Jump Scares, really?

[Vampirate]

Jump scares rely on our bodies automatic reaction, they're horror for 12 year olds. I was hoping this game would build tension and dread, but it's horror elements are basically Five Nights at Freddy's except in that game those can be circumvented with skill. Bit disappointed to be honest.

[Dark Messiah]

Originally posted by IndustryStandard:

The Jump Scares

I don't want to force my heart rate to spike from an involuntary reaction.

This is what being scared means.

[robomagon]

Originally posted by Dark Messiah:

Originally posted by IndustryStandard:

The Jump Scares

I don't want to force my heart rate to spike from an involuntary reaction.

This is what being scared means.

I think you're confusing scared with startled.

[Markmus]

The problem is that the enemies are too easy to deal with, making them less and less scary as the game progresses, as well as the lack of variety in enemies. This means that in order to make the levels scary, we need something more. A jump scare is not at all a bad option as the game is right now - it actually makes the game more intense, scary and frightening, and that's the goal.

So far, on the sixteenth or seventeenth day, I have met only four really *different* enemies (I don't think the Shadows and the Chernoghosts are really different), and they have all become increadibly easy to take out. I just killed a whole bunch of NAR soliders *for fun*, and those are actually the hardest enemies to deal with, as they have instant ranged attacks, and not a bright green glowing dodgeable projectile.

If there were more interesting monsters, harder monsters, and more ways to (preferably stealthy) play around the (eventual) different kinds of monsters, the experience could be a lot more interesting. Examples: Monsters with excellent hearing who can not see and who can instantly kill you. Monsters who, when they become aware of you, run away and look for other monsters in order to make them aware of where you are. Monsters who try to sneak up on you, the same way you try to sneak up on your enemies (make sure to stay aware of your sorroundings at all times!). Monsters who attacks your psyche and messes with your senses. Monsters who disguises themself as normal objects, loot or even a friendly NPC (imagine walking up to Locksmith to talk, you start the conversation and when he answers, it's a chilling voice and then you see him morphing into a monster, before it jumps right at you). Monsters that simply ignore your armor. And so on... The lack of interesting monsters are not from a lack of available ideas, probably, but from a lack of time and resources.

Another good option is weaker guns. No AK's, no shotguns, and no revolver upgrades/perks. No ammo scattered around the maps, only rely on crafting for ammo, make the crafting reciepe expensive. Remove the option of just killing every enemy you see, and the need for jump scares are instantly gone.

----

I hope there will be some interesting updates or DLC released in the future to amend the problems that jump scares are solving. And if not, maybe some modding tools!

[RichRuzz]

Well I'm a bunch of hours in and I'm a giant ♥♥♥♥♥ when it comes to "scary" games but having zero issues with this besides a few "scary" parts in the intro. I'm loving the game but haven't really found anything scripted or cheap, at most one part that shouted loudly or a lighting strike got me but that was it.

[Trouser_Dune_Worm]

I cant even remember a single jump scare in this game that's how OVER EXAGGERATED this post is....

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Originally posted by Dark Messiah:

Originally posted by IndustryStandard:

The Jump Scares

I don't want to force my heart rate to spike from an involuntary reaction.

This is what being scared means.

It's not.

Originally posted by Trouser_Dune_Worm:

I cant even remember a single jump scare in this game that's how OVER EXAGGERATED this post is....

There were a few.
But yeah, OP is a bit exaggerating.
I really don't think Chernobylite relies on jumpscares, it builds tension too. Not as good as Silent Hill or SOMA, but it does have good and creepy atmosphere.

[buy my couch plz]

love the game. but this mechanic is the stank prince of juvie cheesebag crapdoggery. it's not anything but irritating, just like someone jumpscaring me irl. such a shame bc i know ppl that haven't put down on the game bc of this alone. idk, that's weird too imo, but to each their own. i've found it impossible to defend it w em though... it's bogus, lazy, amateur brickwork addition and it is obv a room clearing stank for some

[V wie Falko]

I love these weird people that go around with their own little definition of what "good horror" has to be and how they think that jumpscares are definitely not within those parameters. Like we get it. You don't like jump scares. However, you saying that they are not "good horror" or not even horror elemets at all is, like, your opinion, man. Nothing more. It's fair to not like it, but you are basically on the level of a low effort troll because the answer to your problem (that every child in kindergarden could grasp) is that different people have varying tastes. Different strokes for different folks. Etc. That's it. That's all it is. And that is why this discussion and your childish arguments are nothing but obnoxious. Jumpscares are a typical element of horror of all sorts, in every media. That some horror media makes do without jumpscares and solely relies on, for example, atmospheric tension building is fine, it's just a different kind of horror. You do not get to make up your own definitions for things and then decide to judge others' work based on your own definitions, that is not how it works.

[Trouser_Dune_Worm]

Originally posted by V wie Falko:

I love these weird people that go around with their own little definition of what "good horror" has to be and how they think that jumpscares are definitely not within those parameters. Like we get it. You don't like jump scares. However, you saying that they are not "good horror" or not even horror elemets at all is, like, your opinion, man. Nothing more. It's fair to not like it, but you are basically on the level of a low effort troll because the answer to your problem (that every child in kindergarden could grasp) is that different people have varying tastes. Different strokes for different folks. Etc. That's it. That's all it is. And that is why this discussion and your childish arguments are nothing but obnoxious. Jumpscares are a typical element of horror of all sorts, in every media. That some horror media makes do without jumpscares and solely relies on, for example, atmospheric tension building is fine, it's just a different kind of horror. You do not get to make up your own definitions for things and then decide to judge others' work based on your own definitions, that is not how it works.

Totally agree....I like some jumpscares they are fun and usually make me say a curse word, smile and move on.... these people who "cant justify playing a great game that provides dozens of hours of solid gameplay because it has 3 or 4 jumpscares" really need to lighten up. They act as if the developers have ruined their gaming life most the time.

[IndustryStandard]

Originally posted by V wie Falko:

I love these weird people that go around with their own little definition of what "good horror" has to be and how they think that jumpscares are definitely not within those parameters. Like we get it. You don't like jump scares. However, you saying that they are not "good horror" or not even horror elemets at all is, like, your opinion, man. Nothing more. It's fair to not like it, but you are basically on the level of a low effort troll because the answer to your problem (that every child in kindergarden could grasp) is that different people have varying tastes. Different strokes for different folks. Etc. That's it. That's all it is. And that is why this discussion and your childish arguments are nothing but obnoxious. Jumpscares are a typical element of horror of all sorts, in every media. That some horror media makes do without jumpscares and solely relies on, for example, atmospheric tension building is fine, it's just a different kind of horror. You do not get to make up your own definitions for things and then decide to judge others' work based on your own definitions, that is not how it works.

YOUr ArGuMentS ARe JUSt oPinIONs anD noT at ALL LIke my OPinioN So thAT MeaNS yOUR opinioN is wRonG anD CHILDIsh HAHA


Get out of public forums if your contribution is to spout the word opinion around, jump scares are the lowest on the totem pole of horror. You're fine to think otherwise and enjoy them but going around telling people its there opinion without a shred of self awareness just makes you look ridiculous. It shouldn't be that hard to see bargain bin games/movies rely almost entirely on jump scaring people vs higher quality movies and games that shockingly aren't relying on it.

It's not an opinion to look into the effects a jump scare has on the body, literally any sudden or loud noise regardless of context will give a person the exact same involuntary effect, this isn't an opinion.

FACT: Multiple people hate this games reliance on bs jump scares
OPINION: Some people like jumpscares

It's insanely transparent when obvious fanboys are reaching for anything to try shutting down any negativity about a game they like.

[Trouser_Dune_Worm]

Originally posted by IndustryStandard:

Originally posted by V wie Falko:

I love these weird people that go around with their own little definition of what "good horror" has to be and how they think that jumpscares are definitely not within those parameters. Like we get it. You don't like jump scares. However, you saying that they are not "good horror" or not even horror elemets at all is, like, your opinion, man. Nothing more. It's fair to not like it, but you are basically on the level of a low effort troll because the answer to your problem (that every child in kindergarden could grasp) is that different people have varying tastes. Different strokes for different folks. Etc. That's it. That's all it is. And that is why this discussion and your childish arguments are nothing but obnoxious. Jumpscares are a typical element of horror of all sorts, in every media. That some horror media makes do without jumpscares and solely relies on, for example, atmospheric tension building is fine, it's just a different kind of horror. You do not get to make up your own definitions for things and then decide to judge others' work based on your own definitions, that is not how it works.

FACT: Multiple people hate this games reliance on bs jump scares

This game is reliant on gameplay which has absolutely NOTHING to do with jumpscares...I think that is your problem.

[IndustryStandard]

This is a thread about being annoyed that it has jump scares. The games gameplay is why I don't like the game as a whole.

And the games tone does impact gameplay.

[V wie Falko]

Here you go again, making up your own definitions of what "good horror" is and what it isn't. It's not for you to decide, understand that buddy. You don't like jumpscares. That is perfectly fine. Others do. Both are facts, neither change anything about the fact that jumpscares are a classic horrortrope.

When you make up your own definitions of words, then use them to justify your own obnoxious behavior of trying to make your own opinion on something seem factually better than the opinion of others and then use that whole amalgation of bs to demand of developers they change their game to your liking, you make yourself look like an absolute melon. And you know this perfectly well, I refuse to believe that anybody is THAT stupid.

But hey, as long as you can make up your own fantasy words and arguments and take the discussion to lala land before it even begins, you at least feel good about yourself because to you it is set in stone from the beginning that your opinion on whether or not a classic technique of horror is enjoyable or not is the unquestionable truth, right? Absolute melon.

[IndustryStandard]

Okie Dokie

Don't know why any debating is even happening here, either you like the jumpscares in the game or you don't. People coming in here to challenge the ones who don't like it as if you can debate it out of them just seems completely pointless and only serves to derail the original topic.

[robomagon]

Originally posted by V wie Falko:

I love these weird people that go around with their own little definition of what "good horror" has to be and how they think that jumpscares are definitely not within those parameters. Like we get it. You don't like jump scares. However, you saying that they are not "good horror" or not even horror elemets at all is, like, your opinion, man. Nothing more. It's fair to not like it, but you are basically on the level of a low effort troll because the answer to your problem (that every child in kindergarden could grasp) is that different people have varying tastes. Different strokes for different folks. Etc. That's it. That's all it is. And that is why this discussion and your childish arguments are nothing but obnoxious. Jumpscares are a typical element of horror of all sorts, in every media. That some horror media makes do without jumpscares and solely relies on, for example, atmospheric tension building is fine, it's just a different kind of horror. You do not get to make up your own definitions for things and then decide to judge others' work based on your own definitions, that is not how it works.

If you jump out of the dark and yell at someone when they're not expecting it, you're probably going to scare them. But it's also unlikely that they'll be impressed with your mastery of horror. So, yeah, I'd say that jump scares are not "good horror".