My Most favourite ARGS and Analog Horror
Introduction I guess
Honestly I only made this page as a quicker way to honor my main insiprations and favorite analog horror series.
Guess as I go along I'll also geek out and give these seriez a ranking of scary.
Also wanna keep the reviews brief so legit go support these people and their work.
Spook Level: 9/10
Despite being an early 2000's kid, I never got to enjoy old consoles (aside from Shrek on the PS1). With that said though, I find this series eerily well made despite its massive flop. The game's concepts, story and, above all else, the graphics come together to make a sadly semi underrated series.
As for the horror the games vibe alone makes it an uneasy watch, as well as the...implied lore. But, I will admit it doesn't keep me up quite as much as later picks.
Spook Level: 7/10
I know this series is really edgy at times, but I love the effects and concept too much to even care! Something about the details and vibe the series had genuinely intruiged me when I was younger. So much to the point I used it as my main basis for my own work later on.
Despite the poor character handling I also think Alan's effects are amazing at times. As is the camera composition.
The only other thing I could think to say is I want to lovingly kick Alan like a football~❤
Spook Level: 8/10
I find this series quite uneasy. Whilst I typically don't have a hard time watching horror based on childhood experiences, I find this particularly hard to stomach due to the genuinely uncomfortable feel the polaroids and aesthetic have. Outside of this the concept and visuals only add to the eery feeling.
I also appriciate the lack of CGI, whilst it's still present in some points, I appriciate the creators decision to actually make some of the props used (such as drawings and postsers).
Spook Level:9/10
I'ms redoin' this part :)
Spook Level:10/10
One of the few series that I hold to be my personal standard when writing and pacing. Both the story and visuals are amazing, it never feels like any detail is useless and the scares come less from one quick jumpscares and more from the uneasy tone and implications in certain parts.
It even adds extra outside media (i.e. real life books) that only amplify the story in certain points. One of the weirdest benefits to the series is also the quality, whilst the series starts out with very simple visuals, it's still effective thanks to the modeling skills of the creator.
Spook Level:9/10
One of the most notable(ish) things present throughout this is I've tried my hardest to avoid more complex ARGS. I find it quite hard to get induldged in an ARG if I accidently jumped in a few weeks later and get hit with a bunch of theories and memes that I can barely comprehend.
This is one of those exceptions where even the heavy lore still makes sense to me, despite when I'm lethargic at 10pm on my phone watching Wendigoon analyse something.
The entire series is also well produced, as is the website and stories.
Spook Level:8/10
I've always found true old media hauntingly beautiful. Whilst, yes I grew up on random DVDs and burnt CD mixtapes. I never got to fully experience that feeling of watching a familiar kids show on an old tv (or at least I don't fully remember it). To me however, Land of Mushrooms feels so comforting yet eerie. Like watching a neighbours T.V from across the street as a kid. Barely being able to comprehend what they're watching, yet not wanting to look away.
In general, this ARG deserves to be viewed on an old tv at night to best capture the feel of it. It also might've gotten me a bit fixated on creepy 70's kid shows and home made public access content that've been choked on a VHS tape.
Spook Level:9/10
Interesting detail, when I looked this up on YouTube I got the title MyHouse.WAS. This isn't the right title but it adds an extra bittersweet pang to the story.
DOOM was a game I never played as a kid (until recently at a computer museum), but the visuals and monster designs of the original have always made me feel nauseas and light chested.
This mod somehow made that feeling worse and I commend it for that. As well as the eerie set design and uneasy nostalgic feel I get from it. It's definitely one best enjoyed on the original console the first game released on (Playstation 1, I crossed checked the release years to be safe), with the lights out.
As for experience I don't recommend looking up any tutorials for the first round. But if you want to, it's better to enjoy the story to the fullest degree.
Spook Level:5/10
This feels like a slightly awkward placement but I've added this both as a way of encouraging the creator and admiring the tone the series goes for.
I'm very fond of home footage of paranormal activity, even though a lot of it was simply made for clicks (and not profit, what a time!). With this I get immense nostalgia taking in the dark rooms and low quality of the areas.
However, I'm slightly worried the creator's stopped working on the series due to the recent inactivity.
Spook Level: 4/10
This is the most nonsensical one in my list. There's no real story to it all I simply find the visuals and creepy feel to it so fascinating I had to add it.
Spook Level: 7/10
This is one I'm most nostalgic towards. I remember finding the visuals and concept so unique. Looking back on it now with my own work it's slightly more creepy and unsettling but I love it none the less. It also got me giddy enough to want to make my own series upon learning the creators were around my age when it was first made.
In terms of quality I do think some parts of it are slightly goofy but I still love the rest of it.
Spook Level: 5/10
Another series I vividly remember discovering when it first released. However, I was less active around it. Despite being 8 years old I still think it holds up quite well and the mystery isn't obvious (compared to most series I see now).
Spook Level: 6/10
I've always found Super Mario 64 creepy, an original statement yes, but it's mostly been for the low quality graphics, which were ground breaking for the 90's but got overshadowed by it's later contenders. They're simple and cute but also quite uncanny. Which this series amplifies with its renders and slightly off music.
I'm quite sad this series got scrapped due to in fighting because, whilst I didn't find it terrifying, I found it fascinating to learn from in terms of authentic lost material and game design.
Squimpus's FNAF ARG (Battington Version)
Spook Level: 9/10
I've chosen the Battington version to review since I find that, quality wise, it's much more impressive (as well as...Squimpus).
A glorious reboot of Squimpus's original videos, as well as a clean up to the story (adding new content, fixing pacing issues etc). I also find some of the new additions to these tapes to make them even scarier.
However, I do feel like Battington has this problem with his jumpscares, they're amazingly done however they lose impact with replay. Which doesn't hurt these videos too bad but makes episodes of Harmony and Horror boarderline annoying at times.
That aside, I still love this version (even taking some inspiration from certain concepts).
Spook Level: 8/10
I'm certain people know me for analysing Wired Sounds, but I've always preferred it's cousin produced by Angus, who also worked on Wired Sounds. Unlike Wired it takes inspiration from Evangelious, which I don't know much about, other than my love for Misato.
Embarassing crush aside, I still admire the website and its even more unsettling and borderline creepy feel.
Spook Level: 6/10
I keep stating this throughout these reviews but I have a strong admiration for old computers and retro tech in general. I haven't had the time to sit through the series but I've added it for similar reasons to My New Home. I want to see the creator finish this work and tell their story to the fullest.
Spook Level: 8/10
I've been an (albiet less now) avid fan of FNaF since the first game came out. The series was unique in that it had that analog horror appeal to it, before the genre was even a full thing. The mystery of what happened to this old pizzaria, who killed these random kids? I was also around for all the fan games, both good and Dormitabus.
That being said The Walten Files is in a league of it's own. It doesn't rely on that many tropes of FNaF but it does its own thing and very well. The visuals are less convincing but even more haunting when contrasted with the company art (which I find adorable at times). Whilst the pacing starts a bit generic at first, and the editing is amazing but standard, it gets more eery and creepy over time.
Spook Level: 1/10
I'm quite particular when it comes to aesthetic and authenticity. That being said I've held off going into the lore of Welcome Home as I'm more obsessed with the art. It's both cosy and nostalgic without feeling intentionally creepy. However, there are also parts where the omninous tone of the series starts to kick in. Whist obvious foreshadows it's not too overbearing.
While I wouldn't fully call it analog horror, it's definetly a series worth admiring for its production value.
Bonus Review
Spook level: 6/10
Actual Quality: Jeff the Killer could dunk the killers in this series
Whilst I was working on this I decided to have a bit of fun and do an extra review of The Painter (not 'cause it's one of the few things I'm probably now known for).
This series reads Like a 13 yr edgelord from the 2000's who blares My Enemy (Hans Zimmer), kisses a shrined poster of Chris chan every Sunday instead of going out with his friends; was trapped in the body of a compitent 30 year old artist. Whilst I can't deny the art throughtout the series is amazing (if a bit...rough at times), the plot falls off harder than a paralysed person trying to attempt parkour.
A saltine cracker has more to offer than the ghost fart characters and 'The Mitten' plot progression it has. outside of the boarderline cartoonishly vile kills. I could probably deck both killers asses in fist fights outstide a busted up 7/11 dumpster and win (and probably Urbanslug's).
The only reason I wouldn't want to collab with him is I have a code about chokeholding any one who uses Autism as a slur and giving them the old Randle throw, from Monsters Inc, into a brick wall.
I'd whole hearidly rather read Creepypasta webtoons than binge this series.
Real homies don'T let each other watch The Painter y'all.