Konami's E3 Event Shows off Silent Hill 5

Konami's press conference was short and sweet, but the focus was on the unveiling of Silent Hill V . There's almost no information about it out yet, though there is a singularly unhelpful trailer available online. From the press release: "Building upon the series trademark foundations of atmosphere, adventure and storytelling, Silent Hill 5 introduces players to a frightening new experience. When confronted by the perverse incarnations of evil that roam Silent Hill and Shepherds Glen, players will be able to utilize an enhanced combat system and execute a number of offensive and defensive maneuvers as they experience every terrifying encounter with the games numerous nightmarish creatures. Players will also have to solve a variety of puzzles as they progress through the highly atmospheric game world, using cues from the environment to unlock Silent Hills darkest secrets. Continuing the series tradition of standout music and sound design, Silent Hill 5 features an original soundtrack by famed composer Akira Yamaoka."

The "trailer"...

[badasscat]

...is not promising. It utterly fails to capture the Silent Hill mood. It's probably at least partly the voice acting (not that that bodes well either), but it's also the script that leans heavy on the military aspects of the main character's background, and supposedly that's something Konami also played up at their press event. I get the feeling that, in the hands of a new western developer, they're going to go all Resident Evil on us. Which is pretty much exactly the opposite of what most Silent Hill fans want. Silent Hill is the anti-Resident Evil.

Anybody remember the initial previews of Silent Hill 2? (And the final game did live up to that promise.) How still and quiet they were, how the acting was always slow, wistful... "In my restless dreams, I see that town... Silent Hill. You promised me you'd take me there again someday, but you never did... I'm there now, in our special place, waiting for you..."

Gives me chills just thinking about it. There's no such magic about the teaser that was released yesterday.

Still, I'm sure I'll buy it. Hell, I bought SH4 and it was terrible too.

Horrendous voice-over

[Kelbear]

If that's the main character's voice acting this game will be a rental at best. Silent Hill's critical acclaim has been the immersion and atmosphere it creates. Using some random guy off the street to voice the protagonist completely destroys that. If this was a plan to save money it was not thought out very well. They need to get a real voice actor like what the japanese versions of media get. This is too important to the game to forgive. Silent Hill dialogue and script have been its weak points, but using terrible voice acting is just rubbing salt in the wound.

SimChurch

[Petersko]

" I get the feeling that, in the hands of a new western developer, they're going to go all Resident Evil on us. Which is pretty much exactly the opposite of what most Silent Hill fans want. Silent Hill is the anti-Resident Evil."

Well, the opposite of Resident Evil would be SimChurch. Silent Hill would better be described as Resident Evil's sublime second cousin.