Making a change to a popular series can be a risky move. A classic example would be Zelda II which tried something radically different and didn’t receive the success of the other Zelda games. Resident Evil changed things up with Resident Evil 4 and created what is regarded as one of the best games of the decade. The Silent Hill series has been around for awhile now and has gained a reputation as one of the top horror games, so messing with the formula of the series would potentially upset some fans. So, what it all comes to down to is whether Silent Hill: Shattered Memories pulled it off or not.
Story has always been a pretty big part of the Silent Hill games, so of course that is going to be a vital part of the success of this game. For those who don’t already know, this game is what has been called a reimaging of the original Silent Hill. You play as Harry Mason, a father who was in a car accident and wakes up to find his daughter missing, just as in the original game. Other familiar names will show up as well, though in most cases the name is the only thing that links them to the characters of the old game as you will find them quite different. What’s unique about this game is the fact that at the start and at various intervals you will take a number of psychological tests which will have an effect on the game as you play through. Even what you interact with while roaming the streets of Silent Hill can make a difference. Changes can be as big as the outcome in the end, the look of the monsters, the path that you take, or the behavior of the characters you interact with. The ending is divided up into two separate parts, so there are actually eight endings in all that you can get, though you can play through four or five times and get them all. It’s also not one of those games that can be tedious to obtain all of the endings. People usually complain when I game is short, and this game can be considered short as it will take around 10 hours if you play through the game without rushing your first time through. However, the length is just about perfect. It’s enough to tell the story and doesn’t try to drag things out. It also allows for great replay value, and in fact was designed the way it is for that very purpose. I have to say that they did a great job at telling the story, and even though some might call the ending before it gets there, it has the ability to take you by surprise, making you feel just like Harry would as everything comes together for him in his mind.
Usually when you have a game on multiple systems, the Wii version tends to gets the short end of the stick. The difference this time around is that the game was created with the Wii in mind, thus making the PS2 and PSP versions the ones that lack something. Shattered Memories grabs hold of you and does its best to immerse you in the town of Silent Hill. Using your Wii Remote, you’ll point it at the screen like a flashlight, which works really well with the lighting effects in the game. Controlling Harry feels very similar to the Resident Evil 4 style with the over-the-shoulder camera and it works very smoothly. The difference here is that you don’t have any weapons, armed only with your flashlight and a phone, having to flee your enemies and throw them off if they catch you. This was one of the major concerns for a lot of people. Some were afraid that not being able to fight back could ruin the game, while others felt that it would add to the fear and anxiety of having to flee for your life. The times when there are monsters are only at pre-determined “Nightmare” sequences, so you know when you’re in danger which can take away from suspense throughout the game. However, when faced with these monsters, you’ll be more prone to getting lost on your first time through, making things get frantic when trying to find your way out of the Nightmare while avoiding them. In the end the game isn’t that difficult and focuses more on puzzles and exploring the town, but it actually works well. There are a number of different things for you to find throughout the game, such as hidden images you can only see when taken by a camera, or messages that can be found by touching certain objects. All of these things tell stories of people in the town, and they can even change somewhat depending on the way you’re playing so that it will reflect your character in a way. This, along with the multiple endings, will have you coming back for more after finishing the game.
Normally I would say graphics don’t matter for a game, but in this case the graphics really help to create the atmosphere. Seeing some videos of the gameplay on the PS2 version convinces me that a lot of that atmosphere would be lost in translation. The graphics are done really well, from the use of lighting to the character models. Sure, they aren’t up to par with the other next-gen systems, but they’re arguably some of the best on the Wii. The characters look natural and the lip synching is excellently done. The only noticeable problem is the hair which can be a little stiff on some of the girls.
Another thing that can be a problem and mar an otherwise good game is the voice acting. Fortunately the actors were able to do their job well. The voices felt natural and added to the game instead of taking away from it like so many do. The soundtrack also adds to the experience, most of which are atmospheric tracks. They set the mood very well whether you’re just walking the streets or running from the freakish monsters. Even then, it can’t go without mentioning the songs sung by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. She has done work on past Silent Hill games, so some people may be familiar with her music (or maybe her numerous VA roles). The highlight here would be the opening song that plays when you leave the game sitting for a moment titled When You’re Gone. It seems to have a somewhat older feel to it, reminding me very much of some of the music from the original game. I would find myself with this song stuck in my head for hours at a time.
When it comes down to it, this game does so many things right and very few wrong. The story is excellent, the gameplay engaging, the graphics superb… All of it comes together wonderfully. Some might feel that the game is a little easy, but even somebody like me who has a thing against easy games didn’t have much of an issue with it. The game is also admittedly on the short side, but when done right that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, and Shattered Memories does it right. It’s one of those games that you just can’t take in and get everything in one playing and makes you want to come back for more, providing the replay value that makes up for the shortness of a single play-through. Some people who played the original may have some problems with the different direction the game takes, but as somebody who has played both, I can say that Shattered Memories is just as good, if not better than the original in its own way. This is definitely one of the best games on the Wii right now and worthy of a purchase.
