[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]
[QUOTE="mastershakez"]
Lets sum your post up shall we?
"People that like RE4 think that an attribute that has nothing to do with survival horror defines a survival horror game, but I KNOW what attribute that has nothing to do with survival horror defines a survival horror game."
Survival Horror = A horror game that has an aiming shooting system.
Survival Horror = A horror game that you solve puzzles in.
mastershakez
Survival Horror = a horror game that places a strong emphasis on "struggle" for the main character that manifests itself into the gameplay and storyline. Typically utilizes puzzles as part of the "survival," but it doesn't have to really. The idea behind puzzles in RE games is that the player can not only use their brawns to survive, but they have to use their brains as well - which is pretty much Survival Horror to a T.
The problem is that RE4 is pretty much goes in the opposite direction of everything that RE was previously heading towards. It's a shame, becuase the Survival Horror genre is seriously lacking right now, especially without Team Silent and the Resident Evil niche.
You're trying to define resident evil in place of survival horror, I didn't say anything about resident evil. Survival horror as a genre has no rule stating it needs puzzles or that it can't be a shooter. RE4 may not be true to the RE series, but that does not mean it is not a survival horror game.
No, I'm defining Survival Horror. Classic Resident Evil gameplay does not define Survival Horror, but it did serve as an import niche in the genre. There are games that differ from Resident Evil in their approach to Survival Horror.
Silent Hill provides you with weak characters. In Haunting Ground you entrust your survival into a faithful dog, as well as your own ability to run and hide. Siren combines Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Clock Tower elements and adds stealth for a unique Survival Horror experience. All survival horror games create a situation where it is best to play defensively, rather than offensively. Nearly all assaults in a survival horror game are part of a player's defense, so that they may survive through the progression of the game. Of course, there are boss fights and the like in many Survival Horror titles.
Shooters cannot be Survival Horror. RPGs cannot be Survival Horror. People have a tendency to try to define every horror themed game into the Survival Horror genre, but it doesn't work that way. A game must provide a varied solution to the "survival" dilemma that is of course present in every game. We don't call Final Fantasy a Survival RPG for the same reason that RE4 is not Survival Horror. RE4 places no special significance on the struggle to survive for it's character. In fact, rather than questioning the main character's ability to survive, RE4 showcases a character that is considerably strong who makes jokes of the "threat" that faces him in the game. It is an all out offensive and is not compatable with the term Survival Horror.
It's Horror. But it isn't Survival Horror.
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