The survival horror genre is known for its combination of nail-biting horror, dense atmospheres, and visceral — albeit rough-edged — combat.Games likeSilent Hillfeature combat that’s intense, but it’s the game’s other strengths that make it engaging.
Some survival horror games, however, have a deeper focus on combat. Many of these games feature gunplay that’s well-crafted and highly polished, whether it’s the rare use of guns inCondemnedor theimmersive FPS combatofResident Evil 7. However, some of these games, such asDOOM 3, are less stereotypical of survival horror due to their focus on combat.
Though it’s somewhat light on horror elements,STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobylfeaturesa variety of creepy creaturesand a consistently unsettling atmosphere facilitated by its strange world. The Zone, where the game takes place, is also a hostile and unforgiving landscape full of danger. As a result, players have to manage their resources carefully, keeping an eagle eye as they journey across the land.
Gunfights are a common occurrence inSTALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl, and although the game can be a little rough around the edges, the gunplay is tremendously immersive. While enemies can be bullet-sponges at times, thesuperb sound design, weighty animations, and leaning mechanics make every firefight a visceral experience.
Putting players in the shoes of an FBI agent on the run, going up against serial killers and a horde of crazed, violent criminals,Condemned: CriminalOriginsis a wild ride. The run-and-hide mentality of the AI andvisceral melee combatare among its greatest strengths, right alongside its dense and immersive atmosphere. However, it’s not just the melee weapons that makeCondemned’scombat so enthralling.
AlthoughCondemned: Criminal Originsdoesn’t really feature much in the way of gunplay, the few firefights that can take place throughout the game are both visceral and immersive. Guns inCondemnedare rare and limited on ammunition, with no ammo packs to be seen throughout its intense campaign. However, the superb sound design, bright muzzle flashes, gun-smoke, and animations make for immersive gunplay. Furthermore,Condemnedlacks a UI element for the player’s ammo count, instead forcing them to manually check their ammo with a laborious animation. This keeps players on their toes and makes it easy to be caught off guard in the middle of combat.
Bringing the classic survival horror gameplay of the earlierResident Eviltitlesto the world of first-person shooters,Resident Evil 7was a refreshing breath of fresh air for manyResident Evilfans. Although it changed much about theResident Evilformula, it stayed true to its origins in equal measure. Guns, while an important part of the game, are still limited on ammo, and players can expect to do plenty of scrounging for ammunition along the way.
The gunplay ofResident Evil 7is nothing groundbreaking, but the shift to the first-person perspective was handled deftly; guns feel good to use, and the sound design and animations are deeply immersive. Overall, the slower-paced gunplay works well throughout the game’s entirety.
Dead Spaceis a survival horror game that’smore action than horror, but the original game — especially in its opening sections — can be exceptionally creepy, especially for less experienced fans. The dark hallways, flickering lights, and horrific creatures of the USG Ishimura offer a brilliantly immersive set for the game’s inventive gunplay.
Guns inDead Spaceare somewhat unconventional, with the player’s arsenal being made up of laser cutters, beams, and mining equipment, as well as the more standard pulse rifle, among others. All in all,Dead Spaceoffers a unique combat experience with its “cut off their limbs” gameplay, tasking players with using their guns to dismember their horrifying opponents.
Though light on survival horror elements,DOOM 3features enough resource management, jump-scares, and monsters to appeal to many survival horror fans. This is especially so when playing the original version of the game, rather than the BFG edition, and even more so when playing on the harder difficulties.DOOM 3features a variety of weapons, each with its own distinct look, feel, and use-case. WhileDOOM 3isn’t as focused on fast weapon-switching as previousentries in the franchise, players can still expect to make good use of each gun.
DOOM 3is infamous for the survival horror angle of its design, with manyDOOMfans despising mechanics such as the flashlight, which can’t be held at the same time as a weapon. The game’s slower-pace is also a far cry from the feel of the originalDOOMgames, with the player’s movement being much more laborious. Furthermore,DOOM 3features reloading, and each reload animation is far from quick. These horror elements and design decisions work together to offer interesting and engaging gunplay that not only feels great, but adds to the game’s sense of dread.
