Shocktoberfest: Enter The Nightmare -- A Month-Long Journey Through The Horror Game Genre

When does this start?

Shocktoberfest begins on October 1st, and will last the entire month of October, ending at 11:59 PM on Halloween night.

What should I play?

Anything that falls under the classification of a horror game. Survival horror, action horror, a horror-themed FPS, anything with zombies, etc. In the interest of having fun, this can be more of a loose definition of what defines a horror game, and constitute anything that is more-or-less "horror themed". So games like Gears of War or even Luigi's Mansion are fine.

For me, it's very much the same outlook as Backlaugust -- I've got horror games in my backlog, and it's time to play them. How many games you want to play is up to you, whether that's just one game or a few games. Any platform, doesn't matter. They can be new games, old games. Even horror games you've already beaten long ago and want to replay. You don't have to choose all of your games up front; you can if you want, but it's fine to just take it one-game-at-a-time.

Who should participate?

If you:

a. Enjoy horror games
and/or
b. Have at least one horror game in your backlog
and/or
c. Plan on buying a new horror game (such as, I don't know, ZOMBIU!!!!!!!!)

you should do this.

The purpose of this is a little less about seeing how many games we can beat, but for everyone to share in the experience of playing something scary. A good horror game can be a tough thing to get all of the way through to the end, but with some moral support from the rest of the community that's going through the same thing, maybe we can all make it back into the light by November! That's what it comes down to -- having fun, and being scared shitless. And being scared shitless is a lot more fun when being scared shitless as a group.

One last thing -- for your fellow NW-er who hasn't played every game, try using spoiler tags whenever possible for anything major that's story-related, or just in general anything that should not be spoiled. So, "I can't believe Leon died at the end!" instead of "I can't believe Leon died at the end!"


Completed (18)



Kentucky Route Zero, Act 1 (Secret_Tunnel, 10/6)
The House of the Dead: Overkill (GameDadGrant, 10/7)
Dead Space (PogueSquadron, 10/11)
Kentucky Route Zero, Act 2 (Secret_Tunnel, 10/14)
Fatal Frame (TheBigG753, 10/17)
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (PogueSquadron, 10/20)
Dead Rising 2 (Zero, 10/20)
Dead Space Extraction (Mop It Up, 10/21)
Super Castlevania IV (Het_Nkik, 10/23)
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir (GameDadGrant, 10/24)
Zombies Ate My Neighbors (Het_Nkik, 10/26)
ObsCure II (r_hjort, 10/26)
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Jargon, 10/26)
Resident Evil: Revelations (ludist210, 10/28)
ZombiU (Mr_Mustache, 10/29)
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly (TheBigG753, 10/31)
Project Zero 2: Wii Edition (r_hjort, 10/31)
Zero: Tsukihami no Kamen/Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (Het_Nkik, 10/31)


LEFT 4 DEAD (10)

999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (Secret_Tunnel, in progress)
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (GameDadGrant, *has thrown in the towel*)
Dead Space: Extraction (chrisguy, through 5 levels)
Doom II (Pokefreak911, 12 levels in)
Resident Evil Zero (gojira, at the Training Facility)
TellTale's The Walking Dead (Zero, finished Episode 3)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Pokefreak911, through Stone Tower)
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (Zero, finished first run)
ZombiU (gojira, Tower of London)
ZombiU (r_hjort, whack-a-zombie)


The Players (20)

chrisguy: Dead Space: Extraction
deathly_hallows: Cult County, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil: Deadly Silence
DrFinkelstein: ZombiU
GameDadGrant: Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir, The House of the Dead: Overkill, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
gojira: ZombiU, Resident Evil Zero
Hero_of_Hyrule: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Het_Nkik: Super Castlevania IV, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Zero: Tsukihami no Kamen
Jargon: Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Dead Space, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
kriswright: ZombiU
ludist210: Resident Evil: Revelations
Mop It Up: Dead Space Extraction
Mr_Mustache: ZombiU, Castlevania
PogueSquadron: Dead Space, Castlevania 3
Pokefreak911: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Bioshock, Bioshock 2, Doom II
r_hjort: Obscure 2, Project Zero 2: Wii Edition, ZombiU
Secret_Tunnel: Dead Space 3, Kentucky Route Zero, 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare.
Shadowlink: ZombiU
Stephen: Alan Wake
TheBigG753: Fatal Frame, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, Fatal Frame III: The Tormented
Zero: Dead Rising 2, Castlevania (III or Adventure Rebirth), Virtue's Last Reward, The Walking Dead


LAST YEAR'S THREAD

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@PogueSquadron

On top of playing the four games I've also watched both animated films and still didn't know what you said in your spoilers. I hope Dead Space 2 works better for you, it's an amazing game.

For my part I played a little RE0 last night. I explored a bit of the Mansion. It's not The Mansion, but it's definitely similar. I did some exploring, used up almost all of my handgun ammo. Then I ran into these new enemies that are a real pain. I took care of the first one, but I had no ammo left for the second. I read up on them and it sounds like they won't be too bad if I fight them correctly.

I also played a bit of ZombiU. I got through that first supermarket run without a scratch. It is on easy, but I also knew about the door that would trigger an alarm and what to do next. So right now I'm back to where I was when I started my normal file.

ZombiU tonight. For suresies.

Put me down as playing Kentucky Route Zero Act II and 999. Technically haven't started either one yet, but I hope to play through KRZ tonight and start 999 in a few days. Still gotta start Dead Space 3 as well.

Oh yeah, put me down as playing Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare as well please.

Just played ZombiU for about 20 minutes. Didn't take any damage. Didn't fight anything.


And now every light in my place is on. More tomorrow.

@Mr_Mustache

It feels like I'm putting the game down when I say that the parts where's there's no combat is my favorite aspect of the game. But I just really think it's great how much tension you feel at those times.

@gojira

Yeah, I can't take that stuff that well. "What was that?!" *look around the room for 14 seconds*

Where are you? Trying not to spoil..I just talked to someone who isn't infected.

@Mr_Mustache

I'm not that far. I'm still pre-going to Buckingham Palace.

Man, these new pokey-manz that just came out are really cutting into my Shocktoberfest game time...!

@gojira

Sweet icon/avatar!

Finally got to the throwback stage in Castlevania 3. Man, the music in this game is awful compared to the Japanese version.

@GameDadGrant

Yeah, definitely one of the oddest Mario enemies ever. That whole world was really. Decapitated fish, Jason masks and that one vampire kid.

@gojira

I'm in it, but not doing much yet. You'll probably be caught up to me in an hour or less.

@PogueSquadron

I've heard the Japanese soundtrack, and while it certainly has more bass, I actually prefer the North American music. Could be because that's what I played (thus that's what my nostalgia is tied to) but...oh well. The Japanese music might be a bit over-hyped, IMO.

@gojira

Right? What was up with the vampire? He only showed up like, once, right? Strange "cameo" y'know? lulz.

Though the strangest enemy in that game might be those mer-cows, or whatever? That swam in the tree sap?

@GameDadGrant Aw man, no way! The US version sounds like it's missing stuff to me. There's maybe one song that sounds better, but overall the Famicom version is way better IMO. Vampire Killer sounds a ton better.

Just played through Kentucky Route Zero Act II. Even better than Act I! This game is so hauntingly beautiful. Reminds me of Sword & Sworcery, in a way. It isn't really a creepy Halloween game, but I'm loving it nonetheless. Now time to wait for the next three Acts to come out.

Alright, played some more tonight. Definitely got confused in the Palace looking for the book.

I think I have it now, but my latest survivor..died after I jumped intentionally off of a scaffolding. THANKS FOR RUINING MY BRAIN, OTHER VIDEOGAMES WHERE THIS IS OK. STUPID STUPID STUPID.

After that, I went to the..computer? and checked some camera deals. Apparently there is an awesome gun available in one of the areas I was already in. I, uh, should probably get that since I'm getting beat in many fights. No good! I cleared out one area, but no gun. Must find.

I'm probably getting near the end of Dead Rising 2.

I also finished my first run through Virtue's Last Reward. Of course, that is not the type of game where you only make one run through. Have a lot more ahead of me there.

Zero said:

I also finished my first run through Virtue's Last Reward. Of course, that is not the type of game where you only make one run through. Have a lot more ahead of me there.

Yesssss.

Such an awesome game. Watch out for that glitch room though. Maybe back up your save every few runs?

@Shadowlink Uh oh, which glitch room?!

Man, I wish Nintendo made it easier to back stuff up. Well, I guess it is, if you have an SD slot on your computer... but I don't. I should really just bite the bullet and get some kind of SD to USB conversion thing going on.

Anyone else going to be playing ZombiU soon? I was running around all over the place last night and this afternoon. Still haven't ADVANCED with my new guy though. I was able to recover my bag though, successfully. And pick up the Carbine that I had been missing. Hoo yeah.

@Mr_Mustache
I wasn't going to, but all this talk about it makes me want to try and beat the survival mode! Only tried once and did alright for a few hours, but then I accidentally blew myself up. Ahem.

You'll come to some pretty awesome locations once you advance, IMO. I'm almost jealous that I don't get to experience them for the first time.