Survival horror: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:47, 9 December 2024

Survival Horror

Survival horror is a subgenre of video games that emphasizes survival, resource management, and a sense of fear or dread. This genre often involves players navigating through hostile environments, solving puzzles, and confronting terrifying adversaries, all while managing limited resources such as ammunition, health, and tools.

History[edit]

The origins of survival horror can be traced back to the early 1980s, with games like "Haunted House" for the Atari 2600 and "Sweet Home" for the NES. However, the genre gained significant popularity with the release of "Resident Evil" in 1996, which established many of the conventions now associated with survival horror.

Gameplay Elements[edit]

Survival horror games typically feature:

Limited Resources: Players must carefully manage scarce resources, such as ammunition and health packs, to survive.
Puzzle Solving: Many games include puzzles that must be solved to progress, adding an element of strategy and critical thinking.
Atmosphere and Storytelling: A strong emphasis is placed on creating a tense and immersive atmosphere, often through detailed environments and compelling narratives.
Combat and Evasion: Players often have the option to fight or flee from enemies, with combat being a last resort due to limited resources.

Notable Games[edit]

Some of the most influential survival horror games include:

Influence and Legacy[edit]

Survival horror has influenced a wide range of media, including films, literature, and other video game genres. The tension and fear elements have been incorporated into action-adventure games, leading to hybrid genres such as action horror.

Also see[edit]

Template:Video game genres

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[file:RE1_screen.jpg|thumb|left]] [[file:SweetHomeInGame1.png|thumb|left]] [[file:Alone_in_the_Dark_zombie.jpg|thumb|right]] [[file:Jamesvspatient.jpg|thumb|right]] [[file:Left_4_Dead_hospital.jpg|thumb|right]] '''Survival horror''' is a subgenre of [[video games]] and [[horror fiction]] that emphasizes the survival of the protagonist as the game tries to frighten players with either horror graphics or scary ambiance. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical [[action games]] through limited [[ammunition]], health, speed, and vision, or through various obstructions of the player's interaction with the game mechanics.
+[[File:SweetHomeInGame1.png|thumb]] [[File:Alone in the Dark zombie.jpg|thumb]] [[File:RE1 screen.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Jamesvspatient.jpg|thumb]] Survival Horror
+Survival horror is a subgenre of video games that emphasizes survival, resource management, and a sense of fear or dread. This genre often involves players navigating through hostile environments, solving puzzles, and confronting terrifying adversaries, all while managing limited resources such as ammunition, health, and tools.
 == History ==
-The term "survival horror" was first used for the original [[Resident Evil]] game released in 1996, which was influenced by earlier works such as [[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]] and [[Alone in the Dark (1992 video game)|Alone in the Dark]]. These games established many conventions of the genre, including the use of limited resources, inventory management, and puzzle-solving elements.
+The origins of survival horror can be traced back to the early 1980s, with games like "[[Haunted House (video game)|Haunted House]]" for the Atari 2600 and "[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]" for the NES. However, the genre gained significant popularity with the release of "[[Resident Evil (video game)|Resident Evil]]" in 1996, which established many of the conventions now associated with survival horror.
-== Gameplay ==
+== Gameplay Elements ==
-Survival horror games are characterized by their emphasis on resource management and survival tactics. Players often have to manage limited supplies of [[ammunition]] and [[health]] items, and they may need to solve puzzles to progress. The games often feature a [[third-person perspective]], although some use a [[first-person perspective]] to increase immersion.
+Survival horror games typically feature:
-=== Common Elements ===
+* '''Limited Resources''': Players must carefully manage scarce resources, such as ammunition and health packs, to survive.
-* Limited Resources: Players must manage scarce resources, such as ammunition and health packs.
+* '''Puzzle Solving''': Many games include puzzles that must be solved to progress, adding an element of strategy and critical thinking.
-* Puzzle Solving: Many survival horror games include puzzles that must be solved to progress.
+* '''Atmosphere and Storytelling''': A strong emphasis is placed on creating a tense and immersive atmosphere, often through detailed environments and compelling narratives.
-* Atmosphere: The games often use dark, foreboding environments and eerie sound design to create a sense of dread.
+* '''Combat and Evasion''': Players often have the option to fight or flee from enemies, with combat being a last resort due to limited resources.
-* Combat: While combat is often a part of survival horror games, it is usually designed to be challenging and stressful, with players often having to choose between fighting or fleeing.
 == Notable Games ==
-* [[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]
+Some of the most influential survival horror games include:
-* [[Silent Hill (video game)|Silent Hill]]
-* [[Dead Space (video game)|Dead Space]]
+* "[[Resident Evil (video game)|Resident Evil]]" series
-* [[The Last of Us]]
+* "[[Silent Hill (video game)|Silent Hill]]" series
-* [[Amnesia: The Dark Descent]]
+* "[[Amnesia: The Dark Descent]]"
+* "[[Dead Space (video game)|Dead Space]]" series
+* "[[The Last of Us]]"
-== Influence ==
+== Influence and Legacy ==
-Survival horror has influenced many other genres and has led to the creation of hybrid genres such as action horror and psychological horror. The genre has also had a significant impact on [[popular culture]], inspiring films, books, and other media.
+Survival horror has influenced a wide range of media, including films, literature, and other video game genres. The tension and fear elements have been incorporated into action-adventure games, leading to hybrid genres such as action horror.
-== See Also ==
+== Also see ==
 * [[Horror video game]]
 * [[Action-adventure game]]
 * [[Psychological horror]]
+* [[Resident Evil (video game)]]
+* [[Silent Hill (video game)]]
-== References ==
+{{Video game genres}}
-{{Reflist}}
-== External Links ==
-{{Portal|Video games}}
 [[Category:Video game genres]]
 [[Category:Horror video games]]
-[[Category:Survival horror]]
-{{Video-game-genre-stub}}