Silent Hill (Remake)

"'Every town has its secrets. Some are just darker than others." "A man searches for his missing daughter in a fog-ridden nightmare dimension, coming across his own insecurities as a parent and mental issues as monsters attack him from every corner. A expectant teenager who can barely remember grapples with her fears for her future as she seeks her past amongst the darkness and snow. A police officer hiding a dark secret wrestles with her own sanity as her hideous past comes back to haunted her in a town of dark, gruesome secrets. A doctor with a history with the occult soon faces the consequences of his actions in a rusted, decrepit mirror of our world. A woman beaten down by the world around her struggles to survive against innumerable odds and incomprehensible horrors in a place between reality and hell.""All five of these paths cross together in a trail of blood and mutilation as they aim to snatch their fates and futures from the clutches of angelic and demonic powers that they cannot even begin to understand. Fighting constantly for their own lives and the ones they care for, trapped in a simple, quaint mountain town, twisted by unspeakable horrors into a nightmarish alternate dimension where death is no escape.""Welcome to the madness that is Silent Hill.'""- Release description"

Silent Hill, also referred to as Silent Hill Reborn, and known in Japan as Silent Hill Rebirth, is a survival horror game concept by Red-Verse-Writer, a remake of the 1999 survival horror game Silent Hill and the second game to attempt to reboot the series following 2009's Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. The game is set in Silent Hill, a mountain-based town that becomes distorted into a foggy, nightmarish alternate realm by a unknown being, and mainly revolves around Harry Mason, a novel author with a failing memory as he attempts to rescue his adopted daughter Cheryl.

Quick Synopsis
"Main article: Silent Hill (Remake)/Story" "Main article: Silent Hill (Remake)/Script" "Main article: Silent Hill (Remake)/Characters and Enemies"Harry Mason is a novel author suffering from memory problems, and goes with his adopted daughter Cheryl to his childhood hometown of Silent Hill in the hopes of helping his complications. However, they find that the town is covered with fog and seemingly abandoned, and they head to a convenience store to try and get supplies, where they encounter a strange creature that attacks them. As Harry and Cheryl attempt to escape in the car, they lose control of it as it steers around the town before crashing into a river. Harry wakes up several hours later, finding the car destroyed and Cheryl missing, forcing him to begin searching the town for her.

During his search for his daughter, Harry gains a infrequent companion in the form of Heather, a mysterious, amnesiac, heavily pregnant teenager who has a vague resemblance to Cheryl. With the duo beginning to believe their paths are somehow connected, they delve deeper in the seemingly endless town and its history, engaging with monsters and learning from the few other sane humans in Silent Hill the town's dark past, gradually uncovering a ancient conspiracy and what they must do to not only save themselves and Cheryl, but maybe even the entire world.

Gameplay
Silent Hill Reborn is set in the isolated mountain town of Silent Hill, which has been converted into a fog-ridden, monster-infested dimension. With few people remaining in the town who have not disappeared or been transformed by the town, they must struggle to survive against odds. Throughout most of the game, the player takes on the role of Harry Mason, a fiction author suffering from issues with his memory as he attempts to find and rescue his young adopted daughter Cheryl. Using combat, exploration, puzzle-solving and item crafting, the player must keep him alive and help him in his search.

The game is played from a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective when outdoors or in larger areas, while in smaller areas the camera shifts into a more traditional third-person camera viewpoint, with the camera changing position for dramatic effect as the player moves. The game has no heads-up display, and instead the player must consult a different inventory screen to check Harry's health, status, inventory and location - unlike in earlier Silent Hill titles, this does not pause the game. The player has a limited inventory space, being able to carry only eight items at the start of the game but being able to increase this number by finding certain items. The inventory also contains certain containers which can be used to store certain items related to that container without them taking up space. At any point, the player can use the inventory to view maps or Harry's scrapbook, which do not take up inventory room.

Compared to the original game, Silent Hill Reborn features much heavier environmental exploration around the titular supernatural town. Exploring the player's surroundings is much more rewarded than in previous instalments, and the gameplay is generally much more similar to a open-world game, barring some restrictive dungeon environments. Direct interaction with the environment is often vital for progression, such as pulling down ladders or breaking down a boarded-up door. There are also methods of quicker transportation around town by having Harry use Silent Hill's abandoned subway tunnels as a short-cut to certain parts of the town. There is also a central "hub" in the form of the Café 52 diner, which can be quickly accessed by finding various holes scattered around the town. While in the diner, the game switches to a first-person viewpoint, and the hole in its wall will enable the user to quickly travel to whichever hole they previously used. While in Café 52, Harry's sanity and emotions restore themselves and he is safe from enemy attacks. This is also the only location in the game where the player can store items, which can then be reclaimed by returning to the diner. The player can also use a radio located in the diner to occasionally acquire more story information, or play minigames on the arcade machines.

Monsters roam around Silent Hill and its areas, attacking Harry if they spot him in the fog. Damage causes Harry's health to deplete, causing his clothes to take on a progressively more torn and bloodied appearance and the screen to become afflicted with progressively worsening "white snow" television static to reflect this. Harry cannot sustain many blows from enemies, and will die quickly if he cannot kill the enemy or escape combat. A portable radio is automatically equipped on the player's person, alerting them to the presence of enemies or plot-relevant locations and items by bursts of static. The game encourages a balance between combat and stealth to survive, with Harry being able to either evade enemies using various tools and strategies, or confront them with a variety of melee weapons, firearms and certain objects that will break after being used a certain number of times but compensate by doing generally more damage than the melee weaponry. Melee damage is determined both by Harry's stamina and the locations of which he strikes enemies, and his inexperience with firearms means that his aim, and therefore the player's targeting of enemies, is often unsteady. Using firearms also results in recoil, and longer guns must be shouldered to be used properly. While using melee weapons, the player can choose to execute light or heavy attacks, mix them into combos, and perform counter-attacks when struck.

In addition to a life meter that can only be seen while in the inventory, the game also keeps track of injuries taken around the body. For example, a long fall may fracture one of Harry's arms or legs, slowing him down or preventing him from using certain weapons until the injury is properly treated via bandages, splints and painkillers. Until these injuries are fully treated, Harry's performance is significantly impacted and he will not be able to fully recover his health. Harry also has a stamina meter, which is drained while performing actions such as moving, engaging in combat or using certain environmental objects, and must be restored by resting or using certain items. If out of stamina, Harry will be unable to run or attack, and will often alert enemy attention with his loud gasps for breath. Due to the heavy snowfall and cold wind of the town, Harry's body heat must also be maintained to prevent him from taking damage and losing stamina from hyperthermia. He can keep himself warm by entering buildings, wearing certain coats and hats, and using certain items.

As well as having to keep track of health, injuries, temperature and stamina, Harry's sanity and emotional state must also be managed by the player. Sanity will tend to be reduced by staying in dark or distorted areas, and at low sanity, Harry will suffer from auditory and visual hallucinations, as well as a inability to use certain items. His emotional wellbeing will suffer when he is attacked, spends extended periods of time in a single location, looks directly at monsters, witnesses unsettling or cruel events or is forced to perform unjust actions. At lower emotional states, Harry's output and item usage is impacted, and monsters will be able to locate him with greater ease. Sanity and emotions are restored by being in Café 52, being near another human, or by performing a comforting action such as looking at a photo of himself and Cheryl to motivate Harry in his quest to find her. These two states are also affected via "Executions" - a DOOM-esque mechanic that enables Harry to finish off wounded enemies in an extremely brutal and sadistic manner, temporarily raising his emotional state but lowering his sanity. The Execution performed is also affected by what weapon the player is using, the type of monster, and on what part of their body the player begins the Execution on. Keeping both sanity and emotional state high is vital to properly progress in the game.

While exploring the environment, the player must find items, maps, medicine, ammunition, plot-relevant items such as keys, and clues to progress the story, such as photographs, letters and other items held in Harry's scrapbook. To help in exploration, a red glow will appear around objects that can be collected, and Harry will turn his head towards them. Puzzle elements are also affected by this, and the information the player gains often contain the solution to a problem that would otherwise be unpassable. The player can choose to take a closer look at objects and notes in the inventory, which can reward the player with extra information depending on the item. The player can also select dialogue choices when conversing with the few sane humans left in Silent Hill and utilize or refuse certain moral opportunities at specific points, which can affect the story's outcome and the appearances of some monsters. The environment of the game also features a weather system with varying degrees of rain and snowfall - depending on the weather, enemies can appear in greater or lesser numbers.

Throughout certain parts of the game, Harry receives a companion in the form of Heather, a amnesiac, heavily pregnant teenager who bears a similarity to Cheryl and decides to join him as they believe their paths are in some way connected. While she is accompanying Harry, the player must also maintain her own health and sanity, as well as her own inventory. Heather has her own specific set of weapons and tools that can only be used by her, and is unaffected by the cold or emotional states. Due to her pregnancy, Heather moves slower than Harry, and does less damage in combat. While she will typically automatically follow Harry and help him fight enemies while accompanying him, the player has a limited control over Heather's actions, such as using items and hiding while Harry deals with enemies. She can also hug Harry to improve his body heat and emotional stability, as well as both their sanities.

In addition to controlling Harry, there are certain acts of the game where the player is instead shifted into the role of another character. Some of these segments revolve around Heather alone, and give the player complete control over her. Due to her restricted movement and lower agility, these segments tend to be focused around stealth and avoiding enemies over combat, although fighting back is always a option if needed. During her segments, Heather requires constant usage of her unlimited supply of pain medication to continue onwards, requiring the player to use it at intervals to avoid putting her in danger. Aside from Heather, there are also stories featuring Cybil Bennet, a police officer from a town near Silent Hill who is convinced that the entire situation of Silent Hill is falsified using special effects and hallucinogenic drugs; Micheal Kaufmann, a doctor at Silent Hill's Alchemilla Hospital who has been involved with a cultist circle in the town; and Lisa Garland, a nurse with a abusive past who wrestles with her own delusions and memories in the nightmarish town. These segments tend to feature significantly different gameplay styles. Cybil's segments are focused around combat over stealth and exploration, with her being able to perform a combat roll in any direction, use a taser with unlimited power to stun enemies for greater combos, and progressively gaining back sanity and emotional stability by killing enemies. Kaufmann's segments are much more focused on puzzle-solving compared to others, with him having to utilize tools in his inventory to locate items and use his UV flashlight to uncover hidden information - monsters that must be combated or avoided appear rarely, and Kaufmann is less armed with weaponry that the other characters. Lisa's segments tend to be set in dark, cold areas, where she must continuously solve puzzles, explore the environment and use stealth to evade enemies - unlike the other characters, Lisa is weaponless throughout her segments and must run from, avoid, or sneak past enemies, being able to at best temporarily stun the monsters using flares or candles. Once a character's segment is completed, the game's perspective switches back to Harry.

As well as the main story, the game also offers a large total of one hundred and fifty optional side quests around the town. These side quests are tracked in Harry's scrapbook and for the most part replace the mandatory fetch quests seen in the classic Silent Hill games. While not needed to progress, these side quests will offer beneficial rewards to Harry, such as more items and upgrades for his equipment. These side quests vary from investigating a murder in one of the town's alleyways, to rescuing caged birds from monsters, to returning stolen items to the unseen inhabitants of Silent Hill's apartment complex.

Items
"Main article: Silent Hill (Remake)/Items"

PC

 * W: Move forward
 * S: Move backwards
 * A: Sidestep left
 * D: Sidestep right
 * Mouse: Rotate camera/aim
 * Mouse1: Fire/swing weapon
 * Mouse2: Ready weapon/Block (when using melee)
 * Mouse3: Dodge (when held in conjunction with W, A, D or S)
 * Esc: Pause game
 * Space: Open Harry's Scrapbook
 * Shift: Sprint (when held in conjunction with W, A or D)
 * CTRL: Crouch
 * E: Interact/inspect
 * I: Open Status Screen/Inventory
 * R: Reload
 * G: Perform Execution
 * F: Toggle Flashlight on/off
 * Z: Cycle weapon through inventory clockwise
 * C: Cycle weapon through inventory clockwise
 * T: Bring up current objectives

PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5

 * Left Analog Stick: Move
 * Right Analog Stick: Rotate camera/aim
 * Cross: Interact/fire/perform Execution
 * Square: Reload (when using gun)/Block (when using melee)
 * Circle: Crouch
 * Triangle: Open Harry's Scrapbook
 * L1: Dodge left
 * L2: Dodge forwards or backwards (when held in conjunction with Left Analog Stick)
 * R1: Dodge right
 * R2: Ready weapon
 * L3: Sprint (when held in conjunction with Left Analog Stick)
 * R3: Re-centre camera
 * Directional Pad Up: Bring up current Objectives
 * Directional Pad Left and Right: Cycle weapon through inventory
 * Directional Pad Down: Toggle Flashlight on/off
 * Touch Screen: Open Status Screen/Inventory
 * Options: Pause game

Xbox One/Xbox Series X

 * Left Stick: Move/sprint
 * Right Stick: Rotate camera/aim/re-centre camera
 * A: Interact/fire/perform Execution
 * Y: Reload (when using gun)/Block (when using melee)
 * B: Crouch
 * X: Open Harry's Scrapbook
 * Left Button: Dodge left
 * Right Button: Dodge right
 * Left Trigger: Dodge forwards or backwards (when held in conjunction with Left Analog Stick)
 * Right Trigger: Ready weapon
 * Directional Pad Up: Bring up current Objectives
 * Directional Pad Left and Right: Cycle weapon through inventory
 * Directional Pad Down: Toggle Flashlight on/off
 * Start: Open Status Screen/inventory
 * Back: Pause game

Achievements
Silent Hill Reborn features 400 Steam Achievements, Xbox Gamerscore Achievements, or PlayStation Trophies. These achievements are divided into six categories.

General Achievements

 * Shattered Memories: Get all 399 other achievements. (PC and Xbox)/Get all 399 other trophies. (PlayStation)
 * All Just a Dream Now: Get the Bad or Bad+ Ending.
 * The Nightmare May Finally Be Over: Get the Neutral Ending.
 * Move Along: Get the Bittersweet Ending.
 * Hope Springs Eternal: Get the Good or Good+ Ending.
 * A New Nightmare Begins: Get the True Ending.
 * Spaceman! I Always Wanted You to Go into Space, Man!: Get the first Joke Ending.
 * It All Makes Sense Now!: Get the second Joke Ending.
 * Eat it, Silent Hill! Whooo! Get the third Joke Ending.
 * One Big Reunion!: Get the final Joke Ending.
 * Euthanasia: Defeat the Cerberus.
 * Choice Meat: Defeat the Butcher.
 * Migraine Medicine: Defeat the Splithead.
 * Surface for Air: Defeat the Drowner.
 * Bug Exterminator Extraordinaire: Defeat the Twinfeeler.
 * Macabre Moth Murderer: Defeat the Floatstinger.
 * Layed Side by Side: Defeat the Bloodpuppet.
 * Dead, Deadd n' Deaddy: Defeat the Three Guardians.
 * Spider Sense: Defeat the Mother.
 * Takes Two To Tango: Defeat the Two True Guardians.
 * Coolest. Dad. Ever.: Defeat God.
 * We're In This Together: Save all the other characters.
 * Alchemilla's Finest: Complete all of Michael's segments.

Weapons and Combat Achievements

 * This Isn't a FPS: Get all 99 other Weapons and Combat achievements. (PC and Xbox)/Get all 99 other Weapons and Combat trophies. (PlayStation)
 * Harry Got a Gun: Find Handgun A.
 * Many Like It: Find Handgun B.
 * Akimbo: Find Handgun C.
 * Target Practice: Find Handgun D.
 * Find Handgun E.
 * Find Handgun F.
 * Find Handgun G.
 * Find Handgun H.
 * Find Handgun I.
 * Find Handgun J.
 * This is My Boomstick: Find Shotgun A.
 * Find Shotgun B.
 * Find Shotgun C.
 * Find Shotgun D.
 * Find Shotgun E.
 * Find Shotgun F.
 * Blinded by the Light: Find the Flare Gun.
 * Lock 'n Load: Find the Hunting Rifle.
 * Sharpshooter: Find the Sniper Rifle.
 * True Fighter: Find the Assault Rifle.
 * Shooter with Style: Find the Revolver.
 * Stapler: Find the Nailgun.
 * Archer: Find the Crossbow.
 * Overkill: Find the Grenade Launcher.
 * Armoury: Find all the Firearms.
 * Who Needs a Gun?: Find all the Melee Weapons.
 * Murderer: Defeat a enemy for the first time.
 * Mass Murderer: Defeat 100 enemies.
 * Serial Killer: Defeat 1000 enemies.
 * Shock Resistance: Defeat 50 Raw Shocks.
 * Winged Spawn of Satan: Defeat 50 Air Screechers.
 * Play Dead: Defeat 50 Groaners.
 * Silenced: Defeat 50 Mumblers.
 * Child Killer: Defeat 50 Grey Children.
 * Bug Exterminator: Defeat 50 Creepers.
 * Romper Stomper: Defeat 50 Rompers.
 * Afraid of Needles: Defeat 50 Nurses.
 * Disorderly Conduct: Defeat 50 Parasitized Doctors.
 * Daybreaker: Defeat 50 Night Flutters.
 * Irrigator: Defeat 50 Wormheads.
 * Hangman: Defeat 50 Hanged.
 * Opener: Defeat 50 Closers.
 * Sensation: Defeat 50 Numb Bodies.
 * Splitting Headache: Defeat 50 Double Heads.
 * Tick Tock: Defeat 50 Pendulums.
 * Defeat 50 Slurpers.
 * Temperance: Defeat 50 Scrapers.
 * Psychiatrist: Defeat 50 Straight-Jackets.
 * Defeat 50 Carrions.
 * Defeat 50 Ariels.
 * The Tempest: Defeat 50 Calibans.
 * Defeat 50 Officers.
 * Defeat 50 Lurkers.
 * Clean-Up: Defeat 50 Smogs.
 * Chemotherapist: Defeat 25 Cancers.
 * Othello: Defeat 25 Twobacks.
 * To the Point: Defeat 25 Needlers.
 * Out of Order: Defeat 25 Ordermen.
 * Terminated: Defeat 25 Biomechanicals.
 * Defeat Valtiel 3 times.
 * Keep Your Distance: Defeat 200 enemies with Firearms.
 * Melee Master: Defeat 200 enemies with Melee Weapons.
 * Overpowered: Defeat 100 enemies with Powered Weapons.
 * Zero-In: Defeat 100 enemies with Temporary Weapons.
 * This is How You Recycle: Make a Molotov Cocktail.

Side Quest Achievements

 * Act of Kindness: Complete your first Side Quest.
 * Helper: Complete 10 Side Quests.
 * Invaluable Aid: Complete 25 Side Quests.
 * Compassion: Complete 50 Side Quests.
 * Friendly: Complete 75 Side Quests.
 * Supporter: Complete 100 Side Quests.
 * Everyone's Friend: Complete 125 Side Quests.
 * Hope Bringer: Complete all 150 Side Quests.
 * A Light in the Darkness: Complete the "Blackout" Side Quest.
 * B:
 * Café 52 Errand Boy: Complete the "Job Support" Side Quest.
 * Crowd Pleaser: Complete the "Take 'Em Down a Peg" Side Quest.
 * D:
 * E:
 * For the Thrill of It: Complete the "The Experience" Side Quest.
 * Free to Go: Complete the "Prisoner" Side Quest.
 * G:
 * Handy Man: Complete the "Odd Jobs" Side Quest.
 * I:
 * J:
 * K:
 * Let Her Go: Complete the "Woman in the Box" Side Quest.
 * Liberation:
 * M:
 * Neighbourhood Watch: Complete the "Stolen Items" Side Quest.
 * O:
 * P:
 * Questions Answered: Complete the "Mystery of the Mountain" Side Quest.
 * R:
 * S:
 * Taking Flight: Complete the "Birdman" Side Quest.
 * The Idol: Complete the "Broken Cross" Side Quest.
 * U:
 * V:
 * Will Work for Food: Complete the "Help for the Homeless" Side Quest.
 * Xenophile: Complete the "Two Kinds, One Race" Side Quest.
 * Y:
 * Z:

Symbolism
"Main article: Silent Hill (Remake)/Symbolism" Symbolism is a important factor to Silent Hill Reborn, with the majority of the game's imagery being representative of the characters' mental states and memories.

Trivia

 * The game is rated M in the United States for Intense Violence, Strong Blood and Gore, Usage of Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Sexual Violence and Mature Humor; PEGI 18+ in the UK and Europe for Violence, Horror, Bad Language, Sex and Drugs; and CERO Z in Japan for Love, Sexual Content, Violence, Horror, Drinking/Smoking, Crime, Drugs and Language.
 * Compared to the loose 1980s style of the original game, the remake instead is stated to be set in any year between 1996 and 2006 (around the time the Silent Hill series was at its peak). Due to this emphasis, many minor elements and stylisation choices are modernised:
 * Harry's Jeep has been changed from a red 1986-1995 Jeep Wrangler to a blue 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
 * The shop that says "Since 1987" is changed to "Since 1992".
 * The Playboy magazines on the desk in the Orridge Bridge Control Room are replaced with a PDA.
 * Much like the original game, the remake features many references to films, books and other video games:
 * The Portishead and Stephen King's "STUDY DAMNIT!" posters in Café 52 are retained, as well as new posters of Half-Life, Indiana Jones, Mega Man, Team Fortress, The Cat in the Hat and The Simpsons.
 * The "8-Eleven" parody of 7-Eleven is retained.
 * A Shell gas station store appears in the Shopping District with the S having fallen from its sign, instead reading "Hell".
 * The Fairytale Keys used to unlock the backdoor of the Levin Street home are a reference to the hit internet animation RWBY and its four main characters, who are all inspired by the fairy tales depicted on the keys.
 * The Key of the Rider references Ruby Rose, who is inspired by Red Riding Hood. For a additional hint to this, it is found in a cookie jar.
 * The Key of the Snowwoman references Weiss Schnee, who is inspired by Snow White.
 * The Key of the Beauty references Blake Belladonna, who is inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
 * The Key of the Intruder references Yang Xiao Long, who is inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
 * Midwich Elementary School retains its inspirations from Kindergarten Cop and its name from The Midwich Cuckoos, even retaining its cuckoo bird mascot from Shattered Memories.
 * There are 66 Konami posters around the town of Silent Hill. As a meta reference to the gaming public's dislike of Konami and their questionable business practises, one side-quest is dedicated to finding all the posters and spraying insults and childish drawings over them.