Game Developer magazine's postmortem has some insights and hints about the development process:
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This year marks the Silent Hill series' 15th anniversary
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Game Developer magazine's postmortem has some insights and hints about the development process:
I was expecting more in terms of the exploration in downpour. From the previews and dev dairys leading up to release, selling it as an "open world" silenthill game. Like they were doing something new.. There was as much, if not more town to explore in SH1/2.
The art style and aesthetics were pretty good for the most part though. imo
When its compared to the originals its easy to underrate it. Im going into it this time like its got nothing to do with SH.. "its just a survival horror game", as far as im concerned. I know theres a decent game in there.
afternoon delight
Member
Silent Hill 2 and 3 are the best examples of horror media. Crazy shit and all, they're the peak for me.
encephalon
Member
Series should have been put to rest after 3, 4 being a new series or standalone title.
Very cool will read later....kinda bummed the rest of the what went wrong is missing
EDIT: Wait its out of order and missing a few pages
My dream game is an open world silent hill where every building can be entered. Every door that only rattled in previous games can be broken down with an ax. I would kill for silent hill 2 in an open world setting. Can you imagine getting into a rowboat and finally exploring the little island in the middle of Toluca lake?
I fixed the order. The missing pages are just ads. In any case, here's the full magazine and article: http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_March_2005.pdf
in the whole thread, these were the only 2 mentions of Silent Hill: Book of Memories.
what a sad thing that game was.
The Praiseworthy
Member
One of my favorite gaming series of all time... I liked Homecoming because at less it felt like Silent Hill and that plot twist and the music, yeah I will take it over Downpour any day.
Konami should give the series to MC to reboot it, I know they can save the series.
Konami should give the series to MC to reboot it, I know they can save the series.
He worked on origins and Shattered Memories, then vanished, then came back for fucling Book of Memories and the fucking movie 2. He's cray.
And Licht's score suited the game excelently and to be honest I was getting tired of Yamaoka's random static and lonely guitar. if Akira is not ready, Licht should come back.
Melchiah
Member
No love for the first? I have all four of them as originals, and I love SH1 the most, as it's more dark and industrial, whereas the later ones are dominated by quitar tunes. I wish they had made double albums, with all the industrial tracks on the other disc.
Samir Sedlar
Member
For one reason or another I have a feeling that Konami is going to do great with Silent Hill 9, I mean Downpour had potential and was to a degree pretty good.
Besides with Kojima showing interest in being a Producer/Working on Silent Hill + the FOX Engine, I think things may get interesting.
What else does Konami have to show at E3 this year ?!, Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 & Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes would have been released, so it is a perfect time to unveil Silent Hill.
Besides with Kojima showing interest in being a Producer/Working on Silent Hill + the FOX Engine, I think things may get interesting.
What else does Konami have to show at E3 this year ?!, Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 & Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes would have been released, so it is a perfect time to unveil Silent Hill.
I like how you think.
Downpour came the closest but it didn't get the time or budget it needed. Whoever designed the melee combat system must really hate videogames.
Konami asked Kojima to direct a Silent Hill game, but he's kinda wary to do it:
http://www.destructoid.com/konami-has-asked-hideo-kojima-to-helm-silent-hill-235750.phtml
Source? He is "thanked" in Origins, while he did do the cover for the game's Japanese OST. Never heard about any affiliation with SM. In any case, I think you are severely overstating his involvement in any degree whatsoever with any titles after SH4.
It's not about getting Yamaoka back. It's about the notion that the style of sound by Licht seems forgettable in my experience and I'm usually really much into the ambient genre and unfortunately Licht fails to make something memorable or significant. It doesn't proceed move beyond a TV-/film style
When in doubt, call Platinum games/MercurySteam right Kojima? RIGHT?
I was wrong, sorry, Yamaoka did work until SM and then went to work on the movies. I thought Ito had designed the monsters for SM and Origins but I was mixing them up.
Interesting quote here
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
One of my all-time fave series. Too bad it kinda went tits up after SH3, even though Origins and Downpour were pretty good.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
I've always kinda wanted to play through SH4... should I go with the PS2 or Xbox version? I've heard that the Xbox version has better effects, but I have no idea if there were other parts of the game that didn't make it onto the system intact.
Oh, I might get it down the line then. I always wanted to play Silent Hill series but 2 and 3 and 4 are ungodly expensive on PS2 and for some reason I don't really want to play the first one. HD Collection is the only cheap legal alternative for 2 and 3.
Oh, I might get it down the line then. I always wanted to play Silent Hill series but 2 and 3 and 4 are ungodly expensive on PS2 and for some reason I don't really want to play the first one. HD Collection is the only cheap legal alternative for 2 and 3.
Try to watch this first.
Part 1: http://youtu.be/wya4XhTPMcc
Part 2: http://youtu.be/TxYkNUyBhS4
Then make your decision.
Also; SH2 is not really THAT expensive as it goes for around $10, 3 goes around for $20 and you can find 4 for that price or maybe even cheaper with a little luck.
The HD is cheaper but what's the point when the games are presented so poorly.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
Beatmania IIDX HELLZ YEAH MOTHERFUCKERS
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
Silent Hill is a series that I got into late... Very late, but I have come to adore and appreciate. But I am a weird one and I don't think the newer games are bad, even Homecoming, but Homecoming is the worst SH game and just an okay game.
For me personally;
SH3 = SH2 > SH4 > SH1 = SHD > SHSM > SHO > SHH
Haven't played Book of Memories, and only part-way through the Gameboy visual novel.
(But I liked all of them)
For me personally;
SH3 = SH2 > SH4 > SH1 = SHD > SHSM > SHO > SHH
Haven't played Book of Memories, and only part-way through the Gameboy visual novel.
(But I liked all of them)
revolverjgw
Member
1, 2, 3 and Shattered Memories are among my most loved games ever. I remember playing the first one like it was yesterday, freaking out at the knife wielding demon baby mob was one of my all time great gaming memories.
Unsure if this has been posted yet but it is a must watch for any fan. Please make sure you have played the game first.
Silent Hill 2 documentary & developer insight
Silent Hill 2 documentary & developer insight
ResidentDante
Member
My favourite is the first game, the PAL version I owned looked like this:
I've also played through: SH2 & Dir. Cut, SH3, SH4, SH Origins and SH Homecoming.
And I actually like the movies!
I've also played through: SH2 & Dir. Cut, SH3, SH4, SH Origins and SH Homecoming.
And I actually like the movies!
SolidSnakex
Member
At the very least he was implying that she is killing real people, otherwise he would've had no reason to say he was joking. The real question is whether or not he was joking or if he was being serious but decided to play it off as a joke because he was worried that the truth might scare her off. Some fans believe that the "monsters" are actually cult members that still live in SH. But it's one of those questions about the series that will always be debated due to not having an official answer, which is a good thing.
encephalon
Member
My favourite is the first game, the PAL version I owned looked like this:
I've also played through: SH2 & Dir. Cut, SH3, SH4, SH Origins and SH Homecoming.
And I actually like the movies!
The PAL ver. has the best cover.
Jawmuncher
Member
You know I have still not played any of the Silent Hill games from Team Silent.
Would have played them had they not messed up the HD release. Though funny enough I have played all of the other games after those. Also enjoying all of them aside from Homecoming.
Would have played them had they not messed up the HD release. Though funny enough I have played all of the other games after those. Also enjoying all of them aside from Homecoming.
SolidSnakex
Member
I wonder how different things would've been for the series had it originated during the last generation? The series originated and peaked during generations where atmosphere and storytelling really weren't valued much by gamers. Now you see games today have a lot of success just based around their atmosphere or their storytelling with little else to go along with it. In the end, they series never really got the sales or recognition that they deserved.
ResidentDante
Member
High five!
The first couple of entries sold a couple of millions of copies, the series has TEN entries, the first couple of games are the hallmark of psychological/atmospheric horror, Silent Hill 2 is considered one of the best narratives in video games history, and the IP even got two film adaptations. I think the series did pretty well, in retrospect.
EDIT: In terms of creative influence on the rest of the games industry and developers, I completely agree with you though. Not many people have picked up on the style and execution of adult themes of the first couple of SH games.
SCEJ usually collaborates with 3rd party devs, it would be a dream come true to see Keiichiro Toyama return to the SH franchise. I'm not sure if Konami would want that but right now I feel that's the only way to save the franchise, going back to its roots with the guy that started it all. Akira Yamaoka will of course be on board.
ResidentDante
Member
This. It did really well and got the praise it deserved back then. Konami have themselves to blame for fucking up the series afterwards.
SolidSnakex
Member
I guess I just feel that it would've had a much bigger impact if it were released on last gen consoles that when it was released. It was written off as a RE clone by many at the time, even though it didn't have a whole lot in common with RE aside from a horror theme. We're now in a time when people are wanting mature storytelling, adult themes, proper treatment of genders etc. And Silent Hill was doing that all the way back in the 90's and early 2000's. It's a series that's dealt with child molestation, suicide, sickness, bullying etc. And did it all in ways that weren't cheesy or insulting. But we don't see a whole lot of credit given to it today or even a lot of people talking about what it did.
I think it would've been a bigger success at retail last gen due to those factors. But we'll never know how things would've gone. :/
gamergirly
Member
I hope they revamp the series this gen......
Yep, I'm a bit tired of seeing people talk about a "Team Silent". There's no such thing, really.
FunkyPajamas
Member
I know some of you guys hate them, but I can't leave without posting this song, I love their passion for all things SH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvcs-9lSm64
Also, happy anniversary Silent Hill. I have fond memories of letting a friend play SH1 (with multiple people in the room) and he was scared shitless. He always had a sigh of relief every time a door was jammed, and let out a loud "AW HELL NAW" everytime a door would actually open and he had to explore the room.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvcs-9lSm64
Also, happy anniversary Silent Hill. I have fond memories of letting a friend play SH1 (with multiple people in the room) and he was scared shitless. He always had a sigh of relief every time a door was jammed, and let out a loud "AW HELL NAW" everytime a door would actually open and he had to explore the room.
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
Seriously considering doing some SH replaying though. Silent Hill 1's first release (in the US) happens in four days (on January 31st).
Apparently Eurogamer did a retrospective on the first game a couple of weeks ago: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-19-silent-hill-retrospective
Haeralis The BRave
Banned
This is one of my favorite franchises of all time. It has kept me engrossed in its world since I first played Silent Hill 2 in April 2012. Since then, I've beaten SH1, SH2, SH3, SH4, SH Shattered Memories and Downpour, and managed to get the platinum for both SH2 and SH3 since I love them so much (that ten star rank in SH2 was the most difficult thing I did in a game last year!)
I love SH1-4 and SH SM, but Downpour was a major letdown and I thought that it was terrible.
I love SH1-4 and SH SM, but Downpour was a major letdown and I thought that it was terrible.
Calamari41
41 > 38
The first three games, especially two and three, are as close as videogames have yet come to true honest-to-god works of art.
I will submit that I had by far the "best" experience of anybody playing Silent Hill 3. The game came out the same day that I had my wisdom teeth pulled, so I got through the whole thing in three days of playing while just slightly loopy on painkillers and with the strong taste of blood in my mouth. It was awesome, I felt like I was in the game especially since the Otherworld in that particular game was very blood-heavy in its theme.
Silent Hill 4 was the last one that I played until Shattered Memories, and while I do think 4 was quite a bit worse than the first three, I still enjoyed it. It did a wonderful job of making it feel like you were in a dream the whole time.
I will submit that I had by far the "best" experience of anybody playing Silent Hill 3. The game came out the same day that I had my wisdom teeth pulled, so I got through the whole thing in three days of playing while just slightly loopy on painkillers and with the strong taste of blood in my mouth. It was awesome, I felt like I was in the game especially since the Otherworld in that particular game was very blood-heavy in its theme.
Silent Hill 4 was the last one that I played until Shattered Memories, and while I do think 4 was quite a bit worse than the first three, I still enjoyed it. It did a wonderful job of making it feel like you were in a dream the whole time.
I love personal stories/anecdotes like this to frame the activity of playing these games. Anyone else got any in regards to playing the Silent Hill games?
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