Survival horror titles, whatever happened to them? i remember back in the Playstation 1 and 2 days playing some truly great and scary games that had you on the edge of your seat as you made your way through dark and scary locales fighting to survive on what little health and ammo you could find. From titles like the original Resident Evil trilogy to The Thing or System Shock 2 there was an abundance of quality titles in this genre. Fast-forward to 2005 and the birth of the HD generation and it seems this generation no one wants to play a real game. It's either online or simple A to B action titles where you have an unlimited supply of items to see you through, gamers these days just must be whining cry babies who can't handle the suspense and challenge of a real survival horror title. There's a few titles out there which i mention below but they receive nowhere near the attention they deserve.
DARK SOULS - PS3,360 and soon on PC
Arguably the greatest title this gen for me. This takes you back, the challenge, the frustration and the utter satisfaction from getting past that seemingly impossible level/area. The game is a master class in survival horror featuring a great art style, punishing gameplay and some truly terrifying enemies. I should also give a shout to Demon Souls which is its spiritual prequel exclusive to PS3.
CONDEMENED - 360,PC
A slight oldie here but a solid launch title for the 360 back in 2005/06. The gameplay here is FPS but based mainly around the use of melee weapons. Pipes can be ripped off the wall as you fight for survival against thugs thirsty for your blood. Most of the game is dimly lit making it hard to locate your enemies and the use of sound is excellent as you hear your enemies shout and run about in the dark. A brutal title definitely worth checking out still to this day, avoid its sequel though.
DEAD SPACE - 360,PS3 and PC
This was quite the surprise back in 2008, EA really pulled one out of the bag with this title. Quite possibly the best survival horror title this generation or at least the most accessible one compared to the difficulty of Dark Souls. Your put in the boots of engineer Issac Clarke as you crash land on a mining ship, the USG Ishimura only to find you and your team are not the only ones aboard. A great title and definitely worth checking out, again if survival horror is your bag beware of its sequel (action horror pffft)
AMNESIA: THE DARK DESCENT - PC
In this creepy tale players find themselves as Daniel who wakes up in Brennenburg Castle with an ominous note written to himself from... himself. Players have little to no weapons and are forced to hide from their enemies or outsmart them. While hiding in the shadows is recommended, staying in the dark or seeing unsettling images makes the player lose their sanity. A great indie title available on PC through Steam.
SIREN: BLOOD CURSE - PS3
An excellent horror title from the crazy minds in Japan. A TV crew from America arrive to research and film an exposé on the urban myth of Hanuda, the Vanished Village, where human sacrifices are said to have taken place. Hanuda is a dark, eerie world, frozen in the 1970s and surrounded by a red sea. An ancient curse has been set upon the town and you, as the visitors, must save the remaining inhabitants including the beautiful Miyako. In order to survive you must defend yourself from the vicious Shibito, or living dead, and other terrifying monsters. Throughout the game you will play each of the visitors to the village. The game's unique Sight-Jack System enables you to switch seamlessly between the visions of the hunted and the hunters. Featuring loads of blood, guts and gore a must have for PS3 owners.
Well that's it, tell me what you guys think in the comments below, what games this generation do you consider Survival Horror? maybe i missed some?