Let’s Talk About…: Surviving Horror

We’re back with our “Let’s Talk About…” series! Check out the previous chats here.

Let’s Talk About… Until Dawn

A little preemptive to talk about it really, because I haven’t played it, yet. I really, really want to, though.

I mean, we all know that horror isn’t really my thing, but I will occasionally attempt to try and entertain the idea of possibly playing a horror game, if the right one comes along.

This is one of those games. Well, of course it is. A good story, moral choices attached to a timer, and butterfly-effect mechanics? Sign me up. And then please pay for my electric bill for when I don’t sleep for a week. No, but seriously.

Anyway, in regards to horror, I think “survival horror” is probably my favorite type of horror, especially if it mimics the “psychological horror/thriller” of other media. I really like the idea of using more than blood and guts to disturb someone, because I am a big believer in the idea that the worst monsters are the ones that we could become. In typical therapist fashion, exploring (safely) the darker (and more repressed) parts of people’s minds is something I find clinically fascinating.

And then there is just the intrigue of trying to figure out along with the characters what is actually going on. Of course, as the player/audience, it’s more fun because we aren’t in any real danger, so the thrills and chills disturb but don’t hurt us. They make us tingle with a delightful amount of fear before we turn off the television, close the book, and laugh with a friend about how scared we were.

Of course, what we all don’t want to admit is that we wouldn’t be any more adept than the story characters in those situations, but that’s a chat for another day…

I’ll be talking more about horror all this month, so I’m glad this is the post that will kick that all off!

What do you think about survival or psychological horror? Is it fun? Terrifying? Not worth the time? Have you played Until Dawn? What other survival horror games are “must plays”? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon!
~ Athena

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