Let's face it: the Survival Horror genre just isn't as prolific as it used to be. Konami is one of the few companies trying to keep fans invested this eerie, paranormal genre. Their newest game to hit the infamous Silent Hill series is Downpour, and it's looking to be quite an intriguing game that could definitely bring fans back to what made them love the genre in the first place. How are they doing this exactly? For starters, the main character, Murphy Pendleton, doesn't exactly define the term morality. Pendleton is a convict, and while they haven't exactly revealed his crime, we're guessing we're not exactly playing as a protagonist who walks the line of perfection. With other Silent Hill games, we've been treated to instances such as a father looking for this child. This time around, though, there's no one to save, Pendleton is just searching for a way out. See, on the way to being transported to a new high security prison, his bus has an unfortunate accident near the town of Silent Hill. What about Pendleton? He's alive, but his prognosis isn't looking any better. As often happens in Silent Hill, things are about to get eerie and foggy, and unsuspecting creatures are about to emerge to jeopardize Pendleton's life. It's safe to say Pendleton just may have wished he was back in prison. He's broken through the shackles that have tied him to prison, but the confines that Silent Hill have in store for him may just be his biggest challenge yet.
During E3 last summer, we got some hands-on time with Silent HIll: Downpour. In our time with it, we found chaos and terror: plenty of high-pressure situations that are sure to get pulses racing. In the first true gameplay scene, the stage is set for ultimate frenzy - a raging fire in a diner's kitchen - and you're locked in without any means of escape... or so it seems. Clearing out the fire is as simple as finding a fire alarm to extinguish the roaring flames. Crisis adverted? Think again, as the fire alarm solution provided another problem: rising water that's about to reach a damaged sparking electrical box. Similar to your previous strategy, it's time to search the environment for the answer, this solution: twisting a valve to drain the rising water. As you guessed, this is far from the end of your ordeal. Draining the valve may allow you entrance into new doors, but the price, just a paranormal energy being that's looking to smother Pendleton in its blood-tinted fog. Here is where the game gets you jumping - there's a hallway in which you're trying to outrun the growing demonic fog, but for some reason that hallway just keeps getting longer and longer. And as your turn your character to look back at it, it's clear if you make one error in judgment, this entity is making you its dinner. During this sequence, it's up to you to not only move fast enough, but to push shelves in the environment to impend its progress.
It's the only way to get away from it, since this is far too large of a presence to kill. It gets in your head and is almost like you're playing the star role in a horror movie where you stumble or you just can't push the large dresser fast enough. In our time with Downpour, running wasn't the only solution: we received weaponry. Aside from a flashlight (which really only helps your visibility of these enemies), there were a few guns to protect yourself from all the freaky enemies. In addition, the variety is up in Downpour, as not once did I find myself attacked by the same creature, besides the fog of death. There were enemies that latched on my back, ones that screamed so deafening they stunned my character, and others that attacked from the ceiling without any warning. None of these enemies looked the same, and they all had the ability to not only surprise but to also horrify. As far as strategy goes, it's really make it or break it in Downpour - try to fight off everything, and you'll meet death. It's essential to know when to run and when to gun. Rain will be an important role in the game as the title suggests, since the heavier the pleating of the rain, the bigger the threat of the enemies coming at you.
There's times you'll want to try to avoid the adverse weather, but just because the sky looks clear doesn't mean you are totally free from harm's way. In addition, a dash of realism will run through the game, as your inventory space is limited. Pendleton can only carry so much while he travels through Silent Hill, so inventory management is vital to your success. Another necessity is exploration for new items and weapons to get you through the tough times. More noteworthy is that weapons are breakable, so searching for new ones will be vital to your success. Don't worry too much, though, as you always have your fists if you find yourself weapon-less. And if you didn't think the main quest was enough to get your scare on, there will also be side quests to take on to lengthen your haunting journey. Information is pretty scarce right now on these, but we're hoping they flesh out the story more and up the scare tactics. So far, there's no reason not to be confident about Downpour; it really feels like Konami is capturing the magic that fans found in previous iterations of the series. Having a mysterious character such as Pendleton also adds a deeper layer to game. Who knows? You may be helping Pendleton get out of Silent Hill, when maybe he was better left to meet a fate he deserved. Either way, we can't wait to see what the game has in store for us this March, stay tuned.
