In just a couple of weeks, Hatred will be released on Steam. The controversial mass murder 'em up has generated headlines since it was first announced, and left us confused as to whether it's something we might want to play, or something we feel obliged to be utterly appalled by (conclusion: whatever).
However, Hatred isn't the first video game that's gone all-out to shock, like a sweary, stomping, pubescent in a Wotsit-stained Skrillex t-shirt. Here are five equally desperate games whose intention was to seemingly outrage the delicate sensibilities of the "general" public, and/or their parents.
However, Hatred isn't the first video game that's gone all-out to shock, like a sweary, stomping, pubescent in a Wotsit-stained Skrillex t-shirt. Here are five equally desperate games whose intention was to seemingly outrage the delicate sensibilities of the "general" public, and/or their parents.
5. CHILLER (Arcade)
"'Cos it's a Chiller! It's a Chill-er night! And no one's gonna save you from the pulsing worm inside my tights!" once sang the dead pop singer Michael "He's a Global Disgrace!" Jackson.
Chiller was a 1986 light gun thing which presented players with a series of grisly scenes, set in torture chambers and "bumzones" (note: there were no "bumzones" in Chiller). From what we can gather, the aim was to end the suffering of the on-screen victims as quickly as possible, by shooting them to death <scribbles down idea for game: Wounded Animal Mercy Killing Simulator 2016>.
Alas, simple head shots were never quite enough - the game encouraging you to blast away chunks of bone and flesh and organs, as the screen gradually became more and more blood-caked. Alternatively, precisely shooting the torture devices littered around the screens would often cause a swifter demise, with the added bonus of extra points.
Other levels included a graveyard, complete with a monk who would wheel a trolley of corpses back and forth, like he'd gotten lost and confused en route to the municipal mass grave.
Alas, Chiller was something of a flop: arcade owners generally refused to feature it, due to the content. However, we've just read that the game was reportedly a hit in third world countries, for some inexplicable reason that we couldn't really be bothered to look into further.
Chiller was a 1986 light gun thing which presented players with a series of grisly scenes, set in torture chambers and "bumzones" (note: there were no "bumzones" in Chiller). From what we can gather, the aim was to end the suffering of the on-screen victims as quickly as possible, by shooting them to death <scribbles down idea for game: Wounded Animal Mercy Killing Simulator 2016>.
Alas, simple head shots were never quite enough - the game encouraging you to blast away chunks of bone and flesh and organs, as the screen gradually became more and more blood-caked. Alternatively, precisely shooting the torture devices littered around the screens would often cause a swifter demise, with the added bonus of extra points.
Other levels included a graveyard, complete with a monk who would wheel a trolley of corpses back and forth, like he'd gotten lost and confused en route to the municipal mass grave.
Alas, Chiller was something of a flop: arcade owners generally refused to feature it, due to the content. However, we've just read that the game was reportedly a hit in third world countries, for some inexplicable reason that we couldn't really be bothered to look into further.
4. SPLATTERHOUSE 2 (Mega Drive)
You've probably heard of Splatterhouse, not least because the franchise continues today, to ever more diminishing returns. Splatterhouse 2, however, is somewhat less well-remembered - but went all out to top its predecessor.
The console follow-up to the late-80s arcade hit ramped up the splatter of the title, assaulting players with a succession of needlessly revolting images. Perhaps the most iconic of these were the screaming foetuses that hung from nooses in a charnel house. Like all the fleshy, organic enemies in the game, the player's on-screen avatar - a hockey mask-wearing gym bunny - would make swift work of the slime-blooded scream-o-foets with his chainsaw.
We wonder what the Pro-Life lobby made of all that.
The console follow-up to the late-80s arcade hit ramped up the splatter of the title, assaulting players with a succession of needlessly revolting images. Perhaps the most iconic of these were the screaming foetuses that hung from nooses in a charnel house. Like all the fleshy, organic enemies in the game, the player's on-screen avatar - a hockey mask-wearing gym bunny - would make swift work of the slime-blooded scream-o-foets with his chainsaw.
We wonder what the Pro-Life lobby made of all that.
3. DEATH RACE (Arcade)
Arguably the first video game 'nasty", 1976's Death Race somehow managed to stir up a controversy in spite of its basic, monochrome visuals. Described as "gross" by America's National Safety Council, whatever that is, players were required to steer a car into a series of stick figures.
Though the game's publisher, Exidy, insisted the figures were "gremlins" and not - as might have been assumed - innocent pedestrians, it was enough to result in the first ever TV investigation into the psychological impact of video games. Conclusion: UNRECORDED...
Though the game's publisher, Exidy, insisted the figures were "gremlins" and not - as might have been assumed - innocent pedestrians, it was enough to result in the first ever TV investigation into the psychological impact of video games. Conclusion: UNRECORDED...
2. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (Atari 2600)
Whereas the notoriety that surrounded Texas Chainsaw Massacre led to healthy cinema ticket sales, and - later - booming business for UK VHS pirates, the tie-in Atari 2600 game literally killed the company responsible for it.
A mixture of terrible, E.T.-style gameplay, and controversy over the supposedly violent gameplay - players assumed the role of chainsaw killer Leatherface (albeit without a drop of on-screen blood) - left Wizard Games too vulnerable to prevent it being swallowed up by the video games crash of the early-80s.
It probably didn't help that the game's interpretation of the iconic Leatherface was apparently a big-headed goon in a blue jumpsuit, wielding a length of blue plumbing.
A mixture of terrible, E.T.-style gameplay, and controversy over the supposedly violent gameplay - players assumed the role of chainsaw killer Leatherface (albeit without a drop of on-screen blood) - left Wizard Games too vulnerable to prevent it being swallowed up by the video games crash of the early-80s.
It probably didn't help that the game's interpretation of the iconic Leatherface was apparently a big-headed goon in a blue jumpsuit, wielding a length of blue plumbing.
1. SOFT AND CUDDLY (ZX Spectrum)
Imagine if Clive Barker had created Jet Set Willy. Do that now, please. No, really - do that. We can wait.
Finished?
Well done. You just successfully imagined the ironically-titled Soft and Cuddly. This late-generation Spectrum platformer had players attempting to recover the dismembered parts of their android mother, and return them to a refrigerator (where the player's father was also stored). Yes, we've all been there...
This required navigating a surreal - ahem - "hellscape", full of wannabe nightmarish visuals, such as people being stretched apart on racks, or crushed by giant thumbscrews, or that four-headed skinbaby thing above, and "Quo Vagon". Though reviews described the game as "sick", it failed to generate the sort of controversy that results in booming sales. Ha ha.
Also: "Ha ha".
FROM THE ARCHIVE:
Finished?
Well done. You just successfully imagined the ironically-titled Soft and Cuddly. This late-generation Spectrum platformer had players attempting to recover the dismembered parts of their android mother, and return them to a refrigerator (where the player's father was also stored). Yes, we've all been there...
This required navigating a surreal - ahem - "hellscape", full of wannabe nightmarish visuals, such as people being stretched apart on racks, or crushed by giant thumbscrews, or that four-headed skinbaby thing above, and "Quo Vagon". Though reviews described the game as "sick", it failed to generate the sort of controversy that results in booming sales. Ha ha.
Also: "Ha ha".
FROM THE ARCHIVE:
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