If you've listened to a Dead Pixels Podcast in the last 3-4 months you're fully aware of my totally normal obsession with two things: Skyrim and American Horror Story. I've already talked plenty on the former--you can expect even more Skyrim chat in our Game of the Year podcast in a few weeks--but I really haven't talked too much about just how incredible American Horror Story is. Having finally got around to finishing the finale earlier tonight, I've decided this show needs a video game. If Buffy, X-Files, and The Walking Dead can get one, this one deserves one too.
It seems as if the series was created with the idea of a video game adaptation in mind. Think about it: it's a horror story anthology that Xbox 360 Controller appeals to all flavors of people. Weird folks have plenty to enjoy, horror fans have a few scares and an incredibly creepy atmosphere, kinkier people have the Gimp scenes and more than a few brief shots of Dylan McDermott's muscular bum, and gamers with short attention spans will like the episodic approach. If this sounds like your type of thing, I suggest joining me after the jump so we can chat about it. Come on, it's safe on the other side, all you have to do is hit that little Read More button. Do it, you know you want to.
Let's start off with my first idea: the Alan Wake approach. Alan Wake was a story-driven horror/thriller with a tense atmosphere, a focus on its story/characters, and it was broken up into episodes, not unlike a television show.
This is perfect for American Horror Story.
Each episode would play out like an episode of the TV series, complete with its own story arch and a little twist at the end to make you antsy Xbox 360 accessories for the next episode. It would also be more of a third person game, like the parts in Heavy Rain where you were actually controlling your character (minus the god awful controls). Oh wait, I just thought of something even better. Bare with me here, it's really just best if you keep your limbs inside the boat as I guide us down this river of random thoughts and ideas.
Are you excited? This is how magic is made people. Magic.
Alan Wake's style might be a little too gamey for some Horror Story fans, so that leaves us with another option: the cinematic style. By this I mean something like Heavy Rain or Telltale's work on the Back to the Future Xbox 360 Kinect and Jurassic Park games. Ignoring for a second how awful the latter was, a more cinematic take could help the game retain the show's unpredictable nature.
I like to think of it being similar to Heavy Rain, only it's broken up into episodes. That way the story can be told and the player doesn't miss out on all the things that can be missed in a less linear game where you could wander off and miss XBox 360 Hard Drive little details. It could also mean your actions could change the direction the story takes. Maybe Violet doesn't take all those pills, or Tate actually does manage to outrun the ghosts of his victims that chased him on Halloween night, or maybe you could just play as the maid and clean stuff through mini-games.
Wait, something's happening. Maid… mini-game… yes.
I want a God of War style sex mini game, only this time it's from the woman's prospective. I want to play as the maid so I can lure unsuspecting men into the house, have my way with them, then right when they're about to finish, BOO! I was actually an old chick the whole time! Achievement unlocked.
So I have a few questions for you. First off, does the idea of a well done American Horror Story video game sound good to you, and if one was to get made, should it be in the style of Alan Wake, Heavy Rain, or something else entirely? 8812abc09 1228
