Creepy Ambience

In a game the intended ambience or feel of the game can influence the style of the game. So I researched different aspects of horror-esque games and games which twist the aspects.

One big element of a game I found creepy was the rogue-like gameplay of Baroque. Trying to reach the top while dealing with permadeath and randomly generated dungeons, while the dungeons are filled with creepy monsters makes it well creepy. However, I feel like that aspect might not work for my idea.

This site showed some prime examples of creepy elements: http://arcadesushi.com/creepiest-moments-in-video-games/

The main idea appears to be shock and keeping the player on edge. Such as Amnesia or Slenderman where the monster could pop out of nowhere which is scary, but the act of keeping players from knowing when or where is what keeps them on edge to make it scary.

This is a good example of using a desolate area to make something creepy. Making it dirty and used and falling apart usually add a creepiness factor.

 Though this one is during the day the cloudy sky that looks like it might storm plus the style of the lifeless trees and old buildings create a creepiness.

This guy may look normal but for pointy ears, but the shaded face and creepy masks make this design scary. He may not be a monster, but his smile can send chills.


These are examples of what not to do.

To begin with a bright and sunny landscape is a big NO! But the cartoonish and bubbly art style also seem inappropriate for creepy ambiences.

This is from Epic Mickey and seems to attempt to be creepy. The dark palette does seem creepy, but the bright lights work against it as well as the reminiscent Disney style, which has too much of a upbeat connotation to really be creepy. Perhaps it can be creepy, but just the childishness of the style seems to detract from that.

This is another old, dark place but the sky seems more mystical than creepy. So night and old does not guarantee a creepy atmosphere.

 These two are from a Halloween themed game called Costume Quest. Again the cartoony, childish style seem to detract from the creepiness associated with night and even Halloween.

 

And perhaps the biggest reason these aren't creepy is the association I have with them from playing some of them. Such as costume quest which is a humorous game which definitely makes it non-creepy. While I've played Zelda: Majora's Mask and Folktales, two of the creepy games, and both were creepy even though they weren't COD realistic, they were fake and you knew they were fake but the atmosphere in the games was just so creepy at times with out it really trying.

Having said all that I have an idea how I'd want the style to look, but unfortunately I question my capabilities as an artist to actually render it. I'm positive I won't succeed and my art with turn into either a cartoony style or just plain bad art.

Edit: I just recalled something cartoony that was creepy as all heck: Courage the Cowardly Dog. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdTymvjRuoc

And I found some Disney bits that are freaky (plus commentary): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gw5uA2fT68 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzErJTXjspU
I can safely say I forgot about pleasure island...so it isn't necessarily the style that makes or breaks a creepy ambience, though it does help, but the actions and even psychological implications that really mess with people. And though they are cartoons, it might be possible to apply them to a video game setting.