If you're like me and have read the mixed reviews out there on Silent Hill’s latest series entry, “Downpour”, then you might be hesitant about picking it up. Most fans remember the good old days of SH 1-3, with some love for “The Room” but in general disappointment with origins and Homecoming. Shattered memories was an creative reach for something new, especially as played on the Wii but it just didn’t seem to take.
Silent Hill as we knew it is dead. Plain as that. Good news is that what we have in SH Downpour is a new take that’s pretty damn good but is still only just coming of age. You’ll be pleased to know that it doesn’t settle into it’s new groove without a nod to it’s past with in game music from previous SH soundtrack and even a sly reference to that “Special place”.It’s got the creepy down too, but only at parts. It does play up the psychological angle, especially as seen in SH2, but it doesn’t quite make as deep an impact. To be sure, it does revert to the action oriented feel and cheap pop out scares as seen in homecoming but there does seem to be an attempt at balance.
There’s a whole lot of “it’s good... but” in this game. With it’s horrible combat system... I mean HORRIBLE (I have dropped a weapon so many times trying to ready it to hit something), and somewhat uninspired beginning at the Devil’s pit, It would be easy to see the scales tipped in the favor of this being another disappointing Silent Hill game... BUT, keep playing. I promise it gets better.
Silent Hill as we knew it is dead. Plain as that. Good news is that what we have in SH Downpour is a new take that’s pretty damn good but is still only just coming of age. You’ll be pleased to know that it doesn’t settle into it’s new groove without a nod to it’s past with in game music from previous SH soundtrack and even a sly reference to that “Special place”.It’s got the creepy down too, but only at parts. It does play up the psychological angle, especially as seen in SH2, but it doesn’t quite make as deep an impact. To be sure, it does revert to the action oriented feel and cheap pop out scares as seen in homecoming but there does seem to be an attempt at balance.
There’s a whole lot of “it’s good... but” in this game. With it’s horrible combat system... I mean HORRIBLE (I have dropped a weapon so many times trying to ready it to hit something), and somewhat uninspired beginning at the Devil’s pit, It would be easy to see the scales tipped in the favor of this being another disappointing Silent Hill game... BUT, keep playing. I promise it gets better.
The puzzles are mostly great. The voice acting and dialogue is good. The story is O.K, The music is decent, but all of this is made so much better by the side quests. They are impressive to say the least. If you’re playing through this game and are thinking about abandoning it, make sure to try out some side quests first, they are the eerie charm of this game. Don’t worry, there’s more great to Downpour than just the side quests. As for the main story line, the radio station and monastery are excellent though the game does suffer from a lackluster prison as the last area (but by that time you’ll want to see this thing through to it’s twist and turn ending).
All in all. If you’re a SH fan and haven’t picked this up yet. do. It’s pretty damn good and gets me hoping that maybe the next installment will be this new generations Silent Hill 2.
- Josh
All in all. If you’re a SH fan and haven’t picked this up yet. do. It’s pretty damn good and gets me hoping that maybe the next installment will be this new generations Silent Hill 2.
- Josh
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