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What is your Favorite Horror Element? #1116524
07/04/17 05:01 PM
07/04/17 05:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,268
In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre Offline OP
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BrownEyedTigre  Offline OP
The Sassy Admin and PR Liaison
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In the Naughty Corner
What makes a Horror Adventure a thrill for you? For example, jump scares, eerie music, wandering in the dark, whispers etc?

Ana bat scared


Don't feed the Trolls
Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116539
07/04/17 07:23 PM
07/04/17 07:23 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 869
Hillegom, ZH, NL
J
Jarkeld Offline
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Jarkeld  Offline
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J

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Hillegom, ZH, NL
A subtle build up composed of a mix of music, sounds, faint visuals etc. I prefer J/K/T-horror style buildup to the American Horror buildup.

Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: Jarkeld] #1116610
07/05/17 03:27 PM
07/05/17 03:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
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Mad  Offline
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United Kingdom
I, too, prefer the slow menacing, atmospheric build up, Jarkeld yes

Steeling myself to go down to that basement in "Scratches" is a prime example of what I mean eek

Things suddenly jumping out at me, though, aren't quite so much my cup of tea .... with just one or two exceptions whistle


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: Mad] #1116614
07/05/17 03:36 PM
07/05/17 03:36 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,227
near Yosemite
Marian Offline
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near Yosemite
Subtle and understated, things that make me uneasy or fearful, are key components. This is one of the reasons that I love The Lost Crown so much, because there are many moments in the game like that. The Lost Crown reminds me of some great ghost stories that I have read by predominantly British authors.

Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116616
07/05/17 03:44 PM
07/05/17 03:44 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Jenny100  Offline
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southeast USA

I liked the kind of things Jon Boakes put in games like the first two Dark Fall games. The 3rd Dark Fall game didn't work so well for me.

I think "jump scares" from loud noises are cheap and don't work. A loud noise from someone throwing a book on the floor face-on might make me jump when it hits due to the sheer volume, but there's nothing scary about it. The adrenaline surge from hearing a loud noise is not only physically painful for some of us, but it produces swearing, makes you feel like beating someone up, and certainly prevents any future feelings of suspense.

Eerie background music doesn't do it for me -- at least not when it registers as "music". There might be some less-well-defined background sounds that would enhance suspense -- subtle sounds, where you can't be sure what's producing them.

Much better is something subtle but unexpected. For example, in Dark Fall: Lights Out -- when you suddenly notice the figure in the diorama has turned to face you. You can't be sure when it happened, you don't know what caused it, and you don't know what its next action might be. Maybe it's just looking -- or maybe it's about to ...

Obvious whispers might have worked once, but they've been overused at this point. Maybe a noise where you can't tell if it is a whisper or some other sound would work better.

"Wandering in the dark" is mostly just frustrating. In real life you might have some sense of where things are because of air movement, but simulating this on a computer doesn't seem to work well.

Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116801
07/07/17 03:41 AM
07/07/17 03:41 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,391
Long Beach, Australia
flotsam Offline
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Long Beach, Australia
The first Dark Fall game was excellent - a creeping, edgy nervousness overall, an unexpected fright elsewhere.
Jump scares can work but are fleeting and over in a moment. I much prefer the slow burn.


Quantity has a quality all of its own
Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116803
07/07/17 05:19 AM
07/07/17 05:19 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,109
Marlborough USA
Kaki's Sister Offline
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Kaki's Sister  Offline
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Marlborough USA
My favorite horror element is an atmosphere of uncertainty and being left alone! eek


Gerry
Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: Mad] #1116853
07/07/17 02:35 PM
07/07/17 02:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie Offline
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San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted By: Mad
I, too, prefer the slow menacing, atmospheric build up, Jarkeld yes

Steeling myself to go down to that basement in "Scratches" is a prime example of what I mean eek

Things suddenly jumping out at me, though, aren't quite so much my cup of tea .... with just one or two exceptions whistle


I couldn't agree more, Mad. Cheap "scare shots" don't show any creativity, anyway. I'm with those who loved Scratches and Dark Fall and The Lost Crown. Eerie mood making you feel uneasy, but you screw up your courage and go ahead.

Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116916
07/08/17 04:17 AM
07/08/17 04:17 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 80
Croatia
ViktorTheBoar Offline
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Croatia
I like the tiny little "fake jumpscares". You know, when the door closes behind you or the picture falls off the wall and such smile

Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116921
07/08/17 06:31 AM
07/08/17 06:31 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,013
Sunny Devon, United Kingdom
Upsydaisy Offline
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Upsydaisy  Offline
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Sunny Devon, United Kingdom
Same as Mad going down to the cellar in 'Scratches'. Talk about heart palpitations. hearts

Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116956
07/08/17 11:09 AM
07/08/17 11:09 AM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 180
Barrackstadt, Arcadia
LeBelleRachael Offline
Settled Boomer
LeBelleRachael  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 180
Barrackstadt, Arcadia
I like it when I jump and hit the ceiling and bump my head! OMGosh!! joy2 happydance


"Nobody murdered me. Or put me in a potato. Or fed me to birds. I had a pretty good life."

GLaDOS

Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1116962
07/08/17 11:21 AM
07/08/17 11:21 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 16,783
Upper Arlington, Ohio
Space Quest Fan Offline
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Upper Arlington, Ohio
Music sets the tone but dim lighting and fear of the unknown are the best for me. Shivers comes to mind as one of the best scary games I can remember.


It's nice to be important but it is much more important to be nice.
Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1117216
07/10/17 04:39 PM
07/10/17 04:39 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,391
Long Beach, Australia
flotsam Offline
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flotsam  Offline
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Long Beach, Australia
Some scenes just stand out - the room in faust full of screams and eye spy with the jar in Blackstone Chronicles come to mind. Both creeped me out.


Quantity has a quality all of its own
Re: What is your Favorite Horror Element? [Re: flotsam] #1117258
07/11/17 01:52 AM
07/11/17 01:52 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
Sonic Boomer
Mad  Offline
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312
United Kingdom
Another game that generated the developing sense of menace I like in horror stories - and so got me feeling distinctly "unsettled" - was Phantasmagoria eek


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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