going crazy trying to finish their masterpiece. This game will
have you wondering if you'll die in game after returning to
changed environments or from the anxiety you are experiencing bracing for the next jump-scare.
Adventurous Archaeology: If puzzle solving and atmosphere are your must-haves, also try out these classics: "7th
Guest/11th Hour," "Phantasmagoria," "Vampire the Masquerade:Bloodlines" (the hotel scenario!!!), "Harvester" (if you
love campy schlock and over the top gross outs), "I Have No
Mouth And I Must Scream" (if character development/moral
choice is something you look for).
1. System Shock 2
Sometimes a game comes along and delicately balaces and mixes all the right features and all-round quality
in order to create what may be the most frightening sci-fi/
horror game ever created. This is the game that all others
in the genre strive to be. The feelings of urgency, isolation,
occasional helplessness and claustrophobia all contribute to
a continous uneasy feeling which grows into a chill that stays
running down your spine the entire game while you grip the
edge of your seat. The audiologs and announcements from
Xerxes and SHODAN make the spine chills spread through
out your body as the ghosts of fallen shipmates play out their
last panicked and confused moments. This tension never lets
up, and the RPG elements of this game ensure reply value as
well as act as a great equalizer for all the enemies and other
obstacles which will pose a constant threat -- especially if ill
prepared! While the graphics are dated, there are fan made
updates which make the game more visually appealing
as well as rumors of a remastering of both System
Shock 1 & 2. There is also the long awaited "System Shock 3" in development as we speak. If
you want to experience a truly frightening game,
and can look past the dated graphics, I cannot recommend a game more! Don't just take my word for it
either, "Bioshock," "Dead Space," and even "Doom 3" were
heavily inspired by this masterpiece. In fact there are several
scenes from "Doom 3" which seem to directly parallel this
game.
Of course there are many other options, gameplay
genres, and popular series out there in the world of horror
games, but these games still have some scare in them. Abandoning us in these universes, now that is truly horror!