Summary
A ton of 2000s horror games deserve sequels. Unfortunately, only some of them receive sequels or spiritual successors. Fortunately for game preservation and horror enthusiasts, most get ports, with a few receiving remasters. Rarer still are titles that get remakes, or whole reboots that preserve the best parts of the originals.
Still, the titles that got left behind have distinctive qualities that they did before later games or simply did better. Unique mechanics, distinct art styles, rich lore, and effective atmosphere-setting make these games worth revisiting. Even if they don’t get proper sequels, what made them unique is worth reviving in a new title or series.
9Lifeline/Operator’s Side
Operator’s Sidewas one of the few games that used the PS2’s microphone to control the character. Also known asLifelinein North America, players must use the mic to direct cocktail waitress Rio Hohenheim to safety. Rio can be asked to shoot, use health packs, and other actions as she goes through a space hotel full of monsters.
The monsters and tense sections ratchet up the difficulty in fast-paced encounters and stealth sections. However, reviewers felt its voice recognition system needed to be more consistent, especially in said sections. A revival on current platforms withbetter voice recognition softwareand mics could bring its vision to life.
The horror-adventure game is unique for its linear stages and realistic, no-UI HUD even in combat. Players must pay close attention to how their character Jack Walters moves and breathes to track his health and sanity. Broken limbs affect Jack’s aiming and walking, while a loss of sanity creates auditory, graphical, and controller glitches.
By taking away typical video game indicators,Call of Cthulhugreatly translates the disturbing nature of Lovecraft’s cosmic Americana horror. Unfortunately, it was slightly ahead of its time, as its difficulty was considered too high a barrier for many. It could find a better market today, as many gamers are used to or crave games with steep difficulty curves.
7D2
InD2,Laura Parton survives a terrorist attack on a commercial flight, only to wind up in the Canadian wilderness following a meteor strike. Inthe woodsof the Great White North, she and fellow survivor Kimberly are attacked by other survivors mutated into nightmare creatures by an unknown force.
To compare the game’s aura of mystique toTwin Peaksis fair. Melodrama, uncanny supernatural events, and strange logic abound and starred in by “virtual actress” Laura Parton. If the gameplay is overhauled,D2and Laura Parton could stage a comeback as a tribute to old horror games.
6Kuon
Female exorcists or onmyoji enter the cursed Fujiwara Manor to retrieve Ashiya Doman, a historical character. Utsuki and Sakuya must use their weapons and magical abilities to battle creatures and solve puzzles as they discover the horrors of the manor.
Built on kaidan, or vengeful female ghost stories,Kuonis a great peek into Edo-period Japanese horror. It’s also rare enough to have a$764 and up price tagfor copies. It’s a shame for horror fans as the game’s setting, interlocking storylines, and beautiful use of music and lighting make for true atmospheric horror. With more experience in creating great combat experiences, FromSoftware can bring this gem from its catalog back.
This action horror game would be right at home in today’s market. During its heyday,Cold Fear’s toughest competition wasResident Evil 4, which led to unfair comparisons as they were developed roughly around the same time. Ubisoft’s first action-horror was a looker with healthy scares and a unique combat system.
Players can swap between an over-the-shoulder POV to a third-person fixed POV. Enemy brains must be destroyed to fully perish, though they could revive without proper precautions. Because they have no inventory, players must be aware of supplies such as health packs around them.
The shipCold Feartakes place inalso matters. Players must anticipate its movements and brace themselves against huge waves and sudden movements. Their Resistance gauge could also spell the difference between staying in place and going overboard.
4Rule Of Rose
Women’s coming-of-age stories are fraught with horrors inconceivable to even other people who identify as women.Rule of Rosecombines the themes of women’s adolescence, trauma, bullying, and violence against women to create a chilling horror story.
In terms of gameplay, its investigative dog companion is similar toHaunting Grounds’ faithful canine companion. However, the game places aheavier emphasis on explorationthan gameplay. This emphasis, and the game’s excellent story and atmosphere, would be well-served in a remake that does away with its wonky control and mechanics.
3Echo Night: Beyond
Echo Night: Beyondis often cited as one of the bestPS2 horror games. With less emphasis on combat and more on survival horror,Beyonduses puzzles to guide players along its sci-fi supernatural story. As Richard, players must run away from ghosts instead of battling them or finding a way to disperse their mist.
The ghosts provide heart-thumping moments while Richard walks through the eerily empty space station. Yet it’s not all jumpscares, as it heavily relies on environmental storytelling to deliver a long-term experience.
2Haunting Ground
Haunting Groundor Demento is widely acknowledged as having been based on a prototype version ofResident Evil 4. Called “Castle,” the script by Shinji Mikami had Leon S. Kennedy invade a castle where a Bio Organic Weapon (B.O.W.) would have chased him. He would have met a woman and her B.O.W. dog companion along the way.
This woman and her B.O.W. dog would become the basis of Fiona and Hewie as “Castle” was spun off into its own game. Thus,Haunting Groundbecame a tribute to the fixed-camera style of horror thatResident Evilwas initially known for.
This worked in the game’s favor, as doing so madeHaunting Grounda suspenseful horror game. Hewie in particular is worth bringing back in a remake or remaster, as his AI remains a standing example for companions in video games.
Often cited as one of the best horror games released in the 2000s,Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiemwas the pioneer for many horror concepts. Its effective use of Lovecraftian horror, fourth-wall-breaking sanity effects, the cast of playable protagonists, and camerawork makes it a critical success.
While developer Silicon Knights folded, Nintendo has the rights to the game and the Sanity Meter feature. With the release of horror games likeFatal FrameandResident Evilon the Nintendo Switch, a revamp for the console would not be amiss.
