Ok, I'm about 3/4ths (maybe more) through this game now but I've seen enough thus far to give a mini review on it.
Now, my opinions are 100% biased, because I love the sweaty, dripping shit out of the SH series. I haven't played any of the ones for handhelds, but 1-4 (yes, even 4) were always my favorite survival horror games. Even more than Clock Tower, more than Resident Evil (which has honestly become more of the action genre than a survival horror).
What I've been ITCHING for, what I've been dying for, is another SH2. The nuances, the underlying metaphors in that game -- they were magnificent. SH3 had a lot of rivaling "freaky" moments, but the sexually deviant and mysteriously EVIL elements were absent. SH4 creeped the shit out of me only in the apartment (I lived in a VERY similar-looking apt at the time). SH1 is obviously a classic, and I still think the scariest SH monsters are the shadow babies from the elementary school.
Now then, SH5.
I was worried about this one since it's the 1st one not controlled by Team Silent (or, any Japanese maker: it's American-made). I worried that they'd make it more action-based. They made it star a soldier, and completely overhauled the fighting system. Don't get me wrong, it's long overdue, but I worried that they would neglect the other elements.
Blissfully, they did not. There are still plenty of broken locks, extremely fucked-up inhabitants, interesting and gross monsters, and highly-detailed environments.
But something's off.
I'm still trying to put my finger on it, but this iteration is simply LESS SCARY. There have been a few trippy moments, but it seems like they missed opportunities for fear all over the place. It's ... Watered down, somehow.
First, the main character, Alex Shepherd, is probably the most level-headed guy to ever live. Ever. He seems absolutely unaffected by his environment. Sure, most SH characters (with exception of Heather) are blessed with balls of steel in being able to walk into Hell and not even complain. But there are moments where Alex can talk to his mom or other residents, and even after seeing the city in ruins and monsters threatening certain death, he barely even mentions that there's a problem.
Second, you're in Hell only a small portion of the game, from time to time, and seemingly, only when you're about to go Mano e Mano with a boss. Don't get me wrong, the REGULAR Shepherd's Glen and Silent Hill are very nasty/creepy. But they obviously pale in comparison to the "Nasty World" versions (meat walls/floors, lots of rusted metal, grating, etc). The team did a really excellent job with the Hell worlds, it's a shame you don't see it more often.
Thirdly, plot-driven scenes and genuine "freak out" moments are rare and brief. There were times in SH1/2/3 where I was quite literally shitting bricks, and yet I've only seen one of these moments in SH5, and even then, it was very, very short.
Lastly, the plot is kinda handed to you in a way. The subtleties and intricacies of the story are no longer handled in an optional manner. The piecework of the puzzle behind what's going on is mainly handled by required cutscenes, which really robbed a lot of unnerving-ness from the setting, and the game as a whole. Sure, there's still mystery, you'll still be kept guessing for a while, but things are falling into place too neatly for any SH game.
I think the combo of those 4 things above are what take away from the overall terror factor of the game.
I was also rather dejected to find that they used 3 elements straight from the movie:
I wouldn't say the movie was BAD, but I definitely think they should have distanced themselves from using the movie's elements.
Despite the shortcomings however, the combat IS a whole lot better. The areas you explore (while they're no bunny-filled amusement park of doom) are still plagued with nastiness, grime, and don't skimp on the corpses or meat. The ambient sound is still top-notch. I have 5.1 surround sound, and trust me, hearing meat slops or bugs chittering or random bellows/screeches erupting from behind me, is unsettling!
You also pit Alex with some choices no man should have to face, ESPECIALLY
And, though I'm not QUITE there yet, I've heard there are 6 endings, one of them a UFO ending (obviously). :D
Anyway, I'd give this round of gorey fun a 7.5/10. It met most of my expectations, but fell just short on the creep-factor.
Now, my opinions are 100% biased, because I love the sweaty, dripping shit out of the SH series. I haven't played any of the ones for handhelds, but 1-4 (yes, even 4) were always my favorite survival horror games. Even more than Clock Tower, more than Resident Evil (which has honestly become more of the action genre than a survival horror).
What I've been ITCHING for, what I've been dying for, is another SH2. The nuances, the underlying metaphors in that game -- they were magnificent. SH3 had a lot of rivaling "freaky" moments, but the sexually deviant and mysteriously EVIL elements were absent. SH4 creeped the shit out of me only in the apartment (I lived in a VERY similar-looking apt at the time). SH1 is obviously a classic, and I still think the scariest SH monsters are the shadow babies from the elementary school.
Now then, SH5.
I was worried about this one since it's the 1st one not controlled by Team Silent (or, any Japanese maker: it's American-made). I worried that they'd make it more action-based. They made it star a soldier, and completely overhauled the fighting system. Don't get me wrong, it's long overdue, but I worried that they would neglect the other elements.
Blissfully, they did not. There are still plenty of broken locks, extremely fucked-up inhabitants, interesting and gross monsters, and highly-detailed environments.
But something's off.
I'm still trying to put my finger on it, but this iteration is simply LESS SCARY. There have been a few trippy moments, but it seems like they missed opportunities for fear all over the place. It's ... Watered down, somehow.
First, the main character, Alex Shepherd, is probably the most level-headed guy to ever live. Ever. He seems absolutely unaffected by his environment. Sure, most SH characters (with exception of Heather) are blessed with balls of steel in being able to walk into Hell and not even complain. But there are moments where Alex can talk to his mom or other residents, and even after seeing the city in ruins and monsters threatening certain death, he barely even mentions that there's a problem.
For example, you finally find your mom. She tells you she was in the basement, after Alex only quizzically wonders about her dress being wet (ignoring the EXTREME state of disrepair of the house). You go in the basement and are attacked by a creature. You go back up to mommy, and Alex says nothing to her, nor she, him. It's very off, feels incomplete. Because if that'd happened to me, I'd be shaking her ass and slapping that bitch until she gave me some answers!
Second, you're in Hell only a small portion of the game, from time to time, and seemingly, only when you're about to go Mano e Mano with a boss. Don't get me wrong, the REGULAR Shepherd's Glen and Silent Hill are very nasty/creepy. But they obviously pale in comparison to the "Nasty World" versions (meat walls/floors, lots of rusted metal, grating, etc). The team did a really excellent job with the Hell worlds, it's a shame you don't see it more often.
Thirdly, plot-driven scenes and genuine "freak out" moments are rare and brief. There were times in SH1/2/3 where I was quite literally shitting bricks, and yet I've only seen one of these moments in SH5, and even then, it was very, very short.
Pyramid Head makes a comeback, which I thought was odd. I always thought the demons were specific to the characters they're focused on (i.e. James' demons aren't Alex's). However PH is the "executioner" for the SH cult, so I suppose he can still work. Also he's still badass. And so far, I've only seen him 1 time, for like 10 seconds (creepiest part in the game so far).
Lastly, the plot is kinda handed to you in a way. The subtleties and intricacies of the story are no longer handled in an optional manner. The piecework of the puzzle behind what's going on is mainly handled by required cutscenes, which really robbed a lot of unnerving-ness from the setting, and the game as a whole. Sure, there's still mystery, you'll still be kept guessing for a while, but things are falling into place too neatly for any SH game.
I think the combo of those 4 things above are what take away from the overall terror factor of the game.
I was also rather dejected to find that they used 3 elements straight from the movie:
1.) the way the world "disintigrates" into Hell -- I much prefered the gradual "nastining" (lol) in previous games
2.) The way swarms of bugs follow Pyramid Head
3.) The fact that cult members are possibly running the show, instead of the show running them (i.e. you actually FIGHT cult soldiers, human ones, toward the end. Which is lame :/, who wants to fight HUMANS, lol
2.) The way swarms of bugs follow Pyramid Head
3.) The fact that cult members are possibly running the show, instead of the show running them (i.e. you actually FIGHT cult soldiers, human ones, toward the end. Which is lame :/, who wants to fight HUMANS, lol
Despite the shortcomings however, the combat IS a whole lot better. The areas you explore (while they're no bunny-filled amusement park of doom) are still plagued with nastiness, grime, and don't skimp on the corpses or meat. The ambient sound is still top-notch. I have 5.1 surround sound, and trust me, hearing meat slops or bugs chittering or random bellows/screeches erupting from behind me, is unsettling!
You also pit Alex with some choices no man should have to face, ESPECIALLY
choosing to kill your mom yourself or let her die horribly? Jesus christ that made ME feel bad!
And, though I'm not QUITE there yet, I've heard there are 6 endings, one of them a UFO ending (obviously). :D
Anyway, I'd give this round of gorey fun a 7.5/10. It met most of my expectations, but fell just short on the creep-factor.
