Gory comics and gruesome movies are a fantastic way to get into the Halloween spirit – but nothing beats a good horror-themed video game as the air gets crisp. Check out our list below of six games guaranteed to get you pumped up for All Hallows Eve.
This week we are celebrating Halloween GEN style. Running October 26 - 31, we will be bringing you daily features including a look into the current Halloween trends, examining the best movies, anime, comics and video games of the season, and offering up tips on how to whip up costumes in a pinch. Check back daily for updates!
Dead Space
@ Amazon
@ Gamefly
@ Metacritic
Developed by: EA Redwood Shores
Published by: Electronic Arts
William says:
Seemingly out of nowhere, the hype surrounding Dead Space quickly became as thick as the hyperbolic fog layering the streets of Silent Hill. At first I was skeptical, having walked away generally unimpressed from an early build of the game at EA HQ while surrounded by an entourage of PR peeps, jalapeno-laced strawberries, and bright, shining lights. But as your choice of lolcat would say; I was indeed doing it wrong. In the right environment (lights off, surround sound on, creepy homeless man uncomfortably close to your front porch) Dead Space is undoubtedly one of the most effective horror experiences to be had behind a controller. The atmosphere of the game can best be explained as “playing Event Horizon”. You know… if that movie had actually been good. And had monsters. Maybe that’s not the best way to explain it…
Silent Hill Homecoming
@ Amazon
@ Gamefly
@ Metacritic
Developed by: Double Helix Games
Published by: Konami
VirtualGirl says:
William and I might disagree a little (a lot) on this game – which is why I have chosen to be the knight in shining armor and defend the title’s honor. While the general consensus among fans and gaming journalists alike is that Silent Hill Homecoming fails to improve on its predecessors to the degree expected – the game still does what Silent Hill does best.
So why is it still worth checking out? The moody music and atmosphere, terrifying new amalgamations of humans and monsters, and enough chilling references to children to make you wish you were sterile, all help to create that “Silent Hill experience” you have come to know and love. This in addition to the story (which is admittedly slow to start), combat system, graphic overhaul and haunting music compensate for any qualms about the title. So if you can look past cryptic objectives, frequent backtracking and overly-harsh bosses, Silent Hill Homecoming has something great to offer. I still recommend turning off the lights, cranking up the volume, and giving it a go this Halloween season.
Dead Rising
@ Amazon
@ Gamefly
@ Metacritic
Developed by: Capcom
Published by: Capcom
William says:
Resident Evil may seem like the obvious choice, but one Capcom zombie game is as good as another and I’m trying to keep the “Dead” theme going here. For those that haven’t already played Keiji Inafune’s (Mega Man) necrosis-filled sandbox romp, it may come as a surprise that Dead Rising was a system-seller for many 360 on-the-fencers (next-gen graphics and revolutionary online services just aren’t enough for some people, it seems). Even now, outfitting Frank in a variety of embarrassing sun dresses for disemboweling hundreds of on-screen zombies while hunting for pastries in Parkview Mall is unbelievably enjoyable. The true horror however is that Capcom is releasing a watered-down version for the Wii that basically strips the game of everything that made it enjoyable in the first place.
Fatal Frame III
@ Amazon
@ Gamefly
@ Metacritic
Developed by: Tecmo
Published by: Tecmo
VirtualGirl says:
Fatal Frame III is a good game. Good – but not perfect. However, even with aged controls and periodic lags in storytelling, Fatal Frame III manages to beat out dozens of games to land in my top five favorite titles of all time. Why? While it might not be the most innovative or polished entry in the genre – the experience of playing Fatal Frame III is unparalleled.
If new to the Fatal Frame mantra, the series explores Japanese lore in a typical survival horror fashion – dark themes, puzzle solving, limited “ammo” and health…you get the picture. However, Fatal Frame III breaks from its predecessors by dividing gameplay between waking and sleeping hours. “The Manor of Sleep,” which is only accessible via a dream world, is inhabited by vengeful ghosts and unfolds a story full of woe. The tension is lofty while sleeping – but returning to the land of the living each morning offers a break from the anxiety of the dream world. This relationship between day and night is where the gold lies.
By allowing the player to feel “safe” in the waking world, Tecmo builds up to something much more terrifying. After many cycles of day and night, the dream begins to bleed into reality. Slowly that safe feeling is leached away. Strange and perfectly subtle things start to happen in the waking world. You don’t notice these things at first, but when you do, you find yourself frozen in an attempt to catch your breath. An example? That doll on your desk…the one with cascading black hair down her back? She used to have a short chin-length cut. Sure, a ghost charging at you with a meat cleaver and the woman dismembered in an ancient rope ritual are scary – but nothing beats the subtle genius of Fatal Frame III’s execution.
LittleBigPlanet
@ Amazon
@ Gamefly
@ Metacritic
Developed by: Media Molecule
Published by: SCEA
William says:
You totally thought I was going to say Left4Dead! Unfortunately, while Turtle Rock’s fast-paced zombie-gunning multiplayer masterpiece would have made a perfect entry in this feature, EA confusingly chose to release it just after Halloween. In its place is Sony’s offensively-cute LittleBigPlanet. If the Kratos, Sephiroth, and Nariko cosplay weren’t enough to coincide with the costume-centric holiday, LittleBigPlanet is a game about imagination, and the endless possibilities inherent within: If you can imagine it, you can make it. And you can bet that if the beta has already spawned working calculators and marriage proposals, then Nightmare Before Christmas and ultra-adorable Saw-themed levels are sure to follow. Be afraid, be very afraid!
Resident Evil 4
@ Amazon
@ Gamefly
@ Metacritic
Developed by: Capcom
Published by: Capcom
VirtualGirl says:
Since it looks like I get the last word – I have to give credit where credit is due. No Halloween-themed list would be complete without Resident Evil 4 gracing it. If you have yet to play Resident Evil 4, please follow these simple instructions:
1. Feign sickness.
2. Leave work immediately. (We all know you read GEN at work)
3. Lie, cheat or steal your way to a copy.
4. Play.
Okay – while owning RE4 is not a prerequisite to holding a geek card, you are doing yourself a big disservice by ignoring this title. The universally acclaimed game not only brought a fresh take to the Resident Evil formula, it also provided gamers with a reason to pick up a GameCube. Resident Evil 4 delivered stellar sound design, intriguing plot twists, and the ability to terrify you in broad daylight. Now that is an achievement.
How does our list stack up against your own? Sound off below!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Haven’t played SH:H yet (not until its release in EU… in 2009 :-/), but considering myself a big SH fan and according to what I’ve seen and heard, it’s actually a good SH game. Maybe not up to the level of SH2 or SH3, but I think it’s worth the title
I have yet to play Fatal Frame III, which looks amazing (the first one granted me with a number of eerie moments at home, hahaha). RE4 is another great game with zombie spaniards like me trying to eat Leon’s brain, mwahahahaha!!
As for LBP… I know some people already started crafting Silent Hill levels for that game. This will probably become The Father of All Recursive Games for a looong time
October 27th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
What, no Castlevania?
October 27th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
@Nickzman - that is what the comments are for! Tell us why you think Castlevania is a perfect title/series for Halloween!
October 28th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Hmm that makes sense… Play Castlevania early to get inspired for your role, as you will cosplay a vampire (hunter) later. It’s all “for the sake of interpretation” *nods*
October 28th, 2008 at 6:26 am
RE4 is the only video game where I physically jumped (multiple times).
Only addition I have is Luigi’s Mansion
October 28th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Luigi’s mansion is a great Halloween title, I’m also suprised at no mention of Castlevania
RE UC is great too (if you like lightgun shooters) as was House of the Dead (although the Wii version is a little cheesy apparently, and closer to a PS title than a Wii title ;\)
October 28th, 2008 at 10:59 am
“although the Wii version is a little cheesy apparently, and closer to a PS title than a Wii title”
I feel like I’m being baited into a Wii rant…
Mostly we tried to focus on modern games that you can grab off of store shelves, and since Castlevania has yet to release on a next-gen console it will have to wait until next year (as an Xbox 360 Castlevania was recently revealed at TGS). The DS versions are always fun, but far from frightening in a Halloween-sorta way.
@Kencho- That’s the thing, it isn’t nearly as good as the earlier Silent Hills and yet everyone just shrugs and says “Oh well, I will still buy it.” Generally games are supposed to get BETTER, not worse. I highly recommend grabbing Dead Space instead and not rewarding Konami for developing games in a time machine.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Eh House of the Dead 2+3 was apparently just a port of the old title, fun but not next gen is all I meant (even though it was on a next gen console) instead of a next gen attempt at the franchise (which is what some hoped for)
Its true that Castlevania isnt frightening perse but it does have the sentimental touch of classic monsters like Frankensteins monster etc, which some folks have a lot of sentimentality for. /shrug (even the console ones arent that spooky generally speaking) but they are more about the ambience rather than the scare factor anyway
And actually there will be a Castlevania coming out on Wii in the next couple weeks.. but its a fighter so not particular something that would fall into the scary category either ;p (and after halloween) so yea, point taken