Episode 25 - Horror in Gaming: Past, Present, and The Evil Within

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 25:

Horror in Gaming: Past, Present and The Evil Within

On this episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we (Rich, Tim and Jordan) huddle into a creepy side studio with 70’s Vinyl on the walls and scary wails echoing in from the studio next door…to talk about horror in video games.

But first, we gather our composure just long enough to discuss the games we’ve been playing, including Injustice: Gods Among Us, DMC: Devil May Cry, Shin Megami Tensei: Soul Hackers, Poker Night 2, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Xenoblade Chronicles, the new Star Trek game, and Android: Netrunner (a Living Card Game).

And then in news, we talk about Scribblenauts DC, the Ratchet and Clank movie, more Xbox always-online rumors, and all the announcements from the latest Nintendo Direct, including Zelda: A Link to the Past 2, a new Yoshi’s Island game, Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, Bravely Default, Earthbound on the Virtual Console, and more. We also answer a few listener-submitted questions before diving headlong into our exploration of the gaming macabre.

Earlier this month, Shinji Mikami (creator of the Resident Evil Series) announced that his next game will be called The Evil Within, and will return to the “roots” of survival horror where horror was the focus rather than action. And, on the very opposite end of the horror-gaming spectrum, game designer Swery has just released the Director’s Cut of his campy-but-brilliant Deadly Premonition – a game that defies definition, but takes its cues from games of the survival horror persuasion, with a few B-movie tropes thrown in for good measure. In other words, the subject of horror in gaming has come to the forefront again, and we are never ones to jump out of the way of a speeding trend.

So we delve deep into our twisted subconscious minds to reminisce about our favorite horror and horror-themed video games. From Resident Evil 4 to Zombies Ate My Neighbors, we’re covering a lot of ground here, and as we discuss each game, we dig deep into our own haunted psyches to talk about the impact these games have had on us, as well as what makes a good horror game, the overall significance of horror in gaming, and where we think the horror genre is headed.

So close your eyes and imagine that you have just been chased out of Raccoon City by ravenous zombie dogs, and have stumbled upon a creepy haunted mansion that seems to be your only hope of safety and salvation. You enter tenuously - the front door swings shut behind you with a BANG!! - your body stiffens and fills with dread - and you suddenly realize that this…is The Joy of Gaming!