Silent Hill Downpour?

[Mr Somewhere]

I haven't seen a single topic discussing the game, so...

I was actually rather surprised by the game. It far exceeded my expectations (though they were rather minimal). It was far from perfect, the lacklustre monster designs and technical issues put at damper on things (at first) but at its heart I really felt it was a great game. The narrative was quite strong and a particular twist put quite a clever spin on the entire proceedings of the game. Not to mention the fact that the way in which you played Murphy defined who he really was (given the endings) I don't recall the series having done that effectively since 2.
The town felt vibrant and alive too, there was a heavy emphasis on exploration and it was deftly handled, I really didn't want the game to end, the sidequests had a life to their own, they were short effective vignetts into the greater history of the town, not cut and paste jobs (looking at you Arkham City).
I never had a problem with the combat, it was somewhat cumbersome, minimally so, but that's how it should be, it was certainly the strongest we've seen out of the series thus far.

It had a few rough patches but I feel Downpour's been a real return to form. So, what did you guys think?

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

I definitely plan on getting it when it drops down to $20. Been watching the Two Best Friends videos of them playing it and it looks really good. I even like the enemy designs everybody keeps complaining about.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

I definitely plan on getting it when it drops down to $20. Been watching the Two Best Friends videos of them playing it and it looks really good. I even like the enemy designs everybody keeps complaining about.

They're not all bad, I'm quite fond of the Wheelchair thing and "The Doll". At least they're not terribly designed as in Homecoming. Certainly do check it out, I really do hope Vartra continue with the series.

 

[Forgetitnow344]

Critics have been shitting on it, but from everything I've heard from friends, it seems like a really fun game. I didn't have a Playstation 2, so my experience with Silent Hill was 4 and Homecoming, which were both shit. Then I played the first one and I was like, "This is awesome (even if difficult to play and looks terrible)!" Downpour looks like just the revival the series needed, even if it isn't the perfect game critics want it to be.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

Critics have been shitting on it, but from everything I've heard from friends, it seems like a really fun game. I didn't have a Playstation 2, so my experience with Silent Hill was 4 and Homecoming, which were both shit. Then I played the first one and I was like, "This is awesome (even if difficult to play and looks terrible)!" Downpour looks like just the revival the series needed, even if it isn't the perfect game critics want it to be.

I rather dig four, but I digress, it isn't a team silent game and I think people have a problem adapting to that idea. They involve some elements of the classic team silent design, but its its own thing. Honestly, I agree with very few of reviews I've read. Having read the IGN review and watched the Gametrailers review it almost seems like they were playing a completely different game. Sterling's review however, I wholly agree with it.

 

[Nieroshai]

I've been yet to play it, but I read a synopsis in the style that used to be on the backs of VHS covers, and the premise of a Silent Hill protagonist NOT having amnesia sounds refreshing, Samael Cycle (0, 1, 3, 4) notwithstanding. Well, 0 had it, but unless you got the bad ending which basically made him out to be a James-style character, he was just being manipulated by Alessa into saving her as opposed to being forced to atone by the Old Gods.
Heck, the protagonist being a prisoner already freshens the cycle since his sins are out in the open.

I love the whole series, even Homecoming, because of the lore and story at large. I split the series into two halves; the Samael Cycle in which the Cult is trying to use Alessa to birth Samael or else use the 21 Sacraments, and the Redemption Cycle where the town forces people to face their past and tries to manipulate them into pleasing the Old Gods. I don't know how much the Old Gods factor into Downpour, but I'm curious.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

I've been yet to play it, but I read a synopsis in the style that used to be on the backs of VHS covers, and the premise of a Silent Hill protagonist NOT having amnesia sounds refreshing, Samael Cycle (0, 1, 3, 4) notwithstanding. Well, 0 had it, but unless you got the bad ending which basically made him out to be a James-style character, he was just being manipulated by Alessa into saving her as opposed to being forced to atone by the Old Gods.
Heck, the protagonist being a prisoner already freshens the cycle since his sins are out in the open.

I love the whole series, even Homecoming, because of the lore and story at large. I split the series into two halves; the Samael Cycle in which the Cult is trying to use Alessa to birth Samael or else use the 21 Sacraments, and the Redemption Cycle where the town forces people to face their past and tries to manipulate them into pleasing the Old Gods. I don't know how much the Old Gods factor into Downpour, but I'm curious.

Having played it, I'm still considering how the order and all that factored into things, which is how I like it to be. But to be honest I'm only ever interested in that side of things when it's implied, enshadowed, as much as I think Silent Hill 3 is a great game, however I felt the order plot made things really mundane.

 

[Nieroshai]

I've been yet to play it, but I read a synopsis in the style that used to be on the backs of VHS covers, and the premise of a Silent Hill protagonist NOT having amnesia sounds refreshing, Samael Cycle (0, 1, 3, 4) notwithstanding. Well, 0 had it, but unless you got the bad ending which basically made him out to be a James-style character, he was just being manipulated by Alessa into saving her as opposed to being forced to atone by the Old Gods.
Heck, the protagonist being a prisoner already freshens the cycle since his sins are out in the open.

I love the whole series, even Homecoming, because of the lore and story at large. I split the series into two halves; the Samael Cycle in which the Cult is trying to use Alessa to birth Samael or else use the 21 Sacraments, and the Redemption Cycle where the town forces people to face their past and tries to manipulate them into pleasing the Old Gods. I don't know how much the Old Gods factor into Downpour, but I'm curious.

Having played it, I'm still considering how the order and all that factored into things, which is how I like it to be. But to be honest I'm only ever interested in that side of things when it's implied, enshadowed, as much as I think Silent Hill 3 is a great game, however I felt the order plot made things really mundane.

Without the Order plot, there would've been no point using Heather. It was uniquely designed to be a direct sequel to the first one. If you like the Redemption Cycle better, more power to you.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

I've been yet to play it, but I read a synopsis in the style that used to be on the backs of VHS covers, and the premise of a Silent Hill protagonist NOT having amnesia sounds refreshing, Samael Cycle (0, 1, 3, 4) notwithstanding. Well, 0 had it, but unless you got the bad ending which basically made him out to be a James-style character, he was just being manipulated by Alessa into saving her as opposed to being forced to atone by the Old Gods.
Heck, the protagonist being a prisoner already freshens the cycle since his sins are out in the open.

I love the whole series, even Homecoming, because of the lore and story at large. I split the series into two halves; the Samael Cycle in which the Cult is trying to use Alessa to birth Samael or else use the 21 Sacraments, and the Redemption Cycle where the town forces people to face their past and tries to manipulate them into pleasing the Old Gods. I don't know how much the Old Gods factor into Downpour, but I'm curious.

Having played it, I'm still considering how the order and all that factored into things, which is how I like it to be. But to be honest I'm only ever interested in that side of things when it's implied, enshadowed, as much as I think Silent Hill 3 is a great game, however I felt the order plot made things really mundane.

Without the Order plot, there would've been no point using Heather. It was uniquely designed to be a direct sequel to the first one. If you like the Redemption Cycle better, more power to you.

I like Silent Hill 3, but not on a personal basis, if that makes sense? It just doesn't really appeal to me. It's spooky as hell, however, certainly one of the scariest.

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

I love the whole series, even Homecoming...

Glad I'm not the only one who didn't completely hate Homecoming. In my opinion it's 75% of a good game, and that remaining 25% (Pyramid Head cameo, The Miner enemies ripped straight from the movie) feels like executive meddling.

And anybody who calls it "Actionized" has obviously never played the game. 90% of the game you'll be stuck with a melee weapon because ammo is hard to find and it takes 3-5 shots to kill even the weakest enemy.

 

[Nieroshai]

I love the whole series, even Homecoming...

Glad I'm not the only one who didn't completely hate Homecoming. In my opinion it's 75% of a good game, and that remaining 25% (Pyramid Head cameo, The Miner enemies ripped straight from the movie) feels like executive meddling.

And anybody who calls it "Actionized" has obviously never played the game. 90% of the game you'll be stuck with a melee weapon because ammo is hard to find and it takes 3-5 shots to kill even the weakest enemy.

Pyramid Head's presence actually makes sense, I think. He manifested as Alex's desire to punish his father, and took on characteristics Alex attributed to himself. The use of a combat knife matches Alex's belief that he was in the military, the Pyramid Head uses the much more Otherworld Hospital-esque garb of the movie version of the creature, and the bad ending has Alex forced into becoming one himself as punishment (reward? The Old Gods are twisted) for his vengeful nature. Pyramid Head (Bogeyman) also only punishes those Alex thinks deserve punishment, which in this case is not himself but others. Alex is, honestly, a hateful and vindictive character once you peel away his amnesiac naivete; this version of Pyramid Head manifests that perfectly, and is exactly what Alex wants to be.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

I love the whole series, even Homecoming...

Glad I'm not the only one who didn't completely hate Homecoming. In my opinion it's 75% of a good game, and that remaining 25% (Pyramid Head cameo, The Miner enemies ripped straight from the movie) feels like executive meddling.

And anybody who calls it "Actionized" has obviously never played the game. 90% of the game you'll be stuck with a melee weapon because ammo is hard to find and it takes 3-5 shots to kill even the weakest enemy.

The thing with Homecoming, well the biggest problem I had was that it felt like a farce, as if they were going through the motions. It felt tired. However with Downpour I really feel like Vartra have found a new mould for the series, something with a little bit of new and old, that they've made it their own.
Homecoming, I don't think it's a bad game, but I do think it's a terrible Silent Hill game, but each to their own. I genuinely think that it's a good thing you enjoyed it, if we all accepted our differing opinions it'd produce a much more colourful conversation.

 

[daveman247]

snip

It does look good. Despite the enemies looking a bit "meh" (can't believe they actully have a zombie enemy now). I'll check it out once im done with the HD collection.


And i agree with you, not a fan of the whole "cult" side of silent hill. Seems a bit of a cop out to me. I like it when it sticks to the unexplained haunted town side of things. Forcing people to face their demons and all that


I kind of wish they kept the combat out of it though. I think shattered memories had something with the whole "evasion" of enemies rather than fighting them, even if it wasnt perfect. That being the generic liitle girls chasing you and removing surprise by everything icing up when you are about to be chased.

Imagine having to run away from some of the older silent hill enemies, good lord.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

snip

It does look good. Despite the enemies looking a bit "meh" (can't believe they actully have a zombie enemy now). I'll check it out once im done with the HD collection.


And i agree with you, not a fan of the whole "cult" side of silent hill. Seems a bit of a cop out to me. I like it when it sticks to the unexplained haunted town side of things. Forcing people to face their demons and all that


I kind of wish they kept the combat out of it though. I think shattered memories had something with the whole "evasion" of enemies rather than fighting them, even if it wasnt perfect. That being the generic liitle girls chasing you and removing surprise by everything icing up when you are about to be chased.

Imagine having to run away from some of the older silent hill enemies, good lord.

I think the combat is rather effective however, it's quite brutal. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but about two hours in and I was used to it.