Cert: 18+
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Genre: Survival Horror
This is the sixth instalment in the Silent Hill series and the first to be developed for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. In this outing you play Alex Sheperd, a war veteran who returns from overseas to his fog-covered hometown of Shepherd's Glen to find his missing brother.
At first, it seems like you can go anywhere figuring out the mysteries of the sandbox environment at your own pace. However, the residents of Shepherd's Glen are a paranoid bunch and you'll quickly find they've locked nearly all their doors. The result is a game which leads you by the hand down a very specific path rather than letting you find you own way; something which reduces the game's wow factor.
The games does look great but it's the audio that really stands out. You'll hear creepy piano music, babies crying, and dogs howling in the distance as you navigate your way through the fog armed only with a knife. It's tense stuff and the only other game released recently which used audio so effectively is Dead Space.
There's lots to like about Silent Hill Homecoming, unfortunately there's not much to really set it apart from other games. The campaign lasts ten hours or so, is relatively easy and very linear. Once you've completed a first play-through, you'll find very little reason to revisit Shepherd's Glen.
Rent or Buy: Rent
Graphics: 3/5
Game Play: 3/5
Replay Value: 2/5
Overall: 3/5
Reviewed By: Bryan Collins
