LogFAQs > #961637271

In some ways, I find SH3 scarier than SH2. But they are two very different experiences. SH2 is an inwards journey into the soul and mind, while SH3 focuses more on external threats due to its far more vulnerable protagonist. SH3's true core is that of the specific female teenage experience - stalkers, (such as Douglas Cartland in the game's opening sequence), sex and teen pregnancy (this one's obvious, but one other aspect of this is how many monsters have phallic attacks or even in the case of the Slurper straight up sexually assault Heather in their attacks), finding your identity (confronting yourself in the Memory of Alessa), the very idea and nature of what it means to be "feminine" (Heather's tomboyish appearance is constantly confronted by idealized mannequins & sexualized nurses, the first area is a shopping mall and shopping is typically stereotyped as a feminine activity, the game even gives you perfume to wear which attracts more "attention" to you).

This can also be seen a lot in the game's main antagonist, Claudia. I like how she isn't a foil for Heather, but more of a kindred spirit. Claudia is a lot like Heather and rejects the notions of conformity stereotyping society places on the individual. However, Claudia is a hypocrite and places her own hatred on to Heather's shoulders ironically becoming the very thing she hates in the process. A key concept of this is how they raised: Heather had the loving Harry, while Claudia was abused and belittled by her father. It's an important distinction that shows differing masculine influences on each of their lives and how it defined them as they grey and mature.

That's just some reasons why this game is so incredible to me, but there's so much more I can get into.