Wolfenstein 3-D. Back in the days when PCs didn't have sound cards (well, mine didn't), so the sound effects consisted of speaker chirps.
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When was the last time a game scared you?
- Thread starter Huntn
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Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals.
The clothes, the 8 bit music, the DOS platform. Scary.
The clothes, the 8 bit music, the DOS platform. Scary.
They are definitely few and far between. I really only ever played these scary games when I was completely alone, in the dark, and usually after midnight.
1. Silent Hill
- First time I played this, some friends decided it would be a good idea to take a generator out to an local abandoned 'haunted' granary and play Silent Hill there all night. This granary was out in the middle of nowhere, fairly far away from civilization. The top floor was entirely covered in small animal bones (probably having been the home to many owls and/or birds of prey over the decades), so it was a bit unnerving walking around with the constant crunch of bones under your feet. The local legend was that this granary had been used by some small satanic-worshipping cult (probably a small group of rebellious teens), who had painted all the usual cultish symbols all over the walls - pentagrams/etc. Suffice it to say, that was one of the most intense experiences of my life.
2. Alien vs Predator
- I watched "Aliens" by James Cameron when I was very very young. So there was some basal fear already installed in me when playing that game. Something about the strobe-lights and watching the motion sensor blip away at some threat that really could come from anywhere for you at lightning speed.
2. Doom 3
- Mostly attributed to the amazing graphics when it came out, it doesn't really freak me out today the way it used to. It was really easy to get sucked into the environments back in release.
1. Silent Hill
- First time I played this, some friends decided it would be a good idea to take a generator out to an local abandoned 'haunted' granary and play Silent Hill there all night. This granary was out in the middle of nowhere, fairly far away from civilization. The top floor was entirely covered in small animal bones (probably having been the home to many owls and/or birds of prey over the decades), so it was a bit unnerving walking around with the constant crunch of bones under your feet. The local legend was that this granary had been used by some small satanic-worshipping cult (probably a small group of rebellious teens), who had painted all the usual cultish symbols all over the walls - pentagrams/etc. Suffice it to say, that was one of the most intense experiences of my life.
2. Alien vs Predator
- I watched "Aliens" by James Cameron when I was very very young. So there was some basal fear already installed in me when playing that game. Something about the strobe-lights and watching the motion sensor blip away at some threat that really could come from anywhere for you at lightning speed.
2. Doom 3
- Mostly attributed to the amazing graphics when it came out, it doesn't really freak me out today the way it used to. It was really easy to get sucked into the environments back in release.
Marathon 2 scared me the other night. Pitch black in the house, headphones on. One minute, you hear ambient sounds, the next is the noise of a Pfhor shock staff in your back.
That's about as sad as me paying $82 for Final Fantasy II back then. The game rocked, but still...$80?!
Hell yeah, btw i have a gamecube that i have only used for a couple days and has been sitting in a box for the rest of its life.
Want it? 
rezenclowd3
macrumors 65816
Silent Hill: The Room was the last one to scare me, only because of the environments.
Dead Space had potential, at least the gameplay was pretty good, enough so I am going through my 2nd playthrough.
Due to my age at the time, Marathon 2 will take credit for scaring me the most.
The original Doom gave me nightmares, but I never did play it, but watched a cousin play one level.
Fear was another one that was good, but it was overly predictable.
Dead Space had potential, at least the gameplay was pretty good, enough so I am going through my 2nd playthrough.
Due to my age at the time, Marathon 2 will take credit for scaring me the most.
The original Doom gave me nightmares, but I never did play it, but watched a cousin play one level.
Fear was another one that was good, but it was overly predictable.
Actually, I'm reminded of another startling and embarrassing moment.
I'm browsing a computer store back in the 90's. There's a demo computer, fully equipped with a sound card and speakers and VGA graphics. It's running a game -- I think "The 7th Guest".
I'm discreetly checking out the computer. Nobody's paying me much attention. I figure if I can quietly quit out of this game, I could check out what else is installed on it. I click "Quit" to exit the game.
As it turns out, when you quit this particular game, it plays -- loudly -- the sound of a maniacal man yelling "COME BACK!!!!!!"
I'm browsing a computer store back in the 90's. There's a demo computer, fully equipped with a sound card and speakers and VGA graphics. It's running a game -- I think "The 7th Guest".
I'm discreetly checking out the computer. Nobody's paying me much attention. I figure if I can quietly quit out of this game, I could check out what else is installed on it. I click "Quit" to exit the game.
As it turns out, when you quit this particular game, it plays -- loudly -- the sound of a maniacal man yelling "COME BACK!!!!!!"
Bioshock
Started the game at midnight with headphones. Major mistake. The beginning of that game is just downright creepy, and it only gets worse from there. Kudos to the writers, can't wait to play bioshock 2.
Started the game at midnight with headphones. Major mistake. The beginning of that game is just downright creepy, and it only gets worse from there. Kudos to the writers, can't wait to play bioshock 2.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Playing in the dark with headphones (common theme) ...
Was walking down a corridor and not much had happened in a while and the tension was building.
As I walked past a window half a bloody torso crashed through it, my foot twitched so hard it cramped for 5mins. Hurt like crazy!
Was walking down a corridor and not much had happened in a while and the tension was building.
As I walked past a window half a bloody torso crashed through it, my foot twitched so hard it cramped for 5mins. Hurt like crazy!
All games scare me... actually, the amount of time and resources dedicated to creating, marketing, selling and ultimately playing games is scary. Is there nothing better to do than sit in front of a screen, kidding yourself that you're having a 'real' experience? How could anyone seriously be scared by playing a game? Perhaps those that get scared playing games have never been truly scared - cold, white, life threatening fear type scared. How very sad that these tawdry, erstaz experiences are seen as valid or meaningful life experiences.
Some games can make me jump, L4D did the other night when I thought I had cleared out a horde of infected and one just tapped me on the shoulder, and the first time a dog jumps through a window in RE1. But to be actually scared of playing? Nothing can really do that for me. Fighting the Cyberdemon in Doom 1 still gives me the creeps but I think that's the only time, what with how casual games have become in terms of dying.
L4D you just respawn in a closet.
L4D2 cab get a defib.
Braid you rewind time.
MW1+2 you almost instantly restart back at the last checkpoint, which is never far away.
There's no investment placed in the characters life so I don't find much to be scared about.
I don't get scared by TV shows or films though so...
L4D you just respawn in a closet.
L4D2 cab get a defib.
Braid you rewind time.
MW1+2 you almost instantly restart back at the last checkpoint, which is never far away.
There's no investment placed in the characters life so I don't find much to be scared about.
I don't get scared by TV shows or films though so...
All games scare me... actually, the amount of time and resources dedicated to creating, marketing, selling and ultimately playing games is scary. Is there nothing better to do than sit in front of a screen, kidding yourself that you're having a 'real' experience? How could anyone seriously be scared by playing a game? Perhaps those that get scared playing games have never been truly scared - cold, white, life threatening fear type scared. How very sad that these tawdry, erstaz experiences are seen as valid or meaningful life experiences.
Nobody said anything about having a 'real' experience. I enjoyed getting spooked by Doom 3, but you won't find me on the signup sheet for the next trip to fight a demon army on Mars by myself. Having fun playing a game has nothing to do with reality -- it's as worthwhile as anything else you might enjoy, be it watching a movie or climbing Everest. Scary games create a scary atmosphere in the same way that any other 'scary' thing does, and I don't count myself shortchanged for not having ever experienced something that was actually a brink-of-death type situation.
Yup, people play games for the experience as much as they ride rollercoasters, drive for fun or do any hobby. You do it to have the experience. Some do that with addictive gameplay, some with a brilliant atmosphere or some are just plain fun to play.
I don't get how gaming can be any less valid than any other simulated hobby. I also don't recall people claiming them to be meaningful in this thread.
Don't get me wrong - I've played games, but after 5 minutes I just got a flat, empty feeling and the thought that I was actually wasting valuable time having a non-experience. As for being scared by playing a game...
... says the anonymous internet poster, opining to other anonymous internet posters in a virtual conversation.