Silent Hill: Downpour Critic Reviews

Silent Hill Downpour may not be the most technically advanced game, nor boast the best polished gameplay, but it succeeds in what we were expecting from it : to be able to restore this icy, sweaty fear the series was known for.

It'll infuriate as many as it pleases, but Vatra Games has succeeded in crafting a true horror experience.

From side quests to sound design, Silent Hill: Downpour isn't afraid of change. The restult is a captivating game more expansive than the series has ever seen.

It's a decent stab at resurrecting the atmosphere and sense of foreboding that the series was once known for, and if it wasn't for those frequent technical hitches, it could well have been one of the best in the series. As it stands, it's a very, very good survival horror title.

The surprisingly high share of puzzles and the appeal of exploring the open city and unlocking its' secrets gives you 20+ hours of entertaining horror. And even though the combat system is superficial and the engine shows some frustrating framerate issues this playable nightmare shows a lot of facets between creepy moments and pure terror.

It is not the Silent Hill you have been expecting for a decade, but it is not as bad as the most pessimist predicted. If you liked Homecoming you should give Downpour a chance, and although part of the story is predictable and the horror aspect has plenty of room to improve, the game is an interesting one and ultimately delivers, although far from the best times of the series.

Underneath all sorts of technical oddities, lies a strong Silent Hill game. Great use of many creative ideas, the excellent pacing and an atmosphere that always keeps you on your toes makes Silent Hill: Downpour the first Silent Hill game that shows that this franchise has the potential to return to greatness.

Despite clunky combat and various frame rate issues, Silent Hill: Downpour is still a solid survival horror romp that any fan of the genre should take a punt on.

Another disappointment for fans of the first four Silent Hill games. The controls during battle are unfair and dumb and the fact that you can only carry one weapon at a time is simply annoying. One of the few positive things is the rain-dynamic. The more it rains the more creatures prey upon you. The graphics are muddy and fall apart under technical issues like sudden freezing. The game looks less scary overall and reminds of Alan Wake. All things considered it is not Silent Hill anymore. There is no oppressive and dark atmosphere left.

Shines where it ought to, but much too soggy around the edges.

I don't regret my time with Silent Hill: Downpour, but mediocrity hung over most of my playthrough like a fog.

While the journey in Downpour is one of the most interesting in the series, some of its most significant beats fall flat.

Chief amongst the offenders is a combat system so outdated I wouldn't be surprised if Vetra games had it shipped it in especially from 1999. Fighting monsters, which is done by mashing your attacks and occasionally blocking, feels clunky and detached, with weapons that all feel like they've got the wrong weight.

Fans of Silent Hill will enjoy it more, because they'll find many allusions to the games of old that'll influence the experience in a positive way. Anyone new to the franchise, but interested in this brand of horror should, give it a look, too. (…) This game definitely restored my belief in the series, and that's perhaps the biggest compliment I can give this game.

Sometimes superb to look at but always unremarkable to play, Downpour lacks the nerve to be either great or terrible. It need reinventing - fast.

A game that is great for most parts, complete with the series signature atmosphere and old school puzzles. Sadly, there's some really lousy game mechanics, and a clear misuse of the Unreal engine. Thumbs up for the introduction of side missions though.

The more you explore Silent Hill, the more it becomes clear that Vatra, despite its good intentions, simply lacks the necessary talent. The fighting system, for example, sucks monkey balls. In previous games you could opt to run, but Downpour forces you to a confrontation.

A decent game with missed opportunities due to technical and mechanical drawbacks. On the plus side, I really think the hardcore followers should be able to deal with the fighting eccentricities, because they're so…well, familiar.

Downpour is a pretty solid horror game, if not an exceptionally original or nuanced one. If it weren't for the crappy combat and frustrating exploration it would be a bit easier to recommend, but Vatra has captured the Silent Hill aesthetic well.

Downpour isn't quite an evolutionary leap, but it demonstrates that Konami's thinking isn't entirely constrained by the past.