I love horror games, but the latest Silent Hill game didn't give me the creeps
PLAYSTATION wowed fans last night by not only giving them a sneak peek at some upcoming games, but also a shadow drop of a previously unannounced game.
Fans were all expecting more footage of Silent Hill 2 during the State of Play, which we got, but there was another Silent Hill game released after the showcase.
Silent Hill: The Short Message is, as the title suggests, short.
Even if you read all the comments, it will probably take you less than three hours, but what do you expect from a free game?
The trailer, released by Konami, made The Short Message look a lot like PT Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro's wildly popular playable teaser.
However, the actual game is very different. PT was short and atmospheric, the most terrifying aspects came from the unknown, the subtle changes in the environments, the things that were easy to miss.
The short message does not do this. Instead, it tries to cram a plot in with a cast of characters you interact with via text messages and short FMV clips.
While the visual effects of each scene are striking and the dulcet tones of the sound direction set the mood, it's too often distracted by character input.
When I get antidepressants and say, “I don't need them,” I get hit over the head by Anita's depression.
Likewise, showing scenes of self-harm, with her mother's voice shouting at her and telling her she doesn't deserve food, is completely heavy-handed in its execution.
There are frequent scenes depicting bullying, with students throwing shoes and shouting names, but this is rarely the way bullying happens.
It's more nuanced and quieter. That's why it's so scary, because it can go unnoticed for so long.
These story sections are punctuated by long chases where, if you're caught, you'll be sent way back into what feels like an endless loop of frustration.
The monster is not on a set path, but rather there are trigger points that you must activate to find the path forward.
It's trial and error where you have to play each overly long sequence multiple times unless by some miracle you come across the right solution.
The most important part of The Short Message is that it isn't scary. Not even a little.
When I saw a poster of the popular creepypasta Jeff the Killer on the wall, I laughed out loud. When I was bullied and someone shouted, “Your art is f**king s**t,” I had a similar response.
It is written in the way that bullying, suicide, self-harm and teenage girls are often written in the media, and the portrayal comes across as clichéd.
You may not know why you're stuck in the villa, or why you're being chased, but you know all the little details about Anita and her friends' personal lives, and that doesn't give me the chills.
If you've ever played a David Cage game, you'll understand the level of nuance I'm talking about.
There is nothing here beyond the surface level, no deeper meaning. I guess all the really gruesome aspects get lost somewhere in the fog.
If you want to read more game reviews, check out our Persona 3 Reload review.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
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