Summary of Why Do Horror Games Stop Being Scary?

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

The video discusses how horror games often lose their scare factor over time, as the player becomes more confident and knowledgeable about the game's enemies. Dead Space 2, in particular, suffers from this problem as the player becomes more familiar with the game's environment and enemies. The video also discusses how the recent trend of horror games being less scary has led to the downfall of the horror genre in general.

• 00:00:00 The video discusses why horror games stop being scary, and how the genre as a whole is unique in how it influences its audience. It also discusses how some horror franchises, such as Silent Hill, lose their horror after a while, while others, such as Five Nights at Freddy's, don't maintain it. Finally, it talks about how adventure games are still exciting, even after many sequels.
• 00:05:00 The video discusses how horror games often lose their scare factor over time, as the player becomes more confident and knowledgeable about the game's enemies. Dead Space 2, in particular, suffers from this problem as the player becomes more familiar with the game's environment and enemies.
• 00:10:00 The video discusses why horror games stop being scary. It discusses how in Dead Space 1, the tension was built up over time, and in Dead Space 2, the brutality took over, replacing the slow tension. Dead Space 3 again ramps up the action, but this time it's done in a way that removes suspense, making it less scary.
• 00:15:00 The author discusses why horror games no longer scare people, citing Resident Evil 5 and 6 as examples. Resident Evil 1 and 3, which are much more similar to Alone in the Dark, are also mentioned. Resident Evil 2 and 3, which started from a different direction, begin to lose their terror due to developers' inexperience and lack of fear.
• 00:20:00 The video discusses how horror games have changed over time, with the focus shifting from being purely scary to being more action-oriented. It argues that Resident Evil 5 went too far in this direction and ended up being less scary than its predecessors.
• 00:25:00 The video discusses how the recent trend of horror games being less scary has led to the downfall of the horror genre in general. It points to examples of games in the genre that have gone wrong, including Resident Evil 6 and Dead Space 3. These games were not made with the intention of being scary, but with the intention of making money. This has led to the downfall of the horror genre, as people no longer enjoy these games.
• 00:30:00 The video discusses the history of the horror video game series "Fear," focusing on the development of Fear 3. The game's developers were forced to make changes to the game's horror focus due to pressure from Warner Brothers, who wanted the game to be more like the popular first-person shooter series "Call of Duty." The development of Fear 3 was hampered by multiple staff departures, and the game ultimately met with mixed reviews.
• 00:35:00 The author discusses how horror games have become less scary due to various reasons, including the industry's poor conditions and the repeated use of inexperienced developers. He also points out that some games, such as Resident Evil 7, manage to recapture the horror of the originals despite being more grounded.
• 00:40:00 The author discusses how horror games stop being scary over time, citing Resident Evil 7 as an example. They also discuss how game developers are overworked and underpaid, and how this often leads to poor game craftsmanship. Finally, they quote a movie director who says that horror films started out as disinterest in comedy and drama, but eventually grew to appreciate them.
• 00:45:00 The video discusses why horror games stop being scary, and points to publisher interference and developer struggles as major contributors. It also cites examples of bad horror games, including Resident Evil 7 and 8. The video concludes by recommending that designers and creatives be given more freedom to express their creativity, and that horror games be made by people who are personally scared of the genre.