regarding the ability of games to create fear. Here's the question.
With Dead Space 2 coming out this week, we want to know--what's the best way for games to instill fear in you? Best answers posted online.less than a minute ago via TweetDeck
GamePro
A few respondents took a more humorous or offbeat approach to the question. Here are the more unintentional fear-mongers.
@GamePro Have the text "EA" somewhere on the case.less than a minute ago via web
AKnifeAndACoke
@GamePro Crashing on me midgame. That makes pits in my stomach real quick.less than a minute ago via TweetDeck
SurielVazquez
@GamePro The best way for games to instill fear in me: be addictive to the point where I'll get a RROD or YLOD.less than a minute ago via web
Fat_bot
As for the remainder of the replies, one prevalent method seemed bear mention the most--sound. Here's the readers who support that fashion of scare-production:
@GamePro Ominous music partnered with sharp and sudden sound effects... basically just use Resident Evil 2 as a cookie cutter title.less than a minute ago via web
bdavid81
@GamePro Easy. Through sound. I have to say Dead Space knows when to turn on the sound and when to turn it off as well.less than a minute ago via Echofon
Rating__Pending
@gamepro Use creepy sounds to build tension, and keep ammo/weapons in short supply. 1st part of CB's Undying on PC did this really well.less than a minute ago via HootSuite
ARConklin
@GamePro Something deadly I can hear but cannot see is a sure fire way to scare me. Optional: sneaking around it without being detected.less than a minute ago via web
BlazeHedgehog
A few more ways of instilling fear were brought up amongst the GamePro fanbase. Here's the best of the rest:
@GamePro Atmosphere and the unknown. No cheap scares can get me as much as a dim room with creepy noises. Also little girls singing off key.less than a minute ago via RockMelt
rustu
@GamePro A suspenseful build up, with shadows on the wall and brief glimpses before we finally see what has been hounding us all along...less than a minute ago via Echofon
Wintrale
@GamePro In my experience, the best survival horror games are the ones that make you feel vulnerable. No weapons and Weakness are key!less than a minute ago via web
OrenGiladi
As you can see by the general consensus of the replies, the non-visual elements are key to creating a scary video game experience. While gross and giant creatures are certainly welcome, developers have to present said monster in the perfect way to truly frighten gamers. A suspense-filled buildup with shadows, sparse music, and strange audio effects are tantamount to making a monster ten times your size. With the increase in visual horsepower on the current consoles, sometimes less is more.
What do you think of the responses above? Do you have an opinion you'd like to add? Please continue the conversation by responding in the comment section below or by replying to GamePro on Twitter.
Source: Daily News from GamePro.com
Tuesday, January 25, 2011