Well I gotta say, I'm kind of digging this fresh new Silent Hill experience, yet I'm alittle dissapointed at the same time.. I think I've put around 4 Hours(at the most) into it, and right now I'm stuck in the School trying to figure out this tricky little Puzzle in a creepy dark Art Room.
So my impressions so far? On the flip side, the graphics are pretty damn solid. The developers really payed attention to detail. The items and objects for the environments are top notch. And i love the flash light controls which was definitly needed and of course can only be done on the Wii. I really love how Harry can quickly turn his head and see what's behinde him by pressing 'down' on the d-pad. And the nice little touches like Analog control sensitivity when opening doors which i think is a great idea.And of course you gotta love the clever use of the Cell phone(Although it does seem too modern for SilentHill) and Wii Remote used as a Phone.
Now what I don't like are the Nightmares...The words 'annoying' and frusturating' pretty much sum them up. I've been through two of them now and they were basically the same. Meaning you gotta run from those 'unscary, uncreative, generic little screetching demon enemies while dashing through countless doors hoping you'll find the exit which usually happens out of luck or when you least expect it. You can hide under beds, in Closets, knock objects over to to buy you some time from those creatures, or even use a flare(they hate the light) to stop them in their tracks. It can be intense, but frusturating because you can't fight back, and you don't have time to check your map to find out where you're supposed to go because they're always on your ass. At times like this, you wish you could just pick up an Axe, hand gun, Baseball bat(whatever) and fight back. But apperantly Harry Mason is too freaked out of his mind and I can't blame him since those enemies come in swarms.
As for the enemies themselves...what a complete let down. I've only encountered one type....which I already mentioned, who are(again) the most unoriginal, uncreative, unscary, undisturbing enemies in Silent Hill History. And apperantly they dont change much throughout the game which is a huge dissapointment. i mean Silent Hill is known for their bug nuts crazy disturbing and imaginitive enemies and this game totaly lacks that AND actual variety. And i think it's great that the developers wanted to do something new and create these Icy Nightmares....but I still prefer the Dark red Rust of previous Silent Hill games. Shattered Memories doesn't feel as moody or disturbing as the others too for some reason...Actually there's nothing really creepy or disturbing about it. I did jump out of my seat a couple of times when a ghost would quickly run by out of nowhere...but those are jump scares ;p
As for the Puzzles, they're definitly intuitive and fun. But so far they've mostly been the same thing, or basically just pretty simple. Opening up cupboards, pulling nails out of a window ect is all made for the better with the WiiRemote. I love this kind of stuff....but these developers need to take note from Zack & Wiki...because THAT game is the master when it comes to this kind of stuff. Really though, i think i need to shut my Ninja turtle yapper and wait until I finish the game to start making too many negative comments, bit I can't help how I feel ;p As a Silent Hill game the experience is even made better with the flash light controls, Puzzles that are done with the Wii Remote and interacting with objects and the use of the phone ny the Wii Remote. But It fails regarding enemies, being scary and disturbing, the Nightmares are meh and the fact that you can't fight back hurts the experience.
Well I gotta say, I'm kind of digging this fresh new Silent Hill experience, yet I'm alittle dissapointed at the same time.. I think I've put around 4 Hours(at the most) into it, and right now I'm stuck in the School trying to figure out this tricky little Puzzle in a creepy dark Art Room.
So my impressions so far? On the flip side, the graphics are pretty damn solid. The developers really payed attention to detail. The items and objects for the environments are top notch. And i love the flash light controls which was definitly needed and of course can only be done on the Wii. I really love how Harry can quickly turn his head and see what's behinde him by pressing 'down' on the d-pad. And the nice little touches like Analog control sensitivity when opening doors which i think is a great idea.And of course you gotta love the clever use of the Cell phone(Although it does seem too modern for SilentHill) and Wii Remote used as a Phone.
Now what I don't like are the Nightmares...The words 'annoying' and frusturating' pretty much sum them up. I've been through two of them now and they were basically the same. Meaning you gotta run from those 'unscary, uncreative, generic little screetching demon enemies while dashing through countless doors hoping you'll find the exit which usually happens out of luck or when you least expect it. You can hide under beds, in Closets, knock objects over to to buy you some time from those creatures, or even use a flare(they hate the light) to stop them in their tracks. It can be intense, but frusturating because you can't fight back, and you don't have time to check your map to find out where you're supposed to go because they're always on your ass. At times like this, you wish you could just pick up an Axe, hand gun, Baseball bat(whatever) and fight back. But apperantly Harry Mason is too freaked out of his mind and I can't blame him since those enemies come in swarms.
As for the enemies themselves...what a complete let down. I've only encountered one type....which I already mentioned, who are(again) the most unoriginal, uncreative, unscary, undisturbing enemies in Silent Hill History. And apperantly they dont change much throughout the game which is a huge dissapointment. i mean Silent Hill is known for their bug nuts crazy disturbing and imaginitive enemies and this game totaly lacks that AND actual variety. And i think it's great that the developers wanted to do something new and create these Icy Nightmares....but I still prefer the Dark red Rust of previous Silent Hill games. Shattered Memories doesn't feel as moody or disturbing as the others too for some reason...Actually there's nothing really creepy or disturbing about it. I did jump out of my seat a couple of times when a ghost would quickly run by out of nowhere...but those are jump scares ;p
As for the Puzzles, they're definitly intuitive and fun. But so far they've mostly been the same thing, or basically just pretty simple. Opening up cupboards, pulling nails out of a window ect is all made for the better with the WiiRemote. I love this kind of stuff....but these developers need to take note from Zack & Wiki...because THAT game is the master when it comes to this kind of stuff. Really though, i think i need to shut my Ninja turtle yapper and wait until I finish the game to start making too many negative comments, bit I can't help how I feel ;p As a Silent Hill game the experience is even made better with the flash light controls, Puzzles that are done with the Wii Remote and interacting with objects and the use of the phone ny the Wii Remote. But It fails regarding enemies, being scary and disturbing, the Nightmares are meh and the fact that you can't fight back hurts the experience.
Well I would have to agree with you here. It is definitly a seat jumper but not really that scary. This is why I like the Japanese horror better, they tend to tap into another area that actually freaks you out. I wasn't too happy with shattered Memories but I will admit it is waaaay better than Homecoming.
Ya I heard HomeComing was pretty bad or mediocre at best... After Silent Hill 4: The Room, Konami Japan stopped doing Silent Hill and handed over the rights to these American developers....Terrible idea. Because they dont have the talent to make a disturbing, stylistic, haunting and creepy game...Like i said...The IR Flash Light Controls, Interactive Puzzles/objects are totaly what the franchise needed....But these american developers stripped away the atmosphere, sound, feel and monsters that made Silent Hill what it is.
Honestly, i wanna see something creepy like the Twin Victoms in Silent Hill, or those little morbid grey Children in the original, the list goes on and on. Bring back the Nurses too. not these little boring bare bones simplistic unscary lookalike demons
Even the monsters in Homecoming don't look right...they look cheesy and generic for the most part ;p Silent Hill needs Japan
I played this through yesterday and started a new game straight after.
The monsters change depending on your choices. I didn't find the nightmare sequences a problem and they were scary. What is chasing you, is to me, immaterial. That you are being chased and you have to find a way out is what is nightmarish. The sequences are not the same and later on you have more to worry about than just being chased as you will have tasks and answers to puzzles to find as you tear around the locations frantically trying to escape. You can fight back but you can never neutralise the threat, only postpone it. The original games were great but when you're tooled up to the eyelids the sense of threat evaporates.
Silent Hill isn't just about the scaaary monsters, it's about what those monsters represent and what they mean to the protagonist. That's what elevates the series above your run of the mill horror game. It's about atmosphere and story.
I think Climax have done a fantastic job with the game. The game has created a fully functioning town and it has plenty of atmosphere, The haunted objects and messages tell the tale of the town's inhabitants and those stories can be disturbing and vary according to your choices and behaviours.
I liked the Nightmare sequences. They had my heart racing and I never found them frustrating because it only took me a few attempts to get through them. I found the game to be totally engaging, but I just wish it lasted longer. I loved exploring the town yet not knowing when the next icy nightmare was coming still left that sense of fear and dread. Overall the game left me wanting to see more of Silent Hill.
I give it an A+ and a great rebound for the series after the average Silent Hill 4.
I do agree that not having the creepy nurses in the hospital level was a missed opportunity.
@Prosody I know that but, I was just stating that I think Japan should stick to making horror games. I don't even watch American horror movies, unless they have zombies . I perfer Japanese horror.
You know what's better than Japanese horror? French Horror it's highly disturbing. If you've seen Inside, Martyrs or even High Tension than you'd know what i'm talking about. Currently they are the leaders in Horror. Hollywood is basically a joke right now in comparrison...While Japan's typical scary ghost girl with long hair is getting insanely old. But if we're talking about creepy/scary ghosts than japan knows how to pull it off. If we're talking about a film being highly disturbing, reaking of atmosphere and with amazing use of sound, than French Horror is your best bet.
I was scarred after watching Martyrs...i couldn't get it out of my head for days. While Inside was emotionally draining, disturbing and intense. that movie has such fantastic use of sound. I think the french call is goblin.
As for some of the enemies in Silent Hill....The Nurses movements and just how they looked was fantastic in Silent Hill 2...yet they couldn't even pull if off in the Movie, they got it all wrong.lol
Twin Victoms are a very unique and creepy design...movement again, is spectacular. Then there's 'The Patient' from SH4 again...A replacement for the nurse and they definitly look creepy. but their typical and repetitive 'burp sounding' voice gets old and may even become comical to some ;p
hell, I just watched a clip of Silent Hill 2 with the Nurses and the atmosphere, music and especially their movements and look is far more creepy than what we get in Silent Hill: SM
Tripple post, I know. But another thing i find annoying and this isn't the games fault at all...Is that it's a bad idea using Headphones when playing this game. I've got a pair of expensive Seinheizer SS headphones which I love, but this game uses the Wii Remote as a Speaker for the Cell Phone. And with Head Phones on you can't obviously hear Wii Remote Speaker as well weather it's static getting louder or somebody calling ect ect.. And when you have to listen to voice mail or make a call I have to tip the side of my headphones off and then stick the Wii remote up to my ear. Then I have to tip the headphones back on, repeat and rinse. It all becomes totaly frusturating, clunky and annoying.lol....Note to self, ditch the headphones and use 5.1 DPL II instead.
I feel like restarting the whole game because of this ;p Silly move on my part which has slightly hindered the experience. besides, I'm in the Art Room at the school....But i don't exactly know how far I am in the game.
@Donatello You're right I think Japan should be the only people making horror games. They know how to get it right.
Dead Space, can you dig it? I love Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but Dead Space knocks them both silly in both atmosphere and scares. Doom 3 aint too bad either, nothing like the caliber of SH or DS but still it had some great atmosphere and tension.
In conclusion, there's room for both western and japanese horror games, and currently, for me, the west leads the pack with Dead Space.
There he goes, Firkraag. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. - My VGscore
@Donatello You can change options to make the phone sounds play through your TV speakers instead of the Wiimote. That's what I did and it helps since my brother is usually watching with me, since I would be the only one to hear them if I didn't, and the sound quality is better too.
Awesome, I should of known. I feel silly for not actually looking for it. I wonder if this option also applies to No More Heroes 2 when having to listen to calls. Anyways, ya I'm not huge on the quality of the Wii Speaker, but who is?....It sounds like something from an electronic hallmark card ;p I always have it turned off but I thaught it was manitory for Shattered Memories. But ya, If there's anything Gimmicky abiout the Wii it's the Wii Remote Speaker...Actually I take that back, it's just the crappy sound quality that's the problem. Anyways with this in mind, i'm restarting the whole game...Since i half assed my first experience with all of that annoying trouble i put my self through with taking my headphones off, barely hearing the static ect ect. Now I know I'll have a much better experience with the game
Edit: I just switched the setting in the Option menu and it makes all the difference. All of the voice mail, static, Cell phone key sounds, ringing ect are now all coming from my spectacular amazing headphones hehe.
@Donatello You're right I think Japan should be the only people making horror games. They know how to get it right.
Dead Space, can you dig it? I love Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but Dead Space knocks them both silly in both atmosphere and scares. Doom 3 aint too bad either, nothing like the caliber of SH or DS but still it had some great atmosphere and tension.
In conclusion, there's room for both western and japanese horror games, and currently, for me, the west leads the pack with Dead Space.
I've only played the Dead Space demo...And those monsters imo have nothing on some of the monsters from Silent Hill 2 and 4. They look fantastic though in Dead space...But they're not disturbing, freaky or as imaginitive like in Silent Hill...But they're perfect based on something out of a SCFI Horror film. I think my mine gripe with Dead space is the aiming....it's fine if you're used to the clunky typical dual analog set up. But i wish i could use the Wii remote to aim since it blows the crap out of dual analog.
But again i've only played the demo so i can't comment on all of the monsters ;p But as far as Resident Evil goes, none of their enemies are actually freaky....I've played through all of the main RE games and while they some iconic enemies like the Licker, Hunter, Tyran, ect....None of them look scary or really creepy. Their Zombies are alittle stock as well.
The demo of deadspace sucks, you'd have to play the whole game to forge an opinion on it really. Silent Hill 2/3 was pretty sick, but doesn't hold a candle to DS. Monster design isn't everything, atmosphere, visuals, sound and pacing makes just a big of impact in a horror game, and while silent hill succeeds in most of those areas it falls just shy of DS.
There he goes, Firkraag. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. - My VGscore
The demo of deadspace sucks, you'd have to play the whole game to forge an opinion on it really. Silent Hill 2/3 was pretty sick, but doesn't hold a candle to DS. Monster design isn't everything, atmosphere, visuals, sound and pacing makes just a big of impact in a horror game, and while silent hill succeeds in most of those areas it falls just shy of DS.
Monster design is only an example I was making, of course atmosphere, the use of sound, music ect ect are all important. 'Everything' is important. I still feel that Silent Hill 2 reaked of atmopshere with it's Music and use of sound. SH1 and SH2 are definitly a breed if of their own and stand out among the dozens of horror games. And I'm dieing to play SH3....I'll probably just nab a copy off eBay, too bad PS2 games aren't compatible with my PS3. DOH!
But again i cant really base an opinion on Dead Space since i've only played the Demo(which apperantly sucks ;p). I'm definitly going to pick up a copy for cheap on eBay. And I was just wondering, does Dead Space work on Full Screen withought the black bars?
On another note, I'm loving SH:SM now that I switched the Wii Remote sound to my headphones, it makes all the difference. This game definitly does a few things right like the flash light controls, Analog sensitive doors which is a great idea, solid atmosphere, good music(although it feels disconnected in moments, like it randomly stops then repeats itself..it doesn't exactly flow well at times and it feels like it's only a pinch of previous Silent Hill offerings) great use of the CellPhone, love the interactive puzzles, items and objects. And I'm actually liking the Nightmares now....pretty intense at times ;p And are in no way frusturating once you learn how to throw enemies off you in all directions and knock down objects ect. It's just a matter of trial and error based on finding the exit which is pretty damn fun
But I'm still very dissapointed with the uninspired, generic and uncreepy monster design...And the fact that there's really only one type(so far that i've encountered out of the 2 Nightmares I've been through) And I really wish there was combat...Like Silent Hill 1 and 2, it would of been nice to face off against enemies with a lead pipe, hand gun(ect) and making Harry feel underpowering and scared like he did in the Original. But my impressions aren't everything as I'm still only at the School. So far though, so good! It may not be scary, creepy or disturbing like SH1 and SH2 were but it's a different and more fresh experience on it's own and makes alot of enhancments regarding controls, puzzles and interaction. And did i mention that this is one of the greatest looking games on the Wii? In ways it looks even more impressive than RE4(or maybe I'm wrong) if we're talking about Objects and even the Environments(at times) the attention to detail, contrast and so on is fantastic along with the character models, especially when you're talking to some one...hell, you can even zoom in on their faces if you want. I really like the little nice touches in this game.
I played Dead Space on the PC, with a 360 controller so I wouldn't know about any black bars since you can chose your resolution to fit the screen on PC. I'm sure the PS3/360 versions support 16:9, don't know if you can play it on a non-widescreen and not get bars though.
There he goes, Firkraag. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. - My VGscore
heh, just got got Dead Space Brand New for $20 Online, not bad I guess. In the meatime i just finished(which was tricky and confusing as hell) my 3rd nightmare in Silent Hill which was pretty damn intense. I'm loving this game so far
On another note, Mega Man 10 is being released tomorrow! My eyes are about to bulge out of my head, totaly excited!
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Topic: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories impressions
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