In the shadow of Resident Evil lies these forgotten ’90s horror games that are worthy of a remake.
Recent reports suggest Capcom is preparing to remake moreResident Evilgames.
It Came From the Desert (1990)
You got me.
This one technically debuted in 1989 and was ported to DOS and other platforms in 1990.
Its a strange combination of concepts that honestly doesnt always come together in the ways it needs to.
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But this game more than earns its stripes through its theme.
Its plot even revolves around giant ants attacking a small town full of genre archetype characters.
We desperately need more horror games of this style.
Laser Ghost (1990)
IgnoreLaser Ghosts incredibly 90s (and admittedly awesome) title.
Flatteries aside, its got quite a few things going for it on its own terms.
This is a relentlessly violent game with numerous scenes that are still capable of shocking even calloused modern gamers.
Dark Seed (1992)
Dont go intoDark Seedexpecting much gameplay-wise.
This story of a writer turned alien abductee follows a fairly standard (if competent) point-and-click adventure formula.
Instead, you come toDark Seedfor the work of H.R.
It belongs in a museum.
You will ultimately receive one of four different endings based on your performance.
That combination of concepts makesSplatterhouse 3theSplatterhouseversionofRiver City Ransom.
Worse, it was only ever released in Japan for that console.
Enemy Zerois generally seen through more favorable eyes these days.
Its representative of the best (and sometimes worst) qualities of its enigmatic creator, Kenji Eno.
I suppose thats technically true, but there is relatively little action in this game.
I struggle to think of another game quite like it.
And thats honestly this otherwise fascinating games biggest flow.
Ideally, it would have pursued the design directions that games likeSystem ShockorHalf-Lifeeventually did.
Instead, it occupies a middle ground between several concepts without ever really committing to a path.
Its too novel and fascinating to remain so obscure.
Nightmare Creatures (1997)
Nightmare Creaturesis another strange beast.
Sadly,Nightmare Creaturesisnt nearly as well-polished and is often a victim of its ambition.
Its difficult to not appreciate that ambition, though.
Structure and style aside,Nightmare Creaturesfeatured a few ideas that still feel novel today.
Echo Nightis essentially one of the earlier examples of what some call walking simulator games.
Its asResident Evilas you’re free to get without having to spend a few weeks with Capcoms lawyers.
It was also released for the Sega Saturn at a particularly bad time for the console.
Set in an underwater research facility where everything has gone horribly wrong (doesnt it always?
Few horror games of this throw in have done a better job of integrating their prefs into their gameplay.
Its one of the best horror games of the 90s.
Nearly every other aspect of this title is simply brilliant, though.
They then find themselves in a secret underground society filled with runaways and fugitives.
No other game replicates the thing that makesGalerianstruly special: its psychic power-based gameplay.
However, thats not entirely true.Galeriansemphasizes the pain and danger of using such abilities in truly incredible ways.
