Video game horror is, IMO:
Atmosphere, and being helpless. If there's something that makes me **** my pants, it's not being able to kill an enemy. You know... like in real life. Ambient music, dark rooms/hallways that aren't pitch black, stuff that creates a tense and looming atmosphere, that is true horror IMO.
this. i think one of the scariest parts of RE4 (i friggen love that game) is the long dark walway with the lights barely illuminating anything. you see the door at teh end of the hall but you also can hear the heavy breathing or a regenerator
somewhere in the darkness. you start heading down the hallway checking every cell you come to until you finally reach the end of the hall only to find that the stairs are destroyed. its then that you realize the thing is right behind you.
scared the living **** out of me the first time. GOD, SUCH AN AWESOME GAME!!!!