Silent Hill 8: Downpour subtitle and details revealed

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Silent Hill 8: Downpour gameplay screenshot (Xbox 360, PS3)
Silent Hill: Downpour has been announced as the official title of Silent Hill 8, the next major game in Konami’s long-running survival horror series.

The game features an all-new storyline, all-new look, and all-new protagonist. This time you play as Murphy Pendleton, a convict who gets stranded in the mysterious town of Silent Hill when his prison transport vehicle crashes. Unlike past games, combat will take an even bigger backseat in Silent Hill 8 and Murphy comes into his experience with the horrific creatures that prowl Silent Hill with no weapons to speak of; although he will be able to defend himself with everyday items he encounters that he can pick up and use (fleeing is a viable and often preferred option too).

Puzzles will be a large focus as always, and will change depending on the playstyle of the player. Much more information will be revealed in this months Game Informer, which features Silent Hill: Downpour as the coverstory.

Here are some additional new details on Silent Hill: Downpour:

  • The game will include a vast town to explore.
  • The town is easier to navigate than past towns due to a subway system for quicker travel to outskirts.
  • Southeastern areas of Silent Hill explorable for first time.
  • The demo area explored didn’t include a hospital or school; wouldn’t be surprising if they are in the game though.
  • Various side-quests will be available.
  • All fights can be avoided.
  • Like in Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, combat can be entirely avoided.
  • There is no weapon inventory. Weapons are weak, enemies are strong, and weapons will break and weaken with use.
  • One revealed weapon is an axe.
  • Boss battles will use Quick Time Events, where you need to time button presses to survive.
  • You cannot escape boss battles.
  • Water will be a central element in the game.
  • Like snow was in Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, water will play an important role in the game’s theme and puzzles, most likely.
  • One area showcased an upside down river with water falling from the roof.
  • Puzzle difficulty can be changed to make the puzzles easier or harder like in some past games.

    • Here is a developer diary on Silent Hill: Downpour that sheds more light on the upcoming title. It will be released for Xbox 360 and PS3.