Silent Hill: Homecoming

Suitably atmospheric psycho-horror with a couple of flaws. [Dec 2008, p.72]

Silent Hill: Homecoming is a very strange game, as its dual nature and oddly unsatisfying gameplay could likely turn both fans and newcomers away.

If you are a survival horror fan or just a Silent Hill fan you will enjoy this game and it would be worth the buy, but it is not a scary game, at least for me. If you are new to the Silent Hill franchise, just rent this one as it is not a good starter for the series. If you want to be scared, Dead Space is your best bet or Siren on the PS3.

It never hits its stride, never find that sweet spot that makes for that great edge-of-your-seat survival horror experience.

For what it is Silent Hill: Homecoming truly does fit its namesake in bringing the franchise back to its roots.

A solid tribute act, then, but the handling of the series is too timid to be truly great. [Dec 2008, p.120]

When it was announced that a western developer was to take over the reins from Team Silent there were many raised voices of concern about what would become of the series. Silent Hill Homecoming is actually a classic Silent Hill experience, a bit too classic to be honest, with the game's formula sticking very close to the old Silent Hill games. The graphical upgrade works great, lending design inspiration from the movie, and the music and sound is phenomenal. The plot is also told very well. The modernized combat system unfortunately eliminates the sense of respect and fear for the enemies, the main gripe we have with this otherwise great survival horror experience.

Several years have passed since the last Silent Hill game for home consoles, but the franchise is still scary as hell. The new gameplay is great, and it is faithful to the spirit of the series, but it's extremely simple and not as deep as previous entries. Also, it's not a great game on the technical side. Good game, but it could have been better.

Silent Hill Homecoming is a game more inclined to action than to terror. Although not the best in the genre, fans of the series will find a good experience here.

Despite these impressive production values, Homecoming ultimately fails to achieve greatness.

Scary it mightn’t be, but it’s compelling, unsettling and engaging in its own familiar, anachronistic way.

A bit of a letdown. The gameplay has been reduced from a tense psychological experience fraught with spine tingling jumps and scares to a generic, predictable action title set in the location with good graphics and a great soundtrack.

It was the game's storyline and characters that captured me versus the suspense this time around, but that didn't make the game any less enjoyable for me.

Fans will probably dig the game’s cool set pieces and the story, but the save points are placed too far apart, many puzzles require too much random experimentation, and the dialogue system seems like an afterthought.

Considering that Homecoming’s gameplay is a clone of its predecessors, this isn’t the sequel that every Silent Hill fan will want to own. But you should definitely play through it once, as the old gameplay style is still entertaining (minus the clunky combat elements), the music and sound effects are great, and the new story will keep everyone guessing.

While Silent Hill: Homecoming is a decent survival-horror romp, the series has seen better days. It's a bit stale, a bit easy, and a bit light-on in the scare department.

Ultimately you're left cursing at almost every turn. [Issue#174, p.88]

If survival horror is your bread and butter, then Homecoming is right up your alley; otherwise, you might be better served waiting for Resident Evil 5. [Nov 2008, p.92]

This is a deeply flawed game, but a fascinating one which makes you think as much as wince. [Christmas 2008, p.99]

It’s decent survival horror, but Silent Hill fans will be disappointed.

Konami will want to get Team Silent back for Silent Hill 7, we think. [Apr 2009, p.74]