- Joined
- Dec 31, 2004
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- 20,876
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So I figured a lot of people would have new games right now considering the time of year and it would be nice to have a thread to give impressions of games that you're in the middle of playing. I got two new games today, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle. I've only just finished the prologe of No More Heroes so I won't bother posting about that yet. So here's my impression of Silent Hill Wii so far:
My only point of reference with the Silent Hill series is Silent Hill 2, so any comparisons will be to that. Firt impressions were positive. The start was a bit more abrupt that I was expecting but I liked the game from the get go. The controls are much nicer than the old fixed camera views and controlling the flashlight and game more directly helps immersion I think.
The update of the radio to phone was also a good idea and the texts and voice mails replacing the books and notes makes more sense (who leaves detailed instructions lying around all the time?) and when things are written down, you actually read them off the walls instead of cutting to a reading screen. It all feels much less artifical than before which is really nice. The lack of loading times helps too. The world suddenly and very visibly transitioning between normal and icy is also very cool. The one thing about the new system I'm not terribly impressed by is the the camera: While neat, it isn't original and could be used a bit better I think.
The mosters are scary, but in much more a of a survial based way but not that much in a psychological way (though they do look creepy) and nothing like the terror of the slow advance of Pyramid Head. Some slight variety would be nice, even if it was just different warped skins on the same monsters.
The exploring and getting texts and voice mail of various happenings from people is cool but I wish there was more info on each little storyline (or am I just missing a bunch of messages?) and more exploring in each area. The most intensive bit so far was the school but there was no where near the kind of detail that was in the previous game.
There were a few puzzles and some plots but the gameplay area felt so small and only one puzzle was done under the pressure of possible attack. The puzzles are a lot less cerebral though. So far I've had to find a bunch of keys that were found by walking ten feet in some direction and opening something, I had to take some photos and I had to figure out how to reset a password on a computer by scanning a room for clues. It all feels very simple and the levels feel a little shallow.
It would be kind of nice if the freezing could sneak up on you sometimes. It could happen slowly instead of all at once or stay frozen for a while with no monsters so that you don't know when they'll show up, or a different, weaker sort of enemy when it's not frozen. It's pretty obvious when you're in danger or safe now which really lessons the tension a little.
Last note is that the hospital was disappointingly short but I'm about to head through the mall, I hope that addressing some of the issues I've had so far. I guess I'll find out. I also kind of wish I knew what can change and what can't, but then again I really want to find out myself. Will definitely have to replay this game at some point after I'm finished.
My only point of reference with the Silent Hill series is Silent Hill 2, so any comparisons will be to that. Firt impressions were positive. The start was a bit more abrupt that I was expecting but I liked the game from the get go. The controls are much nicer than the old fixed camera views and controlling the flashlight and game more directly helps immersion I think.
The update of the radio to phone was also a good idea and the texts and voice mails replacing the books and notes makes more sense (who leaves detailed instructions lying around all the time?) and when things are written down, you actually read them off the walls instead of cutting to a reading screen. It all feels much less artifical than before which is really nice. The lack of loading times helps too. The world suddenly and very visibly transitioning between normal and icy is also very cool. The one thing about the new system I'm not terribly impressed by is the the camera: While neat, it isn't original and could be used a bit better I think.
The mosters are scary, but in much more a of a survial based way but not that much in a psychological way (though they do look creepy) and nothing like the terror of the slow advance of Pyramid Head. Some slight variety would be nice, even if it was just different warped skins on the same monsters.
The exploring and getting texts and voice mail of various happenings from people is cool but I wish there was more info on each little storyline (or am I just missing a bunch of messages?) and more exploring in each area. The most intensive bit so far was the school but there was no where near the kind of detail that was in the previous game.
There were a few puzzles and some plots but the gameplay area felt so small and only one puzzle was done under the pressure of possible attack. The puzzles are a lot less cerebral though. So far I've had to find a bunch of keys that were found by walking ten feet in some direction and opening something, I had to take some photos and I had to figure out how to reset a password on a computer by scanning a room for clues. It all feels very simple and the levels feel a little shallow.
It would be kind of nice if the freezing could sneak up on you sometimes. It could happen slowly instead of all at once or stay frozen for a while with no monsters so that you don't know when they'll show up, or a different, weaker sort of enemy when it's not frozen. It's pretty obvious when you're in danger or safe now which really lessons the tension a little.
Last note is that the hospital was disappointingly short but I'm about to head through the mall, I hope that addressing some of the issues I've had so far. I guess I'll find out. I also kind of wish I knew what can change and what can't, but then again I really want to find out myself. Will definitely have to replay this game at some point after I'm finished.