I think that just having the big scary moments kind of happen instead of having the game make a big deal out of them help a lot, in terms of making you never really feel safe.

I kind of worded that badly,but what I mean is like, you know in Resident Evil 2 B scenario when you're walking down this creepy yellowish hallway with the stuffed mountain lion or whatever, and you come up to a corner and Mr. X is just rounding the corner as you get there? Stuff like that. He didn't smash through the walls or drop in through the ceiling like he normally does, he was just kind of there. Yeah, they blast his music at you, but not until he appears.

I think it's really hard for a game to be scary, but what it can do a lot more easily (and better) is be creepy.