Survival Horror Game Traditions Revealed

Summary

Limited Supplies – Only Enough Resources to Scrape By Amp Up the Intensity
Safe Rooms – Moments to Breathe During Horrific Adventures
Creepy Audio Design – Best-In-The-Industry Audio Design Amplifies the Horrors

The original “Resident Evil” from 1996 is often acknowledged as the forerunner of the survival horror genre, a recognition it has maintained ever since. Over the years, these games have changed and grown with the times, but they continue to uphold many of the traditions and trends that were initially set in the 90s. These timeless elements have not only shaped the genre’s identity but also its fundamental gameplay mechanics.

Regardless if these games are based in a remote village, a spooky mansion, or an eerie mining facility in space, they consistently incorporate unique gameplay mechanics to maintain tension during the harrowing journey. It’s advisable to gather ammunition and medical supplies as we delve into the conventions that have shaped the survival horror genre into its chilling form today.

8. Limited Supplies

Giving Players Just Enough Resources To Scrape By Amps Up The Intensity

In survival horror games, it’s important to keep resources scarce because if a player has too much ammo, they won’t feel scared. This scarcity encourages players to thoroughly search each room for any extra ammunition or supplies that might help them survive until the next area.

Frequently, I find that the difficulty settings in these games significantly influence how scarce resources like ammo and health are distributed to me as a player. Consequently, those seeking the ultimate challenge often find themselves in precarious situations with just a handful of bullets at their disposal. This pattern consistently leaves me feeling woefully unprepared for what lies ahead, ratcheting up the tension in the core gameplay experience.

7. Safe Rooms

Rooms That Give Players A Moment To Breath During The Horrific Adventure

It’s fortunate that many survival horror games provide players with a respite during gameplay through Safe Rooms. As the name suggests, these spaces are off-limits to enemies, providing a sanctuary for players to manage their inventory and strategize their next steps without interruption from creatures. The concept of Safe Rooms was initially introduced in Resident Evil, where several were scattered throughout the Spencer Mansion. Since then, they have been a common feature in nearly every survival horror game that followed.

In some instances, these areas may not be traditional rooms at all, like in the initial Alan Wake game where they manifested as streetlights offering protection against enemies influenced by darkness. Nowadays, such areas have become so integral that their absence is often viewed as a bold decision by developers, since they are the rare moments when players can take a break.

6. Creepy Audio Design

Survival Horror Games Have Some Of The Best Audio Design In The Industry

In the game creation process, audio design plays a crucial role, particularly in survival horror games, as players typically explore largely silently. Consequently, subtle sounds like a faint knock or drip can instill fear within the player, while enhancing the ominous atmosphere that permeates the gaming experience.

The sound design in Silent Hill 2 truly raised the bar, using a blend of unsettling and bizarre sounds to instill fear even when no enemies were visible on screen. Other series such as Fatal Frame, System Shock, and Dead Space (particularly the remake) are also known for their exceptional use of audio, with players often hearing Necromorphs scuttling through vents while they pursue Isaac.

5. Stalker Enemies

The Stalker Enemy Types Has Become Synonymous With The Survival Horror Genre

In fast-paced action games or FPS shooters, a stalking enemy wouldn’t fit well due to their slow and stealthy nature. However, these fearsome creatures are ideally suited for survival horror genres where players are frequently vulnerable and underprepared against larger opponents. To be classified as a stalker enemy, they should be designed to roam specific areas of the game environment, making it challenging for the player to move freely, and they must also be indestructible, forcing players to employ stealth tactics to avoid them.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve noticed that while some survival horror games like “Alien Isolation” and “Haunting Ground” make their stalker enemy a central focus, others such as “Dead Space” and “The Evil Within” incorporate them for specific sequences throughout gameplay. Regardless of the approach, these terrifying figures have become a staple in this genre, consistently heightening the suspense whenever they appear on screen.

4. Puzzles

A Quick Puzzle Can Help Bring Diversity To The Core Gameplay Loop

In today’s fast-paced gaming world, puzzles aren’t as common as they once were, given their tendency to slow down the action. Yet, they remain a staple in survival horror games, fitting perfectly with the deliberate and tense playstyle these games are famous for. Puzzles provide an engaging twist, ensuring that gameplay remains fresh and never feels monotonous or dull. As a gamer, I appreciate the challenge and variety they bring to the table.

It’s common knowledge that puzzles can vary greatly in complexity, from simple and quick brain teasers to intricate and challenging ones that might need multiple items or keys for solution. Notably, the game Silent Hill 2 was particularly famous for its tough puzzles, leading many subsequent survival horror games to make their puzzles less demanding yet still thought-provoking.

3. Save Points

There’s No Greater Feeling Than Stumbling Across A Save Point After A Long And Grueling Adventure

Despite the rise of auto-save features in video games, survival horror classics like Resident Evil have consistently incorporated designated save spots, a characteristic that defines the genre. For instance, Resident Evil pioneered this trend with typewriters, which could only be used if players had ink ribbons to document their advancement. The strategic placement of these save points creates tension among players as they leave safe zones, since they never know where the next one will appear or if they can reach it in their current condition.

In games like Alien Isolation and Dead Space, safe rooms are often where players can save their progress without immediate threat from enemies. However, it isn’t always certain that these safe zones will provide complete safety; there’s still a risk that an enemy might attack before the player successfully saves.

2. Terrifying Enemy Designs

Mutants, Aliens, Zombies; Survival Horror Games Have Conjured Up All Sorts Of Horrifying Freaks

Survival horror games are known for featuring some of the most disturbing and frightening character designs in video games. From the many-armed extraterrestrials to compulsive trolls, enormous mutants, and even humans transformed by darkness, game developers have a lot of creative freedom when designing the roster of enemies for a new horror title.

In most survival horror games outside the F.E.A.R series, players seldom encounter ordinary humans as adversaries. Instead, these games prefer to introduce more bizarre and terrifying enemies. This is because it’s generally scarier to have enemies that are outlandishly designed. Additionally, many of these games put a lot of effort into creating formidable bosses, such as Laura from The Evil Within and the Abstract Daddy from Silent Hill 2, which are among the scariest bosses in gaming.

1. Vulnerable Protagonists

Protagonists Must Always Feel Like A Helpless Fish Out Of Water For A Game To Feel Scary

In survival horror games, characters like Leon and Isaac may be skilled with guns, but they should always seem outmatched and vulnerable, as if they were a fish out of water. They often find themselves at a disadvantage, either physically unable to defend themselves (as in the case of Alyssa from Clock Tower 3 or Miles from Outlast) or unaware of the horrors lurking just around the corner.

This implies that the main character often sustains heavy injuries during encounters with adversaries, thereby keeping players perpetually on edge when navigating through each fresh locale. Making the player feel this vulnerable is a crucial element in what makes survival horror games so spine-chilling, further reinforcing the ominous and eerie atmosphere of the gameplay experience.

2025-02-11 09:34