Actually, this
does seem oddly appropriate, because while everyone else is watching Christmasy movies, last night I watched Ju-On. And I'm planning on playing Penumbra: Black Plague over Christmas break because that's when I'll have access to a computer with a real mouse, and I
refuse to play that game with my laptop's touchpad.
Anyway, scary moments? Well, there's always Oregon Trail XD I used to get so freaked out when everyone would die that I would refuse to play. And, um...Gelator from Math Blaster ages 6-9 used to give me nightmares
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw0e17Zkvh4 (first 30 seconds or so)
But on to the real horror games
Bioshock had some creepy moments that made me jump, though the horror was often lessened by the knowledge that I had a bunch of weaponry with which I could protect myself. Here's a bunch of examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfuNNMLebfs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ3M3Sq4pbE&feature=related
And then there were some pretty scary moments in Fort Frolic where you'd see what you thought were statues, but when you turned around...they had
moved ._.
I also used to freak out in ICO whenever the spirits would come; I would get all tense and frantic as soon as I heard the sound that meant they were around.
But by far the scariest moments I've ever experienced can be found in Penumbra, one of my absolute favorite games. What makes Penumbra such a wonderfully horrifying game is that the physics are very realistic, so you're encouraged to react to things as you would if you were actually there. Also, the heftiest weapon you can ever get is a pickaxe - a far cry from the machine guns you're given in a lot of horror games. And since you have very little to defend yourself with, you're in constant danger - and thus, constant fear.
Even the tech demo I played before buying the game was freaky as all get-out. There's one point where you have to barricade a door with everything you can get your hands on, which is something I don't think you have to do in any other game I've ever played. (What's really freaky is that there's a situation like that in Penumbra: Overture, where you barricade the door hoping the thing won't be able to get through...and it
doesn't work.) And there was one part where a vent in the ceiling popped open with a big BANG, and nothing actually came out, but by the time I realized that, I was in the closet clutching a broom without consciously thinking about it.
That's how realistic this game is.
Everything you could possibly construe as creepy in Penumbra freaked me out, basically
But I kept a record of the scariest parts in the second half of the game (starting with the spider tunnels):
[spoiler]When I first started the spider tunnels again, my hands would be trembling every time I'd die, from the release of adrenaline. When I'd hear the music start up that meant they'd hatched from their eggs and were chasing me, I'd lean forwards desperately even though you can only move at one speed when you're crouched like that. And I nearly had a heart attack after I'd closed off one passage with fire, only to head down another little tunnel and find another stash of eggs there - easily blocked off with a boulder, but I panicked at first.
It was REEEAAALLY scary in the parts where you have to lure the dogs in and then shoot steam at them; I couldn't figure it out at first and just clobbered them, and nearly died of terror when they howled for more and more came.
I was walking along a hallway, when the walls started shaking. I was a bit nervous, but not too worried, because that happens every now and then. I got to a door, then stopped short as something hit it really hard from the other side. I froze, poised with my pickaxe, not sure if I should run or stand my ground, then- THE DOOR BURST OPEN AND THIS JAW CAME RUSHING TOWARDS ME!!!! Obviously, I died because of the worm. Very frightening.
I think the most realistically scary part is when there's a cutscene and a bit of the ceiling falls in. Suddenly there's a big worm coming at me. I run, throw my hand at the switch to close the big door, then run for it across the acid. Frantically, I hack away at the boards in the way, till I come to a door. Quick, quick, open it! It won't open. The wheel! Turn it, turn it! It's too slow! I whirl around, knowing the worm is coming, when I see it! A single wooden pillar! I rush forward and start hacking away, but I can see the worm coming too. I'm breathing really hard as I WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! I'm almost crying with desperation when finally the ceiling falls in and...I'm safe.
Another really cool moment was when I went to the lab place where Red was investigating the worms. After insuring that I was safe (which took quite a bit of nervous investigating), I poked around at things and was about to leave when I saw a light switch by the door. I thought, "Oh, heheh, cool, Penumbra's so realistic I bet you can turn on the lights." So I flicked the switch and- OH MY GOODNESS ALL THIS WRITING ON THE WALLS!!! The music didn't help any either -_-
The ending, where you incinerate Red, was...moving. Not particularly scary, kinda creepy, but not really scary. I didn't actually realize where it was that Red was standing (I thought he was talking over an intercom) until he started screaming in the flames, and then I could only stand there gaping with bugged-out eyes. Afterwards, I noticed that all the boards lying around on the floor were in the shape of crosses.
In the very last part, I was kind of trying to hurry because I was going overtime in my break. But when I got to the hallway at the bottom of the stairs, I paused a moment and was thrust back into the reality of the game, as I squinted into the dim light of the hallway. Was that...a person standing there? Then all of a sudden the lights started switching off, closer and closer. I was breathing hard from fear, and backed up as far as I could go, but no good - the door slammed shut and the light shut off above me. I tried my flashlight, but it just fizzled and wouldn't work. So I whipped out my glowstick, but of course it didn't penetrate very far. I realized I was clutching my pickaxe before I even thought about bringing it out, and for a long time I was too scared to do anything but sit there, straining to see through the darkness to something I KNEW was going to come out at me. But gradually, I realized...I would have to go face it instead. I inched forward, tensing up and poised to strike/flail at the first sign of movement. I inched closer and closer to the two doors ahead. Terrified, but they were closed, so I thought I'd check the very end of the hallway. I took a step forward-
WHACK. CREDITS. My heart nearly leapt out of my mouth.[/spoiler]
And now I will shut up.
