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Survival horror is a Video Game Genre in which the player has to survive against often Undead or otherwise supernatural enemies, typically in claustrophobic environments and from a third-person perspective.1 The genre makes liberal use of both Western and Japanese Horror Film elements.23 The term "survival horror" was first used as a genre for the original Japanese release of '' Resident Evil '' ( 1996 ), also known as ''Biohazard''. The term has since been often used to describe games of a similar nature, including some that were released before ''Resident Evil''.4 THEMES OF SURVIVAL HORROR GAMES Survival horror is possibly the only video game genre that is defined by Theme as well as Gameplay style. It is most commonly associated with the ''Resident Evil'' and '' Silent Hill '' game mechanics, though the genre contains titles which borrow heavily from gameplay styles associated with other genres. These games can resemble Beat 'em Ups , Point-and-click Adventures , RPG s and First-person Shooter s. They all deal with dark, violent and supernatural themes typical of horror movies. This helps to define the genre more than any specific gameplay mechanic. Survival horror games use puzzle solving and exploration as routes of progression through the game.56 The player often must contend with limited supplies such as ammunition and health - hence "survival" horror. The Player Character is often portrayed as being unfamiliar with the area the game takes place, contributing to the feeling of isolation and discomfort in the player. Some games provide 'safe' rooms or areas, where characters can heal, consult a map or save the game without fear of attack. In some games, even these areas can become corrupted or besieged by enemies, allowing no respite. Most survival horror games are single player only, though a few exceptions have appeared. ID Software's ''Doom 3'' utilized the Xbox Live feature on Microsofts Xbox platform to create a Co-op game in which 2 players would complete a shortened version of the single player campaign working as a team. 7 Player characters are typically armed, but rarely as well-armed as characters in other genres such as first-person shooters. Makeshift weapons such as metal pipes, kitchen knives and other implements are often used in place of firearms. The player's goal is generally to escape from an isolated building or town that is overrun by Zombie s or Monster s. Enemies can be defeated in combat, though avoiding enemies is often preferred or even necessary in order for the player to progress. Game developers use several techniques to unsettle the player and make him/her feel underpowered, with the strength or number of enemies reflecting how well-prepared a player character is. If players control an ' Average Joe ' type character wielding a makeshift weapon, that character seems more vulnerable, allowing even human-sized monsters in small numbers to threaten the player. Should the player be controlling a soldier armed with firearms, then the enemies will be made larger, more powerful and appear in greater numbers in order to achieve the same effect.8 Many survival horror games feature protagonists who are stereotypical weak females; again this is often the developers trying to make the player feel under-prepared to face countless monsters.9 HISTORY The early 1990s saw the introduction of gameplay mechanics found regularly in more modern examples of the genre, as the capabilities of computers and consoles steadily increased. Although the survival horror genre was popularized by ''Resident Evil'',10 it was predated by earlier works such as ', and '' Alone In The Dark '', which clearly had an influence on the creation of ''Resident Evil''.11 ''Alone in the Dark'' indeed introduced many elements, both graphical and gameplay-related, that were used in Capcom 's creation; the use of static Prerendered "camera" views as the gameplay field in which dynamically rendered Polygonal models would act as the characters and objects, as well as a very similar character movement and combat control scheme would be some of the most similar features. ''Alone in the Darks action scenes were much more sparse, though, and many of the enemies and monsters found across the game couldn't be defeated directly, and had to be avoided or outsmarted, defining the gameplay as more puzzle-orientated.12 The term "survival horror" was first used by ''Resident Evil'', published in 1996. The original Japan ese version of ''Resident Evil'' was marketed under the previously non-existent ''Survival horror'' genre on the game's cover. A line of text also displayed the phrase "Enter the world of survival horror..." while the game was loading. '' Sweet Home '' in particular served as inspiration for Shinji Mikami to create ''Resident Evil''. '''' and '' Siren ''. REFERENCES SEE ALSO
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