Current Events > How scary does BioShock get?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I own all three and I'm thinking of playing the first one. Problem is, I'm not very good with horror at all, especially stuff like Jump Scares and creepy atmosphere

I played Prey recently and just about managed to get through it: will I manage BioShock?

Im still in shock from playing it

If you beat Prey then you'll be fine

Bioshock is more spooky than scary.
There's one part that I replay in my head sometimes that still upsets me, though.

MC_BatCommander posted...

If you beat Prey then you'll be fine

This.

Though Bioshock does have a few more jump scares.

GeraldDarko posted...

Bioshock is more spooky than scary.

What's the difference?

I don't like horror games and got through them fine. You're so powerful it's not really scary.

Guys, shut up.

teep_, you'll be fine.

teep_ posted...

What's the difference?

You won't be running around scared, necessarily, everything is just super eerie.

I didn't finish Prey but from what I played BioShock usually had a creepier atmosphere but Prey was hands down the king of jump scares for games, at least from what I've played.
Nothing topped the "OMG IS THE COFFEE CUP GOING TO TRY TO KILL ME?" paranoia I got from Prey

teep_ posted...

What's the difference?

A creepy atmosphere is different from something that scares the shot out of you. Like Christmas themed episodes of a TV might feel moderately creepy sometimes but theyre never scary

Its so scary your wrench is op.

It's not scary
You might get that sense at first when you have no weapon, but that's temporary

Once you can fight, it doesn't ever feel scary. It has a creepy atmosphere but it's not a horror game

First hour or 2 is creepy

Then it just becomes a dark shooter

It does have some jump scares tho

teep_ posted...

What's the difference?

Right? LMAO. It's more erie than spooky. It's more atmospheric than spooky.

Sorry, boys but these all pretty much mean the same thing especially when we're talking about this kind of game.

teep_ posted...

Jump Scares and creepy atmosphere

that's pretty much Bioshock lol but it's not really scary imo

im not good with horror type games as well but Bioshock doesn't scream horror

It doesn't.

You will probably laugh at this game even outside of the most obvious reference

3/10 at most, 4/10 because of the jump scares which are basically the fart gag of scary. Generally overused and poorly utilized going for a quick, easy response.

It's not really scary. More creepy and eery

Veggeta_MAX posted...

Right? LMAO. It's more erie than spooky. It's more atmospheric than spooky.

Sorry, boys but these all pretty much mean the same thing especially when we're talking about this kind of game.

Not really. Scary means that its raising your heartbeat and youre actually terrified. That doesnt describe Bioshock

You look like a guy who has a nuanced opinion on the definition of scary.

There's a difference between games like bioshock and ones like... idk outlast, amnesia, etc. If you don't like scary games you won't play the latter ones, but you'd still play bioshock

Veggeta_MAX posted...

You look like a guy who has a nuanced opinion on the definition of scary.

Thanks, bro

Veggeta_MAX posted...

Right? LMAO. It's more erie than spooky. It's more atmospheric than spooky.

Sorry, boys but these all pretty much mean the same thing especially when we're talking about this kind of game.

There's a very clear distinction.

Something that's scary plays off of your fear. It presents a dangerous situation and lets your mind consider the worst possible outcome. Then when that outcome happens, there's a catharsis. That's why the jump scare is the go-to trick for horror films. It's a constant building of tension until 'that' moment you were expecting to happen happens.

Creepiness is more a state of discomfort or unease. You may not necessarily be scared of something bad happening, but you're taken outside of a state of normality.

You might be scared of heights, but nothing is necessarily creepy about high altitudes. On the other hand, reading about the actions of a serial killer from the past will definitely creep you out, but you're not necessarily scared of a potential outcome. Bioshock leans more on the creepy side because the story focuses less on making terrifying things happen to you, and more on putting you at a constant state of unease due to isolation.

The two are used in tandem a lot of the time, but they're not necessarily interchangeable.

SSJGrimReaper posted...

that's pretty much Bioshock lol but it's not really scary imo

im not good with horror type games as well but Bioshock doesn't scream horror

grim has spoken downloading now

RchHomieQuanChi posted...

There's a very clear distinction.

Something that's scary plays off of your fear. It presents a dangerous situation and lets your mind consider the worst possible outcome. Then when that outcome happens, there's a catharsis.

Creepiness is more a state of discomfort or unease. You may not necessarily be scared of something bad happening, but you're taken outside of a state of normality.

You might be scared of heights, but nothing is necessarily creepy about high altitudes. On the other hand, reading about the actions of a serial killer from the past will definitely creep you out, but you're not necessarily scared of a potential outcome. Bioshock leans more on the creepy side because the story focuses less on making terrifying things happen to you, and more on putting you at a constant state of unease due to isolation.

The two are used in tandem a lot of the time, but they're not necessarily interchangeable.

You look like a guy who has a nuanced opinion on the definition of scary.

What other spooky/scary games have you played?

I don't really like the horror genre at all when it comes to games or tv/movies. I was fine playing Bioshock though, but it has been a while

SergeantGander posted...

What other spooky/scary games have you played?

Prey
Limbo and the sequel
... that's it, really

Hmm...wish I had experience with either of those to compare.

I'd say give it a try. There are a few jump scares, but only a few and while annoying, they aren't really terrifying like Outlast or something

like I'd rather play Bioshock over something like Dead Space any day, DS is 2spooky

That part where you pick up the shotty and all the lights go out and a bunch of splicers jump at you from the dark was kinda creepy/scary I guess.

Little Nightmares 2 genuinely scared me. The bit with one of the swinging buckets was hilarious, and the first bit with the schoolteacher with the long neck REALLY bothered me. Good game.

Tangential question - how does Outlast/Amnesia compare to Silent Hill? Same kind of creepiness?

Ruvan22 posted...

Tangential question - how does Outlast/Amnesia compare to Silent Hill? Same kind of creepiness?

I feel like games where you can't defend yourself will always be more creepy and scary

SSJGrimReaper posted...

I feel like games where you can't defend yourself will always be more creepy and scary

Very true, that's why I preferred the first few SH to RE - I take it that's what Oultast/Amnesia are like?

You can defend yourself in the first SH.

Bioshock is more about tension than being scary. I would compare it to a thriller movie vs a horror movie.

Veggeta_MAX posted...

You can defend yourself in the first SH.

I mean once you get the pickaxe, but you are still stationary and exposed.. Harry Mason isn't a solider or cop etc, it even shows in the unstable game mechanics

No, Harry could walk and shoot at the same time. RE characters couldn't do that for the longest time.

Jabodie posted...

Bioshock is more about tension than being scary. I would compare it to a thriller movie vs a horror movie.

Yeah this. I played it for a few hours and I felt a continuous baseline of anxiety. Then my computer crashed and I never got around to playing it again.

theAteam posted...

Yeah this. I played it for a few hours and I felt a continuous baseline of anxiety. Then my computer crashed and I never got around to playing it again.

I remember when it first came out I was super impressed by the graphics and world and I felt like this.

Thats why I loved hacking in the first one, I would lock down areas and feel like they were my territory:P

Veggeta_MAX posted...

No, Harry could walk and shoot at the same time. RE characters couldn't do that for the longest time.

Which is why I mentioned the pickaxe... you don't get the hunting rifle till much later in the game, and the pickaxe is the first effective weapon but makes you stationary

Are we talking about the same SH game? Cybil gives Harry a handgun when they first meet in the cafe in the beginning.

Veggeta_MAX posted...

Are we talking about the same SH game? Cybil gives Harry a handgun when they first meet in the cafe in the beginning.

I don't recall the handgun being very effective, even the demon children took multiple shots so you were still mostly running away. The pickaxe took down even the gorilla/ape things in one hit but you had to be stationary..

The gun was for flying enemies and the first boss.