Most survival horror games have memorable moments. Times when you are afraid to venture through a door because of a massive pool of blood seeping underneath. Instants when the lights extinguish, immersing you in darkness. Even moments where in-game noises make you check outside your door to assure yourself you are perfectly safe.
Here are my three favourite moments that made my neck skin crawl.
3) First in-game meeting with Cerberus – Resident Evil
Resident Evil has many moments that were frightening at the time. Being chased by hunters, the shark in the water tank room or even meeting your first ever zombie. It might come as a surprise then that the moment that stands out as a scare for life is just a simple jump scare.
I enter the mansion after being pursued by what appeared to be a pack of rabid dogs. Recovering in the main hall we discuss our next move. We decide to split up to look for other members of our team as well as finding who lives in this cavernous place. Me and Barry check out the dining room. While he checks a pool of blood, hoping to god it’s not Chris’ blood, I check an adjacent door. Stumbling across a strange fellow he makes a lunge at me, a zombie. (It could have been scarier if it didn’t resemble Richard O’Brien)
So it seems the mansion is over-run with zombies. Upon this realisation we decide the logical thing to do is to travel alone. I head across the hall pass a weird statue and find myself in a hallway in desperate need of a decoration. I wander slowly through the corridor – crash – a dog bursts through the window.
As a kid this scene scared the hell out of me. So much so Jill was mauled to death because I had dropped the pad. Looking back its funny yet it clearly has had an impact on me – I still don’t trust large windows.
2) Apple Seed Orchard Farmhouse – Condemned
Most recent horror games don’t scare me. Then one afternoon it all changed. Condemned came into my possession after a simple trip to a nearby Gamestation in search of a cheap game to wile away the hours.
So I played and I got hooked. The dark settings and se7en-esque detective work with a hint of CSI meant I could finally live my dream of being Morgan Freeman. It had its fair share of jump scare moments as well as creepy mannequins.
Of course then I reached Apple Seed Orchard, the quintessential horror location. The isolate location, shutters banging in the wind, moonlight the only natural source of light, silhouettes of trees in the distance, cryptic messages dabbed throughout the house, the fire poker being your only true weapon, silence. All these culminate creating a brilliant atmosphere amplified by the fact this is the killer’s home. Where is he and what is this sick game he is playing with you? Previous levels had angry tramps attack left right and centre until now.
In keeping with the setting there are two places best avoided – the attic and the basement. Whilst playing I refused to go in either room. I mopped up the rest of the trails until it dawned on me that the developers were forcing me there. Trying my luck with the basement I descend the wooden steps into a darker darkness. Being ambushed by a crazed figure in the basement was the boiling point.
The absence of human presence upstairs lulled me into a false sense of security so when I am suddenly attacked it was hard not to be scared. For the first time ever I screamed at a game.
But it didn’t end there. The attic was home to the bizarre nightmarish creature that plagues your dreams throughout the game then later SKX comes home ending in a frantic chase around the house. Condemned is one of few games that can channel the pure terror from horror film classics.
1) Pyramid Head – Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 houses many freaks of nature but none compare to the sheer brutality of Pyramid Head. What then makes him so special?
First of all his ambiguity. He first appears in the apartment blocks standing still behind iron bars just staring at you. This lack of aggression juxtaposes greatly with a cutscene a couple of minutes later when he proceeds to rape and mutilate the mannequin monsters. Throughout the game Pyramid Head’s behaviour is erratic. Sometimes he’ll pursue you; sometimes he’ll leave you alone; sometimes he’ll help you. Even in death he remains an enigma.
Secondly is his appearance. Aside from the nurses, Pyramid Head is much more human than the other monsters. He is similar to killers such as Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees. They all mask their identities by wearing a cold blank mask that symbolises their sadistic nature. Likewise he is bound to the one area. You are in his territory and he will cut you apart if you get in his way.
His giant knife also is a cause of big concern. Throughout a large part of the game your largest weapon is a two by four with a nail in it. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the odds are against you.
More importantly though is the symbolism of the character. All through the game he is seen as the executioner figure that tortures people filled with guilt. Dualism plays a major part in Silent Hill 2 and in this case Pyramid Head is James inner demon. He is your aggression, your guilt and your punisher and knowing that there is something on the loose that makes you want to suffer crafts a sense of paranoia.
Pyramid Head may only appear in the game a few times but after one meeting you are stuck with him forever.
