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Spawn Kill Favorites: Silent Hill

Oh, Silent Hill, how I adore you. Thanks to the PlayStation Network’s inclusion, I recently revisited the PSOne classic on my PSP. So despite the voice-acting that makes soap operas sound like Shakespearian language, what distinguishes Harry Mason’s experience and keeps the aging title memorable? Find out at Spawn Kill.

One decade ago, Konami left a neoteric imprint on the survival horror genre with Silent Hill, a video game that would inspire a number of future titles, a movie, and several books and comics. But Harry Mason’s investigation into the fog-covered town and its strange occurrences accomplished more than just a household name among the likes ofResident Evil. The heart-pounding adrenaline rush introduced gamers to a nightmare founded on psychological Japanese horror and an equally unnerving musical score by composer Akira Yamaoka.

Tags: Konami, PlayStation, Silent Hill, Team Silent
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Silent Hill: A Decade of Nightmares

I’ve been meaning to catalog the full Silent Hill history for awhile, but now couldn’t be a more perfect time. Unless I’m screwing up the math (which is possible, trust me), then January 2010 marks the full ten-year anniversary of the survival horror series. What better way to celebrate than to take a look back on the years with all their missteps and achievements? … Okay, well, I guess we could all dress up as the crazy gang of monsters and characters and put on a performance enacting famous scenes from the video games in a thematic party, but maybe that’s a little much. Eh, there would be punch, though.

Who’s your favorite Silent Hill individual?

For the last ten years since its 1999 debut, the Silent Hill video games have launched gamers into the heart of a macabre town crawling with unearthly creatures, cult secrets, and enough horrid psychological chicanery to justify a happily executed lobotomy. Despite the series’ notable footprint on the surface of the survival horror expanse, each installment bears its respective weight in flaws as terrifying as its disgusting creatures and unsettling music. So what makes Silent Hill unique and massively popular among horror addicts? Here’s a rundown of the Silent Hill landmarks that established the series and an envisioning of what fans can expect in the years to come. Feel free to add your own tribute in the comments below!

Tags: Climax Group, Double Helix Games, Konami, Microsoft Xbox, PC, PlayStation, PSP, Silent Hill, Team Silent
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Holiday Gaming

The holidays are almost upon us, which means sooner or later we procrastinators really need to start, you know, shopping and stuff. December is always a wonderful time of year for gamers—sure, November starts the race … especially on Black Friday … but the real joy comes in the first real snow-flying month (unless you live in California … jerk).

In celebration of our favorite time of year, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at December sales and landmark events in the past seven years—that’s the entire 21st-century thus far according to the good ol’ Gregorian calendar. So sit back and read on, and I hope you enjoy. The full feature is up at RadNerd, but here’s a brief preview:

Developers, publishers, and gamers put down their controllers and join hands for that special time of the year when they break fingers and rush out in a mad stampede to buy the latest and greatest of the tie-breaking holiday season. The winter holidays are as big and influential for the gaming industry as summer is for popcorn movies, and this season will fall in line just like a pixel-decorated, shining … okay, insert your own politically correct object here. Let’s just say Charlie Brown would weep with joy and throw that stick figure excuse for an ornament-hanger in the trash with all the annually recycled wrapping paper. Here are the top December games of the last seven years—because 2000 doesn’t technically count (and no one loves it).

2001

One year in and the holiday season has a bundle of soon-to-be favorites to offer gamers in exchange for their merry good cheer. Of course, it was also a year of new tidings: the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, and Xbox entered the popularly dubbed console war.

PS: I hope you like the banner.

Tags: Holidays, Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox
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Sounds of Nostalgia: Legend of Legaia

Do we need an excuse to play old games? Hell no! But sometimes music from OSTs can inspire us to try new ones or revisit past loves like dirty, secret affairs.

Before Sounds of Nostalgia ends on an indeterminate hiatus, I thought it would be best to leave things on a carefully chosen note. This time, I’m highlighting one of my favorite games of all time—and one that’s underrated at that—Legend of Legaia.

In the days when all I seemed to have a taste for were RPGs, Legend of Legaia made more than a passing blip on my radar. Its unique storyline captivated me, inspiring me to pour in hour upon hour of my time into the game, which follows a trio of very different heroes who are forced to band together to save the world from the dark grip of the monster-bathed Mist. From the enigma surrounding the story to its memorable characters, I was hooked—for better or worse. Legaia deserved the patience required to raise each party member’s levels, especially when gameplay became grueling during the bread-themed quest in Sol’s dizzying heights—filled with both entertainment and, on its lower levels, a gamble with death. Boss battles amounted to truly fearsome challenges (holy shit minotaur), and oftentimes I found myself running about areas like a chicken with my head cut off (or maybe just with a Chicken Guard) in the hope of gaining precious experience.

Despite the game’s labors, the thrill of seeing Juggernaut for the first time, hearing the energetic theme of Drake Kingdom, and kicking Songi’s ass is something I’ll never forget. No RPG has worked its way quite so deep under my skin before, and it earned every inch. What Legend of Legaia lacks in PS1 visuals and mercy for weak-hearted gamers, it makes up in a moving soundtrack and a fantastic, visceral adventure dripping with humor as well as heart-pounding moments. Most importantly, the game teaches the sometimes much forgotten value of what, “I just beat the damn game!” should mean to a gamer.

“Young Nobleman of the Mist” is one of the OST’s longer tracks, but “The Misty Nest” (Mist Generator theme) easily reigns as my favorite. After all, it was the only happy side to having to venture into one of those evil fortresses again.

Don’t forget those Doors of Light, and remember—say “no” to sequels, and no matter how hard you cuss at Songi, he’s not going anywhere for awhile. (Bastard.)

Tags: Legend of Legaia, PlayStation, Sounds of Nostalgia
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Sounds of Nostalgia: PaRappa the Rapper

Do we need an excuse to play old games? Hell no! But sometimes music from OSTs can inspire us to try new ones or revisit past loves like dirty, secret affairs.

How can I do Sounds of Nostalgia without taking the time to honor one of first games to truly launch music-based video games? Envision a 2D world where you’re a rapping dog who learns zen-esque, fighting-styled moves from an onion-headed guru, and you’ve stepped into PaRappa the Rapper (discounting its iffy, over-the-top weird sequel). Kick, punch, chop, jump, duck, and turn to the rhythm and u rappin’ COOL. So kick, punch—and remember, it’s all in the mind.

What are some of your favorite Sounds of Nostalgia?

Tags: PaRappa the Rapper, PlayStation, Sounds of Nostalgia
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