Summary
Silent Hillis, without a doubt, one of the most influential franchises in gaming. This iconic Konami series not only laid the groundwork for the future of the horror game genre, but also showed just how terrifying games could be without relying on cheap scares. TheSilent Hillfranchise has received widespread praise, in large part thanks to its innovative approach to storytelling. Unlike other PS1/PS2-era horror-themed titles, many of which sacrificed narrative depth and substance in favor of fast-paced gameplay and paper-thin plots, the series' early installments featured mature, thought-provoking stories, intriguing casts of characters, and clever uses of symbolism.
If there’s one thing that Konami’s beloved franchise isn’t known for, however, it’s having amazing combat. Ever since its inception, theSilent Hillseries has often been criticized for its lackluster gunplay and clunky-feeling melee weapons. Evenuniversally-acclaimed entries in the franchise, like 2001’sSilent Hill2 and 2003’sSilent Hill 3, had serviceable combat at best. The series has been around for a quarter of a century at this point and has swapped developers on a near-consistent basis, but for all the years it’s existed, not a singleSHinstallment has had combat that most have considered ‘great.’ In a way, though, this aspect ofSilent Hillcould be seen as both a major strength and weakness for the horror franchise.
The Silent Hill Franchise’s Combat is a Double-Edged Sword
The Combat in Early Silent Games Was Really Basic
Mostgames in theSilent Hillseries have pretty simplistic combatmechanics, but to describe the combat inSilent Hill 1andSilent Hill 2as basic would be an understatement. The first twoSHinstallments not only had very limited weapon varieties, but they also featured rudimentary control schemes. In both games, combat basically consisted of either slowly shooting enemies or awkwardly bludgeoning them with melee weapons until they died. The rough aiming mechanics weren’t of much help, either. AlthoughSH1and2were both played from a third-person perspective, the tank controls and limited player movement made combat such a frustrating experience that they actively discouraged players from engaging in it.
Silent Hill’s Combat Mechanics Have Been Adjusted Over the Years To Mixed Results
Later installments in thelong-running horror game franchisedid build upon the combat systems fromSH1and2, but they still weren’t that much of an improvement.Silent Hill 3, for example, featured a greater emphasis on blocking, parrying, and counter-attack mechanics, whileSilent Hill 4introduced breakable melee weapons. The series adopted a more action-oriented approach in subsequent titles, likeSilent Hill: Origins, which offered gamers a wide selection of weapons to use in battle. 2008’sSilent Hill: Homecoming, meanwhile, gave players the ability to use combo-based moves, in addition to dodging maneuvers and even light and heavy attacks. This drastic shift from the series' traditional gameplay formula received such criticism that laterSHentries deprioritized combat altogether.
Making Silent Hill’s Combat Feel Just Right is a Tough Balancing Act
As one can tell from the series' history, theSilent Hillfranchise has had a hard time appeasing gamers with its combat. On one hand, many have criticized the gameplay of the earlySHinstallments, due to lacking in fun factor and paling in comparison to otherhorror games likeResidentEvil 2. On the other hand, the limited nature ofSilent Hill’s combat has also been praised for giving players a sense of helplessness and making them feel like they were barely surviving each monster encounter.
If the series' combat mechanics were incredibly in-depth and gamers could just mow down enemies with ease, then theSHtitles would likely lose some of their scariness. At the same time, though, aSilent Hillgame with less clunky, more fluid combat could appeal to a broader audience. This is why future installments in the series, likethe upcomingSilent Hill 2remake, will have a tough balancing act ahead of them when it comes to gameplay. If they alterSilent Hill’s combat too much, they’ll be criticized for prioritizing action over horror, but if they don’t improve on it at all, they’ll be lambasted by others for not being innovative enough.
Silent Hill
Silent Hill is a series of survival horror games best known for its original trilogy. The first three games stood out with how atmospheric they were, along with their engrossing storylines that were often told through symbolism and metaphors.Silent Hill 2 is set to be remade by Bloober Team, a game that could reignite the franchise.
