So, which is scarier? Well, horror, like any other genre or art form, is completely subjective. Different things scare different people. There is no definite answer here I can give, but I can elaborate on the effectiveness of both mediums, and give my opinion on them.
Survival Horror
I know I have spoken to great lengths about my disdain for modern survival horror games (something I will delve further into in the near future), but to speak on that would be counterproductive to the purpose of this blog. Instead, I will use good examples of horror survival games. I feel that tactic would be best in demonstrating the effectiveness of horror in games.
Most people who know me know that one of my all time favorite horror survival games (and one of my all time favorite games period) is Fatal Frame. The creepy atmosphere, eerie soundtrack, and skewed camera angles effectively kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of that game. I recently purchased the game on the PSN market, and found that it is still just as effective at keeping my nerves on end, and my pants soiled. Why is that?
Well, survival horror remains one of the only video game genres where the genre name not only implies the mechanics of the game, but the overall feelings it evokes in the player. When you play a survival horror game you're not screaming commands to a character on the screen. You are that character. You realize those obvious decisions you screamed at actors to make in horror films aren't all that obvious, or easy to make when you're under stress. If something goes wrong it isn't the character's fault; it's your fault. This is the advantage survival horror games have over horror movies.
Also, jump scares work better in survival horror games than they do in a horror film. In a horror film, when a jump scare occurs it may startle you, but that's pretty much it. In a survival horror game not only are you startled, but now you have to face whatever unholy abomination just popped out. This effectively keeps the player on their toes. Also, since most enemies in games can be randomly generated, this keeps the mechanic fresh.
Horror Films
Horror in film is something as old as...well...film itself. Since before the 1900's horror films were being made, and improved. Horror filmmakers have been honing their skills for generations, and picking up techniques passed down the line from great filmmakers before them. Like any other entertainment medium, it's a lot of hit and miss, but horror films have been frightening audiences for over a century now, and show no signs of stopping.
So, how do they compare to video games? Well, they really don't. Horror films implore different mechanics than horror games. Whereas a horror survival game thrives on putting the player in a frightening situation, horror films place the audience spectating the events as they unfold. This is where horror films work. The audience has no control over the situation. They are completely helpless in determining whether the main protagonist of the film survives through to the end, or not.
Another great attribute of horror in film, when executed correctly, is causing a connection between the audience, and the characters on screen. You can see this in horror survival games also, but it really shines in film. Each person of the audience can find, and identify with a certain character of the film. This makes it all the more satisfactory when they survive the horrors of the film, or all the more terrible when they meet their demise. This is something video games are rapidly improving on, but, in my opinion, is still done best in film.
In Closing
Survival horror games, and horror movies have been growing, and improving over the years. Neither show any signs of going away any time soon, and I'm honestly glad for it. I'm the kind of man who wants to have his cake, and eat it too. I love horror films as much as I love survival horror games, and would hate if either of them went away for any reason. So, what are some of your opinions on the subject?
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