Silent Hill

Just finished Silent Hill 2 on the XBox.

I usually hate that sort of game. Puzzles are one thing, but pointlessly wandering around trying doors just in case one is unlocked is really dull.

But this game I played through to the end. I played it through in spite of the fact that the gameplay was exactly the sort of crap that I hate. I got through it because the narrative was so creepy and compelling.

Man! Why would anyone want to waste time with Resident Evil when theres stuff like this around? Proper, adult, psychological horror that's genuinely disturbing, not just Generic Zombie Plot #14876.

I went and checked out the plot details for the other games in the series - since I'm never going to have time to play them - and they sound just as far out. I even got obsessive enough about it to check out a vast FAQ on the details of Silent Hills' indigenous - and rather brutal - religion.

I've been wondering whether or not it'd translate into a boardgame. I have some interesting ideas ... but as is usual with all my design concepts it won't ever make it past a first draft of the rules!

Cheers,
Matt

Why bag RE? They are great, fun games.

I have only played the original SH on playstation 1. I remember HATING the game at first - the controls were clumsy as and the area to explore (the town) was simply too big, I was wandering around lost with no idea where to go. I thought it was really shit. Then I downloaded a walkthrough and used that. Once I got out of the town and into the school I was pretty much hooked. Great game that creeped the fuck out of me.

My only complaint was without the walkthrough it was too hard to know where to go, (at least in the early game) and I probably would have chucked it in.

Mr Skeletor wrote:

Why bag RE? They are great, fun games.

I wasn't bagging the games themselves, only the plot.

Mr Skeletor wrote:

I have only played the original SH on playstation 1. I remember HATING the game at first - the controls were clumsy as and the area to explore (the town) was simply too big, I was wandering around lost with no idea where to go.

Yep, SH2 is the same. I really hate that style of gameplay - the mass-market appeal of the Tomb Raider games, which are based almost entirely on this premise - escapes me completely. So although I must confess that I also turned to a walkthrough whenever I got bored, it's a testament to the narrative and atmosphere of the game that I managed to see it through to the end.

Resident Evil 4 is an awesome game. It's rather unique in the series. It's not really a wander around aimlessly horror game, but an action shooter only that you shoot at hordes of zombies (well, not really zombies). Check it out if you like that type of stuff.

RE4 is more of an action game than these usually are. I'm not normally into these kinds of games either for the reasons above, but I like that one. I didn't get through Silent Hill, but I was enjoying the school part. Fatal Frame is another really good one.

RE4 was great but was way too long.

How can a video game be too long!?

Play Doom 3 and you will find out.

RE4 was unique in that it wasn't a tank driving sim. The other REs I have played were good but they were like one of those nightmares where you are moving very slowly.

Mr Skeletor wrote:

Play Doom 3 and you will find out.

Zing!