Silent Hill: Downpour (Xbox 360) review "Silent Hill is back; the franchise has been reshaped to fit the survival horror puzzle yet again. But is it cohesive and brilliant, does it touch the inner core of fright? Does it iron the collar of amazement? That would be no. It is a game that offers some scary snippets, some spooky moments, but that’s that, it doesn’t have the same structure, the same cycle of fear. It doesn’t haunt the mind as much as prior Silent Hill fixtures; you have go out in the wide terrains to find trepidation. "

Silent Hill is back; the franchise has been reshaped to fit the survival horror puzzle yet again. But is it cohesive and brilliant, does it touch the inner core of fright? Does it iron the collar of amazement? That would be no. It is a game that offers some scary snippets, some spooky moments, but that’s that, it doesn’t have the same structure, the same cycle of fear. It doesn’t haunt the mind as much as prior Silent Hill fixtures; you have go out in the wide terrains to find trepidation.

Silent Hill Downpour story is intriguing and profound you are prisoner Murphy Pendleton, a protagonist who hasn’t chosen to walk the streets of the infamous town, he lands there. The transfer bus he is own crashes amidst the thick mist, he is left alone to survive the onslaught of monsters and terror, his life is pushed into a barrage of the unknown, his heart beats to the tune of the shrieks, that scream out loud, woman that have morphed into haunting tyrants. The fable is interesting and riveting, the storyline can empower you too climb into the shoes of Murphy. Your heart wont swell though, it won’t whimper or fall into an emotional whirlpool, the game doesn’t tweak the eyes, the emotion is blotted out, if your looking for sentimentality, then look for the biggest, most prominent star, in a sky, glistening.

Prior Silent Hill games have been drenched in fear, this installment however, doesn’t frighten, and it merely shakes the heart. The fable attached to it, is profound, it does invigorate, but sometimes it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t connect at times. At times, you can find yourself walking aimlessly through a town with a thousand scars. The game doesn’t breathe easily it seems asthmatic, falling into a fit, trying to keep alive. When walking aimlessly, it can tire, but when you find a glint, it can open up new avenues. You have to find clues, you have to use your cognition, and it can lead you to the light. It can be a complex venture. When the puzzles start to flicker, you have to use your initiative, your brain. Puzzles are in abundance, so your brainpower will be strained.

Murphy personality is dry at best, he has a dark past, his motives are clear, he wants to breakthrough, seep through the clutches of the nightmare he finds himself stranded in. Murphy wants to lead a new life, he wants freedom, he seems to be cursed, the town has swamped him, and the town doesn’t give him time to breathe. As the controller, you have to unfold an intriguing story you have to pierce through the over skin of complication, and come out the other end with your eyes and bones still intact.

With a strong heart and mind, with a collective head, you can fight the influence of Silent Hill, Murphy has mere combat ability, but he uses his strength. His bones and blood are ruffled, when the monsters engineer their attacks. Weapons are breakable, so you are quickly put into a manic state when trying to find another one in battle. Murphy isn’t a tactician, but he has guts and heart, he knows that he must stay alert and most importantly alive.

At some points, Silent Hill Downpour doesn’t do the franchise justice, and at other points the game is intriguing and worthy. You play as a convict who got his chance to escape, but he finds himself under the spotlight, in front of the scope line, in a town that produces endless fear. As the gamer, you are pushed headfirst into a whirlpool of endless inhumanity, you see mindless creatures that used to be people, Silent Hill might have been a working town, now it’s a wreck, overpowered by mist and rain. The storyline is impressive, if you ignite it with the right lighter, if you take baby steps and take in the aura of the fable, then you will be enlightened. Its more than a horror, its an staple that will recharge the diet of the gaunt gamer.

There are glitches; there are some frame rate problems. The game is masked in thick smoke that chokes the title at times, but if you ignore those flaws, (which is hard) then the game will give you something to steep your mind into, the fire that burns in your heart will form a more potent flame. If you let the flaws bite, then the teeth will sink into the pleasure beacon in your head; you will want to quickly dismiss the game.

Silent Hill Downpour doesn’t live up to the hype, but what it does do, is give you enough thrills to keep going, it can be mundane at times, but if you commit yourself, then you have quite a mission and game on your hands. Silent Hill 1 and 2 might never be surpassed, because those games were classics, games that were extremely frightening, there aren’t enough scares in Downpour, and it can be predictable, but it can be likable.

Community review by Alk31997 (April 07, 2012) A bio for this contributor is currently unavailable, but check back soon to see if that changes. If you are the author of this review, you can update your bio from the Settings page.