GAMEPLAY (9.9)
Just like the other survival horror games you basically solve
puzzles, run around avoiding monsters and kill them if need be
with a variety of weapons. However, its really how the game
scares you that is the most important aspect of its gameplay.
I'd like to discuss its level of "freakiness" first before going
into other details about Silent Hill 3's gameplay.
Ok, let me tell you that this
game is NOT FOR THE WEAK HEARTED. SH3 is the freakiest game up
to date period. It makes Resident Evil look like child's play.
Why is it the freakiest game? 1) Gamers are forced, in most
situations, to run and evade monsters. The weapons and items are
scarce in the game and more importantly, the monsters aren't
easily killed. (e.g. the dog-like monsters.) This, in effect,
gives a sense of "helplessness." 2) You play an average teenage
girl going through a horrific, mysterious story line. 3) You are
put in a lot of unexpected "situations." 4) Camera angles are
put in the worst view possible. 5) Obviously, SH3's graphics and
sound/music takes a big role in its ability to scare. I'll
discuss more about this in detail later...
A new ability is introduced in
SH3 that no other survival horror game has - the ability for the
character to block attacks. This adds somewhat to the strategy
of trying to stay alive, although I hardly ever block when I
played. Whether it is useless or useful depends on the gamer.
IMO blocking isn't necessary, however it is a nice ability to
have just in case. In parts of the game, one mistake can
automatically lead to your death. This is new in the SH series.
To avoid such instant "Game Overs," the gamer must take notice
to the notes, memos, and other clues carefully. Now you can't
just run around like a mad man anymore. It's nice that Konami
added some of those instant "Game Overs," but only added enough
not to be annoying like Fear Effect.
There's not much I could say
about what I didn't like about SH3's gameplay. Probably the only
bad thing I could say about it is that its riddles and puzzles
were slightly on the easy side (in normal mode). Most puzzles
only took me only 7 mins to solve ( Note: I am not a genius).
GRAPHICS (9.7)
The first thing that comes into my mind about SH3's
graphics is its "environmental effects." In certain parts of the
game, the walls around you seem to come "alive." They will
become dynamic in a sense and you'll be asking yourself, "how'd
they do that?" The lighting effects are, of course, very well
done. It looks so realistic when you shine your flash light at
objects. The monsters and characters are extraordinarily
detailed. Facial expressions and body movement of the characters
are top notch. To my disappointment, however, the actual town of
Silent Hill looked pretty much the same as in SH2 - very plain
and not detailed. Maybe the creators were lazy or something...
SOUND/MUSIC (10.0)
The music SH3 offers can be described as "well suited" for this
type of game; its depressing and freaky at the same time.
>>>cont... |
|
