Highlights
- The Bounds VR draws inspiration from Silent Hill and Resident Evil, focusing on atmospheric horror over jump scares.
- The game aims to leave a lasting impression on players by creating deep fear and discomfort through memorable storytelling.
- With multiple endings and a creepy Louisiana mansion setting, The Bounds VR could be a must-play for horror fans.
Silent Hill and Resident Evil are two long-lasting horror franchises widely seen as pinnacles of the genre. Many fans are eagerly awaiting the Silent Hill 2 remake on the horizon, along with the rumored open-world Resident Evil 9 reportedly in the works. The Resident Evil franchise also continues to evolve, including entering the world of VR, with Resident Evil 4 VR being a big hit. Various fan-made projects also recreated the renowned, albeit canceled, P.T., indicating the appetite for games like Silent Hill in VR. With such enduring popularity, it’s no wonder both franchises remain inspirational within the horror genre. The Bounds VR is an upcoming indie horror title that proudly professes Silent Hill and Resident Evil as inspirations and is the first game in Build the Light Studio’s Project Louisiana.
The Bounds VR takes players to a creepy-looking Louisiana mansion where they must search for protagonist Booker’s missing daughter and unravel a mysterious curse. It looks set to be a disturbing and memorable horror experience that could be one to watch, especially for fans eagerly awaiting the next Resident Evil and Silent Hill installments. Game Rant recently interviewed Build the Light Studio’s Project Manager/Lead 3D Artist/Lead Level Designer Pierre Mauger and Lead Developer/Lead Designer Géraud Toussaint about how Silent Hill and Resident Evil specifically inspired The Bounds VR. Mauger and Toussaint also spoke more about the horror experience they hope to create and how they want to leave players with a lasting impression long after playing the game.
Silent Hill’s Next Games Need a Newfound Resident Evil Feature More Than Ever
While the series have always shared some similarities, it’s more important than ever for Silent Hill to take a page from Resident Evil’s playbook.
How Resident Evil and Silent Hill Inspired Project Louisiana: The Bounds VR
As a game inspired by Silent Hill and Resident Evil, Game Rant had to ask how these titles specifically inspired The Bounds VR. Mauger explained that The Bounds VR has Resident Evil‘s “classical game mechanics” and “pacing”, but specified its horror is “more Silent Hill than Resident Evil.” As Mauger explained:
There are not many jump scares, not those kinds of things. You can shoot, you can aim, you can combat with an axe. But it’s not the main part of the game. The game is atmospheric. There is a kind of sadness, a moody atmosphere, something like that.
Of course, a creepy and tense atmosphere is something that the Silent Hill games are known for, along with memorable and impactful storytelling. The sinister hallways and foggy grounds of The Bounds VR‘s mansion also look similarly unnerving, and of course, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard takes place in rural Louisiana. However, Mauger added that the studio is also humble in its approach, not wanting to revolutionize the genre but to provide a polished and memorable VR experience. As Mauger said:
But I really want the player to remember the lore, remember the story, remember what they felt when they discovered the whole case, what really happened in the mansion. That’s what we want to achieve with
The Bounds VR
.
How The Bounds VR Hopes To Leave a Lasting Impression With Its Horror
Speaking about how scary The Bounds VR is versus other horror games, Mauger and Toussaint agreed that they hope to reach players somewhat differently. While The Bounds VR has some jump scares, they are not the main focus of its horror. Instead, Mauger talked about how the intention is to leave players with a lasting impression, to remember how they felt, and to experience “deep fear” and “deep discomfort.” Toussaint added that this also reflects the protagonist’s experience:
And the idea is that the players will feel kind of the same way as Booker is, which is, he doesn’t want to be there. He wants to run, but he has to find his daughter.
The Bounds VR also includes multiple endings that change according to players’ in-game choices, something which could interest players who appreciate the story and lore of horror games. Altogether, The Bounds VR’s focus on classic horror elements, atmospheric setting, and impactful storytelling could appeal to Silent Hill and Resident Evil fans alike.
The Bounds VR is currently in development.
