A perfect re-imagining of a true horror classic, while still keeping the hardcore players surprised
User Rating: 9.5 | Silent Hill: Shattered Memories PS2
To call this game a remake is being I use to call it a remake, before finally completing it, and seeing my error in judgement. It is NOT a remake. More appropriately, you can call it a re-imagining. While it uses the original Silent Hill's main storyline as focus: father Harry Mason searches the abandoned town of Silent Hill for his missing daughter, it does not include any aspects of The Order (Silent Hill's resident cult). That has been stripped from the game, and while Harry, daughter Cheryl, police officer Cybil, nurse Lisa, doctor Kaufman, and (the most changed character) Dahlia Gillespie all return from the original, they are all cosmetically and personality-wise changed. That is Shattered Memories shining example of genius. It's use of changing the game to shape the player. Based on your decisions, and answers given throughout the game, it will change. The characters and enemies will all receive cosmetic changes, while the characters will additionally receive personality changes based on your decisions. Speaking of the enemies, there is only one to speak of, however they come in huge swarms at you, and you are armed with nothing. All you can do it run. Luckily, you know when they will come based on enviorment changes and the "Nightmare" sequences where you must flee from them are not very challenging. However, you can find yourself increasingly frustrated with the game. Each time one of the enemies (known as Raw Shocks) grab ahold of you, you take damage, and eventually you will die. Luckily, the game doesn't force you to replay much, it only starts you back at the beginning of the sequence. Shattered Memories doesn't everything right, if you can ignore the lack of combat, and does the best job at creating mystery and atmosphere around every corner and alleyway of Silent Hill. Personally, I cared little for the Nightmare levels, but other then those, the game is an absolute blast to play, and anyone who bashes it, clearly enjoys brainless shooters where you blast things to pieces, instead of what I choose, intelligent, thought provoking and mystery filled games, to which Shattered Memories fits the bill effortlessly.
