6 replies to this topic

[PeanutButterDimond]

Well, we all know this genre well I sure. We've all played it in some form. Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Fatal Frame, I am Alive, Amnesia, Penumbra, DayZ, Clock Tower and so on are all great examples of the survival genre.

As you may notice, the title doesn't have horror in it. Well, as there are some games like I Am Alive that aren't focused on horror but are all about survival, I thought it would be a fitting name.


Survival games are usually horror related, understandable given that the genre was started by games like Sweet Home, Alone in the Dark and Resident Evil. However, that where I Am Alive strikes a cord with me as it's completely based on survival but not horror. There are a few other not really notable games that are also like this but I Am Alive makes it shine the most.

What is it about limited items, isolation, hiding, paranoia and running like you're life depended on it that we love in games? Is it the thrill? Strategy? Paranoia? No matter what you love about it, it's a prominent genre in the game industry that isn't going anywhere.

For example there's the upcoming game by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us, which focuses on limited inventory, realistic bullet damage, tense shootouts, realistic AI and a different kind of post apocalyptic setting.

Some of my favourites include Sweet Home for it's focus on teamwork and it's permanent death as well as Silent Hill for focusing very little on weapons. I also like Fatal frame and Clock Tower for shaking things up a bit.

So what are your favourite survival games? What's your favourite moments from them, ingame of otherwise? Which ones are you looking forward to?

[Metal Gear (sting)RAY]

http://scpcb.wordpress.com/

This game's only in it's earliest stages right now, which only makes it all the more impressive that it's so goddamn terrifying. The gist is you're in a randomly generated research facility and you're being hunted by a sadistic zombie that can walk through walls and a statue that's chasing you but can only move when you blink or look away. There's also heavy resource management involved. Good fucking luck.

Edited by SuperStingray, 28 May 2012 - 04:26 AM.

[The Cheese]

Minecraft counts if you play on the right server. Right now I'm playing on an anarchy-based server - there are no rules besides no hax, there is only one safe zone in the entire map (that being the spawn area), and there is a factions plugin that provides only limited protection of land, and nearly every good player knows ways to circumvent it. Griefing and raiding is encouraged. Good luck. Seriously, I don't get to play survival-type games much, but it's so much more thrilling when you have to deal with actual players in the process.

Also seconding SCP: Containment Breach, despite its confusing and disorienting learning curve. It's really something you have to be a fan of SCP for to get the most enjoyment out of it, though.

[Name's Ash. Housewares]

Siren Blood Curse is the best survival horror I've played in years. The story is confusing, but the gameplay is outstanding.

[Agent York]

So I was just prepping an amazing post I was really proud of for this topic, but I just accidentally closed the tab... I might attempt it again, but the shorthand version:

I didn't always like survival games, RE4 changed my views and made me realize I was missing something. You guys mentioned some great games, but I want to focus on why I love the genre of survival so much. In my findings, in no order, the elements that help make the games so enjoyable:

1.) Emotion: How these games make us feel, the fear, relief, sadness, happiness, tenseness, etc.
2.) Immersion: The strong atmosphere that gets you to forget where you are, enticed by the game.
3.) Exploration: To look around these world, never knowing what's around the next corner in these interesting locales.
4.) Challenge: To take on the traps, powerful enemies, set-pieces, and survive situation by situation that are against you.
5.) Strategy: To figure out how to tackle the next scenario, to manage your items, figure what you want and need, to solve problems.
6.) Unexpected: Never know what to expect, to face things that can push imagination, possibly to be in fear.
7.) Humanity: Relatable characters, dwell in our own humanity, flawed elements with good and bad.
8.) Dark Themes: Dealing with themes that fascinate and entice us, makes us feel, intrigued, and dwell in the darker parts of our minds.
9.) Supernatural: Things that defy our science, to deal with interesting enemy forces, worlds, items, people, etc.
10.) Experience: Ultimately what makes the game and what sticks with you is your experience, how everything plays out for you. The experience is the pinnacle of survival games. With friends, alone, the things you feel, stories you have to tell, what you experience in your journey.

I love survival games.

[Scott]

No Alan Wake??? You people disgust me!


I love you really <3

[Swift]

I’ve played a few Survival games, STALKER and some of the older and newer Resident Evil games come to mind, and I have to say I like the genre. I love the sort of challenge you get when you start to run out of supplies and actually have to think about what to do rather than “Shoot everyone”. No other genre really hammers home the feeling of desperation than survival games.

I’m in the middle of RE4, and I’m liking it so far. It’s a fun game with a good bit of enemy variation, (At least in the castle) and not quite enough ammo to go around. Ever had to take on a plagas head or novistador in a knife fight? Not usually a good idea, but I've been forced to on occasion.

Only problem I really have with the games is that I never really feel like replaying them, or playing through them again if I lose a save. I guess since the games are about making you try to survive in sometimes unexpected situations, they’re really only things I want to experience once.