Well, I don't know much about the Silent Hill series, except for the fact that it is supposed to be extremely creepy (in a good scary way)and well written. I always enjoy this fast-paced, picture book humor.
Zero Punctuation: Silent Hill Origins
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
- Start date
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Yeah, but it was still pretty good, if you could use the good weapons in that game over the course of the game, it would be ridiculously imbalanced. The items that repaired the weapons had a limited use, making you choose which weapons you prized more. Overall I think it worked well, plus you had the choice to buy cheap iron weapons or more expensive steel/silver weapons. It's not obnoxious, and it doesn't break the game, so I call it a good use.RPJesus said:
Sorry, I haven't played this game, in fact, I'm trading in my PSP for a video game system (which I foolishly assumed the PSP was before I bought it) later this week, so I probably never will. THIS review, I didn't care about so much... It just didn't strike me as funny where it intended to be, especially about the final remark regarding RH5. However, the points you stated, if they weren't exagerations (I've become a bit skeptical of internet reviewers in this respect, since most [Even the more popular ones] have been proven to exagerate some problems with false statements), were all valid. Weapon degradation is good in some games, but only if done right, such as the already stated Fire Emblem, which balances it out very well most of the time (Making it so stronger weaponry can be used enough to be worth carrying, but only to be used in special occasions, while weaker ones are sturdy enough to handle regular use). And in games where the main character is facing ab-/paranormal activities, a reasonable motivation shouldn't be too much to ask for. (I am aware of the countless gramer an spelin erors, leave me be!)
(Unrelated to this review, I bought Psychonauts thanks to Yahtzee's recommendation, I'll be playing it within the next couple of days. n_n)
(Unrelated to this review, I bought Psychonauts thanks to Yahtzee's recommendation, I'll be playing it within the next couple of days. n_n)
Bravo again, Yahtzee! I was kind of expecting you to review the latest SH game what with your comment on Silent Hill 2 in your Fable review, though I will admit my love for the series died at 4 which leads me into question: how stoic is Travis compared to Henry? To me at least the pinnacle of detestably emotionless heroes in a brilliant game series like Silent Hill lies on Henry's shoulders, only thing is I feel I'm the only one unafraid to say it.
That, and I too countered your 'name one game' challenge with Silent Hill 4's everlasting golf clubs in mind, but there were enough solid weapons there that put Origins to shame apparently.
You have however made your points valid and your presentation is just as thorough and entertaining.
That, and I too countered your 'name one game' challenge with Silent Hill 4's everlasting golf clubs in mind, but there were enough solid weapons there that put Origins to shame apparently.
You have however made your points valid and your presentation is just as thorough and entertaining.
The only problem with Fire Emblem degredation that I noticed was that they also degrade during your opponent's turns, and if your unit is actually good, it's entirely possible for the enemy to swarm one unit and your weapon to break in as little as three turns. The enemy DOES like to swarm, doesn't it?RPJesus said:
Mmm, another game to not buy for my PSP. Sigh.
Another brilliant review, Yahtzee! You continue to be my hero.
Another brilliant review, Yahtzee! You continue to be my hero.
Finally someone who sees the good points in Silent Hill 4.
I played Silent Hill in the first week it came out and it was amazing.
Since then it really is like Jahzee (sorry if I got the name wrong) said.
They tried to do something with the formula.
The main big failure in Silent Hill 4 was the level recycling other than that it was brilliant.
The dream world, visiting Walter when he was a child and all the victims who had no clue, just great.
As for Origins, I think the problem starts with the fact that it's developed for PSP.
Honestly, except some 2D remakes I can't see the point why anybody plays this handheld stuff.
When you can have a big screen with real games running on it.
And since Silent Hill has gone west, I also fear the series is dead.
Silent Hill is an asian thing, period.
I played Silent Hill in the first week it came out and it was amazing.
Since then it really is like Jahzee (sorry if I got the name wrong) said.
They tried to do something with the formula.
The main big failure in Silent Hill 4 was the level recycling other than that it was brilliant.
The dream world, visiting Walter when he was a child and all the victims who had no clue, just great.
As for Origins, I think the problem starts with the fact that it's developed for PSP.
Honestly, except some 2D remakes I can't see the point why anybody plays this handheld stuff.
When you can have a big screen with real games running on it.
And since Silent Hill has gone west, I also fear the series is dead.
Silent Hill is an asian thing, period.
Not really. Silent Hill was always an odd creature, it being a Japanese take on the American written horror tradition (hell, it's even set in Maine, which is Stephen King country).step2ice said:
Yes. Which is why you don't do the retarded thing and run into the heart of the enemy with one character and one weapon. The weapon degredation in Fire Emblem worked fine. It added an extra layer of tactics to the game.Yerocha said:
I think Oblivion did weapon degredation fairly well, also. Stuff got slightly weaker as you used it, and could be repaired with little effort.
Step2ice, hi 
For what it's worth, you're not entirely alone. I immensely enjoyed the setting and storytelling of SH4 too. The idea of being trapped in an apartment which is slowly taken over by freaky apparitions, only gradually discovering what's happening in- and outside is great. The parallel worlds you discover are cool, too (the rooms in that hospital, oh yeah)... until the point that you have to backtrack through all of them with a companion that makes Sherry Birkin (RE2) the most userfriendly tagalong ever.
Also, fighting ghosts? Totally unnecessary and tacked on.
As for the purpose of handheld games: the name says it all, actually. Handheld. They're ideal for a quick game on the bus, the train or the airplane, places where you don't have your bigscreen TV around. Or to take along during a trip so that you can play in the hotel room during a rainy day (I doubt you'll have the room to bring an Xbox 360 instead).
For what it's worth, you're not entirely alone. I immensely enjoyed the setting and storytelling of SH4 too. The idea of being trapped in an apartment which is slowly taken over by freaky apparitions, only gradually discovering what's happening in- and outside is great. The parallel worlds you discover are cool, too (the rooms in that hospital, oh yeah)... until the point that you have to backtrack through all of them with a companion that makes Sherry Birkin (RE2) the most userfriendly tagalong ever.
Also, fighting ghosts? Totally unnecessary and tacked on.
As for the purpose of handheld games: the name says it all, actually. Handheld. They're ideal for a quick game on the bus, the train or the airplane, places where you don't have your bigscreen TV around. Or to take along during a trip so that you can play in the hotel room during a rainy day (I doubt you'll have the room to bring an Xbox 360 instead).
Whilst I would say that the weapon degradation "worked" in Fire Emblem, I don't think it was necessarily a good idea. The balance reason for it's existence, not using godweapons all the time, could have been addressed in far more interesting ways, (like, for example, not having them. I recognise their place as a fantasy trope, but that doesn't mean everyone needs them).Break said:
Oblivion is the only game I think that has been improved by item degradation, and that only because of the high level armourer skill that lets you repair items to beyond 100% functionality.
...Bjork? Funny how almost no one in her own homeland seems to be interested in her but yet she pops up everywhere else.
Nice review by the way, suspect that your schedule of too popular games has been ended so you can go and check games out that you are actually interested in.
Nice review by the way, suspect that your schedule of too popular games has been ended so you can go and check games out that you are actually interested in.
Thats what I meant with visiting the levels again.VMerken said:
I guess the point was that you'd had to protect Maria/Mary (was that her name?) and it should give you ahigher fear level. Person you care for etc.
But as you said it was not really working out.
For me mainly because the level recycling was annoying.
As for the AI, I didn't notice that it was so bad and I really didn't have a problem with it.
It was just not working out as good as it should had.
And for the ghosts. Well again the idea was to give you not a brief moment where you're really save.
And again, I was pretty much neutral on that. I neither liked nor really hated it.
What did stuck with me were the idea of the room the protagonist was locked in.
The hole in the wall where you would come into the dreamlandscape of those victims who had no clue.
Walter and when you were visiting him in his past with the real strange/warm tune playing in the background.
The big head of the women whose eyes were following you, etc. etc.
Combat always sucked in Silent Hill so I won't hit on that nail.
But overall part 4 was really great.
And considering all the hyping lately about various mediocre games it is strange thinking about this game with so many nice ideas got rated so bad.
But maybe it was before the big hype wave.
Anyway, I still will give Origins a chance when the PS2 port is out.
When it comes at what it is though, a low price title.
Finally! After a long time waiting Yahtzee you're finally FUNNY again. It feels as if the last few ones you lost your drive or something and I hardly chuckled, but this one had me laughed out loud. Perhaps you need a game you care about before you can actually put the bitterness in maximum drive and blasts out the funnies? Anyways, good job being Yahtzee again