Silent Hill: Origins Player Review
Granted I haven't finished it yet, but from what I've seen so far, die hard Silent Hill fans will be impressed with the newest installment of the critically acclaimed series.
Travis Grady, an honest truck driver, finds himself drawn into Silent Hill (which tends to have a bad habit of collecting people). After rescuing a badly injured girl from a burning house, he must battle his own personal demons while he strives to figure out just what the heck is going on in the town. There are new monsters to fight, new weapons and new puzzles. In Origins, there is an added challenge of melee weapons having a 'durability limit.' In short, if you use hand-to-hand weapons long enough, they'll break. I found this to be a great addition to the system, if a bit vexing at times. This means you've got to choose when to use a weapon and when to use your fists. This new 'strategy' element made it even more entertaining to me.
Also added is the ability to use every day objects such as toasters, typewriters and even portable TV sets as weapons. It was a wonderful twist that actually made me giggle the first time I made use of it.
I've also heard about the ability to barricade doors to stave off monsters, but I don't think I've progressed to that stage of the game yet as I have yet to experience it.
There're still a lot of 'What the heck was that?!' to this game, as new surprises leap out from behind every corner. I, personally, adore wondering what's lurking out in the fog, waiting to bite my head off.
By the way, in case you're wondering, the nurses ARE still in the game, and prominently features in Alchemilla Hospital.
For you Red Pyramid Head fans (myself included), there's a creature referred to as 'The Butcher' that is very close to RPH, and looks to be an extremely imposing foe. To be honest, I am NOT eager to go toe-to-toe with this guy. He's got a cleaver that is just as impressive as RPH's Great Knife. However, RPH will always be a favorite in my eyes. <3
It's definitely worth the buy, but the graphics are a little low grade on the PS2 system because this game was originally created for the handheld PSP system. It does NOT impact gameplay at ALL.
Here are some free tips:
- Always turn off your flashlight before entering a new room. If they can't see you right off the bat, you have the advantage.
- There is nothing dishonorable about sneaking up behind something and bashing it over the head. Trust me. It saves a lot of bother.
- Use the on-screen weapon switch feature as much as possible when using firearms. When a creature falls, quickly switch to your fists and kick it. It'll save you one bullet, which adds up over time. Firearms are very handy for stronger enemies.
- Divide and conquer!
- When running about town, do exactly that. RUN! Don't bother with trying to kill everything you come across. Sometimes you can ditch them if you're quick and dart out of their line of sight. Be sure to collect goodies whenever possible.
Have fun!
I can't wait to finish this game!Read full review
