Samantha Lienhard's Blog, page 174
October 29, 2014
Celebrating All Things Spooky: Pokemon (and OR/AS demo code giveaway)
Pokemon is an incredibly popular series. My personal favorites are SoulSilver, which got me back into the series after my long hiatus, and White, which I consider to have the best Pokemon story. I'm uncertain about Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, as they're remakes of the generation that stands out in my memory as my least favorite. However, it was during the Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald generation that I became convinced I was too old for Pokemon, so maybe it's just that.
Last week, I received a code for the Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire demo. I downloaded it and played it. As a Pokemon demo, I didn't like it a lot. It's split up into tiny missions that give you rewards to transfer to your main game. It wasn't the cohesive experience I expect from Pokemon. On the other hand, it has solid Pokemon gameplay mechanics and some great new features.
Today, I received another OR/AS demo code. I don't need two, so I'm offering it to you, as Pokemon joins our celebration of Halloween and all things spooky.
Sure, Pokemon is cute and child friendly, but that doesn't exclude it from spookiness. Ghosts, haunted houses, and some downright terrifying Pokedex entries add darkness to this otherwise lighthearted series. One of my favorites is Yamask, a Ghost-Type Pokemon with this cheerful Pokedex entry:Each of them carries a mask that used to be its face when it was human. Sometimes they look at it and cry.What?? That mask is holding is a human face? Yamask used to be human? This dead-human-turned-Pokemon cries over the face it's carrying around? We're approaching Lisa Trevor levels of creepy here...
And the games themselves sometimes get a little darker than expected, like a notable moment in Pokemon Platinum that actually made me jump.
Now it's your turn. Leave a comment telling me your most memorable scary/disturbing moment from a Pokemon game, and you'll be entered to win this Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire demo code! (Note, the codes are region-locked, so only enter if you'll be able to use a US demo code.)
If you just want to comment without entering the giveaway, say so when you post.
Tweet a link to this article using the hashtag #AllThingsSpooky for additional entries. Tweet #AllThingsSpooky
A winner will be
Happy Halloween--a winner has been selected and the contest is over!
October 27, 2014
Final Stretch Before NaNoWriMo
Yep, it's almost NaNoWriMo, the time of year when writers around the world progressively lose their minds as they attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Last year, I decided to write 50,000 words worth of short horror stories, but this year I'm back to working on a full novel.
But I didn't want my new novel idea to conflict with my thesis novel for Seton Hill, so I decided to push ahead and finish the first draft of Penteract of Blood by the end of October. That's why this month has been full of Writing Quest Tweets from me.
I feel a bit like I started a mini-NaNoWriMo at such a time that I'll have a couple of hours to recover from it before the real NaNoWriMo begins. (Remember when this site used to be called Words of a Mad Author? This is why!)
I only have a couple of chapters left to write.
And I only have until Friday.
Here we are in the final stretch before November--it's time to bring this horror/fantasy/dark fantasy epic about not-vampires to a temporary conclusion before I furiously attack it with revisions next semester! I WILL succeed, even if it means I don't get any sleep... much like a character I wrote about.
Any of you have a writing goal you're trying to complete in time for NaNoWriMo? Share your woes and successes with me in the comments below.
Onward!
But I didn't want my new novel idea to conflict with my thesis novel for Seton Hill, so I decided to push ahead and finish the first draft of Penteract of Blood by the end of October. That's why this month has been full of Writing Quest Tweets from me.
#SHUWPF I wrote 684 words of a slower scene, but things are going to speed up again very soon. #writingquest
— Samantha Lienhard (@SamLienhard) October 23, 2014
I feel a bit like I started a mini-NaNoWriMo at such a time that I'll have a couple of hours to recover from it before the real NaNoWriMo begins. (Remember when this site used to be called Words of a Mad Author? This is why!)
I only have a couple of chapters left to write.
And I only have until Friday.
Here we are in the final stretch before November--it's time to bring this horror/fantasy/dark fantasy epic about not-vampires to a temporary conclusion before I furiously attack it with revisions next semester! I WILL succeed, even if it means I don't get any sleep... much like a character I wrote about.
Any of you have a writing goal you're trying to complete in time for NaNoWriMo? Share your woes and successes with me in the comments below.
Onward!
October 24, 2014
Celebrating All Things Spooky: Silent Hill Shattered Memories
If you're from my class looking for my post on The Others, it's right here. If you're looking for The Shining, you can find it here.
We're back with another look at an oft-maligned Silent Hill game, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Shattered Memories is a re-imagining of the first Silent Hill game, and that's where most of the negativity comes from.
Shattered Memories is not a remake of Silent Hill. It is not a reboot of Silent Hill. It was always described as a "re-imagining," which basically means the developers looked at the basic premise of the original game and started asking "what if" questions.
What if the cult wasn't involved?
What if Dr. Kaufmann was a psychologist? (To those of you who have played the original and think he'd be just about the worst psychologist ever... you're right.)
What if Dahlia was a sexualized young woman in a relationship with Harry?
What if... okay, those are all the "what ifs" I can ask without getting into major spoilers for Shattered Memories, but by the time you finish the game, you'll understand.
As a Wii game (eventually ported to the PS2 and PSP), it makes use of the motion controls for the flashlight similarly to Fragile Dreams, but with additional motion controls for mechanics like turning door handles and shaking off monsters.
One person's "bland" is another person's "RUN!"Like my favorite Silent Hill game, Silent Hill 4, Shattered Memories doesn't receive a lot of credit from fans. Its re-imagining status is part of it, but other players complain about the lack of difficult puzzles, the lack of combat, the chases, the somewhat-bland design of the sole enemy type, how it doesn't actually fit into Silent Hill canon (we'll get back to this), and more.
Additionally, while the psychological profiling handled during the first-person psychologist sessions does affect the gameplay, it isn't as complete and accurate as it might lead you to believe.
The answers you tell Dr. Kaufmann affect the nature of the monsters, the way other characters behave and interact with you, etc. It does cause some interesting variations. As I mentioned in my discussion of Silent Hill 4, I got into the Silent Hill series by watching a friend's Let's Play of Shattered Memories. There were certain things I expected because of that Let's Play, and the differences in my own playthrough surprised me.
Shattered Memories is also criticized for not being scary and not feeling like a Silent Hill game, but... something about the atmosphere works really well for me.
Although you meet several different characters, the snowy streets of Silent Hill are lonely. Maybe it's because it was my first introduction to the series, but to me, Shattered Memories conveys a haunting sense of isolation better than any of the others. You're in a world where nothing makes sense, where strangers live at your address, people die in front of you and then reappear, and the world routinely freezes over into a supernatural, icy hell.
It's not scary in the traditional horror sense, but Shattered Memories makes you feel alone, and its little "hauntings" you can pick up tell stories that play on more realistic fears. The main story also has some genuinely chilling moments and startling revelations. And if you're familiar with the original, it's worth playing just for the parallels and deviations.
Maybe it's not the best Silent Hill game, but it's definitely worth giving a try. I like it better than some of the others, that's for sure.
What about you?
One final thing before I wrap this up--is Silent Hill: Shattered Memories canon?
From what I said earlier about it being a re-imagining or "what if" scenario, you'd assume not. But once you reach the end and uncover the true story, new possibilities begin to present themselves...
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking something very specific about the original Silent Hill, and yeah, that would split it off into some sort of alternate timeline if Shattered Memories was canon. But that's not what I'm talking about. There's actually a fan theory out there that placed Shattered Memories in canon with the main Silent Hill series. If you've finished the game and are interested, head on over to TV Tropes and scroll down to "Shattered Memories is in continuity with 1 and 3." It's worth a read.
Let me know your thoughts on this overlooked Silent Hill gem if you've played it, and if you haven't... celebrate Halloween and all things spooky by playing Silent Hill: Shattered Memories!
We're back with another look at an oft-maligned Silent Hill game, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Shattered Memories is a re-imagining of the first Silent Hill game, and that's where most of the negativity comes from.Shattered Memories is not a remake of Silent Hill. It is not a reboot of Silent Hill. It was always described as a "re-imagining," which basically means the developers looked at the basic premise of the original game and started asking "what if" questions.
What if the cult wasn't involved?
What if Dr. Kaufmann was a psychologist? (To those of you who have played the original and think he'd be just about the worst psychologist ever... you're right.)
What if Dahlia was a sexualized young woman in a relationship with Harry?
What if... okay, those are all the "what ifs" I can ask without getting into major spoilers for Shattered Memories, but by the time you finish the game, you'll understand.
As a Wii game (eventually ported to the PS2 and PSP), it makes use of the motion controls for the flashlight similarly to Fragile Dreams, but with additional motion controls for mechanics like turning door handles and shaking off monsters.
One person's "bland" is another person's "RUN!"Like my favorite Silent Hill game, Silent Hill 4, Shattered Memories doesn't receive a lot of credit from fans. Its re-imagining status is part of it, but other players complain about the lack of difficult puzzles, the lack of combat, the chases, the somewhat-bland design of the sole enemy type, how it doesn't actually fit into Silent Hill canon (we'll get back to this), and more.Additionally, while the psychological profiling handled during the first-person psychologist sessions does affect the gameplay, it isn't as complete and accurate as it might lead you to believe.
The answers you tell Dr. Kaufmann affect the nature of the monsters, the way other characters behave and interact with you, etc. It does cause some interesting variations. As I mentioned in my discussion of Silent Hill 4, I got into the Silent Hill series by watching a friend's Let's Play of Shattered Memories. There were certain things I expected because of that Let's Play, and the differences in my own playthrough surprised me.
Shattered Memories is also criticized for not being scary and not feeling like a Silent Hill game, but... something about the atmosphere works really well for me.
Although you meet several different characters, the snowy streets of Silent Hill are lonely. Maybe it's because it was my first introduction to the series, but to me, Shattered Memories conveys a haunting sense of isolation better than any of the others. You're in a world where nothing makes sense, where strangers live at your address, people die in front of you and then reappear, and the world routinely freezes over into a supernatural, icy hell.
It's not scary in the traditional horror sense, but Shattered Memories makes you feel alone, and its little "hauntings" you can pick up tell stories that play on more realistic fears. The main story also has some genuinely chilling moments and startling revelations. And if you're familiar with the original, it's worth playing just for the parallels and deviations.
Maybe it's not the best Silent Hill game, but it's definitely worth giving a try. I like it better than some of the others, that's for sure.
What about you?
One final thing before I wrap this up--is Silent Hill: Shattered Memories canon?
From what I said earlier about it being a re-imagining or "what if" scenario, you'd assume not. But once you reach the end and uncover the true story, new possibilities begin to present themselves...
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking something very specific about the original Silent Hill, and yeah, that would split it off into some sort of alternate timeline if Shattered Memories was canon. But that's not what I'm talking about. There's actually a fan theory out there that placed Shattered Memories in canon with the main Silent Hill series. If you've finished the game and are interested, head on over to TV Tropes and scroll down to "Shattered Memories is in continuity with 1 and 3." It's worth a read.
Let me know your thoughts on this overlooked Silent Hill gem if you've played it, and if you haven't... celebrate Halloween and all things spooky by playing Silent Hill: Shattered Memories!
October 23, 2014
Best-Selling Video Games: Go, Go, Nintendo!
If you're from my class looking for my post on The Others, it's right here. If you're looking for The Shining, you can find it here.
Last time I wrote about Amazon's best-selling video games, it was August and I wanted to provide some contrast between mainstream gaming and my own recent pre-orders... y'know, just in case you couldn't figure out on your own that "pigeon-dating sim" Hatoful Boyfriend wasn't mainstream.
Well, now I'm back with another one, this time to focus on Nintendo!
Amazon's current video game best-sellers once again begin with three PSN cards. In August, the top 3 best-sellers were a $20 PSN card, a $10 PSN card, and a $50 PSN card, and I swore they never moved. Right now, the top 3 best-sellers are... a $10 PSN card, a $20 PSN card, and a $50 PSN card. Same three, different order. (They're also the top 3 in Amazon's best sellers of 2014. Does anything have a prayer of breaking into the top 3?)
A-anyway...
#4. Super Smash Bros. 3DS
Hey! I'm mainstream!
I pre-ordered Super Smash Bros. 3DS, and here it is, number four among all of Amazon's video game best-sellers.
Smash Bros. is a big deal, and I got it mainly to see what all of the fuss was about. To be quite honest, I still don't understand the obsession, but I enjoyed it. I even made Mii Fighters of a couple of my favorite characters... namely Simon Blackquill and King Gaius. Hey, some people have fun playing online, others have fun pretending to be Gaius! Custom Mii Fighters are one of the most compelling reasons to get Smash Bros., in my twisted opinion...
#5. Bayonetta 2
In an age when some people are focused on making their games as gritty and realistic as possible, we have a game about a witch who shoots enemies with guns on her heels and attacks them with her hair, which also happens to be her clothes. And since it's the 5th best-seller right now, it's safe to say fun really IS more important than realism.
Bayonetta 2 is another one I've pre-ordered. The inclusion of the first game is a great bonus for me, since I never played the original. I already had my eye on it... and then #OperationPlatinum took off after Ubisoft claimed not enough Wii U owners buy M-rated games... So in part, my motivation comes from my desire for the localization of games like Fatal Frame V, but I also tried out the Bayonetta 2 demo and had a lot of fun! I didn't even button mash!
...Well, maybe a little.
Now we take a little break from Nintendo with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, more Call of Duty, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (I'm a Lord of the Rings fan, so I might try it someday), the PlayStation 4 itself (I'm going to get it someday), Halo: The Master Chief Collection (stuff like this tempts me to get an Xbox One, too), yet another version of Call of Duty, and... back to Nintendo!
#12 and #14. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby
Pokemon! You gotta love Pokemon, and I'll be sure to play one of these eventually. Ruby and Sapphire have been remade for the 3DS with graphics and features along the lines of Pokemon X and Y. Now, X/Y didn't thrill me, and Ruby/Sapphire stand out in my memory as my least favorite Pokemon generation, so I'm not as excited as a lot of fans.
I've been playing the demo. It's all right. Odd demo for a Pokemon game, though--I really wish there was more exploration and a cohesive adventure, instead of tiny little missions.
What's in between these two on the list, you ask? A $100 PSN card.
All right, we leave Nintendo behind for a PS4 controller, an Xbox Live Gold 12-month subscription, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, Madden NFL 15, and an Xbox 360 controller... and reach a surprise.
#20. Fantasy Life
When my copy of Bayonetta 2 comes tomorrow, it will be accompanied by Fantasy Life, a game I've been looking forward to since 2011, when I played Layton's London Life and learned it shared some elements with Level-5's upcoming RPG Fantasy Life, which by the way, has music composed by Nobuo Uematsu!
I'm so happy Fantasy Life was localized, I can't wait to try it, and the only reason I'm surprised to see it among Amazon's video game best-sellers is because it's received some mixed reviews and had to bump Super Smash Bros. Wii U from the top 20.
Super Smash Bros. Wii U is in 21st now.
So, a quick review!
1. $10 PSN card
2. $20 PSN card
3. $50 PSN card
4. Super Smash Bros. 3DS
5. Bayonetta 2
6. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4)
7. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox One)
8. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
9. PlayStation 4
10. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
11. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox 360)
12. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire
13. $100 PSN card
14. Pokemon Omega Ruby
15. PS4 controller
16. Xbox Live Gold 12-month subscription
17. Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
18. Madden NFL 15
19. Xbox 360 controller
20. Fantasy Life
21. Super Smash Bros. Wii U
I feel almost mainstream for once, but what I really want to point out is that Nintendo is doing well! Of the 11 actual games on this list (excluding consoles, controllers, and cards), 6 are Nintendo games. More importantly, perhaps, Nintendo holds spots #4 and #5, the top two spots among games and overall after the ever-present PSN cards.
Aside from an oddity where Kinect Sports Rivals jumped in fourth (seriously?), Super Smash Bros. 3DS and Bayonetta 2 have been trading spots off and on over the past few days, with Shadow of Mordor occasionally jumping in.
Stuff like this makes the future look bright--for Nintendo, for the Wii U, for #OperationPlatinum, and especially for all of us who want great games to play! Are any of these on your list?
Last time I wrote about Amazon's best-selling video games, it was August and I wanted to provide some contrast between mainstream gaming and my own recent pre-orders... y'know, just in case you couldn't figure out on your own that "pigeon-dating sim" Hatoful Boyfriend wasn't mainstream.
Well, now I'm back with another one, this time to focus on Nintendo!
Amazon's current video game best-sellers once again begin with three PSN cards. In August, the top 3 best-sellers were a $20 PSN card, a $10 PSN card, and a $50 PSN card, and I swore they never moved. Right now, the top 3 best-sellers are... a $10 PSN card, a $20 PSN card, and a $50 PSN card. Same three, different order. (They're also the top 3 in Amazon's best sellers of 2014. Does anything have a prayer of breaking into the top 3?)
A-anyway...
#4. Super Smash Bros. 3DS
Hey! I'm mainstream!
I pre-ordered Super Smash Bros. 3DS, and here it is, number four among all of Amazon's video game best-sellers.
Smash Bros. is a big deal, and I got it mainly to see what all of the fuss was about. To be quite honest, I still don't understand the obsession, but I enjoyed it. I even made Mii Fighters of a couple of my favorite characters... namely Simon Blackquill and King Gaius. Hey, some people have fun playing online, others have fun pretending to be Gaius! Custom Mii Fighters are one of the most compelling reasons to get Smash Bros., in my twisted opinion...
#5. Bayonetta 2
In an age when some people are focused on making their games as gritty and realistic as possible, we have a game about a witch who shoots enemies with guns on her heels and attacks them with her hair, which also happens to be her clothes. And since it's the 5th best-seller right now, it's safe to say fun really IS more important than realism.
Bayonetta 2 is another one I've pre-ordered. The inclusion of the first game is a great bonus for me, since I never played the original. I already had my eye on it... and then #OperationPlatinum took off after Ubisoft claimed not enough Wii U owners buy M-rated games... So in part, my motivation comes from my desire for the localization of games like Fatal Frame V, but I also tried out the Bayonetta 2 demo and had a lot of fun! I didn't even button mash!
...Well, maybe a little.
Now we take a little break from Nintendo with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, more Call of Duty, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (I'm a Lord of the Rings fan, so I might try it someday), the PlayStation 4 itself (I'm going to get it someday), Halo: The Master Chief Collection (stuff like this tempts me to get an Xbox One, too), yet another version of Call of Duty, and... back to Nintendo!
#12 and #14. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby
Pokemon! You gotta love Pokemon, and I'll be sure to play one of these eventually. Ruby and Sapphire have been remade for the 3DS with graphics and features along the lines of Pokemon X and Y. Now, X/Y didn't thrill me, and Ruby/Sapphire stand out in my memory as my least favorite Pokemon generation, so I'm not as excited as a lot of fans.
I've been playing the demo. It's all right. Odd demo for a Pokemon game, though--I really wish there was more exploration and a cohesive adventure, instead of tiny little missions.
What's in between these two on the list, you ask? A $100 PSN card.
All right, we leave Nintendo behind for a PS4 controller, an Xbox Live Gold 12-month subscription, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, Madden NFL 15, and an Xbox 360 controller... and reach a surprise.
#20. Fantasy Life
When my copy of Bayonetta 2 comes tomorrow, it will be accompanied by Fantasy Life, a game I've been looking forward to since 2011, when I played Layton's London Life and learned it shared some elements with Level-5's upcoming RPG Fantasy Life, which by the way, has music composed by Nobuo Uematsu!
I'm so happy Fantasy Life was localized, I can't wait to try it, and the only reason I'm surprised to see it among Amazon's video game best-sellers is because it's received some mixed reviews and had to bump Super Smash Bros. Wii U from the top 20.
Super Smash Bros. Wii U is in 21st now.
So, a quick review!
1. $10 PSN card
2. $20 PSN card
3. $50 PSN card
4. Super Smash Bros. 3DS
5. Bayonetta 2
6. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4)
7. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox One)
8. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
9. PlayStation 4
10. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
11. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox 360)
12. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire
13. $100 PSN card
14. Pokemon Omega Ruby
15. PS4 controller
16. Xbox Live Gold 12-month subscription
17. Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
18. Madden NFL 15
19. Xbox 360 controller
20. Fantasy Life
21. Super Smash Bros. Wii U
I feel almost mainstream for once, but what I really want to point out is that Nintendo is doing well! Of the 11 actual games on this list (excluding consoles, controllers, and cards), 6 are Nintendo games. More importantly, perhaps, Nintendo holds spots #4 and #5, the top two spots among games and overall after the ever-present PSN cards.
Aside from an oddity where Kinect Sports Rivals jumped in fourth (seriously?), Super Smash Bros. 3DS and Bayonetta 2 have been trading spots off and on over the past few days, with Shadow of Mordor occasionally jumping in.
Stuff like this makes the future look bright--for Nintendo, for the Wii U, for #OperationPlatinum, and especially for all of us who want great games to play! Are any of these on your list?
October 22, 2014
The Others: Endings Matter
Judging by the excellent reviews The Others has gotten, I suspect I'm in the minority when it comes to my views on this movie. Fair warning, this review contains huge spoilers. I can't properly discuss my feelings toward The Others without talking about plot twists and the ending.So, spoilers ahead. Turn back now if you haven't seen the movie yet and intend to.
All right, onto the review. My feelings through most of The Others were mixed. It had a lot of religious elements that I expected to go somewhere. I wondered if we were going into demon/exorcism territory, since there was such a strong focus on Catholicism. It didn't. All it really did was work into the character development of the main character, Grace. I'll get back to that in a little bit.
At first, I thought Grace would be my main complaint about the movie. I didn't find her character very likable. In fact, in the early scenes, I questioned the movie's description for making it sound like the servants were the creepy ones, because it seemed to me they were the normal ones suddenly stuck in an isolated house with this crazy lady.
Things changed, and my opinion changed with them.
Grace was clearly unstable and set in her ways (she tried to get into town to talk to the priest about her haunted house, failed, and then suddenly went back to not believing in the hauntings?), but my sympathy for her grew once the curtains were removed. Her dedication to protecting her children struck me, especially her anger when the servants suggested she expose the children to sunlight to see if they'd grown out of their illness. No, if the alternative to growing out of it is death, you don't just try and see!
Overall, I liked the mood and atmosphere of the movie. It had a certain ambiguity that might have been better handled if we didn't see the scenes of the two servants talking to one another about what was going on, but it still created a sense of uneasiness. I especially liked the fog, of course.
Welcome to Silent Hill?I never found the movie particularly scary, but it handled some creepy scenes very well. My absolute favorite was near the end, when Grace found the picture of the three servants--dead. The juxtaposition of that moment with Anne's discovery of the gravestones and then the sudden appearance of the three behind Nicholas was brilliant. My opinion of the movie skyrocketed at that point, because it was just so well-executed.And then it went on to ruin it.
From reading other reviews, I get the impression people generally liked the final twist. I didn't. I hated it. And unlike Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright, The Others wasn't enjoyable enough to make me overlook the twist and still recommend it. Not only are the servants dead, but Grace and the two children are also dead. The incident no one wants to talk about is when she smothered them and then killed herself. The supposed ghosts disturbing them are actually the new owners of the house and a medium, trying to investigate the haunting.
It's an interesting twist on the usual sort of ghost story, I'll grant it that. I just didn't like it.
For one thing, is it supposed to have an anti-religion message? Instead of religion being used to fight ghosts, the most religious character is the woman who went crazy (why is never fully explained), killed her children, and committed suicide. Once she learns the truth, she doubts her beliefs and says she doesn't know if limbo exists. I really expected her to answer the question by saying they're in limbo (which wouldn't make sense, but it would have worked if Anne asked about purgatory instead), but instead she just says she doesn't know it exists.
Why was religion such a focal point in the first place? It meant nothing to the overall plot. I actually expected it to play a role in the scene when Grace asked her husband why he fought in a war that had nothing to do with him instead of staying with them. I thought that was the perfect parallel to Anne saying that she would have denied Christ so the Romans wouldn't kill her, and that the comparison would be brought up by someone in the movie. But no, it wasn't.
To me, the religious stuff seemed to have no purpose but to be denied in the end. If anyone else has another explanation, please let me know.
But aside from the dubious role of religion, I just didn't enjoy the twist. It took away from the impact the earlier (and much better) twist had and ended the movie on a dark, bittersweet note.
Also, why was it called The Others when the characters most often referred to them as "the intruders"?
October 20, 2014
Support H. P. Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward!
If you're from my class looking for my post on The Shining, it's right here.
From video games like Scratches to my own writing, I am a huge fan of H. P. Lovecraft. His writing, together with Silent Hill, are the two things that got me into horror. When it comes to Lovecraft's stories, their age sometimes shows (and sometimes his own views show more than anyone would like), but other times they are unrivaled at creepiness and cosmic horror.
Today I'm going to talk about H. P. Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Not the story itself, although it's one of my favorites. I mean the video game.
From Senscape, the maker of Scratches, Asylum, and Serena comes the first-ever official video game adaptation of one of Lovecraft's stories. That's right, it's not just a game with Lovecraftian themes or elements of the Cthulhu mythos, it's an actual adaptation of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.
Can we just take a moment to reflect on how awesome that is? The developers of great horror adventure games are turning an excellent horror story into an adventure game! They're also some of the biggest Lovecraft fans around, and I have confidence in them to get it done right. When I first heard about this game, I was ecstatic. I can't wait until I get a chance to play this game.
But I may never get that chance if its Kickstarter doesn't succeed. With only 12 days left in the campaign, it hasn't even hit the halfway point yet. Far from the dream of a series of Lovecraft adventure games if it exceeds its goal, we might be forced to settle for a more limited project (like one without the Lovecraft documentary) or even have to wait until the future, when Senscape is more established.
If you're a fan of adventure games and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, check out the campaign and see how fantastic this could be. If you've never read the original story, Lovecraft's works are pretty easy to find. For that matter, you can even find them for free.
Now, join me and support H. P. Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward! Let's make this game a reality.
From video games like Scratches to my own writing, I am a huge fan of H. P. Lovecraft. His writing, together with Silent Hill, are the two things that got me into horror. When it comes to Lovecraft's stories, their age sometimes shows (and sometimes his own views show more than anyone would like), but other times they are unrivaled at creepiness and cosmic horror.
Today I'm going to talk about H. P. Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Not the story itself, although it's one of my favorites. I mean the video game.
From Senscape, the maker of Scratches, Asylum, and Serena comes the first-ever official video game adaptation of one of Lovecraft's stories. That's right, it's not just a game with Lovecraftian themes or elements of the Cthulhu mythos, it's an actual adaptation of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.
Can we just take a moment to reflect on how awesome that is? The developers of great horror adventure games are turning an excellent horror story into an adventure game! They're also some of the biggest Lovecraft fans around, and I have confidence in them to get it done right. When I first heard about this game, I was ecstatic. I can't wait until I get a chance to play this game.
But I may never get that chance if its Kickstarter doesn't succeed. With only 12 days left in the campaign, it hasn't even hit the halfway point yet. Far from the dream of a series of Lovecraft adventure games if it exceeds its goal, we might be forced to settle for a more limited project (like one without the Lovecraft documentary) or even have to wait until the future, when Senscape is more established.
If you're a fan of adventure games and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, check out the campaign and see how fantastic this could be. If you've never read the original story, Lovecraft's works are pretty easy to find. For that matter, you can even find them for free.
Now, join me and support H. P. Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward! Let's make this game a reality.
October 17, 2014
Celebrating All Things Spooky: Fragile Dreams
If you're from my class looking for my post on The Shining, it's right here.
Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon isn't actually a horror game. This somewhat obscure action-adventure RPG was released for the Wii in 2010 (it came out first in Japan in 2009) to a mixed reception.
Despite its genre, and a story that eventually takes on definite science fiction elements, I have yet to find a game that better fits the description of "Silent Hill for kids."
You play as Seto, a teenage boy searching for other survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. The environments are eerie and haunting, filled with a deep loneliness that mixes with fear as you encounter ghostly enemies. You'll level up as you fight, but the clunky combat ensures you never feel quite safe enough.
Weapons break through repeated use, the Wiimote is used to control your flashlight, and limited space in your inventory means you have to choose your items carefully. Campfires are scattered through the world, where you can manage your inventory, save, buy stuff from the (really weird) merchant, and look at mementos.
The Merchant
Mementos add an intriguing bit of storytelling to Fragile Dreams. Each one contains a fragment of a person's story, some of which are connected. By providing little bits and pieces to flesh out the world, it told its story in a style very reminiscent of survival horror.
The game does have its flaws. Some people may find the combat more frustrating than challenging, and the enemies are repetitive. If you like ambiguity in your stories, you'll love this. If you don't, you'll probably be grinding your teeth by the end. Fragile Dreams's ending (no spoilers, don't worry) answers some questions and raises others.
The more I think about it, the more I feel its story also demands a comparison to the Professor Layton series, although much darker and lonelier, and without puzzles.
Ultimately, it's a story about relationships and emotion, set across a series of beautiful environments as you search for the mysterious silver-haired girl you caught a glimpse of. It's a short game, lasting around 15 hours, slightly longer or shorter depending on your gameplay style.
It's not for everyone, and this isn't your place to turn if you want something terrifying or action-packed. But if you're interested in a slow-paced game with a strange and haunting story, an RPG with light survival horror trappings, or a creepy game to play for Halloween that isn't actually horror, you should really check out Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon.
Also, it has beautiful music.
And cat toys, so you can play with cats wandering through post-apocalyptic Tokyo.
Have you played Fragile Dreams? I know there are some of you out there. Let me know your own thoughts and impressions of this obscure little game.
Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon isn't actually a horror game. This somewhat obscure action-adventure RPG was released for the Wii in 2010 (it came out first in Japan in 2009) to a mixed reception.Despite its genre, and a story that eventually takes on definite science fiction elements, I have yet to find a game that better fits the description of "Silent Hill for kids."
You play as Seto, a teenage boy searching for other survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. The environments are eerie and haunting, filled with a deep loneliness that mixes with fear as you encounter ghostly enemies. You'll level up as you fight, but the clunky combat ensures you never feel quite safe enough.
Weapons break through repeated use, the Wiimote is used to control your flashlight, and limited space in your inventory means you have to choose your items carefully. Campfires are scattered through the world, where you can manage your inventory, save, buy stuff from the (really weird) merchant, and look at mementos.
The MerchantMementos add an intriguing bit of storytelling to Fragile Dreams. Each one contains a fragment of a person's story, some of which are connected. By providing little bits and pieces to flesh out the world, it told its story in a style very reminiscent of survival horror.
The game does have its flaws. Some people may find the combat more frustrating than challenging, and the enemies are repetitive. If you like ambiguity in your stories, you'll love this. If you don't, you'll probably be grinding your teeth by the end. Fragile Dreams's ending (no spoilers, don't worry) answers some questions and raises others.
The more I think about it, the more I feel its story also demands a comparison to the Professor Layton series, although much darker and lonelier, and without puzzles.
Ultimately, it's a story about relationships and emotion, set across a series of beautiful environments as you search for the mysterious silver-haired girl you caught a glimpse of. It's a short game, lasting around 15 hours, slightly longer or shorter depending on your gameplay style.
It's not for everyone, and this isn't your place to turn if you want something terrifying or action-packed. But if you're interested in a slow-paced game with a strange and haunting story, an RPG with light survival horror trappings, or a creepy game to play for Halloween that isn't actually horror, you should really check out Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon.
Also, it has beautiful music.
And cat toys, so you can play with cats wandering through post-apocalyptic Tokyo.
Have you played Fragile Dreams? I know there are some of you out there. Let me know your own thoughts and impressions of this obscure little game.
October 15, 2014
The Shining: My First Stephen King Novel
Yes, that's right. I never read a book by Stephen King until I started
The Shining
for class. I had a very vague familiarity with it, but I didn't know most of the details (basically I knew the movie adaptation had Jack Nicholson with an axe, and even then I wasn't positive I had the right title), and I definitely didn't know it was a ghost story.I also had no clue what the title meant, so I found that pretty interesting. I never would have guessed it referred to psychic powers.
So, I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, but once I got into it, I liked it a lot. Unlike the last book I read for class, The Shining had genuinely disturbing moments. By the end, I was anxious and distressed, and I finished the rest of the book in a single sitting so I could find out what happened.
The Shining centers in on one of my favorite horror techniques--a character's gradual descent into insanity. (There's a reason H.P. Lovecraft is my favorite horror author.) Or... maybe it was about possession. That's another one of my favorites. It might be a mixture of the two, and it does provide some ambiguity about how much of the madman at the end was Jack Torrance and how much was the Overlook Hotel. If possession, it's not a rushed takeover, but a gradual, subtle technique... finding his vulnerabilities and picking away and his defenses to bring out his inner darkness.
The Overlook Hotel is another living place, like Hill House and Hell House. It directly references the first in one of its most striking personified moments, as Jack thinks:
"The Overlook was having one hell of a good time. There was a little boy to terrorize, a man and his woman to set against one another, and if it played its cards right they could end up flitting through the Overlook's halls like insubstantial shades in a Shirley Jackson novel, whatever walked in Hill House walked alone, but you wouldn't be alone in the Overlook, oh no, there would be plenty of company here." (King 414)
And said "company" drew my thoughts right along to Matheson's Hell House. Both houses appear to have remnants of their old, corrupt inhabitants lingering around. The ballroom/party where Jack sees Derwent, Grady, and the others reminded me of the scene in Hell House where Edith is tormented by specters of the people who once gathered there. Although we never learn a lot about Derwent, it was easy to imagine him as a Belasco figure.
Of course, if we're talking about places that are alive, how can I not reference my favorite horror town, Silent Hill? While Silent Hill doesn't drive its visitors to do terrible things (even Walter Sullivan was twisted by the cult, not the town itself), it digs into their minds and mixes their pasts with the town's own history.
Pyramid Head came from James's mind... with a little inspiration from the cult.The Overlook is much more malevolent, but it does just as good a job at mixing Jack's past with the hotel's past and even the play he's working on.Only two things disappointed me about The Shining. First, I thought the George Hatfield incident was going to have more relevance than just being another dark moment in Jack's life and the reason he needs a job. Second, there were some scenes where I felt Jack went back and forth a little too much. I enjoyed his struggle between staying true to himself and falling prey to the Overlook, but a few times he switched sides so often in such a short period of time, it felt repetitive.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the novel. It balanced the supernatural and psychological horror aspects quite well, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys those types of stories.
Works Cited
King, Stephen. The Shining. New York: Anchor Books, 1977. Print.
October 13, 2014
Celebrating All Things Spooky: Amy
Silent Hill 4: The Room might be criticized by some Silent Hill fans, but that's nothing compared to the survival horror game I want to discuss today.
VectorCell's Amy was thoroughly trounced when it was released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013. Its Metacritic scores for the two versions are 33 and 25 respectively, and some critics actually gave it a score of zero.
So why on Earth am I celebrating it? Because I actually enjoyed it.
I played it after the developers released a patch, a patch that fixed the most grievous issues the original version had (most notably, game-breaking glitches) and improved the checkpoint system. So, to be completely fair, the version of Amy I played was not the exact same game that received such awful scores.
You play as Lana, a woman accompanied by an autistic girl with psychic powers, Amy. The two are trapped in a city that has been overtaken by an infection, and have to escape while being hunted by the zombie-like monsters the citizens have become. Lana herself becomes infected, but the symptoms are staved off as long as she remains near Amy.
The idea has great potential. You need to protect Amy, and there are times when the two characters have to split up to solve puzzles and progress, but you can't remain away from her for too long or you'll die.
Potential is what the game has the most of. Some aspects are legitimately fun, like using Amy's powers to start a car alarm and distract the nearby enemies. The final battle was also very cool, as well as intense. I was disappointed, however, that her power wheel was never filled. It was as if VectorCell held back on some things in order to make room for the sequel... which will probably never exist.
The rest of the gameplay is a mix of survival horror and stealth. This has some good points, such as avoiding broken glass to not alert enemies to your location, but it never felt like it was fully utilized. Hiding, especially, seemed most useful only during scripted encounters.
Even with the patch, Amy has definite flaws. Any items you collect can't be carried over to the next chapter--except in one chapter. When that chapter broke gameplay rules, I was stuck for a long time, and annoyed when I found out what happened. It relies on checkpoints and auto-saves, which I typically dislike. Its story feels only half-finished, again most likely because of the planned sequel. And it never quite fulfills its potential.
Amy isn't a perfect game by any means, but... well, let's put it this way. I chose to play it instead of the Resident Evil 6 demo. Does that say more about Amy, RE6, or me? Either way, if the developers ever ventures into the world of survival horror again (though VectorCell itself has closed down), I'll be happy to try out their next game.
VectorCell's Amy was thoroughly trounced when it was released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013. Its Metacritic scores for the two versions are 33 and 25 respectively, and some critics actually gave it a score of zero.
So why on Earth am I celebrating it? Because I actually enjoyed it.
I played it after the developers released a patch, a patch that fixed the most grievous issues the original version had (most notably, game-breaking glitches) and improved the checkpoint system. So, to be completely fair, the version of Amy I played was not the exact same game that received such awful scores.
You play as Lana, a woman accompanied by an autistic girl with psychic powers, Amy. The two are trapped in a city that has been overtaken by an infection, and have to escape while being hunted by the zombie-like monsters the citizens have become. Lana herself becomes infected, but the symptoms are staved off as long as she remains near Amy.
The idea has great potential. You need to protect Amy, and there are times when the two characters have to split up to solve puzzles and progress, but you can't remain away from her for too long or you'll die.
Potential is what the game has the most of. Some aspects are legitimately fun, like using Amy's powers to start a car alarm and distract the nearby enemies. The final battle was also very cool, as well as intense. I was disappointed, however, that her power wheel was never filled. It was as if VectorCell held back on some things in order to make room for the sequel... which will probably never exist.
The rest of the gameplay is a mix of survival horror and stealth. This has some good points, such as avoiding broken glass to not alert enemies to your location, but it never felt like it was fully utilized. Hiding, especially, seemed most useful only during scripted encounters.
Even with the patch, Amy has definite flaws. Any items you collect can't be carried over to the next chapter--except in one chapter. When that chapter broke gameplay rules, I was stuck for a long time, and annoyed when I found out what happened. It relies on checkpoints and auto-saves, which I typically dislike. Its story feels only half-finished, again most likely because of the planned sequel. And it never quite fulfills its potential.
Amy isn't a perfect game by any means, but... well, let's put it this way. I chose to play it instead of the Resident Evil 6 demo. Does that say more about Amy, RE6, or me? Either way, if the developers ever ventures into the world of survival horror again (though VectorCell itself has closed down), I'll be happy to try out their next game.
October 9, 2014
Celebrating All Things Spooky: Silent Hill 4
If you're from my class looking for my post on Ghost Story, it's right here.
Let's continue our celebration of spookiness by taking a look at one of my favorite survival horror games. Silent Hill 4: The Room is not widely considered to be one of the best Silent Hill games, but it's actually the one I like the most.
As you might know, I got into the survival horror genre because of Let's Plays. I was convinced I wouldn't like horror games, but my friend talked me into watching her Let's Play of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. You know what? I really liked it. I went crazy trying to figure out what was going on in the story, and when it was all over, I missed it.
So I found other Let's Plays of the rest of the Silent Hill series, and of all of them, I liked the fourth game the most--so much so that I needed to play it myself, and thus I bought and played my first survival horror game.
(I played the Xbox version because it was less expensive. Silent Hill 4 is one of those Xbox games that works on the Xbox 360 with just a few issues, in this case weird graphical problems like lines on characters' faces. The gameplay was perfectly intact. The PC version, on the other hand, has notoriously terrible AI.)
Unlike most games in the series, Silent Hill 4 doesn't begin with the player entering the town. Instead, you wake up in an apartment in South Ashfield, a city near Silent Hill. The apartment is sealed. The doors and windows won't open, the phone doesn't work, and no one can hear you when you shout. When a strange hole opens up in the bathroom, it looks like your chance to escape, but it leads you to a strange version of the nearby subway station...
The apartment, Room 302, acts as a hub area, where you can save, store items, and heal before returning to the various Otherworlds. It's also viewed in first-person, although the rest of the game has a third-person view. Rumor has it the game wasn't originally meant to be a part of the Silent Hill series, but the decision was made very early in development (so don't use that as a reason for disliking it).
Objectively, I'll admit Silent Hill 4 is not the best Silent Hill game. That title probably goes to Silent Hill 2. But something about it just appeals to me, even if its protagonist is, well...
This is his happy face.
And his sad face.
And his terrified face.Poor Henry Townshend gets a lot of criticism for having next to no emotional range, responding to nearly every situation with, "What... the hell...?" and asking a blood-soaked dying woman if she's all right. But the thing is, Silent Hill 4 isn't about Henry, not really. Sure, from the player's perspective, the entire game is about helping Henry escape from his apartment. But what does the gameplay really do?
It sends you to twisted locations in both Ashfield and Silent Hill to discover the events of their pasts, gives you clues as to what happened in Room 302 and to its former occupant, Joseph Schreiber, and forces you to piece together a story about a little boy, a cult, and a serial killer.
From its plot to its symbolism, Silent Hill 4: The Room is about Walter Sullivan.
Even the title, The Room connects back to Walter. Sure, it's Henry's room that he's trying to escape from, but the room itself is at the center of Walter's obsession. It may begin as your sanctuary and safe place, but it gradually falls under Walter's sway...
And he's always watching you.
Walter Sullivan is one of my favorite villains, and he's really the reason I started writing fanfiction. (Although my writing has improved a lot since then, so I cringe to even look at my original Silent Hill 4 fanfiction.) His dual nature as both this scary villain and tragic victim resonated with me when I watched that first SH4 Let's Play, and it still does now. He's the sort of villain you wish you could help, even though you know it's too late.
Silent Hill 4's symbolism is often criticized, because it has virtually nothing to do with Henry. Henry isn't the James Sunderland of this story, Walter is. The Otherworld, the monsters, and every other piece of symbolism in the game connect strongly to Walter's story, just as strongly as Silent Hill 2's symbolism connects to James. In fact, I'd argue it's much stronger than Alessa's symbolism ever was, although that could be because Silent Hill 4 takes place in an Otherworld created by Walter through a ritual, rather than in Silent Hill proper.
Speaking of rituals, I love the cult. I have a slight bias toward Silent Hill games that involve the Order of the Halo of the Sun in some way. Cults are frightening, and their involvement lends credence to the idea that even in Silent Hill, humans are the real monsters.
Two more things are sometimes brought up as flaws of Silent Hill 4--the invincible ghosts and the escort mission. I have no problem with either of these. Invincible ghosts just add more tension, especially when one starts chasing you. As for the escort mission, it isn't the kind where you fail if the person dies. In fact, it's impossible for her to die during the game. Your success or failure at protecting her when she's with you is tied to how difficult it is to get the good or best ending. It even sets up a pretty neat risk/reward system, as you need to decide if you should arm her, which helps you take out monsters but also puts her in more danger. Great stuff!
So, as we look forward to a new Silent Hill game and other great survival horror games, I think back to how it all began for me. I still love Silent Hill 4: The Room. Give it a chance. You won't be sorry.
What's your favorite Silent Hill game? Vote and share your thoughts on Silent Hill 4: The Room in the comments below!
Let's continue our celebration of spookiness by taking a look at one of my favorite survival horror games. Silent Hill 4: The Room is not widely considered to be one of the best Silent Hill games, but it's actually the one I like the most.
As you might know, I got into the survival horror genre because of Let's Plays. I was convinced I wouldn't like horror games, but my friend talked me into watching her Let's Play of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. You know what? I really liked it. I went crazy trying to figure out what was going on in the story, and when it was all over, I missed it.
So I found other Let's Plays of the rest of the Silent Hill series, and of all of them, I liked the fourth game the most--so much so that I needed to play it myself, and thus I bought and played my first survival horror game.
(I played the Xbox version because it was less expensive. Silent Hill 4 is one of those Xbox games that works on the Xbox 360 with just a few issues, in this case weird graphical problems like lines on characters' faces. The gameplay was perfectly intact. The PC version, on the other hand, has notoriously terrible AI.)
Unlike most games in the series, Silent Hill 4 doesn't begin with the player entering the town. Instead, you wake up in an apartment in South Ashfield, a city near Silent Hill. The apartment is sealed. The doors and windows won't open, the phone doesn't work, and no one can hear you when you shout. When a strange hole opens up in the bathroom, it looks like your chance to escape, but it leads you to a strange version of the nearby subway station...
The apartment, Room 302, acts as a hub area, where you can save, store items, and heal before returning to the various Otherworlds. It's also viewed in first-person, although the rest of the game has a third-person view. Rumor has it the game wasn't originally meant to be a part of the Silent Hill series, but the decision was made very early in development (so don't use that as a reason for disliking it).
Objectively, I'll admit Silent Hill 4 is not the best Silent Hill game. That title probably goes to Silent Hill 2. But something about it just appeals to me, even if its protagonist is, well...
This is his happy face.And his sad face.
And his terrified face.Poor Henry Townshend gets a lot of criticism for having next to no emotional range, responding to nearly every situation with, "What... the hell...?" and asking a blood-soaked dying woman if she's all right. But the thing is, Silent Hill 4 isn't about Henry, not really. Sure, from the player's perspective, the entire game is about helping Henry escape from his apartment. But what does the gameplay really do?
It sends you to twisted locations in both Ashfield and Silent Hill to discover the events of their pasts, gives you clues as to what happened in Room 302 and to its former occupant, Joseph Schreiber, and forces you to piece together a story about a little boy, a cult, and a serial killer.
From its plot to its symbolism, Silent Hill 4: The Room is about Walter Sullivan.
Even the title, The Room connects back to Walter. Sure, it's Henry's room that he's trying to escape from, but the room itself is at the center of Walter's obsession. It may begin as your sanctuary and safe place, but it gradually falls under Walter's sway...
And he's always watching you.
Walter Sullivan is one of my favorite villains, and he's really the reason I started writing fanfiction. (Although my writing has improved a lot since then, so I cringe to even look at my original Silent Hill 4 fanfiction.) His dual nature as both this scary villain and tragic victim resonated with me when I watched that first SH4 Let's Play, and it still does now. He's the sort of villain you wish you could help, even though you know it's too late.
Silent Hill 4's symbolism is often criticized, because it has virtually nothing to do with Henry. Henry isn't the James Sunderland of this story, Walter is. The Otherworld, the monsters, and every other piece of symbolism in the game connect strongly to Walter's story, just as strongly as Silent Hill 2's symbolism connects to James. In fact, I'd argue it's much stronger than Alessa's symbolism ever was, although that could be because Silent Hill 4 takes place in an Otherworld created by Walter through a ritual, rather than in Silent Hill proper.
Speaking of rituals, I love the cult. I have a slight bias toward Silent Hill games that involve the Order of the Halo of the Sun in some way. Cults are frightening, and their involvement lends credence to the idea that even in Silent Hill, humans are the real monsters.
Two more things are sometimes brought up as flaws of Silent Hill 4--the invincible ghosts and the escort mission. I have no problem with either of these. Invincible ghosts just add more tension, especially when one starts chasing you. As for the escort mission, it isn't the kind where you fail if the person dies. In fact, it's impossible for her to die during the game. Your success or failure at protecting her when she's with you is tied to how difficult it is to get the good or best ending. It even sets up a pretty neat risk/reward system, as you need to decide if you should arm her, which helps you take out monsters but also puts her in more danger. Great stuff!
So, as we look forward to a new Silent Hill game and other great survival horror games, I think back to how it all began for me. I still love Silent Hill 4: The Room. Give it a chance. You won't be sorry.
What's your favorite Silent Hill game? Vote and share your thoughts on Silent Hill 4: The Room in the comments below!
