NS2 and suspense/horror

hotd0g · December 2009

<div class="IPBDescription">will there be any?</div>For me, NS1 was pretty scary when i first played it 7 years ago...I could easily jump out of my chair because of the suspense when i got ambushed by a skulk or when i heard and impending skulk coming through the vents...
Now it's just...meh. NS1 has become more of an arcade game, much more fast paced (albeit this is not worse than slow paced) so that kind of completely demolishes the scare factor...
Now maybe you would think i don't get scared anymore in games like these because well, it's been 7 years and i've grown up, but i don't think that's the case. When i play FEAR or Resident Evil 5 for example, i still get plenty of scares.
I was wondering if NS2 will deliver in this department? Will it still be scary or will it be a fast paced arcade game right off the bat?
Personally, i would like it to be suspenseful, and that means it should be a little less fast paced than how NS1 is now...

WatchMaker · December 2009

When considering the new weapons, the new tech trees, and the new gameplay, I'll go out on a limb as say it will not be suspenseful. There is still plenty of room for horror, though none of it will be the typical horror you see in today's games. (Massive amounts of gore, blood, and violence.)

doeseph · December 2009

I think the atmosphere of NS1 certainly changed over the course of it's development, but not the pace. The game naturally evolved as people got more familiar with the game and took advantage of less obvious quirks, but besides Combat I don't think UWE intentionally pushed the game into a more arcade-ish style.

From what they've released so far, it's apparent they're trying to generate an immersive atmosphere akin to most sci-fi horror themes, but nobody really knows for sure until a playable version of the game is available.

-Drake- · December 2009

I'd say with the dynamic lighting and shadows it'll add a bit in terms of suspence and such as will the smart use of sound effects and ambient sounds/music.

Then again it would also depend on the play style of the people your playing with.

a_civilian · December 2009

I don't know what's intended for NS2, but NS1 was not meant to provide a horror-like experience. The first release didn't even have blood (it was only added later to provide weapon feedback), and the aliens were made to look mammalian so that players could identify with them better.

Triggerman · December 2009

I don't think we'll be feeling horror or similiar, I suggest looking at the new Gorge for a quick answer on that question.
However, I have no doubt that there will be plenty of single-player maps later on in the modding process that will utilize the shadowing and environment we have here. But they have replied very recently that they weren't going to include any kind of gore or blood as props for the levels, and that their old designdecision still stands on that.
And, in my opinion, it's hard to have a horror-game without aforementioned.

Mr. Epic · December 2009

I think by the time we get to play the game we will have had enough suspense and horror for a long long while.

Ink · December 2009

well you could think as if it was deadspace with the Dynamic infestation and creepy ###### running around or something.

slayer20 · December 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hoodedsniper @ Dec 4 2009, 01:34 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742351"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>well you could think as if it was deadspace with the Dynamic infestation and creepy ###### running around or something.</div>

I would agree with this. The only difference is that a stinger sound won't play every time you see an enemy...

Bacillus · December 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(doeseph @ Dec 3 2009, 10:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742324"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the atmosphere of NS1 certainly changed over the course of it's development, but not the pace. The game naturally evolved as people got more familiar with the game and took advantage of less obvious quirks, but besides Combat I don't think UWE intentionally pushed the game into a more arcade-ish style.</div>
This.

NS was built as RTS/FPS hybrid. The RTS part has strong anti-horror effect on it's own. The natural development of the RTS had probably effect on NS' atmosphere as people became familiar with the maps and started estimating and predicting the gameplay instead of just blindly exploring the map.

dux · December 2009

The thing that usually gave me a quick jump was having a skulk come out at me when I wasn't expecting it. After 7 years, this still gets me sometimes.

MuYeah · December 2009

I thought a big part of NS1 was meant to be that it wasnt an AvP style marines are ###### scared and aliens are the hunters but two equal teams vying for the territory with no side being the bad guy.

Daxx · December 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dux @ Dec 4 2009, 05:36 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742388"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>The thing that usually gave me a quick jump was having a skulk come out at me when I wasn't expecting it. After 7 years, this still gets me sometimes.</div>

Or worse yet, a Silenced Onos performing a Stealth-Goatse on you :D

For me the survival/horror aspect was 100% situational, and depended alot on the map. There was plenty of shock factor with how gameplay worked, but for me at least very little true scares.

Grave · December 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Daxx @ Dec 4 2009, 02:20 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742404"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Or worse yet, a Silenced Onos performing a Stealth-Goatse on you :D</div>

cloaknos! my favorite :)

Scalion · December 2009

I downloaded ns1, didn't play since so many years, and, geez youre so right, it's a arcade game !
One game im waiting for, Alien vs Predator, suspense, decapitation, look so scaring.
Maybe a good inspiration for ns2.

-Drake- · December 2009

When NS was first released it was quite creepy at first and it did make you jump in certain circumstances but I think the maps, lighting, sounds and such added more of a sense of atmosphere than anything else and I hope its something thats carried over to ns2.

Stardog · December 2009

If it's as fast-paced as NS 2.0 then it won't be as suspenseful. I remember sneaking into hives and taking them down on my own not knowing when the enemy would arrive. Now they just jump instantly so you're expecting them straight away. You can never get very far away from an alien in the newer version.

Harimau · December 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(WatchMaker @ Dec 4 2009, 06:26 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742323"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>When considering the new weapons, the new tech trees, and the new gameplay, I'll go out on a limb as say it will not be suspenseful. There is still plenty of room for horror, though none of it will be the typical horror you see in today's games. (Massive amounts of gore, blood, and violence.)</div>
That's not horror, in the way that The Grudge is horror. That's just goreporn, a la the Saw series. What NS2 needs, and what NS1 had, is suspense, scares and thrills. Things jumping out of nowhere, not grotesque things that slowly lumber towards you in plain sight, with a splash of blood to fill the 'horror' quota.

IronFist · December 2009

It was hard to get scared in NS after I performed the ritualistic lightmap overbrightness (what was it? gl_modulate?) just to compete with everyone else who could see into pitch black.

I realize there's always going to be the guy with his monitor that goes up to 999999 lumens anyway, so it's natural to not constrict the client brightness/gamma/whatever, but it sucks that you can't have your scariness and competitive advantage at the same time.

NS2 and suspense/horror

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