This game made me weirdly introspective about some things and I wanna get my thoughts out about it. I just hope someone reads all of my off the rails rambling.
Over the years I've noticed something within myself where horror games (and media in general) just haven't been hitting the same. The name of Freddy Fazbear just doesn't command the same respect as it once did in my 8 year old head. I feel like playing those games would only end up being a fun distraction rather than something that'll screw with my mental state and traumatize me, which actually leads into something else. A truly good piece of horror doesn't just make you fear the dark corners of a room.
To use FNAF as an example again (I have issues, I know, but any other horror thing you can think of can probably work), if you don't have questionable fantasies, "omg, what if chica is around the corner of this dimly lit hallway" isn't a thought you'll be having after you turn off the game. Or unless you're a child more afraid of the concept of playing those games than you will be actually playing it like I was. You fully understand the threat is in the game/movie/whatever, and the threat is only present when you engage with it. Great horror media makes you fear the dark corners of your mind. Actual nightmare shit, I mean, and this game is probably the thing that's done that for me the most (although I didn't actually have nightmares). When I was playing, my thinking was along the lines of "Dear God, what horrific events will happen next?" When I was done, even when I was going to bed, and into the next few days, it was "That stuff happened, and it won't get out of my head. Send help." I recognized it wasn't real, but the horror didn't stay inside of the screen. To quote peak songwriting:
"And when the story ends, it becomes part of me"
- Undefeatable, Sonic Frontiers OST (I told you this was off the rails)
I feel like the reason why it got me so much, even after I was spoiled to hell and back because of the nature of the internet was because the game pulls off a really good bait and switch. I feel like if I went in blind without reading anything but the title and genre, I'd think "Man this game is well written and cute, why is this marked as horror? Is this a joke?" Instead, I was thinking "Man, this game is well written and cute, so what if the spoilers were a massive prank internet users made? It's gotta be. I will choose to ignore the warning signs." Ignoring the warning signs was a mistake. The writing definitely helped, though, because it made me want to believe it was a normal visual novel. The other additions to this version were also nice and well written, but I can't really talk about how on the off chance someone who wasn't spoiled is reading this. In fact, it'd be a miracle if anyone at all was. To the untainted soul reading this, the game will ruin your day, PLAY IT! I don't care if you know what the deal is, you don't know the details! Do it, or the sight of fictional anime girls won't be the only thing you'll have to fear...
Over the years I've noticed something within myself where horror games (and media in general) just haven't been hitting the same. The name of Freddy Fazbear just doesn't command the same respect as it once did in my 8 year old head. I feel like playing those games would only end up being a fun distraction rather than something that'll screw with my mental state and traumatize me, which actually leads into something else. A truly good piece of horror doesn't just make you fear the dark corners of a room.
To use FNAF as an example again (I have issues, I know, but any other horror thing you can think of can probably work), if you don't have questionable fantasies, "omg, what if chica is around the corner of this dimly lit hallway" isn't a thought you'll be having after you turn off the game. Or unless you're a child more afraid of the concept of playing those games than you will be actually playing it like I was. You fully understand the threat is in the game/movie/whatever, and the threat is only present when you engage with it. Great horror media makes you fear the dark corners of your mind. Actual nightmare shit, I mean, and this game is probably the thing that's done that for me the most (although I didn't actually have nightmares). When I was playing, my thinking was along the lines of "Dear God, what horrific events will happen next?" When I was done, even when I was going to bed, and into the next few days, it was "That stuff happened, and it won't get out of my head. Send help." I recognized it wasn't real, but the horror didn't stay inside of the screen. To quote peak songwriting:
"And when the story ends, it becomes part of me"
- Undefeatable, Sonic Frontiers OST (I told you this was off the rails)
I feel like the reason why it got me so much, even after I was spoiled to hell and back because of the nature of the internet was because the game pulls off a really good bait and switch. I feel like if I went in blind without reading anything but the title and genre, I'd think "Man this game is well written and cute, why is this marked as horror? Is this a joke?" Instead, I was thinking "Man, this game is well written and cute, so what if the spoilers were a massive prank internet users made? It's gotta be. I will choose to ignore the warning signs." Ignoring the warning signs was a mistake. The writing definitely helped, though, because it made me want to believe it was a normal visual novel. The other additions to this version were also nice and well written, but I can't really talk about how on the off chance someone who wasn't spoiled is reading this. In fact, it'd be a miracle if anyone at all was. To the untainted soul reading this, the game will ruin your day, PLAY IT! I don't care if you know what the deal is, you don't know the details! Do it, or the sight of fictional anime girls won't be the only thing you'll have to fear...