There are both action and puzzle elements in Silent Hill 3, each with
adjustable difficulty settings. On the medium setting, there are so many
monsters and so few bullets that cowardice is the better part of valor.
Once a puzzle's parts are collected, it's fairly easy to see how they
fit together; it's assembling the parts that's difficult. With a dynamic
and automated camera, the game occasionally leaves players to wander until
they see a door or item they hadn't previously, thus completing their
inventory.
The controller supports both digital and analog, in 2D and 3D formats.
The digital is less dodgy, and the 3D scheme better accomodates camera
angles that can dramatically shift at a moment's notice; that, and controlling
from Heather's perspective gives one a better sense of being in the game.
She can use her weapon to assume a defensive stance, while the results
of failing to do so will cause the rumble feature to effectively pulse
with her tiring heart, reminding players when it is about to expire.
Both the aural and graphical components are integral to Silent Hill's
atmosphere. The graphics have an inherent graininess that contributes
to the unclean world in which Heather finds herself. The fog and darkness,
once technological limitations, continue to obscure her vision, combining
with fantastic lighting effects to make the unknown all the more omnipresent
and frightening. Her nightmare includes harrowing sites - one such that,
when I realized what it was and the possibilities it had in a survival-horror
game, I felt a genuine sense of trepidation without anything having happened
yet. Another's decor was so unsettling that I hoped it did not encompass
the entire building; sadly, it was without relief.
The soundtrack is replete with sound effects, keeping players on their
toes for unseen threats or unbalancing them with groans, shuffles, and
sobs. The voice acting is good; though the delivery may be stilted, the
quality is there, though occasionally histrionic.
A bonus soundtrack CD is included with the package, though its usefulness
is dubious. This isn't Dance Dance Revolution, and I can't imagine most
of the tunes being appropriate outside a Halloween party.
Barring moments of frenetic combat, Silent Hill 3 is not a fast game
- both in gameplay and during noticeable loading times, made more evident
by patterns of writhing flesh and blood that animate the screen. On the
normal difficulty setting, it will take average gamers under six hours
to solve the puzzles, defeat the bosses, and clear the game. But the experiences
they will have had on that journey will have made a worthwhile investment
of your time and sanity.
This article is copyright (c) 2003 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved.
Not to be distributed without permission.
Other reviews, FAQs, etc. by Ken Gagne can be found at http://www.gamebits.net
Email: Ken Gagne
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