Silent Hill: Homecoming

Silent Hill Homecoming...Alot has to be said about just how different it is when compared to its predecessors.
No surprise when considering the major alteration of developer, fortunatly the changes that consist stray much more towards an improvement rather than a step or two down...the majority of them at least.

Silent Hill Homecoming or Silent Hill 5 as originally known (though in fact is the 6th in the series chronologically) was released for most of the world all the way back in October 2008, strangly however it went through an infuriatingly long delay for all the Geordies, Liverpudlians, Mancions, Scouzers and all the rest of the English archtypes. As to why was never really elaborated on all that well but still of course the reviews came and gone with the majority all giving less than favourable reviews.

Even with its unprecedented critiscm, it still shouldn't stand in the way of this being a must have title for Silent Hill fans. As one myself, I can safely say while its got alot of space for improvement, it still does the series proud with a few new gameplay ideas.

So then, on with the basics. SH-HC has you once more filling the shoes of another new protagonist. Alex Sheperd, a recently discharged soldier, has decided to return home to Sheperds Glen after having nightmares concerning his younger brother Joshua in danger.
After arrival, its quite clear his once small and peaceful town has been struck with something bad, half of the town itself seems to have dissapeared aswell as half of the community. His own father and brother are among the ranks of the missing, his mother while still safe isn't doing so dandy either, her mental state has fractured quite some and she seems to only constantly mutter about Joshua and how she wants him back.

The story here one really takes it time to get anywhere, throughout the first half your main motivation will be to search for your brother, only to find him running in the opposite direction of whenever you get near. Once you manage to cut through the skin and into the meat there is a substantial amount of story for you to enjoy. However its not all that linked to the past SH games as much as say the movie, in fact its almost like a sequel to the movie's own canon rather than the games. Thats mainly down to how similair the game is to the movies style and presence, not by it ruining any of the original canon.
Since there isn't actually that many references to the past games anyway.

None the less the story on its own stands strong I believe, its predictable twists also don't manage to hamper (too much) another enjoyable chapter to Silent Hill's legacy.

The twists concerning the gameplay, however, aren't quite as predictable. Sure the majority of the game has you traversing through atmospheric enviroments fighting all sorts of nasties, reading notes/memos/dairies and solving some puzzles; it also adds in a few tid bits such as being able to select from a choice of what you want Alex to say to certain characters.
That alone is a great step forward since it, for one, helps all the more in seperating the many different endings the SH games are known for.

The combat though is possibly the biggest turn around. Combat was never really a strong point of the SH games, it improved steadily throughout the sequels, up until SH4 were it actually much more oriented. And if SH-HC is a reliable way to see where things are going, the combat of the games will surely surge up even higher. Which isn't all that great since it reminds me of another specific survival horror series that eventually traded off 'everything' for superior combat...

The combat in SH-HC takes into account over Alex's experience as a soldier. He may now for one execute combos with speed attacks and power attacks. He can dodge the enemies attacks too, he can stun enemies which can then lead to a blood spurting finisher move. Its all great in theory, and SH-HC manages to pull it off successfully for the most part, but its still pretty cumbersome at this stage, the pause between animations and steep learning curve with the dodge maneuver equal to some pretty tough battles to go through.

Yes SH-HC is certaintly the toughest SH so far (as far as they all go for their normal difficulties) but sadly most of the time can be down to a flawed combat system.
The combat overall still has plenty to offer. Just like the past SH games you'll come across plenty of different weapons for you to fight with. There all the usual fair with SH games. Lead pipe, handgun, rifle ect. But unlike the past SH games, ammo for your firearms is very scarce and your only able to carry a small amount of ammo too. Melee is much more prominent in the latest entry, unlike past SH games also, is that each melee weapon isn't just to be replaced with every new one you come across. Your standard three, knife, lead pipe and fire axe all have their own specialties and will be prefered for many different situations unlike say SH4 which eventually would have you just relying on the axe once found.
Gunplay too is changed too, Alex now aims with an over the shoulder view (Its already begun?!?) and has a free aim instead of the auto aim from past SH games allowing for more precise shots but also a much more reliance on ammo since no auto aim obviously means not every bullet will hit.
Of course much like every game these days theres also a few quick time events, however they all consist of rapidly pressing one button rather than a series of different buttons. They mostly revolve around being grabbed by an enemy but some still exist with prying doors open or rotating a valve.

Overall SH-HC definately looks to be more action oriented than most SH games but infact more than makes up for it with a few other alterations. Again ammo for your firearms is scarce and more importantly while you as a soldier can dish alot of damage than past protagonists, the monsters this time around can possibly deal just as much. A small amount of first aid kits/health drinks to come across too help make up for the extra additive of character skills.

The puzzles that the SH games were initally known for have managed to bring back some more emphasis in SH-HC, theres no absolute migraine inducing puzzles to some SH fans annoyance, but whats there is certaintly much more satisfying than SH4 and its practically complete devoid of riddles.

Ironically though concerning the games difficulty, as the game goes on, the difficulty will eventually reveal itself as just as learning curve. Its still challenging at times but once you get the hang of the dodge maneauver and weapon combo's and attributes you'll soon find the monsters suprisingly easy, with the ammo and health kits slowly building up. I for one, as an example, found it 'tough' at times, yet only had Alex killed once throughout my first run (on normal mode).

With the gameplays many changes and tweaks, it can still give off some delightful nosaltgia with everything else. The enviroments are what you'de expect, dark, gloomy and with an absurd amount of doors with broken locks. Not like thats a bad thing ( well the broken lock thing is pretty annoying) and espiecally with its very impressive graphics to stand on, SH-HC is certaintly one of the most atmospheric survival horror games I've played. The transistion to the infamous 'Other World' too plays out excellently also. Much like the movie you'll find yourself watching as all the 'semi-normal' enviroments just peel off to reveal the grimey, rusty and hellish enviroments were all so fond of.

The sound aspect of it all is predictably impressive, not on the scale of past SH games however when speaking for the soundtrack. Each SH game had plenty of superb tunes to find yourself downloading soon after completion, with that 'one' specific song that could just twist your emotions and make you want to cry...:P...SH2's //Laura's song//...SH3's //Your not here//...SH4's //Room of Angels//. SH5 though hardly even has any soundtrack to find yourself falling in love with. Alex's theme that will play throughout, in the background of some gameplay sections too, is at least memorable, but thats all their was to remember. Not to piss on the genuis that is Akira, but his latest outing for the SH soundtrack wasn't as evident as I'de of liked.
Besides that though everything else is top SH quality. The sound effects all sound appropiate and the distort coming of the radio is as frightening as ever, espiecally when you don't actually know where the enemy is. Voice acting too is of very good quality, matching SH3's. Though this time with more than just Heather and Vincent. SH-HC has a rather large cast, each giving some at least decent performances. Alex is definately notable and probably has as much a distinctive personality as Heather. It is a shame that besides Alex and his eventual ''Black, slighty comic relief, sidekick'' that we don't get all that much time with many of the characters. Literally some will appear and then simply vanish until near the very end of the game.

The game at least still carries its short length much like the predeccesors. Taking at most around 10 hours, its at least the longest one in the series but by todays standards too short for my liking. As always it will make up for it with some neat extra's. 6 unlockable costumes, some extra weapons to cut through with, few difficulties ((only concerning combat, not puzzles)) and of course multiple endings should keep a dedicated SH fan busy.

With it all put together and we have a pretty appealing entry into the SH franchise. Certain aspects could of been improved, and some seriously need it, but hopefully this is just a lesson to learn from for double helix, or whoever else will have a go, for them to possibly create one of the best SH's yet.