7. Aliens versus Predator 2 – (Originally made for PC): While being more action oriented and without a doubt a memorable first-person shooter there is a specific quality to this title that shouldn’t be overlooked. True enough that playing as a Facehugger and subsequently an Alien is fun in its own right. At the same time, playing as a Predator gives players an obvious feeling of undeniable invulnerability, but this goes with the territory when galatically-speaking, you’re playing as a certifiably badass race. Now, playing as a Colonial Marine, let’s face the facts here people, you’re may be wrapped in armor and armed to the teeth, but you’re still as pink and squishy as a steak served rare and everything else on that planet wants to tear you to pieces or implant something inside of you just so it can burst out again. You may not be able to scream in space, but with a Facehugger latched onto your melon or a Predator casually removing your head from your body doesn’t make the ability to do it on solid ground all that easy either. Regardless of the ambient eeriness the game has to offer, I can’t think of anything creepier than trying to hold masses of Facehuggers at bay or trying to find something lurking invisibly waiting to make my skull it’s next trophy. Thankfully, a new AvP iteration is coming to the 360 along with a Colonial Marine title, but in all fairness you always do remember your first.
6. Alone in the Dark – (Originally made for the PC): So, if there is anything that makes a game better, it is references to the greatest of the ancients Cthulu. Alone in the Dark touches on the Mythos when you head into the house in Louisiana to invest the grisly suicide of Jeremy Hartwood and as soon as you venture in the door locks behind you. Cliché now, but back in 1992 when this game came out, that created our restricted space for the player, so with no choice you have to venture forward. Zombies among other creatures are the primary foes you’ll encounter, but what made the game so much fun was the sheer amount of story that was constantly encapsulated on. Keep in mind; these were the days when story drove a game forward as opposed to slick graphics, pixilated boobs and cheap scripting tricks. The non-linear environment let you explore the house, which may or may not have been a good idea since you’re initially armed with only hands and feet. But as the story develops and drags the player deeper into the madness of the mansion. But, as Monkey Island made its way to Xbox Live Arcade, I can’t fathom any possible reason why the Alone in the Dark, the greatest of the franchise to this day couldn’t be gloriously remastered so that gamers could feel the same fear all over again.
5. American McGee’s Alice – (Originally made for the PC): Everyone loves a great children’s story and growing up Lewis Carroll’s story quickly became one of my favorites that I’ll occasionally still go back to this day and read. This however, was a twisted descent back into the world of Wonderland that had been transformed, broken and stitched back together in a hellishly, haphazard way. Immediately following the second of the Alice stories, she is sent to a mental institution after trying to kill herself, being the only survivor of a tragic fire that claimed the lives of her family. Ten years after the fact, the white rabbit comes calling and Alice returns to Wonderland to discover that the place is darker, twisted and evil. Following the Queen of Hearts rise to power, Wonderland has taken on a Tim Burtonesque quality that will disturb anyone who grew up reading the book to the bone. Even those minutely familiar with the tale with feel a lingering awe at the disturbing world that American McGee created. While not scary in the same way as previous entries in the list, the underlying principle of madness is what sets this title apart. A one time almost-PS2 port, it has since fallen to the wayside and remained on the PC. However, the possibility of a remastered version is always enough to keep me going back for more.
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