Summary
Psychological horroris not a recent phenomenon, having been explored in early titles such as Konami’s firstSilent Hillgame, thoughthe indie scene has taken these themesand ran with them for years, too. Many might considerResident Evilto not fit the description, though, with its gun-oriented gameplay and countless monstrous threats players face within each game.
But there are certain moments in its games that encapsulate a lingering sense of dread that is almost too much to bear, brought on by frightening surroundings and masterful audio design. In these moments, it is sometimes all too easy for the player to forget they can fight back against these physical threats, as it is all done just too well.
The very firstResident Evilwasa ground-breaking game, marking a prevalence in the genre that would endure for decades. Along with that, it was the first installment in a franchise that would go on to become legendary, introducing gamers to countless likable protagonists and deplorable villains. As such, the very first game deserves all the accolades it has received over the years, earning itself a fantastic remake in 2002.
The Spencer mansion is a truly unsettling location to explore, as its eerie quietness is only sometimes interrupted by the shuffling and groans of nearby undead. It’s just sometimes too silent, making any sounds seem startling. The impressive graphics in the remake only heighten the horror, as everything looks more realistic, making it more immersive of an experience. The atmosphere of dread sometimes reaches unbearable levels for the player, weighing heavily on their psyche. And then there are elements of human tragedy, such as the fate of Lisa Trevor, presenting the idea that it is humans who are the real monsters here.
Resident Evil 5and6furthercarried on with the action focusofResident Evil 4, abandoning single-player as multiplayer games grew in popularity. However, not allREfans were very welcoming of this change, missing the days when their favorite horror game packed a horror punch. Capcom clearly listened, asRevelationsfavored a more heavy-horror approach, set on the high seas aboard the abandoned cruise ship the Queen Zenobia.
Dim lighting, brief glimpses of creatures, and a strangling atmosphere all made Revelations feel more like a trek through a modern psychological horror game than action-horror, and it truly worked in the game’s favor. This angle was leaned into even more with the enemy boss known as Scagdead (aka the communications officer). Even as most of him had transformed into a monster, the human part of him wailed for help even as the large buzzsaw-like arm tried to sever Jill in half.
ThoughVillagedoes seem to shake off some of the psychological dread from its predecessor, players might be in for a surprise when they reach the second of the Four Lords, Donna Beneviento. Unlike the other three, she isn’t much of a fighter, relying on the hallucinogenic nature of the plants surrounding her property to rid herself of trespassers such as Ethan Winters, which, indeed, he does fall prey to.
Deep in the basement of her house,Resident Evil Villageunarms Ethan, and truly embraces psychological horror.Puzzles immediately take a priority, such as the Mia-like mannequin lying on the table, and then there is the infamous giant fetal creature that chases Ethan right to the exit. It is quite obvious what these hallucinations are meant to represent, as Ethan is trying to track down his infant daughter who has been separated into four parts.
Resident Evil 7was the much-needed return to formula, even after the valiant attempts ofRevelationsto create suspicious titles that fans have been waiting for sinceRE5andRE6completely switched things up. Brand-new protagonist Ethan Winters is a simple man on the not-so-simple mission of locating his missing wife, with his search leading him deep into the armpit of Louisiana. It is there he meets her captors, the intimidating Baker family.
The initial arrival and entry into the Baker mansion is fraught with tension, especially withjust how dark the interior is, which does immediately prey on the player’s paranoia. They know they aren’t in a safe location, as this isResident Evilafter all, and the confrontation with Mia serves as one of the most terrifying moments inResident Evilas a whole. The sight and the sound of her crawling up that pitch-black staircase is one slow, drawn-out shot that helps build up the tension, providing a much more effective way of intimidating players rather than through a loud and sudden jump scare. The cat and mouse game played with Jack doesn’t let it up either, making the players feel truly vulnerable.
The second installment in theResident Evilseries is often seen as one of the best, improving upon much of the groundwork laid down in the first game and starring a brand-new concept alongside brand-new heroes, Leon and Claire. The pair both arrive in Raccoon City to see the destruction an engineered virus has wrought, transforming humans and animals into flesh-hungry creatures, includingthe hulking stalker enemy Mr. X.
The hotly-anticipated remake released in 2019to the delight of fans around the world. Although there was some disappointment regarding how the various scenarios split between the two protagonists were trimmed down, one thing fans could not fault was just how terrifyingResident Evil 2was in this new engine. The game looked too good, and this made every environment all the more suspicious to explore. The darkness is sometimes smothering, especially as fans know they aren’t alone while exploring these stifling locations. The thundering approach of Mr X’s footsteps only heightens this tension to mind-shattering heights, instilling many players with genuine fear as they attempt to progress.
