Sacred Symbols+, Episode 352 | The 2023 Horror Games Renaissance
Added 2023-12-02 17:00:09 +0000 UTC2023 has been an incredible year for games, but one of the more interesting aspects is how many successful horror games we've seen as of late. Just a few years ago, major franchises in the genre, such as Resident Evil and Dead Space, took a nosedive critically, only to be resurrected with successful remakes and sequels. To delve deeper into the topic, I (Dustin) invited horror YouTuber Jimmy Champane and Gene Park of the Washington Post to discuss. I also addressed your questions and comments on Patreon to frame the conversation. What is our history with the genre? What are our pet peeves in horror games? Will Kojima ever return to a Silent Hills-style game? Turn off the lights, put on headphones, and enjoy!
Comments
loved the episode, Im all in favor for changing Jaffe for Jimmy. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Marco Maluf
2023-12-29 15:23:06 +0000 UTCHow come nobody talks about The Last of Us for having good horror? The first time experiencing the clickers in the collapsing building, the train station section, and pretty much the entire winter section are amazing survival horror. The sound design is also superb and elevates it over so many games for me. I've also found RE4 as way more of a campy action game than a survival horror game. That's not a slight on RE4 either, it's an awesome game.
Brannon H
2023-12-19 15:09:39 +0000 UTCGreat episode
Andrew Morgan
2023-12-08 11:37:11 +0000 UTCCredit where credit is due, Gene was dead on about the lack of need for a new Silent Hill. Its themes have inspired the wider genre with such totality that to redo it would be to invite inspection into any trivial minutae that are magnified between the two interpretations; obviating any gain as trivial compared to the import heaped on its detractable qualities. This was a really cogent point by Gene, and I gained a little more respect for his sensibilities in the medium.
Saint947
2023-12-08 08:08:53 +0000 UTCHey Dustin you asked for it, so I thought I would chime in and say this style of episode with topical write ins is great, keep them coming!
Shadvegas
2023-12-07 00:29:56 +0000 UTCYou gentlemen are absolutely correct. Evil within 2 is one of the great all time underrated games. From the exploration to the gameplay it’s an incredible run. You can really feel if they have another chance they can hopefully take on a more survival open world approach they played with in this one. Even re4 remake borrowed some elements from it
Will Ellis
2023-12-06 20:27:38 +0000 UTCAlan wake 2 flashing jump scares are explained but not directly. The characters themselves are seeing them and reacts to them. Not that that doesnt still feel cheap being overused but there is a reason of some sort
Graesin
2023-12-06 13:45:15 +0000 UTCI feel the complete opposite than the guys on the Evil Within 1 and 2. The first one is one of my favorite horror games of all time, while 2 felt like it was lacking a sense of direction and was way less scary. I also hated the turn it takes in the second half.
Joseph Gedgaudas
2023-12-06 01:41:59 +0000 UTCJimmy giving 3DS Mercenaries some love! 👌🏼
Xstar25
2023-12-06 00:20:00 +0000 UTCOne of the better SS+ episodes. Really like these more than just a mailbag
Remington Wilson
2023-12-05 23:57:52 +0000 UTCL.A 10’s!!! 😂
Aswad Charles
2023-12-05 10:28:04 +0000 UTCJeez that was horrifying
NecrumOddBoy
2023-12-05 03:44:50 +0000 UTCThere's a bigger gap in what re2 remake did for that entry than re4 remake. Re4 improved the visuals, controls, and some story stuff but the original game is already exceptional. I think resident evil 4 remake is the better game but I do think what re2 did for the remake "genre" is quite seminal.
jonathan vazquez
2023-12-05 00:26:35 +0000 UTCGREAT episode! Horror is my absolute favorite genre across books, movies, and video games. Thanks for the fun episode!
Brett Altmiller
2023-12-04 17:45:38 +0000 UTCLoved the conversation and I think I'm finally convinced I need to give The Evil Within 2 a shot after all this time. The horror theme would obviously be great as a yearly spooky season episode, but I wouldn't complain if it got revised every few months either.
Pauly Twos
2023-12-04 16:16:46 +0000 UTCThis was a great episode. I really like the format for this type of topic-based mail bag discussion. One topic that would be worthwhile to tackle is the scope of games today, including game length and pacing, but also excessively complex skill trees, RPG upgrading systems, and UI. It’d be interesting to contrast games that do it poorly vs. well, and what can be done to decrease the budgets and development timelines for games these days (other than just saying games need to be shorter). Another branch for the discussion could even be how a lot of remakes (e.g. The Last of Us Part I, Resident Evil 2, Dead Space, etc.) are proving that a simpler and more focused experience can actually be a benefit.
Jim Capron
2023-12-04 13:27:11 +0000 UTCI’m glad they mentioned the Fatal Frame series, especially 2. That first trilogy was so special, I feel. There’s something to the whole Japanese old manor / village and the fact that it’s spirits / ghosts of tormented souls and you can understand their regrets and suffering. Also, I feel like not having the likes of a shotgun or a rocket launcher enhances the feeling of fear: you can’t just frag off the enemy and be done with it. Of course the Camera Obscura kind of acts like a first person gun, but having to look the ghost’s distortion in the eye is so much more scary, I feel. I never forgot those games. Supposedly a new one may be coming in the series, but the latest ones from the Wii era were not as good, we shall see.
Manuel Nascimento
2023-12-04 12:01:42 +0000 UTCThis was a fun conversation. Please do these types of conversations more often! Also we need a full Gene Resident Evil mailbag.
TMFP
2023-12-04 03:18:28 +0000 UTCHow did Dustin hold up to Hogwarts legacy’s haunted shop side quest? Hahah
KnivesDCCCVIII
2023-12-03 20:54:59 +0000 UTCThat sounds perfect
Jimmy Champane
2023-12-03 15:39:45 +0000 UTCGreat episode. As far as horror video games, I had read that they are developing a video game of Barbarian. While others are tired of it, I am of the opinion we have never had the quintessential zombie game yet. Something with the level/scope of State of Decay, but higher quality, with real base building and survival.
TL
2023-12-03 11:52:53 +0000 UTCI'm getting into Evil Within 2 tonight! Those were persuasive recommendations. It's a game that I've been intrigued by for some time. It's available on both Game Pass and PS Plus Extra for those also interested. Cheers
LongJohnSivers#1Fan
2023-12-03 01:07:24 +0000 UTCNo mention of the last of us 😭
william planas
2023-12-02 22:39:31 +0000 UTCYeah, it's always great hearing some Resident Evil 6 love!
Guns vs Kittens
2023-12-02 19:00:37 +0000 UTCPeople who’ve never played >observer love talking shit about Bloober team
Brandon V
2023-12-02 18:56:07 +0000 UTCexactly what i needed this morning what an excellent topic choice!!!
OffThaLedge
2023-12-02 18:27:17 +0000 UTCGreat topic choice Dustin. I’m not a horror fan, per say, but I’m stoked to see the genre revived in such an outstanding capacity
NotSkyWalker
2023-12-02 17:24:54 +0000 UTCI’m usually not even into horror games but Dead Space Remake, RE4 Remake, and Alan Wake 2 are all dope as hell
Zeke the Plumber
2023-12-02 17:13:21 +0000 UTC
