Silent Hill: Homecoming

[FrighT MasteR]

Got a couple hours of gameplay in so far. Pretty standard Silent Hill game. Not a whole lot of difference from the previous games. The graphics aren't as good as they should be considering it's on a next-gen console, however, the targeting and overall combat system has improved. I like how you interact more with objects and the option to ask different questions to key characters is a nice touch.

The rest, however, is pretty much the same stuff. The story so far isn't very interesting -- you're a guy returning home after being discharged from the military and home turns out to be a foggy desolate place. As usual, you meet up with strange people throughout the town that may answer a few questions, and you spend most of your time exploring and looking for items. The task right now is to look for your little brother Joshua.

To be honest I expected a bit more to come out of a next-gen SH game. Though, the fact that it hasn't exactly strayed too far from the original games isn't necessarily a bad thing, since I enjoyed playing the previous installments with the exception of a couple of the more recent efforts. It would have been nice if they added more new additions to the game though.

Anyone else give this a check yet?

[Nigbo]

If i were to review the game, it would be right on par with everything you said.

[FrighT MasteR]

How far into the game are you?

[slimeisacharacter]

Got mine yesterday and put in some time. Went through the Nightmare sequence, the first visit to Shepard's Glen, and on my first visit to Silent Hill.

Graphics: Nothing wrong with them. Everything is decent. No clipping, no shading errors, no animation overlaps. But, as Fright mentioned, it has that "WTF?" feel considering its a next-gen/blu-ray game. They could have bumped it up a bit on quality, especially if you compare its graphics to other recent releases like Star Wars: Force unleashed. Still, the graphics it does run are without flaw as far as I can tell.

Story: Slow starter. You're hunting for your brother (why you don't really care about your parents or anyone else from your home town, I'll never know). A few nightmares while you are away cause you to feel something is wrong so you head home to look for him.

Combat Gameplay: Main character has had military training, so he has alot more freedom when it comes to combat that prior SH playable characters. The dodge and hit-combination systems are quite nice. The addition to the "press the flashing buttons on screen to act" system popular in other games is not over done... I was worried about that at first.

General Gameplay: Radio and flashlight are back and in their traditional roles, which made me happy. Inventory and weapon wheels are easy to work with at a moments notice as well. Sides that, its a SH game. Errie surroundings, lots of fog, things jumping out at you from everywhere, side characters you always want to hit cause they are so vague with information. Between the main character turning his head towards important objects and most useful items (health items, keys, ect) slightly brighter than their surrounding, its easy to spot useful items.

I have not reached a boss fight yet and the only one I have seen game-play trailers on is the one from X-play's E3 coverage, which was not bad. Hoping they are creative with those sequences...

Overall: Its a Silent Hill game. If you enjoyed the prior SH games, you'll like this one. If you have never played a SH game, its a decent game to try the series out. If you hate SH or have little interest in the series, save your cash and wait for Dead Space for your "survival horror" gaming fix.

Final Verdict: 8/10, underplayed graphics and underworked background story, but overall an enjoyable gaming experience.

[Misfit]

wasnt ever a big fan of silent hill games, they where alright at best, bing on a new fatal frame tho:bigthumbup:

[LgOr]

cool game so far. still has the creepy atmosphere and whatnot still gets me :freaked::shakes:

[slimeisacharacter]

Cleared the first two boss fights. Wished there were more health items around certain areas, but thats my suck level and nothing I would blame on the game.

Anyways, the two bosses I fought so far were interesting. I enjoyed them and the encounters were creative (loved scenes leading up to them). But it seemed that after I figured out the trick to killing them they fell to easy for boss encounters.

I do like that they ensured the different weapons would work better on some critters than others to try and prevent players from sinking into a "single weapon for whole game" trip. Of course, finding another box of shotgun shells puts a smile on my face no matter where I am. :bigthumbup:

[MrNobody]

Is there a way to fix the invert axis where down on the pad is up and up is down? I thought all games had this optin but I can't find it here.

[Chief Falling Rock]

my best friend is a silent hill nut. I played the first one and thought it was very....very....very.....slow. (and made little sense). I think I'm gonna rent this one though Give the hill another shot since its one of the most loved series out there.

[slimeisacharacter]

Is there a way to fix the invert axis where down on the pad is up and up is down? I thought all games had this optin but I can't find it here.

Should be able to change it in options menu.

[MrNobody]

I checked the options and didn't see anything. Just wondering if I missed it. You played the game. I guess you play the way it is. I'm so used to the invert on that this is screwing me up.

[FrighT MasteR]

I suck at this game :mad:

Finally got some ammo, but I have like no extra life to use. I'm lucky the game started me off at half-life at the last checkpoint after I died, because I had barely any life left. I just finished going through the sewers, by the way. :bored:

[slimeisacharacter]

Cleared the game twice so far, attaining the "good ending" and the "UFO ending" so far. Really enjoying the unlocked weapons. Good way to kill time til Dead Space... Trying for the "bad ending" this time. "UFO ending"'s unlock weapon makes reclearing the game a joke. hehehe

Suggestions:
Best advice is save shotgun shells for boss fights or certain encounters with several hard baddies (like end of sewer). Never felt a need to horde pistol or rifle rounds for boss fights as long as I had some shotgun rounds left, so use them on random encounters if it helps. Some places, baddies respawn no matter how many you wack... so don't linger. Can also just ignore and bypass some baddies, like Lurkers in the streets, large open spaces are your friends. Last thought... save the injections (the things that increase your max health) til you are hurting. Why waste the free heal just for a lil health boast if you don't need to. Hope that helps. :thumbup:

[FrighT MasteR]

The thing about the syringes is that I've used like 3 on accident already. I would use one of those medicine bottles to heal, then out of nowhere I use a syringe, even though I didn't select it :mad:

[slimeisacharacter]

The thing about the syringes is that I've used like 3 on accident already. I would use one of those medicine bottles to heal, then out of nowhere I use a syringe, even though I didn't select it :mad:

Done that a few times myself... that or double hit a bottle by accident. Thats where my "save often" habbits pay off. Better to rerun the last 5 mins rather than die.

[FrighT MasteR]

They make it so challenging having the saves so spread out, I hate having to go back just to save, I wish they made it so it autosaves at checkpoints :mad:

[slimeisacharacter]

Aim for the UFO ending, replay is less stress with a laser pistol with unlimited ammo in your hands.

[FrighT MasteR]

I don't even know what I would have to do to get certain endings :shrugs:

[slimeisacharacter]

The ending is determined by three choices in the game:

If you shoot your mother. (Prison)
If you forgive your dad. (Church)
If you save the token black guy, Wheeler. (Underground Complex)

Different combinations = different ending. Screw over your folks and save Wheeler leads to the 'UFO ending' for example. All endings unlock a new costume and two endings unlock weapons, 'UFO ending' and 'Good ending'.

[Grandpa Crusty]

Hey Fright, are you enjoying this game? I am a Silent Hill freak, and I am absolutley hating this game, its far and away my least favorite in the series. I liked in the past that you could try to avoid confrontations if you needed to, but this game doesn't let you do that, its like they invented a new combat system and by God they will make you fight. Very few save points, no health bottles, doesn't allow you to store your ammunition. I used to like to explore in these games, but I am constantly running at like 10% health. This game is becoming more frustrating than fun, it is starting to feel like a chore to play. It is reminding me of the PS2 version of Siren.

Am I the only one feeling like this?

[FrighT MasteR]

I feel you a little, but I'm enjoying it a bit more, despite a lot of its toughness. I do wish they offered more health, as I too am always hurting and currently have no extra health on me right now. As I said above, I've already wasted 3 syringes on accident and didn't want to have to go through a crapload of baddies again, so I chose to keep going instead of restarting.

Even if they didn't increase the health bottles or what-not, they should have at least made it so it saves automatically during each checkpoint, so we wouldn't have to constantly do the same thing over and over again. However, by doing so it would have ruined the tough SH aspect to it, since I remember having to go back and forth a lot with the first game.

I do wish they'd let you skip a lot of the lame talking scenes before you get to a baddy. I kept dying with the last boss I fought and each time I had to sit through the same-old convo. :mad: But am I enjoying it? Yes, to an extent. It's hard at times, but that just means I won't beat it in three days like I normally do with games. :shrugs:

[slimeisacharacter]

Definately would enjoy more health bottles. That and increased ammo... had to leave a few boxes of pistol and shotgun shells cause of the low ammo limit.

[FrighT MasteR]

Definately would enjoy more health bottles. That and increased ammo... had to leave a few boxes of pistol and shotgun shells cause of the low ammo limit.

:mad:

I have like no ammo at all anymore, because I foolishly wasted it on the last boss :die:

[LgOr]

im enjoying the game so far. Ive avoided fighting a few times, im usually saving my ammo and using the pipe or axe by dodging and countering. Im probably still early in the game, I just saved on the Hell Descent, creepy and scary fucking atmosphere. The dogs are pissing me off, before the Hell Descent I got attacked by dog after dog :mad:

[FrighT MasteR]

Those F'n nurses are tough as hell!!

[LgOr]

pipe takes em out easy :nod:

[FrighT MasteR]

I just barely got the pipe :2far:

[LgOr]

isn't that the first weapon or second you get :scratch:

[FrighT MasteR]

I got the knife first, then the axe, then the pistol, then shotgun, then the pipe. Unless I missed it earlier in the game, I barely got it in the Hell stage.

[LgOr]

i got it early. hows did you like hell descent? I think Im almost done at the save point. kickass level man.

[FrighT MasteR]

It was interesting. Kinda reminded me of the dream levels in the Max Payne series for some reason.

[GruesomeDuece]

Game was way better than critics said. The story was metaphorically strong and went very well with the SH cannon in general.

The reason ammo is scarce is because they wanted more emphasis to be put on the new melee combat system. But this is where the problem arises. They felt that a re-done combat system meant they could make the enemies much harder, but it didn't work out so well.


The game was pretty artistic, and I believe a lot of things were well thought out (just not the puzzles, which were easy as hell). Such as the cool things I noticed about the bosses:

**********************SPOILERS******************** ****






The bosses are the children that were sacrificed by the families of Shepherd's Glenn. And they inhibit their favorite things in their lives.

The mayor's son was a tree/plant boss, and he was buried alive. And he loved treehouses.

Scarlett was dismembered, and killed her father the same way. You kill her by basically dismembering her porcelin "shell." And she was doll-like and loved dolls.

Asphyixia is self-explanatory. Nora was strangled and she liked books (Alice in Wonderland) Her "form" looks like the bug/caterpillar from that book.

Amnion is Josh, who drowned (he spews water). He liked spiders (bugs) and his form reflects that.

Anyway, fans of SH should def check it.

[slimeisacharacter]

Try using your knife on the nurses/dogs. Fast attack critters demand a fast attack weapon. I like the pipe over the axe for other baddies because they are similar in damage (axe is a bit more), but pipe is faster which leaves less chance for baddies to strike. Only baddie I really favored the axe on would be those blade-headed schims (spelling?). They are fairly easy to get behind after dodging one of their charge attacks, great for heavy axe swings.

[GruesomeDuece]

SPOILERS







Get UFO ending (let mom live, don't forgive dad, save wheeler) and when you restart the game you can get the laser pistol in your bedroom in the upstairs of your house. Infinite ammo, single shot like the pistol but does as much dmg as the rifle. Makes it easy to get the "Beat the game on hard" achievement. Plus, you can beat the game in like 3-4 hours.

[FrighT MasteR]

:hmmm:

[LgOr]

anyone know how to reset the puzzle in the attic of your house?

[slimeisacharacter]

anyone know how to reset the puzzle in the attic of your house?

No resets possible, far as I can tell. Tried to reload that area a few times to reset that pesky thing, never worked. Sucks...

[FrighT MasteR]

That attic puzzle is super annoying :mad:

[FrighT MasteR]

Is there a best or preferred ending for the game?

[slimeisacharacter]

Is there a best or preferred ending for the game?

There are quite a few endings, depending on the combination of the fate of the mom, dad, and wheeler. Some give more story, some are just funny (UFO), ect. Best is a manner of opinion.

The "good ending"; caused by shooting mom, forgiving dad, and saving wheeler leads to everyone leaving alive and relatively happy. (chain saw weapon unlock too, but I dont really like it.)

The best, imo, would be the UFO ending; dont shoot mom, tell dad to go screw himself, and save wheeler. Reason for that is the unlocked weapon pretty much puts you in God mode in future run throughs, making seeing all the other endings a snap.

My favorite ending is the 'bad ending'; dont shoot mom, dont forgive dad, let wheeler die. It features everyone's favorite metal-headed badguy

Hope that helps.

[Grandpa Crusty]

Well, I finally gave up on Silent Hill. I just couldn't beat Scarlet with 25% health, and I must have tried 40 times (I admit, I suck as a gamer). Ultimately, I need to start again from the beginning and make sure I have more health when I go into the battle. Unfortunatley, while I have several different saves, I don't have a lot of health in any of them. I will end up playing it again, the game had some really good design (hell descent was great), the sound was some of the best in gaming, and the creature design was very good. It's just that I am frustrated and have Dead Space waiting, which I have heard very good things about.

Played Dead Space for about an hour and a half and the game is freaking amazing. In my opinion sound is incredibly important in a survival horror game, and this game uses it to set it's atmosphere better than any game I think I have ever played.

[FrighT MasteR]

Sounds like me. I've wasted 3 syringes already on accident and I'm always low on ammo. :bored:

[LgOr]

well wont be able to finish this for a while, Xbox finally died on me

[FrighT MasteR]

F the 360 :negative:

[Lonesamurai]

I've beaten the game 3 times now. Got the UFO ending, the "good" ending and the Hospital ending. I like this installment a lot. But as far as the graphics go, they really don't push the 360's potential as much as I'd hoped. Hey Fright wait til' you get through the prison. Asphixia is a "fun" boss. Go at her with the knife and really practice your dodging. When she falls down equip the axe and go nuts on her tail. One more thing you'll find health, ammo and a save point just before opening her door. Explore the hall, the room should be on your left. Good luck.

[nite_zombie]

Anyone know what the gemstones are for that you collect about half way through the game?

[slimeisacharacter]

Anyone know what the gemstones are for that you collect about half way through the game?

Puzzle pieces. Two of them go into a statue in a cemetary. Statue gives you a key that opens up a part of the cemetary that has the rifle in it. Cannot recall which two of the four stones it is off the top of my head. IGN or wikipedia likely has the info.

[LgOr]

so i just got into the prison. bout how far am I into it? wanna hurry and beat it so i can get into GoW as soon as possible