http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/968/968741p1.html

A Wii 'reimagining' of the original Harry Mason game. Sounds like they'll be taking many liberties in order to make it more of a new game rather than just a repeat of the original. Somewhere (may not be that IGN link) reported that there is no combat. You can only run.

Wii remote also acts as your cel phone and static comes through the remote speaker. And calls.

And, as far as I know, it's by the team who made PSP Origins.

They should just rename the series SIGH-lent Hill cause it looks like Konami has officially murdered it.  Origins, Homecoming, and now this??  Yeah, it was nice knowing you Silent Hill, you shall be missed.  *leaves to go hug his copies of Silent Hill 1, 2, 3, and 4*

-Mike

This seems kind of neat.  The (admittedly very small) screenshots that are floating around so far look like they've actually put some effort into it.  If they actually manage to make good use of the Wii remote, count me in.  I'm sure a lot of people will be upset about the lack of combat, but I've always found that to be awkward and cumbersome in the Silent Hill games, so... yeah.

So did you play SH Origins and Homecoming?
I've noticed some people love to complain about how gaming is going down the toilet... I played SH 1-4, and the first three were very fun. As for SH IV, that's one of the MOST boring games I've played! I've yet to play Origins and Homecoming, but from what I've read they're nowhere near as bad as IV.

-avatar!

using the wii remote to control a melee weapon in SH would kick ass +++++ x 10!

So basically they said f-it when it comes to re-inventing this aspect of the series. That screams lazy to me.

Hm I thought it sounded like a cool idea.  I'm not an SH fan or anything (never played it) but it seems to me that a survival horror game would make a lot more sense and be a lot more scary if you can't actually fight back.  And as far as I know this is an approach that still hasn't been taken very often in gaming.

No?

I agree, that does sound like a cool idea. It hasn't been done often (the notion of not being able to fight back), but Clock Tower implemented this idea beautifully! You were stalked by a seemingly immortal creature, and you had to hide or fend him off. If you fended him off, you would lose some health in the process, and if you kept fending him off, eventually you would die. Thus, you really had to hide or figure out other means to get him off your track. You could never defeat him though, and he would always come back. Sometimes (of course) he would show-up in places out of nowhere, and you could always hear him coming... a unique and wonderful take on the survivor-horror game

cheers,

-avatar!

edit: http://www.mobygames.com/game/clock-tower

I think if you want to remake a game, you remake all of it? Why leave out combat?

And Silent Hill V, for all who are asking? It's pretty decent, definitely not SH2 level (finally got around to playing through it), but pretty good in its' own right.

I'm not the biggest SH fan (gave up partway through 3 because I was tired of the gameplay and confused as all hell by the story), but I did hear one neat tidbit - allegedly the types of enemies you encounter are based on a profile of your phobias the game creates with a set of questions at the start. That seems pretty cool, like the flexible enemy setup of Eternal Darkness but with a deeper sense of responsibility than touching-the-green-one. .

I friggin HATE when games do that.
RE3 had Nemesis, every Fatal Frame has one of those, and SH4 had those bloody ghosts that ruined the entire experience.

I think the immortal enemy thing is a totally cheap way of making a game scary, and it tends to take all the fun out.

There we go. That's how I feel about the matter.

I do agree, SH4 is terrible. I have not played RE3 nor Fatal Frame. However, Clock Tower is great! In fact, I'm going to have to dig that up, and when I get a chance to play some

Of course, CT is not for everyone. Still, I hate it when people jump to conclusions without actually playing the game... which seems to be a common occurrence around here. I'm a huge fan of horror games, and CT is one of the best! Very unique, and well thought out, with a great plot, and some great twists! Give it a chance, you might just change your mind on the immortal enemy theme. Oh, and you really have no weapons at all in the game, and in fact there's just one enemy. So clearly, it's quite different than most other horror games. Highly recommended.

cheers,

-avatar!

Clock Tower was a good game. I played it a little with a friend, and while I didn't like it as a gameplay experience I have to say that as a piece of horror fiction, it was quite well done, irregardless of being low-tech.

And Fatal Frame remains my favorite horror game series of all time. I've never been truly scared in a video game other than those titles. It gets props, big time!

A quick search on Gamefaqs tells me there's a PS game and an SNES game.
Are they both good?

And yeah, I love Fatal Frame too!
The second game scared the shit out of me, and the 4th one (on Wii) is every bit as good.
You'd better pray that it ever hits Western shores.

I wonder if Akira Yamaoka is composing...

It wouldn't be Silent Hill without him. He must be. Actually, I wonder if that means we'll get some revisits of the original Silent Hill music. I'd really like that.

The SNES version was never released outside of Japan. The PSX version is the one I played, and it's great! I really enjoyed the gameplay, but it is different than what most people are used to. It's essentially a point-and-click horror adventure. Very well executed, very cool story, and just fun to play!

cheers,

-avatar!

I had the SNES rom on my computer at one point, and it was translated too (through a preinstalled patch, maybe?) I played it for a little while. Both the PSX and SNES games were very well done.

And it is completely bewildering that we haven't got Fatal Frame IV yet! How long's it been since it was released over there? Jerks.

Hmm... Don't know what to think about this. I have developed a very strong feeling of ambivalence towards the Silent Hill series. On the one hand, its probably my favourite game series overall, the first two games were true masterpieces of the horror genre, and I love the music, atmosphere, and aesthetics of the series. On the other hand, the quality of the series has been in steady decline, and the decent thing to do would probably be to bury it... which Konami won't do, since its a cashcow franchise now. I did like Homecoming, but it still lacked the greatness of the first two. Some of the changes they've announced for Shattered Memories sound interesting, but there's also the real possibility of a complete screw-up, and I'd cry bloody tears if they botch my beloved SH1.

Still, I don't have a Wii and don't plan on getting one, so I'll be skipping this.

And about Clock Tower: there are four CT-games, one for the SNES, two for the PS1, and one for the PS2. I like the series (especially the first two), but it is a little dated and slow, definitely the kinds of games you have to have patience with. From what I know of your tastes, Amazingu, I don't think you'd like it.

Ah, Ghost Head on PSX. I forgot to mention that one. I'd heard it wasn't that great. And I completely forgot about the PS2 game. How is it? Anyone know?

Ghost Head was pretty terrible, the PS2 one (Clock Tower 3) was an OK but kind of mediocre game. The first two are where its at.

It's coming to the PS2 and PSP too - http://kotaku.com/5200513/silent-hill-s … s2-and-psp

Hm, might get the PS2 version then.

Or then again, I might not. The few pictures I've seen so far look goddamn awful, and I've been getting really bad vibes. The original Silent Hill is my favourite game ever, I'm not sure if my poor old heart could stand seeing it massacred. Maybe its better to leave well enough alone and pass on this one.

Jay, what are your thoughts? Have you given up on the series entirely, or will you try this?

It sounds great so far! I have to admit, the fact that you use the wii remote as a flashlight and cell phone is a great idea Also, it appears to have Eternal Darkness inspired features:

"a psych profile that changes the experience based on the players' gameplay choices."

http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/04/sil … l-sha.html

The first Silent Hill was my favorite of the series, and one of my all-time favorite games. I actually think it captured fear and horror better than the second game, even if SH2 is more artistic. Anyway, I think a re-imagining of the original is a great idea! I personally think that both SH1 and SH2 could use a little fleshing out. Certain instances just seemed awkward to me. Anyway, I applaud Konami for keeping the SH franchise going, and look forward to SHSM (sounds like an astronomy acronym at this point)!

cheers,

-avatar!

edit: OK, one thing that jumps to mind, is how are they going to deal with Lisa? The Lisa scene (link below) is one of my fav game moments I do feel that her whole story needs and deserves much more than what was given in the original game. BTW, I've yet to play Origins? What are people's thoughts on it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm2w4aSpiqs

Origins was better than expected. Had it been released in the prime of the PS2 era it would probably have been better recieved than it has been.

My only complaints were that they designed the item drops in such a way that no matter how bad you're doing you'll never screw yourself over (no survival). You never have worry about health/ammo because if you doing poorly enough extra items will be spawned. Also the last boss (the demon that gets sealed inside of Silent Hill itself) is one of the most unimaginative monsters EVER in the series.

Personally I welcome the no combat aspect. I enjoyed that a lot in the original Siren, which by the way toppled Silent Hill 1 as my favorite Survival Horror game ever.

Oh and 'The Room' rocks. The ghosts were easy.

I don't know. I actually rather like the idea of this. The original game is a bit special and has much to draw on visually and location-wise. I haven't played Homecoming so can't comment on that but I found Origins, while not bad, to be a bit like someone doing an impression of a Silent Hill game. That this one would go directly to the source might mean better things.

And the Wii is perfectly capable of delivering decent visuals for a Silent Hill game, which doesn't need the polish of superior hardware in my opinion.

I've very unsure on the lack of combat but it strikes me that it might be better than their efforts at improving combat, leading to comic fist fights with nurses.

I would find the PS2/PSP news good in the sense that I'm actually far more likely to play this on the PSP but it would also throw up some worries that this is just a cheap throwaway game for them. That it won't use the Wii hardware specifically, either graphically or in gameplay.

But whether I'll actually end up playing this or not, I don't know. I have had nothing draw me to Homecoming. Not even a hint that I might get it. And I'm thinking - my nostalgic memories of Silent Hill 1 are so strong. Do I want to see the guys who did Origins make an attempt at living up to my initial visit to Silent Hill? I don't know. I may pick up the PSP version some time on a whim but, in many ways, I'm content leaving Silent Hill and remembering those first few games that meant so much to me and, actually, still do.

That's not looking terribly likely: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/fatal … n-release/

Although according to the comments it's coming to Europe in the summer. Between Tatsunoko (I know Capcom says it's still possible, but I'm not counting on it), Fragile, and now this, I'm becoming more more and interested in softmodding my Wii.

avatar!: SH Origins is a competently designed game that's by no means bad, but its my least favourite SH game. Like Jay pointed out, its like "someone doing an impression of a Silent Hill game": a very stereotypical and hastily-put-together stew of SH "trademarks". I did like it, but felt it didn't really give me much as an experience. It did completely nail the dark world-aspect though, I'll give it that.

This aspect can go any way, really. It can turn out great, or prove to be a great debacle (and the same goes for the "your choices and preferences shapes the monsters/story"-aspect). Time will tell.

If you want my opinion on Homecoming, I did a write-up on it here. The short of it: best game in the series since SH2, in my opinion. Very uneven in some aspects, but I had a wonderful time with it, and its certainly much better than Origins was. My advice is try it.

The above quoted passage completely encapsulates what I'm feeling about this right now.... I'm intrigued by the idea and it has the potential to be awesome... But do I want to possibly expose myself to a worst-case scenario where it ends up sucking badly and taints my great memories of the original in the process? The fact that Konami has handled this series so carelessly and thoughtlessly the last few years, and the fact that its made by the Origins team, really gives me a bad premonition. Origins was good, but SH1, it ain't.

I think that my views regarding Silent Hill may lack legitimacy for some of you. I was not born and raised on the series, but I've really thought about it now, and I have to say that I'm really looking at the lack of combat in a much less discerning light. I'm thinking that this aspect will make the game a lot more tense (not that the original needs that much help with that, to my understanding) in the same way that losing my camera in Fatal Frame 2 really put myself on edge. I felt genuinely terrified when that happened, and it was only a like, half an hour! This same feeling of helplessness will last the entire game . . .

I just hope they don't mess with the soundtrack like the Twin Snakes remake did (much preferred the original score, might be the only one).

So Tatsunoko, Fragile and FFIV are coming to European Wii's? That might be my only hope for these games! Damn it, Nintendo! Why don't you just cancel Christmas while you're at it?

Panda, you ever softmod your Wii, or whatever, you let me know where you went to get it done. I'm thinking I might do the same.

Exactly. The Room does rock. I agree with others that dealing with the ghosts can be frustrating, but it's really not that difficult. You just run from them, much like you run from the better part of the monsters in the preceding three games.

Origins and Homecoming are quite poor. I think the environments of Homecoming - the ones not borrowed from the film - look great, but so much of the game is just poor; I find the emphasis on combat particularly frustrating. The general lack of atmosphere is also a shortcoming.

And Origins ... ugh. I have tried playing the game a couple of times. I find the breakable weapon "system" horrible, enough that I don't even want to complete the game (though I realize this is rather analogous to others' frustration with the ghosts in SH4).

I am intrigued by Shattered Memories, but not certain if I will actually want to purchase it (if it is ported to, or made for, the PS2).

I'm not so sure we'll be seeing as many PS2 ports of PS3 games anymore. From what I've heard Sony is planning to drop the PS2 some point soon because they want the focus to be on the PS3.

I very much disagree. SH4 is a terrible game. Not so much the ghosts, which were annoying, but simply the fact that the game was boring.

a)It wasn't scary at all.
b)It was VERY repetitive. Same levels, same hauntings, same enemies.
c)Saving your neighbor while a cool idea, was annoying because the AI was not particularly intelligent.
d)While running from enemies is all fine and dandy, its annoying when there's no place to hide, especially since these enemies (ghosts) can fly through walls! And, there are how many of these invincible enemies? Over 20!

I got so bored with this game, I just had no patience nor desire to see it to completion. However, I do think it was a cool idea and could have been a great game. This game, is one that definitely deserves a re-make! Oh, and I know that SH games sometimes have "strange" and unique plots, but I feel like this game simply did not get its act together. It's almost like they had a bunch of great ideas, and in a hurry threw everything together and the end result was a game that was only half-finished.

cheers,

-avatar!

Not looking likely any more - http://kotaku.com/5204526/no-fatal-fram … ope-either