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Amnesia: The Dark Descent

So what about the game is scary, exactly? I was watching Day[9]'s (if you know who that is) cast of the game as he ran through it and it didn't strike me as scary - more of a game that startles you when you least expect it. Am I missing something?
 
So what about the game is scary, exactly? I was watching Day[9]'s (if you know who that is) cast of the game as he ran through it and it didn't strike me as scary - more of a game that startles you when you least expect it. Am I missing something?

It's mainly because you're defenseless and you're only left to run/hide. So you have this thing called the Sanity meter. In order to maintain your sanity, you have to look at a light source of any kind or increase it by making progress throughout the game. Depending on how low your sanity is, you'll start hallucinations of all kind (footsteps, monster screams, etc.) so the horror develop throughout the game. The further you progress, it gets more difficult and frightening. If you have the time, you seriously should play it yourself!
 
So what about the game is scary, exactly? I was watching Day[9]'s (if you know who that is) cast of the game as he ran through it and it didn't strike me as scary - more of a game that startles you when you least expect it. Am I missing something?

I hav eno idea who that guy is but watching somebody play this game kind of ruins it.

It's frightening because the game knows how to build suspense over time to the point where you are anxious and fidgety. Then SHTF in the game and it terrifies you. It knows how to set you up. But you have to immerse yourself in it for it to be effective. I imagine trying to talk to some youtube audience while playing would be too distracting for a game like this.

I thought that as a game it was pretty easy. Especially managing light sources. But the rest made up for it.
 
I hav eno idea who that guy is but watching somebody play this game kind of ruins it.

It's frightening because the game knows how to build suspense over time to the point where you are anxious and fidgety. Then SHTF in the game and it terrifies you. It knows how to set you up. But you have to immerse yourself in it for it to be effective. I imagine trying to talk to some youtube audience while playing would be too distracting for a game like this.

I thought that as a game it was pretty easy. Especially managing light sources. But the rest made up for it.

You actually gotta play the game to really experience the horror. Don't watch LP/Walkthrough videos, that ruins it!