Scariest sounds in games

[Hartmansgrad]

Listening to the Silent Hill 2 soundtrack still causes me to have panic attacks to this day. For the longest time I couldn't listen to the track 'Ashes and Ghosts' without having heart palpitations and a cold sweat. Nothing has come close to replicating that terror in my guts, though the creeping red light in silent hill 3 came close.

I have to agree with silence though...those tense moments where nothing happens are almost scarier than the jump out scares...

 

[GaiusD]

I gotta say the first thing that pops into my mind is the demented laughter from the midgets in Borderlands

 

[TheMadDoctorsCat]

So after playing some of the new AVP, I was quickly reminded of how frightening that little pinging of the motion tracker could be. So I started thinking about other in game sounds that make me jump and/or scream like a little girl. So far I've got:

AVP motion tracker ping
half-life 2 black headcrab screech
the utmost dreaded creeper hissssss from minecraft

Nothing else is coming to mind but I know there are more out there.

What other sounds should go into this list and why?

I would immediately think of two: the enemy sounds from "System Shock 2" - yes, ALL of them, but in particular the suicidal zombies at the beginning (there is nothing that makes your heart stop momentarily as effectively as someone screaming "KILL MEEEEE!!!" from about two feet behind you) and the spiders later on.

I'd also pick the monster's roar from "Amnesia: The Dark Descent." Yes, its threat is considerably lessened when you learn that pretty much every single monster encounter in the game can be beaten by hiding in a cupboard until the music switches back; the fact that the monster kinda looks like something drawn by a Disney illustrator when he was really, really drunk also doesn't help. (Seriously, the slack-jawed, pot-bellied little dude actually looks kinda cute up close, at least when he's not trying to rip your face apart.) But the sound is pretty damn creepy.

(Incidentally, yes, I know both of these choices have probably already been said. I'm unoriginal.)

Someone also mentioned the Sonic "drowning" theme. Good choice. I HATE water levels.

 

[PaulaG]

The zombie dolphins in Plants vs. Zombies....I don't know why, but it gives me the creeps every time I hear it!

 

[Purplecoyote]

Everything in every Fatal Frame game ever.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

"your ssssssong is not ours!"

honorable mention, more awesome than scary:

"OSWALD COMPROMIIIIIIIISED!"

What are these from?

If I'm not mistaken System Shock 2.


I always found the midwives much more frightening however.

I am so glad i have not played that game... O.O

That is creepy as hell! Who are the "Little ones" by the way?

OT: The ticking of the ticker creeps me out a lil in Gears, and the Wreches scream is enough to make me jump when i'm not aware.

Also a Creepers hiss is enough to make me panic...

The "Little Ones" are large parasitical worms growing inside egg sacs (can also be a swarm of aggressive mosquito like creatures). They are what turned the hybrid (first video) into that identity confused monstrosity. The midwives were originally normal women who were killed and then converted into cyborgs who are programmed to protect "The Many's" young. There is only one Model for midwives in game, based on the first victim, but I believe each one you face is actually a different woman.

Scariest sound in a game for me? System shock would definitely be there but it's already taken, same with Amnesia and Penumbra is a given. STALKER has quite a few creepy moments and sound wise I'd give Bloodsuckers accolades for pant shitting functionality. Not so much for the sound itself, but because between that and the shimmer of light and glowing white eyes it creates, it's the only thing that signals you to an imminent ass rape. It's worse at night.

Spoiler: Bloosuckers Q_Q

Spoiler: crappy video wont embed so heres a link instead

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlqxFKL0l58&feature=player_detailpage#t=176s[/link]

In the Total conversion mod "Oblivion Lost" for STALKER, there are human like things with with warped proportions called Izloms... a video will tell you more:

Spoiler: Izloms D:

They are pretty dangerous early on in the mod, but it's the sounds they make that creeps me out, probably compounded by the fact they didn't add footstep sounds to the creatures movement.

 

[Llamaboy01]

My ammunition is gone. The lights have blown, the darkness a deep horror enveloping me as i huddle, scared and helpless.

"Oh! There you are sir!"

I then crap myself :/

The droids from System Shock 2 All the way.

 

[nokori3byo]

The Divider in the Dead Space games. Masterful piece of sound design. And you often hear it long before you see it (shudder).

 

[Blue Deity]

Any sound made by Lavos, especially it's shriek

 

[sage42]

"First day, they come and catch everyone.
Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat.
Third day, the men are all gnawed on again.
Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate.
Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn.
Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams.
Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew.
Eighth day, we hate it as she is violated.
Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin.
Now she does feast, as she's become the beast."

Now you lay and wait, for their screams will haunt you in your dreams.

That and that bloody radio in Silent Hill.

Both of these as well as The Witch's cry fro L4D. I (personally) believe the scariest sound is silence, not quiet, total and complete silence with nothing around but the echoes of your footsteps off the walls to keep you company.

 

[Felstaff]

When you hear an abrupt "Halt!" in Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines

 

[estoria-etnia]

Dead silence.
Small children giggling/talking.
Footsteps.
Sounds ghosts make in the Fatal Frame series.
Silent Hill soundtracks.

 

[meglathon]

"welcome to the Twisted Treeline"

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
the horror the horror....

 

[random_bars]

This. By far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfh8zJmEjA&t=4m02s

 

[Generalissimo]

this has always gotten me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lva8L-J8x04&feature=related

 

[rosemystica]

The screaming of the headcrab zombies in the Half-Life games.

When it's played backward, it's even worse--you can hear them screaming for help and begging for the pain to stop.

 

[bruunwald]

The fucking radio sound in silent hill!!! Why has noone mentioned this?!?!

Or any other of the random sounds of crying, lockers slamming, things falling in the walls, etc.

Silent Hill's fame is largely due to the amazing music and terrifying sound effects, to which no other game series anybody here can mention can ever hold a candle. But it's just not on the radar of these fanbois.

 

[l3o2828]

The fucking radio sound in silent hill!!! Why has noone mentioned this?!?!

I might just add about every frikken sound in the games soundtrack.
Really there's no better way to ruin the silent hill experience than to mute the sound.

 

[vrbtny]

The sound of the Balrog being summoned in Lord of the Rings : Battle for Middle Earth

 

[Dutch 924]

Mine would have to be the noises in the Mansion of Madness in Timesplitters Future Perfect. Having a door lock itself in front of you, then hearing a perfectly time child's giggle and some deep whispers is very disconcerting.

It's also where the goddamn L4D witch cry came from.