Kudos to the guys at Nintendo for finally finding the stones to put out a Survival Horror title for the Wii.  The first trailer for Nintendo’s upcoming title Feel, reveals some of what we can expect in terms of game play.  Feel seems to be a game based around exploration, in which you will have nothing more then a flashlight while traversing dark environments.

The trailer has a creepy quality, and for good reason. After all, Nintendo is working with one of the scariest directors around, Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge, Ju-On).  Although I enjoyed this trailer, I really didn’t like the “Grudge Gurgle” at the end.  I hope it wasn’t added to the trailer as a tease, because I have little to no interest in playing a game based on The Grudge.  Reason being, you can’t beat the game, remember?  The grudge finds you no matter what, so at the end of the game when you think you’ve beat it, you end up getting killed by some kid that hisses like a cat.

As a Survival Horror fan and a huge Resident Evil fan I am constantly hearing from gamers that Resident Evil is no longer a Survival Horror franchise. The fan boy in me cringes at these remarks, but I must admit the basic themes of this franchise have been through a major revamp. Progressively, the series has shifted away from its Horror themes. I am not dropping any bombs here and saying Resident Evil 5 is not a Survival Horror game but what I will say is that this franchise is not as scary as it used to be.

5.) Where are the Zombies?

This is the big question fans have been asking since Resident Evil 4.  Resident Evil was originally THE ZOMBIE GAME, which made it terrifying. A putrefying corpse that knows nothing but hunger used to scare the crap out of me as a kid. Back in 1996 when the game was released Zombies were scary, now they are a novelty. Which is part of the reason they were nixed from the franchise I am sure.

Instead of Zombies in Resident Evil 4 and 5, we have LIVING individuals who are injected with parasites that attack the brain, making them totally psycho. The parasites continue to grow to the point of bursting from the head, killing the host. Although the concept of human experimentation is still quite frightening, I think the idea of a foreign entity growing in a person to the point of bursting out of them has been a long time Science Fiction theme. Alien is perfect example of this, although the splat was through the chest instead of the head.

4.) It’s a fine line between Sci-Fi and Horror!

Horror and Science Fiction are very closely related genres, and if you have a film with both elements you have to walk a fine line on which theme should be paramount. Films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Alien are films with fantastic horror elements, but the  Sci-Fi theme’s of Futurism, and Space Travel are much more overpowering; deeming them Sci-Fi films.

The Resident Evil franchise has had a consistent Science Fiction theme, one that is a vital part of the main plot line, which is Umbrella Corp. A super secret corporation that specializes in radical experimentation. If you drop the theme of a haunted mansion (or city in the case of Resident Evil 2, and 3), and zombies but keep the theme of Umbrella - than you have a story based on labs and experiments, which in and of itself (sorry people) is a Science Fiction based plot line.

3.) Survival Horror Street Cred

More and more, horror films are getting more violent, and more shocking. Today there are horror films in the movie theater that would have only existed as independent films a few decades ago. Survival Horror is the same - the games in this genre have progressively become more and more disturbing, and if your game isn’t truly shocking it’s going to lose its street cred.

Survival Horror fans love violence, it is the bread and butter of the franchise but in the past few years it seems Resident Evil has been toned down. It is true that Capcom is trying to reach a bigger audience with this franchise, and the effects are clear. Resident Evil games now play like action shooters like Gears of War, and although both are violent they certainly don’t have the feel of Survival Horror.

2.)  Location, Location, Location

Part of the strength of the original Resident Evil game and why it was genuinely frightening, was simply because you were confined to a single space; in this case the Spencer Mansion.  The felling of being trapped is one of the oldest themes and most potent of the horror genre.  The idea that there just may be a chance you will never leave that mansion alive added a feeling of dread to the game play. With Resident Evil 5 you have large open and expansive environments that nullify that feeling of being trapped, and ultimately detract from the terror.

1.) Action on Steroids

If you look at any great Horror film - what makes it great is the helplessness you feel while watching it. Whether it is Jason, or Freddy, or a little girl that crawls out of your T.V. set, they all have something in common; they can’t be killed! It is this theme of helplessness that is the Horror genre’s foundation, and Survival Horror is exactly the same.

With the Resident Evil 4 reboot it is hard to feel helpless when you have Leon S. Kennedy A.K.A. killing machine behind a shotgun picking off crazed villagers like they are those cardboard ducks at a carnival. The same can be said about Resident Evil 5 when you look at Chris Redfield, an all around BA military guy, you don’t feel quite so scared playing this game in the dark. The Characters in the Resident Evil games don’t seem quite so vulnerable any more, and that is part of the reason the franchise just doesn’t quite have the scares it used to.

Don’t get me wrong I still love this franchise I just have to except the fact that it has changed, and in some ways for the better. There are still Survival Horror themes in this franchise but it just does not feel the same. What do you guys think?

If you are feeling nostalgic

Good news for FPS fans, Survival Horror fans, and most of all BioShock fans. In an interview with MCV Magazine, 2K President Christoph Hartmann said that the BioShock franchise could possibly have up to five sequels. Hartmann specifically said he was hoping to emulate Star Wars with the BioShock Franchise and that could mean that 2k could be going the prequel route as well as sequel.

Hartmann was quoted as saying, “For BioShock, because it’s so story driven, the question obviously arises: how long can you do it without turning into The Matrix,” he also went on to say “But, then again, look at Star Wars. It’s a fight between good and evil, just like BioShock. If we spin it the right way and get the right twist of innovation, we can make six parts of it, as Star Wars did.”

Although I am a big BioShock fan I do have concerns as to how they plan to make 5 sequels/prequels work. Sure Star Wars was successful with it’s six installments, but it is an iconic movie franchise, and BioShock is a video game franchise with a significantly smaller fan base. I am not saying I don’t think 2k can do it,  it just seems that at this point in time there is not that high of a demand for that many installments in the franchise.

Expect BioShock 2 Sea of Dreams for Xbox 360, and PS3 sometime in 2009, and as for the next installments, we will just have to wait and see.

Here is the link to the MCV Story

Today the demo for the highly anticipated FPS zombie horror title Left 4 Dead has become available. Any individual who has already purchased the title will be able to access the demo, the full demo will become available to the public Nov. 11th.

Left 4 Dead is the first person Zombie shooter published by Electronic Arts. It has generated a great deal of buzz for it’s concept, and type of game play.  The game will feature a four person co-op, and you will have the option to play as the living or the living dead.

For fans of FPS, and Survival Horror games this demo should help curve the hunger for zombie carnage, until the games release date.  The full demo goes worldwide Nov. 11th, and  will run through till Nov. 18th. Left 4 Dead will hit the shelves Nov. 17th.

Here is a link to Steam to download the demo