Something 'Homecoming' taken from 'The Room': the dramaturgical combination of action to Silent Hill is not at first obvious. It tells of the soldier Alex Shephard, who was wounded in combat and then discharged from active duty and in his home, the thriving town of Shephard's Glen, returned. Upon his arrival, however, he had to realize that a lot has changed. The city is run down, the streets deserted. When at home, he finds his mother to leave before, which seems to be completely absent. He learns that in Shephard's Glen for several weeks every day people disappear - among the missing persons also Alex's father and his brother, Josh. Even residents claim to have seen strange creatures in the fog ...
'Silent Hill: Homecoming' was, as already developed the spin-off 'Origins', not by Team Silent, but handed over to the American developer Double Helix Games, of a distinct stamp imprinted on his work. This is already in the history clear: Although, this still wonderfully unpredictable twists and enough mystery thrill to keep the player at the bar, but it is much less profound and subtle than that of a 'Silent Hill 2'. The same applies to the horror factor of the title.
'Homecoming' suffers namely an attenuated form of the 'Resident Evil 4' syndrome and exchanges mystery and horror against opponents droves and a stronger focus on action. Fäll this on especially in the puzzles: they are so simple that they could cope with a toddler easily, which is why adventure Cracks of 'Homecoming' probably feel challenged. Throws a game the solution is not directly in front of the nose, it usually comes quickly behind when you look around in first-person view and a little combined. More effort gave the new developer when fully revised combat system.
Unbelievable but true: the direct confrontation with the enemy can be fun in a survival horror game! Unlike all previous protagonists of the series Alex is not a lowbrow civilian, but a trained soldier, so he with most monsters - as soon as one has internalized the changing combat system - makes short work. Also, Alex, he has one of the bizarre creatures that roam the bleak game world, sufficiently weakened, this up with a bloody finisher finished off. In this sense must be applied vigorously arrived, anyway, see you weaker foes. For harder chunks you can simply speak the firearm. From just these, there are, however, not many, and for the existing can be very, very limited carry ammunition. Given the liquid melee system, the use of firearms is but rarely needed so they can be saved for the giant bosses.
The most serious problem of reorientation of 'Homecoming' is, as already indicated, the horror factor. In the past, horror pabulum of 'Resident Evil' clones did to' Silent Hill 'in Survival thus shows that less Geisterbahn- and more psychological horror influenced the gameplay. Most time on happened in the classic 'Silent Hill' titles absolutely nothing. The rushing pocket radio, which is also in 'Homecoming' back again, although signaled regularly the presence of monsters, really surprising one was hardly attacked - it was the idea of what might be lurking in the mist and the dark, the constant voltage arc upheld. Also unpredictable were the types of monsters - 'Silent Hill' was characterized by always extremely macabre opponent design of which varied from part to part, since in principle were the fears or desires of the protagonists of the deformed creature model. The horror of Silent Hill played less on the screen, as in the minds of players from what the series made unique in their genre. This feature has been sacrificed in order to emulate the successful competition from Capcom. The result falls better than expected, but does not possess precisely the charm of its predecessor.
In addition, 'Homecoming' unusually brutal. Apparently it was decided, to be replaced by subtle horror blood - which is reason enough for the USK, was the original version of the game to deny the labeling, why Konami facilitated the German version to some particularly explicit scenes. Although I take care not to disturb me to violence in video games, need a title with the caliber of 'Silent Hill' is actually no such inexpensive practices to polarize around - you'd think.
The technical presentation of 'Homecoming' is mixed. The graphics are okay, unfortunately adorn numerous clipping errors, the level and in view of the fact that it is usually either foggy or dark, would graphically need to offer much more. The characters and environments are animated nicely, act ultimately however too little plastic, but do not have the details. Quite a disappointment are the lighting effects, one of the great strengths of the previous graphic. They are not strong enough and not very realistic. A real highlight, however, is once more coming from the pen of Akira Yamaoka soundtrack that manages a lot to revive the classic 'Silent Hill' game feeling.
'Silent Hill: Homecoming' is by no means so failed, as it was shown by the press. Double Helix Games created a solid horror-adventure with numerous borrowings from rivals such as 'Alone in the Dark', 'Dead Space' and, of course, 'Resident Evil 4'. Unfortunately, the new developer was the credo of the saga not too faithful, which is why the atmosphere of 'Homecoming' Although convincing, with that of his predecessors but this is not comparable. A title that you can play, in the light of alternatives such as the above-mentioned 'Dead Space' but does not have to have played as long as you're not a fan of the franchise.
