Subnautica could very much be classified as a horror game, the creature jump scares, the darkness, the unknown, etc.
The official word of the devs (I forget where I saw this) was that the game was not made to have jumpscares, but some creatures can give them nonetheless.
VesperNorth, to Alaska!Join Date: 2016-01-21Member: 211748Members
I must agree that Subnautica is most certainly not a horror game. Of course I also have issues with it being labeled as a survival game, but I fear I will not win that fight. The genre I would classify the game is on of exploration, but that doesn't seem to be popular with the Marketing Gods these days.
Speak for yourself. It is an awesome creature but when I first encountered it I was awed, not frightened.
Awe is the very essence of true horror. Something merely frightening makes for suspense or action, but being confronted helpless before an insurmountable force of nature, that is awe, that is horror. The dearth of guns is a big part what made Subnautica into a horror game, intentional or not. Also the helplessness of watching the sunbeam get blown up by overwhelming alien tech is a bit of horror. Granted the prawn takes lots of that away, but pre-prawn it's got horror.
An theme that underlays much of horror is the dark heuristic: “it’s judgment that defeats us.” The Reaper being a creature of pure muscle and instinct holds nothing back, and on the other side a super advanced alien civilization with an unyielding quarantine that also kills ruthlessly, efficiently, and most critically, entirely without judgement.
Lovecraft: "The one test of the really weird is simply this—whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with unknown spheres and powers; a subtle attitude of awed listening, as if for the beating of black wings or the scratching of outside shapes and entities on the known universe’s utmost rim."
It's utterly pointless to discuss semantics in a case like this.
The issue is completely subjective. Personally, I wouldn't label it a horror game, because there are many other labels which would have a higher priority. But it certainly has lots of the elements common to the horror genre.
The sad thing to me is that Subnautica loses 99% of it's "fear factor" after the first play through. You can't get so many of the feelings back ever again once you've experienced them for the first time.
One of the most nervous experiences I've ever had gaming was when I first encountered a Reaper, but I know I'll never, ever feel that again. Ever.
Speak for yourself. It is an awesome creature but when I first encountered it I was awed, not frightened.
Awe is the very essence of true horror. Something merely frightening makes for suspense or action, but being confronted helpless before an insurmountable force of nature, that is awe, that is horror. The dearth of guns is a big part what made Subnautica into a horror game, intentional or not. Also the helplessness of watching the sunbeam get blown up by overwhelming alien tech is a bit of horror. Granted the prawn takes lots of that away, but pre-prawn it's got horror.
An theme that underlays much of horror is the dark heuristic: “it’s judgment that defeats us.” The Reaper being a creature of pure muscle and instinct holds nothing back, and on the other side a super advanced alien civilization with an unyielding quarantine that also kills ruthlessly, efficiently, and most critically, entirely without judgement.
Lovecraft: "The one test of the really weird is simply this—whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with unknown spheres and powers; a subtle attitude of awed listening, as if for the beating of black wings or the scratching of outside shapes and entities on the known universe’s utmost rim."
I'd say that Subnautica exemplifies good horror.
That's rich, coming from someone with your username. Are you sure you don't have some (a lot) of sense in there?
Subnautica is a horror game for people with Thalassophobia the fear that lets just take the seadrgaon for example could be only 2 feet below you and you dont know
Utter nonsense! You can be in awe of something or somebody without being afraid or horrified.
I see the game as exploration and discovery more than anything else. If people fall off their chairs when playing this game then they are of a vary delicate disposition and probably fall off their chairs when somebody rings the doorbell. Reminds me of this type of person:
It's utterly pointless to discuss semantics in a case like this.
The issue is completely subjective. Personally, I wouldn't label it a horror game, because there are many other labels which would have a higher priority. ...
As sure as definition of horror is a very personal matter and taste, the mass of players are casual and new players who might be surprise caught by a reaper and thus seeing it different. And the non-lethal aspect of the game created by the devs also makes beginners feel helpless too, adding more horror feel to the game at first.
Finally we shouldn't forget that the game is also age rated as 10+ by ESRB and others. We can expect that a 10 year old kid feels "horror" where we adults only yawn.
A small list of effects in the game that could create horror:
surprise
terrific close ups
dangerous sounds without seeing the source
deadly attacks
helplessness
The devs have also failed to give really distinctive game modes. There are no different creature tunings, health concepts or vision and speed modes, only one single game balance and a fixed set of on/off flags. So we have a lot of players whining and the devs sitting between the chairs of demand.
I don't call it a horror game, but when rec'ing it I do point out its heavy horror aspects. It's kinda like how dark fantasy isn't horror but it also is, only the kind of "horror" that Subnautica is doesn't have a name. It doesn't aim to scare or unsettle, but it knows it offers something that cuts into a common fear/phobia and doesn't ease up on that. Pretty sure I've already said this once, but I like to compare it to Dropsy, which also isn't a horror game but there are people who cannot play it or enjoy it because of the protag's "evil clown" appearance. No point dismissing that.
It would work as a horror game... first time I played it it was the scariest game ever. If only this game was built to sustain that feeling of dread however long you played. Now the only time I get scared is when a reaper grabs my ship and throws me around...
It would work as a horror game... first time I played it it was the scariest game ever. If only this game was built to sustain that feeling of dread however long you played. Now the only time I get scared is when a reaper grabs my ship and throws me around...
Sweden Join Date: 2015-08-16 Member: 207210Members
Comments
Everyone shat their pants when first encountering a reaper levithan,
also the fog and darkness make it very hard to see
That was painful for my heart, and scared me of meh chair.
Speak for yourself. It is an awesome creature but when I first encountered it I was awed, not frightened.
But I would say it is quite terrifying.
The official word of the devs (I forget where I saw this) was that the game was not made to have jumpscares, but some creatures can give them nonetheless.
Awe is the very essence of true horror. Something merely frightening makes for suspense or action, but being confronted helpless before an insurmountable force of nature, that is awe, that is horror. The dearth of guns is a big part what made Subnautica into a horror game, intentional or not. Also the helplessness of watching the sunbeam get blown up by overwhelming alien tech is a bit of horror. Granted the prawn takes lots of that away, but pre-prawn it's got horror.
An theme that underlays much of horror is the dark heuristic: “it’s judgment that defeats us.” The Reaper being a creature of pure muscle and instinct holds nothing back, and on the other side a super advanced alien civilization with an unyielding quarantine that also kills ruthlessly, efficiently, and most critically, entirely without judgement.
Lovecraft: "The one test of the really weird is simply this—whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with unknown spheres and powers; a subtle attitude of awed listening, as if for the beating of black wings or the scratching of outside shapes and entities on the known universe’s utmost rim."
I'd say that Subnautica exemplifies good horror.
The issue is completely subjective. Personally, I wouldn't label it a horror game, because there are many other labels which would have a higher priority. But it certainly has lots of the elements common to the horror genre.
The sad thing to me is that Subnautica loses 99% of it's "fear factor" after the first play through. You can't get so many of the feelings back ever again once you've experienced them for the first time.
One of the most nervous experiences I've ever had gaming was when I first encountered a Reaper, but I know I'll never, ever feel that again. Ever.
That's rich, coming from someone with your username. Are you sure you don't have some (a lot) of sense in there?
Utter nonsense! You can be in awe of something or somebody without being afraid or horrified.
I see the game as exploration and discovery more than anything else. If people fall off their chairs when playing this game then they are of a vary delicate disposition and probably fall off their chairs when somebody rings the doorbell.
Scares Easily
Agreed!
Finally we shouldn't forget that the game is also age rated as 10+ by ESRB and others. We can expect that a 10 year old kid feels "horror" where we adults only yawn.
A small list of effects in the game that could create horror:
The devs have also failed to give really distinctive game modes. There are no different creature tunings, health concepts or vision and speed modes, only one single game balance and a fixed set of on/off flags. So we have a lot of players whining and the devs sitting between the chairs of demand.
Crabsquids from behind are worse in my opinion.