What is true survival horror and how has it evolved?

[Amag0k1]

Another post has gotten my thinking, and i cannot help but feel may be survival horror could be something different depending on the generation of player.

For me, survival horror has to fit a specific formula of atmospheric music and effects that compliments the environment, restrictive resources and camera angle, good story / mystery which should be built upon. Which Resident Evil and the Silent hill series seem to have down, making for a memorable experience.

So my question is, what is survival horror to you? And what games would you recommend that fit this category. As i wish to broaden my horizons.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I think since the 5th gen consoles, it definitely evolved into something even better because there's already a lot of great survival horror games for the 5th gen alone

Some are a bit obvious like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, but I think in terms of horror imagery, Baroque is one of the best at it

For 6th gen, again (Resident Evil and Silent Hill). But there's also other gems like Cold Fear, Fatal Frame series, Hunting Ground, Manhunt series, etc.

Then the 7th gen arrived where there's just tons of great survival horror. But what I've seen the most was definitely Dead Space, really peak survival horror for me

 

[ouyrtuy]

From what I know, everything started with the 2nd generation of gaming (1976–1992).

I watch Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN), and I remember episodes highlighting some of the earliest survival horror titles. One example is Haunted House on the Atari 2600. In this game, you're in a mansion haunted by bats, spiders, and ghosts. The goal is to collect pieces of an urn while avoiding these dangers. There are also puzzles, and you have matches to light your way, which can be considered an early form of resource management.

Another game I saw, which could also be considered an early survival horror title, is Friday the 13th on the NES. You explore Crystal Lake to rescue counselors and search for lighters to light fireplaces. You start by picking one of six counselors, and if the character you’re playing is killed, they’re gone for good, forcing you to pick another.

I'm not going to discuss Alone in the Dark and how survival horror evolved from there, but it’s clear that these early titles laid some foundational ideas for the genre.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I personally like to think that it all started with Alone in the Dark and that, for better or for worse, every game that came afterwards was a refining of that formula -- from the inventory management, to the awkward tank controls, to the extreme sense of the vulnerability, to the mostly-BS puzzles. It took quite a few years for games within the genre to try something even slightly different.

It's kinda fun that Alone In The Dark, Dune II and Doom all came out as industry standards for Survival Horror, strategy games and FPS around the same time.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I personally like to think that it all started with Alone in the Dark and that, for better or for worse, every game that came afterwards was a refining of that formula -- from the inventory management, to the awkward tank controls, to the extreme sense of the vulnerability, to the mostly-BS puzzles. It took quite a few years for games within the genre to try something even slightly different.

It's kinda fun that Alone In The Dark, Dune II and Doom all came out as industry standards for Survival Horror, strategy games and FPS around the same time.

Those games are really the foundation for the future of games

 

[Tonberry]

I think that for me, the most important part of survival horror games is the “survival” part. To make them really good you character should always feel like they’re the underdogs and have the odds stacked against them, forcing you to stay resourceful. Limited ammo, tank controls, overwhelming encounters, all the oppressive mechanics, provided they’re designed well of course!

Unless you’ve played the game a million times and know the best tricks, but you getting to style on the game for knowing the tricks should be seen as a good thing :)

 

[ouyrtuy]

Another post has gotten my thinking, and i cannot help but feel may be survival horror could be something different depending on the generation of player.

For me, survival horror has to fit a specific formula of atmospheric music and effects that compliments the environment, restrictive resources and camera angle, good story / mystery which should be built upon. Which Resident Evil and the Silent hill series seem to have down, making for a memorable experience.

So my question is, what is survival horror to you? And what games would you recommend that fit this category. As i wish to broaden my horizons.

Forgot to answer.... Survival horror is about surviving with limited resources. The atmosphere is frightening, and you feel vulnerable as a player, being careful not to get killed. It can belong to any genre, from JRPGs like Koudelka and Sweet Home to online asymmetric multiplayer games without a story, such as Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th: The Game (2017).
Here are some games I’d recommend that aren’t Silent Hill or Resident Evil:
The Evil Within, Fatal Frame and Deadly Premonition (because the character is a chain smoker like me).

 

[kanesha]

Sir, You Are Being Hunted is the game that made me really feel I'm surviving in the horrorness, more than the usual bunch. I think it's because of the procedurally generated open world. With more linear games I tend to abuse saves and try to figure out best way to beat the level, often reloading if I don't like an outcome of some engagement even if I didn't die, while this game forced me to come out of that shell and immerse myself in survival.

 

[Yousef Yousef]

You survive and it’s horrifying
Therefore Bubsy is survival horror