Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

Silent Hill: Origins Review for the PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Silent Hill: Origins Review for the PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Origin Worth Playing

As anyone knows, I love the horror genre. I think it is one of those genres that is both easy to make fun of and at the same time enthrall you into the mix and truly be scared, if done right. When I was younger, I absorbed everything horror: movie, books, and even video games when they began. Then the title Silent Hill came out. When everyone else was clamoring over Resident Evil, I was locked into this title late at night trying to see if there was any way that a video game could scare me in a way that movies had long lost their ability to. Even though the initial title in the series never really brought me to the point of being shocked or scared, I have to say that it did come closer than any other title that was out at that time.

Silent Hill: Origins screenshot

Over the years, it seems that we have begun experiencing a set back in the horror genre of video games. With their predictable scare tactics, weak plotlines, and shallow characters, it seemed that this genre in video games was heading into the same waters as movies. It was even happening in the Silent Hill series. After the release of the fourth installment, The Room, many fans felt there was no coming back. Some, however, hoped there would be something to rejuvenate the series once more on the consoles. Then news came of a PlayStation Portable title, and a lot of them feared this would be the kiss of death for the series. Doing a prequel to the original title and putting it on a handheld caused several questions to arise, but none of those fans who worried had played it yet. So now, after the release of the title, how does it shape up?

As I said before, the events of this title take place before the story begins to unfold in the original title. However, the parallels to this and the original are uncanny. The main protagonist this time around is Travis Grady, a truck driver who just happened to be doing a route that brought him close to Silent Hill. When a mysterious figure appears in the middle of the road, Travis nearly wrecks his rig trying to avoid it. Successful in his attempts to not kill himself, destroy his rig or hit the figure, he gets out to check on the individual, and finds nothing. With a little more investigation, Travis sees what could be the same figure at the brink of what appears to be fog. Chasing after this figure, he soon discovers the fog is not really fog but smoke from a burning building. Screams erupt and Travis does what anyone should do and rushes in to rescue the screamer. Of course, after exiting the building with his rescue, he collapses, the common disadvantage in Silent Hill. After he awakens from an undetermined amount of darkness, the game really begins.

Silent Hill: Origins screenshot

Travis heads out to Alchemilla Hospital to be checked out and to try to find out more about the little girl he rescued from the fires. The hospital, much like the town, is mostly deserted. The peoplewho Travis does find are abysmally vacant in nearly every way. This should come as no surprise to those who have played the series, especially considering the names of the people you run into. First up is Dr. Kaufman, the local doctor who we all know and “love” from the first title. Of course, what would a doctor be without his nurse, and Lisa Garland fills in those stark white shoes. In fact, Lisa informs Travis that the little girl he saved, Alessa Gillespie, didn’t make it. Other characters that Travis will run into will have fans giddy with anticipation of who’s next. One of the greatest tragic characters in Silent Hill is Dahlia, and what would an origin story be with out her?

The great thing about this story is that it interweaves the original title so well that you don’t mind discovering the links and ties Travis has to the town. With the shocks and turns in the story, it will keep you on edge racing to the end. None of the Silent Hills were ever that long, but this one seemed to be over before it could have really begun. Given that this title is on a handheld it did need to be shorter, but it was also a little too long for the fast sit down, a play mechanic some have come to expect from handhelds.

Silent Hill: Origins screenshot

While holding true to the same mechanics of combat from the series, Silent Hill: Origins provides a few new techniques for players to experiment with. For example, the new grappling system allows players to react with certain buttons presses to get out of the grasp of your enemies. There’s a huge emphasis in varied melee weapons this time. Unlike previous titles where the lead pipe could be revered as the best weapon in the game, here the melee weapons break after a period of time.

Silent Hill: Origins screenshot

You are provided a “health” bar for the weapons in the corner. These weapons are varied from broken poles and knives to hammers and even portable television sets. This not only increases the “exploration or die” magic of the series, but it also makes you think smart when facing your enemies. While the “live to fight another day” aspect has always been in the series here, it is dependent on the players misuse or excessive use of their weapons that determines that. Another thing that will make the fans happy is the new Barricade system. This helpful new mechanic allows player to block off doorways to further protect themselves from danger or harm’s way. You can really feel the tension build as you block yourself into a room to escape the horrors on the other side of the door. Other than those additions to the gameplay side of things, Origins retains the magic of what has had fans returning repeatedly.

Another trivial gem that will have fans excited to play this title will be the return of the “Other World” used in the first and third titles. While I agree this is a small thing, it is worth mentioning due to the visuals of the game. It has always been easy to dismiss the graphics of a Silent Hill game due to the filters that are used or because the characters don’t look quite right. However, to the horror fan these things truly captivate us and express a fantastical sick world that only we can appreciate. Origins does an exceptional job at creating these horrific visions that we can carry around with us. The grainy filtering mesmerizes the world of Silent Hill in a way that today’s next gen graphics sorely lack in many ways. With Origins sticking to what made the series wonderful, I was impressed to see how close the PSP could photograph the deranged world of Silent Hill.

Equally impressive is the soundtrack. While this should come as no surprise, it was a comfort to hear the sounds of eeriness pour from my handheld, though I do have to admit you lose some of the “mood” music when not playing with headphones on. Of course, you can play without them but in order to truly experience the game you have to play with your headphones snug around you ears. Then again, I also believe the best way to play these games is in darkness with your surround sound turned way up, so I might be a little biased.

Silent Hill: Origins does what I was worried it could not. It delivers an enjoyable experience on your handheld in the world of Silent Hill. Interweaving the storyline of the original title with this one and setting the stage for all that came after, it really opened and answered many questions. While the combat system may be nothing revolutionary, it does hold true to the basics that we have come to love from the series. If you are a fan of the series or need to feed the horror genre need you have on your handheld, Silent Hill: Origins gives you what you want when you want it.

Features:

  • Spooky new effects and visuals never before seen in a Silent Hill game.
  • New “Barricade System” allows players the ability to block off rooms from enemies.
  • Enhanced camera system that improves the action and controls designed specifically for the PSP.
  • Brand new puzzles and mysteries to uncover.

    RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.1 Graphics
    The creepy eeriness of the series is preserved on the PSP. 3.6 Control
    Good controls, but I wish there had been a little more consistency with the combat. 4.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
    One of the greatest things in the series, the music, still holds true in this handheld installment. 3.9 Play Value
    Mesmerizing storyline will capture some of the fans that disappeared after the fourth installment, and those that can’t wait for the fifth, in the console numbering. 4.1 Overall Rating – Great
    Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

  • To top