SH: SHATTERED EXPECTATIONS

[what]

One involves not trying to think about or dwell upon certain memories, one involves the active revision of one's past, which necessarily involves inventing falsehoods to cover up the holes. You can neglect memories without having to change whole portions of your past to account for their absence because the memories aren't absent. You still understand they happened, you simply do your best to avoid recalling them. One of these activities is fairly normal and happens to everybody, the other is a pretty serious psychological issue, and is a very unhealthy extreme.

[Augophthalmoses]

You're not specifying which is "not trying to think about or dwell etc." and which is "involves the active revision..." but anyway.

Bottom line: intentionally trying to forget select memories and repressing...they're one in the same. Sometimes they can be mild cases. Other times they can be extreme.

[what]

Now who's arguing for argument's sake? <3

What's important in Travis' case is that, though he wants to forget, he hasn't. He never questions the truth of what he learns. His recollections strike him as unwelcome, but never unfamiliar. If he blocked those memories out, he would react the way James does when Laura tells him about how she knows Mary: he would think it's untrue because the truth clashes with what he believes actually happened, or alternatively, would surprise him because he had no idea that these things actually happened.

That's the difference between forgetting a memory and burying it: when you forget something, it's still above ground and you'll still see if you happen to look in its direction. If you've buried it, you won't see it unless you either go digging, or it happens to resurface on its own.

[Augophthalmoses]

Okay, then...

EDIT:

Now who's arguing for argument's sake? <3

What's important in Travis' case is that, though he wants to forget, he hasn't. He never questions the truth of what he learns. His recollections strike him as unwelcome, but never unfamiliar. If he blocked those memories out, he would react the way James does when Laura tells him about how she knows Mary: he would think it's untrue because the truth clashes with what he believes actually happened.

The way the characters respond to said "forgetting" and/or "repressing" doesn't exactly entail how the two concepts are any different from each other. And that's assuming people would react in specific ways.

And there's no guarantee Travis would react the same way James would. Anyway...

[Wooden Plank]

My biggest gripe with this game... is the otherworld. When you are running like a frightened little child from the nasty, scrawny hug monsters, you can't enjoy the scenery. No ambiance for you, Mr. Player. YOU have to run away. Nope. You aren't allowed to look at the 50 Ft. Ice chunk in front of you. Something is after you. It won't stop. Ignore the giant chunk of ice and run.

[what]

The way the characters respond to said "forgetting" and/or "repressing" doesn't exactly entail how the two concepts are any different from each other. And that's assuming people would react in specific ways.

And there's no guarantee Travis would react the same way James would. Anyway...

You're hell-bent on not conceding an obvious point. It's not that important, anyway. Travis has not blocked, repressed, or even successfully forgotten any of his memories. Amnesia plays no part in his story. Or in Shattered Memories.

[Augophthalmoses]

Why would you expect anybody to concede to you saying "forgetting your memories" and "repressing your memories" are two separate things? You've long since established that you're not making any sense. Of course given your posts thus far I'm guessing that will somehow wind up being my fault anyway.

[what]

I've explained, repeatedly and in precise detail, how the two are different and why it matters, and I sincerely want to believe that you're only playing dumb and pretending not to understand so as to avoid having to admit that you're wrong about the point which initially drew my attention. It happens, man.

[Augophthalmoses]

Again, why you ever expect anybody admit to being wrong when you're seriously trying to suggest "repressing" and "forgetting" blah blah blah are somehow two different things.

Not willing to agree with blatant nonsense doesn't exactly quality as an unwillingness to admit to fault, man. But tell you what I'm a generous guy. Since obviously being in the right is immensely important to you given how you keep flip flopping in this topic I'll make a compromise.

I'll agree to say you "won" at whatever you call yourself doing since it's obviously a big deal to you as opposed to having a logical discussion. And I'll just go about my business knowing I'm dealing with some garden variety elitist who doesn't what he's talking about. Everybody wins that way.

[Purramid_Head]

This is what the dictionary says about repressed:
1.Restrained, inhibited, or oppressed
repressed indigenous groups
1.repressed energy
(of a thought, feeling, or desire) Kept suppressed and unconscious in one's mind
repressed memories
2.Having or characterized by a large number of thoughts, feelings, or desires, esp. sexual ones, that are suppressed in this way
3.a very repressed, almost Victorian, household

Forgot:

Fail to remember


I believe it could be both in this case. His memories are being repressed but at the same time he also "forgot" them. If your repressing your memories in the unconscious mind like James you "forget" with out knowing you forgot. They don't mean the same things though. But at the same time the actions correlate to each other so much that they can't be divorced from each other. That being said you can "repress" memories with out them being forgotten.

[what]

(self-indulgent whining and even more ad hominem)

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you exit with dignity.

[Augophthalmoses]

(self-indulgent whining and even more ad hominem)

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you exit with dignity.

Aw, that's so cute. You're trying troll now. Anyway, good luck with that.

[what]

Actually, no, you're right about everything. It's the namecalling which convinced me that your points are all entirely valid. I'm sure it will convince everybody else, too. <3

[Augophthalmoses]

Keep on trolling, champ.

[what]

Now you're even more right about everything! Why didn't you just do this from the start?

[Ratiocinator]

I greatly enjoyed Shattered Memories as a one-time only type of game. After Homecoming being such a boob on so many levels, I had no expectations going in to SM, which, really, was a blessing in disguise. SM as a game is utterly boring and warrants no motivation for me to replay it. You know the drill: No fights in the "normal" world and chase-not-fight sequences in the Ice World became highly predictable and lost all sense of fear to me. In other words, it made for a dull-as-dishwater and forgettable gameplay experience.

However, the story is what made this game shine. I can't recall the last time I got goosebumps from a video game ending but SM was one of them. Once you throw out the fact this game isn't canon and enjoy it as, and I hate to use this word, a "re-imagining" you really warm up to the refreshing take and spin it took.

Do I regret buying it? Absolutely. It's not so much that I already know the story's twist as it is the boring gameplay that prevents me from going a second round. Is it worth a rent? Absolutely. The story and the way the game progressed the story (how the cutscenes with Dr. K and such played out) isn't something you see in games every day.

[cameroncrogers]

If you want my opinion... it was terrible. Its about equal in terrible to the terribleness of windows vista. Its also as terrible as origins and play novel.

[TraceBASS]

@cameron
Despite the fact that I disagree with the harshness of your comment, your cavalier attitude amuses me greatly, sir.

[samael21walter]

I have to say, I enjoyed Shattered Memories quite a bit. It was a new and fresh experience as a game. It was disappointing that they had the "normal world" and the "ice world", but overall I felt the game wasn't going for "scary" at all. If they were, they failed miserably. I like the whole no combat system, as it does make you panic (if only for the first time). If they could have just shaken it up with more enemies, it would have worked much better. Oh yeah, and if it could happen at any time. But then again, having set "ice world" sequences fit in with the whole storyline to the game. Remember the fact that ever time Harry gets closer to the truth, another sequence plays out? It's really a coping mechanism by Cheryl to shy away from the truth for long enough to gradually begin to accept it. The Raw Shocks are the "raw shocks" of truth that Harry learns. I agree with what someone said above. I think Cheryl probably DOES know Harry died. She's just inserting him into every aspect of her life, saying that if he was there, it would have gone differently, etc. However, at the same time, she's telling herself that he's there for her, almost wanting to believe he is alive. Now, I really don't consider this game in the Silent Hill series at all. It's non-canon. It doesn't fit in. It's a complete spinoff. Hell, if you changed names, this wouldn't even have ANY connections to Silent Hill. Still, it's a BRILLIANT game in its own right and deserves all the praise it can get. I would have really liked to see the second game re-imagined as well. The story of James killing Mary would have fit nicely in this type of overall storyline. It would have been very, very interesting. Well, I'm all talked out about Shattered Memories. In short, play this game, not as a Silent Hill game, but as the brilliant narrative that it is. Climax already delivered to me when they made Origins (though it had plot holes, they did far better than I expected) and this game just blew me away. Great, great game.

[Augophthalmoses]

I would just really rather have new stories rather trying to reimagine preexisting ones.