Silent Hill: Downpour

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $22.99
Today's Bonus: 54% Off

Let me start by saying that I am a die-hard Silent Hill fan. I played the first game when it was released in 1999, which made me about 12 years old (my parents obviously made a very "wise" purchasing decision at the time) and bought every subsequent game (aside from the Japanese play novel and on-rails arcade game) on the dates of their release. Despite that the game disturbed me beyond words and gave me recurrent nightmares, I felt compelled to keep coming back for more just because it was such an inexplicable, bizarre, unique, emotional, "otherworldly" experience. I was never the type to lose sleep over movies and games about zombies, diseases or war/general violence; Silent Hill transcended those things to me because it was like it was pulled directly from my deepest, darkness nightmares and fears of evil, eternal damnation, etc. Silent Hill 1, 2 and 3 aren't "video games" so much as they are, in my opinion, works of absolute genius, developed by a handful of Japanese game designers that were clearly very well versed in classic horror films, novels and religious lore. They have set an incredibly high standard for anyone to attempt to live up to.

With that said, Silent Hill Downpour is certainly a valiant effort, not to be mistaken as the absolute failure that a couple of other reviews around the internet have described it as. It is a massive improvement from SH: Homecoming (which pretty much played out like someone watched the movie, played the first game for ten minutes and said, "OK, I get it.") but alas, still doesn't hold a candle to the first three games in terms of their artistry, imagination, soundtrack and the way they just... well, stuck with you, making you lose sleep and contemplate the overwhelming weirdness you had just witnessed.

First of all, The enemies in this game are somewhat unoriginal. It's ironic that the band Korn did the song for the trailer because one of the first enemies you encounter almost looks like a zombie version of one of the Korn band members; complete with black, parted bangs that hang over its face. The designers did a nice job of making the light reflect off of their bodies which appear to have a charred texture, reminiscent of Silent Hill 2's "prisoner" demons, which looked as if they were encased in their own burnt flesh. But despite this one cool visual effect, these creatures (referred to as, "screamers") aren't that disturbing. One of the other enemies you encounter are these tall, lanky beings that have the ability to crawl around on the ceiling and attack you from above... sounds scary, right? Not really. They're kind of goofy looking and their movements are a little bit too exaggerated. And the last type I'll mention (brace yourselves)... sex dolls with blacked out eyes whose ghosts are invisible and fight you. I mean, really? Luckily their existence in the environments makes for a much more frightening experience than the enemies do by themselves.

The other major downfall to this game is the overall lack of polish on the final product. Before buying this game I told myself the rumors of camera jitter, image chopping and framerate dips weren't going to effect my playing experience because I know there is supposed to be so much more to this series than the occasional programming flaw. Despite telling myself that, trust me, they do cut into the gameplay experience. None of the visual faults lie in the graphics themselves; only in the camera, the visual rendering and the occasional pop-up textures. While it is easy to overlook, it does make the game feel like less of a complete product than previous games. Hopefully the developers will take the hint and release a patch that fixes these issues because they take what would be in my mind a 4-star game and turn it into a 3-star one.

The environments are very detailed and it's clear the developers put a lot of time and effort into making sure everything looked truly abandoned, like it was inhabited at some point and the inhabitants just mysteriously disappeared one day. The crumbling walls, dusty interiors, strewn garbage and great lighting effects combine to create a chilling world that will feel like home to any hardcore Silent Hill fan. This is one of the game's biggest selling points. If it didn't feel like Silent Hill, it wouldn't be worth playing and it really does feel like Silent Hill. The dramatically improved graphics from previous entries in the series only adds to the believability. The only problem I have with the environments is that there are too many sections where you have a lot of visibility. That might sound strange to newcomers of the series but to old school fans like myself, the extremely limited visibility actually pulled the player deeper into the game, making them wonder what was going to be around every turn and just what unimaginable horrors lay just out of view. Luckily there are sections where the game is extremely dark and the only light you have is the light of your flashlight. These are the classic Silent Hill moments and by far the creepiest sections (look forward to the mines and certain cramped interiors, both on and off the beaten path).

Here is where my heart breaks a little bit. The "otherworld" sequences are a mix of engaging and totally cliche'. The "wall-peeling" mechanic introduced in the movie is something I've really grown tired of seeing. Not every transition has to come with the walls peeling away. Some of the transitions into the nightmare realm in Silent Hill 1, 2 and 3 didn't even involve sirens or anything; sometimes they involved going through some strange door, taking a ride on an elevator decorated with flesh or getting consumed by black veins and passing out. It's not just some stupid alternate dimension, it's a re-imaging of the current dimension incorporated with the main character's deepest and darkest fears. I'm so sick of it playing out like some silly trip to another planet or something. There are some cool things in the nightmare realm in this game, such as bodies rattling around in cages but you don't really get to enjoy them to their full extent when you're running from an all-consuming ball of light, which is not that scary. It's kind of scary when it catches you because Murphy (the main character) starts to peel away kind of like the walls and emits an ear-piercing scream but other than that the concept of the floating black hole is not really that frightening. I miss the days of stark black, chain link, blood, rust, walls that move and breathe like they're alive, strange pictures and statues posing in mind-boggling ways... these are the things that embody the nightmare universe, not some stupid vortex chasing you along catwalks.

Lastly, to be positive, I'm really happy they brought back the explorational elements of the game. There are so many different side quests to be experienced (many of them more eerie than the linear storyline itself) all with their own psychological rewards. The puzzles are the perfect degree of hard without being so hard that you want to pull your hair out and stop playing the game. The characters are particularly interesting and really remind me of the kind of 'people' one would encounter in a Silent Hill game including the main character, and the voice acting and motion capture are some of the best the series has ever seen.

To summarize, if you are a Silent Hill fanatic like me, there are fruits to be experienced in this game that will perhaps tide you over until a game comes out that is everything we could ever hope for (if that ever happens) but don't expect it to blow you away like the first three did. If you've never played a Silent Hill game, there is enough here for you to find enjoyable and unique, particularly if you're a fan of survival horror. There are cracks in the surface of this game and it's clear it isn't the work of 'Team Silent' but it is a worthy addition to the collection of anyone who takes an interest in the macabre and the generally bizarre. But it won't keep you up telling yourself it's the scariest thing you've ever seen. -Joman

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

I've been eagerly awaiting this game for a long time. I've been playing Silent Hill games for as long as I can remember, and agree with the fact that the series was declining. WAS. Contrary to IGN's beliefs, this is the Silent Hill fans have been waiting for.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you all the pros and cons of the game, but I felt that I should defend the game's honor against a scathing IGN review giving the game 4.5 out of 10. Seriously...a 4.5? That implies the game is an unplayable piece of garbage, which SH:D most certainly is not. I was worried by all the negativity and honestly feared another Homecoming type experience (blah at best) but so far have been pleased by the offerings of Downpour.

I don't necessarily understand reviews that say the combat is "clunky." Its the first time in a Silent Hill game where the combat isn't actually just a pain in the ass and actually adds to the game. Items break and Murphy is by no means a superhuman, which means running away is your best bet more often than not. Firearms are VERY rare, meaning you save shots for when you have absolutely no other choice.

The game is among the scariest Silent Hills, and my first trip to Otherworld left me thinking WTF by the time I was free. The story itself is also interesting, because the player doesn't know if Murphy is an evil man or a good man who got caught up in bad circumstances. Little morality choices throughout the game don't seem to really matter, but I feel better inside knowing I at least tried to save the person dangling over the cliff.

All in all the game is a real return to form for the Silent Hill franchise. Be aware that there are minor framerate issues, but they in no way hinder gameplay. Usually they only happen when entering from one area to another, and never in the middle of a life and death fight (which is somewhat odd come to think about it). Don't believe the people at IGN giving it a 4.5. While it isn't the most perfect game ever, it's certainly at least an 8.0. Have fun in Silent Hill and make sure you have a light on nearby!

Buy Silent Hill: Downpour Now

I've never written a review before on here. I just got it, but I had to give my opinion due to the scores this title has been receiving. Mainly, IGN's abysmal 4.5/10 review.

The game begins with Murphy in prison and quickly sees his bus careen off-track during transport to another facility. This is where the game begins proper, and oh boy, is it freaky. There is still fog, and the rain adds a nice density to it.

You can use anything for a weapon. Frying pan, knife, hammer, broom, anything, which is realistic. This adds the elusive survival element that has been missing from horror since, well...Silent Hill 4. I've heard combat is clunky, but we're going for realism here. Murphy is a convict (for what is the million dollar question), so unless he's an expert murderer, he won't be good with weapons. And after you fight your first monsters (which are freaky), you won't feel like combat is clunky. At least it doesn't to me.

The only problem I see so far is lag when it's auto-saving, as well as the inability to save it whenever you want. These are minor grips. Also, it's worth noting that the achievements/trophies are actually fun to get in this game. The side quests will add a good dimension to Silent Hill, although I haven't come across those yet.

You can open doors slowly, too, which adds to the intensity of the horror. There are Otherworld sequences where you're getting chased by a mysterious black and red orb of light, and the first time you experience this in the game, you won't expect it. It adds an interesting chase set piece to the game.

So far, so good. Silent Hill fans needn't not hold their breath any longer. This is the real deal.

Read Best Reviews of Silent Hill: Downpour Here

Plenty of reviews on here already that cover much of what this game has to offer, so I think I will just keep it short and sweet with a "Good" and "Bad" list. This list is primarily for Silent Hill fans who are still debating about whether or not to pick up this chapter in the series. I, too, am a fan of the series, and dove into this game with plenty of hopes and dreads for where it would take the series. Bottom line: It's well worth the plunge because it's a hell of a lot of fun, but I did miss a lot of what made the first three games truly scary.

THE GOOD:

1. Nearly open-world exploration with plenty of side quests: I loved being able to run all over Silent Hill for most of this game (at least, when I wasn't blocked by construction barriers or missing roads), and the subway shortcuts simply added to this pleasure. The developers did an excellent job bringing this town to life, allowing the player to pop into houses, businesses, and apartment complexes to find reward items or side quests. The side quests really made this game for me, as they give Silent Hill more history and personality (and I mean in a good, morbid way). Plus, these quests are actually fun to complete, especially if you like exploring and solving puzzles.

2. Puzzle-solving: There is a nice variety of puzzles for players to tackle here, a few of which (the tougher ones) require exploration to solve. I played on the hard difficulty (for both game and puzzle levels), and even though the puzzles were challenging, they were not controller-hurling impossible.

3. A true sense of danger (though, unfortunately, not of dread -see "THE BAD" #1 below): Even though there are many melee weapons available, they all break fairly easily. This, in addition to some unpredictable attack patterns from the enemies, brings a lot of tension back to Silent Hill (unlike in Homecoming, whose protagonist was a soldier and could easily slaughter anything that stepped in his path). Running is definitely a good idea.

4. Passing through doors: This may seem weird to those of you who haven't played this yet, but the way your character opens doors in Downpour is ingenious and COULD have really added to the terror. As you begin to open a door, the camera zooms in to over-the-shoulder mode, and you use the control stick to open the door as quickly or as slowly as you like, just in case you want to peek at what's on the other side before you go barreling in. Unfortunately, this would have been a LOT better if there were moments when the peek reveals something truly horrifying. Mostly, however, there are just empty rooms on the other side of that door.

5. The atmosphere: The overall feel of Downpour, in my opinion, is a true step in the right direction. Leaves twirl down onto the streets, everything is shrouded in mist (or fog), the collectible "mystery" items like letters and newspaper articles that Murphy picks up throughout the game, the dimly-lit and decaying dwellings -all these make Silent Hill FEEL like a haunted place again.

6. The music: Actually very good, and adds to the point above. Never has "Born Free" been so freakin' creepy.

THE BAD

1. A real sense of DREAD: What made the first three Silent Hill titles so memorable was the DREAD caused by their monsters. I am talking real dread here. The kind of dread where you literally stop playing because you have to build up the courage to go down that hallway. Downpour mainly fails in its ability to realize how the first three games made their monsters work. There are only five monster types in Downpour, none of which are actually very scary. Silent Hill should be a place where the creatures are truly grotesque -like, when they come shuffling through the fog so you can see them better, and you still can't figure out what it is you're looking at? The monsters in Downpour are too identifiable, too familiar. And they DON'T LURK, which totally sucks. In Downpour, if your walkie talkie starts squelching, chances are the monster sees you and will come charging right at you. The series needs to go back to those moments I had in Silent Hill 2 where I'm creeping through the darkened hallways of the hospital and my radio starts to crackle -so I stop and try to peer far ahead into the gloom to see if I can make out one of those pistol-wielding nurses up ahead, or if she's just around the next corner, and I'm trying to decide if I have enough bullets to take her if I bump into her, but hopefully I can avoid her if I JUST KNEW WHERE THE HELL SHE WAS! Sigh. The developers have a really good thing going with that door-opening mechanic to rebuild this dread I used to have. Shame they did nothing with it. Yeah, the monsters in Downpour takes #1 for THE BAD.

2. The story: I actually debated about putting this in the "Good" section, because there IS a good story here -but, it isn't Silent Hill quality, unfortunately. There was something literary in the first three titles that has been lost in recent installments. I mean, you can actually find extraordinarily in-depth essays online that try to tackle the themes, plot, and symbolism that were put into the early Silent Hill games. I'm an English teacher. I teach literature for a living. Even I was confused by the stories behind the first three Silent Hills --but it was a good confused. The early stories gave you just enough to paint a vague landscape of what was going on, and left you to ponder the details long after you had defeated the final boss. Recently, however, Silent Hill stories are basically spelled out for you, tossing art aside. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE the story in Downpour, but because I don't have to think about what just happened, it has become forgettable. Even the side quest stories, as cool as they are, are still all laid out for you. Shame.

3. The Otherworld scenes: First of all, there are not very many Otherworld transformations going on this time around, and when they DO happen, they are crap. The Otherworld is a Silent Hill staple -an even DARKER version of an already dark place. For this to have been done right, there should have been moments when you had to wander Silent Hill (or your current level) in its Otherworld form. The Otherworld sequences in Downpour seem like completely different places, with very little (if any) representation of the level or location they are the "Otherworld" of. Then again, Silent Hill is bigger here than it has ever been, so perhaps making TWO versions would have been too much? I dunno, but judging from the size of games like Skyrim, I don't think this would have been a problem, and would have really been cool. Instead, we are treated to short sequences of "run from the glowing a**hole" moments and hope you pick the right path, because reloading is a bi*ch.

So, overall, I think that there are a lot of things going on that is right with this game, and could really be used to bring the series back to its heyday, maybe even SURPASS those initial titles if the developers hadn't dropped the ball on those three important points I listed in "THE BAD". Silent Hill will never be Silent Hill without those things.

Want Silent Hill: Downpour Discount?

Note : If you anticipate the screen tearing and texture popping you will have primed yourself for a truly enjoyable experience by making peace with Downpour's only technical errors.

Simply said this game is fantastic. What stands out to me the most is the lushness of the environments. All locations are laid out in such detail, variety and believability that it is incredibly engrossing. The settings may be surreal (ie. A tree's branches overgrown and broken into the interior of building) but it's rendered in such a way that seems beyond plausible. Going with the tree example you can see the musky dust and dirt that comes in the room lightly settling on the furniture with vein-like burn marks on the floor from a previous fire. It's truly an escapist experience. Furthermore, the game sports fantastic voice acting, complex flushed out characters, a highly likable protagonist and to it's major credit superb sound design. Most of all Downpour always comes across as fresh and scary never coming across as bankrupt of ideas.

In conclusion : Downpour is Smart, Scary and ultimately highly Successful. Tension keeps ratcheting up all the way to the finale.

It is obviously apparent that VATRA has put their heart and soul into this game and if I could I would give them a standing ovation. I guess this review will just have to do.