Last Updated on August 5, 2021
Ladies and gentlefolk, I know that Christmas can be a difficult time of year to buy gifts for loved ones. I know it’s not because we don’t want to get them something awesome, but because we truly DO want to get them something awesome. If you’ve been wondering what digital bits of terror your ugly kid little darling deserves to have jammed under the tree, look no further for today I am revisiting past columns to bring you my five favorite gory horror-ish games of the year!
Game #5: Dante’s Inferno
Published by: EA Games
Developed by: Visceral Games
Release Date: February 10, 2010
Available on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Arriving near the beginning of the year 2010, I thought Dante’s Inferno was a fun romp through the wastelands of hell. Sure, it was a bit of a God of War clone, but those games are fun and this one has enough style to make it worth playing through at least once. Plus, you can get it fairly cheap these days too so that always helps, for those of use with only a few sheckels in the bank.
From my review: ” I am a simple gamer and I loved killing everything on screen and repeating it. I loved doing it in God of War and I loved doing it in Dante’s Inferno. Everything about it is satisfying and upgrades are awesome. If there’s a gripe it’s that you have to finish each combo you start and that Redemption mode feels tacked on, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment.
The atmosphere of Dante’s Inferno really helped add to my enjoyment of the game too. You really are descending into hell and the game is just drenched in detail. I felt as though a lot of work was put into the nightmarish surroundings of despair and that really anchored me in for the long haul. Each level of hell carries its own design and I thought they looked awesome. Everything feels alive and everything is coated in its own brand of misery. “
Game #4: Alan Wake
Published by: Microsoft
Developed by: Remedy Ent.
Release Date: May 18, 2010
Available on: Xbox 360
People were waiting and waiting and waiting for this game, and I was certainly among them. I really dug the way this game presented itself properly as a mini-series, a sort of TV show dealing with a writer who must fight his way through nightmares of night and dark in order to escape the nighmarish town of Bright Falls. The game sports great graphics, fantastic sound and gameplay mechanics that are certainly serviceable enough to keep you interested for a play through or two. It seems as though this one never really caught on with gamers, but it deserves some attention without a doubt.
From my review: “The game is literally broken into episodic chapters, and feels a lot like a made-for-TV movie. The game will even recap what happened in the last episode at the beginning of the current one. Each part is well paced and has a specific goal and will leave you on the edge of your seat many times, leaving you hungry to keep playing. The whole thing feels like a book that you just don’t want to put down, which is saying something. That’s dedication, and the little details add up to make a compelling package.”
Game #3: Dead Rising 2
Published by: Capcom
Developed by: Blue Castle Games
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Available on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
It may have arrived a bit late to the party this year, but this game is absolutely chock full of zombie mayhem! Being a huge fan of the first Dead Rising, I felt this game did a great job improving and expanding upong a formula that I felt worked well to begin with. You assume the role of Chuck Greene, reality show motocross dude who is trying to ward off the hordes of zombies that have overrun a mall/casino complex while trying to heal your little girl with Zombrex. This game has everything you loved from the first one coupled with a much-appreciated multiplayer mode and a weapon combination feature that lets you bring horrific creations from your wildest dreams to life! I had a lot of fun with this game.
From my review: “There’s a ton of stuff I could mention here but I can’t possibly cover it all. Spend your time in clothing stores, putting on ridiculous outfits and laugh your ass off during serious cutscenes. Put exploding dinosaur heads on a zombie and watch it walk around. Mow through zombies with a wheelchair, knocking one into the seat. Kick zombies through plate glass windows, the list is endless. This is a game limited by your creativity, and if you love zombie killin’, I cannot understand why you wouldn’t have this game.”
Game #2: Heavy Rain
Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developed by: Quantic Dream
Release Date: February 23, 2010
Available on: Playstation 3
This one might be a bit controversial on my part, but I don’t care. This game seems to be a bit of a love/hate affair from what I hear. You’re either completely head over heels for it or you can’t believe anyone would ever play it. I don’t think I need to tell you which side of the fence I’m on. I loved Indigo Prophecy, the original game from Quantic Dream and Heavy Rain really blew that one out of the water. Playing like the most interactive dark detective story ever, this game is a movie that you control. From mundane tasks like brushing your teeth to crawling through drainage pipes filled with broken glass, this game has it all. On top of that, it’s different, original and compelling. It doesn’t boast a ton of replay value but what it bring to its first play through is more than enough to warrant a rental at the very least. I bought this one on release date and regret nothing!
From my review: “This isn’t a game that introduces an okay idea and then half develops it and deserves a bit of praise, but instead I think this game deserves to be called an innovator. Heavy Rain is an interactive experience that fully engrosses the player in every action that is made. This is a game where there are consequences to every move and you will be forced to make decisions that could even lead your character to die. And when I say die, I don’t mean ‘you are dead, start over’, I mean that character is dead and done for, not to be seen for the rest of the game. “
Game #1: Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developed by: Quantic Dream
Release Date: February 23, 2010
Available on: Playstation 3
If you read my stuff, this one shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. I truly loved this gem of a game, and on top of all that, this one comes from indie developers Frictional Games! Easily the most honestly scary game of the year, Amnesia is absolutely soaked in atmosphere and truly filled with terror. Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a masterpiece of a horror game. If you enjoy horror games at all, this is a top priority. If you’re someone who thinks you’re too cool to be scared by a video game, let Amnesia sink its teeth into you. If you enjoy spending copious amounts of time on the computer, check out Amnesia. Hell, if you have ever played a video game in your life, play Amnesia. It’s available via digital distribution from Steam and Frictional Games’ main website, and for $20, it’s a steal. Play it at night, in the dark, alone, with headphones on. You’ll hate me for it, but you will not regret it in the end.
From my review: “This isn’t a ‘grab your gun and shoot endless waves of zombies’ game. instead, you will find yourself on a desperate adventure trying to uncover clues. in fact, you’ll be hard pressed to find any weapons at all. The game tells you at the start that you’d better run when you encounter enemies because you’re weak and they’re strong. You will literally find yourself fighting for survival! And hell, if you don’t hide somewhere the monsters will tear you a new one really, really quickly. Not to mention the fact that your character will go completely insane and that doesn’t help either. Get used to running at the very notion of a scary noise, because otherwise you’re kibble.”
And there you have it, kiddies! Recommendations so great that even your Grandma will love’em! Okay, well maybe not. But hey, there’s definetely some fun to be had here. It’s been a decent year for horror gamers and I hope some of these titles will find their way into your tight little disc holes. Merry Christmas, y’all!
What’s on YOUR VIDEO GAME wish list? Spit Bullets below!!
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