Playing With Evil: The Horror of Gaming

[Neon Ignition]

Game 09 - Condemned: Criminal Origins
A unique choice at the start of the X360's life was Sega's first person horror title that saw players control an FBI agent looking into murders in a tale inspired by films such as Silence of the Lambs and Se7en. A heavy focus on close quarters combat mixed with suspense and shocks created a game that found a fanbase quickly and led Sega to initially plan much for the franchise, though that wouldn't come to be.



Criminal to Miss or Condemned to be Forgotten?

[endo]

I picked this up as part of a forced bundle with my near-launch 360 and finished it fairly quickly. I found it pretty enjoyable and very atmospheric, though it hasn't aged brilliantly and seems a bit plodding these days. Still, it was a something a bit different for a launch game and a diversion from PGR and CoD. Tazing people was great and sounded awful.

[wakka]

I only had the demo of this but really liked it. I'm not sure why I never picked up the full game.

I loved how the 360 launch and first year felt like such a massive upgrade over the PS2. The lighting effects in this were so impressive at the time.

Like Endo says, though, I can't imagine it's a game that's aged particularly well.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 10 - Dead Space
We close out the horror run for 2024 with EA's celebrated space horror, the first game took the Resident Evil model and pushed the setting into the future with gamers loving the crawl through corridors as they discover what led to the crews demise. EA eventually issued a remake of the game which was equally well liked, even if it couldn't revive the franchise.



Still Good Enough to Make Space For?

[QualityChimp]

I sat on Condemned for years after buying it with the 360 at launch.
Finally played it and loved it.
The bit with the mannequins was top-tier spooky.

Never played the Dead Space games, though I keep meaning to.
I have them on the 360 through Games With Gold, so waiting in my Xbox One.

One of my spookiest moments in gaming was actually in Red Dead Redemption 2.
I didn't know anything about Roanoke Forest, so was trotting through on my horse one night and could hear children whispering.
I had to take my headphones off to ensure it was in the game!
*shiver*

[Dogg Thang]

Game 10 - Dead Space
We close out the horror run for 2024 with EA's celebrated space horror, the first game took the Resident Evil model and pushed the setting into the future with gamers loving the crawl through corridors as they discover what led to the crews demise. EA eventually issued a remake of the game which was equally well liked, even if it couldn't revive the franchise.Still Good Enough to Make Space For?

I replayed this recently and thought it was great. It's very effective, the location is good and the controls work exactly as they should. It's a good system, with the gun twisting for limbs, that makes you feel like you have a lot of control in what is really very simple combat. I haven't played the remake but the original also still looks great.

[egparadigm]

Never played the Dead Space games, though I keep meaning to.
I have them on the 360 through Games With Gold, so waiting in my Xbox One.

I have heard you refer to your Xbox One a number of times, Chimp. I’m concerned for you. Don’t you think it’s time to upgrade to at least a One X?

Bordersdown I think we might need to stage an intervention.

[QualityChimp]

I have heard you refer to your Xbox One a number of times, Chimp. I’m concerned for you. Don’t you think it’s time to upgrade to at least a One X?

Bordersdown I think we might need to stage an intervention.

Ha ha ha, are we not a retro forum too?!
Pretty depressing that most the games that I think came out about 2 years ago actually came out over a decade ago.

Stuntman: Ignition? 2007!
Arkham Knight? 2011!
Uncharted Collection? 2015!
CoD: WW2? 2017!

If I'm honest, I wish I had a reason to upgrade, but I'm just finding myself working through my PS4 backlog and on the One, I'm playing 360 games!

I'm at the point where I'm taking so long to playing stuff on my shelf, they're getting their second remaster, like The Last of Us!

[egparadigm]

To be fair, I don’t tend to play much made past 2010. The thing that got me to upgrade to a Series X was actually the backwards compatibility and FPS boost for some of those old games.

I guess there’s something slightly tragic about Xbox One, being not the most popular console. 😂 I say that with it being my main console before upgrading. 😅 Good to hear you’ve got a PS4, that’s got a bit more street cred! 😉

Now I’m mainly using Xbox to play remasters, lots of FPS and currently Shadowman.