| Platform | OVERALL |
|---|---|
| Wii | 5.00 |
| Overall | 5.00 |
|
Silent Hill Shattered Memories is a strange experiment with the SH franchise using the first game has a starting point. While it is called Silent Hill it has almost nothing to do with any of the games except names and locations. But lets forget about that, I want to focus on the game on its own merits, what little merits it has. It is hard to describe this game but the best way I can is that it is a sort of guided experience where you perform limited actions and solve the most basic of puzzles. There are the chase sections but I will talk of that later. The majority of the game has you walking down a very linear path with NO ENEMIES, no items, no anything really. You essentially do nothing but walk and look at crap. You will come across puzzles that use the wiimote in very simple ways like turn a can over or move the wiimote like you are opening a door. You'd think that with the devs removing all aspects of the action they would put all their focus on the puzzles, I guess not. This game has the worst puzzles in the entire series. Most of it is basically a locked door and an object that is highlight by a big arrow, there is practically nothing to interact with in this world do I really need an arrow telling me where the object I need is. So you walk to the object, move the wiimote about, get a key and open the door. That is basically 80% of the puzzles, no puzzles are not what they are, that is basically the only actions you perform. There are some places where you do what I would classify as an actual puzzle that requires simple brainpower and if the entire game was filled with them it would have been much better. You also carry a cell phone which is used to flesh out the story and in certain areas used to solve a puzzle. The game world is filled with numbers to call, most of it is nonsense but it does add some immersive quality to the game. And that is basically all this game cares about, to take you on a journey but with as little input from you as possible. There are entire scenes where the game tries to be tense but in reality there is no way to fail, no way to change the outcome, everything is completely totally scripted. Now lets get to the chases which is the only part of the game where the player actually has some sort of role. These sections begin when Silent Hill turns to its hell version the difference being that in this game the world is all ice rather than industrial. These sections are the only part of the game where enemies show up and all you can do is run away from them. Think of this as a sort of rat maze, where you are a rat being chased by skinless things. You run from room to room trying to get to the exit before the creatures kill you. You have a few options here like turning off your light so that you attract less attention, knocking over objects that are clearly marked to impede the progress of enemies and finding flares which can create a sort of instant force field from the enemies. There are spots where you can hide but these are totally pointless as the second you leave that room the enemies will be all over you again in an instant. There is no way to really stealth these segments, the enemies will ALWAYS find you and chase you no matter what you do. All you can do is make it harder for them to get to you. The best strategy is always to find the fastest route out of the maze, the game gives you a map to do this. Sadly the map is complete crap as it has no real detail. Most of the time you are in buildings with multiple rooms, the maps only show the outlines of those buildings. Even though you can see the destination you never can tell the route you have to take, it is totally random so you really cant plan your run until you know where the blocked paths are. You can only access your map if you walk which means using your map is extremely dangerous, its better to just memorize the route yourself, its not hard. If you die in these segments the game simply takes you back to the start of the maze, in the end it is simply trial and error until you learn the route. What I have done so far is simply breakdown the gameplay, what little there is. That is why I play games, to enjoy the gameplay, not to go on some scripted journey. That said this scripted journey is pretty cool and I actually really loved the wiimote controls. It controls like what a traditional action adventure game would control but with nothing to do. The wiimote controls your flashlight and it works so well, I imagine what Alan Wake could have been like if I had this level of control. And the stuff they could have done with puzzles, I can manipulate objects in any way... and that is what you give us. I loved controlling this game but they gave me so little to do. The story is pretty decent as well and keeps you going. Psychology supposedly plays a part in telling the story, you answer questions and the game changes depending on your personality. I played the game twice (its really sort) to try out different options, the truth is the changes are almost all cosmetic. Some characters will change their clothes to be more slutty and personalities will change including Harry's. Basically this changes the dialog in certain scenes but the story basically plays out the exact same way each time you play. All in all the psychology aspect is a total waste. I dont care what this game could have been called, its a poor game, Silent Hill or no Silent Hill. That said it is a Silent Hill game but misses the point of Silent Hill entirely. This feels like a PG-13 SH, it is not scary at all. There is almost no gore, no demonic imagery, and the town itself has no real role. This is simply a psychological drama, it has nothing in common with the series and it is such a shame they used the amazing original as the basis for this "remake" I think Shattered Memories is a piss poor game but a decent experience. Honestly it a very painless game to play, like a casual stroll through a park. I cant say any mechanics in the game are bad, it just doesn't have many. It controls beautifully, looks amazing and has a decent story. I never had a bad time playing the game, I was just utterly disappointed in the total lack of any compelling gameplay. This game is the very definition of what a 5 is to me, its not good, its not bad, its just there. |
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Posted by Dvader Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:40:49
Recently Spotted:
Archangel3371 (2m) gamingeek (7m)
Travo, I thought you played it or bought it?
Vader your criticism of the chases scenes baffles me. First you say you can only be chased and cannot stealth, then I point out that you can stealth. Then you sort of agree then say no. They are chase segments, I have never seen you complain when a game forces you to fight for instance and that happens all the fricking time. So criticising a chase gameplay segment for being about chases is somewhat redundant.
"Yes you can stand still and look at it but only for short moments cause something will find you"
No, you just zoom it full screen and look at it for as long as you want.
VGpressers who did not enjoy Shattered Memories:
Dvader
VGpressers who enjoyed Shattered Memories:
GG
Angry Monkey
Iga
Hamzik
Edgecrusher
VGpressers who enjoyed Shattered Memories, never made it to the second chase then lent it to a friend and never got it back:
Phantom Leo
VGpressers who don't buy 3rd party Wii games:
Archie
VGpressers who don't wear pants:
SteelAttack
Any more revisions needed?!
GG about the map I am talking about using it during chases, of course you can stare at your map forever at any time. But when you need it most, during a chase, if you stand and look at it sooner or later an enemy will get you.
As for the chase, to me the definition of stealth is that you can complete the section without ever being detected. That is not possible in any chases, therefore it is not stealth. But they include stealth elements which is why it is so weird, why include those elements when they really dont do anything except delay the inevitable. If the chases were more interesting then it would not be a negative but i found them to be simplistic mostly cause all the extra mechanics they try to include end up being worthless except running fast.
For me, I could not 100% stealth but I could 90% it on a good day 75% stealth the section on the other. I did like the elements they introduced, flares, torches, static from the speakers to indicate positions, smashing through doors, throwing objects down etc. Hiding was pretty useless but kinda fun because of the tension.
Sorry gg.