Survival horror: Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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The term ''Survival horror'' was first coined by ''[[Resident Evil (video game)|Resident Evil]]'' ([[1996]]) which creator, [[Shinji Mikami]] actively credits [[Capcom]]'s earlier title ''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]'' ([[1989]]) for his inspiration. The [[Japan]]ese version of ''Resident Evil'' (''Biohazard'') was marketed under the previously non-existent ''Survival horror'' genre on the game's cover. A line of text also displayed the phrase "Enter the world of survival horror..." while the game was loading. Although the survival horror genre was popularized by ''Resident Evil'', it was heavily influenced by earlier works such as |
The term ''Survival horror'' was first coined by ''[[Resident Evil (video game)|Resident Evil]]'' ([[1996]]) which creator, [[Shinji Mikami]] actively credits [[Capcom]]'s earlier title ''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]'' ([[1989]]) for his inspiration. The [[Japan]]ese version of ''Resident Evil'' (''Biohazard'') was marketed under the previously non-existent ''Survival horror'' genre on the game's cover. A line of text also displayed the phrase "Enter the world of survival horror..." while the game was loading. Although the survival horror genre was popularized by ''Resident Evil'', it was heavily influenced by earlier works such as [[Capcom]]'s ''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]'' (1989) and ''[[Clock Tower: The First Fear]]'' ([[1995]]), and [[Infogrames]]' ''[[Alone in the Dark]]'' (1992). |
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''Clock Tower'' ([[1997]]) and ''[[Silent Hill]]'' ([[1999]]) created a group of survival horror games that focus on psychological terror rather than violence and gore. This category deemphasizes combat in order to increase the vulnerability of the protagonist and consequently build [[Suspense (narratology)|tension]]. Similar titles include ''[[Fatal Frame]]'' and ''[[Siren (video game)|Siren]]''. |
''Clock Tower'' ([[1997]]) and ''[[Silent Hill]]'' ([[1999]]) created a group of survival horror games that focus on psychological terror rather than violence and gore. This category deemphasizes combat in order to increase the vulnerability of the protagonist and consequently build [[Suspense (narratology)|tension]]. Similar titles include ''[[Fatal Frame]]'' and ''[[Siren (video game)|Siren]]''. |
Revision as of 11:28, 15 December 2006
Survival horror is a prominent video game genre in which the player has to survive an onslaught of opponents, often undead or otherwise supernatural, typically in claustrophobic environments in a third-person perspective. Horror movie elements are used liberally. The player is typically armed, but not nearly as well-armed as the player in a first-person shooter. The player's goal is generally to escape from an isolated house or town that is inhabited mostly by zombies and/or monsters through fighting and puzzle solving. Isolation is generally one of the most recurrent themes within this genre.
Survival horror is possibly the only video game genre that is defined as much by theme as gameplay style. Though most commonly associated with the Resident Evil mechanics described above, games where the player is made to feel underpowered, generally fighting alone for the bulk of the game, with limited supplies (especially ammunition and health - hence "survival"). They also deal with dark, violent and supernatural themes typical of horror movies. This helps to define the genre more than any specific gameplay mechanic.
Because of this, the genre is also home to beat 'em ups (Nightmare Creatures), role playing games (Sweet Home), first-person shooters (Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, Condemned, Hungry Ghosts). Other games such as the Doom and Alien versus Predator series include horror elements, but give the player a sense of being very powerful. Such games are not typically considered survival horror because horror is not the defining game play characteristic. However, the subjective nature of such discrepancies can make survival horror a difficult genre to classify.
History
The term Survival horror was first coined by Resident Evil (1996) which creator, Shinji Mikami actively credits Capcom's earlier title Sweet Home (1989) for his inspiration. The Japanese version of Resident Evil (Biohazard) was marketed under the previously non-existent Survival horror genre on the game's cover. A line of text also displayed the phrase "Enter the world of survival horror..." while the game was loading. Although the survival horror genre was popularized by Resident Evil, it was heavily influenced by earlier works such as Capcom's Sweet Home (1989) and Clock Tower: The First Fear (1995), and Infogrames' Alone in the Dark (1992).
Clock Tower (1997) and Silent Hill (1999) created a group of survival horror games that focus on psychological terror rather than violence and gore. This category deemphasizes combat in order to increase the vulnerability of the protagonist and consequently build tension. Similar titles include Fatal Frame and Siren.
D (1996) is perhaps the best known of a group of point-and-click horror games produced in Japan in the mid 1990s.
A number of earlier horror-themed games Halloween (1983) on the Atari 2600, Friday the 13th (1985), Ghost Hunters (1986) on the C64, Transylvania (1986), on the Apple II and Splatterhouse (1988 on the Turbografx-16) may have also helped form the genre.
Examples of Genre
- Alone in the Dark series by Infogrames
- Amber: Journeys Beyond by Hue Forest
- American McGee's Alice by EA Games
- Black Dahlia by Take2 Games
- Bioshock by Irrational Games
- The Blair Witch Project by Gathering of Developers
- Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
- Clive Barker's Undying by EA Games
- Condemned: Criminal Origins by Monolith Productions
- Clock Tower series by Human Entertainment
- Cold Fear by Ubisoft
- Curse: The Eye of Isis by Wanadoo
- Dead Rising by Capcom
- Dino Crisis series by Capcom
- D series by WARP
- Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem by Silicon Knights
- Fatal Frame series by Tecmo
- Haunting Ground by Capcom
- Hungry Ghosts by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
- John Saul's Blacksstone Chronicles: An Adventure in Terror by Redorb Entertainment
- Kamaitachi No Yoru
- Koudelka by sacnoth
- The Lurking Horror by Infocom
- Maniac Mansion by LucasArts
- Martian Gothic: Unification by Creative Reality
- Nocturne by Terminal Reality
- ObsCure by Hydravision
- Parasite Eve series by Squaresoft
- Resident Evil series by Capcom
- Rule of Rose series by Sony Computer Entertainment
- Shadow Hearts series by Midway Games
- Silent Hill series by Konami
- Siren by Sony Computer Entertainment
- System Shock 2 by Irrational Games
- Sweet Home by Capcom
- The Thing by Vivendi Universal Games
- Urban Dead by Kevan
Adaptations
A number of survival horror games have spawned adaptations in media outside of video games. Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Alone in the Dark have been made into feature films. Silent Hill and Resident Evil comic books are also available.
External links
- A brief history of Survival Horror by NTSC-uk - A rundown of the history of survival horror and where it may be going
- History of Survival Horror by game up to (2002)
- Survival Horror category from the Open Directory Project
- Chris' Survival Horror Quest - A database of survival horror games
- SurvivalHorror.info - Information about survival horror movies and games
- The Bitter End - Survival Horror news and reviews
- Survival Horror Lives - News on survival horror, focusing on Silent Hill and Resident Evil.
- Black Sanctuary - Survival Horror site directory
- Frightening - play your fears - large Survival Horror page in german