Silent Hill Origins review

The chills are handheld-sized, but no less horrifying

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Great atmosphere you're used to

  • +

    Best combat yet in a SH game

  • +

    Yes

  • +

    it scares

Cons

  • -

    Story lacks focus

  • -

    Some lame jump-scares

  • -

    Slow and dreary

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Nov 9, 2007

Silent Hill has always been scary because of what it doesn't show you. It's the little things that get to you the most; weeping ghosts, implacable thuds, grinding machinery, that sort of thing. And while Origins is an admirable attempt by a Western developer to capture the magic of the Japanese-developed originals, it doesn't quite manage it. But that doesn't mean it's not worth your time.

It's the story of Travis O'Grady, a burly trucker (with a shady past) who finds himself lost in the foggy streets of Silent Hill after rescuing a girl from a burning house. That girl, as it transpires, is Alessa Gillespie, the demon-harbouring tyke responsible for the town becoming a rusting, blood-spattered hellhole.

As the title suggests, Origins is a prequel, set years before the events of SH1. Travis explores the Old Town area, visiting locations that will be familiar to anyone who's played the first game. But at first, his reason for being there's disappointingly vague compared to Harry's pursuit of his missing daughter or James' dead wife's letter. He gets lost, he rescues the girl, she vanishes, he goes looking for her.

More info

GenreAdventure
DescriptionThe PSP prologue gets ported to the PS2. This satisfying, if traditional, prequel to the spooky series ought to tide you over 'til Konami can cough up Silent Hill V.
Platform"PS Vita","PS2","PSP"
US censor rating"Mature","Mature","Mature"
UK censor rating"","",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
Less