The pure definition of a survival and horror game. Gameplay requires you to strategically manage your inventory and make high risk decisions to navigate the environment. Playing this game in 2015 I’ll say that it has the most intuitive map system I’ve ever seen, ala making red x’s over areas that are inaccessible and updates as the player explores the map. The atmosphere is the pivotal attraction in this game, despite the dated pixilation the environments evoke a tangible sadness and eeriness as well as suggestive and subtle imagery. Initially a technical restraint, the use of mist to hide the lack of draw distance creates a constant fear of the unknown. Atmosphere is also bolstered by the fantastic sound design of Akira Yamaoka, who at this point is synonymous with the SH series. As much as sound is important in horror film, it shows more in games. Indistinct, metallic, and uncanny sound effects populate the environments in tandem with subtle ambience or silence that builds a real sense of uncomfortableness and tension. SH also manages to tell a personal psychological story along with an impressive lore that mythifies small-town America. SH has no jump scares in sight as it’s mantra is subtlety and suggestion.

A sci-fi dystopian 3rd person shooter, Gears of War doesn’t strike you as a mainstream game but with a co-op focused campaign, a warlike environment, and a dynamic group of characters Gears manages to mark its claim. The game is a true ‘cover-based shooter’, however there comes a variety of gameplay in different scenarios where players have to time runs from cover to cover, lead a boss into a vulnerable zone, or enter into a (poorly made) vehicle level. The action overall is fun, if a little unpolished. The story is a convoluted mess that allows the cast to fight, regroup, and blow stuff up. The dialogue of the group are little gems as you have seriousness alongside sarcasm and egotism.

A fun game featuring guns that everyone has played. Despite this being the first modern take for a WW2 game it came out exceptionally well, even moreso than its successors strangely enough. The story is even half-decent, despite being the traditional America Vs Evil Terrorists the story feels real enough while still pulling off a romantic action movie feel to it (with its successors being too much of either one). Online you get kills and level up to unlock better guns and create an arsenal of weapons you can customize and put into a loadout. The quality and polish of the physics of the game along with killstreaks have led to the game’s spirit of competitive enjoyment.