![]() Unfortunately, though, their mutations seem limited to aesthetics because they keep the same behavior throughout the experience, never growing more difficult or even altering their plan of attack as you advance. For example, the enemies can acquire phallic additions based on your decisions, and true enough, some of their physical changes are dramatic. The trademark jittering, contortionist monsters of the series are back, and their collective evolution is at least partially glued to the profile mechanism. For example, a different hue of color that engulfs a particular room or a character whose outfit changes to something more sexually revealing depending on your choices. I found it a novel addition but ultimately a little underwhelming because many of the alterations are subtle and purely cosmetic. Konami has made much ado about the profile system and the countless possibilities tied to it. Even the gruesome monsters evolve based on your preferences. ![]() Areas locked in one playthrough are opened up in the next. Characters change and behave differently. ![]() It's an ambitious concept that affects some intriguing scenarios and also enhances replay value. And as you advance, the psychologist interrupts your adventure repeatedly with more questions and mental tests. Every answer you give and every move you make in the game world is considered and the experience altered based on those replies and actions. From this point forward, Silent Hill profiles you. In one moment, Harry is trudging through heavy snow and in the next you discover yourself inexplicably seated in an armchair and interfacing with a psychologist, who asks all sorts of sordid questions about your morality and sexuality. Shattered Memories effectively maintains an air of unease and the element of surprise. The PSP version of the game also suffers from more frequent framerate drops, especially with multiple monsters on-screen or in large environments. The minor drawback to this, however, is that you must deal with a quick but noticeable lag as Harry bursts through doorways during monster-intensive situations. The expansive world is completely streamed and you therefore won't encounter any exorbitant load times, which is a great feat. Like in the Wii game, you will believe that Silent Hill is a real town as Harry makes his way through fully modeled bars and diners, bathrooms and bedrooms, hotels and malls, amusement parks and fishing docks, woods and underground passageways - each location meticulously rendered with the little details like framed pictures, posters and papers. The beam illuminates the icy intersections and darkened corridors Harry explores believably, even casting and projecting lifelike shadows on walls. A robust particle system allows for heavy snowfall. Shattered Memories looks pretty good on the smaller screen. That said, portable players unfamiliar with the superior console configuration will probably not dwell as much on this shortcoming because the fundamentals still function just fine and navigation - a little more sluggish - remains perfectly serviceable. Instead, the beam automatically shines wherever the character walks - there's no direct control over it, which is a disappointment. The PSP iteration of Shattered Memories is unfortunately not nearly as impressive because Harry is no longer able to point his flashlight around environments. Silent Hill proved to be a standout experience on Nintendo's console for two reasons: excellent pointer controls and a fantastic and moody flashlight tethered to the device. Backlash is therefore inevitable, but whether you choose to define the experience as Silent Hill-esque or not, it is undeniably well-executed, eerily atmospheric and at times downright chilling - literally, as I'll explain. While devoted franchise fans will find some familiar gameplay elements, characters and story arcs, the Climax Studios sequel is simultaneously distinguished by some altogether new mechanics and concepts that represent bold and refreshing departures from the conventions that some purists hold dear. This is the setup for Shattered Memories, which is not a remake but a full-blown re-imagining of Konami's classic horror adventure game. So with flashlight in hand, he braves the cold, the snow and inevitably the terror as he searches blindly for her. He's confused - his memory is iffy, but he's painfully aware that his little girl is no longer in the vehicle. He's crashed his car in the middle of a blizzard on the outskirts of a small town called Silent Hill.
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