No horror option

[hwmt69420360]

This game is too creepy sometimes. And this was not advertised on the store at all. Considering I am quite anxiety / fear prone (and so are plenty of other people!), I really hate horror games. I love this game so far, but it's sometimes just too creepy and it really sucks. It turned this game into love-hate rather than just love. And I am not even at some really horrific enemies like the leyak that I read about.

So... idea: make an option to turn off creepy npcs like the coworker, the leyak, and the giants. This could be a server setting or a player tag (so that they don't target the player). And a separate option to turn off waves.

And just for anyone disliking this: keep the option off and it won't affect you. Sympathise with others and let them have a good time too!

It would be awesome if something can be done to fix this issue!

[Monokuma]

Publicado originalmente por CombatWombat:

Yes, and while you are at it, remove nights. Light every dark corner and replace all mobs with puppies.

While you are at it, call the game Annual Black Mesa office party.

My suggestion is an optional horror toggle, it's not going to jump out and force you to play it this way. The snide remarks are unnecessary and unconstructive.

[Angela Gaming]

Publicado originalmente por Crazytankguy_hero:

This game is too creepy sometimes. And this was not advertised on the store at all. Considering I am quite anxiety / fear prone (and so are plenty of other people!), I really hate horror games. I love this game so far, but it's sometimes just too creepy and it really sucks. It turned this game into love-hate rather than just love. And I am not even at some really horrific enemies like the leyak that I read about.

So... idea: make an option to turn off creepy npcs like the coworker, the leyak, and the giants. This could be a server setting or a player tag (so that they don't target the player). And a separate option to turn off waves.

And just for anyone disliking this: keep the option off and it won't affect you. Sympathise with others and let them have a good time too!

It would be awesome if something can be done to fix this issue!

i havent experienced that stuff yet, but im guessing a good way to do the option would make the scarier enemies have obvious cues such as minor bioluminescence to see their light so its not as sudden or some obvious sound when theyre nearby

[Angela Gaming]

Publicado originalmente por MechWarden:

I'm uh, a bit confused.

How was the horror aspect not brought up in the trailers or the teaser material? While horror isn't the major theme of the game, since it is a mix of themes, it is shown on the store page; from the creepy monsters to dark or foggy environments. Granted, there is a lack of a 'horror' meta tag on the game, which might need to be fixed.

I'm sorry that you didn't notice this before buying into the game, but I feel as though the store page properly represented the game. (except maybe the tag part)

Now, I have suggested in other threads for stalking NPCs, like Leyak (and who knows what else gets added), could have a 'stalkers do not attack' option for players that are stressed out, but other things like the harmless(?) Coworker is something you can get used to (I feed 'him' as if 'he' was a stray cat almost nightly, but only after recovering from the jumpscare). Also, the giants are typically contained in a given area and are something you engage with on your own terms (unlike Leyak).

I feel for you, since stress and fear can and will be debilitating at times, but I believe if you can become friends with the Coworker, and can handle the limited time with the giants, it might help you conquer that stress and fear!

to be honest i did expect the game to have horror elements, i mean even the original hl1 could arguably be said to have horror elements and the inspiration is obvious, and its a abandoned* (*close enough) research facility with monsters and power issues, of course its going to be a horror game

[PHW]

The coworker is honestly the only thing that really made me jump when I first encountered it in the pitch black hallway at night when I forgot my flashlight. He was silent and snuck up on me. Hes a funny little guy thats looking out for his family for now...

The giants are only really annoying if you have that easy to spot perk as sneaking past them is much much harder. Not scary at all as they have a set path and you have plenty of time to observe them and learn what it is. I was killed by them once as I made the wrong turn in a certain section and had aforementioned perk which made them spot me instantly.

The Leylak isn't really that scary IMO theres plenty of buildup that hes coming up in previous sectors even if ambiguous. Now I do suffer from bad anxiety, first time I seen him I followed what the computer said and stared at him until he went away. Then the paranoia set in that that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ is going to constantly harass me which he does. I can't tolerate enemies that stalk me out of vision that well. Luckily he makes a lot of noise so its tolerable just crank up the volume and keep an ear out.

[Diarmuhnd]

Publicado originalmente por Monokuma:

Publicado originalmente por Diarmuhnd:

That description SCREAMS HORROR ... lol

To me, the only thing that could possibly suggest horror is "paranormal", but given that it's a science game, it has a more literal definition approach rather than a presumption of ghosts and spectres and the like. The rest, I'll summarize:

"a military crusade" - action

"chaos from a dozen realms" - scifi, action

"world's greatest minds must survive against the universe's biggest threats" - overwhelmingly scifi, action

Ah, well you see, I see it differently.

WARNING, Horror movie clips, DO NOT WATCH if your scared

Caught between paranormal containment failure = monster mash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0dkF8CZxks

military crusade = genocide ... Half Life the 7 hour war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJGLuBAORNc

chaos from a dozen realms = mutants, demons, alien horrors, Event Horizon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGDwcWLCss4

the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats = Gods
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiThtMx2W7I


Anyhow .. good luck have fun.

[Monokuma]

Publicado originalmente por PHW:

The Leylak isn't really that scary IMO theres plenty of buildup that hes coming up in previous sectors even if ambiguous. Now I do suffer from bad anxiety, first time I seen him I followed what the computer said and stared at him until he went away. Then the paranoia set in that that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ is going to constantly harass me which he does. I can't tolerate enemies that stalk me out of vision that well. Luckily he makes a lot of noise so its tolerable just crank up the volume and keep an ear out.

The leyak is in a difficult position where for most people, they're startling-to-annoying, but there are people with a relatively common trauma out there that takes the leyak's behavior and shifts it into full terror territory. I don't personally have this issue, but I have known people in my life who have gone through some horrible things that I firmly believe the leyak would facilitate a mild-to-severe PTSD response, even after the first sighting (and some cases, especially after the first sighting.). This is the main reason why I am particularly sympathetic to those who would like some settings involving some of the horror aspects in this game, because abiotic factor is not a game that is distinctly marketed as horror. It hadn't even registered to me that abiotic was an scp game wearing half life's skin until the start of containment labs. And by the time you'd encounter the leyak, you are WELL past steam's standard refund period. Given the developers are already trying to accomodate for misophonia issues, I see no reason why they would be averse to other toggle settings as well. But some people simply have no faith in the development team and think they are entirely at the whims of "a vocal minority" playerbase.

Which is distinctly untrue, because I am familiar with Zag's prior work. I have not seen him to be the type to sacrifice their design vision for the sake of complaints on the internet.

Sorry if this feels a bit dump-y on you, but I feel like this is an appropriate time for me to make this write-up after having built up how to say this over the past week or so of leyak discussions.

[MechWarden]

If the devs take a page from how Maddy Makes Games went about doing accessibility features, something like a toned down horror mode(s) should be fine.
(and I already see some of that in this game already)

Maddy Makes Games is the maker of Celeste, a game built around challenging platforming (and wall climbing) movement. They offered and gave context to their accessible features. With some features that feel like cheat-modes, and undercuts some of the challenge of their game. But they put them in the game, behind a well written message, so that more players could set the challenge to something that's doable for them.

[hwmt69420360]

A lot of fair points from people. When I saw the trailers I personally got subnautica + fallout vibes, as I had never played half life :D. But yeah, horror is also not the emphasis of the game of course. I do agree that things should not be removed from the game. But a toggle-able (i.e. optional) change of sounds, models and aggression can already help a lot. It's personally just nerve wrecking for me and sticks well beyond the game, and I have read that others have similar problems.

And good point from MechWarden that it's also good to accept the fear and work it step by step. It's only a game after all, so all it can do is be scary. But it's not really what I'd call relaxing, which is what I like when playing a game XD.

I like the idea of accessibility also being about the game being accessible to both those of less skill and abilities (or a casual mindset), as well as those with a lower anxiety tolerance or PTSD and the like.

Ultimately, I think the devs will know best how and if they address this game element that is an issue to some. They are doing a great job so far. Thanks for the additions everyone.

[Simply Jake]

I think a good compromise for the Leyak would be this: Unlockable sliders/ Toggles. I think your first playthru should always have it! And also, it's a little hard to just remove it since it drops an item integral to progression. But after your first run thru of the labs, Fully beating that sector (Or, as more areas are released, the latest sector available perhaps) Perhaps a toggle being unlocked for beating the game would be nice? Just a simple on/off switch, Turning it off leaving the one Leyak essence for paint, and auto unlocking the later door.

Alternatively, A thing like grounded's spider options. Like, Make the Leyak less gross, Then make it less detailed in other ways, Than make it a blob, and the final slider option making it's voice line more akin to the co-workers, Like "Hey, I'm over here! Look out! :)"

[PurpleXVI]

The Leyak is personally the only thing that extremely spikes my stress levels, like I don't mind enemies that clearly exist and follow "rules," but something that can just pop out of nowhere really messes with my mind, like it could warp into an empty closet I just turned my back on or something.

I also think it's the most easily "disabled" horror aspect, since really all you need is a box with some Leyak essences in it somewhere, or a way to craft them out of staplers or something like that.

Flathill I personally found more annoying than scary, but I think one potential "toggle" there would be if people could turn off the mist, that would make it a lot less stressful, in my opinion, since the combination of "I have no idea where I am or where to go and spooky big boys are after me" can be stressful? Though I personally found it deeply annoying instead.

Turns out, if you use one ramp and two bridges you can skip all but one Composer, lmao, that was my solution to not dealing with it.

The remaining horror elements, like night and such, are effectively already part of the difficulty options.

[Monokuma]

Publicado originalmente por PurpleXVI:

Flathill I personally found more annoying than scary, but I think one potential "toggle" there would be if people could turn off the mist, that would make it a lot less stressful, in my opinion, since the combination of "I have no idea where I am or where to go and spooky big boys are after me" can be stressful? Though I personally found it deeply annoying instead.

Turns out, if you use one ramp and two bridges you can skip all but one Composer, lmao, that was my solution to not dealing with it.

The person I co-oped with actually found the composers to be terrifying, but not cripplingly so. I personally don't get the same response for me, but I will definitely be taking note of putting down ramps and bridges to speed up navigation, as it is a bit tedious getting the relevant respawning materials in there.

[SevTheNPC]

This is not a horror game. You said it yourself, you are anxiety/fear prone. Just because you are scared does not make it horror. I agree that this game would benefit from accessibility features that tone those elements that are scary to you down, but this is not horror and you are doing yourself a disservice by claiming it is horror. You stated that even the coworker who just crawls around is scary to you. That isn't a horror element at all. There are a lot of things that are surprising in the game for sure, and could be scary.. but far from deserving of the "Horror" tag.

[Monokuma]

Publicado originalmente por SevTheNPC:

This is not a horror game. You said it yourself, you are anxiety/fear prone. Just because you are scared does not make it horror. I agree that this game would benefit from accessibility features that tone those elements that are scary to you down, but this is not horror and you are doing yourself a disservice by claiming it is horror. You stated that even the coworker who just crawls around is scary to you. That isn't a horror element at all. There are a lot of things that are surprising in the game for sure, and could be scary.. but far from deserving of the "Horror" tag.

This absolutely qualifies as a horror game. The absence of deliberate jumpscares or slasher-film tropes or whatever other qualifications you may come up with are not necessary for that tag. Just because you're desensitized doesn't mean it's not meant to be scary in some capacity. Horror is very subjective and what may be scary to one person may not be scary to someone else. Flathills alone puts this game in horror because it being an unsettling low-visibility mess of trying not to get spotted ARE horror trends.

[Wandering_Youth]

I wouldn't say this is horror. It feels more like a sci fi thriller game at this point in development. Things might change since it was hinted that dark magic and the occult seems to be mixed in this game?

[PurpleXVI]

Publicado originalmente por Monokuma:

The person I co-oped with actually found the composers to be terrifying, but not cripplingly so. I personally don't get the same response for me, but I will definitely be taking note of putting down ramps and bridges to speed up navigation, as it is a bit tedious getting the relevant respawning materials in there.

The moment you come down from the treehouse, you can jump off a dumpster and a trailer to get on the roof. Once you're on the first roof, it's a lower level of the final building you reach, so with one ramp and two bridges angling up from that, when placed correctly, you can make the jump up there and unlock two ladders.

That will, at the very least, let you skip to the penultimate office room and loot some office stuff, and also strip the park furniture outside. You can get halfway to the roof across the road with two bridges, and I believe that if you then build two bridges from that other roof(though you'll sadly have to get there legitimately) you can get back again.

Not sure if portal world resets will delete these ramps and bridges, though.