THE ART OF SCARY MOON DESIGN
I love horror, and I love monsters. It is fascinating to see how the human mind can transform abstract fears into physical creatures. They can make us feel scared, repulsed, or anxious if done right. Because video games are easy to play, they have created a lot of monsters, from creepy clowns to evil Necromorphs. Sociology and evolutionary psychology are involved in studying what makes a scary monster design. Sometimes, creatures are used to avoid the need to empathise and relate to what you are facing in a game. What I want to focus on are the ones that scare us.
KEEPING IT REAL WITH ANIMALS
Creature designs are based on the real world. This allows for the suspension of disbelief. Mother Nature has some fantastic ideas for creating scary monsters. Many monsters are made from a variety of real-life animals. Although this may seem unimaginative, it is more creative than creating something new.
It is, however, a vital element of the design that makes a monster real. The Gears of War4 Pouncer is an example of a hybrid dog, crustacean carapace, and scorpion’s tail. Designers need to understand anatomy and how the body is constructed.
It is also helpful to know how the environment will affect the creature’s evolution. It’s not difficult, but shouldn’t the arms of a Mermaid be webbed? Or should the Centaurs’ human body be further back than the horse? Of course, this applies to creatures with more industrial/mechanical aspects. For example, pyramid Head’s iconic helmet is awkward to hold up and seems clumsy. This works visually in the same way that a large metal helmet would.
Jerad Marantz is the concept artist for Gears of War 4. he describes how the process works as “the combination of familiar components…You’d believe you can do almost anything…But you’d be wrong.” We hope that we will someday return to Dead By Daylight.
MANIPULATION OF HUMANOID FORMS
While animals are a good starting point, let’s not forget about a terrifying monster: humans. It all depends on the design goals. We can tap into our instinctive fear with more bestial designs for our fear of predators. The human monsters can be even more disturbing. Until Dawn deliberately exaggerates the human anatomy of the Wendigo by using unnaturally tight skin or long limbs. A corrupted body can be dangerous for us, but it could also mean that we might become it. We can relate to the creature, much like the uncanny valley effect. We will not be disturbed by the unnatural design.
Humanoid designs are well-suited to psychological and body terror. You can think of all the famous monsters that are human but twisted. Vampires and Zombies, Werewolves and Sirens, and Goblins are just a few examples. Partly, this is because we assume intelligence and malice on the part of the monster. The fear of becoming the monster and the consequent loss of your mind and soul is even more frightening. It is possible to create a terrifying monster design by combining human and inhuman elements.
FEAR AND SYMBOLISM
This has been the forte of the Silent Hill franchise, particularly Masahiro Ito. The psychology of the protagonist is the basis for the creation of monsters. Masahiro Ito describes his designs as metaphorical. I consider this to be the difference between great monster designs and the average. The Lying Figur from Silent Hill2 depicts a patient in pain. Mary Sunderland is the wife of James. It also spits acid, which is symbolic of the illness she suffered and the harsh words she spoke to her husband.
