Summary
Released for the original PlayStation all the way back in 1999,Silent Hillcemented itself as a survival-horror classic from day one, going on to spawn a franchise packed with ups and downs. Most notably,Silent Hillwould lead toits sequel,Silent Hill 2, which would arguably go on to be one of the greatest video games ever made.
Silent Hillhas had plenty of clones over the years, though none have quite managed to capture its unique tone and atmosphere. The mood, the story, and the dense fog ofSilent Hilloffer players a truly distinctive experience that few others have been able to match. However, some games have made valiant attempts at providing players with nostalgic experiences that share somesimilarities withSilent Hill’s iconic visuals.
The Night Of The Scissorsis a minimalist throwback to survival-horror games of old.The Night Of The Scissorstakes inspiration most prominently from the survival-horror classic,Silent Hill, both in its gameplay and its visuals. The game featuresfixed camera anglesand tank controls in line with many old-school survival-horror games, but the dynamic and cinematic camera angles are particularly reminiscent of some sections in the originalSilent Hill.
The Night Of The Scissorsalso features a low-poly, PSX aesthetic in line with the visuals of the original PlayStation, on which the originalSilent Hillwas released.The Night Of The Scissorsis an extremely short experience (with a low price tag to match). It doesn’t come close to the narrative prowess of theSilent Hillfranchise, but it’s a remarkable distraction for those looking for moreSilent Hillvisuals.
Obscureisn’t quite as low-poly asSilent Hill, featuring a relatively different aesthetic that uses more detailed textures and environments. This is primarily due to the fact thatObscurewasa PlayStation 2 releasein 2004, though the game is thankfully available to modern audiences on Steam today. Regardless of its higher-res look and distinct lack of fog,Obscure’s unsettling school setting and distinctive, dynamic camera angles are more than reminiscent ofSilent Hill.
Fans ofSilent Hillare also likely to appreciateObscure’s survival horror gameplay and sense of atmosphere, which takes clear inspiration from Konami’s survival-horror staple.Obscure’s narrative may not be up to par withSilent Hill, but fans are likely to have a good time all the same.
This prologue chapter to a proposed full game is a tremendously polished but relativelyshort horror experiencewith a focus on storytelling that centers around a detective, Zeke Reynold. The game features a low-poly, PSX aesthetic that takes clear inspiration fromSilent Hill, from its camera angles and texture work, all the way down to its character designs and user-interface.
However, the character models and textures inLake Haven - Chrysalisaren’t quite as detailed as those found inSilent Hill. Furthermore,Lake Haven’s overall atmosphere is arguably not quite as immersive as the iconic town ofSilent Hill. When the full game finally releases, however,Silent Hillfans may find themselves with a truly nostalgic experience on their hands.
Despite featuring a camera system that predominantly uses fixed angles,Banned Memories: Yamanashimanages to capture the atmosphere and mood ofSilent Hillrelatively well. On top of that, it’s also somewhat reminiscent ofold-schoolResident Evil. However, these camera angles are both dynamic and cinematic, providing some jarring moments that add to the terror, much likeSilent Hill.
The warped textures and dark, creepy environments ofBanned Memories: Yamanashiare particularly reminiscent ofSilent Hill, even if the character models and animations aren’t quite as well-crafted. Unfortunately,Banned Memoriesis yet to see a full release and is currently only available as ademo on Game Jolt.
1TERMINUS
A Promising Prototype With A Spot-On Silent Hill Aesthetic
It’s only a prototype, but fans ofSilent Hillshould absolutely take a look atTERMINUS, a small demo that’splayable on Itch. The visuals, combat, sound, and camera are all reminiscent of the 1999 classic, making for an experience that wears its influences on its sleeve.
TERMINUSfeatures a PSX aesthetic that’s faithful in every way, lovingly crafted to offer an authentic survival-horror experience. It may not bring anything new to the table, butTERMINUSis a nostalgic horror tripforSilent Hillfansthat’s both short and completely free to play.
The Paleis a currently unreleased survival horror game inspired by classic90s-era horror gamessuch asSilent Hill. The game perhaps takes the PSX aesthetic a little far, featuring far less detail than the originalSilent Hill, particularly in the character models.
However,The Palelooks as though it will provideSilent Hillfans with a worthwhile distraction, though there’s no confirmed release date as of yet. The mood and atmosphere of the game is also spot-on, providing players with a unique trip set on an abandoned island. The game also features a combination of the third-person perspective and cinematic camera angles thatSilent Hillfans are sure to appreciate. Thedemo forThe Paleis currently available to play on Itch.
