Opinion: What’s The Scariest Game Of All Time? (Part Two)
Continuing his quest to crown the most terrifying game ever made, horror enthusiast Mark Butler spent another nail-biting night in the company of games so frightening they should come with a health warning. Following a fresh bout of shocks, freak-outs and full-on breakdowns, he once again reports on the harrowing experience… Last month I spent an entire night playing through some of the most nightmarish horror games ever created. And it’s... Read More
Opinion: Top Ten Terrifying Video Game Moments
When gaming gets it right, it does horror better than any other medium out there. But just what are the most terrifying video game moments of all time? Horror enthusiast Mark Butler picks out the best. NB. This article contains spoilers. While researching and writing a book on the history of video game horror last year, I was eager to seek out, and in many cases revisit, some of the most frightening moments in the history of the medium. In my opinion,... Read More
Opinion: System Shock 2 Retrospective
Mark Butler explores the origins, impact and legacy of the highly influential yet initially overlooked classic that was System Shock 2. NB. Contains Spoilers In the late ‘90s, while ambitious Japanese companies were wowing audiences with the groundbreaking third-person thrillers that had come to define horror gaming, an intelligent young American by the name of Ken Levine was pondering the possibility of combining artistic endeavour with commercial... 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
