252
rate

Why Do We Feel Scared For Survival Horror Characters?

June 07, 2008 in Blog comments 8

When we play a Survival Horror game we want to feel scared. Not only for ourselves, but for the character we are playing as.

But what actually makes us scared for Survival Horror characters? Why do we want them to live through the horrors that they are faced with? And what happens if we aren't scared for them?

Chris, from Chris's Survival Horror Quest, takes a look at why gamers feel genuinely scared for their survival horror protagonists.

Go to source for full article

As horror cinema and literature has taught us, it is important that the player feel that they are constantly in danger, and that the possibility of death looms around every corner. Using a frail-looking character thus enables designers to achieve scares with less effort, as we have little trouble believing that the ghosts in Fatal Frame would make short work of a college student like Miku.

Even if the character looks weak and vulnerable, several developers have taken explicit steps to further hamper their character’s fighting prowess. In Silent Hill, Harry is a lousy shot, and it takes him several seconds to aim. In Eternal Darkness, the protagonist’s fighting and magic abilities are offset by the insanity effects that plague the player throughout the game.
The goal of these choices is to render the player more vulnerable and thus increase the amount of tension generated by the game.
Miss Razz via dreamdawn.com »
Favourite this article Add source
| More
Report!
News story attached to:
Images about this story:

Comments

Register as a member to subscribe comments.
  • 0
    Mario_1* Jun 7, 08
    Because Leon Kennedy and Ada Wong are cool characters, and I don't want them to die.

    But I'm even more scared for Albert Wesker. What if that virus inside him eventually screws him up?
  • 0
    Mia Jun 7, 08
    Those gu are cool. They need to be able to stick around for as long as we need them.
  • 0
    Seeker X Jun 7, 08
    This is the reason why Survival horror is what it *bleep*ing is. An average person surviving against some bad odds, makes you feel kinda related to the person. What makes the game even better is when the main playable characters start dying one by one, ala Siren.
    • 0
      Miss Razz Jun 8, 08
      That's what the article is talking about ... There are two survival horror "categories": The games where you play as an average-joe who survives against bad odds (e.g. Silent Hill and Fatal Frame), and the games where you play as a trained cop or army guy who goes in blasting up everything like there's no tomorrow (e.g. Resident Evil).

      - - -

      Personally I always feel more scared for the average-joes. Games like Silent Hill and Fatal Frame have me shittin' myself scared because you know that these people could easily die in real life. They have no weapons experience, no training, no special abilities. It also helps the scare-factor when they only have weapons like Golf Clubs, Baseball Bats, Cameras, Handbags, etc.
      It's damn scary trying to fend off monsters twice the size of your character with only a Wooden Plank to defend yourself with.

      I enjoy Resident Evil, but it's hard to feel scared for the characters when they have all the weapons in the world and are fully trained in combat. The only times I'm really packing myself is when they're running low on ammo (which hadn't been something that happens often in recent RE games).
      • 0
        Seeker X Jun 8, 08
        Agreed. There's one issue I gotta point out though...it's hard to worry for the main character because you KNOW he/she is not going to die. The main thing that kept me worried for the characters in Siren is because not only were they vulnerable, the storyline has some of those characters actually DYING. Not ONLY dying but they come back to try to kill YOU, personally I think that's a hell of a scare tactic that more survival horror games should practice.
        • 0
          Miss Razz Jun 8, 08
          Yeah, that's another thing I like about the Silent Hill and Fatal Frame games too. There's no guarantee of survival. The main character might die at the end of the game, or the person they are protecting might die. There's a genuine feeling of "OMG! No matter how hard I try, they might never get out of this!"
  • 0
    The Primagen Jun 7, 08
    I'm only ever scared for the girls, because they somehow seem more vulnerable.

    BUT..

    There are female characters who can take out a platoon of rifle wielding zombies should the need arise.
  • 0
    theundertakergonzo* Jun 8, 08
    Well i agree, it does make you fear for the character but i wouldn't say fear as in nearly cry if they get attacked or what not. It's just a good fun game.

This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.