Forget the underground fires and metal grating. Silent Hill takes a serious chill pill.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Silent Hill series. In preparation for San Diego Comic-Con, I took my love for the series to a whole new level by cranking out a bunch of reviews and features (cough). So when I hit me that I was armed with only the Wiimote and nunchuck and about to dive headfirst in Harry Mason’s revamped past, it took more than a little effort to keep my cool … literally.
The Silent Hill: Shattered Memories demo begins with Harry’s first visit to a brand new psychologist, who promises him that this time the trip down memory lane will be much more fruitful than before. As I filled out a rather personal psychiatric questionnaire, I noted the use of the first-person perspective (a la The Room). Once the session commenced and I was thrown back to the fateful car crash that landed Harry and his daughter Cheryl in the eerie town of Silent Hill, the usual gameplay returned—except a hell of a lot was different.
I made my way down alleyways, climbed over fences, and passed through buildings—finding items along the way and at one point unlocking a door by meddling with a security camera in a backroom. Eventually I met a brunette, conservatively dressed Cybil Bennett at a diner. After a short, unhelpful chat, which was interrupted by a ring of my cell phone, Cybil asked me if I was feeling all right and suggested that I head back to my home on Levin Street. I exited the diner and found the bar across the street locked. Using the map on my phone to gather my bearings, what was supposed to be a calm walk home soon became much more chaotic. Street lights bent and twisted from an abrupt formation of ice, and cars became encased in huge, chilled blocks as their alarms went off, disorienting me. I came across an inexplicably rocking playground swing, and when the game urged me to take a picture of it with my camera phone, it revealed Cheryl—or someone who looks like Cheryl, anyway—sitting there. Creepy.
My money's on James Sunderland.
Not long after the ice took over Silent Hill, my survival skills were put to the test. Blue ice lining edges, fences, and doorways guided me throughout the altered town as screeching, skinless creatures hunted me. With only my flashlight in hand, combat was out of the question, so I was forced to throw off the monsters as they flung themselves onto me. As I became injured, Harry’s gait slowed, his breathing grew heavy, and the screen became distorted with static. Near the end of the sequence, I finally warded the monsters away by lighting a flare that I found in a drained swimming pool and then made my escape—barely.
What does “Shattered Memories” mean?
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories presents a complete reimagining of the first installment. The game essentially builds a psychiatric profile of you, taking careful note of the way you play and how you answer the questions at the beginning. The appearance and behavioral patterns of the monsters, as well as how the story and gameplay unfolds, change depending on your own actions—so every playthrough differs. My encounter with Cybil could have easily been with a blonde, provocatively dressed police officer instead of the plain brunette I met; the bar across the street could have been unlocked if I happened to reveal an affinity for alcohol earlier. The items you find or examine, how you react during the “nightmare sequences,” and dozens of other factors combine to determine the overall experience for each individual player.
They just really want to hug ... oh. Whoops.
As far as the game’s subtitle is concerned, my Konami informant, Jay Boor, reluctantly revealed that “ice shatters.” The game plays mental tricks on you, and how you recall the events of Harry’s time in Silent HIll inevitably ties into Shattered Memories‘ larger theme.
What led to the decision to remake the game?
UK developer Climax helmed this latest Silent Hill game, and it was determined that the series needed to go in a somewhat new direction in terms of survival horror. Instead of gameplay focused around scrambling for guns and ammo, Shattered Memories aims to take the power away from the player and force you to rely more on quick thinking in order to squeeze your way out of tight situations.
Why the Wii?
The developers craved a much more interactive experience this time around. The Wiimote controls your flashlight, which implements real-time lighting that can be seen reflecting off of the falling snow (right, it’s snow now, not ashes). Plus, with your phone at your side, the level of immersion becomes much greater. You’re consistently running and using the environment to your advantage, especially in the game’s nightmare sequences. The enemy AI will often flank you during those chase scenes, but Harry can hide in closets, push down bookshelves to try to cut them off, and use various other methods to keep the baddies—who are very sensitive to sound and despise light and heat—a safe distance away from Harry.
Maybe they're hairless cavemen. No, fire good!
Will Akira Yamaoka be returning, along with either vocalists Mary Elizabeth McGlynn or Joe Romersa?
Yamaoka will be returning, but the vocalists have yet to be announced. Akira’s “creative team,” however, will be joining him—including a female vocalist. Take that as you will. A version of Elvis’ “Always on My Mind” will be featured in the game.
Final Impressions:
Although the heavy psychological concept boasts a lot of potential and will ultimately support the experience, I’m a little worried about the game overall. There was no actual quick turn ability, which would have been helpful during the nightmare sequences; the camera sometimes went berserk, and maneuvering felt cumbersome. Not to mention opening your phone requires you to simultaneously act like a retard with the flashlight. The Shattered Memories demo ironically failed to give me spine-tingling chills, which is a bad sign, but it did make me continuously rethink my strategy—in a good, almost refreshing way. Climax Studios still has a few months before release, so here’s hoping they can tend to some of the frostbit loose ends before then.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories will release in October for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP.
Old Silent Hill locations. New style.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I like your taste in games. Silent Hill, has always been, and always will be, THE survival horror game of them all. Part 1/2 specifically. I loved the movie as well, even if they did switch it up a bit.
Have you heard anything about the sequel? Also, have you ever checked out Siren? I’ve played a bit of the PS3 version, and it’s pretty good.
Thanks a lot for this preview, as it has made me super excited for this game even if there are control issues, it’s part of the survival horror genre haha.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Agreed! Silent Hill tops them all.
I’ve heard they’re planning a movie sequel, which makes me happy, even if I wasn’t a big fan of the first film (it had its moments, but yeah).
I haven’t played Siren, but I’ve heard of it! I’ll have to rent it sometime.
Me, too! Hee hee!
August 4th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Silent Hill may have been a relevant and thoroughly haunting survival horror in its heyday,but now it’s just as pointless and ineffective as Resident Evil 5.
They just need to let the series die with what little dignity it still has, for Pyramid Head’s sake.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I’d agree with you on both counts if I didn’t love both of those franchises so goddamn much and refuse to let go.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
And that’s why they keep making them.
August 4th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Silent Hill fans are like junkies, see. We suck at quitting the habit, so eventually someone of higher authority needs to step in and cut off our supply.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Good review, I like how the game is more of a RPG, adapting to the player’s actions. I agree with DHC that RE5 was a joke, I was very disappointed. With Yamaoka at the helm, my bet is that this will be a pretty good. After all, ambient noises along with a spooky soundtrack makes up a significant chunk of any successful horror game. You mentioned that the controls could be improved, but isn’t the point of survival horror games supposed to frustrate the player? And can I get a hug?
August 5th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
You know, as stupid as RE5 was, I still love that game. It’s just fun. X) On co-op, at least.
I’m just worried that they’re losing sight of the true spirit of Silent Hill. This new approach might very well end up awesome, but it could also just not work at all. Plus, since when are monsters in SH afraid of the light? That’s one of the things that made SH so cool—the fact that you were safe nowhere, nothing could save you, and you felt suffocated because of it.
Hahaha! To a point, I guess. But if the controls are really bad, it can ruin your gaming experience—if it interferes with your ability to just get through and enjoy the game.
*HUG*