Co-op horror

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I disagree. The deliberate non-inclusion of co-op midgame (especially if it's unanticipated) is equivalent to starting the game in a well lit area, only to deprive you of light later on (and we can all agree how effectively FG have used that concept). It gives you solace in the fact that at least you are not alone, only to freaking torment you with the prospect of suddenly being completely alone. I admit everything needs to fall exactly into place for it to be successful, but I find it unfair to dismiss the idea based only on the fact that it's "co-op without the co-op".

The article pretty much says the only way "co-op horror" will be successful is if still manages to maintain the feeling of loneliness and helplessness. Can it get any more self-contradicting? Hence co-op without the concept of co-op. Paradoxes FTW.

It's not a paradox. Being alone is only scary because we are so accustomed to not being alone. It's this inherent ambiguity between the two concepts (which are really one and the same, in different manifestations) that makes it so terrifying to have nobody else to help you. The co-op design the article proposes is far more powerful than starting out the game alone (if done correctly), because while the concept of having people to rely on is something everyone can relate to, it loses its impact somewhat because it is the default state.

Think of someone suddenly becoming blind or deaf well into their 30s. Can you imagine the despair and physical withdrawal of not having one of your basic senses anymore? People that are born blind don't go through that because they don't understand what sight is. It's the same deal with co-op horror although to a much lesser extent. This concept of giving the player a feeling of safety only to cruelly and very abruptly take it away is something that's incredibly prevalent in all of Frictional's games, most notably in the form of light and sound. Why is the co-op any different, just because it has a tendency not to work? If the players are mature, and the game is designed correctly, it has immense potential.

EDIT: You might as well say:

LOL, there should be no light in horror games. Light is not scary, light is comforting. Remove light and the player will be super scared the entire game.

The fact is, the juxtaposition of darkness with light is essential to the whole essence of being afraid of the darkness. The more you depend on light to alleviate your fear, the more horrifying being thrown right into the darkness will be.