Editorial : Adventure Horror Games?

When you think horror games, you usually think of games like F.E.A.R. or Doom, right? If so, you're probably familiar with traversing unusually dark and claustrophobic corridors peering out the sight of your scope. Perhaps you just enjoy the survival side of things, like having to preserve your holy water so you don't get overrun by zombies. Or maybe you fancy those spontaneous frights or just enjoy fighting off scary beasts. For me, none of that stuff gets the job done.

The scariest games I've ever played are often the ones that are the most low-tech and made by companies far from the reach of the spotlight. It's a shame, really. It should be the other way around. Unfortunately, our fetish with pretty graphics and insane action normally gets in the way. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not saying that those games aren't enjoyable, because they can be, but I have strict standards for what makes a good horror game. To me, the less you can interact with the horror, the better the scares will be. For this reason, adventure games usually make the best horror games. Here's a list of, what I think, are the most important features/qualities of an adventure horror game that make it a good one. Be sure to leave a comment below telling me why I'm wrong or right, but preferably the latter.

An ominous hallway in Penumbra: the Black Plague.

A Day in the Life: Mafia II Demo

With all the articles posted about the demo already, I figured making a post solely filled with my oblivious opinions would be quite useless, since, as it is, there are already so many scattered across the plethora of forums on the net. So instead, I decided to make a short documentary on one of my tours throughout the demo. After countless successful completions you would think I would able to complete it flawlessly, but then you'd also be wrong. Without further ado, here it is:

The Opening

Mafia II

          

  Despite their substantial differences, there's something about games like Grand Theft Auto and Mafia that collectively keep me hungry for more. Perhaps I just enjoy the action aspect entailed by their premises, or perhaps I'm just a homicidal maniac who enjoys using his vehicle to clear the sidewalks of pedestrians with the excuse of furthering the cause of natural selection. As well as both of the previous statements, I prefer to believe that what makes these games so interesting and so addicting is the story bundled with them. I wholeheartedly adored  the story of Grand Theft Auto as much as one can love a murderous immigrant in search of the American dream. That being said, I think you'll know why I think I'll love Mafia 2.