Summary
There are a variety offirst-person horror gameswith terrifying enemies, be it one of the more recentResident Evilgames, or perhapsAlien: Isolation. However, when it comes to action-oriented shooters, enemies tend to fulfill a different role.
There are, however, a variety of first-person shooters, predominantly those with a retro style, that offer moments of horror via unique enemy types. These games share more with shooters than they do horror games, but each of them cast an enemy or two that are sure to frightened the most hardened horror fans.
8HROT
An Old-School FPS Replete With Surreal Enemies
Thisold-school-inspired first-person shooterfeatures a suppressive, brown-heavy color palette and a moody, downtrodden atmosphere that carries the game along with an immersive sense of place.HROTdoesn’t have the best gunplay around, but its atmosphere, as well as its surreal imagery and unhinged enemy design, makes it a shooter that’s much more than the sum of its parts.
The surreal elements ofHROTare also, at times, the most unsettling, providing genuine moments of horror that come out of the blue. Arachnophobic players may be especially frightened by the eventual appearance ofHROT’sskull spiders, a truly creepy foe.
DUSKholds the title of being thebest modern boomer shooterout there, modeled in the style of classics likeQuakeandDOOMwith the atmosphere of titles likeSTALKER, offering up a unique experience that blends first-person action and immersive horror. Like many old-school FPS games,DUSK’sfocus on action somewhat detracts from its horror, but there’s one enemy in particular — and its introduction — that proves terrifying.
There are a variety of monsters inDUSKthat may unsettle players. However, the Wendigo, first appearing in one ofDUSK’smore subtle and slow-burning missions, arguably provides the most palpable moments of horror in the game. This is mostly due to the creature’s invisibility, which is only broken once it’s taken damage. The bloody footprints it leaves in its wake don’t help, either.
It’s no secret thatHalf-Lifewas a truly innovative release in the world of first-person shooters, having a tremendous influence on story-driven games as a whole with its unique, natural method of storytelling. As a shooter,Half-Lifeis stillan immersive experience, despite its age, blending narrative and action with a subtle hand.
While not the most terrifying experience, one ofHalf-Life’sscariest enemies is arguably the barnacle. Some may find its simplistic 3D model and relatively harmless nature somewhat less scary, but there’s something about the way they pull players in with their tongue, the animation involved, and their tendency to hide on ceilings, that makes them an unsettling adversary.
CULTICis a unique blend of old-school boomer shooters such asBloodand survival horrorgames likeResident Evil 4. The crunchy pixel-art, distinctive color palette, atmospheric music, and excellent sound design result in an experience that’s as immersive as it is action-packed.
CULTICdoes, however, offer up a few moments of horror. One moment in particular is the introduction of the Harvested, sacrificed individuals trapped in burlap sacks. These creatures can be unsettling themselves, but their counterpart, the Harvester, with its blood-covered appearance, high speed, and raging chainsaw, is one ofCULTIC’smost terrifying offerings.
Gloomwoodis a unique combination ofimmersive-sims, stealth games, and the survival horror genre, channeling the energy ofThiefandResident Evil 4in near-equal measure. The nostalgic old-school visuals, environmental storytelling, and well-tuned mechanics result in an immersive, atmospheric experience.
The dark, Gothic setting ofGloomwoodand the Lovecraftian elements within it drench the atmosphere with a creepy, unsettling undertone. While its old-school visuals detract somewhat from the horror, and not all of its enemies are the most terrifying, some — such as the Crowmen and the deadly goatman — are especially thrilling adversaries.
Left 4 Dead 2isn’t the most terrifying shooter around, and the chaos of co-operative play combined with the game’s tongue-in-cheek tone somewhat detracts from the horror, but its enemies can provide decent scares. The common infected can provide thrills in large enough numbers, but it’sLeft 4 Dead 2’sspecial infected that stand out.
The Tank can be especially thrilling, with its hulking body and high-speed charge, not to mention its high health. These enemies are extremely dangerous, and they often show up out of nowhere, making them particularly panic-inducing. The iconic Witches, with their distinctive sobbing, can be particularly spooky in the right environment, and the panic they induce once aggravated is palpable.
Taking the series in an entirely different direction and drenching it in a dark, twisted atmosphere that focuses on the vulnerability of the survival horror genre,DOOM 3is a unique FPS with an acquired taste.DOOM’sdemonic enemies make a perfect fit for a horror game, however, and their designs translate well toDOOM 3’sunique direction.
Much ofDOOM 3feels like a corridor shooter, but it’s made more distinctive by its cinematic lighting and ensemble of unsettling enemies. The Mancubus, the Cherub, the Bruiser, and even the regular mobs that players must face are violent, often disgusting foes.
Condemned: Criminal Originsis a first-person horror game witha palpable atmosphereand a unique combat system that forces players to adapt quickly to survive. The enemies that the player must contend with throughout the game are relatively vanilla, but the erratic way in which they act and the aggressive attitude that they carry makes them all the more terrifying inCondemned’sdark, creepy, rundown environments.
While the regular mobs can provide plenty of thrills,Condemned: Criminal Originsfeatures a particularly unsettling enemy in one of its most memorable levels: Bart’s Department Store. The statue-still mannequins dotted throughout the store don’t remain that way forever, providing their own unique set of scares and making the level much more memorable.
