Does Downpour revitalise the survival horror genre?

[oneofthem1s]

Hey guys, considering 'survival' horror as a whole has been dying out since Resident Evil 4, can anyone confirm if Silent Hill Downpour is a successful return to the genre?

[Yuki]

I don't think any single person can confirm it. I do think that it does survival horror quite well.

[Shadedarkan]

Its like all genres, ups and downs. It might spark some real interest in creating good, new games. But, I wouldn't say that it is going to revitalize the genre.

[poorjack]

I don't think it will revitalize the genre, but it certainly breathes new life to the series.

[astro]

Resident Evil 4 was hardly survival horror, it was a really good action game that was only occasionally spooky after the first half of the first chapter.

Downpour does survival pretty well, but it isn't scary and in all honesty it's very forgettable, although some fans might disagree. I enjoyed it, but it just doesn't have the impact and tightness it needs, Amnesia: The Dark Descent was better despite it having mediocre writing.

[clips7]

I think it did a pretty good job....Downpour's atmosphere at times can be pretty horrifying and oppressive. I loved the dark tight corridors of the buildings and apts in the game. But the genre as a whole has shifted from survival horror to action horror. Downpour and Siren Bloodcurse are the only games that are holding on to the true roots of survival horror.

RE has been an action game ever since 4...and tbh, i actually thought the very first Dead Space was crafted extremely well...even tho it had "boo" scares...the dark tight corridors of the ishumura had tons of atmosphere and the situation seemed hopeless on your first playthrough, because of everything that kept going wrong. Even with all of those weapons you had in Dead Space, you still never felt overpowered.

I give Downpour it's props tho...to me it's better than origins, better than homecoming and waaay better than SM....if they could've crafted their weak enemy designs better and worked on their behavior and mannerisms( theres no way these creatures should be blocking and dodging my attacks and fighting me like i'm in a boxing match) i think Downpour would've been that much better....as it stands it's thee best non-TS game out of the bunch...

I think they injected a spark in a genre that nobody is really checkin' for anymore unless it involves alot of action or machine guns....sadly...

[Augophthalmoses]

I don't think it will revitalize the genre, but it certainly breathes new life to the series.

This. We haven't really seen a horror game that has revitalized the genre recently, but we could certainly use a game like that. The more attention drawn towards survival horror games, the better.

[oneofthem1s]

I agree that RE 4 took the genre in a different direction - introducing action elements and, of course, because it was a huge commercial success, developers have been wary of going back to the theme of isolation and pure minimalist survival elements prevalent in early Silent Hill games and the Fatal Frame/ Project Zero series. Having not played Downpour yet, but having heard positive previews to this effect, I think it will be worth checking out.

In terms of revitalising the genre, does anyone think Naughty Dog's 'The Last of Us' has a chance of doing this?

[Yuki]

I agree that RE 4 took the genre in a different direction - introducing action elements and, of course, because it was a huge commercial success, developers have been wary of going back to the theme of isolation and pure minimalist survival elements prevalent in early Silent Hill games and the Fatal Frame/ Project Zero series. Having not played Downpour yet, but having heard positive previews to this effect, I think it will be worth checking out.

In terms of revitalising the genre, does anyone think Naughty Dog's 'The Last of Us' has a chance of doing this?

I don't know a lot about The Last of Us, but isn't it more of an action game than a horror one?

[Q. Valintyne]

I agree that RE 4 took the genre in a different direction - introducing action elements and, of course, because it was a huge commercial success, developers have been wary of going back to the theme of isolation and pure minimalist survival elements prevalent in early Silent Hill games and the Fatal Frame/ Project Zero series. Having not played Downpour yet, but having heard positive previews to this effect, I think it will be worth checking out.

In terms of revitalising the genre, does anyone think Naughty Dog's 'The Last of Us' has a chance of doing this?

I don't know a lot about The Last of Us, but isn't it more of an action game than a horror one?

It's survival horror, but it has guns.

Soooo... you'd probably say it's an action title. I'm really excited to play it regardless. No matter how much "action" it has, it could still potentially be a great horror title. The sequences in Uncharted where you fight those... weird creatures really shows how well Naughty Dog could handle horrific moments.

[jam6i]

It definately brings survival horror back to its roots, and is what survival horror is all about. Resident Evil is a lost cause at this point, it's a jumbled mess of a series now. Downpour managed to capture the little intricacies that the series was known for, while at the same time offering its own ingredients to the mix. It was one hell of a successful attempt at recapturing the horror feel, and I hope that Tomm and his little gang of horror aficionados can realize the true potential they have rekindled in the series.

Unfortunately, it did not totally reinvigorate the genre as a whole. Resident Evil and the Dead Space action horror mentality has done too much damage. It would take multiple masterpieces from vatra and the current designers, producers, and writers to crawl back out of this action horror hole the genre has fallen into.

[Avianna]

I think its puts a lot more emphasis on the realistic survival aspect of the Survival Horror genre. That's for sure. It was scary to me, but I do agree with some that its not as scary as it could have been.

It was nice actually playing a character that was more like me in a survival horror game. Not able to lock and load and having to run away from monsters more often than not. I feel a lot of the genre is really getting away from that connection to the player. WHICH IS FINE overall, but not why I started playing Survival Horror to begin with. Personally.

Did it revive the genre? I'm not sure it was a defibrillator, but it definitely pointed towards where I can get one.

[devil hunter]

This. We haven't really seen a horror game that has revitalized the genre recently, but we could certainly use a game like that. The more attention drawn towards survival horror games, the better.

How about Penumbra series and Amnesia: The Dark Descent?

[Avianna]

This. We haven't really seen a horror game that has revitalized the genre recently, but we could certainly use a game like that. The more attention drawn towards survival horror games, the better.

How about Penumbra series and Amnesia: The Dark Descent?

I was gonna say, Amnesia. I would not have a problem if more games took after Amnesia.

[Matt S]

Hey guys, considering 'survival' horror as a whole has been dying out since Resident Evil 4, can anyone confirm if Silent Hill Downpour is a successful return to the genre?

At this point, I'd say 'no.' Too many tech issues, too similar enemies without diversity. Zero Konami support resulting in lackluster sales - no one playing = how can it revitalize anything?

[Q. Valintyne]

Just because a game isn't selling doesn't mean that it isn't revolutionary or good in any way. I blame the sales on poor marketing. It's done well via word of mouth, but it hasn't done anything to draw new fans in... at least I haven't seen that.

[Avianna]

I blame the sales on poor marketing.

OMG THIS! I want to make an entire thread about how this REALLY is hurting the Silent Hill franchise. Those guys in marketing at Konami aren't doing their job. At ALL! Its really depressing.

TBH. If I knew where to start, I would start a whole new thread on this.

[Yuki]

I blame the sales on poor marketing.

OMG THIS! I want to make an entire thread about how this REALLY is hurting the Silent Hill franchise. Those guys in marketing at Konami aren't doing their job. At ALL! Its really depressing.

TBH. If I knew where to start, I would start a whole new thread on this.

They're really doing a terrible job. The release date for Downpour was incredibly unclear--despite whatever anyone on GameFAQs may tell you--and the HD Collection hasn't been hyped at all (before we knew about the glitches), not to mention Book of Memories' release was delayed the day before its original date.

Plus they went so far as to include KoRn for a soundtrack yet didn't even hype it at all, which was a weird move.

[Matt S]

Wait, how can anyone call no marketing, bad marketing? Seriously, the only thing I can say I've seen Konami do, marketing-wise, was a couple posts on their Facebook page.

Aside from the issues I had with Downpour, the framerate being the most grevious of them, I'd say it was a 'damn good effort' especially due to the great ability to travel around. However, this one is gonna be popular with the fans' now. Could be wrong, we'll see

[Yuki]

Wait, how can anyone call no marketing, bad marketing? Seriously, the only thing I can say I've seen Konami do, marketing-wise, was a couple posts on their Facebook page.

It's bad marketing specifically because they didn't DO anything that we know of. A bad job of it.