Survival Horror...
I am a huge fan of the survival horror genre of video games. Of course, the classic series is Resident Evil. There is also the Silent Hill series as well as other games out there that go into the survival horror category.
I actually enjoy both Silent Hill and Resident Evil for different reasons. Silent Hill simply because of its out and out creepiness, Resident Evil for its zombies, story, and characters.
Then there is a lesser known series called Fatal Frame, of which the third game has just been released. For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, it's a Japanese game by Tecmo. In the series, depending on the game, you follow one of three characters as they investigate very strange sites. In Fatal Frame, it's a mansion. In Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, you get the haunted village. In Fatal Frame III: The Tormented, you get to explore 3 different mansions.
However, this is not Resident Evil. You do not get shotguns, rocket launchers or pistols. In fact, those things would be absolutely worthless in this series considering the fact that you go up against a really nasty group of spirits. And your weapon of choice is... yes... wait for it... a camera.
Who the hell would create a game that revolves around a camera? This camera is basically something that has the ability to drain the energy of ghosts and spirits. It is able to see into the other side and actually has some neat tricks to it. I particularly enjoyed when you were able to do a 2 shot combo early on in one of the games and took down a ghost with it. Also, depending on how good of a shot it is, you get points which can then go back into your camera and improve its abilities.
I just picked up Fatal Frame 3 and I must say, it is very creepy. It in fact involves three characters, one new character and two returning characters from previous games. You don't need to know or play the other games to enjoy this one (unlike Resident Evil in some parts). Because most of the game happens in a dream state, you do wake up a lot to break the tension, but there are times when you're quite happy to have that break. Especially when you're in a very enclosed space and a little girl is coming after you with a hatchet in her hand.
That's one thing this game seems to do a lot of. Little girls grow up to be very nasty people. In the opening sequence there are four girls who in fact impale the main character in her feet and wrists... it was quite... disturbing.
Actually, the entire game is disturbing... now I need to get some sleep and hope to god I don't get drawn into a mansion like that one... ;)
I actually enjoy both Silent Hill and Resident Evil for different reasons. Silent Hill simply because of its out and out creepiness, Resident Evil for its zombies, story, and characters.
Then there is a lesser known series called Fatal Frame, of which the third game has just been released. For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, it's a Japanese game by Tecmo. In the series, depending on the game, you follow one of three characters as they investigate very strange sites. In Fatal Frame, it's a mansion. In Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, you get the haunted village. In Fatal Frame III: The Tormented, you get to explore 3 different mansions.
However, this is not Resident Evil. You do not get shotguns, rocket launchers or pistols. In fact, those things would be absolutely worthless in this series considering the fact that you go up against a really nasty group of spirits. And your weapon of choice is... yes... wait for it... a camera.
Who the hell would create a game that revolves around a camera? This camera is basically something that has the ability to drain the energy of ghosts and spirits. It is able to see into the other side and actually has some neat tricks to it. I particularly enjoyed when you were able to do a 2 shot combo early on in one of the games and took down a ghost with it. Also, depending on how good of a shot it is, you get points which can then go back into your camera and improve its abilities.
I just picked up Fatal Frame 3 and I must say, it is very creepy. It in fact involves three characters, one new character and two returning characters from previous games. You don't need to know or play the other games to enjoy this one (unlike Resident Evil in some parts). Because most of the game happens in a dream state, you do wake up a lot to break the tension, but there are times when you're quite happy to have that break. Especially when you're in a very enclosed space and a little girl is coming after you with a hatchet in her hand.
That's one thing this game seems to do a lot of. Little girls grow up to be very nasty people. In the opening sequence there are four girls who in fact impale the main character in her feet and wrists... it was quite... disturbing.
Actually, the entire game is disturbing... now I need to get some sleep and hope to god I don't get drawn into a mansion like that one... ;)