Silent Hill HD. Now playing SH Downpour

[NAZGÛL]

Konami just released the Silent Hill HD collection. It consists part 2 and 3. I played part 2 years ago, and I regarded it as one of the best ames ever back then.

I got the x-box 360 version (PAL).

I just played through SH 2, and its such a great game. I never get scared of games, but this one still gets under my skin. Its not made of jump scares, but the story and setting is really unnerving. It makes me sick, unsettled, stressed and scared. Its feels very David Lynch. The monsters design is made from symbolism. The music and sound is very unique and disturbing. So its a mix of terror and beauty.

The controls and fighting are stiff, so if you never played this before, they will take a few minuted to get used to. In my opinion they make the game scarier together with the camera that seems to have a life of its own. The graphics hold up pretty well, and the improved textures look nice. But sure, you can see this is a 10 year old game. But its a damn nice looking 10 year old game.

Theres a lot of fan rage against this collection. Everywhere people warn about bying, saying its butchered. The PS3 has got a patch, the x-box 360 hasnt, and will not get one. The guys making the HD port only got a beta version, as the original isnt available anymore.

After reading all that I was prepaired for trouble. And had close to none. The only problem I had was bad lip sync in one (!) short sequence. The water effect in one scene looks bad. That scene is about one and a half minutes. Other than that I had no problems at all. Sometimes when the cinematic clips starts theres a small stutter, but to me it didnt ruin the experience. I had way more problem when playing the original PC release.

So to me SH 2 could have been even better, however the problems are so small, that I dont get bothered, and getting to play this fantastic game on my console with better textures, and to a descent price, felt all worth it.¨

Here is a guy playing the first 20 minutes on the x-box version. It gives you an idea of the gameplay and looks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWbX37cD6-M&feature=relmfu

Ill start play SH 3 and will get back to you and tell if it plays as good.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Silent Hill HD

I'm glad you like it, but I'll only buy it if I find it for 5.00 in a pawn shop or a bargin bin. They didn't just change the voices (although fans and original voice actors did manage to get the original voices into the game with enough bitching, thankfully, but only for Silent Hill 2) they also completely removed and or changed some sound effects and dialogue as well. Silent Hill 3 has a new voice cast. Silent Hill 2 you have the option to use the original voice actors, which are far superior to the new voice actors in my opinion. I have the PC version of Silent Hill 2 and 3 and will stick with those.

Silent Hill 2 is the best Silent Hill game I've ever played.

 

[NAZGÛL]

Re: Silent Hill HD

I played with the original voices in 2, as I actually like the weird way some lines are delivered (Angela is really weird). I can definately understand if someone didnt like them, as Ive seen some say. I might try the new ones the next playthrough though. The James breathing, seems off though.

Im playing SH3 atm. A game I only played a little before, and since I dont have any nostalgic attatchment to the old voices, I dont mind the new ones. Given the option, Id have liked to try the old ones however.
Im not getting the same feeling for the SH 3 as for 2. Its more challenging, but I miss that slow, dark setting. It doesnt make the game bad, SH 2 is just so brilliant. 3 looks great though.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Silent Hill HD

Have you played any of the other games? Silent Hill 1 is good, but the graphics are pretty bad. Still a great game though. Downpour is really good too.

 

[NAZGÛL]

Re: Silent Hill HD

I have only watched some playthroughs videos of SH1 on youtube, seems to be really good. I played SH 4, and I really, really liked it. My pc died before I completed it though.

Im on the fence of trying Homecoming or Downpour next. Both are getting really mixed reviews (I dont care much for reviews, but its hard to decide wich one Id prefer). Which one gives you that special SH feeling best? The fighting and save system in Downpour looks like it could be annoying.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Re: Silent Hill HD

Downpour feels more like a Silent Hill game to me than Homecoming. Homecoming seems really action based. Downpour kind of gives a Silent Hill 2 feel as far as the game play.

 

[NAZGÛL]

Re: Silent Hill HD

Downpour feels more like a Silent Hill game to me than Homecoming. Homecoming seems really action based. Downpour kind of gives a Silent Hill 2 feel as far as the game play.

Ah, well then thats the one Im playing next. I hope the reported graphical issues wont be to bad. Thanks for the tip! :thumbsup

 

[Wes R]

Re: Silent Hill HD

I'm glad you like it, but I'll only buy it if I find it for 5.00 in a pawn shop or a bargin bin. They didn't just change the voices (although fans and original voice actors did manage to get the original voices into the game with enough bitching, thankfully, but only for Silent Hill 2) they also completely removed and or changed some sound effects and dialogue as well. Silent Hill 3 has a new voice cast. Silent Hill 2 you have the option to use the original voice actors, which are far superior to the new voice actors in my opinion. I have the PC version of Silent Hill 2 and 3 and will stick with those.

Silent Hill 2 is the best Silent Hill game I've ever played.

That's happening more and more on these HD collections, when they work right as several of HD collections on Amazon have all sorts of issues, because the audio from the older games doesn't transfer well apparently. Which is okay but at least rerecord the original lines.

 

[NAZGÛL]

Re: Silent Hill HD

I played through SH 3 now. The voices felt ok, but Heather sounded older than 17. The sounds she did when swinging melee wpns felt out of place. It didnt destroy the experience for me though. Im not used to the originals like I said.

The only bugs I noticed were rough music cuts once or twice. Some slow lipsync in the cut scenes. I only had framerate stutter at one place, and it was like one second. I think the textures looked nice and detaied. I like it, but I understand if some might find it to clean.

The game itself is really good. Its harder compaired to SH2, and they use alot of monsters, so the creeping scary feel of wondering what will come next isnt as strong. I did wonder if I would have enough ammo and med in the end, and I had used my last med pack when I finished it. The saving points felt less common and easy to miss. The story, while not as fantastic as SH 2 (wich is a masterpiece) is really good and interesting.

I must say the game collection is definately worth getting even with the xbox 360.

I feel I need to get Downpour and try it out.

 

[NAZGÛL]

Re: Silent Hill HD

Played a few h of Downpour. Im really liking it so far. The atmosphere is true to the first Silent Hill games, and its easy to like the protagonist. The new take on the otherworld is great also.

Im surprised to find a genuine survival horror game made today.

 

[Egon Spengler]

Told you it was good!

 

[NAZGÛL]

Yeah, thanks for the tip! I havent had any framerate issue. Only 2 small ones hardly noticable in 5 hours. I havent patched it. I guess it could be patched as we with PAL got it later I think. What is up with some reviews??? It is very true to the survival horror concept, but in a new way. And now Valta who did it may be shut down... Shame! I would have liked them to continue and evolve what they started. They deserve it.

Well, Gamespot gave SH2 a poor review. LOL

Just put on a radio in the game and it played one of my fave swedish artists Anna Ternheim. Brilliant choice for a SH game. Her music often gives a SH feel.