10 Video Games That Left Genuine Psychological Wounds

10. Silent Hills P.T. - The Deformed Foetus Incident

A deformed, lifeless foetus lying bloody in a sink is pretty deep for a playable trailer. Even by Konami and Silent Hill's standards. Although certainly enough to gain the desired shock value intended, the effects of this scene have been more far-reaching than intended. As part of the Silent Hills development, a short playable teaser was made available on the Playstation Network to give highly anticipating fans a taste of what was to follow. After continuously loping around an endless corridor, players will come to a bathroom bathed in darkness, where upon peering into the sink they will find a lifeless foetus with splattered blood pasted against the porcelain. Psychological Effects Although P.T. garnered critical praise for gameplay mechanics and aesthetics, this particular scene was deemed highly disturbing. As expected, mothers and parents with experiences of miscarriages were horrified at the graphic imagery. This scene, however, had a weirder effect on those already pregnant, with reports of women having to visit doctors and psychiatrists, worried about the nature of that which is growing inside their womb, plagued by nightmares that some Lovecraftian fiend was growing in their womb. This scene perhaps came as a surprise to even the most tolerant and well-informed gamers, expectant of a sinister performance from Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro. Those curious for more, however, will be disappointed, as Silent Hills will ultimately not make it to shelves following Kojima's decision to part ways with Konami.
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Writer, day-dreamer, dragon rider.