We think of video game sequels as something that can outdo the original in most ways, be more of the same, or even hit fans with the heavy hammer of disappointment. That, however, ignores the rare but very real case of sequels that don't necessarily suck but that will baffle fans with their nigh-inexplicable new design choices. We shouldn't forget this class of sequel, it does at least a great job of providing fun to anyone learning about just how absolutely bizarre these games can get.

[caption id="attachment_398483" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Silent Hill: Book Of Memories

Remember how the Silent Hill series managed to make players feel scared and uneasy even when no enemy was on screen? Well, nobody had time for that when they were reinventing the square for the PlayStation Vita with Silent Hill: Book Of Memories.

This one isn't a psychological horror game and barely even a survival horror game. It's a weird attempt at making an isometric action title in the vein of the awesome Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light but in the world of Silent Hill.

Heck, you don’t even have one of the simplest staples of psychological horror that the series had done so well up until this point—like the feeling of loneliness and isolation—as this one is a co-op adventure featuring up to four players. Wild stuff.

[caption id="attachment_398490" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Nintendo[/caption]

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Remember when the original The Legend Of Zelda changed gaming by taking a cue from the top-down perspective of RPGs and re-purposing it for action adventures?  You don't? Well, neither do I because I was too young to play it back then, but that's what the legend of The Legend of Zelda says.

Zelda 2 is definitely not a bad game (if you're looking for a bad Zelda side-scroller, google Zelda CD-I games), but it’s still pretty weird that Nintendo did away with the revolutionary design they’d come up with in the first one to make a more conservative 2D side-scroller. Nintendo already had Mario dominating that field, and there was no shortage of similar side-scrollers from other companies. Luckily, it didn't take Nintendo long to both go back to their revolutionary formula and then try new stuff that further propelled the series into legendary status.

[caption id="attachment_398485" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Konami[/caption]

Bomberman Act: Zero

This one was absolutely terrible and also marked an awful tonal shift for a beloved cutesy series that definitely didn't need one. I probably wouldn't have put it on the list because this isn't about straight-up bad sequels, but I like how its poster looks just like Oppenheimer's, so that's some extra bonus points for weirdness.

If you're looking for a wacky fun Bomberman game, then you're much better off playing Saturn Bomberman.

[caption id="attachment_398478" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Valve[/caption]

Half-Life 2: Survivor

Remember how the original Half-Life and its sequel each changed the FPS landscape of its time, due to smart gameplay mechanics that forced players to use their brains? Welp, Half-Life 2: Survivor is a bizarre, mostly on-rails arcade version of Half-Life 2 that only came out in Japan.

Do you see that massively busy interface? That's not one of those spoofs of HUD glut that you see all over the Internet—that's the real deal. The reason why anyone would come up with such an antithesis to what made Half-Life 2 great is a mystery, but I'd be lying if I said that I wouldn't spend a few dollars at the arcade to try this mess.

[caption id="attachment_398461" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Naughty Dog[/caption]

Jak 2

Ever wondered why the original Jak & Daxter had players happily hopping from platform to platform and then Jak 2 was all about gunning down enemies and driving flying vehicles? Sure, Naughty Dog had also previously equipped Crash with a Bazooka for the third game in the Crash Bandicoot series, but Crash's Bazooka only fired Wumpa fruit, not lethal rounds. What the hell happened there?

Well, it turns out that the sequel to Naughty Dog’s once happy-go-lucky platformer became a shooter because Naughty Dog saw the entire gaming landscape change with the arrival of gritty titles such as Killzone, God Of War, and, most importantly, Grand Theft Auto 3. The team made all the changes to the original that they could to accommodate gameplay elements that played similarly to Rockstar's mega-hit, and the series was never the same again.

In Naughty Dog's defense, however, I have to admit that Jak 2 was pretty damn good.

[caption id="attachment_398509" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Nintendo[/caption]

Star Fox Adventures

This is the game that sent the Star Fox series into dormancy and made the titular Fox more recognizable as a top-tier Super Smash Bros. character than as the main character of his own series. Its mistake? It decided to get Fox out of his ship and give him some ground-based missions.

This isn't a new kind of 3D game. This is Zelda with the exception that Zelda games are usually great, and this one is just okay. Star Fox Adventures marks one of the very rare moments in gaming when they would've been much better off just doing an on-rails shooter than a sprawling 3D adventure.

[caption id="attachment_398471" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Capcom[/caption]

Dino Crisis 3

Dino Crisis has always been an odd Resident Evil clone, but the rule is that you can only send your series to space after around the 8th entry. Picking space as the setting for your mundane terrestrial series in the third entry is too much—especially when it's a game about pre-historic stuff, the historical opposite of space stuff, I guess. Even Exoprimal feels more grounded than this Chimera.

Also, the first two games in the series came out for the original PlayStation, whereas Dino Crisis 3 landed on Xbox as an exclusive, which might have gotten Xbox fans to believe it has always been in space, thus making it all the more hilariously weird.

[caption id="attachment_398467" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image By Bethesda[/caption]

DOOM RPG

Remember when Doom fans didn't like Doom 3 because it was slower, darker, and spookier? Well, there's an even weirder, blacker sheep in this series: Doom RPG.

For some bonkers reason, Id looked at the "meh" reaction DOOM 3 got and decided to further reduce the amount of action and make a game that was more Final Fantasy than Doom. To Id's credit, however, Doom RPG is pretty decent and was even pretty revolutionary in the mobile gaming scene, as it provided a fully-fledged campaign two years before the iPhone made mobile gaming go big. Did any of the things that you just read entice you to wait for an HD remaster? Well, good luck with that, since Id lost Doom RPG's source code.

[caption id="attachment_398464" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Maxis[/caption]

Darkspore

Remember Spore? At some point, it was totally going to be the best game ever made! Sadly, the most fun anyone ever ended up getting out of it came from the game’s extremely advanced creature creator—mostly because they got to create beings that looked awfully phallic.

The people at Maxis looked at the game's lukewarm reception and came to the natural conclusion anyone in the ‘00s would’ve arrived at: it just wasn’t gritty enough. To solve this, they came up with Darkspore, a game that ditched everything from the original except for the creature creator, and then made a gritty action game about a badass creature that went on to battle other gritty, less phallic creatures.

Darkspore wasn’t even bad, but I can’t help but laugh at the very obvious high-speed course correction that was at play here.

The post Here are some of the most bizarre games from otherwise popular franchises appeared first on Destructoid.

Pyramid Head, the main antagonist from the iconic Silent Hill 2, is not exactly what you would call "cute." However, there's always room for some adorableness, even in horror, and there's a plush toy of the monster that's being made available next year.

After the Credits, a company that specializes in video game and pop culture memorabilia, recently uploaded an image of the loveable-looking Pyramid Head. Despite the fact it still resembles the Silent Hill 2 villain, you can't help but coo at him in this context.

https://twitter.com/atc_experience/status/1686678228616859648

While the plush isn't available until January 4, 2024, you can pre-order one from the website, currently priced at €34.99 (about $38 US).

No sign of a James Sunderland plush, though

Of course, what a lot of you are waiting for–besides soft toy versions of demonic creatures–is the Silent Hill 2 remake. Helmed by Layers of Fear and The Medium studio, Bloober Team, there's a lot riding on whether a modern telling of this classic horror game will be a success.

The original 2001 release is such an influential part of the genre that any studio handling a remake will be up against a lot of pressure.

We're still not sure when it's coming out, though an Australian retailer did suggest it's due to release on September 29. Neither Konami nor the developer have confirmed this, so we can't say for certain whether this launch window is accurate.

All we know is there's plenty of Silent Hill 2 fans who are unsure whether Bloober has what it takes to do the source material justice. If not, at least there's the adorable version of Pyramid Head to ease the pain.

The post Silent Hill 2 goes all cute with this Pyramid Head plush appeared first on Destructoid.

From the mind that brought us Silent Hill

For all you horror fans out there, Bokeh Game Studio has uploaded a video diary for the upcoming Slitterhead. This is a brand-new psychological horror game from Keiichirō Toyama, better known as the creator of the first Silent Hill.

In this latest video, the developer gives a brief behind-the-scenes look at the tests that have been done on an early build of Slitterhead. In the footage, we are treated to a few details about the work done so far, which includes some brief glimpses from the game (keep in mind that it's still very much in early development).

https://youtu.be/XYrOO0SLUAI

As well as this sneak peek of the project, we're also told that the game will feature "unique mechanics," which have apparently gone down quite well with testers so far. What these mechanics actually are is a mystery. In fact, there's still not a huge amount known about Slitterhead, including when it's likely to release. Given that it's still in the early stages, it's probably going to be a while.

A new horror awaits

Bokeh Game Studio was founded in 2020 by Toyama after his departure from Sony. He also brought onboard Junya Okura and Kazunobu Sato, both of whom he worked with on the cult horror series Siren. Slitterhead will be the new team's maiden release.

Right now is an exciting time to be a horror fan. Whether it's remakes of classics or...well, okay, there are a lot of remakes at the moment. But the ones that have come about over the last few years have been pretty good.

There are also some great games on the indie scene, such as Iron Lung, not to mention the new Amnesia game has been scaring the pants off people. So the genre is very much alive, and a lot of you will be looking forward to what Bokeh has to offer, especially given it has the director of the OG Silent Hill at the helm.

The post Silent Hill creator’s horror game Slitterhead will have ‘unique mechanics,’ demos early footage appeared first on Destructoid.

But don't mark your calendars just yet

No doubt, plenty of you horror fans have been anticipating Bloober Team's upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2. Some of you will be excited, while some of you may be holding back judgment. In any case, it's on a lot of people's lips, and the game may have its release date already.

As spotted by Twitter user ResiEvilCentral, Australian website Gaming Gorilla has made Silent Hill 2 available for pre-order, at a cost of $89 AUS (about $60 US). However, the most interesting part about this listing is that it says the "expected release date" for the remake down as September 29, 2023.

Now, given that neither Konami nor the developer has said when it's likely to launch, where Gaming Gorilla got this information is definitely interesting. Last we heard, Bloober Team denied SH2 was ready for release. The fact that both Steam and the PlayStation Store also do not list a release date means this could well have been in error.

https://twitter.com/resievilcentral/status/1668311447212785692

Either that or someone somewhere has access to information the rest of aren't privy to. As of this moment, there is no official release date for the game, so it's entirely likely that this is just a rumor or someone has made a mistake. At the time of writing, the "leaked" release date is still on the retailer's website. However, it's best not to get your hopes up until the studio/publisher either confirm or deny these latest developments.

Silent Hill enjoys a pretty solid legacy, though it's been lying dormant for too long. The second installment, released in 2001, has gone down as one of the most important survival horror games of all time. Given this, it's not surprising that so many are looking forward to the remake. Whether Bloober Team can pull it off remains to be seen at this stage.

The post Retailer may have leaked Silent Hill 2 launch date appeared first on Destructoid.

You can't escape your past

It's a great day for horror fans, as Genvid Technologies and Behaviour Interactive have released a new trailer for Silent Hill: Ascension. Representing just one slice of the SH rejuvenation, this teaser gives a brief taste of things to come. Unlike the other projects, Ascension is going to be an interactive experience, produced in conjunction with J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robots. The fact that it's being co-developed by the Dead by Daylight team should intrigue a few people.

The trailer itself does suggest that the game may depart from what fans have come to love about the iconic, yet criminally dormant, survival horror series. That's not surprising, seeing as Ascension is pretty much a spin-off. However, the fact that you'll get to influence the story directly should be enough of a pull. In any case, some of you are probably still pinching yourself that Silent Hill is finally coming back.

https://youtu.be/hxBuL8lU3Bs

Not since 2012's Book of Memories has there been a new entry, so it was a pleasant shock when, in November 2022, Konami announced a multitude of games under the SH umbrella. While such projects as Silent Hill f, with its creepy Japanese flavor, and Townfall are ones to look out for, the one that's on everyone's watch list is the remake of the 2001 masterpiece Silent Hill 2. This reimagining is being helmed by Layers of Fear developer Bloober Team. Make of that what you will.

On top of games, there's also a new Silent Hill movie in production, which is being directed by Christophe Gans who did the 2006 adaptation. Essentially, it's all go for Konami's legendary horror series. Silent Hill: Ascension is currently in development, and is scheduled for release in 2023.

The post The new Silent Hill: Ascension trailer has creepy horror movie vibes appeared first on Destructoid.

Ranking the 10 best trips to our special place

Back in '99, video games beat even movies in discovering the best kind of horror comes from within our deepest resentments, not just from neat jumpscares. Team Silent is the name of the band of misfits responsible for creating Silent Hill. Still, despite continued critical success, Konami decided to pull the plug on Team Silent and began outsourcing the series to random companies after the fourth game. Let's first look at the series's predictably sad decline, then at its glory days.

[caption id="attachment_345848" align="alignnone" width="1201"] Image via Konami[/caption]

10. Silent Hill: Origins

Silent Hill: Origins belongs to a cursed batch of Silent Hill titles made after Konami decided that they didn't like making Silent Hill games anymore. If what you love about Silent Hill is its psychological horror, then you won't like this one. The biggest mind-scare we got out of Origins came prior to its release. It was when we learned that Konami outsourced a development team to create a prequel that "explained" aspects of Silent Hill.

Gameplay-wise, Origins fits the mold of a classic Silent Hill game, but it commits the unforgivable crime of trying to change aspects of pre-established and beloved lore. That's especially offensive since the outsourced newcomers behind this are messing with the work of a different team, the team responsible for creating Silent Hill in the first place.

Spoilers: Who would want to know that the Red Pyramid Thing, aka the Pyramid Head, aka one of the most iconic and meaningful monsters ever, isn't the projection of someone's extreme psychological trauma but rather just some monster created in a lab?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGQWKiSUpaY

Strengths: It kind of looks like the games we like, so it works for players who want to experience some nostalgia.

Weaknesses: It changes the established canon without at least adding to the gameplay as well.

[caption id="attachment_347676" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Konami[/caption]

9. Silent Hill: Book Of Memories

Gameplay-wise, Book Of Memories shows Silent Hill at its weirdest. Instead of the Resident Evil-inspired tank controls we know the series for, we get a more action-oriented isometric shooter. You could make the case that this is less Silent Hill and more Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light, but at least the developers cared enough to make something that fit the PlayStation Vita's more mobile style.

Strengths: It's an attempt at something fresh.

Weaknesses: Silent Hill really doesn't work as an action title. Out of all horror games, this is the one that should stay far away from guns-blazing shenanigans the most.

8. Silent Hill: Homecoming

Homecoming hits the same beats as Origins, but at least it isn't trying to reinvent the wheel by turning it into a square. It's yet another passable attempt to fit what we like about Silent Hill into a neat package, then sell it to hungry fans.

Strengths: It looks like Silent Hill, again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myeDeblTato

Weaknesses: The fog effects somehow don't look as good as they did even on the PS1. The characters are almost as unmemorable as "cap protagonist" from Origins. Also, you can accidentally get the UFO ending on your first run, resulting in a hilariously confusing conclusion to the story.

[caption id="attachment_76909" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Konami[/caption]

7. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Unlike Origins, a prequel that brings unsolicited changes to the series, Shattered Memories set out to reboot it all. We actually salute this bold approach. It works less as a retcon, and more like a reimagining that can coexist with the original vision.

Strengths: The developers fully revamped the gameplay to fit the Wii remote's playstyle and it works, for the most part.

Weaknesses: It feels too fast-paced at times. It's never as scary or as memorable as the original game. It replaces the fog with snow and that's just not as cool.

6. Silent Hill: Downpour

Downpour is easily the best post-Team Silent game in the series. While not exactly great on its own, it uses the strength of its setting to tell a new story without messing with the established world. It also adds some neat new gameplay mechanics and a few new areas that look good if your definition of good is sick and twisted.

Strengths: It tried to enrich Silent Hill with grand setpieces and its characters with moral choice mechanics. The Resident Evil 4-inspired over-the-shoulder cam works well here.

Weaknesses: The SAW-esque setpieces don't work with this game.

[caption id="attachment_260468" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Konami[/caption]

5. Silent Hill 4: The Room

Don't let the title fool you. The Room wasn't originally a sequel to Silent Hill 3. Konami developed both games more or less at the same time, relegating a much smaller team to the development of this game that ended up with the series' weight on its shoulders.

Unfortunately, Silent Hill 4 doesn't look or play as well as its "predecessor," but it also brings some cool stuff to the table. The game features a new story, probably courtesy of it gestating outside the franchise womb. It also introduces an awesome new central mechanic, one that entraps the player in his haunted apartment. The apartment serves as a hub world players will interact with in a first-person perspective to solve the mystery behind their imprisonment.

Strengths: The new 1st-person Hub Room rocks.

Weaknesses: It doesn't look as good as SH 3, nor do its areas feel as inspired. Its gameplay already felt outdated by release, and it got even worse a few months later when Resident Evil 4 changed the world of games.

[caption id="attachment_380788" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Screenshot by MobyGames[/caption]

4. Silent Hill 3

Silent Hill 2 delivered what some wanted the most, but not what most wanted.

Silent Hill 3 gives fans a direct sequel to the original game, one that still manages to avoid feeling overblown. It invites players to a less nuanced nightmare than SH2 but makes up for its narrative shortcomings with a lot of class. The game showed both the PS2 and Team Silent at the peak of their powers by delivering an unexpected contender for the title of the most beautiful game ever made.

Strengths: A horror game has never looked this beautiful — yes, even though it's from the PS2 era. The new main character is very likable and it features some of the coolest areas in the series.

Weaknesses: It doesn't try to hit the nerve that the series struck so well in the previous sequel.

3. Silent Hill

Silent Hill resulted from tasking a bunch of studio misfits to cash in on the survival horror craze started by Resident Evil. Nothing about it is short of a miracle. Its most iconic element, the fog that fully embraces the town? Merely the developers' way of hiding enough play area to make the game playable on PS1 hardware.

This is the game that changed everything, all the while swimming against all sorts of wicked tides. Out of nowhere, jumpscares began giving way to mood, atmosphere, and deeper horror that didn't even necessarily show up on the screen.

Strengths: The introduction of 3d environments and accompanying aesthetics, the sound, the mystery, and the ingenuity to turn the limitations of the PS1 into the game's strengths.

Weaknesses: The controls felt clunky at times, but one has to wonder if that hadn't been intentional all along.

[caption id="attachment_372562" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Konami[/caption]

2. P.T.

Ok, let us get a few things out of the way.

P.T., the playable teaser for the once-upcoming Silent Hills, isn't a full game. It's also not made by Team Silent, the people we'd really love to see helming the series. It doesn't even feature much gameplay, per se. Still, this nightmare by the mind of Hideo Kojima hit everyone so hard in 2014 that it completely reshaped the horror genre.

If Silent Hill owed its existence to the Resident Evil series, it more than paid off its debt by directly inspiring the Resident Evil renaissance we've been witnessing ever since the release of RE 7.

P.T. doesn't just take players to an endlessly repetitive corridor. It shows players how much horror it can fit into so little and invites them to imagine just how much it could have done with an entire town.

Strengths: You might never find a more immersive experience in horror.

Weaknesses: It's hard to play these days and we'll probably never get any more of it.

[caption id="attachment_253805" align="alignnone" width="1196"] Image via Konami[/caption]

1. Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 surpassed its predecessor because instead of expanding like most sequels do, it looked inward and took the game in a more deeply personal direction.

Though not a direct sequel, SH2 improves upon all the good seeds that the original had planted and tells one of the most engrossing tales in the history of gaming. Also, did we mention that those PS2 graphics used to look top-notch back in the day?

Strengths: The rare sequel that resists just making everything bigger and bloodier. Silent Hill 2 understood that to surpass SH1, it had to expand only when it came to character development. Ok, that's a lie. The game also looks much better than the first one.

Weaknesses: It set too high a standard for every other horror story that followed.

The post 10 best Silent Hill games, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Look as hot as The Nurse

In an interesting, but somewhat unnerving, piece of merchandising, Konami has announced that it will be teaming with make-up, erm, maker Vampyre Cosmetics in order to produce a line of cosmetic products based upon the Drop Dead Gorgeous world of *checks notes* Silent Hill.

While absolutely no images or even hints were offered up as to what the line of items will include, the comical nature of a Silent Hill cosmetics line writes itself, given the series drab, grim, and disgusting look. Are you expecting a palette of rusted metals, fog greys, and rotted flesh reds? I kid, of course, but it will genuinely be interesting to see how the grisly, depressing world of Silent Hill is reproduced in a beauty line. Vampyre Cosmetics, as the name suggests, is pretty sharp at adapting the darker side of make-up, so I'm looking forward to seeing what is eventually produced.

https://twitter.com/TeamSilentHill/status/1654521071326863360?s=20

This is, of course, a pretty big year for the missing-in-action survival horror franchise. As revealed during the Fall 2022 Silent Hill Transmission stream, there are currently multiple projects in production at Konami, including Christophe Gans’ live-action movie Return to Silent Hill, streaming series Silent Hill: Ascension, Annapurna spin-off Silent Hill: Townfall and, of course, Bloober Team's incoming remake of 2001 classic Silent Hill 2. So you can paint yourself up in the new line of Vampyre Cosmetics, and perhaps, if your make-up skills match mine, you can be the scariest thing in town.

Silent Hill 2 is currently in development for PS5 and PC.

The post Silent Hill is teaming with Vampyre Cosmetics for new… make-up line? appeared first on Destructoid.

Robbie is done with your Funko Pop shit

Merch-maker Numskull has announced the next statue in the company's Silent Hill range — And second in the lineup of nightmarish creatures and dream warriors comes a particular fan favorite, in the form of Silent Hill 3 protagonist Heather Mason.

The tortured and traumatized young hero — forced to step up and face her fears and her own destiny when trouble comes a'callin — is the latest release in Numskull's burgeoning range based on the skin-crawling Konami franchise. The PVC statue, which stands around 10 inches tall, depicts Ms. Mason in her classic casual clothing, packing heat and dramatically wiping a cut on her delicate face. Heather's base features a visual motif stylized after the Happy-go-Doomy locale of Lakeside Amusement Park, and is complete with an appearance by its creepy mascot, Robbie the Rabbit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA2SAU6KYDE&ab_channel=NumskullDesigns

Heather will make for a wonderful companion to Numskull's previously released Bubble Head Nurse statue, as dedicated Silent Hill fans slowly turn their lounge mantle into a menagerie of nightmares. What's next in the range? Who knows? But I'm sure hoping for a life-size, crazy-eyed Eileen head to block up my kitchen doorway. Wouldn't that be a fun conversation piece?

Whatever we get, Numskull's Silent Hill range is an attractive and (relatively) affordable way to pay tribute to one of horror gaming's most iconic franchises. For interested parties, the Silent Hill 3 Heather Mason statue is available to pre-order now over on the Numskull website, retailing for around £100 (or roughly $130 USD). The statue is expected to ship in September 2023.

The post Silent Hill 3’s Heather Mason is coming to gloom up your mantlepiece appeared first on Destructoid.

Returning to Silent Hill

The Return to Silent Hill has locked in its James and is ready to start filming. Christophe Gans' follow-up to his 2006 film is scheduled to start filming next month, via Deadline.

Konami revealed a ton of Silent Hill news at its special presentation last October. While there were many games, there was also confirmation that Gans would be returningto direct Return to Silent Hill, a follow-up to 2006's Silent Hill.

The sequel looks to be based on the game Silent Hill 2, with Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) cast as James. After being separated from his one true love played by Jigsaw's Hannah Emily Anderson, he'll head to Silent Hill in search of her. Of course, things don't really go as planned from there on out. Deadline's report doesn't specify, but I'm guessing that "one true love" will see Anderson portraying both Mary and Maria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_FOVN-UkEI

While there was a follow-up to 2006's Silent Hill released in 2012, subtitled Revelation, this new sequel marks Gans' return to the film series. Victor Hadida is producing, under Davis Films, alongside Hassell Free Productons' Molly Hassell and David Wulf.

According to Hadida (via Deadline), he and Gans have been working closely with Konami to create a version of Silent Hill "for the theatrical audiences of today." There will be "iconic" monsters, alongside new designs.

The Hills come to life

After a pretty lengthy silence on the series, Silent Hill has really sprung back into action. Last October's announcements locked in a slew of new productions alongside Return to Silent Hill. Bloober Team is currently working on a remake of Silent Hill 2, and two third-party studios are getting their own stabs at the series.

No Code and Annapurna are working on Silent Hill: Townfall, while NeoBards Entertainment is working on Silent Hill f, set in '60s Japan with Umineko author Ryukishi07 on board. There's a lot of Silent Hill in store, which still feels really strange to say.

The post Return to Silent Hill casts its leads, and will start filming next month appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm bad, and that's good

Heroes get a lot of love. The main character of a game is, by their very nature, the star of the show. But a great villain is often even more compelling than a great hero - everyone wants to save the world, but it takes a special soul to want to destroy it.

It's almost impossible to whittle a list of iconic video game villains down to just ten. It would be easy to simply point to the villains from games that sold really well, but that's not really what it means to be iconic. So I tried my hardest to compile a list of ten video game villains who are real icons; the ones who stand tall in the world of gaming, whose silhouettes are enough to send shivers down your spine.

[caption id="attachment_358899" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

10. Ridley - Metroid

The Metroid games have all sorts of great villains, but if you want to talk about iconography, Ridley's your guy. This nasty space dragon has done battle with Samus Aran on nearly every single one of her many adventures. To be fair, Samus has a pretty good reason to want Ridley dead: he killed her parents way back when.

Secretly, though, I think Samus got over that a while ago. She just wants to flex about beating the same alien pterodactyl like a dozen times.

[caption id="attachment_356767" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo[/caption]

9. Sephiroth - Final Fantasy VII

If you asked ten people who played Final Fantasy VII what Sephiroth's motive was, you'd probably only get three answers, and you'd be pretty lucky if one of them was correct. Honestly, it's hard to remember much about Sephiroth himself. He wears that really cool coat, he's got a huge sword, and he's a weirdly chill co-worker in Crisis Core, but that's about it. He's not even really the main villain of Final Fantasy VII Remake. So how does a character like that wind up on a "most iconic" list? Why does Sephiroth keep cropping up in Final Fantasy VII spinoffs and crossover events?

To answer that question, I'd like to give you a few instructions. First, I want you to open up a new tab on your computer. Now head on over to YouTube, and type in "One-Winged Angel Distant Worlds." Go ahead and click on any of the first three results. See? Iconic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVZVo2J53TM

8. Albert Wesker - Resident Evil

Looking at Albert Wesker now, it's kind of hard to believe that Resident Evil briefly tried to trick us into thinking he was a nice guy. See those sunglasses? Those are very evil sunglasses.

Wesker is such a classic villain. He meddles in things beyond his understanding, he gets arrogant about playing God, he throws his buddies under the bus. Even his death is incredible - how many guys can make it through multiple self-engineered zombie apocalypses just to get launched into a volcano by a missile explosion? Just one. And his name is Albert Wesker.

[caption id="attachment_358901" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

7. Dr. Wily - Mega Man

Speaking of guys who love to play God, who could forget Dr. Wily? This old weirdo has one of my favorite backstories in all of video games. He had a friend in college, his friend was smarter than him, so he got mad and moved to the ocean to build world-dominating robots. Who wouldn't?

Mega Man games are great on their own, but they're even better for their wrinkly antagonist and his stupid petty robo-army. Now, only one question remains: where is Dr. Wily?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTizJemHO8

6. Dracula - Castlevania

Maybe it's cheating to include Dracula on this list. I mean, he's Dracula. Of course he's iconic. But Castlevania's version of Dracula is a very specific take on the character, and one who's surely earned his place in the rankings. He's a frightening and sinister foe, and as if his long-standing anti-Belmont policy wasn't bad enough, he's also an awful father.

But, I mean, you've gotta give him credit for that dope line about miserable little piles of secrets. What a cool guy.

[caption id="attachment_358903" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Valve[/caption]

5. GLaDOS - Portal

I have a feeling that anyone who's ever heard a single line from GLaDOS would include her on this list. You don't need to have finished Portal, or even played very much of it, to appreciate GLaDOS.

Ellen McLain's performance as GLaDOS in the original Portal is one of the best pieces of video game voice-acting ever, and she delivers similarly impressive results in every other Portal project and crossover. She's so deliciously cruel to Chell, both as a demanding taskmaster and as a very rude friend, and the amazingly resentful songs that play over the credits of both Portal games only serve to cement her as one of gaming's greatest bad guys.

[caption id="attachment_358905" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Konami YouTube[/caption]

4. Pyramid Head - Silent Hill

..Sorry, Masahiro Ito.

[caption id="attachment_358906" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via The Pokémon Company YouTube[/caption]

3. Team Rocket - Pokémon

Team Rocket rules. Why does this organization of super-criminals have such a bone to pick with one random kid? Why is their plan for world domination centered entirely around children's sporting events? What, exactly, are they planning on doing once they've stolen all the most expensive pets in the world? How will that materially help them?

I don't know. But I'm glad they're out there trying, because I think they're very funny. They're also undeniably iconic. While they're only the main villains in two generations, they've been cropping up in remakes for years, and they even made a full reappearance as a secondary villain team in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

[caption id="attachment_358907" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via SEGA[/caption]

2. Dr. Eggman - Sonic the Hedgehog

You can call this guy "Dr. Robotnik" if you want, but he'll always be Dr. Eggman to me. He's a man who kinda looks like an egg. It just makes sense.

Ever since Dr. Eggman first started putting animals inside of robot suits, he's been one of the most ridiculous villains in the medium. That's fitting, given that his nemesis is a hedgehog who can move really quickly. There have been other Sonic villains, but I'd bet good money that you can't name three of them. Dr. Eggman, on the other hand, is a true icon. He's been given deeper characterization since his first appearance, but players have been enamored by this rotund rabbit trapper from minute one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03bAayBtcb0

1. Bowser - Super Mario Bros.

Was this spot ever going to belong to anyone else? Bowser, the big lizard who hates plumbers, is one of the greatest villains ever. He's also probably the only character on this list my grandpa would recognize, which is a huge argument in favor of his iconography.

Sure, Bowser has oscillated back and forth between "kidnapper" and "reluctant buddy," but at the end of the day, this guy can only be called a villain, and a very good one at that. Any dinosaur who can be a doting dad, a piece of paper, a tyrant king, a go-karting superstar, and Dennis Hopper is okay in my book.

The post 10 most iconic video game villains of all time, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

When will the fog clear..?

Top tier spoilers The Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee is at it again, this time fanning the flames of rumor on a mysterious and as-yet-unannounced title in the Silent Hill series. Silent Hill: The Short Message has been newly rated for PS5, following on from its previous rating in Korea back in September.

The curious element here is that The Short Message was not one of the titles listed during Konami's Silent Hill Transmission presentation, held by the studio back in October of this year. The live stream contained several new titles pertaining to games, films, and even an interactive streaming project, but "The Short Message" was not among them.

Perhaps this mysterious release pertains to a prologue demo — dare I say, a "Playable Teaser" — for one of the newly announced titles. Until Konami is ready to show its hand, we'll just have to wait and see.

Still, with Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake on the horizon, not to mention Silent Hill: Ascension, Silent Hill: Townfall, and period piece adventure Silent Hill: F, it seems that fans of fog and monsters have plenty of unholy horrors headed their way in the coming years. You better make sure your flashlight is well stocked up on batteries — and I don't mean that "50 for £1" deal from the local market.

The post Still-unannounced Silent Hill: The Short Message rated for PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Christophe Gans back behind the lens

Alongside the slew of new and old video games announced during yesterday's Silent Hill Transmission live stream, Konami also revealed the existence of a brand new movie, Return to Silent Hill.

The live-action horror title will be directed by Christophe Gans, who was behind the lens for the original 2006 Silent Hill film adaptation — considered by many to be one of the better game-to-movie adaptations. Speaking in a short promo reel, which you can check out below, Gans revealed that the new film will be based upon the plot of 2001 game Silent Hill 2 — which is itself a fan favorite among the franchise's dedicated community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_FOVN-UkEI

"This return is my return to a world, a universe I touched in 2006... 15 years ago," recalls Gans in the clip. "The film was a great success and we decided to go back to the best of these stories.... Silent Hill 2. The film tells the story of a young guy coming back to Silent Hill, where he has known a great love [but] what he's going to find is a pure nightmare."

Konami also took the opportunity to officially announce a remake of Silent Hill 2 itself, which will be headed up by the horror gaming heads of Bloober Team. In fact, it was also suggested that Return to Silent Hill is something of a catalyst for the various incoming gaming efforts, with Konami hoping that the new film will inspire players to dive back into the digital fog of the cursed town.

Return to Silent Hill will begin shooting in early 2023.

The post Return to Silent Hill is a new sequel to the cult 2006 movie appeared first on Destructoid.

Mysterious community-focused RPG

During yesterday's veritable banquet of Silent Hill news and reveals, Konami teased a mysterious new project that will see developers and fans party together to develop, alter, and shape the outcome of a story set within the traumatic, fog-filled town and its wider canon universe at large.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rflWSj_o3o&t

Coming across as something of a modern take on the Alternate Reality games of yore, Silent Hill: Ascension will task its users will following an original storyline and making choices and decisions that will be reflected in the movements, actions, and fates of its characters. As such, it is hoped that the community will be able to feel a part of a living and evolving Silent Hill storyline, responsible for shaping its protagonists and leading them to glory... or... well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgwqxUnj8_4

This ambitious project is the child of a party of well-known gaming and media studios, including Genvid, Bad Robot, Dj2 Entertainment, and Behavior Interactive — the horror aficionados behind the popular asymmetrical title Dead by Daylight. While details are a little sketchy at this early stage, Silent Hill: Ascension is certainly an intriguing prospect, looking to blend the themes of the popular survival horror series with the gameplay of a tabletop role-playing game and presented on modern streaming media.

Should this ambitious experiment prove successful, it is very easy for one to imagine other publishers embarking on similar projects with their own horror and adventure IPs.

Silent Hill: Ascension is currently in development with an estimated 2023 launch window.

The post Developers squad up for streaming RPG Silent Hill: Ascension appeared first on Destructoid.

A Silent Hill game written by Umineko author Ryukishi07

A brand-new Silent Hill game is on the way from an interesting set of collaborators. Today, Konami revealed Silent Hill f, a forthcoming game set in 1960's Japan.

This "beautiful yet horrifying" world has an intriguing lineup of developers. Neobards Entertainment is developing, alongside producer Motoi Okamoto and creature and character design by kera.

Ryukishi07, the pen name behind stories like Higurashi When They Cry and Umineko When They Cry, is writing Silent Hill f. His stories often have a good mix of both horror and mystery to them, which seem like a great fit for Silent Hill. And the trailer already makes a fantastic first impression.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPNXE_q4BdE

No more info was shared today, either on platforms or release timing. Also no indication what the "f" stands for. It's styled a bit like a musical forte, maybe?

Heading back to Silent Hill

This new game wasn't the only bit of Silent Hill news today. Konami also unveiled a Silent Hill 2 remake, in collaboration with The Medium studio Bloober Team.

Its third-party expansion doesn't just include Silent Hill f, either. NoCode, which made Stories Untold and Observation, is working on its own Silent Hill project, subtitled Townfall.

And Bad Robot is teaming with Genvid and a host of others for Silent Hill Ascension, an interactive experience that revolves around Silent Hill. We didn't get too much of an idea what that looks like, but the trailer definitely had a weird, live-stream horror vibe.

With all that, plus a new movie on the way, there is a surprising amount of Silent Hill suddenly on its way. You can watch the full livestream showcase and all the Silent Hill announcements here.

The post Silent Hill f looks like a creepy new story set in Japan appeared first on Destructoid.

Get hype for some brand new Silent Hill content

It's been ten years since Silent Hill fans have gotten any new content, but thanks to Konami's stream today that's focused on showcasing the future of the series, we have a ton to look forward to now. One of the exciting upcoming titles previewed during the stream is a new spin-off title made by Annapurna and award-winning studio No Code called Silent Hill: Townfall.

The teaser trailer opens with a mysterious voice on some kind of tape recorder that also features a screen showing some creepy images, as is the way of horror games. Unfortunately the trailer doesn't give us much info as to what the gameplay or story might look like, but tonally, it seems like it'll fit right in with the rest of the Silent Hill series.

https://youtu.be/oRvRWBQNrSI?t=1329

No Code creative director Jon McKellan then appeared to give fans a little more insight into what to expect from the game. He describes how playing the original Silent Hill game in 1999 made him a lifelong fan, and how that title has influenced the types of games his studio has created in their previous releases, Observation and Stories Untold.

"It's a real honor for us to bring a new title to this series that both respects the source material, but also does something a little different with it," McKellan said. "At No Code, we're all about weaving that [psychological horror] narrative and that experience into every aspect of our game design, our audio, our visuals, even our UI."

The studio doesn't have any more to share as of now, but it's exciting to just know that this game is happening at all. Given No Code's track record, especially with them working with Annapurna, I have some pretty high hopes that Silent Hill: Townfall will deliver both a terrifying and narratively fulfilling entry in the series.

The post Annapurna and No Code tease spooky new spin-off Silent Hill: Townfall appeared first on Destructoid.

The fog is lifting...

Later today, Konami will take to the digital stage for a special presentation focusing on future releases in the MIA horror series, Silent Hill — Bafflingly, however, the YouTube channel prepped for this afternoon's "Silent Hill Transmission" already contains code seemingly identifying several as-yet-unannounced entries.

Possible spoilers — direct from the developer itself, mind — follow.

Firstly, the YouTube channel description blurb includes a placeholder for "Silent Hill 2" on the PlayStation Store, suggesting a pre-order link for a potential remaster/remake. In addition, digging into the site's address bar and embed code has lifted the lid on an array of mysterious terms, all of which may or may not relate to one, or numerous, new entries. You wait years for a new Silent Hill etc... etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRvRWBQNrSI

Among the titles discovered in the embed code are "Silent Hill", "Silent Hill 2", "Silent Hill F", and "Silent Hill: Ascension". At a guess, this would suggest that Konami's stream may include the reveal of a brand new entry — Silent Hill: Ascension — as well as the announcement of the aforementioned remake/remaster of Silent Hill 2. The 2001 release is very much a fan-favorite in the series' spooky canon of releases and, as such, a prime candidate to make a grand return on modern platforms.

As for the identity of "Silent Hill F", this could just be a mere placeholder. I'm willing to bet that it stands for "Silent Hill: Frogger" — a sure thing given that Konami also owns that classic, road-crossing IP.

The truth will out this evening, when Konami finally takes to the airwaves for its Silent Hill Transmission stream. You can check out the news for yourself at 14:00 PT / 17:00 ET / 22:00 BST, and we'll be sure to bring you up to spend on all the gory details right here on Destructoid... Just try to look surprised, ok?

The post Silent Hill Transmission YouTube page seemingly leaks new titles appeared first on Destructoid.

Straight from the horse's mouth

Since the premature death of Silent Hills and the P.T. demo, we've seen a constant stream of supposed leaks and rumors about what will be the next Silent Hill game.  Plenty of people claim to have inside information, but this Wednesday, we'll hear it directly from the people who actually run the show.  Konami dropped word on Sunday that a Silent Hill Transmission will broadcast on October 19 and will feature "the latest updates for the Silent Hill series."

https://twitter.com/Konami/status/1581754864702398464

It's anybody's guess what we'll see in the show, but I'd put my money on Konami pulling back the curtain on that recently uncovered Silent Hill: The Short Message product listing.  Could The Short Message be a new game or a remake of one of the previous games in the series?  Is it that Abandoned game we've all stopped making fun of?  I used the Silent Hill: Shattered Memories key art in the banner image because Sam Barlow mentioned a follow-up to that masterpiece in the past.  And Masahiro Ito seems to be aware of it.  I guess as long as Konami isn't revealing a new pachinko machine, it should be worth tuning in for.

The Silent Hill franchise has been in purgatory for about a decade following the release of Downpour and Book of Memories in 2012.  Hideo Kojima famously tried to take the reigns of the franchise in 2014 with Silent Hills, but following a well-publicized fallout with Konami, he left the company and the project behind to form his own studio.  There have been many rumors of Kojima creating a Silent Hill game over at Kojima Productions, but there's not been anything concrete on that front.

Whatever it is, fans won't have to wait long. The Silent Hill Transmission is set for October 19 at 2:00 pm Pacific.

The post Konami set to reveal the latest on the Silent Hill series this Wednesday appeared first on Destructoid.

Short and Sweet

A little mystery to kick off your Monday morning: As spotted by Gematsu, that master spoiler, the Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea, has updated its website with a selection of brand new titles — among them is a new listing for something called Silent Hill: The Short Message.

Like many of these early listings, there is no further information pertaining to the title's platforms or release date, though publisher UNIANA, (which handles Konami titles in the Korean territories), is listed as the distributor. This mystery title will no doubt set Silent Hill fans' tongues wagging, given that we have been fed numerous rumors and whispers regarding a new sequel in the legendary horror franchise for well over a year now.

While there is most certainly the possibility that The Short Message could refer to a mobile title or some other spin-off, it is definitely high time that these long-running rumors finally paid off. Perhaps we will hear something official from Konami before the year is out — say at the December Game Awards show or similar. Either way, it's something new to bite into, so make sure you clean your fog lamps and change the batteries in your torch...

Something Wicked this way Comes...

The post Silent Hill: The Short Message listed by Korean ratings board appeared first on Destructoid.

Masahiro Ito clears up a Silent Hill misconception

Few horror series in games are as talked about or discussed as Silent Hill. And while there's plenty of fascinating material in them, Masahiro Ito would like to clarify one point in particular: that's snow, not ash, in Silent Hill.

Ito worked as a monster and background designer on the first Silent Hill, before going on to be art director for Silent Hill 2 and 3. You might wonder why, of all things, this clarification is important. Or maybe why it has to be clarified at all. For that, we'll need to take a trip through Silent Hill history.

In the original 1999 game, white dots pepper the sky outside. There is a clear moment in game where, in dialogue, the characters address that it's snowing outside. Ito posted the exact screenshot, saying he's "tired of saying that tbh." Which is understandable, as he's had to clear this up before now, too.

https://twitter.com/adsk4/status/1549489416208785408

Movie magic

So why is there a misconception at all? Well, Silent Hill would later be adapted into a film. This movie, which premiered in 2006, took some liberties with the source material. It combined pieces of several Silent Hill games, including Silent Hill 2's notorious Pyramid Head.

The film also took inspiration from real life. Reports from the time indicate screenwriter Roger Avary took inspiration from the real-life town of Centralia, Pennsylvania. A fire lit up an underground coal vein in Centralia, creating a danger zone and leaving a ghost town behind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q95d00fDQk

All this is to say, the town in the Silent Hill film was affected by smoke and ash due to a coal seam fire. And somehow this inspiration trickled downstream into the public knowledge subconscious and became a repeated misconception that Ito is clearing up.

"Many people still claim that the town of the SH1 (not the film but the original game) was inspired by Centralia and they boast the headcanon is the canon," Ito writes. "They persistently question me as to the inspiration. This is the reason for this tweet. I just tweeted the truth."

The real Silent Hill

ResetEra user Darkknight2149 compiled an exhaustive topic on this, diving into the refutations, and not just from Ito. There are additional screenshots confirming it's snow in Silent Hill, and even quotes from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama about the game's inspiration.

In an archived version of a 1999 interview with Toyama from PSM #19, he actively refutes it being based on a real U.S. town.

PSM: Why did you choose a small US town for the setting of the game? Is there a real Silent Hill?

Toyama: If you like modern horror novels, it would be easy to understand, but it's the situation that you can't miss. In this game, the modern horror novel atmosphere was the hook, so we decided to choose a small U.S. town for the setting. Of course, Silent Hill really does not exist, and we have not allocated a certain place or time in the game. We deliberately did not use an actual place, since it might cause inconsistency with the real thing. However, with the name Silent Hill, we got a hint from a real place in Japan.

So, please listen to the designer and artist that worked on the project, and please remember: it's snow, not ash.

The post Silent Hill designer clarifies that it’s snow, not ash, in Silent Hill appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello, Nurse

Are you bored of sleeping? If so, then have I got the bedroom decoration for you. Merchandiser Numskull Games has revealed images of its "Bubble Head Nurse" statue, the first in a new line of terrifying figurines styled after the nightmarish creatures of Konami's horror classic Silent Hill 2.

Officially licensed by Konami and crafted by the Numskull Designs team, the sinister/sexy healthcare assistant stands around nine inches in height and is dynamically posed in all of her corridor-stalking glory. The Nurse is accompanied by a ramshackle surgical trolley and is ready to dish out some blunt force trauma with her trusty, rusty pipe. The statue has been polished with hand-painted features in order to ensure that the little details stand out. When they say there is beauty in chaos... it's her.

If you fancy inviting the Bubble Head Nurse home to your mantlepiece, then you'll be pleased to hear that pre-orders for the Silent Hill 2 statue are now live over at the Numskull website and its partnered retailers. Nursey retails for $99.99 USD / $89.99 GBP, (not including shipping), and is expected to release around early fall 2022. Imagine her sitting beside another Numskull horror game statue: the Licker from Resident Evil.

Nurse, the screams.

https://youtu.be/IbXJyf_BXJI

The post Bubble Head Nurse leads Numskull’s new line of Silent Hill statues appeared first on Destructoid.

Give me the melodrama

Melting candles, dark, cobwebbed corners, crimson blood stained on white lace — aesthetically, gothic horror is one of my favorite genres out there. Staples of gothic horror include anything as broad as a suspenseful, mysterious atmosphere, prophecies, and intense emotion, to the specifics of a castle setting, a damsel in distress, and stormy weather, just to name a few.

Before gothic horror became a whole aesthetic, inspiring media from every form, it had its humble beginnings in literature. The genre originally got its start from a short story called The Castle of Otranto, which was subtitled A Gothic Story. From there, we got the classics like Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, just to name a few.

The number of games that fall neatly into the gothic horror genre is surprisingly and disappointingly small. In the mainstream, the only games I can think of that fit into this category are Bloodborne, Darkest Dungeon, Castlevania, and Vampire: The Masquerade. I bet there are some smaller indie games that are up to snuff, but they're not well-known enough to really solidify gothic horror's place in the mainstream gaming market. I'm not even sure that that last one entirely counts, because it was a tabletop game first.

There are plenty of games out there that are tangential to the true vein of gothic horror like the Diablo series, which I'd consider to be more of a gothic-fantasy hybrid. Then you have beloved series like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, both of which I would say borrow from gothic horror, but the distinction there is that those games are more aligned with eastern horror conventions, while gothic horror relies more heavily on western tropes and imagery. I would argue that games like Kentucky Route Zero, Alan Wake, and the yet-to-be-released NORCO do a great job of representing the American gothic subgenre.

There's even a game like Dream Daddy, where the eccentric romanceable NPC Damien became a fan-favorite representation of a gothic vampire. To me, he's a great example of how gothic horror can integrate well into today's pop culture, which is honestly a really cool idea and something I want to see more of.

Maybe I'm splitting hairs here, and maybe this whole conversation seems pointless to you, but as someone who is incredibly fond of the aesthetic associated with gothic horror, I think we're really missing out on some cool games here. While horror is part of the name, gothic horror isn't outright about scaring the crap out of you — instead, it often dives deep into topics of mortality, despair, and regret, and so on, which makes it rife with potential to tell really compelling, albeit dark, stories within a highly stylized framework.

I want to see a community sim inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, where you manage a cursed old home as the last surviving member of a once prestigious family. I want a dating sim with dark, mysterious suitors inspired by the likes of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. I guess you can just file this article into my ever-growing category of trying to manifest my gaming fantasies. At the end of the day, I see a whole lot of unused potential, and I want to start a conversation about the hypothetical games of my dreams that I could be playing this Halloween.

Story Beat is a weekly column discussing anything and everything to do with storytelling in video games.

The post Where are all the gothic horror games? appeared first on Destructoid.

The company is apparently ramping up its premium game production

Konami might be working on reviving some of its big franchises. A new report from VGC says that Konami is ramping up development on new projects within the Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Silent Hill series, including a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

According to VGC's sources, the first of Konami's new projects will be a new Castlevania game described as a "reimagining" of the series. It's reportedly in internal development at Konami, with support from local external studios.

Virtuos, which has supported work on a number of games including Horizon Zero Dawn and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, is also reported to be working on a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. In Eurogamer's writeup of the news, their sources suggest Konami has been considering a new version of Metal Gear Solid 3 "for some time."

VGC also reports that multiple Silent Hill games are currently in development at various studios, reiterating a report from earlier this year. Speculation at the time pointed to horror game developer Bloober Team, though VGC's report was unable to confirm it.

Konami's recently renewed game output has been interesting to watch unfold. The publisher did recently release the Castlevania Advance Collection, bringing some beloved games forward to new platforms. (And doing it pretty well too, it seems.)

But its recent launch of eFootball 2022, the successor to the PES series of soccer titles, has been pretty rocky. I'm sure fans are pretty interested in seeing some of these series return in some form or another, and this report will definitely stoke those flames a bit more.

The post Konami reportedly working on games in Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Silent Hill franchises appeared first on Destructoid.

Horror studio to work on 'existing and new IPs'

Konami has officially announced that it has entered into a working relationship with Bloober Team. The "strategic co-operation agreement" will see publisher and developer work together on a series of upcoming new titles, adding further weight to the ongoing rumor that Bloober Team is in line to resurrect the Silent Hill franchise.

"It is a historic day for me and the culmination of several years of our work," said Bloober CEO Piotr Babieno in a joint press release. "The fact that such a renowned company as Konami has decided to strategically cooperate with the Bloober Team means that we also joined the world leaders in gaming and became an equal partner for the leading players in this market."

Konami also noted its excitement. "In the digital entertainment industry, significant changes in the business environment are expected in the future," said company president Hideki Hayakawa. "We look forward to combining Bloober Team’s and our respective characteristics and strengths to create high-quality contents." Bloober is expected to work alongside Konami on various releases from new and established IPs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MblQtLXL1to

It has been full steam ahead for Bloober Team in recent years, with the studio carving out a niche for itself within the horror genre. Having beavered away on the indie scene since the mid-'00s, Bloober came into its own with creepy Layers of Fear titles, which would lead to the 2019 development of Blair Witch for Lionsgate Games and the studio's biggest and most ambitious release to date, The Medium, which launched on PC and Xbox Series X back in January.

This new partnership with Konami, (which for full clarification is not a merger, nor an acquisition), should allow Bloober Team to retain its independence and identity while offering it new avenues with which to create its nightmarish adventures on the main stage.

While Silent Hill has remained frustratingly dormant for many moons, Konami's partnership with Bloober offers the best opportunity yet for the respected survival horror series to make a comeback. Given Bloober's love of psychological horror, it would be ridiculous for Konami to squander the opportunity... again.

The post Konami and Bloober Team announce ‘strategic partnership’ amid Silent Hill rumors appeared first on Destructoid.

Pyramid Shred

Konami has a new Silent Hill update for fans. No, it's not a new entry in the long-dormant survival horror series, but a new piece of merch in the form of a limited edition skateboard — just like the one famously ridden by James Sunderland in 2001's Silent Hill 2.

The new deck features a slick black-and-red design, along with a pop-art sketch of everyone's favorite Silent Hill babe, the Brookhaven Hospital Nurse. The board will be available in two distinct styles: one featuring more subdued coloring, with the other choosing a more Day-Glo palette of yellows, pinks, and blues to match your Bermuda shorts. Ay Carumba!!

(Note: I'm aware skateboarding is a contemporary sport, and I actually like the deck design here. I'm just continuously boggled by Konami's decision to promote everything about Silent Hill aside from the games themselves.)

In addition to the skateboard, a selection of Silent Hill shirts, baseball caps, and cushions will also be headed to the Official Konami Store. All of these items will go on sale June 23 at 16:00PT / 19:00 ET / 00:00 BST. The skateboards are limited edition and only available while stocks last, so be sure to be there at the jump if you want to put your name down for one. No price for any of the items has been revealed.

As for a new Silent Hill game? Well, there was no word at E3 last week, sadly, but rumors and whispers continue that the horror aficionados at Bloober Team have been working with a "famous gaming publisher" and might have something under its dark sleeve.

The post You want a new Silent Hill? Have a skateboard instead! Cowabunga, man! appeared first on Destructoid.

Meanwhile, the wait for an actual sequel continues

As Silent Hill fans solemnly await news of a brand new release in the survival horror series, Konami continues to sub-license the brand out to other franchises. The latest horror title to step into the fog in Glowstick Entertainment's Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals, which will be joined by some recognizable faces, (well, for those that have faces), tomorrow.

Among the Silent Hill stars joining in Dark Deception multiplayer party action are Silent Hill's Cybil Bennett, Silent Hill 3's Heather Mason, The Nurse, Pyramid Head, and even the survival horror franchise's comical mascot Robbie the Rabbit. Glowstick Entertainment has humbly spoken of its excitement to be involved with such a major gaming brand.

"It's highly unusual for a small indie team like Glowstick Entertainment to obtain an IP as big as Silent Hill," admitted the developer candidly. "We are extremely proud to have worked on it and we owe the opportunity to the success of Dark Deception and the passion of the Dark Deception community!"

"That said, this is a huge test for the Monsters & Mortals community," continued Glowstick. "If the Silent Hill downloadable content sells well, downloadable content for other big AAA IP become a strong possibility. We definitely cannot do it without your help. So if you own Monsters & Mortals, but are on the fence as to which downloadable content to buy, this is definitely the one to get. Wishlist the game now and help spread the word! Get ready for Heather, Cybil, Robbie, Nurse, and Red Pyramid Thing to join the madness!"

This is definitely quite a coup for Dark Deception, one which certainly raises the stock of the niche brand, so kudos to Glowstick Entertainment. As for Silent Hill proper? Well, while its heroes and villains have been making frequent appearances in multiple universe's it seems that the wait for that long-awaited new sequel continues.

The post Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals gets new Silent Hill content tomorrow appeared first on Destructoid.

Separately, Bloober Team says it has spent over a year with 'another horror IP' from a 'famous gaming publisher'

Rumors are circulating that Konami is finally doing something significant again with Silent Hill.

While the forsaken series has drawn will-they-won't-they speculation for years, it's hard not to daydream about what could and should be, no matter how many rumors fail to materialize. The latest word, from VGC, suggests Konami has turned to external partners to help revitalize Silent Hill.

The outlet heard from sources that a Supermassive pitch didn't move forward, and that Konami has "outsourced a Silent Hill project to a prominent Japanese developer, with a reveal due this summer."

(The author noted on Twitter that it's not Kojima Productions – a frequent guess – and added that Konami is eying externally-developed Metal Gear Solid and Castlevania projects further out.)

On a separate but (maybe) related note, potentially suggesting that there could be more than one modern interpretation of Silent Hill, speculation has come out of a GamesIndustry.biz interview with Bloober Team CEO Peter Babieno, in which he commented on the studio's next horror game.

Babieno says they've "been working for more than a year on another gaming project, another horror IP, and we're doing this with a very famous gaming publisher. I can't tell you who. I can't tell you what the project is, but I'm pretty sure when people realize we're working on it, they will be very excited."

It's a long shot, but I can picture the creator of Layers of Fear, Blair Witch, and The Medium partnering with Konami for a new take on Silent Hill, particularly with the way the publisher has been lending the brand out to contemporary multiplayer horror games like Dead by Daylight and Monsters & Mortals.

That willingness to license tells me anything could be on the table – that it's just a matter of time. If all else fails and Silent Hill fans feel burned again, at least we've got Keiichiro Toyama's Bokeh Game Studio.

Bloober Team hints it could be working on Silent Hill... but it's not the only one [VGC]
Bloober Team adding action to its psychological horror focus [GamesIndustry.biz]

The post Silent Hill might finally get a proper comeback thanks to a ‘prominent Japanese developer’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Let me just put my face on

Keiichiro Toyama has released a new video that which sees the Silent Hill creator reflecting on his storied career, while quietly teasing the mystery title currently in development at his new company, Bokeh Game Studio. In the video, Toyama candidly discusses the thematic concepts that drive the creator's body of work, while also showcasing some delightfully grim concept art for the as-yet-unannounced game.

"The view I have of horror is the everyday life being shaken," says Toyama in the video. "Rather than showing scary things, it should question our position, make us challenge the fact that we're living peacefully. I like bringing [these] thoughts in my concepts... I would like that to be the theme of my next game."

Toyama worked with SCE Japan for 20 years, before departing at the end of 2020 to form Bokeh Game Studio, where he has since been joined by other industry visionaries as Gravity Rush designer Junya Okura and The Last Guardian producer Kazunobu Sato. The synergy of Bokeh shouldn't be in any doubt, not only given the veteran nature of its staff, but the team's previous history of working together on multiple major releases.

"I founded Bokeh Game Studio to keep making games in my own style," Toyama tells us. "Games have become bigger and bigger these past few years. The audience has become wider, especially for Sony, where I was... However, rather than reaching the widest audience possible, my games choose their audience, in a way. As I want to keep achieving this under the right conditions, I thought that it was a necessity to have my own studio."

The gentle, introspective nature of Toyama is oddly juxtaposed against the bizarre concept art on display, which includes some strange insect-style monsters and a nightmarish "opening" face. We probably still have quite a wait ahead of us before Toyama and Bokeh are ready to unveil their debut title, but fans can rest assured it will likely feature the same penchant for weird worlds, creative characters, and strange otherworldly beings that are its master's trademark.

The post Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama teases mystery project with skin-crawling artwork appeared first on Destructoid.

If that's outside your wheelhouse, you're not alone

[Update: The Silent Hill chapter for Monsters & Mortals will be out on February 24, and the DLC includes several familiar faces: Heather, Cybil, Robbie the Rabbit, the Nurse, and of course, Pyramid Head.]

Silent Hill is reaching new audiences with crossover DLC in multiplayer horror games, and the longer this goes on, the more impatient fans will become. I hope it's all building to something more substantial.

Konami's next cross-game collaboration for Silent Hill is with Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals, a maze-chase horror game on Steam that's popular in the Let's Play circuit. This afternoon, Glowstick Entertainment shared a teaser video with audio and visuals plucked from the hibernating horror giant.

"The new Silent Hill guest DLC will arrive in February 2021," according to the developer. Funny enough, the just-delayed Dark Deception Chapter 4 will feature "Lucky the Rabbit" and "Reaper Nurses." Fitting.

Dead by Daylight's tie-in with Pyramid Head made a certain sense to me – that game has a widely-established reputation for partnering with horror icons – but I'll admit it, this one feels out of left field. On that note, Glowstick has "more big mystery additions coming to Monsters & Mortals after Silent Hill."

It's a mega-weird time to be into this series. We might need to hug it out with Splinter Cell fans.

The post (Update) Silent Hill’s next DLC team-up is with Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals appeared first on Destructoid.

'We are developing with PC as the lead platform, but we hope to release the game on as many console platforms as possible'

Keiichiro Toyama of Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush fame has a newly-formed studio and his team is working on a game with horror elements that should speak to "fans of [his] previous work."

Elaborating on what we already learned about Bokeh Game Studio's first project, Toyama told IGN that the "action-adventure game" they're making is "horror-oriented" but the developers "will focus on making this a broader entertainment experience, rather than a hardcore horror game."

Some of the body-horror concept art we've seen looks gnarly – as in, arguably too grisly for a "broader" audience – so I'm curious to see what this game's tone is like. There will apparently be "battles."

Bokeh Game Studio is "entering prototype development" and tentatively expects to launch "in about three years from now," according to producer Kazunobu Sato. "We are developing with PC as the lead platform, but we hope to release the game on as many console platforms as possible," added Toyama.

It's bittersweet to see high-profile creators like this strike out on their own after creating fan-favorite series that are no longer getting the corporate backing they deserve. We're rooting for Bokeh.

Silent Hill and Gravity Rush Creator's New Project Will Be a Horror Action-Adventure Game, Aiming for 2023 [IGN]

The post We won’t get to play the new horror game from Silent Hill’s Toyama until at least 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

The lengths Konami will go...

Konami has already gone to great lengths to scrub P.T. from existence, that much is well-documented. Following the cancelation of Silent Hills, P.T. was abruptly pulled from the PlayStation Store and unable to be downloaded ever again. The only way to play P.T. was to already have it on your PS4's hard drive.

Now, Konami has made sure the beloved playable teaser's ghosts remain in the past. After some will it/won't it discussion over P.T. living on through PS5 backward compatibility, it seems as though Konami has delivered the coup de grâce.

Polygon reports that P.T. can't be transferred from a PS4 to the PS5's SSD storage. Because of this, it's not supported through backward compatibility.

Here's what's weird though: Polygon also reports that P.T. worked on the PS5 at one point. In late October, Polygon did a data transfer and played P.T. from the beginning. It was perfectly playable. However, after a factory reset, the transfer couldn't be initiated again. The functionality was removed sometime in the few days leading up to this morning's PS5 review embargo.

Sony points the finger at Konami and calls this "a publisher's decision." Konami had told us in the past that P.T. wouldn't work on PS5, but the logic behind that statement seemed shaky. Konami said that P.T. wasn't PS5-compatible because you could no longer download it from the PlayStation Store. We had already known that. It seemed to reason that anyone who simply transferred the files would be all set.

Not so, and it's entirely because Konami is hellbent on making sure P.T. dies. At this point, it's probably best to not even try the transfer just in case something happens to the file on your PS4. Someone needs to preserve history because Konami's actively trying to erase it.

P.T. is not playable on PlayStation 5 [Polygon]

The post Wow, Konami actually killed P.T. on PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.