Downpour General Discussion: Expectations & Thoughts

[legacyzero]

Obviously there are those of us that have our pre-concieved thoughts and cautious anxiety when it comes to Silent Hill. We've been hurt before. Even though it may be unfair to place judgment on a game and it's developer before we have hands on time with the game, but it's enevitable given Konami's track record in regard to the series' questionable treatment. But thus, here we are, looking forward to another release.

Vatra has a huge burden to carry, and a big responsibility to keep by accepting development of this cult-coveted franchise, and it isn't to be taken lightly. Here are the thoughts of someone (me) treasures this series simply due to the fact this is the only series that has ever had me PHYSICALLY SCARED without using cheap "monster closets" and funhouse jolts. Games like Dead Space, Resident Evil, and Siren (even though Blood Curse did it's job well) doesn't even scratch the surface.


LIKES.

The fact that Downpour is taking the 'open world' approach is what excites me the most. I've always pictured a large map for a somewhat rurally urban (you know what I mean) setting where you are set lose in a this demented town. I'll be honest: While most of you spent your time with Silent Hill diving deep into the CHARACTERS, i was paying most of my attention to the only TRUE character in the game (IMO), And that is the town itself. Sure all the underlying meanings and subtle contexts in the games are great, but at the end of the day, I'm most excited about what lies around the corner and how truly EFFED UP it is. So it seems that Vatra is going to give it a try and hopefully make it work.

The premise sounds pretty compelling. Even though the protagonist has the worlds worst name, he's a felon, and felons have baggage, and if you're a felon in Silent Hill, then you must have alot of it. Plugging a murderer, or rapist, etc into Silent Hill could only do well for the plot and the world around him. And since the emphasis seems to be on a water theme, it could be linked to something Murphy has done. Perhaps he drowned somebody. Maybe his child died in their brand new back yard pool... Speculation at the very least.


DISLIKES:

Distuctable weapons? Seriously? This never works... It's hard to believe that a sledge hammer could break simply bludgoning a nurse..


CRUCIAL

Immerision is key here. Flashing buttons and health bars on my screen isn't going to pull me any deeper into the experience. Make it subtle! QTE's have no place in ANY game, much less Silent Hill. I want to fully believe that I am there and terrified and seeing a ton of flashing telemetry will remove that feeling.


Whats your feelings, doubts and crucial features?

[Wren]

I'm happy that the QTEs are apparently only going to be during boss fights, but I'd much rather not have them at all.

All I'm going to say about the breakable weapons system is that they better do it correctly. There's a lot of ways that this idea can quickly get tedious/annoying. Wasn't that what everyone was bitching about during Origins? Why did they decide to do this again?

[TraceBASS]

I think that the breakable weapons concept could work pretty well - if it is well-executed.
Origins failed outright.
Alone In The Dark did it pretty well, I will say.

The graphics look good, the mix of subtle and non-subtle ways the player can change the ending sound pretty awesome, and...yeah.

[Jon253]

I am interested in seeing how they would do a more open world in a current generation horror game. I was hoping for something like that in Alan Wake (Let's hope they do something like that for the sequel).

I'm not too sure yet on breakable weapons, maybe they'll work. The worked well in Dead Rising 2, but that's not a horror game. I usually prefer having a reliable weapon to use in case I run out of ammo.

I don't really like QTE either. I keep messing them up in games like uncharted (I don't think I'll ever get used to the playstation button setup, even after years of playing sony systems). I always hesitate which button is which.

[hairymason]

I have traded games in based on the QTEs.

Breakable weapons are lame unless they have some sort of plot related function when they break. I would have believed a gun i found on the side of the road would break down before a tire iron or a meat hook. Demon please! What a crock of aglophaotis! I just hope the open world isn't accopanied by a compass/map in the corner of the HUD with a bunch of symbols crowded around the edges that only serve to confuse me more.

[Wren]

Demon please! What a crock of aglophaotis!

Silent Hill fans: Crudely creative, and loving every minute of it.

[legacyzero]

I'm gonna need a hands-on NOW. I dont wanna have to write this game off as another HOMECOMING.

[TraceBASS]

Hear, hear.
As nice as I am, Homecoming was still pretty disappointing.

[Wren]

The only thing that I really appreciated from Homecoming was that they tried to add to the cult's story. But it felt kinda tacked-on and Hostel-y, so I'm not sure if the effort counts or not.

I'm sure I've already addressed this, but the breakable weapon system is sounding like the current weapon you have will break at a set plot point, then the plot gives you another (better) weapon. Is anyone else getting that feeling?

[legacyzero]

Thread...Title...............Changed????

[knwlss]

Yeah, it did. Thought this would be a good thread for everybody to share their opinions about the game in general. Hope, you don't mind much.

[Mercury]

Personally, I think it'll be great for the series. Climax hasn't disappointed yet, and the fact that it's being produced by two of its members means a lot. I haven't played Homecoming, but from what I've seen, it doesn't even look half as bad as what everyone bitches about with it *remembers everyone bitching about SH4*. I will say it was a weaker entry though, and the series could use a stronger entry which is what I definitely see happening. I like that they're going to reinvent what SH means and throw out the guidelines for what an SH game "should" be.

[legacyzero]

Yeah, it did. Thought this would be a good thread for everybody to share their opinions about the game in general. Hope, you don't mind much.

Not not at all.

Personally, I think it'll be great for the series. Climax hasn't disappointed yet, and the fact that it's being produced by two of its members means a lot. I haven't played Homecoming, but from what I've seen, it doesn't even look half as bad as what everyone bitches about with it *remembers everyone bitching about SH4*. I will say it was a weaker entry though, and the series could use a stronger entry which is what I definitely see happening. I like that they're going to reinvent what SH means and throw out the guidelines for what an SH game "should" be.

You should actually play it. You might downgrade that "weak entry". Oh, and dont bother if you prefer to invert camera controls on the Y axis.

[Wren]

^I had issues with Homecoming as well, but that kinda sounded like flame bait when I read it.
Well, Homecoming WAS a bit of a headache....

[Ratiocinator]

In addition to lackluster visuals, SH2-copy-cat storyline, buggy and literally game-breaking glitches and being overly action-oriented Homecoming was ruined for me because you couldn't invert the camera's Y-axis control.

People often think I'm exaggerating when I said this ruined the game for me but bear in mind: I've been playing inverted for well over ten years. Ten years. The whole time I played Homecoming I always pressed the wrong direction on the joystick thus created a lot frustration.

Climax, on the other hand, has been good through my eyes. Origin's story was a bit wonky but the visuals were amazing (for a PSP at the time). The controls were good (terrible on the PS2 port and often glitchy) and the combat was good also (minus the beyond-easy breakable weapons which made me use fists all the time).

I have to give huge respects to Shattered Memories. I won't lie: I found it boring and not scary at all. But I most give props to them/Konami for at least trying something new when they knowingly know how anal we SH fans are.

Everything I've seen with Downpour is looking great. Vatra is doing something right so far!

[Mercury]

You should actually play it. You might downgrade that "weak entry". Oh, and dont bother if you prefer to invert camera controls on the Y axis.

Sorry, but I'm not that negative about SH. I really like what I've seen of it and I really don't think it's going to change.

As far as a recycled SH2 story, that can literally mean anything in this fandom. lol

[Ratiocinator]

REVEAL SPOILER: Homecoming's story premise completely spoiled! Click with caution!

Character goes to Silent Hill looking for someone. Character receives constant clues/visions/validation the person they're looking for is still alive. Turns out the person they're looking for has been dead this whole time. Killed by the protagonist whose so delusional they convince themselves they weren't the murderers and only at the end realize they were.

[legacyzero]

In addition to lackluster visuals, SH2-copy-cat storyline, buggy and literally game-breaking glitches and being overly action-oriented Homecoming was ruined for me because you couldn't invert the camera's Y-axis control.

People often think I'm exaggerating when I said this ruined the game for me but bear in mind: I've been playing inverted for well over ten years. Ten years. The whole time I played Homecoming I always pressed the wrong direction on the joystick thus created a lot frustration.

Even worse if you play competitive online shooters. It will mess you up for days if you play Homecoming in it's entirety.

You should actually play it. You might downgrade that "weak entry". Oh, and dont bother if you prefer to invert camera controls on the Y axis.

Sorry, but I'm not that negative about SH. I really like what I've seen of it and I really don't think it's going to change.

As far as a recycled SH2 story, that can literally mean anything in this fandom. lol

Isn't kinda difficult to have a full opinion of the series if you havn't even played it? I'm just saying.

[Ratiocinator]

I'd like to make a guess as to why Howard (the black mailman) is in both the Past Life comics and the upcoming Sinner's Reward:

He either knows/uses Silent Hill's power or was some way, directly or not, an influence or cause as to how Silent Hill's powers came to be. Because of this, he is immortal or cannot age. Or perhaps the power of the town has kept his image because of his involvement in the town's ritualistic creation.

...now we play the waiting game for Downpour to see if what I said has any merit...

[Wren]

^^I was under the impression that Shattered Memories was the only SH game he hadn't played yet. I must not be paying close enough attention.
It's official: Homecoming is the most hated entry to date.

^I wasn't aware that there was going to be a sequel to Sinner's Reward. Awesome.