Launch Station: Silent Hill: Downpour

Once a big name in the survival-horror genre, Silent Hill has fell into obscurity in the last few years with some abysmal entries in the series.  Looking to bring Silent Hill back to the glory days, Konami has decided to inject some new blood into the series.  Czech game developer Vatra Games has been given the reins to bring Silent Hill back to the limelight in a genre dominated by Resident Evil and Dead Space with the new Silent Hill: Downpour.

Unrelated to previous entries in the Silent Hill series, Silent Hill: Downpour follows Murphy Pendleton, a prisoner.  During a prison transfer, the prison's vehicle careens off the road, which strands Murphy in the town of Silent Hill.  What awaits Murphy is not freedom per se, but mysterious locals waiting to welcome Murphy into their own personal hell.  Being a survival horror game, players are placed in tense and scary situations be it exploring abandoned environments or fighting a dangerous monster.  Vatra Games has looked to improve the combat for Downpour as it has been one of the series weakest features.  Downpour's combat looks to give the player some way of defending themselves against enemies while also creating tension as weapons deteriorate as they are used.  Downpour allows players to explore the town of Silent Hill unlike any other game in the series.  There are plenty of side-quests to complete, areas to unlock and special items to discover as you explore the world of Silent Hill: Downpour.  Playing off of the game's subtitle, Downpour features a real-time weather system.  The change in weather indicates to the player that some kind of danger is approaching.

While Konami and Vatra Games seem serious about bringing Silent Hill back to the glory days, I personally am not excited.  I am not a huge survival horror fan even though I do enjoy Resident Evil and I could care less for the Silent Hill series.  From what I have read and seen on this game, Silent Hill: Downpour does not impress or excite me.  It feels like the series is more or less treading water instead of moving forward.  Hardcore Silent Hill and/or survival horror fans will most likely enjoy Silent Hill: Downpour.  Those looking just for a good scare may want to wait a week and pick up the Silent Hill HD Collection when it comes out next Tuesday.