how not to get scared

How not to get scared for the squeamish (including me!)

Intro

You've probably been scared in this game, from being attacked from behind to being jumpscared in the murky waters of the crash zone or lost river. Sometimes it may feel like a horror game, this guide is for the squeamish, INCLUDING ME! Let's begin!

1. PLAY MUSIC

I know the sound design and OST to this game is amazing, but it is a massive contribution to fear in the game (no disrespect to Hel and Chylinski). The solution?

Music.

Music can still be heard even in a full size window, so when playing, music from any other background windows can still be heard. Try playing music while playing, and also MAKE SURE IT IS LOUD ENOUGH TO HIDE THE LEVIATHAN ROARS. Do not play it quietly in the background, blast it. My suggestion is to listen to loud energetic music, nothing quiet and slow.

Music will drown out any sudden noises or noises of hostile creatures (which is the only downside), and you will only be scared by the visuals. It can also loosen the tension and make you feel at ease as you wander into the more dangerous areas later in-game. Any application or website will work, however I personally enjoy Spotify as you can control the volume and it is free.

A screenshot of Spotify, AKA the background window

2. DO NOT LOOK BACK

As mentioned previously, we got rid of the audibly scary part of the game. What about the visuals, do not worry, I can make it less scary without ruining the immersion, as if I didn't ruin it already...

First, lets take a dangerous biome like the lost river (image is from the wiki because I don't take screenshots of games.)


Let's say for example you are passing by the disease research facility and you see the dreaded portal of a warper opening. DO NOT LOOK AT THE WARPER, ITS TEMPTING BUT DO NOT, ACT AS IF NOTHING IS HAPPENING. If you look behind you and you see the warper coming right at you that is what scares you. If you don't look on the other hand, you will only see the health pool go down and that little sound effect of Ryley getting hurt. It is startling but it is better than swimming in fear knowing a warper is right behind you.

This method works with basically any other aggressive creature except for the reaper leviathan, as it has that grab animation when it attacks you.


That animation will happen from any angle no matter
what, but the best and most effective way of making it less scary is this, limit viewing your screen. If you hear a reaper leviathan (usually in open areas) this may sound stupid, but you should stand up, and move to the side of the screen, orient your character or vehicle so that it is on a trajectory out of whatever biome you are in, and hold W until you feel comfortable.

I hope this helped!

[Killua]

so i cant listen to daisy bell while playing

[Bam]

I personally really like this specific song for playing horror games as of recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STiiHsg17Fk&list=RDSTiiHsg17Fk&index=1

[Bam]

I recommend music like: toriel's home music (undertale), anything calm from "The Vanished People" on youtube, music like that.

[Sugarplum]

the next step is to never go to the Dunes, Grand reef, back of the Aurora, the ecological dead zone, or any other scary areas that have scary guys. Just stay and chill in the safe shallows :3

[SirButterNutPickle]

My method for cave crawlers is simple. Knife. They don't respawn. Just kill them. Bring some med kits. You will kill most of them and by the end of it they are all dead or you just don't care anymore

[SirButterNutPickle]

Something that helped me was realizing the predators now have a survival instinct. I haven't done this on the leviathans but on the smaller ones, simply swimming out of their attack trajectory and slashing them with your knife tends to teach them you aren't part of the food chain.

I learned a long time ago that it is easy to avoid their strikes. I ended up in a duel that lasted an in game week against three stalkers. I found an area that I could stand on and be above water but swim and be underwater. I left because I ran out of food and water. Hit the stalkers a ton but they never left. They then decided to circle lifepod five for the rest of eternity.

It would also be helpful to know that even without the sea glide you are quite faster than any of the similarly sized predators. Just keep swimming and they can't keep up.

Crashfish suck. Hate those things.

[Caffeine]

Omegaguy, bring a prop/repulse cannon

[omegaguy]

who can help me overcome my fear of cave crawlers and go onboard the Aurora?

[the green gongler]

im scared of nothing. except the stuff im scared at

[skullbeatbox]

whats the point of playing this if you dont get scared lol thats the whole point