Fragony on 23/12/2009 at 11:32

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Watch the blood pressure before eyes say *plop*. I am not saying you are wrong I don't remember, read a lot of books, so yeah I will have to read the book again. And why would I do such a thing as getting hit by a car that would be painful, you streetwise ghetto-kids have odd hobby's.

Fragony on 23/12/2009 at 12:27

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Oh I know, the more mellow someone is over the internet the more likely he has things going for him in real life so internet rage is just amusing, shame about the overall quality of the forum though.

Anybody here has some technical expertise, I got the game ánd I am dying to play it but my Wii won't play it, disk needs to say 'woosh' but disks says 'tick tick tick'

<Username> on 17/1/2010 at 10:37

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Quite surprisingly, at least to me, Shattered Memories is a great game and probably the best variation of the formula since Silent Hill 2. Hear me out:

Strengths of the game:
Exploring the snow-covered Silent Hill for clues and collectibles is engaging, while the creepy mood throughout the game is fantastic. The story is extraordinarily well constructed, helped by very believable voice acting. I felt as confused as Harry Mason by the strange things occuring to him and I constantly wanted find out more about what was happening to him in Silent Hill. I applaud the writers at Climax Group for taking the story and characters from the original Silent Hill and then systematically subverting my established expections. The ending moved me on an emotional level. This is something very few games achieved. Again, I applaud you. Gameplay wise, the most prominent new feature is the psyche profile, which monitors your playstyle and adapts character designs, dialogue, puzzles and certain locations accordingly. It adds further replay value.

Things that could be impoved upon:
Shattered Memories is not as scary as previous Silent Hill games. This is mostly due to the developers separating the exploration and chase sequences. You soon realize there is nothing to be afraid of during the exploration bits, but as soon as the world freezes over, you know it is time to run like hell, following lights overhead and crashing through blue-framed doors. Not only do I find the chase sequences' predictable, repetitive setup objectionable, but also the way they are implemented. Separating exploration and chase makes sense in the context of the story, but it makes for a shallow game experience. In possible sequels, I'd like a reworking of the chase sequences, perhaps bringing back the constant feeling of imminent danger by reintegrating monsters into the main gameplay. This approach could give level designers headaches, for the developers then have to create an environments in which the player gets chased while he must also explore it. Yet I believe this can be done without creating an intensely difficult and frustrating experience. The Clock Tower series pulled it off.

Conclusion:
As you probably know from press releases and other reviews, Shattered Memories requires you forget about many of the conventions the previous titles in the Silent Hill series established: fog, rust, bloodspatters, barbed wire, clubbing on frightening monsters in mêlée, as well as recurring characters, plot devices and motives. For me, this is a good thing. It seemed the series had clutched to long to its familiar horror set pieces and its clunky combat system. It dug a hole for itself in a niche market, which in turn lead to declining sales. Shattered Memories deviates from the formula substantially. But don't let that detract you, not only is it a great game and and a thoroughly engaging narrative experience, the main aspects of what makes a Silent Hill game are definitely here: The feeling of isolation, an intense, foreboding atmosphere, frightening monsters, subtle, psychological scares. Shattered Memories not only retains these aspects, it presents them in a fresh way. As far as gameplay innovation is concerned, I am not entirely convinced by the chase sequences, but the game also adds some new elements like the psyche profile, the cellular and the flashlight, all elements which I greatly appreciated.

Quotable:
I have no doubt at the end of the year, Shattered Memories will stand as one of the finest interactive narrative experiences available on the current generation of consoles.

gunsmoke on 19/1/2010 at 16:31

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I would really like to give it a try. It looks like I would absolutely adore it or it would completely suck. One of those kind of titles. I have a feeling that it starts VERY strong with a immersive, intense experience that probably wears out its welcome as the hours tick by.

Iroquois on 20/1/2010 at 16:29

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^ It's not out yet. I think it's released with the PAL version of the Wii title, some time in late February.