Something that I have been looking into a lot lately since it is getting close to Halloween is what will provide similar effects that come with the use of a laxative. Gross, but that is the level of being scared needed. During my search for these games, I have come across a few that have a lot of qualities that I look for in a new generation of horror: setting of being alone, creepy and deep sounds, and the intense fear of the unknown.
SOMA
SOMA just released a few days ago from Frictional Games, the creators of Amnesia the Dark Descent, after watching some game play, I can say with its use of environment and story I would crap. One, the environment is located underneath the ocean (water is scary) on the PATHOS II base. Two, robots. So untrustworthy and full of Satan, and what adds to the creep factor is that they believe that they are human. Three, the people, who is sane and who will you run into is just terrifying in itself. Reviews have been promising, people are scared, which means its working.
Layers of Fear
Though still in its early access phase on steam, Layers of Fear brings something unique to the table. You play as a painter who is essentially insane and work through the development of his insanity. It is a trippy looking game as the camera changes as your surroundings do and it is always a surprise. With headphones in you are even more immersed in the environment as you discover the mystery of yourself. The sound is crazy, you are crazy, it’s all crazy. The environment is absolutely gorgeous and has a dark, Victorian feel to it, which in my opinion is one of the perfect settings for a creepy vibe.
Allison Road
I came across Allison Road on the Youtube Channel SHN Survival Horror because they labeled it as a game inspired by the P.T. demo. Out of curiosity I watched the alpha gameplay and was hooked. You are exploring the mystery of the disappearance of a girl while being pursued by Lily. Lily is a scary lady, kind of like a combination of a Witch from Left 4 Dead and something from a J horror movie. The use of the Unreal 4 engine creates such a realistic environment; it makes you feel as if you would be in someone’s actual home. The ambiance is intense. Just watching the video gave me goose bumps. This game is on Kickstarter and has an incredibly detailed explanation of the process and samples of the soundtrack and the process of building the story. I backed this project, because it has all the potential to be successful and poo inducing.
Each of these games has so many elements that create the perfect environments to foster the growth of fear. If I sweat a bit watching just some gameplay I can’t imagine how I will react to full gameplay with headphones on in the dark. SOMA is available on Steam for $29.99 and on the PS4 as well. The early access for Layers of Fear on Steam is $9.99. Allison Road is set for release December 2016 and is still looking for backers, the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/allisonroad/allison-road-first-person-next-gen-survival-horror
Article by Meghan (@collins_m81 on Twitter)
