Good survival horror games

Clement Rage

Pro Adventurer
Yo. So I recently played Siren Blood Curse and enjoyed it, so I was wondering if y'all could recommend some survival horror ish series, as I haven't played much beyond Resident Evil I'm kind of old fashioned in my gaming habits, I like individual enemies to have weight, which has gotten rarer now that games systems can support more enemies. I don't particularly like being scared, but tension is important, the feeling that the adversaries are powerful/dangerous.

It's not that Horror is something I like, especially, but action games don't seem to do it anymore. Good bossfights seem to have gone out of fashion, which is something I miss. So, what are you thinking, folks?
 

Lulcielid

Eyes of the Lord
AKA
Lulcy
I would recommend Silent Hill 2 for PS2 (do NOT pick the PS360 ports, they are a mess of ports).

It plays a bit like resident evil, tank controls, running away is more encouraged than fighting.

It's not a "scary" game per se but more like unsettling subtext and imagery, and lots of disturbing nothingness, that's how I would describe it.

Also no cheap jump scares!
 

Claymore

3x3 Eyes
You mentioned that you have played Resident Evil but how much of the series have you specifically gone through? Certainly, your millage within it will vary as it gradually evolves into a more action-orientated genre, but some of the more recent entries like Revelations and VII bring a lot of the old survival horror elements back (especially the tension angle that you mentioned you particularly liked) whilst keeping an engaging combat scenario in place. The downside is that though the enemies feel more weighted and threatening, they are boring, which is a damn shame.

Beyond that I've found a lot of hit and misses. The Last Of Us is a must. It is a fantastic game that deserves all the praise heaped onto it. The combat, tension and emotions at play are all on point. I'd avoid The Evil Within. It was a mess, lots of confusing story aspects, and very comic-book esque in it's staged direction and execution. I've heard that the sequel is marginally better, but beyond picking it up cheap, I don't think it's worth a try.

Until Dawn is a unique beast. It's like those old choose your own adventure type games based on those cheap horror films you see on the Horror channel at 3 am in the morning with that all-too-similar cast of young models on their summer break ... but it works. Your choices define the flow of who survives, and that alone does ramp up the tension as the story unfolds and you try to keep everyone alive and work out just what is going on. I was surprised at just how much I liked it, because it is light on the combat / action (i.e, practically none) but the individual elements just work really well.

Beyond that, I've had some fun in a lot of the open-world games like Dead Island and Dying Light, but that's not really what you're looking for.

If you do find some new games in this area, do let us know, as I'm always on the look out for them.
 

Strangelove

AI Researcher
AKA
hitoshura
iirc the original siren has a us release/port for the ps4. blood curse is a reimagining of this but more streamlined compared to the original. the controls aren’t always the greatest and it’s not the kindest game ever (if there’s an enemy with a gun you better hope you don’t get shot because one or two hits will kill you, certain characters will get a game over if an enemy even touches them). it’s not really a game where you’re encouraged to fight, running and sneaking is often your best option. but i just really like it :sadpanda:
 

Clement Rage

Pro Adventurer
Re Resident Evil, I've played 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and Outbreak, and enjoyed them all. I know there's controversy over the actiony sequels but for me it worked, there's only so many times you live through the zombie apocalypse before you start being better prepared for it. Youtubed 7 and Revelations 1 and 2.

Played Last of Us. Great game, but not really what I'm looking for.

Youtubed Until Dawn, seems to be the only game based on your choices that actually lets your choices matter.

I forgot to mention before, I have a PS3 and PS2.

Heard of Amnesia, but know nothing about it. Can the player harm the enemies, or is it a running and hiding game?

I thought the original Siren was never released abroad, might look into that.

Thanks all.
 

Rydeen

In-KWEH-dible
Based on your post, it sounds like you might like Parasite Eve. It's classic SE, and I think the graphics engine is the same one as FF8. You play as a Japanese-American female NYPD officer investigating a mitochondrial mutation that's causing people to explode(!) It sounds kind of comical but it's a pretty good game. Interesting characters and battle system.
 

Blade

That Man
AKA
Darkside-Ky/Mimeblade
Not really a game, but... the novel Guilty Gear Begin (that I've been translating from Japanese) is so totally Survival Horror genre... if anyone has an interest in helping me work on it, I would welcome any assistance.
 

Clement Rage

Pro Adventurer
If I spoke/read Japanese, I would, but it's not to be unless you need someone to proof read.

Hmm... this is proving harder than I thought.

Basically I think the problem is I'm just old fashioned, and my gaming style can best be described as 'incompetent'.

God of War/Bayonetta battles feel weightless to me, The Arkham series are great games, but the bossfights (except in origins) are a major failing. Uncharted/Tomb Raider/Last of Us type battles don't resonate, I want 'three tough enemies' over 'fifteen weak ones'.

Metal Gear Rising was an amazing game, despite all of the above. Because every enemy felt like they mattered, all the bossfights were dangerous without being cheap.

I think this is all rooted in Soul Reaver 1, especially the early part. Raziel is crazily overpowered, he can throw around giant blocks like Lego, but he can't defeat regenerating enemies with his claws.

Since actiony games aren't working lately, I thought I might find it in horror. Thanks for your efforts. Apologies for nitpicking etc. I'm just...out of sync with modern gaming.
 
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