"negative emotional aura"
title is derived from the way people often describe some of the areas in mario 64 (especially wet dry world) see also: liminal spaces
this list is for uncanny, surrealist, eerie atmospheres that give feelings of desolation, emptiness, a sense of dread and sometimes nostalgia. the feeling should be unintentional (or at least feel that way.) horror games aren't immediately disqualified, but their uncanniness should come from amateurish factors
loosely organized by strongest to weakest examples. entire game does not need to apply. check notes for specifics
29 Games
wet dry world is by far the strongest example, but the castle, its secret aquarium and the rest of the game's generally purgatorial, void-like atmosphere also applies
consider this the baseline for the list
consider this the baseline for the list
this is a substitute for "eyewitness children's encyclopedia" (granted dinosaur hunter is almost equally as uncanny)
specifically the 3d environments
specifically the 3d environments
specifically museum mode
intentionally dreadful, but gets a pass for how unassumingly it portrays itself
especially the first person segments and the hall of records
specifically on sandbox mode in maps such as gm_bigcity
applies to gmod 9 even more so
applies to gmod 9 even more so
becomes unmistakably apparent in first person view
pc version
while this is a horror title, there's an amateurish quality that seeps into every design aspect which amps up the bizarre nature in a definitely, completely unintentional way. from the character art, to the environments, to the music and even the user interface
especially outdoor areas
meant to be confusing and mysterious, but the location in its second half achieves this feeling notwithstanding
the remake's existence solidifies that this game was never intended to be horrific solely for its bizarre and otherworldly mansion design
ps1 version
intentionally designed to be dreamlike, but still unpredictable because of how its progression and procedural generation works
specifically lara's home
especially in the mall and library
25 Comments
no
ocarina of time
ok youve convinced me
Toy commander
chrono cross dead sea
@magneticburn this is cool but i don't really feel this has any sort of negative vibe to it at all
@seymourflux cool, jarring and desolate sure, but there's nothing really uncanny or otherwise fitting here
@seymourflux cool, jarring and desolate sure, but there's nothing really uncanny or otherwise fitting here
Postal 2
Namco Museum on PS1
The Neverhood, bigtime
@cyborc i don't really see postal 2 fitting at all
@vee & @djscheddar both of these are pretty snug fits. thanks!
@vee & @djscheddar both of these are pretty snug fits. thanks!
i felt like a just had a visceral reaction that might be this feeling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFl1BZIjcJA&t=1623s
i think its the combo that this looks like mobile game ad from right now combined with the hauntingly beautiful spanish guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFl1BZIjcJA&t=1623s
i think its the combo that this looks like mobile game ad from right now combined with the hauntingly beautiful spanish guitar
GTA San andreas CJ's house
Counter-strike 1.6 when you're in a map by yourself
Counter-strike 1.6 when you're in a map by yourself
@snigglegros this is definitely fucking weird and it's close to being fitting, but i think it has a little too much going on to feel truly lonely or empty. the stairs in the science lab area are especially hilarious though
@huss goddammit
@huss goddammit
GTA3
(I'm Huss)
(I'm Huss)
Shadow of memories
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gmod should be in top 5. u are stupid.
gmod top 5
I'm late to reply but fair on Postal 2 maybe I don't quite get the vibe 🤔. Was thinking mostly about the mall kind of area where it's just huge and empty with only a couple NPCs walking about.
forget last suggestion didnt notice the unintentional part
Playing Unreal Tournament 2004 leaves me with a really uneasy feeling.
Playing Unreal Tournament 2004 leaves me with a really uneasy feeling.
Hypnagogia Boundless Dreams has a few levels that might fit this, both intentionally and unintentionally
@thegamingn00b definitely one of the lighter examples, but a good call nonetheless. thanks!
@hatty @mariel ain't no way gmod tops the things above it in anything besides popularity
@cyborc good point actually. i think it does fit in hindsight - albeit on the lower end of the scale
@zombiehunter837 don't really get this at all here. just feels like any other arena shooter and the music makes it feel anything but desolate
@zeroesandones nah all of this is definitely 100% intentional
@hatty @mariel ain't no way gmod tops the things above it in anything besides popularity
@cyborc good point actually. i think it does fit in hindsight - albeit on the lower end of the scale
@zombiehunter837 don't really get this at all here. just feels like any other arena shooter and the music makes it feel anything but desolate
@zeroesandones nah all of this is definitely 100% intentional
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I'd like to propose Atari Karts, C64 Giana Sisters, EarthBound Beginnings (intentionality debatable), Sonic 4 SNES Bootleg, and the console version of Nicktoons Unite.
Huss
1 year ago