New Silent Hill: Shattered Memories details

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 10th 2009 at 1:00PM }

IGN has posted a preview of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories so glowing, you'd swear it was radioactive. Aside from the effusive praise, there are a few details to be gleaned from the eyes-on preview. The psyche profile system revealed earlier this week is further fleshed out by the preview. Lead character Harry Mason will actually start the game in a psychiatrist's office, where players will have to fill out a form. The choices you make on the form, as well as other choices in the game, will affect other parts of the game.

Harry's phone acts as the hub of all the game's information, containing the map, voice mail, text messages and a camera. The camera can be used to take pictures of certain areas, revealing ghostly images in the finished photos. The article cites a moment when Harry takes a picture of a strange swingset, only to see his missing daughter, Cheryl, show up in the photo. Once the picture is taken, Harry receives a voicemail from Cheryl ... creepy.

In an interesting twist, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories features no combat whatsoever. When you're face to face with a freakish monster, the only choice is to run. Another change, the rusty, hellish Otherworld has been changed into a frozen, icy one instead. As in Silent Hill: Homecoming, the transition to the Otherworld takes place in real time as buildings freeze over and columns rise out of the ground. The preview assures us the transition is "breathtaking," but we'll reserve judgment until we can see some video.

It certainly sounds like Shattered Memories could be shaping up to be a decent entry in the series, even despite the somewhat radical changes to the staple conventions. At least one thing isn't changing though. In IGN's interview with Climax -- a good read for anyone interested in the title -- it is confirmed that Akira Yamaoka will once again provide the soundtrack.

Source - IGN: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Preview
Source - IGN: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Interview

Tags: climax, konami, silent-hill, silent-hill-shattered-memories

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highlar @ Apr 10th 2009 1:15PM

As I am extremely interested in this game, I've already read BOTH the preview and interview articles over at IGN. :) They are both revealing. It sounds like Climax is going all out on this game to make it a truly great game (still has to be seen, but it sounds good). The game is also LOOKING really REALLY good, from the pics up over at IGN. Some of the things I really like the idea of: the no weapons, run for your life gameplay; dynamic music that changes depending on what you do and where you are; dynamic GAME that changes depending on the choices you make during the game (IE: Matt said that at one point you can show up at a store, or if you make certain choices it turns into a bar instead) with characters being different (clothes, positions, etc) as well as game set pieces; the flashlight mapped to the Wii remote with the dark and shadows moving around you (everything has a shadow, including all the snowflakes that fall from the sky); the idea of the game psych-profiling the player, and adapting as they play; the sound of the intelligent enemies, and having to use only your wits and phone to outwit THEM and stay alive...and more. This game sounds VERY ambitious, and if the preview by Matt is anything to go by, it sounds like its no idle boasting, either. I can't wait for this game! :)

Black Mage @ Apr 10th 2009 1:15PM

Anyone else getting this for the PSP?

Ezekiel @ Apr 10th 2009 5:30PM

I'm preordering.

PyrosNine @ Apr 10th 2009 1:39PM

Seems less like a 'remake' and more like a 'retread', like after Silent Hill, Harry ( who has literally been through hell) goes to see a psychiatrist (naturally), and during his session, relates to the doc the entire experience.

The changes are the result of his own perceptions of his memories altered by the events in his life, and possibly the psychiatric office. This inaccurate retelling is why it'd be called "Shattered Memories." The Otherworld was too much for his mind to handle, so it's easier to comprehend that everything just froze up.

gd_1039_evilive @ Apr 10th 2009 1:49PM

Wow, I have read a lot of bullshit about the path people think a game or even movie should take when they have nothing to do with said game or movie.

But let me tell you, yours was the first I've ever read that actually makes sense. It is plausible, and I gotta be honest, if that IS the case with this game, I would be a hundred times as excited for it as I am now, it would definitely be a day one purchase.

Props man.

Highlar @ Apr 10th 2009 1:56PM

That makes some sense, and makes me wonder a bit if that is the route they are going with this, or at least partially. Because some things are just TOO different for just warped memories to account for, such as the Otherworld being completely different from the original game. In the original, Harry literally saw hell envelope him as the world changed, more like something you would find out of Hellraiser. With this version, the world sounds like it freezes over...buildings become encased in ice...the falling snow freezes in place in the air...benches crack apart from the sudden ice-over...the air goes still... What I think sounds like a lot of fun, though, as well as chilling (pun intended), is that it all happens in real-time, as you are walking down the street everything starts to change around you. You get to continue to control Harry AS he is descending into the frozen, hellish part of Silent Hill. Also, it sounds like Harry is LIVING in Silent Hill this time, not from outside it, from a part of the IGN preview. I really think there is sufficiently enough different in this game from the original that it really in no true sense could ever be called a mere "remake". The "re-imagining" that the development team call it sounds much more accurate to me. :)

Highlar @ Apr 10th 2009 1:57PM

Whoops...meant BUT things are too different, not because. Bah.

Comtar @ Apr 10th 2009 3:05PM

Just a thought... there's always room for a surprise at the end. Maybe you nailed it.

Maybe it's not a remake at all...

Highlar @ Apr 10th 2009 2:12PM

That's just it, Comtar, this game ISN'T a remake. Climax has started with the same basic premise of the original Silent Hill, but taking the story in a somewhat different direction. I like the idea. :)

sony boy @ Apr 10th 2009 1:49PM

oh cmon, i think you should at least have some of kind of defense, no?

Night Elve @ Apr 10th 2009 3:57PM

I love Silent Hill serie, but not having a weapon to combat monsters is a let down for me.

TX2 @ Apr 10th 2009 4:23PM

HA! I just got the joke.
Rober frost:
SOME say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Shoyz @ Apr 10th 2009 5:48PM

In Nintendo Power, they explained that the reasoning for the ice was that the 'hellish' version of Silent Hill is supposed to differ in perspective between each character.

One of the inspirations for the 'ice' theme was what Harry said at the beginning of the game, I believe it was "Snowing, this time of the year?"

TwEE @ Apr 10th 2009 6:47PM

This sounds great..

randomflashbang @ Apr 10th 2009 7:37PM

yes this sounds pretty much exactly what i was hoping for in initially purchasing a wii. But you know what would make it absolutely perfect?

an unlockible Luigi costume

Get on it Climax

BebopFox @ Apr 10th 2009 11:13PM

I was pissing my pants with excitement until it hit me; no weapons. no weapons = puzzle bosses? In the original Silent Hill, there were some majory story pieces that were decided upon with how you accomplished a battle (battle with cyble, ending battle, etc....). Silent Hill was all about surviving however you could in a hellish place, not running away from everything you could in a hellish place. I don't mind the running and like that there could be some monsters you just can't fight, but give the player a REASON to be scared of them by making some monsters not as tough as others (give the player the ability to fight back!).

hubud @ Apr 11th 2009 3:20AM

No combat, huh? At least they didn't put it on rails.

Feba @ Apr 11th 2009 7:04AM

Given most survival horror games have horrible controls (even when they aren't really survival or horror anymore. Lookin' at you, Resident Evil), and running is one of those things that's very hard to mess up (Sorry again, Resident Evil), the no combat thing sounds good.

But taking pictures of random shit to make ghosts show up? Metal Gear Solid, anyone?

I think I'm putting this title in my media blackout list (short list, too.)-- no reading details, no watching trailers (except to check graphics and a bit of gameplay)-- only reading reviews once they're out and nothing else; at least if I decide I still want it once reviews are out. Horror games aren't scary when everything's spoiled.