Which Silent Hill game is the best and which is the worst?, an interesting article that goes back through its history

The Silent Hill game series is something that has come a long way, starting from the original on the first Playstation back in the late 90's, to last years release of Silent Hill Book of Memories for the PSVita hand held system. Since the beginning the saga has undergone so many changes, that unless your a die hard Silent Hill fan you might have a hard time remembering them all. Some say the second Silent Hill game introduced on the PS2 was likely and still is likely the best in the series. It also introduced us to which is now an iconic figure called Pyramid Head, the famous monster you really had to watch out for in SH. Homecoming in the series introduced us to our now beloved Heather, who had a really odd destiny of her own. Last year we saw Downpour for the PS3 and Xbox360, which made use of the Unreal engine, breathing some much needed new life in it.

Where Silent Hill goes from here is anybodies guess, but we do know the famous Fox Engine will be used for it, even though the series rather operates in a closed environment. Now on to the topic at hand. I found an interesting article done by the boys at Bloody-Disgusting recently, that discusses which Silent Hill game is the best, and worst. It makes for some good reading, but you can make your own decision of which title should get the first and last prize. I'll post a voting booth here and you can cast your own vote for it. By the way, do you think the Fox Engine will revitalize the Silent Hill series?, or should another graphic engine be used for it? I'd like to hear your feedback about it in the comments section. Below are just a few images to sort of take you on a trip down memory lane.

                                                                      Silent Hill

                                                                    Silent Hill 2

                                         Silent Hill 3                                                  

                                                               Silent Hill HomeComing

Silent Hill 4 The Room

                                                            Silent Hill Downpour

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How do you think the Fox Engine will change the Silent Hill game series in order to give it new life and make it better?

One of the biggest questions I see floating around on the Internet after hearing last year that the Fox Engine could be used for the Silent Hill game series, is how will it change it, and will it be far better than it was before? Ever since Silent Hill 2 came out on the PS2 over a decade ago, the fans were simply amazed at how incredible and realistic the horror feel of it was. The next in the saga was Homecoming, which wasn't quite as popular as part 2, but still, with the introduction of our beloved Heather in the story plot, it did quite well, and was well received even with the critics. It seems though that since that time there has been a slight decline of Silent Hill, as the production of of it was outsourced by Konami to other companies, and even though the last SH game that came out used the Unreal Engine, it still had a number of flaws to deal with.

Here we are now in 2013, and with the thought of using the famous Fox Engine looming over our heads, one has to wonder how it will affect the next Silent Hill game if used on it, which it seems that they will. The Fox Engine is already underway in being used for the next Metal Gear Solid game, and the next Pro Evolution Soccer game that's in the works. But one thing that Hideo Kojima pointed out was the fact that the Fox Engine was somewhat meant for an open world environment, and Silent Hill has a tendency to be a rather closed setting environment. That's one thing I wonder about, is how the new engine will make the next SH game look and feel.

You and I want that horror and creepy type setting that the series has always been known for, and so giving it a complete overhaul one would have to be concerned how it will affect the quality of it all. So let me end this on a note of curiosity. Take a look at the past 4 Silent Hill games, including a long play trailer of Downpour, which was the very last Silent Hill game to hit the consoles, and then ask yourself which direction you think the series is headed in.

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The decline of the Silent Hill series and who will save it from certain death.

If your a fan of the Silent Hill game series, then something you've sadly noticed over the years is how worse the franchise has been getting. It seems that each new Silent Hill game is ever so slightly downgraded from the last one. If you turn back the clock to the second Silent Hill, which is hailed as probably the best in the series, it basically had all of the elements necessary to be a quality hit game. But what happened since then? Why are the last few Silent Hill titles slacking off when it comes to game play, style, and just plain quality? Maybe interest in the franchise isn't what it used to be. Or maybe the same style of game play has been done over and over again way too much. Regardless of what you may think of Silent Hill these days, rest assured that there is hope still left in it, and here is the proof.

Recently Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear game franchise, has expressed a genuine interest in reviving the Silent Hill series, breathing new life into it by way of the famous Fox Engine. Yes, that's exactly right, you could actually see the next Silent Hill game make use of the almighty Fox Engine that the latest Metal Gear games like Rising Revengeance and Ground Zeroes are making great use of. Hideo Kojima tweeted these statements recently in regards to Silent Hill:

"Silent Hill movie that I borrowed from Murashu as the next sequel is coming out. It would be a scary game if we make Silent Hill game on FOX engine."

"Silent Hill is in closed room setting and doesn't require full action so that we can focus on the graphic quality. Enemy doesn't have to be a lot or move fast. It only requires scariness by graphics and presentation. As being a creator making action game in open world, such game is very enviously attractive. Wish someone could create this on FOX engine"

Now with that being said by Kojima, imagine the Silent Hill game universe being completely overhauled and basically reborn again, just as it was with Silent Hill 2. With the Fox Engine being used, we might very well see the true power behind the latest Metal Gear titles giving Silent Hill just what it needs, a total rebirth.

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Could the next Silent Hill be made by Hideo Kojima and make use of the famous Fox Engine?

The idea of making a Silent Hill game has been very attractive to Metal Gear game producer Hideo Kojima. The very thought of putting the Silent Hill game universe within the power of the Fox Engine might some day become a bright reality. Recently, the president of Konami games development has personally asked Hideo Kojima if he would like to make the next Silent Hill game, using the Fox Engine. Hideo said recently according to the source article at GamerRevolution today:

"Silent Hill" is in closed room setting and doesn't require full action so that we can focus on the graphic quality. Enemy doesn't have to be a lot or move fast. It only requires scariness by graphics and presentation. As being a creator making action game in open world, such game is very enviously attractive. Wish someone could create this on FOX engine. In the past I've mentioned Silent Hill in interviews, and as a result of that the president of Konami rung me up and said he'd like me to make the next Silent Hill.

Honestly, I'm kind of a scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies, so I'm not confident I can do it. At the same time, there's a certain type of horror that only people who are scared of can create, so maybe it's something I can do. That said, I think Silent Hill has a certain atmosphere. I think it has to continue, and I'd love to help it continue, and if I can help by supervising or lending the technology of the Fox Engine, then I'd love to participate in that respect."

So how about that, Kojima revealing that the possibility of the next Silent Hill game being done with the almighty Fox Engine. If that doesn't tickle you to death I don't know what will. I hope he actually gets serious about it, if Silent Hill gets on the same level as the Metal Gear game series is know for, it has my vote. It looks like a cosplay attack below between Solid Snake and a Silent Hill nurse. I wonder who would win?

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Could the Fox Engine be used for Silent Hill or other Konami titles?

A while back I posted an article about how Hideo Kojima had toyed with the idea about using the Fox Engine for a future Silent Hill or other Konami titles. Well guess what, that might be a reality that could happen some day. At the Penny Arcade Expo show recently, Hideo Kojima had made a statement about the same issue of making a Silent Hill game utilizing the Fox Engine for it. Here is the statement he made at the PAX prime recently:

“The thing is, once we get the Fox engine moving as we do now. You can make an FPS, you can make an Uncharted, etc. But what I wanted to do is make an open-world game, and that’s what I’m doing now.”

 Yes, we love open world games don't we? That's why we can't wait to play the new Metal Gear game Rising Revengeance and Ground Zero, both of which are very large, open world type games. As for the future of the Silent Hill game series, let's face it, it does need an overhaul. It needs to be reinvented from its old worn out looks, and be revamped with an all new engine. The Fox Engine has shown with Metal Gear just a sample of what it can do for the future of Silent Hill titles. Let's hope.

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Could the Fox Engine be used in the making of a future Silent Hill?, Hideo Kojima makes a statement on the matter

It seems like a pipe dream, but let's not rule anything out. After all, Konami games developer Hideo Kojima himself did mention in a tweet a while back that said he found the concept of the Silent Hill game series making use of the famous Fox Engine "Enviously Attractive". This is his statement in his tweet:

"Silent Hill" is in closed room setting and doesn't require full action so that we can focus on the graphic quality. Enemy doesn't have to be a lot or move fast. It only requires scariness by graphics and presentation. As being a creator making action game in open world, such game is very enviously attractive. Wish someone could create this on FOX engine."

Is this just wishful thinking or is it just quite possible that sometime in the future we may actually get to see a new Silent Hill make use of the awesome Fox Engine that the Metal Gear game franchise now uses. Since the Fox Engine has taken the Metal Gear game universe to new graphical heights, I'd like to think that the Silent Hill game franchise could use the same attention.

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Silent Hill producer Tomm Hulett talks about the future of horror games

Discovered this today, a nice article about Tomm Hulett who brought the world Silent Hill Downpour a month ago. The future of horror games and what to expect from them. The horror genre has seen so many different aspects over the years as they've evolved and have only seem to get better in the process. Hulett had this to say:

"Hulett told MCV “While many other games have gone the route of more action oriented game design, attempting to appeal to more mainstream audiences, we’ve taken a very careful approach to the pacing of Downpour to make sure it maintains that original ‘slow-burn’ and keeping the player off guard with less predictability.”

You can read the rest of the article if you like by heading to the source page at Bloody-Disgusting. There is also an interview with Tomm Hulett as well located at McvPacific. By the way what did you think of the new Silent Hill game Downpour? Did it meet your expectations? Let me know what you think about the future of horror games and what you would like to see in them from now on.

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