Summary
Horror games are a dime a dozen in the modern day, especially inthe indie scene. As fans of the genre, players are spoiled for choice in almost all directions. Survival-horror games, such asResident EvilandSilent Hill, have proven to be particularly popular over the years.
Action-horror games also have their place, with games such as the originalDead Spacebeing among the best ones available. While combat is generally antithetical to horror games, as it can make them less terrifying than they would otherwise be,combat-focused horror gamescan offer players a unique experience.
This co-operative first-person shooter has players blasting through hordes of undead enemies, working together to complete objectives and take down the occasional special enemy.Left 4 Dead 2is incredibly focused on both ranged and melee combat, and although it doesn’t feature the most fleshed-out system, it’s a consistently fun and chaotic experience. This is especially so when the game is played with friends, which the title is essentially designed for.
Left 4 Dead 2isn’ta particularly scary game, especially for those familiar with the horror genre, but it provides a tremendous amount of replay value thanks to its extensive content and mod support. The special enemies, as well as the wide array of environments, add plenty of variety to each combat encounter. Furthermore, many of the special enemies force players to work together in order to survive, as gamers will frequently be incapacitated by them.
Arguably not the best entry intheResident Evilfranchise,Resident Evil 5is somewhat divisive for its further departure from the traditional structure of the series.Resident Evil 4took the series in a dramatically different direction with its over-the-shoulder gameplay and focus on action, andResident Evil 5took things even further.Resident Evil 5is even more focused on combat than its predecessor, with the game’s structure being mostly built around sequential encounters with large groups of enemies. Resources are still limited, but it’s not nearly as much as previous titles, reducing the horror and increasing the action in equal measure.
Resident Evil 5is action-packed from minute-one, full to the brim with ludicrous boss fights and set-pieces, interspersed with cheesy B-movie cutscenes that progress the loose narrative. It should be noted thatResident Evil 5is also much better when played with a friend, as players won’t have to rely on the artifical intelligence of Sheva, the game’s secondary protagonist.
Known much more for its visceral first-person shooter action than its elements of horror,F.E.A.R.is a naturally combat-oriented approach to horror.F.E.A.R.’s gameplay is held together bya bullet-time mechanicand well-crafted AI opponents that, at the very least, appear to be working together. The environments ofF.E.A.R.are fairly repetitive, but the visual effects during combat make each encounter feel intense and chaotic. This results in some truly electric gunfights, which are interspersed with short horror segments to throw the player off guard.
The aforementioned visual effects are arguably what makesF.E.A.R.shine so brightly; debris shooting everywhere, smoke billowing, sparks flying, and explosions setting off rippling shock-waves in slow-motion makeF.E.A.R.’s combat a tremendously engaging and frequently chaotic experience. As mentioned,F.E.A.R.isn’t the scariest horror game around, but it’s got enough in the way of jump scares and supernatural weirdness to put some players on edge.
Condemned: Criminal Originsis a distinctive survival-horror game with brutal first-person melee combat. In the game, players must scavenge a variety of melee weapons from the environment in order to fight, and enemies will frequently do the same. Players must carefully manage their stamina while timing their attacks and blocks, parrying enemies to stun them. It’s simple but immersive. Combat is a frequent occurrence, but it’s over in a matter of moments, thanks to hard-hitting weapons and well-designed encounters that keep things moving at a fast pace.
AlthoughCondemneddoes feature a select few firearms, players will often have to rely on melee weapons, making their survival dependent on their awareness. This results in a frequently immersive experience, drawing the player into its grimy world and elevating the horror. Themeaty melee combatis a large part of what makesCondemned: Criminal Originsstand out from the survival-horror crowd. However, it’s the game’s grungy aesthetic and grimy, claustrophobic environments that provide an expertly-crafted playground for its mechanics.
This immensely divisive survival-horror FPS is practically infamous for its horror elements.DOOM 3was a drastic departure fromtheDOOMfranchise, breaking tradition to include reloading, slow player movement, and an emphasis on horror that not everyone appreciated at the time. However, these mechanics result in a trulyimmersive horror gamethat doesn’t always offer the most terrifying experience but frequently catches players off guard with well-placed jump scares and visceral combat encounters.
AlthoughDOOM 3doesn’t offer the breakneck action of its predecessors, it’s still a combat-focused experience. In the game, players blast their way through a dubious research facility on Mars, crawling through vents and navigating through dark and creepy corridors along the way. This blend of intense horror and explosive combat makesDOOM 3a particularly unique horror game, even if it’s not for everyone.
