Silent Hill Shattered Memories Review

Silent Hill Shattered Memories was basically described as the re-imagination of the first Silent Hill but it played nothing like any SH games before. It introduces a much different approach and its more likely focus on the story other than solid gameplay. Most fans of the series had mixed opinions about it but for me, what matters to know is that, is it a good game and all? Or should I say, is it worth the scare?

Shattered Memories introduces some familiar characters from the original game but the story is totally different and so as the original characters' roles. The story starts of with Doctor Kaufmann, a Therapist who's going to start a therapy session with you. The story then shifts to an incident that was very familiar to us-- Harry Mason had a car accident and it was outcold for a while. When he wakes up, he realizes that his daughter, Cheryl is gone after their car got crashed. He then runs off to look for Cheryl in the midst of the snowy weather in Silent Hill.

Like I said, Shattered Memories' gameplay is unique compare to other SH titles. Its camera perspective is pretty much similar to Resident Evil 4 and 5 (but not that its play the same), and majority of the game is focus on exploration and interaction to the environment. You will be spending most of your gameplay looking and interacting with stuffs around, this includes searching for keys or clues to proceed, talking to few characters and puzzle solving in general. They're no monsters or anything threatening at all while you're exploring and instead the monsters are only present if you're in the Nightmare realm. This is in contrast in previous SH games whereas monsters are always present whether you're in or not in the nightmare realm.

Some are skeptic because of this approach and like how everybody complains to those other recent SH games (Origins, Homecoming)like it doesn't have that old Silent Hill feel at all. For Shattered Memories, it's true that it doesn't share the same feel or generally, doesn't share the same charm of the old SH games either but to be fair, the game is actually good in its own right and probably (just probably since I never played the other) a lot bit better than the recent SH games. It's surprisingly impressive especially on how they work on the story. I find it clever on how they stimulate horror in the game despite having less action. It’s kinda like how you feel when you played Silent Hill 2 in the first part where you’re walking alone. I guess this is a good example where the sense of isolation can also be scary; also, the environment in the game also helps stimulate that.

As I said, monsters in the game are only present if you’re in the nightmare realm. What makes it kinda interesting is that, the game doesn’t allow you to fight back but instead you have to run away. The whole theme of the nightmare level is to find your way out of it while desperately avoiding the monsters that linger around. It sounds easy but really its not. Not only that you can’t fight them, but they do chase you around wherever you go at most part. Its makes more complicating that even the area that you have explored for quite a while will be different in the nightmare level like some ways are now block and alternate route are open, not to mention that the area’s palette is turn into an ice-like stage so you can’t sometimes tell the difference.. especially if you’re running. And yeah, you will run A LOT.

Personally, I like the concept of the nightmare level at Shattered Memories because it’s quite original for me. It may not be the same dark reddish and dreaded environment that we used to know in a SH’s nightmare level but for me its okay because for one thing, it fits in the game’s theme and story. I like the “run-like-hell” style in the nightmare level. It’s a unique approach but in the good way, in my opinion. It stimulates the sense of helplessness in the player that you have no other choice but to run. And if you do care about the story, you might understand why. Gameplay-wise, it's a thrilling gameplay whenever you’re at it.

Another interesting feature present in the game is the psychological evaluation the player is getting. Certain points in the game where you’re under going psychiatric evaluation, you’ll be giving certain test in a form of a mini-game (kinda). Depending on the answers, any aspects in the game will have an effect like how characters will behave, the way they dress, and even how monsters would look like. While exploring the surrounding and by looking closely on things around will make Harry say something about it. This certain actions will greatly contribute on the outcome of the ending. Basically, every action the player made will have an effect as if he or she is the one shaping it.

Overall concept of Shattered Memories is good to me; the only drawback I could see here is that the game is very short. Once you’re already familiar with the game and considering that it doesn’t have much solid gameplay action, it will be pretty much a cakewalk already if playing it for the second time, but not that I’m complaining about it either. Since the game emphasizes on exploring, I find the environment to be really look amazing. Consider that I only played this on the PSP yet the graphics of the environment looks good already, I guess it will be more appreciated if playing it on the consoles more preferably to the Nintendo Wii, not to mention that most of the interactions here are point-and-click maneuvers so I guess playing it with a Wii remote is suited.

Silent Hill Shattered Memories may have been a different kind of SH game but nonetheless it’s a good game. Granted, it doesn’t have the same feel but it didn’t fail on giving a good mix of psychological, mystery and horror story on its own. As I said, the game is more like telling a story than being a game, so if you’re good with that kind of games then you will appreciate this. All I can say is, as much as I like the original Silent Hill games, Shattered Memories is definitely a good alternate SH game and its worth of the experience... and scare ;)

Until then


Extra links:
You may also want to see the latest video review of Shattered Memories by Dena Natali, one of my favorite reviewers on the Internet -> http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2011/10/game-den-sh-shattered/

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