Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is amazing.

[Weltall]

The PS2 version was quite underwhelming. It's obvious that it's a port, and that little effort was put into it. There are constant graphical glitches, the framerate slows considerably when the flashlight is on, and the quality of textures is terrifically inconsistent (considering how often you have to read signs on the wall, this is important). I shudder to think how the PSP version looks and plays (and why they even bothered with the PSP).

As far as how Silent Hill fans have reacted, they have separated into two groups. One (the smaller) despises it for various reasons. The stupid ones hate it because it's not Silent Hill 1. More plausible gripes have to do with the game being extremely easy and short. As I said: judged merely on the merit of being a video game, this one can be tough to appreciate.

The majority seem to view it favorably, though, and this is nothing short of amazing considering that the last three Silent Hills have broken the fanbase into pieces. It is an amazing story, and what's more, not just the details but the story itself changes fundamentally based upon certain things you do and say. I've beaten it twice so far, and both have given me extremely different Harry Masons. What's more, when you look closely at everything going on, you're going to see how almost every detail in a game loaded with details turns out to either be important or at least indicative.

It's odd because gameplay is limited almost entirely to interactivity outside of the Nightmare sequences, yet this story could not be effectively told in any kind of passive medium. The interactivity is vital.

If you want me to sum up my opinion, take this for what you will: I'm trying hard to figure out whether or not this is my favorite Silent Hill. I've been playing the games for ten years, I'm a huge, obsessive, hardcore fan, and this isn't a question I've had to ask myself since 2001.

So, yes: I love this game!