Silent Hill 8 for fans of the early series, apparently. Konami dangles the hope carrot again

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Konami promises the game we deserve this time. But are you convinced?

Hope. It brings you nothing but pain.

With Silent Hill 8 coming as another farmed-out sequel by another low-profile, non-Konami developer, and series composer and guiding light Akira Yamaoka now officially departed, I was just about ready to finally walk away myself. But having read the new press release, I'm now forced to pay attention again. Am I setting myself up for another fall here?

It's not much. Not much at all. Justa couple of little phrasesamidst a sea of generic hyperbole. But I can't help being drawn back in, all the same. I cared not for Konami's claims of "unique evolutions in gameplay". And "Pah!", I said, as it offeredthe thrilling promise of "variable side quests". But God damn you, Konami, if I couldn't help but feel a little tingle of interest when you told me that the story "will appeal to fans of the early, classic Silent Hill series, as well as anyone who enjoys a deep, psychological horror experience". And then I noticed the phrase "we%26rsquo;re working hard to build a next generation horror game that the fans truly deserve".

But Konami, you've already made a next-gen (yeah, apparently we're never going to stop calling it that) Silent Hill. Remember Silent Hill: Homecoming? Are you saying that the fans deserve better than that? Are you saying that SH:H could have been better? Are you saying that you're really, truly,genuinely going to do a proper job on this one, and make a real, fantastic Silent Hill with a story and intelligence to match the original trilogy we so rightly revere? Because it certainly sounds like that.

I hate you Konami. I hate you. Why do you say these things and force me to care again?

David Houghton
David Houghton
Long-time GR+ writer Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.