Saturday, November 3, 2012

Guest Post, Silent Hill Revelations and Downpour

By
Thomas Gonzales


‎[SPOILERS] Silent Hill Double Review: Revelations (3D) and Downpour. [SPOILERS]

I was very fortunate to get to enjoy one of my favorite series across two mediums this past month. both as a film, and as a game. In honor of Halloween (so yes, this review is a little late), I decided to play Silent Hill Downpour, also, as preparation for the release of the new film Silent Hill Revelations 3D.

Part 1 Silent Hill Downpour
TL;DR 3.5/5 For interesting plot and characters, coupled with great story telling and set pieces. Has many control flaws and pacing issues, but definitely a good attempt to return the series to its roots. Scary good time!

So lets start with the game itself, this is the 6th game in the series (not counting spin-offs or side stories), and 2nd major release done by a western company. With the recent attitude towards the series following the poor reception of "The Room" and "Homecoming" being so negative, it was nice to get some positive responses to a sequel again. I personally was able to really enjoy some of the sequels for what they are, and I am okay admitting their flaws. This was almost a favorite...almost...

Silent Hill Dowpour takes an interesting approach to the series by adding a bit of each previous entry and tying all of it together into a much more eclectic package. It does add some features unique to itself, by changing the games dynamic based on the weather. Heavy rain fall makes the monsters rage, and causes them to deal more damage. Water plays an important theme in the game, dampening the atmosphere and giving the game a very cold feel. It also encourages you to pay attention to when it becomes time to take cover. Forcing you into places that just might be more dangerous than outside, while pushing the story along.

When you start off, you're in the forest surrounding Devil's Pit, of course following an unfortunate accident. For me this first chunk of the game was the best; exploring the woods, the pit, and the surrounding town outside Silent Hill really shined, and made for something a little more mystery feeling (a feature the series has been sorely lacking). It is packed with great lore and back story, giving further insight into to the hell that is the setting. I enjoyed checking all the posters, and reading the lost pages and documents. You also gain a little insight to where Murphy, the protagonist, is headed on his journey to redemption or damnation. The game manages to pack in a lot story and sets up some interesting threats. This also seemed to be the most subtle horror in the game, relying more on atmosphere and imagery than gore or jump scares (an important technique for a horror fan like myself). Reaching Devil's Pit, the game gets very claustrophobic, and delivers some intense moments. This is where the game built a lot of its momentum, and starts its crazy carnival ride back to the town "Hell Calls Home". While not entirely open at this point there is enough story and scares to keep things rolling. I am generally not a fan of linearity in modern titles, but the game's story is interesting enough that it really didn't feel like a loss.

It basically takes place over 4 major set pieces, Devil's Pit, Silent Hill, The Prison, and Silent Hill (Altered). The great thing about the Silent Hill chapters, is that is gives you a break from the core adventure, and allows the player to explore more of the town and its lore. There are about 13 side quests available, and each is unique and fun. Find someone's heart, give peace to the dead, redeem a monster, punish, collect things or piece together the past. I never once felt like I was grinding, or doing the same things over again. The only real frustration comes from the damn rain, its scary at first, but eventually becomes a nuisance. It is just frequent enough to interrupt your questing, without the reward of tension. I eventually lost interest and headed back to the storyline. For those who do love to adventure around, the town is big enough to entertain for some time. There is even a kooky reward for playing through a second time.

The game is pretty unforgiving, and it is easy to get lost. You need to really pay attention to fine details, but veterans of the series should do fine, especially if you like a challenge. I am not too prideful to admit, I busted out a walk-through a few times, and found I missed a few key spots. This is about the only time you'll be caught running circles. Find a code, enter it, get a clue, return to code room, open door, repeat. Most puzzles are unique and fun, but sometimes, the chain was just too long and got exhausting. Again, I found myself wanting to progress the story to find out what happens. I guess that's a good thing considering it reflects quality story telling. This is the quality you can expect from the game right up to the last quarter, where things get a little messy...

I found most of the game heart pounding and enthralling, and upon completing the "main story arc", I was completely satisfied; it was the dark and bittersweet outcome I hoped to get from a Silent Hill title. All told it felt like a great haunted house. However, things get weird when a character I thought to be a side note returns, and turns the story upside down. This second arc was touched on a few times throughout the game, but never developed much life. It isn't until the game gives you a false ending, that you are given the story...and it all starts back over. It is so jarring in fact, I was almost ready to quit playing right there. It was disjointed, and had a completely different feel than the previous chapters. From here on out, you are in hell, or, the Altered Silent Hill. This may seem interesting to some, but when you have been enjoying a subtle horror survival game (save for a few small segments), then you are thrown into a carnival fun house, it just never seemed to fit together...its TOO in your face. It still has some tense moments, and some great imagery, but the flow never seems to get back into its grove. Instead you go from a haunting symphony to pure cacophony. It isn't until the very end, that it all wraps back up again...

There are several endings as expected, and for me, this has 2 of the best outcomes in the series. With the exception of the ending based on the crappiest decision making, I am sure most people will be satisfied with the resolution they end up with. For those fortunate to pull off either the "best of the best" or "worst of the worst" endings, you get a real treat. While I loved my happy ending, and it truly resolved everything in a reasonable manner, I changed a few choices and checked out the bad. Let me just say, THIS ending, is what I would expect in a Silent Hill game. It was hopeless and realistic. No one wins, but there is a glint of hopeful justice in the heroes dialogue. If you are dedicated enough to play through a few times, you can decide which is best to you, or just be lazy and Youtube it, but make sure you check them out.

The puzzles at the end are easy and obvious, and only tough due to the unavoidable damage you will be taking. For some reason, the game also decides to turn its monster difficulty up to 11. This does nothing to add to the games fun or quality, but it just replaces the rain as a frustrating obstacle. Some of this could be attributed to the controls themselves, which did nothing to help the player. The controls...the translation of the player to the game.

Now with the story review out of the way, it wouldn't be fair not to mention the gameplay itself, as this game doesn't deserve to get a free pass. The controls are some of the worst in the series. It was almost like it purposely tried to emulate the poor controls of the originals, just to seem more like them. There was so much frustration caused by the R-trigger being "throw weapon" that people make youtube videos showing how pissed they got, or bad it screwed them at tense moments. This of all its ups and down is the biggest issue, as it is hard to play a game while consciously fighting not to toss your only defense off a cliff.

All in all, it is a great attempt to pull the series back to its roots, while innovating in a dying genre. It is an enjoyable experience full of fantastic and terrifying moments, along with one of the most interesting lead characters from the series. The story is grim, and for parents will pull the heart strings, often hitting you in the place that you fear the most. It has flaws, but they are overshadowed by its great story telling and difficult puzzles. Graphics and controls disappoint considering this is a modern title, there is no longer an excuse for these types of issues. While it fails to hold its momentum, its high points are just enough to excite hope for the series again, and keep the player hooked until the end.

Part 2 Silent Hill RevelationTL;DR 3/5 Far from perfect, it failed to match the feel of the first film. Its a solid attempt to stay true to the series while still making changes for a larger audience. The 3D is completely unnecessary, and it is a good example of useless gimmicks. Overall, a fun and visually stimulating film, with a story only comprehensible by series fans. Scary at first, but fizzles out near the end. 

This film disappoints me for the sole reason that it DID have so much potential. The creators of Revelation are fans of the original Silent Hill movie, and it shows. I might even dare say they are fans of the games. There are so many great moments, and homages to events or characters from the series, even the most jaded fan should stay entertained. I had a blast recognizing things from previous games, or catching little Easter Eggs here or there. The most exciting thing they added was its allusion to Silent Hill Downpour, tied all my experiences nicely together. Sadly, it just didn't hold up.

The casting they chose was pretty satisfying. It was difficult to decide how I felt about the acting, as some cast members really shined, and others burned out. I am concerned a pattern of dry dialogue will become too common in any future installments. The light in the dark however, was Adelaide Clemens' role as Heather Mason. She did well enough delivering her lines, and worked well at holding the screen as the heroine. More importantly, she just looked the part. She is as best a casting as I could hope for. As for the rest of the actors/actresses, there weren't many other memorable performances. Luckily, this also meant there was none too awful either, mostly forgettable.

The pacing was a point I feel needs to be addressed. The beginning half of the film is spent living out a survival horror game. Scares are done through terrifying images, jump scares, or powerful atmosphere. It was quite a tense experience, and even a seasoned horror fan like myself, found that I was clutching my chair or wincing at times. Looking at the people who came with me, there was sounds of shock and fear, it pulled off its goal. Unfortunately, this is where its biggest flaw showed itself. The movie began to lose pacing, it sped up, and continued to do so right to the end.The last half of the movie is spent cramming as much story in as possible, minus all details, and getting too action packed to feel scary any longer. It felt like a solid idea that just didn't know how to wrap itself up.

This isn't to say it veered off from the game too far, just that it tried to take all that lore, cram it in, and streamline it. It just didn't work. It left the majority of audience members confused, or felling like it was a shallow movie. Sadly, this is the main reason for its largely negative feedback, it is just kind of a mess. But at least it's a beautiful mess...

One thing it deserves praise for, is its make up team as usual. They again used primarily practical effects, and when they did use CGI, it was mostly tasteful. Creature designs and performances were top notch, which is to be expected when working with such a talented team. Everything had a gooey organic feel, and left my skin crawling. The CGI aided in the sets, which had that lovely decayed feeling familiar to fans of the series. It is a visually stimulating experience, and really stands out from other horror films. Regarding the digital effects, the other use they endured was the cursed 3D.

I am so tired of going to see a film that is so focused on quality effects, only to find it butchered by 3D. Now don't misunderstand, there are worse 3D films available, and since it was filmed for 3D the production value is pretty high, it just felt so useless. Everything has a slight texture problem, light glares when aimed at the audience, and some sequences, when moving fast, are hard to see. The worst thing is though, that they actually tried to pull off the "3D moments", which not surprsingly were super cheesy. There is one scene in particular, that a rather creepy monster is attacking the characters, and just as the blade approaches, they pull the ol' knife at the screen dramatic jab. It just looked goofey, and broke my mood. If you can see it in 2D, do it, I think I would've enjoyed it far better, and couldve appreciate the work put in from the art and makeup team.

This may sound like a negative review, but be clear, I really like the film, and LOVE Silent Hill; which is why I feel the need to be so harsh on it. I just expect much more, and was crushed by how jumbled the ending turned out. Even worse than the chaotic pacing, and anorexic plot was the Deus Ex Machina ending, it felt very forced (on a high note, the post ending events really redeem a lot). When so much of it was right on, it was sad to watch it burn out before my eyes. It wasn't the sequel I hoped for, but it exceeded my expectations. I appreciated the fan love, and when it was at its high points, it reminded me how awesome the Silent Hill universe is. It is made for the fans and often hits its mark, it just couldn't hold on to it. I have hope that there is a sequel in the works, as it is set up at the end, but I won't hold my breathe. If you love Silent Hill (movie or games) go see it. If you do not however, I would pass, as it will only confuse and frustrate you. Its a fun watch, but be mindful, it has some serious issues.

This film disappoints me for the sole reason that it DID have so much potential. The creators of Revelation are fans of the original Silent Hill movie, and it shows. I might even dare say they are fans of the games. There are so many great moments, and homages to events or characters from the series, even the most jaded fan should stay entertained. I had a blast recognizing things from previous games, or catching little Easter Eggs here or there. The most exciting thing they added was its allusion to Silent Hill Downpour, tied all my experiences nicely together. Sadly, it just didn't hold up.

The casting they chose was pretty satisfying. It was difficult to decide how I felt about the acting, as some cast members really shined, and others burned out. I am concerned a pattern of dry dialogue will become too common in any future installments. The light in the dark however, was Adelaide Clemens' role as Heather Mason. She did well enough delivering her lines, and worked well at holding the screen as the heroine. More importantly, she just looked the part. She is as best a casting as I could hope for. As for the rest of the actors/actresses, there weren't many other memorable performances. Luckily, this also meant there was none too awful either, mostly forgettable.

The pacing was a point I feel needs to be addressed. The beginning half of the film is spent living out a survival horror game. Scares are done through terrifying images, jump scares, or powerful atmosphere. It was quite a tense experience, and even a seasoned horror fan like myself, found that I was clutching my chair or wincing at times. Looking at the people who came with me, there was sounds of shock and fear, it pulled off its goal. Unfortunately, this is where its biggest flaw showed itself. The movie began to lose pacing, it sped up, and continued to do so right to the end.The last half of the movie is spent cramming as much story in as possible, minus all details, and getting too action packed to feel scary any longer. It felt like a solid idea that just didn't know how to wrap itself up.

This isn't to say it veered off from the game too far, just that it tried to take all that lore, cram it in, and streamline it. It just didn't work. It left the majority of audience members confused, or felling like it was a shallow movie. Sadly, this is the main reason for its largely negative feedback, it is just kind of a mess. But at least it's a beautiful mess...

One thing it deserves praise for, is its make up team as usual. They again used primarily practical effects, and when they did use CGI, it was mostly tasteful. Creature designs and performances were top notch, which is to be expected when working with such a talented team. Everything had a gooey organic feel, and left my skin crawling. The CGI aided in the sets, which had that lovely decayed feeling familiar to fans of the series. It is a visually stimulating experience, and really stands out from other horror films. Regarding the digital effects, the other use they endured was the cursed 3D.

I am so tired of going to see a film that is so focused on quality effects, only to find it butchered by 3D. Now don't misunderstand, there are worse 3D films available, and since it was filmed for 3D the production value is pretty high, it just felt so useless. Everything has a slight texture problem, light glares when aimed at the audience, and some sequences, when moving fast, are hard to see. The worst thing is though, that they actually tried to pull off the "3D moments", which not surprsingly were super cheesy. There is one scene in particular, that a rather creepy monster is attacking the characters, and just as the blade approaches, they pull the ol' knife at the screen dramatic jab. It just looked goofey, and broke my mood. If you can see it in 2D, do it, I think I would've enjoyed it far better, and couldve appreciate the work put in from the art and makeup team.

This may sound like a negative review, but be clear, I really like the film, and LOVE Silent Hill; which is why I feel the need to be so harsh on it. I just expect much more, and was crushed by how jumbled the ending turned out. Even worse than the chaotic pacing, and anorexic plot was the Deus Ex Machina ending, it felt very forced (on a high note, the post ending events really redeem a lot). When so much of it was right on, it was sad to watch it burn out before my eyes. It wasn't the sequel I hoped for, but it exceeded my expectations. I appreciated the fan love, and when it was at its high points, it reminded me how awesome the Silent Hill universe is. It is made for the fans and often hits its mark, it just couldn't hold on to it. I have hope that there is a sequel in the works, as it is set up at the end, but I won't hold my breathe. If you love Silent Hill (movie or games) go see it. If you do not however, I would pass, as it will only confuse and frustrate you. Its a fun watch, but be mindful, it has some serious issues.

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