Silent Hill: Book of Memories

Sometimes it's frustrating and sometimes it puts you on edge.

If you've got a Vita, this is well worth a look, even if you're not compelled by the brand or even the gameplay.

While survival horror purists may balk at the concept, anyone a fan of top-down action/RPGs, deep gameplay and a interesting story will find not only the most addicting multiplayer Vita game to date, but the best Silent Hill in recent memory.

If you're looking for a Silent Hill game or a deep RPG on your PS Vita, Book of Memories will only serve to whet your appetite for a title that will deliver.

A rock-solid, dungeon-style RPG that pays a good deal of homage to the Silent Hill universe. It's probably not quite what the diehards would have wanted, but that doesn't mean that it's bad.

WayForward seems to have saved its 'A Game' for their own IP. Book of Memories feels odd, as though a Diablo has murdered a Silent Hill, and is traipsing about wearing its skin. [January 2013, p70]

A competent, skillful attempt at a non-fantasy dungeon crawler game appears, courtesy of Wayforward. Unfortunately it's ultimately dragged down by the franchise attached to it - Silent Hill. Other than a few thematic nods and well-known enemies the franchise usage is handled sloppily and without any benefit.

Those searching for the traditional Silent Hill experience on a portable (story? What story?) should stay far, far away. However, players who enjoy dungeon crawling and aren't afraid of a little difficulty will find that Silent Hill: Book of Memories gets it pretty right-it's just a shame that an FAQ is required to enjoy it.

Don't think of it as another Silent Hill, as Book of Memories is actually a good action game that reminds of the classic Gauntlet.

If you can get over the fact that this isn't a Silent Hill game at all, this is a nice action RPG with a good atmosphere, but also with a repetitive gameplay.

As dungeon crawls go, it's unique. Just don't expect a Silent Hill 2 level of scary. [Holiday 2012, p.77]

Book of Memories will disappoint those purists who are not happy with the changes made to the series. For those looking for a dungeon crawler RPG based in the Silent Hill universe this is absolutely ideal.

Silent Hill meets Diablo-esque dungeon crawler style with swinging results. Lack of variety, long loading times and mediocre graphics are balanced by some good ideas and addicting gameplay.

Nobody could've predicted this when it was announced, but Silent Hill: Book of Memories is a dungeon crawler with some multiplayer options. No one also expected the following: as a Vita-game it is quite successful. It's lightweight enough to work on a handheld device and has just enough depth to keep players interested and have them come back for more.

At the end of the day Silent Hill: Book of Memories manages to provide a change of pace to the dungeon crawling genre which has become somewhat stale.

A curious game: an improbably boisterous departure for a series that has slipped into conservative compromise in recent years.

If you're the kind of person who plans on teaming up with friends to take on this lengthy adventure, then I can recommend Silent Hill: Book of Memories. The action isn't especially fresh and the graphics leave a lot to be desired, but there are some good ideas wrapped around a truly twisted narrative. However, if you're the kind of person who plans on going it alone, then look elsewhere. There is nothing in Silent Hill for solo players.

If you can get over the fact that this isn't a survival horror game and subsequently hardly feels like a Silent Hill game at all, this is actually a very addicting button basher with surprisingly good level-design and a great atmosphere. A weak story, mediocre graphics and the repetitive nature of the gameplay keep Book of Memories from receiving more praise.

It's a pity where the Book of Memories is taking the Silent Hill series: Only quantity, no quality; a lack of gameplay and story; a shift in genres which should have been done with much more caution and love. Silent Hill fans, don't touch this.

I can't foresee Silent Hill: Book of Memories winning any Game of the Year awards, nor should it, but if you're in the mood for solidly reliable horror on the go, this should be more than enough to scratch that itch.

Book of Memories is nowhere as spectacular and adrenalinic as it could have been considering Vita's power, and it's far from traditional Silent Hill games, but it may deserve a run if you're a fan of the new genre.

Combat is underwhelming and the basic grind can become repetitive, while the amount of backtracking further compounds these issues. However, if you can stick at it, you'll find that Book of Memories is still frighteningly addictive, and with friends can provide a nice distraction.

It's a solid start for a game capable of excellence, but so frequently squanders the credit it earns on frankly confusing design.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories is a surprising twist on the franchise that works in some areas, while falling flat in others. If you intend to duke it out with friends, I recommend it wholeheartedly, especially with the lousy Vita lineup right now. If you are going in strictly for the Silent Hill aspect, you are likely to be disappointed.

Still, Book of Memories is not a bad game. There are elements of Catherine, Persona and even the classic Gauntlet to be found. Just don't except a riveting horror experience, because that is not what Book of Memories is or tries to be. [December 2012, p.77]

Completely unrelated to Silent Hill and horror, an acceptable dungeon crawler with many hours of combat ahead. Recommended for those who want a game to play online, since its multiplayer is the key to make the most of it.

As a Silent Hill game it's disappointing. As a "dungeon crawler", quite poor. Definitely, Book of Memories it's not a very recommendable game.

Dungeon action with online cooperation doesn't exactly fit into the Silent Hill universe but if you give it a chance it may surprise you. [Christmas 2012]

Pleasant, but not particularly memorable. [Jan 2013, p.78]

Unsure of its own direction, this is interesting but a missed opportunity. [Christmas 2012, p.85]

There isn't much in way of story or expandability, but it gets basic, punishingly repetitive combat down just right, and that makes it worth a purchase if you're looking for something to fill the time.

As a horror dungeon crawler, the biggest problem is the lack of horror. Some RPG elements are really good, but the game is very monotonous.

In essence, it's got quite a lot of things going for it as interesting spin-offs go. The hunt for experience points and the leveling up of your character can motivate for a while you if that sort of thing floats your boat. In that light, it really is a bit of a shame that WayForward didn't dare to go even deeper into the role playing aspects. It's a game trapped somewhere between looting and survival, the series' past and its own future.

Adventuring in Silent Hill: Book of Memories is often not that exciting, but as a fan of dungeon crawlers, I often caught myself coming back for just one more go. Wait for the bargain bin offers.

The gameplay of the new Silent Hill feels pretty good. It lacks in story and graphics though. The user-interface doesn't work like it should, and the multiplayer is a huge disappointment. Book of Memories could have been great but downright isn't.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories falls short as both a dungeon-crawler and a horror game.

It mixes solid but underwhelming gameplay with a lackluster presentation. If you just want dungeons to crawl through and couldn't care less about polished menus and engaging stories, great.

The one aspect that most defines Silent Hill, story, is lacking here in both presentation and content, again providing a missed opportunity for material to lure me back in.

This dungeon crawler won't satisfy those seeking scares. [Christmas 2012, p.102]

While RPGs and dungeon crawler games are my favorite style of hand held games, there are better options than Book of Memories. The Silent Hill aesthetic is pretty well represented, but the game itself struggles to maintain mediocrity. The game is great in short bursts, but fails to hold your attention for long periods of time.

It has its moments but this trek through rooms and corridors quickly becomes tiresome and uninspired. The multiplayer brings it up a notch, but not enough to make this truly worth your time.

A hack 'n slash/ action RPG Silent Hill? Yes, it's a major deviation from the survival horror genre and not a good one.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories devolves from a mediocre dungeon crawler into a frustrating grind over the course of too many hours. WayForward's attempt to do something different with the Silent Hill universe is novel, but the clunky combat and imbalanced difficulty make this impossible to recommend.

At its best, it doesn't do anything but supply fun in multiplayer, but at its worse, it is a boring and generic with no redeeming qualities and is something I cannot recommend to anyone looking for a good action RPG on their Vita.

It's the repetition that grinds you down. Boss battles provide brief breaks in the monotony, but they're just the seeping gizzard of consolation inside a disappointing, fleshy haystack.

It is hard to associate this dungeon crawler with the once fearsome name it carries. This is a bland hack&slay with little variation and even less horror.

A total disappointment, not only for Silent Hill fans but also for Hack'n'Slash lovers.

Between setbacks, repetition, and just plain poor design, Silent Hill: Book of Memories is a chore.

Far from what the Silent Hill saga was once before, Silent Hill : Book of Memories won't clearly satisfy the fans of the IP. The game won't please the hack'n'slash players either that will find the title boring, its gameplay repetitive and its level-design lacking of originality. Players that were looking for some comfort with the multiplayer mode can also forget that option.

It's not a horror experience. There are attempts to slap on some kind of Silent Hill-esque story to everything, but it's utterly worthless. Silent Hill: Book Of Memories is a shallow dungeon-crawler, with even the likes of Dungeon Hunter: Alliance providing more fun. It is, in short, a failure; not the sort of thing we want from Silent Hill, nor the sort of thing we want for the Vita.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories fails miserably at capturing the core attributes of its series predecessors, namely the effective psychological horror and captivating storylines. It doesn't exactly excel as an original dungeon-crawler either, bogged down by repetitive gameplay and generic mechanics. This is one book you will be able to put down.

At best, it's a bland, repetitive Silent Hill-skinned dungeon-crawling grind. At worst, it's a vacuous vandalism of a treasured horror brand.

It looks like a dungeon crawler but plays like an action RPG, yet it doesn't provide enough variety to make you want to come back for more. Its format gets repetitive far too quickly, and the only the thing that will keep your attention is knowing the fate of your character, even if you only played a small part in it.

It doesn't look bad and it doesn't sound too bad either but it is way too repetitive. I play games for fun and the score reflects the fact I just didn't find Silent Hill: Book of Memories all that fun to play.

Half-baked mechanics, visually dull and a lack of conviction in its creative vision. [Issue#225, p.83]