TGS 2009: Hands-on: Silent Hill Shattered Memories (PSP)
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Sep 26th 2009 at 12:30PM } 
Recreating the Wii version's moody ambiance isn't the port's only major success, as it handles the absence of the motion-sensitive remote quite elegantly. Here, you manipulate Harry Mason's flashlight from a third-person perspective by holding R1 and moving the analog nub. While this removes the ability to move and peer into the terrifying town's dark recesses at the same time, the game's generally slow pace makes such multitasking more of a luxury than a necessity.
When the pace is quickened and Harry is forced to flee from Silent Hill's disgusting meat-faced minions, there's usually little need to stop and examine the area first. As with the Wii version, the recommended escape route is highlighted on doors and walls by a layer of light-blue ice, helping you navigate to safety and preserving the flow of the nerve-wracking chase sequence. Should an enemy pounce on top of you, however, you have a few seconds to press the indicated face button (buttons if you're the victim of a monster pile-up) and shake them off.
It remains to be seen how well Shattered Memories shifts between its methodical exploration sequences and frantic chases over the course of the full adventure, but should it live up to the potential displayed in its E3 2009 demo (be sure to read our detailed hands-on impressions), we'll have no qualms about recommending either the Wii or PSP version come this November.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David @ Sep 26th 2009 12:33PM
Whats Silent Hill lol? Something like Resident Evil?
Wet.4.PS3 @ Sep 26th 2009 12:36PM
wattt
Reuben @ Sep 26th 2009 12:47PM
wait, what?
David @ Sep 26th 2009 12:49PM
Ive never played or seen footage of Silent Hill before..
Reuben @ Sep 26th 2009 12:58PM
Silent Hill is similar to Resident Evil and that they are both survival horror. I find that Silent Hill focuses more on atmosphere than its counterpart. When I say Resident Evil, I'm referring to almost everything before RE4.
BlaqueBeird @ Sep 26th 2009 1:12PM
@David
That's impossible. How can you be a gamer at all and not at least have heard of it? You're missing out, man.
nullset @ Sep 26th 2009 1:44PM
@David
You're either a troll or a really underagedly obtuse chap. We live in the age of the Information Superhighway, kid. It's not like you can't google.
Serve yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Silent+Hill&search_type=&aq=f
And AVOID THE MOVIE until you have played the games. Judging the franchise only by the movie would be a fatal error.
David @ Sep 26th 2009 3:02PM
Ive started being a 'hardcore gamer' a year ago or so. So I havent played every fucking game, which you probably have. And no, im not a troll, and I am 17 FYI. Also, I couldnt bother looking it up on youtube.
sudeshsookdeo @ Sep 26th 2009 3:30PM
Simply put, Resident Evil (from ResEvil 1 to 3) is "bump-in-the-night" type of horror. While Silent Hill (from 1 to 3) is "psychological" horror.
I really dislike how these games are turning out to be more focused on what the gamers want rather than what the original developers want. Resident Evil 4 onwards sucked badly by bringing in the action element and plus they're all less realistic....including ResEvil5 which is one of the lowest realistic game in the series (not referring to graphics).
Silent Hill also made a bad turn to action with SH4:TheRoom. The controls were moved to the left analogue stick which totally didn't work for a '3-D controls game'. I'm actually glad that Shattered Memories 'supposedly' is going back to the original concept of SH, but seriously...."square=run"!....please stop showing us what to do. We, the true gamers, don't want to be told what to do. We're not dumb like most of the gamers out there, we either know what the controls are or we can figure it out in no time. That is what made the original games classic. If you try to be different, then give the game a new title besides SH. If you must, for those babies who play games these days, just put an option to remove 'help icons'....that easy! Not like that dumb MGS4 that have to show triangle everywhere as if I don't know where to lean on or climb up. Please, I wish developers would go back to their original roots and stop making games look like games and rather make them classics.
And why do ammo and herbs and money fall from enemies in ResEvil? Not realistic! Reloading anytime...not realistic for certain weapons! Please do us a favour and either make the franchises properly instead of giving them other franchises' controls, or just provide options.
These on-screen display help is what I'm not getting Shattered Memories for. The runaway concept is okay, but they should've used different names for the characters as there can only be one Silent Hill with Harry Mason. No real SH fan is gonna like this nerdy Harry with glasses. I'm glad that Ueda-san is not taking orders for The Last Guardian. I can look forward to that being as it should be, as I'm a perfectionist myself.
Reuben @ Sep 26th 2009 3:49PM
Just because this guy has never played Silent Hill isn't reason to crucify him.
Also, Resident Evil and Silent Hill are not the only franchises guilty of having enemies drop items like that. The developers never one said that these games were meant to be realistic, even if they sometimes have realistic bents. Just accept it and move on.
AerialAngel @ Sep 26th 2009 4:04PM
If the article is discussing a game you dont know or never heard of. Please dont comment. Instead google what the game is and find out.
Markez @ Sep 26th 2009 5:45PM
I actually thought SH4 did some great things, but it ended up being horribly repetitive in the latter half I felt. Felt like they were making me essentially play through the game and a lot of the stupid boards twice in order to beat the game once.
I think SH is generally more unsettling and eerie than RE or other survival horror.
Markez @ Sep 26th 2009 5:46PM
Oh yeah, AND SCREW THAT GUY WHO DOESNT KNOW THE STUFF ABOUT THE THINGS OR WHATEVER
TM @ Sep 26th 2009 12:40PM
and to think I just bought the original on psn.....
Reuben @ Sep 26th 2009 12:48PM
As did I, but it was only $5.99 so I don't feel too sore about shelling out for a remake.
thetveye @ Sep 27th 2009 11:25AM
Well, the devs said the remake is pretty much a standalone game, and the story has been pretty much rewritten. As have characters.
Special Agent Steve @ Sep 26th 2009 12:46PM
The player models look good, but the environment needs some serious AA.
Maybe it's just because of the MGS Peace Walker demo I just played...
ripslymemc @ Sep 26th 2009 12:53PM
I would sooo press the square button to get out of there.
Zexion_VI @ Sep 26th 2009 1:16PM
I still say it looks stupid with its lack of combat. Oh wait, there are flares... lol, I get more time to run.. for 9 hours
devilsei @ Sep 26th 2009 1:53PM
And I say you look stupid with your lack of variety. Oh wait, your avatars from RE5, guess you can't help it.
Silent Hill never focused on combat, at least the early ones. It was about surviving and knowing when to run. Guns were a luxury, not a necessity.
Its ironic how both Resident Evil aand Silent Hill 5 (the latter's true name is Homecoming), seemed to throw out almost completely the idea of surviving and giving you characters more than capable of handling any odds. At least 4 still rang true with the survival aspect of its genre.
Zexion_VI @ Sep 26th 2009 3:40PM
I'm not saying run and gun. But honestly, they want a realistic game? Then give me the realism that people can defend themselves. Grab a board with a nail in it, or a knife, or something, like James or Heather, and there you go. Stupid that I want gameplay in my games?
devilsei @ Sep 26th 2009 4:14PM
Ahh, I have no issues with wanting gameplay in a game, but the point of the game isn't running around and beating the monsters to death with a lead pipe. The basis of this one is him retelling his memories of what occurred. And sorry to say, but I'm glad they are actually approaching this one the way they are. They could of easily just remade the PS1 game, and slapped in the "psychology" part as some cheap way of determining the difficulty.
They are trying to not just remake it, but re-imagine the first one, giving a slightly different perspective. I wouldn't remember every monster I beat the crap out of with a pipe, but I'd certainly remember having to run away.
Audioout @ Sep 26th 2009 4:17PM
Last I remember, Silent Hill had shotguns, handguns, axes, crowbars, etc to defend yourself with.
Your character didn't just turn into a John Woo gunslinger the second you grabbed a weapon thus heightening the tension and immersion of the conflict.
devilsei @ Sep 26th 2009 4:46PM
Over the several games, yea you had access to those. But the first game only had a few weapons, and besides the basic pistol, ammo was scarce, making the shotgun and rifle more effective to use against the bosses.
The fifth game though by far removed the sense of horror, at least to me. The ultimate weapon in the game was too easy to get, compared to other games, and the game itself seemed rather easy.
Reuben @ Sep 26th 2009 5:07PM
I gotta tell you, I'm playing through the first Silent Hill on normal and I have pistol ammo up the ass.
The 5th game actually kicked my ass for a very long time. I let it sit for a month, then went back and blew through it without any trouble.
Fane [A-MF Brigade] @ Sep 27th 2009 5:12AM
Don't forget the light saber in SH3 (I'm not kidding, if you haven't played it).
cylet @ Sep 26th 2009 2:24PM
don't you mean R instead of R1?
1251 @ Sep 26th 2009 5:53PM
Use Peace Walker's controls!
Moving & Investigating made easy.
Grimcicle @ Sep 27th 2009 2:32PM
Glad to see the PSP version FINALLY getting some coverage.
ramica @ Nov 3rd 2009 8:33PM
i really love this game does anyone need a free download of Silent Hill Shattered Memories...