The Xbox horror/survival thread

[Shinebi]

After having read the topic about Silent Hill 2, I began to wonder what other games are noteworthy for the Xbox.

...actually I didn't like the Silent Hill series (only gave 2 and 4 a chance, as they're the only ones on this machine) because of the tedious beginning. Don't like to stroll around for an hour before I reach the first savepoint, this leaves me with an asumption that the game mightn't be that immersive... I know what you think, but it just does that for me...

I liked Deep Fear on the Saturn (way better than Resident Evil), so Cold Fear was a gift from above when it was released on the Xbox. I played Resi 2 and Code Veronica on the DC (both Jap version) which I both liked, but didn't finish. Alone in the Dark 4 was my cup of tea, as it had more monsters, it was moodier too. (I also 'tried' to play Alone in the Dark1 on the Saturn, but this game is the worst in it's genre, the controls are rubbish...)

So what do I know about this genre on the Xbox? We have the creepy 'running' versions and the 'more fun to play) 'splatter' versions.


As nearly all of my FPS games have been completed (and that's a lot!), I now like to take some time to get soaked in horror, so a couple of games were on my wanted list and on my last holiday, I came across Land of the Dead (FPS). Really fun to play, as you can shoot the zombies in al kinds of limbs as with SoF. Also got me Fatal Frame 2 Director's Cut (Project Zero). I'm playing this atm, and actually find it more appealing than when it was released, as in general I find this genre a bit slow as mentioned above. The third game I bought was Call of the Cthulhu, this is one of the moodiest games I've ever played and really did surprise me, as the gameplay changes when you obtain a gun (finally!). It's got the same time setting as AitD 4 too.

When I complete this game, Silent Hill 2 and 4 are on the to do list, as well as Manhunt (damn that sneaky stuff).

As I was browsing on the net, I saw some screenshots of Curse of the Isis, is this comparable to CotC? And are Project Zero 1 and 3 also on Xbox or only PS2?



What other games in this genre are worth playing on the Xbox?

[Concrete donkey]

A game called Obscure is not bad, especially as it has co-op mode. It's probably the most accurate potrayal of an American Horror movie a games ever done.

Not a horror game as such but syberia I and II arn't bad old fashioned adventure games with a good mystery to them.

[112]

Not to rain on yah parade Concrete Donkey, but i found Obscure to be a very average game, and the sequel was recently released on the PS2, which is not too different so im lead to believe.

There was that game called something 'ties that bind' which was a sort of horror blast a thon - forgot its name but there are 2 of them. Which was quite fun, if repetative

Another Survival horror game worthy of note on the xblock was Call of Cthulhu which i recently had a good dabble on. Its actually quite disturbing and well played out, infact the first chunk of the game is all narrative, which was nice.

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edit woops didnt see that you already mention Call of Cthulhu. Oh well, more press for the hidden gem!

[Concrete donkey]

Not to rain on yah parade Concrete Donkey, but i found Obscure to be a very average game, and the sequel was recently released on the PS2, which is not too different so im lead to believe.

I agree that Obscure is no gem but is a good weekend of entertainment in co-op. Also think the beginning sequence before the opening music brought from me a lot of good will.

The Suffering is the name of the game where the second one was ties that blind. Never really got into them.

Havn't played Cthulhu. Might look into that myself

[SuperDanX]

Get House of the Dead 3. It really is brilliant fun.

[112]

Get House of the Dead 3. It really is brilliant fun.

dunno bout you but my arms get tired when i play that game lol!

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[Shinebi]

Got myself:

-HotD 3
-Silent Hill 2 and 4,
-already have first The Suffering (forgot about that one): this is the max, it's full of gore. I like the way they tried to portray the execution styles on the victims' bodies.
-Stubbs the Zombie (more fun than gore actually)
-Land of the Dead
-Call of the Cthulhu
-Manhunt
-Fatal Frame 2


Might look into Obscure though, seen it a couple of times, but didn't interest me then. Also will try to get me Suffering 2. It's a shame they didn't release the complete RE series on the Xbox...Siren isn't on the X, right?

[SuperDanX]

I havnt got a gun for it yet, but it plays suprisingly well with a x360 pad, kinda plays like a lazy mans fps ie you dont need to move around

[112]

nope no siren on the xblock im afraid........

If you like fatal frame get the other 2 sequels/prequels? I know one of them is ps2 only though.

there isnt a lot of survival horror games on the crate (xblock) im afraid.......

You could try 'the thing' , 'doom' and 'evil dead' i suppose but they are not essential purchases.

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[112]

I havnt got a gun for it yet, but it plays suprisingly well with a x360 pad, kinda plays like a lazy mans fps ie you dont need to move around

Thats just laziness! lol, must try it out!

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[chopemon]

There was Cold Fear - a resi 4 clone set on a ship.

It had some interesting ideas but was a bit average.

I didn't push through it as there was other stuff out but I would like to go back and play it again.

[bingowings]

there is Genma Onimusha - the closest you'll get to play a 'Resi' game on the Xbox.

gameplay is the usual corridor mayhem, with nicely designed enemies and locations. the voice-acting is terrible though. but it's still one of my favourites - just a shame they never released any of the others.

[anephric]

There was Cold Fear - a resi 4 clone set on a ship.

It had some interesting ideas but was a bit average.

I didn't push through it as there was other stuff out but I would like to go back and play it again.

The problem with Cold Fear is that until you get better weapons the default pistol is absolutely crap and it feels like you're spitting at things for the first few hours of the game. The enemies are pretty boring as well. They also wasted the "grip" feature thingymajig or whatever it was (when you had to fight against being washed overboard).

It picks up later in the game though. Shame they didn't balance the gameplay flow better. It's worth going back to.

[Fireproofradiator]

There's a Dino Crisis on the original xbox - it's not as bad as it was made out to be and the closest to a Resi on the console.

Beyond that, pleeeease give Silent Hill 2 another go! Sounds like you're keen on a quick horror fix and quick scares, but don't ignore the deeper, smarter stuff SH2 has to offer. It's a game which gets in your head - creeping you out and popping into your head long after you've finished. Comparing it to the other games in this thread is like comparing The Exorcist to I Know What You Did Last Summer.

[Shinebi]

Played Cold Fear 'till the end (was a big boss anyway), but couldn't be bothered to kill him... Same goes for Doom.
I once tried the Thing, but, got stuck in the first part in the blizzard... might look for this one again, as I really liked the movie and everyone who's played it says it's pretty ok.

I still have the first Evil Dead on the DC, and played the second one on the Xbox, but got stuck on the part where you transport to the other world and all of the zombies come at you (stupid thing is, I get there with almost no life). Didn't try the third one though...

Genma Onimusha: same story, got stuck on a big boss somewhere, it's a bit too hard this version... even though you can select an easier mode when you fail repeatedly

Fired up Dino Crisis again last week, bit by bit I'll get there (Dinos in space wtf)

I just remembered that I had Project Zero 1, but gave up, as at that time I just couldn't get myself to play such a slow-paced game. Must be the third one that's PS2-only.


Will look for:

-The Thing
-Genma Onimusha
-Project Zero 1


Thanks for the input guys!

PS After having finished Fatal Frame 2 and CotC, I'll most likely play SH 2. (is this the Re-Play game for November then?)
And about CotC: I'm stuck on the place where the army comes to aid you and you have toescape over the ice. I alway die in the water... any hints? I alway follow the strudy ice path, but at the end I fail to survive at the tree trunk...



EDIT: just looked up on GameFaqs: guess I'll have to get to a tunnel somwher at the end of the sturdy ice path... prolly more to the right...

Also checked some vids of Curse, looks OK, although it received mediocre points...