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Survival Horror
''This article concerns the genre of video game. For literary fiction, film or other media; see related links.''

Survival horror is a well known video game genre focused around the survival of the player character, usually with a second typified genre like: adventure, action or puzzle. These games are often inspired by or directly related to works of horror, where the main focus is on creating an uneasy and suspenseful atmosphere. Within gameplay the primary player objective is to survive against various enemies and/or supernatural occurrences, the majority of them revolve around a human protagonist in the face of insurmountable odds. Survival horror has very obvious collection of thematic staples are present within them, such as: unnerving situations, suspenseful ambience, unknown factors, dark lighting, build up of tension, jump scares and final confrontations.

Many games within the genre have a focus on taking control away from the player through reducing the options in which the player can combat threats toward them, whilst others shift gameplay from reduced effectiveness in fighting to the outright inability to combat enemies and obstacles. They change the basis and core mechanics to that of deference and escape, leaning more on the tropes of unstoppable horrors that can only be evaded and temporarily slowed. These themes can also been seen in works of fiction from writers such as H. P. Lovecraft, where there is a large emphasis on the fear of the unknown and the supernatural.

Origination of Survival Horror (1980-1996)
Survival horror as a genre will always be deeply rooted within the early fiction that inspired it, games being more modern and updated medium for the consumption of this content. As mentioned above H. P. Lovecraft and the various works he created serve as a very deep source of inspiration for games, based around the main theme where there is a force or being that cannot be beaten by standard means. Along with influences such as this there is also Japanese horror, which differed greatly in relation to the 'traditional western horror' and came about in the form of ghost stories during the Edo and Meiji periods. One of the first survival horror games was created by a University of Tokyo student exclusively for Japan in 1981 called Nostromo, which turned the aspects of the film experience Alien into a game experience where players were required to avoid the alien to collect items and escape. After this more games of its type were made and the genre started to gain traction until the original Resident Evil was created (known in Japan as BioHazard).

The Era of Survival Horror (1996-2004)
Resident Evil by Capcom was the first game known to use the term "Survival Horror" within its marketing, unknowingly coining a term that would be used to describe a great many expectation exceeding games that served to keep pushing the boundaries of what could be achieved within both the facets of storytelling and gameplay. It's reception brought about both critical and commercial success put down in history as the genre defining game, along with the added benefit of a new lease of life to the worn out zombie trope in media. With its graphics and mechanics the game created the mould for any survival horror experiences wanting to repeat its success, spawning its own multimedia franchise in doing so.

Modernised Survival Horror (2005-present)
After almost a decade of terrifying horror experiences with antagonistic forces that left the protagonists feel helpless in combating it (having to focus of escaping, sneaking and avoiding them), more action based elements began to be introduced to the genre. One such game was Resident Evil 4, which decided to change the previous core thematic of the series in making weapons much more prevalent and available. They implemented a much different aiming system based on precision (the use of head shots etc. to deal more damage) using a third person perspective, relinquishing some of the aspects featured in prior instalments that originally brought it popularity. Even with these changes it still managed to release with critical acclaim and has earned a place as one of the best video games. There are various fans and reviewers however, that believe within the games new innovation, it had abandoned the roots of its success in the survival horror genre. In recent years branching story games within the genre have garnered considerable attention, with the likes of Until Dawn bringing various survival horror tropes back and reinvigorating them in new inventive ways.

Core Gameplay Features
Survival horror utilises a constant feeling of danger to keep players alert and cognisant of their surroundings, allowing them to immerse themselves within the experience. The majority feature a simple task of getting from one point to another, with enemies and the environment used to creates obstacles that need to be overcome. This can range from a few different focuses being; killing enemies as the main way to progress forward, collecting an item that allows the character to get past a previous obstacle and having to avoid certain beings/entities along the path to the objective. Many games differentiate on the specific topic of enemies, with whether or not they can be killed and if the player has the resources necessary to do so and still complete other tasks.

Resource Availability
As prefaced above many games tackle the supply of equipment to players in various fashion, with most games only giving just enough for success to be possible. The widespread inclusion of this feature lead to the evolution of inventory management and gave resource expenditure a much heavier meaning in the overall scheme, all in order to truly escalate the feelings of danger and suspense. Survival horror was defined by the fact that games emulated the thematic of having to survive against the odds.

Realistic Protagonists
Player characters were much different to the indestructible powerhouses of action and other associated genres, they had limitations on what they could do and were required to use brains rather than brawn to combat threats. This vulnerability enhanced the themes of genre and emphasised different strategies, like running away or hiding.

Puzzles and Problem Solving
The games would set out an overarching goal for the character and set them on target to achieve it, putting up obstacles along the way which require the player to analyse situations and find solutions. These could range from figuring out a riddle to reveal a code or password, to physical puzzles present in the level which can be solved in order to progress.