HavokChylde
08-21-2007, 05:08 AM
This isn't so much a review, as a hype builder for those that are fans of the series.
The demo starts you off in a hospital, knowing nothing but the few tips the title screen provided. Travis, the main character is a trucker fellow that we obviously don't know anything twisted about just yet. (It's a demo, dur.) Let's break this down, review style.
Story : Being a demo and a Silent Hill game, not much of the story is known right away. A few encounters with characters throughout the demo show Travis is looking for a girl he rescued that suffered severe burns. Nothing spectacularly mind boggling just yet, but there are plenty of hints of insanity coming for the complete release.
Graphics : Graphics are pretty decent for a handheld. The opening screen shows the possibility of some beautiful cutscenes. Hallways are detailed, scattered with bloody gurneys, mutilated dolls, and hints of chaos. Enemies twitch back and forth in a frightening manor. Travis tracks blood as he walks through slain enemies. Glass surfaces/mirrors show perfect reflections. The screen blurs a bit and gives a grainy effect while you battle the quivering nurses.
There was noticeable draw-in on one of the enemies as it fell to the ground. Clipping issues occured after an attempt to run up to the enemy, and I was pushed "magically" to the end of the hallway. This may just be an issue in the demo phase, and hopefully will be fixed by the time the full version is released.
Controls : Controls are very similar to the classic Silent Hill scheme. Holding a shoulder button will put your character into a stance of readiness and pressing x will allow you to attack. There isn't a setting to toggle the run/walk in the demo, but knowing the series there will be a setting in the complete version. Walking/running still has that tanky feel of most survival horror games BUT (thank god) there is one thing that saves this. Remember the horrible camera angles of the old Resident Evil's? How we wish we had ANY control in those days. Fortunately you can center the camera behind Travis most of the time, to get a better view of the situation. This control IS limited to an extent. Running down some stairways, and walking around certain corners, you won't be able to change your camera view. I'm thinking these moments you can't change your view, are to secure the feeling of helplessness. Is it nice to have that little bit of control most horror games have kept from us though.
Music/sound : The music for this demo, kind of made it "just right" for me. The opening screen plays a soft eerie tune. While starting the game, a decent horror melody plays with a pop'ish beat. You encounter your first enemy to hear a frantic theme, with that classic Silent Hill overtone. Your weapons slash and 'thump' on your screeching enemies with realism. As you walk through the more ominous of hallways, the music is silent leaving you with nothing but thud of your footsteps. Random water (blood?) drips in the background.
Gameplay : Quite the same as many other Silent Hill games, with a few nice additions.
In the town of Silent Hill, there are "worlds", if you will. In one world, things are empty and desolate, almost abandoned except for the few monsters and people you might run across. In the second world, things are freakish and morbid. Blood covers the walls. Rusty metal is the path your feet must tread, and strange beings walk the pillars above your head. In past games you would go to sleep, or pass out to get to the world full of horrors. In this game you touch a mirror that reflects how things are in the other world. It changes the layouts of some rooms, adds items that weren't there before, or simply just makes things a bit more frightening for you. It's a nice change from the previous pace of things and just might add tons more depth to the complete version.
You battle your enemies as always with a melee weapon/gun. This time your melee weapons will wear thin, and eventually break after pummeling your freakish opponents. In the demo you're given things ranging from doctor's scalpels to televisions. The enemies ARE easier to beat with weapons, which are limited. Didn't think it would be a cakewalk, did you? Sometimes while battling a foe, you might catch your opponent off guard while they're attacking you. This brings you to a screen where you have to frantically tap the x button to gain control of the situation. So far, the only enemies encountered are those wonderful twitchy naughty nurses. Knowing the series, they won't disappoint with a variety of freakish ghouls for you to tackle.
To advance anywhere in the demo, you're given a range of puzzles with hints scattered all over the hospital. Solving the puzzles aren't easy, and aren't impossible but might just leave you with a general feeling of satisfaction once you've solved one of them.
Saving is the the same as previous installments of the series. Pressing the action button on a red bulletin board, or notepad, etc will take you to the save screen. You aren't left with a continue upon dying, but given it's short nature, let's hope you don't need one.
Overall, I'd buy the damn game. My review may be a bit biased, but you have to know what you're getting yourself into buying the game in general. Anyways, this is mainly from a fans perspective, but if you're looking to get into the survival horror genre, this may be the place to start. If you're a fan of the series, get the demo by all means. If you don't own a psp, maybe it's time you bought one.
The demo starts you off in a hospital, knowing nothing but the few tips the title screen provided. Travis, the main character is a trucker fellow that we obviously don't know anything twisted about just yet. (It's a demo, dur.) Let's break this down, review style.
Story : Being a demo and a Silent Hill game, not much of the story is known right away. A few encounters with characters throughout the demo show Travis is looking for a girl he rescued that suffered severe burns. Nothing spectacularly mind boggling just yet, but there are plenty of hints of insanity coming for the complete release.
Graphics : Graphics are pretty decent for a handheld. The opening screen shows the possibility of some beautiful cutscenes. Hallways are detailed, scattered with bloody gurneys, mutilated dolls, and hints of chaos. Enemies twitch back and forth in a frightening manor. Travis tracks blood as he walks through slain enemies. Glass surfaces/mirrors show perfect reflections. The screen blurs a bit and gives a grainy effect while you battle the quivering nurses.
There was noticeable draw-in on one of the enemies as it fell to the ground. Clipping issues occured after an attempt to run up to the enemy, and I was pushed "magically" to the end of the hallway. This may just be an issue in the demo phase, and hopefully will be fixed by the time the full version is released.
Controls : Controls are very similar to the classic Silent Hill scheme. Holding a shoulder button will put your character into a stance of readiness and pressing x will allow you to attack. There isn't a setting to toggle the run/walk in the demo, but knowing the series there will be a setting in the complete version. Walking/running still has that tanky feel of most survival horror games BUT (thank god) there is one thing that saves this. Remember the horrible camera angles of the old Resident Evil's? How we wish we had ANY control in those days. Fortunately you can center the camera behind Travis most of the time, to get a better view of the situation. This control IS limited to an extent. Running down some stairways, and walking around certain corners, you won't be able to change your camera view. I'm thinking these moments you can't change your view, are to secure the feeling of helplessness. Is it nice to have that little bit of control most horror games have kept from us though.
Music/sound : The music for this demo, kind of made it "just right" for me. The opening screen plays a soft eerie tune. While starting the game, a decent horror melody plays with a pop'ish beat. You encounter your first enemy to hear a frantic theme, with that classic Silent Hill overtone. Your weapons slash and 'thump' on your screeching enemies with realism. As you walk through the more ominous of hallways, the music is silent leaving you with nothing but thud of your footsteps. Random water (blood?) drips in the background.
Gameplay : Quite the same as many other Silent Hill games, with a few nice additions.
In the town of Silent Hill, there are "worlds", if you will. In one world, things are empty and desolate, almost abandoned except for the few monsters and people you might run across. In the second world, things are freakish and morbid. Blood covers the walls. Rusty metal is the path your feet must tread, and strange beings walk the pillars above your head. In past games you would go to sleep, or pass out to get to the world full of horrors. In this game you touch a mirror that reflects how things are in the other world. It changes the layouts of some rooms, adds items that weren't there before, or simply just makes things a bit more frightening for you. It's a nice change from the previous pace of things and just might add tons more depth to the complete version.
You battle your enemies as always with a melee weapon/gun. This time your melee weapons will wear thin, and eventually break after pummeling your freakish opponents. In the demo you're given things ranging from doctor's scalpels to televisions. The enemies ARE easier to beat with weapons, which are limited. Didn't think it would be a cakewalk, did you? Sometimes while battling a foe, you might catch your opponent off guard while they're attacking you. This brings you to a screen where you have to frantically tap the x button to gain control of the situation. So far, the only enemies encountered are those wonderful twitchy naughty nurses. Knowing the series, they won't disappoint with a variety of freakish ghouls for you to tackle.
To advance anywhere in the demo, you're given a range of puzzles with hints scattered all over the hospital. Solving the puzzles aren't easy, and aren't impossible but might just leave you with a general feeling of satisfaction once you've solved one of them.
Saving is the the same as previous installments of the series. Pressing the action button on a red bulletin board, or notepad, etc will take you to the save screen. You aren't left with a continue upon dying, but given it's short nature, let's hope you don't need one.
Overall, I'd buy the damn game. My review may be a bit biased, but you have to know what you're getting yourself into buying the game in general. Anyways, this is mainly from a fans perspective, but if you're looking to get into the survival horror genre, this may be the place to start. If you're a fan of the series, get the demo by all means. If you don't own a psp, maybe it's time you bought one.