Lone Survivor really earns its place in the survival horror genre, because it's legitimately scary. That said, there are still a few quirks that somewhat hinder the experience at times. For starters, the map can be disorienting. Considering you rely heavily on this tool to find your next objective, it can be tough using it to your full advantage when it isn't all that clear where you're supposed to go next.
Another issue is the combination of the saving and stage navigation. You need to be sure to save frequently, because if you die, it's back to your last save. It goes without saying that it can be a pain knowing that you collected an important item and almost reached a certain landmark, only to get killed and have to do everything all over again.
Because Lone Survivor is actually scary, though, and because it brings legitimacy to the survival horror genre, you'll probably be able to overlook its minor flaws. I know I did. The fact of the matter is that this game is the first truly scary survival horror game to come along in some time. I previously discussed how Journey was actually a scary game due to several key moments, but Lone Survivor is scary because it's a survival horror game, and survival horror games need to be scary.
They also need to have an authentically terrifying vibe, and Lone Survivor nails that requirement thanks to its chilling atmosphere and surreal imagery. The game has a pixelated 2D look to it, but everything is so dark and bloody that you can't help but use your imagination to think about how a dead mutant corpse might smell, or how a certain pink gunk's texture might feel as it holds a door shut. Lone Survivor looks great, and it sounds even better. The constant noise you hear makes you tense up like no other survival horror game in recent memory has been able to accomplish, and the loud blaring sound that occurs when an enemy spots you is absolutely horrifying.
Lone Survivor should last you about three to five hours, and in that time, the game explores themes of death and despair; it thrusts you into a world of horror; it makes you revert to survival game instincts you may not have used in years or even knew you had. Most importantly, though, Lone Survivor makes you think, and it makes you scared. It makes you scared to live, but you know that's exactly what you need to do. And in some depraved part of your brain, you know you want to live in this messed up, mutant-filled world. Put on some headphones, turn off the lights, and play Lone Survivor. You'll be terrified the entire time, and really, isn't that why we all started playing survival horror games in the first place?
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The state of survival horror games is pretty bad right now. When you have games that are supposed to be scary failing to deliver and relying solely on jump scares, you know the genre's in trouble. And while there's certainly nothing wrong with jump scares — because any sane person loves a good one every now and then — there's something truly magnificent and beautiful about a good tension-inducing scare.
Lone Survivor is a great example of this. Developed by Jasper Byrne, the man behind Superflat Games who also brought us the splendid and damn near perfect Soul Brother, Lone Survivor is all about madness and tension. You play as the survivor of a horrible outbreak that has turned what seems like the entire population into mutant creatures. Stuck in your apartment, you must navigate the entire complex in search of survivors. Are there even other living folks near your dwelling? Are they worth seeking out? These are just two of the many questions Lone Survivor explores.
The reason the game succeeds so well is because it pays close attention to both the survival and horror aspects of the genre. Your supplies are limited, food is scarce, and you really have no indicator to help you figure out if there's anything for you to collect in any given area. Your character needs to eat and sleep regularly, and if you're not finding food or returning to your apartment for some much needed rest, you're pretty much screwing yourself over bad.
The most interesting thing about Lone Survivor's survival element is that it really makes you question how bad you want your character to survive. Should you eat that disgusting squid? Is that gross meat you found even edible? What about those pills? What could they possibly do to you if you take them? Lone Survivor makes you explore the deepest depths of your survival instinct, and when you realize how far you have to push your character, it can be truly terrifying.
That's not the only thing that's scary, though. No, Lone Survivor makes it a point to scare the crap out of you throughout its entirety. But it doesn't do it with jump scares. It does it with atmosphere, sound, and imagery. You know when some imposing mutant is nearby, and if you have a flashlight on you, you may want to think twice about turning it on, because if you do, you'll draw attention and have to run for your life.
Getting away from one mutant is OK, but when you see that there are three of the damn things following you — chasing behind you and even crawling eerily on the ceiling — you know your best bet is to find the nearest exit. Sometimes, that exit isn't very close, so if you find a hiding place, you'll have to use it to your advantage and hope that the mutants get away from you. You can actually lead these enemies to rotten pieces of meat, and when they're distracted, that's your cue to get away.
You also have a gun, but ammo is scarce, and you can't go in with guns a-blazin'. Do so and you may find yourself drawing unnecessary attention. That gun's no use to you when you've got a group of mutants clawing away at you. If you want to succeed in the world of Lone Survivor, know that your gun is an important tool, but it should by no means be your go-to item whenever you feel threatened. Oftentimes it's best to run or hide in the shadows.
