It's occurred to me that I really like games that blend a silly or comedic tone with settings or tropes more commonly associated with horror. What are some other games that are like this?
EDIT:
Okay, I'm gonna start trying to compile these into a list. There's a lot of suggestions and a ton of them I haven't really played or know a whole lot about. I kinda just picked the stuff that seemed to fit with what I was looking for. Lemme know if you don't think some things belong or if you'd like to make a case for me including other things. I skipped most of the licensed suggestions, but I'm willing to put them on the list if someone wants to make a case for them.
Cotton series
Darkstalkers series
Dead Pixels
Death Jr
Deathsmiles
Decap Attack
Devil May Cry
Destroy All Humans
Disgaea series
Ghosts N Goblins series
Ghost Trick
Ghoul Patrol
Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit
House of the Dead series (also including "Typing of" and "Pinball of")
Kid Dracula
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ
Lollipop Chainsaw
Luigi's Mansion series
Maximo
Medieval
Monster in my Pocket
Monster Party
Okage: Shadow King
Plants vs Zombies
Splatterhouse
Stubbs the Zombie
A Vampyre Story
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Zombie Revenge
I probably missed a bunch of stuff too, but yeah. It'd be really helpful if you guys could explain why you feel a suggestion is comedy/horror. Again, I'm looking for stuff that has this sort of tone throughout the entire game, so a single stage/character/area/element isn't enough.
Previous version of the OP:
------
Some good examples: Darkstalkers - I was kinda debating this one, but I think the bright palette and characters like B.B. Hood make this one seem pretty light hearted. Disgaea series - Comedic SRPG in which most of the protagonists are demons and the Netherworld is featured prominently. Ghosts N Goblins series - The cartoonish graphics and the fact that you spend a good chunk of the game killing zombies and monsters while in your underwear suggest a pretty silly tone to me! Luigi's Mansion - It's a Mario game, and it's about a haunted mansion. Of course it fits! Monster Party - Bizzare and creepy NES platformer that doesn't take itself seriously in the slightest. Okage: Shadow King - A funny JRPG about a young boy who becomes enslaved by the evil "King Stan" who lives in his shadow.
Stuff I know about that I haven't really played much of and can't really comment on: Gargoyle's Quest series - I know it's a GnG spinoff, but a lot of what I've seen of Demon's Crest seems to have a more serious tone to it along the lines of Castlevania or something. Grim Fandango - I haven't really played any of LucasArts's adventure games :X Kid Dracula - I know it's supposed to be a silly parody of the Castlevania series, it sounds right up my alley, but I haven't gotten a chance to play it yet. Maximo series - I'm assuming it's pretty similar to Ghosts N Goblins, being a spiritual successor and all Wanpaku Grafitti - If I'm understanding it correctly, it's basically Kid Dracula, but with Splatterhouse being parodied instead of Castlevania.
What I'm looking for are games that have this sort of tone throughout, so stuff like the hidden joke endings you can get in the Silent Hill games, or games with just a single stage or section with a halloween theme don't count. I'd also like to avoid licensed games unless they're especially good or notable.
Last edited by AppleQueso on Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
It maybe part of the Ghouls 'n Ghosts series, but I would add the Maximo games for the PS2. I also think that Ack recently had a good experience with Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday for the SNES.
EDIT: Nevermind...I see that you listed Maximo in your first post. The first one is an awesome platformers. The second one if good, but not as charming as the first.
Also, Rayman Origins - which I cannot recommend highly enough - has a great hidden level, The Land of the Livid Dead, that you would probably enjoy.
Last edited by prfsnl_gmr on Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
AppleQueso wrote:
Grim Fandango - I haven't really played any of LucasArts's adventure games :X
Shame on you. Grim Fandango, despite it's legendary status, isn't the best starting point though, as it's 3D. All of the Monkey Island games have horror elements (ghost pirates, talking voodoo skulls, digging up graves, cannibal tribes etc) but I'd say that Curse of Monkey Island (the third game) has enough of them to qualify as a comedy horror game. The first two games are more realistic and "gruesome" but while more cartoony and colorful, I'd say that the third game's storyline and locales were more centered around the undead.
Last edited by Menegrothx on Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
My WTB thread (Sega CD/Saturn games)
Also looking to buy: Ys III (TG-16 CD), Shadowrun (Genesis) Hori N64 mini pad and Slayer (3DO) in long box/just the long box
prfsnl_gmr wrote:It maybe part of the Ghouls 'n Ghosts series, but I would add the Maximo games for the PS2. I also think that Ack recently had a good experience with Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday for the SNES.
Oh yes, I did! As a big fan of horror, it's always nice to encounter a new game which uses its tropes for a basis. A few others you might consider checking out:
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (PC and Xbox)
The Adventures of Dr. Franken (SNES)
Monster in my Pocket (NES)
Gremlins 2 (NES)
Ghoul Patrol (SNES)
The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang (SNES)
And for a few more serious games:
Nosferatu (SNES)
Musya: The Classic Japanese Tale of Horror (SNES)
Wolfchild (SNES)
Warlock (SNES)
Now that I think about it, I'd say that the first Monkey Island game is on par with the third one when it comes to the horror elements. Since all the games are centered around tropical islands and pirates, it's hard to put them in the same category as Darkstalkers, Disgaea and Ghouls n ghosts, but creepy, dark swamps, voodoo, the undead, skeleton pirates and all that stuff have a strong presence in all three of the games. I'd suggest trying the third game just for the sake of playing through the absolute crown jewel of the adventure genre (imo). The comedy horror stuff is just the cherry on top
My WTB thread (Sega CD/Saturn games)
Also looking to buy: Ys III (TG-16 CD), Shadowrun (Genesis) Hori N64 mini pad and Slayer (3DO) in long box/just the long box
