#practitionerblog

The 2023 Dead Space Remake by Motive Studio revitalised the iconic horror atmosphere of the original game by utilising modern lighting and material systems. One of the remake’s biggest successes is its reactive lighting; dynamic shadows stretch and shift as players move through claustrophobic corridors, amplifying fear without relying solely on scripted events. Environmental storytelling is also refined: blood trails, damaged walls, emergency lights, and scattered remnants of the ship's inhabitants paint a grim story without a word of dialogue. For The Autopsy Academy, I have closely studied Dead Space’s use of subtle guidance—how light sources naturally lead players to points of interest without breaking immersion. Additionally, Dead Space's balance between cold industrial architecture and organic decay influences my design choices, particularly in the use of metallic surfaces and corroded textures combined with ambient fog to create a lived-in, abandoned feel.

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kisnMktsoUA

Scorn, developed by Ebb Software and released in 2022, is a masterclass in environmental horror design. The game presents a grotesque, organic world heavily inspired by H.R. Giger's biomechanical aesthetic. Its environments feel simultaneously decayed and alive, creating an unsettling atmosphere without traditional storytelling methods. One of the most striking elements is how the lighting, fog effects, and organic textures seamlessly blend together to create a continuous sense of unease. The environmental design moves beyond mere aesthetics; it becomes an active part of the storytelling experience. The game's use of ambient lighting and organic, grotesque shapes influences how players emotionally respond to the space. This idea has deeply influenced my approach to The Autopsy Academy, particularly in how I plan to create transitional areas between large abandoned rooms and claustrophobic corridors. By studying Scorn, I have learned that emotional narrative can be embedded directly into the physicality of the environment, using architecture, colour, and texture to elicit discomfort and curiosity simultaneously. This understanding has led me to rethink how I construct visual flow and spatial tension in my own environmental art.

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9lBuHIlglY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorn_(video_game)