what did you think of it?

I want a couple of opinions before I get it was it good and was the game play great or horrible. I've played the original SH1 and beat it so wanted to know about this one.

ok thanks I've been saving up money so I should be able to get it today.

What I thought of it.

I disagree with one thing others have said. This is most assuredly Silent Hill. Metaphors are everywhere, the titular town is as eerie as ever and the story has a twist...hell, I'll say it. Worthy of Silent Hill 2. Even if you've gotten every ending in the real Silent Hill 1, this one has some shockers in store. Its more Silent Hill than Homecoming was. Just like Silent Hill, its affected me outside the game. Only this time, instead of my mind telling me that shaking shadow on the wall is Valtiel, this one showed me a little taste of fatherhood. And I have to say, it looks pleasant but risky. I had disbelief whenever it was implied that Cheryl had become a bad person. "Not Cheryl," I caught myself thinking. "She wouldn't do that." Shattered Memories got into my brain and dragged my brain into the character. What could be more Silent Hill than that?

The main difference, other than no combat, is a redistribution of aspects. Theres always been some detective work and some situations in which half a dozen numb bodies/lying figures/split-head dogs/whatever are chasing you down. You don't have ammo and trying to fight them is suicide. What Shattered Memories has done is put much more focus on the clue finding and put the demons in short bursts, but all of them are encounters you can't win by fighting. It makes sense once you know what they are why Harry doesn't fight them and why they only grab him but never seem to hurt him. Its a tweak of ratios, a re-casting of the characters, a new vision of the Other World, and some little story-attaching parts. By the way, theres coloring in this game. Yes. Coloring.

I think it goes without saying, but Akira Yamaoka has made another incredible Silent Hill soundtrack and sound design. Its not quite the SH2 OST, nor 3 or even The Room. But its really good in it's own right. Good casting, too. Harry sounds like a normal guy, but he's played by a good actor this time. Dahlia sounds a lot more alluring this time and, if you'll forgive a nerd his mind, it was neat to hear Laura Bailey talk about "Sid and Nancy". Speaking of perversion, Dr. Kaufman is in rare form. He's still an ass, but now you wouldn't leave him alone with your kids for a whole different reason. Cheryl sounds pretty good, but something about her voice seems off somehow.

My big problem with the gameplay is the phone. The map doesn't seem to ever be specific enough to help in a tight spot, especially toward the end, and you can only use it when the demons aren't chasing you. If you try, it slows you down and they'll grab on before you can even get to it. It is useful on the streets, but being an overhead view of the whole town only, you can't see the halls of the building you're in, which can get confusing. I also dislike having to go back through every last menu and option to get back to the game. Minor, but annoying. I noticed that most of the phone numbers don't do anything. I don't mean they don't reach anyone, but they often reach answering machines telling you nobody can come to the phone or office hours or some other irrelevant trivia that doesn't help or really even entertain. Maybe they just thought they needed more mileage from the phone.

Other than that and a couple story problems (below in spoilers), its really good. The chase sections are sheer panic, the story was good even by Silent Hill nerd standards and I liked being able to play Harry as I always saw him but not being forced to. Worth the money, even if its your only game for a while.