Michael Chiniquy: “The Horror Genre Is A Shell Of Its Former Self”
The man behind hugely-intriguing indie project Sound Of Silence tells FMV Magazine how the shameful neglect of horror fans inspired him to conceive the ultimate psychological-horror experience – and why the dominance of profit-chasing publishers means it’s now up to indie developers and enthusiasts to bring back the abandoned genres gamers love. Last week, the fantastic concept video for Michael Chiniquy’s psychological-horror game... Read More
Opinion: What’s The Scariest Game Of All Time? Here’s A (Not So) Scientific Analysis…
From dusk until dawn last night, horror enthusiast Mark Butler played through some of the most terrifying games ever made in a bid to discover the true champion of fear. Following a full-throttle evening of shocks, shudders and even a full-blown psychological breakdown, he reports on the nail-biting experience, and eventual winner… I love horror games. Absolutely love ‘em. So much so, in fact, that I often find myself enthusiastically... Read More
Opinion: Silent Hill 2 Is Still ‘The Daddy’
With Silent Hill 2 about to make a revamped return as part of the forthcoming Silent Hill HD Collection, Mark Butler looks back at the seminal survival-horror title – and explains why it set the standard for psychological terror in gaming. Konami’s Silent Hill may have sent shockwaves through the rising survival-horror genre back in 1999, but it was the fledgling franchise’s second installment two years later that proved to be... Read More
Opinion: Great Games To Play This Halloween
Turn out the lights, crank up the volume and get ready to scare the hell out of yourselves. Hallowe’en is nearly upon us, and we have some devilish suggestions for both classic games and indie chillers to get you in a suitably freaked-out mood. Whether you want to enjoy a week of mind-blowing terror in the build-up to All Hallows Eve, or a night of intense dread on the occasion itself, here’s a selection of some of the best titles to check... Read More
Opinion: Is The Mainstream Horror Game Dead?
The mainstream horror landscape is dominated by action-based titles such as FEAR 3 and Dead Island, the Resident Evil franchise is heading into all-out shooter mode and the survival-horror genre as a whole appears to have lost its fearsome bite. Mark Butler asks whether the mainstream horror game should be declared officially dead. Can you remember the last time you were scared by a mainstream video game? I mean, really scared? There’s no shortage... Read More
Opinion: The Art Of Horror Games
Great horror games can be atmospheric, intense and downright terrifying, but Mark Butler argues that their highly-sophisticated qualities also prove that video games are a genuine and powerful artform. In recent times, a great debate has raged among cultural commentators over whether video games can be considered art. Those who claim they can, and should, have been quick to cite the powerful storytelling and visual design of BioShock, the laugh-out-loud... Read More
