Silent Hill: Homecoming

[Banacek]

Just a heads up: I received this game from Gamefly the other day, and I'm sad to report that there is no invert option for the camera control. There is an invert option, but it's only for aiming with guns. That's right, if you turn on invert that means you'll have to switch back and forth between inverted and not inverted. It's very annoying. Sometimes developers make decisions that baffle me.

[Wolvie]

Got this as well today, TY for the heads up. I can't wait till the wife and kids go to bed so I can play it.

[shodan2020]

Got this as well today, TY for the heads up. I can't wait till the wife and kids go to bed so I can play it.

Let me know what you think. SH4 was a huge disappointment for me. Started off strong, but the second half of the game totally ruined any fun I was having in the first half.

[Banacek]

Hopefully the game is good enough that I can get past the controls. I can't play until later tonight, so I'll put some thoughts up then.

[Wolvie]

Let me know what you think. SH4 was a huge disappointment for me. Started off strong, but the second half of the game totally ruined any fun I was having in the first half.

Will do! It'll be in the A.M. hours probably, so I hope ya can wait.

Edit: also, I played SH4's demo back in the day... yeah that game sucked from the very beginning(IMO). SH:H seems to harken back to the SH1 thru 3 era, so it seems like I'll enjoy it.

[Spigot]

The thing is that SH4: The Room was never really intended to be a Silent Hill game. It had some great things going for it but at its core it was a different game with the Silent Hill name stapled onto it.

I read the Gamespy review for Homecoming and I have to say that I'm intrigued. They say that it starts off kind of sucky but once things get going, it's a worthy game to have in the Silent Hill franchise. I'll see how you guys like it and if it's skewing positively, I'll probably snag it when I get back from my trip. I have some credit at one of the local video stores and I might use it for this.

[Suave Peanut]

I had planned to rent this game for the weekend, but I couldn't find it! Someday...

I look forward to hearing everybody's impressions.

[Wolvie]

First Impressions: SH:H starts out just like SH3 did, with you in an inexplicable situation, trying to get out. This sets the foreboding mood, and had me uncomfortable and on edge, feeling dirty, and nervous. The graphics aren't going to win any awards, and in fact... remind me of Dreamcast fodder in spots.

The sound however is top notch. Anyone who dug past SH games for it's moody and depressing sounds will love this. All the ambient noise that made you jumpy in previous games is back in full disturbing force here.

Gameplay is pretty smooth, with the combat being pretty balanced for an SH game. Most fights consist of you smashing the light attack button, then bearing down with a crushing strong attack. Defensively your pretty formidable too. Dodges are a timing thing with a quick tap of the B button, affording you some breathing room in fights that just wasn't there in previous games.

From what I've seen so far, I like it. It seems rough around the edges, but seems loaded with promise. I'll have to play more and get back with ya later.

[Spigot]

I never worry about complaints about combat in a SH game because I always assume that the clunky combat is a design choice and if nothing else, it heightens the danger your character is in.

Nice to hear that the sound work is up to snuff. That's always a huge part of any SH experience.

I think I might just snag this when I get home in a week. Woo!

[Virtual Machine]

Best in the series since the second one. Very pleasantly surprised. All the talk of it being more "action-y" or whatever is just that, talk. It still feels very much like a Silent hill game.

[Tayaya]

I wrote a quick review of this on the forums at PiRi. I suggest anyone interested in the game give it a glance.... tried to answer the most basic questions about it there. Going to write a full review of it once I beat it this week. Only put about 2 hours in so far, but that's enough to get solid takes on the graphics, sound, gameplay, and performance.

[IIntrude]

Bought this yesterday. I have not played a SH game since SH 2, and so far this one is pretty darn good.

The camera is the worst part of the game, I alwasy play with inverted right sticks, and now I am constantly messing up, I will eventually get used to it, but it boggels the mind that a dev can incorporate inverted gun aim, but not inverted normal camera.

The sounds are fantastic in surround sound, I played a fer hours with my wife watching, she loves to watch horror games. All night were were hearing strange noises or menacing screams comming from all around us. The SS in the game really works well, we were jumping all night.

Graphics are pretty good, but nothing amazing. The rooms and area hoave tons of interactive objects in them, for example. We were exploring a room with lots of office equipment in it, rolling chairs, tables, standing lamps, etc. We were fighting one monster, when I accidentally backed into a tall lamp. We did not know it was a lamp right away, all we saw was a large object behind me moving at my back. It freaked both of us out, thinking it was the am of another monster reaching out.

The objects serve purpose too, not just filling the room with stuff. If the enemy is sounds sensitive, you best be sure not to bump into anything and send it skittering across the floor making a horrid racket, we did that a few times and the results were never pretty.

So far we have only encountered 4 different monster types, but each of them has been well animated and textured.

Overall, I am glad that i bought it, was needing something to hold me over till Dead Space.

[Banacek]

The camera is the worst part of the game, I alwasy play with inverted right sticks, and now I am constantly messing up, I will eventually get used to it, but it boggels the mind that a dev can incorporate inverted gun aim, but not inverted normal camera.

Couldn't agree more. I keep messing up during combat because of the camera controls. I got used to it with FFXII, so I know I can, but it just doesn't make any sense. It's even more baffling that you can invert the combat, but not the camera. Who would do that? You'd end up more confused than anything.

Sound for the game is through the roof. I can't say enough good things about it. I suggest that you play the game with a 5.1 surround system to get the full benefit.

I personally don't have a problem with the graphics. I'd agree with Tayaya and say that they're first run 360 level of graphics. Nothing amazing, but not bad either.

The combat seems a bit too action oriented, compared to the previous games. Still not sure how I feel about that. I haven't got to any bosses yet, so we'll see.

I would easily recommend this game if it wasn't for the camera control. But since they decided not to make it adjustable I have to rate this as a rental.

[Wolvie]

Anyone who's read the IGN review needs to disregard it, since the reviewer contradict himself. The reviewer praises the game for a great story, improved graphics, sound, and controls, yet gives the game a poor score despite that.
The reviewers reasons, are supposedly the game isn't scary. Bullshit, this is classic old school SH mind fuck to the core. With the couple of hours I spent with it last night, I was tense, nervous, and jumpy the whole time.
I tried to go to bed after my play session, and had to come back out to the living room and watch some TV so my body and mind could wind down from being tense and nervous for so long.

It's not as great as SH2, but it isn't crap like SH4 either. And it sure as hell isn't a 6. More like an 8 in my book.

[Spigot]

I thought that the Gamespy review was quite even in both praising the game for what it did right and calling it on the areas that it fumbles. I think they gave it a 4 out of 5, which isn't half bad!

[Wolvie]

Yeah the Gamspy and TeamXbox reviews were more fair. IGN on the other hand... well it felt like they played the first three hours, said "fuck it" and wrote the review.

It wouldn't be the first time they did that.

[Blue]

Really appreciate the impressions everyone. While I'm not going to be picking up Homecoming for another couple of months, I'm glad that it's good enough for me to file away when the dry season hits. Love having games to tide me over after the insanity that is the holidays. And hopefully by the time I do get around to it the price will have gone down a decent amount.

[pheriannath]

I'm a good ways through it, and my only complaint is that the new combat only really holds up when you're fighting a single enemy.. When you have 3 Needlers or 5 Nurses fighting you at once, you'll be lucky to make it out alive.

Also, there's a boss fight after the section called "Hell Descent" that is pissing me off royally.

[Wolvie]

Yeah the game needs a 180 quick turn. RE and SH both had this back on the PS2, and it allowed you to tuck your tail and run when you were in a tight spot.
Running is an integral strategy in SH games, and not having a quick option for escape really hampers this aspect of the game.

[pheriannath]

Yeah. Running away (unless you had distance to begin with) usually means you're gonna lose 25-30% of your health.

The game is at its best when you're simply exploring, and when it throws 1 or 2 enemies at you, but it seems insistent on dropping you into situations where you've got to fight 3 or more baddies at once.

[Wolvie]

True, but I fought a single VERY aggressive nurse demon... she sliced me to ribbons. Even if your one-on-one in this game they can own you. I'm not looking forward to when they start throwing enemies in bunches at me.

BTW: In my defense, I was using the Pipe, and it's seemingly too slow for the nurse demons. Next time I'm using the knife on it.

[Banacek]

True, but I fought a single VERY aggressive nurse demon... she sliced me to ribbons. Even if your one-on-one in this game they can own you. I'm not looking forward to when they start throwing enemies in bunches at me.

BTW: In my defense, I was using the Pipe, and it's seemingly too slow for the nurse demons. Next time I'm using the knife on it.

Are you using the dodge button? I was getting slaughtered until I started using it.

[pheriannath]

Dodge is unreliable against enemies like Needlers who can attack with more than one limb.

Also, the combat knife is still the best weapon for general use.. The pipe/crowbar are good for things like Ferals, but everything else is so damn fast you need a fast weapon.

[Wolvie]

Are you using the dodge button? I was getting slaughtered until I started using it.

Yeah, but true to form my timing is off... kinda why I sucked at No Mercy. Anyways, I use it but sometimes I misread the way an enemy sells it's attacks and I end up getting hit.
Now with the nurse, I was using a slow weapon, so it wasn't helping my crappy timing.

Dodge is unreliable against enemies like Needlers who can attack with more than one limb.

Also, the combat knife is still the best weapon for general use.. The pipe/crowbar are good for things like Ferals, but everything else is so damn fast you need a fast weapon.

I keep wondering why they didn't allow you to do a 180, since it would help to be able to get the hell out of those three-on-one situations. Also, I think I'll keep the knife equipped full time now. Unless I fight a slower enemy or a Feral.

[Banacek]

I've found that I've had the best success turning off the flashlight and radio before fighting groups of nurses. Run in, hit them with a charged attack, then back off or finish them. This of course will probably not work when there's 5 enemies. I'm not looking forward to that.

[Wolvie]

Man I forgot all about turning off the flashlight. I'll try that tonight against the nurse demon. I might just make short work of her.

[pheriannath]

Yeah, there's a section where solving a small puzzle makes three nurses bust in on you, with two following in the hallway. I was NOT pleased.

[pheriannath]

Also, no flashlight + no radio only works if you haven't been spotted. Found that out the hard way.

[IIntrude]

I thought in the manual it stated that no matter what, the enemies cannot hear your radio? So why turn it off?

[Spigot]

I thought in the manual it stated that no matter what, the enemies cannot hear your radio? So why turn it off?Have they ever been able to hear your radio in a Silent Hill game? I don't recall every having to worry about that.

[Banacek]

I thought in the manual it stated that no matter what, the enemies cannot hear your radio? So why turn it off?

The loading screens clearly state that the enemies can see and hear you, so I was playing it safe. I'm going to play with it later to see if they can hear it or not.

[Wolvie]

Yeah, better safe then sorry. I fully plan on using that strategy tonight.

[Banacek]

Oh, silly me, I didn't realize that the nurses could do 9 hit combos. How delightfully shitty.

[Wolvie]

Tell me about it. I just got to *spoiler* the part where the woman in the hotel room sends you to go get "three memories"and on the way back I run into several nurse demons! At first I stood my ground and fought... only to get killed by that magic 9 hit combo you mentioned Banacek.
Then I tried running, only to get pinned in a corner and stabbed to death. Yay.

I found a strategy that worked really well though. I ran like a wuss and headed through the hole in the stairwell wall, and the nurse demon couldn't make it through! But yet it's torso was within heavy stabbing range.
My vengeance was quick and merciless. I moved on to the next nurse demon, and lured it back to the hole. Rinse, repeat about three more times.

Cheap? Absolutely. Vindicating? You betcha!

[Banacek]

Tell me about it. I just got to *spoiler* the part where the woman in the hotel room sends you to go get "three memories"and on the way back I run into several nurse demons! At first I stood my ground and fought... only to get killed by that magic 9 hit combo you mentioned Banacek.
Then I tried running, only to get pinned in a corner and stabbed to death. Yay.

I found a strategy that worked really well though. I headed through the hole in the stairwell wall, and the nurse demon couldn't make it through! But yet it's torso was within heavy stabbing range.
My vengeance was quick and merciless. I moved on to the next nurse demon, and lured it back to the hole. Rinse, repeat about three more times.

Cheap? Absolutely. Vindicating? You betcha!

I'm at the same part. I'm going to follow your advice. I'm really not liking the space between save spots. I mean, I've done a ton of stuff in the past hour and a half, and if I get killed by a 9 hit combo before I get to save I'm going to be pissed.

[Banacek]

Another tip: if there's something to jump across, get on the other side and pick off the enemy.

[Wolvie]

Ya, I died several times on the way back from finding the items I was looking for. I just got sick of it, stumbled upon a quick work around, and abused the shit out of it. I figured fuck it, since I didn't like doing the same thing over and over again only to get machine gun stabbed to death by these overly aggressive bitches.

[Lekon]

I did finally beat the game with the "Smile" ending.

Apparntly you only get both the 'bonus' weapons for your next play through if you get the 'ufo' ending, so that's one to work towards on your first play through. Look up the path if you wish to find it out.

I'm using the ending names off the achievements so as not to spoil it. Theres always been a ufo ending though. The one bonus weapon that all endings give you is pretty damn fun though. Lots of ouchie in it. Slow, but frack it hurts. Makes mincemeat of nurses and splits the axefaces in twain like nothing else.

[Spigot]

Man, I really need to get this when I get home.

[Wolvie]

Man, I really need to get this when I get home.

If you're a Silent Hill fan I highly recommend this. If like SH2 and 3 you'll like this. The game has an emphasis a bit more on action, and the new combat system makes fighting some enemies a bit easier. But don't worry, this is still all disturbing mind fuck.

I should mention that the game starts out a lil slow. But once it gets going it really gets good.

[Banacek]

Man, I really need to get this when I get home.

As much as I complain I'm enjoying the game. Just don't feel bad about being cheap against the enemies :) Another tip: they don't like stairs.

[Spigot]

If you're a Silent Hill fan I highly recommend this. If like SH2 and 3 you'll like this. The game has an emphasis a bit more on action, and the new combat system makes fighting some enemies a bit easier. But don't worry, this is still all disturbing mind fuck.

I should mention that the game starts out a lil slow. But once it gets going it really gets good.That's what I've heard, and I'm fine with that.

I'm a big Silent Hill fan... even to the point of enjoying The Room and Origins. I was a little hesitant but I've got some store credit at the local video store and can justify adding this to my already full list of games for this fall.

[Wolvie]

As much as I complain I'm enjoying the game. Just don't feel bad about being cheap against the enemies :) Another tip: they don't like stairs.

Or gaps in the floor that you can jump across and they can't. :D

Also some holes that are big enough to walk through won't allow most enemies to follow. Equip the knife and heavy stab them into oblivion.

Edit: also Spigot, if you could stomach The Room and Origins, then you will absolutely love this since it's ten times better then either of those games. I'd even go as far and say that this is second only to SH2.

[Wedge]

I'm confused. People say this game is actually quite good, but it is made by the people who made Marc Ecko. What is going on?

[Gwinny]

Ooh, sounds like this is worth picking up, if it appeals to those who liked 2 and 3.

[Spigot]

I'm confused. People say this game is actually quite good, but it is made by the people who made Marc Ecko. What is going on?No Marc Ecko.

Remember, The Collective also made the Buffy games and they were pretty decent. Not perfect, bug definately skewing more towards the good side of the gaming spectrum.

[Wedge]

They made The Da Vinci Code!

[Spigot]

They made The Da Vinci Code!But Buffy 1 & 2 weren't bad!

[shodan2020]

Will do! It'll be in the A.M. hours probably, so I hope ya can wait.

Edit: also, I played SH4's demo back in the day... yeah that game sucked from the very beginning(IMO). SH:H seems to harken back to the SH1 thru 3 era, so it seems like I'll enjoy it.

I liked the combat.. I HATED HATED the Resident Evil style inventory/storage system. Going back to The Room 10 times in a level sucks... plus non dying ghosts/Walter with a limited amount of healing items + babysitting a quasi-retarded NPC = NO FUN.

[Wedge]

But Buffy 1 & 2 weren't bad!

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith! And they only made the first Buffy game. Wiki told me.

[Spigot]

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith! And they only made the first Buffy game. Wiki told me.Did they? Hmm... I thought they made both.

Hey, whatever. As long as the new Silent Hill is actually good, I don't care about their track record... and it seems like it is.

As for The Room, I actually didn't mind a lot of the issues with the game until the second time (late in the game) where you have to do a lot of escorting. That's what killed the game for me. I could tolerate the other things but crappy escort missions are the bane of any game for me.

[Banacek]

I'm confused. People say this game is actually quite good, but it is made by the people who made Marc Ecko. What is going on?

Hold on a sec. I never said it was good, I just said that I'm having fun playing it. I've been known to enjoy bad games from time to time :)

[Spigot]

Hold on a sec. I never said it was good, I just said that I'm having fun playing it. I've been known to enjoy bad games from time to time :)Wait... was he saying that Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Content Under Pressure was a bad game?

Because it was...

[Wolvie]

Hold on a sec. I never said it was good, I just said that I'm having fun playing it. I've been known to enjoy bad games from time to time :)

The thing is it's not a bad game either. I'd say this is a solid game with some small problems that can be overlooked.

I liked the combat.. I HATED HATED the Resident Evil style inventory/storage system. Going back to The Room 10 times in a level sucks... plus non dying ghosts/Walter with a limited amount of healing items + babysitting a quasi-retarded NPC = NO FUN.

Wow, that game just got shittier the further you went huh?

[Banacek]

The thing is it's not a bad game either. I'd say this is a solid game with some small problems that can be overlooked.

I think if I paid $60 for this I'd be fuming. This is a $30 game, tops. At least for me.

[Wolvie]

I think if I paid $60 for this I'd be fuming. This is a $30 game, tops. At least for me.

... hmmmm. Considering I traded in games for this, I guess that could explain why I am so tolerant of it's faults. Either that or I'm just a Silent Hill fanboy.

[Banacek]

... hmmmm. Considering I traded in games for this, I guess that could explain why I am so tolerant of it's faults. Either that or I'm just a Silent Hill fanboy.

Luckily, it's a rental for me, so I'm fine with the flaws as well. I just want to warn people to definitely play this before they buy it. I don't want people coming in here yelling at me :)

[Wolvie]

Yeah I agree, while I think it's good, and you think it's good, it's still a flawed game. Listen to Banacek folks, rent this puppy before you buy it. You'll be gald you did, because this is one polarized game.

[Spigot]

Well, I have about $20 or so in store credit at the local shop so I'll be dropping about $40 on it and I can handle that even if it's flawed. Thanks for the warning though.

And Silent Hill: The Room had some really neat ideas in it. It just had a crappy execution. Again, I blame it on the fact that it didn't start life as a true Silent Hill game.

[Tayaya]

Well, I have about $20 or so in store credit at the local shop so I'll be dropping about $40 on it and I can handle that even if it's flawed. Thanks for the warning though.

And Silent Hill: The Room had some really neat ideas in it. It just had a crappy execution. Again, I blame it on the fact that it didn't start life as a true Silent Hill game.

The Room was AWESOME.... until they said "rather than give you 8 areas to go through, we're going to make you go through the first 4 all over again. Oh, and there's a fucking nutcase with a gun chasing you, and you can't kill him. He can kill you though, or the girl you've got to keep safe now. She kinda likes him too so don't be surprised when she wanders aimlessly into his path of wanton death and destruction. Have fun!"

At that point, I said "no game, you and I are through."

SH3 is still my favorite in the series. Most give that honor to 2, but I liked the third one because it was more of a direct continuance to the events of the first game, while 2 felt like a side-story and very "disconnected" from the other 2 games. My only real complaint about 3 was that it was short....really short. I will give 4 credit through, for bringing the events of 2 into the SH universe nicely.

[Spigot]

Oh, Tayaya, you and I are of a similar mindset it seems. I also liked SH3 more than 2, though 2 was quite excellent. I'm probably a fan of 3 for the same reasons you are, because it's a direct continuation of the events from the first SH game.

And yeah. The Room had some fantastic concepts going on and I was digging it until that very same spot you described. Stupid escort missions.

[Wolvie]

My main problems with Silent Hill 3 were:

I was playing as a teenage girl. That nearly killed the game for me all by itself. Then I saw her hefting a huge sledge hammer, and a mace, all the while beating down demons three times her size. I mean, she's supposed to be weaker and more vulnerable, making the game more scary. Yet she wasn't, and it wasn't scarier... it just ended up annoying me.

The Exploration got axed! Instead of just letting you go into a big town and figure out what to do next on your own, SH3's terrain is designed to funnel you to the next goal. My fav part of SH1 and 2 were the parts where you wandered around the town, searching for supplies, and clues as to where to go next.
I mean, the idea of wandering alone in the first two games were supposed to heighten the sense of being alone, and helpless. So when they took that out and started holding my hand, I lost a lot of interest in the game.

The above conspired to kill my interest for a repeat play through. Whereas I beat SH1 and 2 numerous times. I beat SH3 once, then it sat on the shelf collecting until I traded it in. To me SH2 is still the king of the series, since it had a better more original story, longer legs due to being able to explore the town, and a main character that I actually liked.

[Banacek]

The above conspired to kill my interest for a repeat play through. Whereas I beat SH1 and 2 numerous times. I beat SH3 once, then it sat on the shelf collecting until I traded it in. To me SH2 is still the king of the series, since it had a better more original story, longer legs due to being able to explore the town, and a main character that I actually liked.

SH2 is in my top 10 games easily. The psychological layers that game has makes it great. To me, SH1 and SH3 were ok, but the raising the demon aspect of the story wasn't that great. But that's just me. Though, in SH3, there is one line where guy with the glasses is talking to Heather about the enemies and he says "Oh, that's what they look like to you?" I thought for sure they were going somewhere deeper with that, but they never did.

It's weird that they have still the nurse demons. They served a clear purpose in SH2. It doesn't seem like that's the case in Homecoming.

[Wolvie]

Though, in SH3, there is one line where guy with the glasses is talking to Heather about the enemies and he says "Oh, that's what they look like to you?" I thought for sure they were going somewhere deeper with that, but they never did.

Man, that would be awesome to have a future SH game play upon this, with multiple playable characters like in Eternal Darkness.

It's weird that they have still the nurse demons. They served a clear purpose in SH2. It doesn't seem like that's the case in Homecoming.

Yeah they made sense in SH1 since Alessa Gillespie was in the hospital suffering after the cult failed to kill her. And James Sunderland's Wife was in the hospital suffering as well before she succumbed to her disease.
But in SH3 they just didn't make sense, and the ones in the Room... yeah they were weird as well as being out of place. But the biggest offenders have to be Origins and Homecoming since they both seem to have the Nurse Demons simply because they are popular and an Icon of the series... like Pyramid head.

[Khrymsyn]

But in SH3 they just didn't make sense, and the ones in the Room... yeah they were weird as well as being out of place. But the biggest offenders have to be Origins and Homecoming since they both seem to have the Nurse Demons simply because they are popular and an Icon of the series... like Pyramid head.

Well, I haven't gotten very far, but I kind of "got" the Nurses in the nightmare, as the main character was injured in some sort of battle and stayed in the hospital, which is why he travelled home and not still in the military, right? Makes sense you'd have a nightmare about something you recently experienced (injury/hospital visit), but incredibly twisted.

But again, it might just be because I haven't gotten very far.

[Spigot]

Though, in SH3, there is one line where guy with the glasses is talking to Heather about the enemies and he says "Oh, that's what they look like to you?" I thought for sure they were going somewhere deeper with that, but they never did.OH man. You need to play Siren: Blood Curse if you want to take a trip down that path. I haven't finished it yet but it tackles that theme quite handily.

[Banacek]

OH man. You need to play Siren: Blood Curse if you want to take a trip down that path. I haven't finished it yet but it tackles that theme quite handily.

I want to badly. I just need a PS3 :(

[Spigot]

I want to badly. I just need a PS3 :(I hear they're having a reverse sale on them. Pay more now and you'll get a model with less features and a $25 game!

Now, there is the original PS2 version of Siren (of which Blood Curse is a very improved remake) but it's nigh-on incomprehensible. Blood Curse is still a head-trip, but it makes a hell of a lot more sense than the original version did.

[Purple Santa]

I never worry about complaints about combat in a SH game because I always assume that the clunky combat is a design choice and if nothing else, it heightens the danger your character is in.


Can't agree more. Every SH game I basically see the same complaints. The clunkyness was the same in earlier versions of RE. There I didn't care for it...SH I felt I always had a chance to beat the game. Running was a key to the game...like run like hell with most monsters...SH game with good combat? Not sure that is an SH game anymore....


Anyone who's read the IGN review needs to disregard it, since the reviewer contradict himself. The reviewer praises the game for a great story, improved graphics, sound, and controls, yet gives the game a poor score despite that.
The reviewers reasons, are supposedly the game isn't scary. Bullshit, this is classic old school SH mind fuck to the core. With the couple of hours I spent with it last night, I was tense, nervous, and jumpy the whole time.
I tried to go to bed after my play session, and had to come back out to the living room and watch some TV so my body and mind could wind down from being tense and nervous for so long.

That's why anyone with a brain doesn't pay attention to most reviews that are done by game reviewers. I read them to focus on what they may reveal about gameply and stuff...often what they see as a problem I don't...but a site like IGN...<shrug>...no surprise at their ineptitude to review a game objectively...


The Room was AWESOME.... until they said "rather than give you 8 areas to go through, we're going to make you go through the first 4 all over again. Oh, and there's a fucking nutcase with a gun chasing you, and you can't kill him. He can kill you though, or the girl you've got to keep safe now. She kinda likes him too so don't be surprised when she wanders aimlessly into his path of wanton death and destruction. Have fun!"

At that point, I said "no game, you and I are through."

SH3 is still my favorite in the series. Most give that honor to 2, but I liked the third one because it was more of a direct continuance to the events of the first game, while 2 felt like a side-story and very "disconnected" from the other 2 games. My only real complaint about 3 was that it was short....really short. I will give 4 credit through, for bringing the events of 2 into the SH universe nicely.

I gave up at the same point in SH: The Room. I was so sad cause it was the only SH I never finished. I can't say I finish many games...but always proud about finishing SH games. I just couldn't put myself through that game though...just wasn't very "SHish" to me. I loved 2 but 3 was nice cause it was a "sorta" sequel to the first. Not that I understood the plot beyond the surface. I always found my way to a plot analysis since it meandered along the way so much through all the games...although they aren't suppose to be connected they are...or some have speculated on how they do...

I want to badly. I just need a PS3 :(

Start a "I need donations for a PS3". If we can do one for "Jay" why not another CoG member :p.

I just finished off SH: Origins...not sure why some of the dislike for it...I actually liked it alot...now i'm hoping to start this one but I might have to wait for the semester to end since i'm buried in papers already...

[Spigot]

I need to work on Origins some more too. All this talk about Silent Hill might get me to fire it up either tonight or tomorrow when I'm flying home. I never did finish SH3, though I did get to the final boss. I made the mistake of saving just before that final fight with no health, no healing items and almost no ammo. I'll have to play through it again some time so I can check it off the list.

I hear you about The Room though. It is the only one (aside from Origins) that I never even got near to the final boss of, let alone finished.

[King3567]

I am surprised so many of you are praising it. I've read on other sites that was extremely underwhelming for hardcore Silent Hill fans. Now, I want to check this game out!

[Spigot]

King: I haven't played it, but the consensus here and from a few of the reviews that I've read is that it verges on pure suck for the first couple of hours but once it hits its stride, it's a worthy successor to the franchise.

In other words, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

[King3567]

I am very much so interested in this too. Will probably rent it, I just wish my BlockBuster didn't suck :(

[Wolvie]

King: I haven't played it, but the consensus here and from a few of the reviews that I've read is that it verges on pure suck for the first couple of hours but once it hits its stride, it's a worthy successor to the franchise.

In other words, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Yep, the first two or three hours are underwhelming, but once the ball gets rolling it doesn't let up. Just be patient and you'll be rewarded with a pretty good game.

[Kelegacy]

Friggin' Gamefly. I'm putting this and Dead Space on my next queue and ONLY these two games. Will make for a good pre-Halloween event. I have to finish up Army of Two by this weekend so I can get it into the mail ASAP.

[Tayaya]

I don't care how out of place the Nurses may seem in the locations of Silent Hill: Homecoming.... just watching the way they behave and animate makes them A-OK in my book. Their very mechanical, distorted was of moving is somehow just fascinating and awesome to me, and because of the reputation they have their presence is always more threatening than some of the other enemies, even enemies that I have a harder time fighting, like Smog, who always seems to be able to damage me or make me waste ammo.

But yes, even if the story turns out to blow, which so far it hasn't, the game's excellent, true-to-form and then some creatures, and mind-blowing use of audio make it a winner no matter what.

[Wolvie]

Friggin' Gamefly. I'm putting this and Dead Space on my next queue and ONLY these two games. Will make for a good pre-Halloween event. I have to finish up Army of Two by this weekend so I can get it into the mail ASAP.

... That gives an idea. Maybe I should save the rest of Silent Hill: Homecoming for Halloween.

I don't care how out of place the Nurses may seem in the locations of Silent Hill: Homecoming.... just watching the way they behave and animate makes them A-OK in my book. Their very mechanical, distorted was of moving is somehow just fascinating and awesome to me, and because of the reputation they have their presence is always more threatening than some of the other enemies, even enemies that I have a harder time fighting, like Smog, who always seems to be able to damage me or make me waste ammo.

But yes, even if the story turns out to blow, which so far it hasn't, the game's excellent, true-to-form and then some creatures, and mind-blowing use of audio make it a winner no matter what.

Oh I agree, the Nurse demons are a staple of the series. Without them it wouldn't be the same. It'd be like Resident Evil without Zombies... wait a minute...

[Banacek]

Question: I just found the ceremonial knife. Where am I supposed to go? The cutscene makes obvious that you need you go back to your house, but I can't get in. I already had the game flake out of me and not display events (one was a QTE during a boss fight) and I'm wondering if I missed something.

[Dukefrukem]

You guys think when they release this on Steam they'll release a package with the other Silent Hill games? (except 1 of course)

[shodan2020]

That's what I've heard, and I'm fine with that.

I'm a big Silent Hill fan... even to the point of enjoying The Room and Origins. I was a little hesitant but I've got some store credit at the local video store and can justify adding this to my already full list of games for this fall.

Awesome, maybe I will check this out sooner rather than later. SH4 left me so cold, so it will be good to play a decent SH game again.

[shodan2020]

The thing is it's not a bad game either. I'd say this is a solid game with some small problems that can be overlooked.



Wow, that game just got shittier the further you went huh?

Yeah, it was pretty much the only game I've ever placed a pre-order on and then sold it back in disgust for credit 5 days later. The real sad thing is, that I really liked Eileen, during the first half of the game I'd always go to the Room to check on her and I'd get worried if I couldn't see her. I totally hated how they turned her into an idiot NPC that needs babysitting.

[shodan2020]

The Room was AWESOME.... until they said "rather than give you 8 areas to go through, we're going to make you go through the first 4 all over again. Oh, and there's a fucking nutcase with a gun chasing you, and you can't kill him. He can kill you though, or the girl you've got to keep safe now. She kinda likes him too so don't be surprised when she wanders aimlessly into his path of wanton death and destruction. Have fun!"

At that point, I said "no game, you and I are through."

SH3 is still my favorite in the series. Most give that honor to 2, but I liked the third one because it was more of a direct continuance to the events of the first game, while 2 felt like a side-story and very "disconnected" from the other 2 games. My only real complaint about 3 was that it was short....really short. I will give 4 credit through, for bringing the events of 2 into the SH universe nicely.

Dude, we are of one mind on this issue. I think and have said exactly the same thing to people who ask me why I really don't like SH4. <3 SH3.

[Banacek]

I seem to be nearing the end. Once I'm done I'm going to put a review up on PiRi.

[Spigot]

Awesome, maybe I will check this out sooner rather than later. SH4 left me so cold, so it will be good to play a decent SH game again.
I just got home from my many different travels over the past week or so and I fired up SH: HC for a minute or two. I'll sink a few hours into it tonight and I'll let you know how I like it. Given the relatively positive response from others here, I think it should be good. The little teaser trailer that ran during the title scene was pretty intriguing.

[Spigot]

Ok. I sunk a couple of hours into it last night and I'm liking what I've seen so far. It hits a lot of the 'notes' of the series... You have creepy wheelchairs, undead nurses, etc. Even Shepherd's Glen is reminiscent of Silent Hill.

If this is the crappy part of the game, I can't wait until it hits its stride. The sound, especially, is fantastic. I don't have the greatest surround system but this is one of the few games that I have that really shows off the fact that I have some rear speakers :)

[evilgoodwin]

I am so tired of being broke. When I don't have money in my foreseeable future, I tend to ignore release dates. Hell, I didn't even realize this came out!

Must... Play... Somehow...

[Mr. Murphy]

I've beaten it twice now. I like it a lot and consider it a welcome addition to the franchise, I like that they both improved your maneuverability in combat, and also made combat a lot harder. I died a lot and was constantly out of health drinks on my first run through, and on the second, I had finally found each enemies' weakness - they kindof each have one easy way to kill them, and everything else results in you taking a good chunk of damage.

Also, the gore factor has been upped considerably, which my girlfriend didn't really appreciate. Near the end are some pretty intense scenes, and if you haven't yet, you should let yourself be killed by a quick time event a few times, they cause some pretty gruesome deaths. In the first five minutes you can get your arm ripped off at the shoulder if you don't press the button fast enough after reaching into that hole. I like gore, but I definitely wouldn't want to see the series degenerate into a gore-scare instead of a mood-scare. So far it seems like they balanced it perfectly.

All in all, I'd give it an 8, or a 9 for me just because I love the series so much. I'm building a Pyramid Head helmet for Halloween today, in fact.

[MalReynolds]

This is one of the games id like but as most games ... I cant afford all of them so some have to be missed for the greater good ...ill pick it up later of course

[Khrymsyn]

Played a bunch this weekend, and I definitely like it. The "improved" combat is almost like a timing puzzle game. Press this when this happens. Move here when that happens type thing. Some of the really tough enemies I've gotten to where I take minimal damage, but there's some other enemies (I'm looking at you Nurse and Smog) that I just can't figure out.

BTW, that thing in the garden hanging from the ceiling sucks when you have half life and only 1 health bottle. I can get about as far as taking out 3 of the pods but keep bloody dyin =(

[Banacek]

BTW, that thing in the garden hanging from the ceiling sucks when you have half life and only 1 health bottle. I can get about as far as taking out 3 of the pods but keep bloody dyin =(

Hid behind the cabinets. Then when he punches it, he will be stunned for a bit. You can usually get two hits off before you have to run back and hide.

[cawblen]

i'm gonna try and acquire the extra funds to get this...love the franchise and would hate to miss out on this one.

[carnage11]

I just don't have the funds for this or Dead Space, both of which I want badly. Damn you failing economy!

[Dukefrukem]

Installed this last night. What's the consensus on it?

[darkbase]

As a Silent Hill fan, I kinda hate this, but it is getting a lot better the further I get. I just got into Silent Hill (in Homecoming, after leaving the "Nowhere" version of your house, which was the best part of the game so far!). I hate. hate. HATE the needler guys (THREE AT ONCE? FUCK YOU!) and Siams, but Nurses are fun because if you just turn out your flashlight and lightly walk around them, you can power-smash them and they'll never find you. Smogs are really annoying and the radio seems to be useless as it seems to let me know too late that someone is nearby and it gets way too loud. All of that aside, the new gun-play is really nice, but I'm playing this just days after finishing the original Playstation title and I like the camera and fighting in the original more!

I've played 1, 2, 4, and now 5. So far, I think 4 was the greatest. God, I was too scared to even walk down the hallway in "the room" sometimes, when I'd hear something and know it was a haunting

[Spigot]

I've played 1, 2, 4, and now 5. So far, I think 4 was the greatest. God, I was too scared to even walk down the hallway in "the room" sometimes, when I'd hear something and know it was a hauntingI think you're the first person to say that 4 is their favourite. I actually liked The Room for a lot of the things it did, but it's the first (aside from Homecoming) that I didn't at least make it to the end boss. The escort parts near the latter chunk of The Room just pissed me off to no end, which is a shame. I'll have to try to beat it sometime...

That said, I loved the parts in your apartment. That was fantastic stuff.

[darkbase]

I think it was because it was my first Silent Hill game and I was just so damn impressed with it, and the obligated improvements like graphics and controls, even a great stand-alone story.

[Spigot]

I think it was because it was my first Silent Hill game and I was just so damn impressed with it, and the obligated improvements like graphics and controls, even a great stand-alone story.Ah, well, that explains it then :)