When you think of video game survival horror the two titles that typically come to mind are Resident Evil and Silent Hill. While not the first games in this genre, they are, nonetheless, two of the most consequential and their respective debuts on the original PlayStation changed what gamers expected from “scary” video games forever.
Employing entirely different styles yet tied together by a spirit of horror and shock, the two games wear their inspirations proudly, each showcasing an understanding of both Western and Japanese horror that is not easily replicated. Resident Evil, for its part, can probably be credited with kicking off the zombie craze that swept much of popular media throughout the 2010s. Though always a popular horror sub-genre, Resident Evil’s introduction of the survival element combined with overwhelming dread is found in a lot of titles even today. Though the franchise transformed in the past decade into more of an action film series, it recently rekindled its horror roots with Resident Evil 7.
Silent Hill, on the other hand, has always maintained a strong horror tradition, and one that is distinctly horrific at that. Silent Hill also carries the “survival horror” moniker as well even though action is less emphasized in that game.
Resident Evil Gameplay
Released in 1996, Resident Evil took the PlayStation by storm when it dropped into retail store. A spiritual successor to Capcom’s Sweet Home for the NES, Resident Evil reveled in its B-horror presentation and storyline. As either Chris Redfield or Jill “the Master of Unlocking” Valentine, players made their way through a mansion filled with secrets and flesh eating zombies…among other things. Simultaneously combining elements from several games, Resident Evil featured a fun story, well-crafted puzzles, exploration, innovative graphics, and a distinctive form of controlling your character that, at times, served to
