What Is Techno Again?

Interview with Paul Levitz, a letter to Konami, and Spyro through time

It’s been a busy weekend for me. First, be sure to check out my interview with writer and ex-DC Comics president Paul Levitz on the new Huntress mini. You can find it at Impulse Creations.

Secondly, if you’re a Silent Hill fan, stop by GameZone for my editorial about Konami’s shaky grasp on the series and Vatra Games’ positive direction.

Finally, whether you played Spyro the Dragon on the PlayStation, pocketed him on your GBA or DS, or took to the skies in The Legend of Spyro trilogy, you’ll find something worth reading in my editorial on the history and evolution of Spyro.

Part One
Part Two

Spyro is iconic to different generations of gamers. Love him or loathe him, it’s hard not to admire his everlasting determination to fry the bad guys and keep going no matter what the demographic, design, or gameplay. In an era of blockbuster hit-and-runs, Spyro refuses to hide his horned head in shame and go the way of the bandicoot. As a character that survives the damaging cycle of new developers and new visions, he’s more than worth his weight in gems.

How do you remember the dragon?

Tags: DC Comics, Downpour, Huntress, Konami, Paul Levitz, Silent Hill, Spyro the Dragon, Vatra Games
Posted in Comics/Manga, Exclusives, GameZone, Impulse Creations, Video Games, Writing | No Comments »

Is Silent Hill imitating Lara Croft?

Konami has released new details about their planned Vita game, Silent Hill: Book of Memories. Apparently, it will be a top-down co-op multiplayer shooter. That sounds a lot like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, especially since the raised perspective and co-op are odd decisions for a SH game (just like they were for Tomb Raider).

More curious is what players will be doing: creating a custom character and receiving a book of memories, which they can “rewrite through playing the game’s levels.” I’m not sure what that entails, but included in the game are signature weapons, guns, and monster Pyramid Head. That also reminds me of Guardian of Light, which equipped Lara with a familiar arsenal and forced her into a rematch with some prehistoric enemies.

From screenshots, the game looks pretty glossy. Could a multiplayer Silent Hill be fun if the developers mixed up the gameplay?

Tags: Book of Memories, Konami, PlayStation Vita, Silent Hill
Posted in Video Games | No Comments »

Downpour gameplay confusing, awesome

Apparently Murphy Pendleton, protagonist of the upcoming Silent Hill: Downpour, is afraid of water. That’s interesting, considering he’s also an escaped convict. Unlike the protagonists of past SH games, Murphy didn’t just do something bad (that’s assuming he’s guilty at all) or have some weird familial or congenital tie to the infamous town. He has a tangible fear, which Silent Hill is going to exploit in addition to manifesting his shame or subconscious desires or pathological imperfections. Cool.

Anyway, the new gameplay video (see bottom) blew my mind. It looks like a lot of fun. My biggest hesitation: the sequences where Murphy is running down a hall and pushing over objects to make barricades and looking behind him—that borrows from Shattered Memories, whose nightmare sequences were dreadfully boring and if anything, frustrating. But Vatra Games seems to be making up for it with mind-bending psychological craziness, which I can get behind.

It also makes use of the old “this can’t be happening” Hollywood pitfall, abused by modern horror, which I don’t like and I prefer the old “let’s not comment on anything odd because I’m a weird protagonist and nothing will make this any better” approach. James Sunderland was good at that.

But I do like that fixed camera angle after Murphy runs up the staircase. I have no idea what’s going on in the rest of the trailer. The “Murphy—run” is creepy, though. I won’t spoil anything else for you. Just watch the video below.

I hate to say it, knowing the series’ more recent track record—but gripes aside, I’m excited for Downpour. Really, really excited. Shoot me in the foot now.

I recommend clicking the video and viewing it in a bigger resolution—the details are easier to see that way.

Tags: Downpour, Konami, Silent Hill, Vatra Games
Posted in Video Games | No Comments »

Silent Hill: Downpour slated for fall 2011

Bring an umbrella. Fans can expect to get caught in a downpour with Murphy Pendleton this fall.

Konami claims that Downpour, the eighth installment in the Silent Hill series, will deliver an “expansive environment,” comparable with earlier franchise classics and “similarly claustrophobic … where the player is never truly alone.”

Let’s hope Konami and Vatra Games can make good on their promise. For now, I remain skeptical.

[via Spong]

Tags: Downpour, Konami, Silent Hill, Vatra Games
Posted in Video Games | No Comments »

Weather Forecast for Silent Hill: Downpour

First ice, and now water. Vatra seems intent on completing the elemental chain Climax Studios started, because the next Silent Hill installment has officially been declared Downpour. Prepare for nightmarish waterworks and building leaks out the wazoo. Everyone’s favorite haunted town could really use some maintenance right about now.

So what can gamers expect from the rainy game? Reports are popping up all over the web, and I both like—and don’t like—what has hit the press. You can read more in-depth details at the Just Push Start and Silent Hill Memories websites, but below are a few points that struck my eye.

THE GOOD

The game’s events take place in the unexplored southeast region of Silent Hill, so count out visiting series classics like the hospital or elementary school. New locations are definitely a plus, because players won’t know what’s coming. In addition, a subway system will provide easy transport between areas. I’ll miss wandering around the fog in search of extra health items, but it’s an acceptable loss.

The Otherworld will consist of separate locations from the norm. That means you won’t be retreading the same ground anytime sirens warn of a nasty flood.

THE BAD

Quick-time events return for boss battles, of all things. Even James Sunderland understood that bashing ugly gross things with blunt objects is fun.

THE CATCH

Main character Murphy Pendleton isn’t much of a fighter, so most of the time he’ll rely on avoiding tough situations rather than engaging in confrontation. Sound familiar? The humdrum nightmare sequences of Shattered Memories ring a bell. On the other hand, Murphy isn’t completely helpless. He’ll be able to hold one—yep, just one—weapon at a time, and he’ll be grabbing whatever he can salvage from his surroundings. These makeshift weapons will break after some use, so again, combat isn’t everything.

Altering the game’s outcome through various actions isn’t a new concept to the series, but influencing how other characters interact with you is. Seemingly in the vein of Shattered Memories, players will be forced to make several choices that affect character relationships. My only gripe? Too much reliance on other people. Silent Hill is supposed to be about isolation, right?

Side quests will be included, but keeping past Silent Hill secrets like extra weapons in mind, they might work. The new hybrid camera system (combining the old, fixed style with the over-the-shoulder flair of Homecoming), though, is a matter of preference.

What are your thoughts on Downpour? Will you brave the rain, or did you call it quits at the mention of QTEs?

Tags: Downpour, Konami, Silent Hill, Vatra Games
Posted in Video Games | No Comments »