Despite its obvious flaws, Shattered Memories grips the gamer with a powerful storyline and bone-chilling game play!
The Highs- Need a break from all the usual blood and gore that most horror games flaunt nowadays? Then look no further because with ZERO gore and minimal blood usage Shattered Memories provides a nice little escape from the red stuff. The environment that the player is submerged into is one of sheer horror and despair. I can't think of a better setting for a horror game then the gloomy ghost town of Silent Hill. Another great feature is that the game comes complete with a free trip to the psychiatrist! Okay, okay, it's actually just a part of the game. However, how you handle the situations and questions presented by the psychiatrist ultimately shapes your game play. Which as a result creates a more personalized experience! And don't forget, what you do in the actual game play also can warp your outcome!
The Lows- See those pesky creatures chasing you? Yeah, there's nothing you can do about that but try to blind their non-existent eyes with your flashlight... With absolutely no combat, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories teaches us that running is not always the best alternative. The creatures run faster than you and when they catch up they hop right onto you trying to get a piggyback ride. And it seems to be the popular trend that when one creature hops aboard, two or three more decide to join the party and dog pile on top of you until you fall to the ground. I guess they don't understand the concept of a personal bubble… Oh well, but what exactly can you do when they jump on top of you? Flail your arms around like a wild lunatic hoping that the game will actually throw off one of these leeches. I guess it goes without saying but the pushing controls take quite a while to get the hang of. All I can tell you is good luck! And last but certainly not least, what's with the high pitched screeching these things do? Maybe the game designers thought it would add to the horror? Well all it manages to do is give me a headache. Not to mention when three or four gather around and do it all at once it's worse than a middle school musical. Ugh!
Overall- Despite the screeching and tricky game controls, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories ultimately makes up for all of its flaws and earns a very respectable 9 out of 10.