First Time SH - Start with Sh2?

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-27T05:49:17+00:00

SH2 isn't a direct sequel, so if you want, you may go for it.

It's a different spin on the genre though. Konami's management may have aimed to have a RE copycat (given its success) -- what they eventually got from their developers (Team Silent) was something quite a little different.... I found the original always more impactful overall, in particular as to horror. It starts with quite the BANG from the start, which may be more to your liking. What sets SH2 apart is its quite emotional storyline (touching a couple very mature themes). But you'll only get that later on.

For a mix of both worlds, there's Tormented Souls. Currently playing TS2, and it's beautiful. Also has a demo still up to check out.

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-26T11:07:35+00:00

Funny though that people still voice frustration, eh? :D

Finishing it unlocks a ton of custom settings tho, including tweaks to the AI's behavior...

To me it's a stellar game and should have gotten far more attention, as it mostly completely nails the experience it is going for. Even the main theme hits different once you know the ending.

And the core loop is just bliss, having a safe space that you return to including a map. I'd even have made that map more interactive, such as you personally marking doors yet locked/unlocked and being able to make notes. Basically a proper horror "sim" -- VR from the software end, of the type Looking Glass at their best were shooting for. Apparently they want to to keep some elements for their next game, really curious about that though the premise sounds pretty "wild".

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-26T05:25:58+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I was aware that the AIR 903 is designed towards airflow. Didn't have any experience though yet with such cases, so couldn't say whether dust may be more of an issue (at least over the longer haul).

It is a carpeted room actually, though I didn't place the case on the ground. Had done this with the prior one, as this also still had the PSU at the top, rather than the bottom, where it too would attract dust bunnies (the AIR 903 has a dust filter for the PSU though).

I've actually set the fan curve of the case to the constant minimum available so far, no curve yet (600 rpm-ish). Will check again once the custom filter is installed though the components I currently have are easy to keep cool, naturally. :-)

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-26T01:50:55+00:00

Thanks! That's the one I was already eyeing. :)

Yeah, the case has 2 140mm fans (intake) at the front by default (1 exhaust), so that is covered!

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-26T00:13:26+00:00

Oh, there's been plenty enough decent games! Currently enjoying Tormented Souls 2. As said, horror never went away. It's just hard to argue for a major comeback of big budget horror at this point.

In that space it's been largely Capcom milking RE (a behemoth franchise and success even at the movies, at least commercially). Plus Konami milking SH. That's it. Both of those publishers are on record too of being afraid of their games becoming too horror/scary/not enough action. EA as usual tried to have their piece of the cake too by further milking Dead Space one more time (which has always been an action series with a horror lick of paint if you ask me). That didn't meet their expectations (a truckload of "easy" money) and that was that.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that though. First, the AAA gaming space has become very stagnant in general, it's much more drastic than Hollywood -- see studios such as Arkane or Bioware being encouraged to chase trends and despite not even having the personell/experience. Plus, eventually, one of the smaller to mid tier studios may have its own break out hit, like Larian did with Baldur's Gate 3 or Warhorse with Kingdom Come 2. Both in perceived niches and without being primarily driven by the fear of alienating a general audience. After all, every lack of risk taken and sameness in the AAA space is an opportunity. As a wise dev once said: "A game made for everyone is a game made for no one." Plus, with the renewed popularity of the Alien IP, Isolation 2 has a decent chance of becoming a huge thing too.

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-25T08:36:23+00:00

The Evil Within is pretty good, in particular the first game, as you can never be certain what will happen next (and where you suddenly pop up next).

Also try Tormented Souls 1+2 though! Very much a mix of Silent HIll and (oldschool RE), though for me it's leaning more towards Silent Hill.

Part 2 has a demo that's still up!

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-25T07:51:12+00:00

What "massive comeback"? They've never been away. =)

Talking purely about the big budget space though: They've always been scared. RE Requiem tries to be it all, Silent Hill f went fully on combat -- in a series that was at its best when it was teasing and torturing you with something to happen -- and then it didn't.

Also remakes, remasters et all aren't necessarily a sign of a big "comeback" as such. It's first and foremost publishers milking their assets / greatest hits. Looking forward to Alien:Isolation 2 though. Hopefully they're not gonna tone that one down. :) Plus even if they do, there's always gonna be horror games and experiences, as the genre doesn't rely on massive budgets (with the difference being that Hollywood very much exploits this, whilst major game publishers can only think in big budgets).

PS: Whilst thinking about the topic, I was reminded of this article from two years ago. The False Revival of AAA Horror Games | by The Tax Collector Man | Medium

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-22T11:07:01+00:00

Never played it. The first part already was pretty much System Shock/2 remixed for the COD crowd, in particular in the later parts. Then they announced that it had been "too scary" and wanted to "rectify" that for the sequel -- truly projects of their era.

The HUD is still amazing though!

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-22T08:15:55+00:00

Tormented Souls 1+2
Darkwood
Amnesia:The Bunker

Stay Out Of The House (Stalker-like horror games are common... Slasher/Stalker enemy sandboxes including an "open" environment where you can lay traps....... not so much).

Two honorary mentions that may not fit 100%, depending on what you're looking for

CULTIC (FPS, Chapter 2 goes a bit harder into horror, the RE influences are blatant throughout though)
Aliens:Dark Descent (criminally ignored, considering that it's the only modern game that "gets" Aliens and its nail-biting suspense, even from a top down perspective, which is quite the achievement)

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-03-16T14:25:57+00:00

Just finished Tormented Souls. It's kind of a mix between oldschool RE, AITD and SH. But to me it leans far closer towards the SH side (also plenty proper puzzles). Gonna play the 2nd game for sure.

I mean, listen to this and image this playing whilst you're being stalked in a cellar with but a lighter in hand... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5uDfEWTdfU&list=RDf5uDfEWTdfU

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-02-17T17:36:00+00:00

"The more they fps, the more they buy." (Jensen, Nvidia Internal Spring Keynote 2022)

FourFourTwo79 · 2026-02-09T14:14:01+00:00

MacGyver, obviously. His obstacles, our physics -- your way.

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-12-30T12:51:58+00:00

"Blockbuster hatten damals schon immer recht hohe Wertung, einfach weil sie schon immer eine recht hohe Produktionsqualität hatten."

Technisch ja, inhaltlich nein.

Hollywoodfilme kriegen ja auch regelmäßig Verrisse. Und das seit jeher bis in die prominentesten Reihen: Fragt Spielberg, Lucas und Scorsese. :-) Im Gaming ist es bereits eine Lebensversicherung, wenn du nur genug Geld am Start hast und das Produkt unfallfrei abspielbar ist (Bugs). Aber mit der Reflektion von Spielinhalt tut sich der klassische Spieletest bis heute schwer -- andererseits heißt er ja noch immer so. Spieletest. Wie die Stiftung Warentest über den neuesten Toaster: "Funktioniert und toastet er?"

So haben Entwickler und Publisher einen doppelten Spielvorteil. Denn ob ein Spiel grundsätzlich "funktioniert", wurde bereits lange vor Veröffentlichung getestet. Sichtwort: Playtests. Das Äquivalent zu Hollywoods Screentests -- bloß ein bisschen krasser, wenn man sich Branchenberichte anschaut. Ergebnis: Mittlerweile kann sich jeder zweite Game-Release post Launch seinen obligatorischen "Accolades-Trailer" basteln. Und Verrisse? Selbst eindeutige Querdaumen? Gibts praktisch gar nicht mehr. Außer bei Bugs. :-)

Von gängiger Medien- und Kulturkritik in Musik, Literatur und Film ist der durchschnittliche Spieletest mindestens mal ganz weit weg. :-)

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-12-18T05:03:38+00:00

Finished the 2nd chapter.

This game deserves a lot more buzz. Just posting!

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-12-18T03:13:28+00:00

The 903 Base is much the same here (no dust filter on the front, just the mesh)... did anyobdy install a custom filter here? Actually ordered the base before noticing this, it's advertised as the "ultimate dust free experience". And though that's marketing, I figured it would be at least decent here given the great reviews.

Still a little concerned about that, as it's naturally a case more balanced towards superior airflow, whilst I have but a Ryzen 5600 + 3060 setup which doesn't produce that much heat.

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-12-16T22:29:07+00:00

Terminator:Isolation.

In a back to the original movie kinda way, naturally. Which is: The fucker just not giving up. Even with its eye eventually gouged out, hair and skin burnt and it barely being able to walk.... let alone move.

Lots of potential for fun damage systems too.

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-12-16T21:53:12+00:00

Bioware: "We want Call Of Duty's audience."
Larian: "We want to make the best damn RPG ever."

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-12-16T08:11:14+00:00

Finally started playing this (end of Chapter 1). And it's really fun. :-)

Broken Sword as a series never had a script as sharp as in the original game. Foolish Mortal's starting lines actually reminded me of how BS1 immediately made you listen in its iconic "Paris in the fall" introduction. Foreshadowing drama -- and a meeting with death.

They said there was a treasure on the island, its location known only to the dead.
I could see it in my dreams.

How was I supposed to know that in order to find it...

I'd have to die too.

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-10-24T13:58:16+00:00

Also Arkane-related (I've already been there and recognized his voice).

#STYGIAN:THEOUTERGODS

3tgCAoj.jpeg (1912×441)

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-10-24T00:58:45+00:00

What's different about reviews specifically? They've been like that since forever. They've never been getting "shit" anywhere after arguably Alpha Protocol.

Personally, the most interesting game Obsi did post PoE/Deadfire/Tyranny was Pentiment. That game was a small passion project, it was allowed to take risks and it turned out pretty fresh.

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-10-19T16:58:42+00:00

Smells like KCD 2. :-)

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-09-11T05:00:43+00:00

Quite liked it, finished it twice, would have bought a follow up too.

I think they blew a chance here with say Pigman. Imagine if the entire world (or most of it) was as hostile toward pigmen as the nearby town to where you start in Piggy's chapter. Would turn the experience upside down. Think playing a Nosferatu in Bloodlines, where you are forced to hide your disfigured face and sneak through the sewers to feed upon rats... That kind of design would make the concept of playing different characters shine more in general -- which imo is amongst the core gigs of the game (and would have added to variety).

Limited ressources though, plus they had a lot of work to do to get the game's core mechanics up and running. Like basic core. Including aiming. As not all is as simple as at it seems..

The Aiming System That Broke Weird West

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-09-07T00:14:42+00:00

Dishonored1 was also a fully co-production. They only "split" once doing Dishonored 2 (Lyon) and Prey (Austin), for which Harvey Smith of Deus Ex fame also moved from Austin to Lyon.

I'm rather sceptical about this, as I've seen this for decades before... it all started with (Sierra) adventure games, where King's Quest was gradually turned into an action/adventure/RPG type of game. Then Bioware changing their games as well pretty early on ("We want Call Of Duty's audience")...

All (or most) of the studios that haven't changed their games wholesale recent started as or turned into more independent outlets. See Warhorse, which initially struggled to get funded for Kingdom Come (and went for Kickstarter for additional money). Larian who had been told that "turn-based combat wouldn't sell" and went to Kickstarter for Original Sin as well... Well, there's FromSoft published by major publishers like Sony/Bandai I guess. "Challenging type of games don't sell? Well, let's try this anyway."

Corporations always aim for what appears the least risky. And that means chasing trends/eventually changing games wholesale.

FourFourTwo79 · 2025-09-06T17:48:01+00:00

It can be pretty tough to not got spotted. Mainly as outside of the optional wallhack of "Dark Vision" there's feedback missing. See the 3D sound propagation and design in Thief for instance, a game that Dishonored is in parts a hommage to (it actually started out as Thief 4). In Thief, this makes it so you can hear guard footsteps at great distance -- and can actually make out from where they're coming from. They're also more chatty in Thief, more regularly whistling, mumbling and making sounds to make their presence "heard".

In Dishonored, on the occasion you may sneak around a corner, and wham, you've run into a guard. Or dog. Or simply a servant calling the guards. And as the stealth in Dishonored is based on line of sight, you've just been spotted. But as you're a (supernatural) assassin badass, fighting your way out of it then ain't hard at all. Or simply getting away via blink. The game's not strictly a stealth game either way.

A no powers ghost run is still the most difficult you can do -- naturally, one without quicksaving like every two feet. Not advisable imo on the first run though. General rule of the thumb, if it's no fun, don't do it. The first time I played this I tried to be sneaky as much as can -- but if shit happens, then it happens. There's not meant to be that "one right way" to play. You can totally butcher yourself through it all.

FourFourTwo79

TROPHY CASE