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[dark10x]

OK, so this has been out for a little while now. Anyone else given it a shot?

Stuck with a bad cold, so I'm not feeling my best, but I did manage to put a little time into Siren 2 tonight. I wanted to keep going, but a headache told me no.

What I CAN see, however, is that they have most certainly addressed what I feel was the number of problem with the original; difficulty. The original game was a punishing experience where one single mistake could land you back at the beginning of a lengthy level. It was very easy to end up there...

Siren now features three difficulty levels, various hints, a map that actually works, checkpoints, and various control refinements (not all of which I've experienced, no doubt). For example, you can now move at a decent pace while crouched.

The story thus far has been as initially confusing as the original game, leaving you with little idea as to what is happening and how the characters link together. I originally played the US release of the original as well and am finding the Japanese voice acting to be so much more fitting (as expected). Though, if you can't read the language, it would probably be wise to avoid as all commands and goals are presented in text.

Audio and visuals are very similar to the original, but seem a bit more complex and polished all around. The setting this time seems to be a bit more modern, which could actaully result in a more terrifying experience.

Really can't say much more than that so far as I haven't experienced enough, but it's off to a good start. I really enjoyed some aspects of the orignial, but the difficulty level was just too much. The fact that it was addressed here is enough to excite me. Can't wait until I can actually sit down and really dig in.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

for me Siren 1 was only difficult because the escort/babysitting bullshit missions made it that way.
I could outsmart those damn creatures all day... but once I had to protect some numbnut AI controlled jackass, I found many frustrating problems.

If Siren 2 = no babysitting/escort missions, I might buy it when it's $9 at GameStop. Siren 1 made me want to kill myself and everyone else around me.

Luckily I'm extremely handicapped.

 

[Senretsu]

Do you need to play the first one to understand the story in the second?

 

[TheJollyCorner]

You're handicapped?

extremely.

I type by blowing in a tube. At least I don't have to stand up to pee. *high five*

 

[Bebpo]

I have a really hard time playing this because I just can't handle the fright factor. Had the same problem with Siren 1 but it was even worse since you died so easily.

I'm slowlly slowly moving through this and I really enjoy the story-telling and interesting gameplay concept ideas. But I kinda wish I had a friend who I could watch play through the game speed-run style rather then play it myself. The checkpoints and being able to take more damage REALLY HELPS, but the new shadow stuff makes it even harder. Not to mention playing AS A BLIND GUY >_<

For all the really great new ideas they threw in, I'm a bit disappointed that so much of the core game still relies and is even more focused on dragging along others and using them for puzzles. I would have more fun PLAYING if it was just Silent Hill style and you could run through the levels by yourself. But then again, I think if you could do that it would take away from the atmosphere and the fright factor of the game.

I guess this is how the horror genre will always work. The harder the gameplay is (the worse the controls are, the smaller the draw distance is), the scary the game experience.

I'm not even sure what they'll do on PS3.

That being said I really like that you can play in FPV. I just wish the camera didn't snap around so you could really actually play in FPV.

 

[radios shipping overview]

For all the really great new ideas they threw in, I'm a bit disappointed that so much of the core game still relies and is even more focused on dragging along others and using them for puzzles.

UGH

Well, I'm done with this series. If the first game had consisted entirely of playing as the old guy, with his rifle and limited ammunition, I think I would have loved it to death - or at least I would have been able to forgive its flaws. I stopped playing after I got sick of the shoddy/canned mechanics and horrible pathfinding (stupid little tracksuit girl) that caused me to repeat levels over and over.

 

[Bebpo]

Here are some short vids to show off some of the new gameplay ideas:

Playing a game as a blind man: http://s27.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1Q0QJDVUU3VOF15KMPLEKWUD4M
Playing a game as an army dude: http://s35.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0VWAXI4EKPCS21DL0N92BMNRSJ

 

[TTP]

Wow. AWESOME. Do you have more?

 

[Reilly]

how would either of these games compare to like Silent hill?

 

[Bebpo]

how would either of these games compare to like Silent hill?

If I had to classify how they were different I would say:

RE - Mainstream action/adventure with horror elements
SH - Mainstream horror (traditional level design, gameplay design)
FF - Kinda still within mainstream horror, though much harder and scary IMO
Condemned - Mainstream horror
Siren1/2 - Non-mainstream horror (very untraditional, hard, and very scary).

Also mainstream = fun like seeing a fun movie even if it's creepy. Non-mainstream = not fun, but you appriciate it for what it's doing like an art film that's really messed up.

 

[dark10x]

I must say, they've managed to make this one quite a bit more intense than the original...

One of the earlier missions has you exploring a series of abandoned apartment buildings and it really stuck out. The sight jack feature, to me, often subtracted from the tension rather than added to it. The problem was, most encounters took place in fairly level areas so the direction of the enemy became obvious and you simply had to figure out how to proceed beyond them. Getting caught in the original wasn't too terribly scary either as you didn't have TIME for fear due to the fact that you'd probably end up dying far too quickly.

With those apartments, though, things are different. The stair wells all look very much the same and there are tons of rooms and doors all over split between two large buildings. Basically, if you sight jack, you'll end up seeing the viewpoints of enemies from all over the place (above, below, and outside). It's actually a tad confusing in a good way, as you might end up seeing a viewpoint of an enemy and becoming uncertain as to whether they are in the same stair well as you or not.

In addition to this, you also have access to a truck (which can be used to climb into an upper portion of a building in addition to being driven around). They successfully captured that feeling of driving a vehicle in an unknown location, by yourself, in the middle of the night.

You can also stand to get caught this time, as it is possible to either escape or disable an enemy for a short while. This adds to the fear due to the pressure of being chased. Oh, and the sound itself is extremely frightening sounding.

Very very cool.

 

[Bebpo]

You'll like the level on the boat then. It's like MGS2 tanker in Siren style. Very hard to figure out where people are since a lot of the areas look alike. Nothing like walking in front of a door and feeling vibration so you sight jack to see something staring straight at the door from the other side

 

[Mr_Furious]

Any word on a U.S. release?

 

[Bebpo]

Any word on a U.S. release?

How did the original sell? I'd guess that matters the most. Also how well it sold in Europe since it was released there first.

 

[Mr_Furious]

Good question.

Anyone know?

 

[dark10x]

It ended up in bargin bins rather quickly, so I assume it did not do well.

 

[Master Pain]

Gamespot (link) says it sold 300,000 in America and 200,000 in Japan, higher than I would have thought...I think the movie may be coming to US (or remade at least, Sam Raimi or someone bought the rights I think) as well which may bode well for the game coming over. I only hope there is a better dub job this time, the English accents threw me off for the first game (as well as the tediousness which seems remedied a bit in the sequel), I guess Sony Europe was more intent on bringing it over so they did the voice acting/translations?

This and Yakuza are my most anticipated 'hopefully they come over and with decent localization' games.