Wherever my beloved franchises go, I follow. I just got this game and while I find it unsettling, I can't help but feel the same problem that befall all franchises. The new writer feels like he's an outsider and we've gotten away from what the first two games were all about. Sure, revisiting classic locations and reliving the classic gameplay is fun, but the story feels like the usual sequel. It's almost trying too hard to be the first game again and not courageous enough to take risks and experiment. While I realize SH:0 was created only as a way to tie up loose ends in the mythology, I think Konami had a real opportunity to obliterate the expectations of what these "filler" games can be.

However, I'm not really far at all (I think; I have no idea how long this game is), so I might change my opinion.

... And just as a fanboy, I don't know why it is so hard for other people to fit into an established world. Alright, I do know. Not that the original creators are any more gifted at expanding their own work (see John Carpenter's Escape From L.A. and Robert Rodriguez's Desperado). But SH:0 kind of reminds me of "Saw IV" and how the writers chose to further develop past mythology rather than use their own talents to tell a really screwed up story. Of course, the last time someone tried that with Silent Hill we got the abomination which was the movie...

I retract some of the things I said after getting further. There is a lot of new content being added in. I kind of like how they're paying off the mirror idea, but the story feels a little spoon fed. There's two origin stories being told and I'm glad to see that Alessa is actually fading into the background.

Nonetheless, I sort of wish we saw the town start to become Hell with multiple characters being affected. Instead, we keep the outsider prospective... Or is it an outsider? o.O

Since I'm the only person who seems to own this game I'm going to keep myself amused.

*SPOILERS*

I'm fairly sure that Travis' mother was correct in thinking her son was evil. While we're led to believe in the first play through she's just crazy, the second time around with the bad ending we can glimpse an alternate take on the events. I'm assuming Helen wasn't really crazy, because she was the one who first mentioned the mirrors and alternate dimensions which Travis uses, so it seems she's not as far gone as we're led to think. The only other thing she talked about was how evil her boy was.

In the bad ending we discover that Travis is The Butcher, which seems like a copout, but actually plays into his mother's delusions. To achieve the ending Travis has to kill 200 monsters and sense some still believe the monsters are really people, Travis is going on a killing spree. But there's also his efficiency with weapons, he seems more trained with them than other Silent Hill protagonists. Maybe Travis is a killer after all. How many horror movies are there about killer trucker drivers? ...Well, only a handful, but the concept isn't new.

Does that mean the real ending is the bad ending? It would explain why Travis doesn't show up again, but it doesn't explain how Silent Hill 1 begins as the good ending does.

Does it matter? Nah, it never does, but it would only add a layer of depth to Travis... And makes the game that much more eerie knowing his mother wasn't crazy after all.

Syd Lexia wrote:

I think the problem here is that not a lot of people here really care about the PSP, because people fucking love Silent Hill.

Still where's the people asking "wha happens?", cause if I was still PSP-less, that's what I'd be posting about.

Speaking of which, Umbrella Chronicles, WHA HAPPENS!?

Murdar Machene wrote:

Is this Silent Hill more like the first two (smashing dogs on the face with a length of pipe, shooting down gargoyles with a sawed-off double barrel) or was it more like the piece of shit fourth game (annoying melee combat that blew ass, lame-ass gimmicks like the sword that you pin ghosts down with, weak-ass escort misisons, and the feeling of being an utterly helpless, clunky loser)?

Silent Hill Origins is such a throwback to the first two games that I thought they were trying too hard. First, the game doesn't really explain anything bluntly, like the first game... Except it does through the copious amount of notes you find. Some notes even taunt you like they did in Silent Hill 2. The level designs and gameplay is very reminiscent of the first game. Then there's the holes. They aren't the holes of the subconscious like in 2, they're holes that actually lead to the floor below, but they're clearly a wink for the 2 fans. There's even a long ass stair part which was exactly where I said this game is trying too hard to be like the first two.

There's plenty of weapons in the game, but they break. As such, I collected as many as I could and barely used them; I avoided most all enemies, figuring I'd need them in boss fights. The boss fights are actually extremely easy because there's only one difficulty setting for the game. Basically you never use your gun ammo except for bosses and then they're really easy. There's also only 5 guns. A weak BB pistol (but lots of ammo for it), a shotgun (two rounds before reloading), a regular hand gun, a replica AK-47 (holds 18 rounds), and a magnum (and an alien lazer gun, I've read).

Is the combat weak? I'd say it's easy. Getting one on the ground isn't hard. Some enemies grab you and then you have to push a button that flashes on screen to avoid getting damage which is easy to get the hang of. But some enemies are more dangerous than others. There's nothing like the sword feature in Silent Hill 4. There is the mirror gimmick where you are given the power to cross into the Other World and return whenever you want. No escort missions. And I'd agree with the GameFAQs boards that Travis is the first real man of the series. Travis has no problems beating the shit out monsters and acting tough.

RobotGumshoe wrote:

Tebor wrote: And I'd agree with the GameFAQs boards that Travis is the first real man of the series. Travis has no problems beating the shit out monsters and acting tough. I think that would be a detriment.

See SPOILER post above about Travis. It sort of pays off IMO. If it's an integral part of the story, it should be exempted.

I'm fine with aggressive characters in survival horror games, because after awhile they're all the same. Was there a difference between Clock Tower 3 and Haunting Ground? Everyone in this world is different and diversity is a good thing... Speaking of which where is the black man's survival horror game? And don't say GTA: San Andreas . Bunch of scared white folk in horror games... that or Asian girls.

Again, story story story! First and foremost.

Syd Lexia wrote:

Because you can't fucking play as Barry Burton.

Is he at least in it?

The soundtrack's been released in Japan, but I've yet to find a US store that's imported it. Until I find it, I'll have to go with the bootleg.

So my impressions are that the soundtrack actually sounds better than in the actual game. I guess the compression of the songs affected their quality more than I thought. Other tracks are brand new remixes, improving upon the vaguely lifeless versions found in the game. Still most of the tracks sound like Silent Hill-lite rather than the full quality soundtrack we're used to.

Wikipedia states that Akira Yamaoka drew from the first game soundtrack for inspiration... But the first game had some really insane experimental, creepy atmospheric stuff. SH:0 is not the return to form that statement promises. However, there's a great worldly feel to the score which adds to Travis' trucker occupation (I've been everywhere, man). But for the most part, the more rock inspired score from the later games continue here.

Then there's the four new Mary Elizabeth McGlynn songs which justify the release of the soundtrack by themselves.

Shot Down In Flames - Pretty good song. Very much in the style of the later Silent Hill 3/4 songs.
O.R.T - The opening song, but the soundtrack version sounds very different from the game version. Although I have not done a direct comparison. Quiet and remorseful.
Blow Back - Alright, but highly forgettable so far. Kind of a background song.
Hole In The Sky - A harder edge song in the style of "Overdose Delusion".

Overall, pretty good songs, but lacking a home run hit. The whole album feels like a sophomoric effort for any band. But, hey, new material. Woot!

I have the soundtracks for Silent Hill, SH 2, the free version that came with 3 (missing a remix), have the Pre-Order soundtrack for SH4, and the real version of the SH4 soundtrack.

I frequently use the music as temp in my editing projects. Fantastic work.

Tebor wrote:

Overall, pretty good songs, but lacking a home run hit.

I take it back. I am in LOVE with "Shot Down in Flames". I caught myself singing it like three times days.

JEW wrote:

you just quoted yourself.

Sometimes I need to correct myself.