Silent Hill: Origins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game.
It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as more information becomes available.

Silent Hill: 0rigins

Developer(s)	Konami Climax Studios
Publisher(s)	Konami
Release date(s)	^NA Q3 2007
Genre(s)	Survival Horror
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Rating Pending (RP)
Platform(s)	PlayStation Portable
Media	UMD

Silent Hill: 0rigins (working title) is to be the latest installment in the popular survival horror series, developed and published by Konami. It is scheduled to be released during the fourth quarter of 2007 in North America on the Sony PlayStation Portable. The title was officially announced at E3 2006 on May 9. The title will be the fifth installment of - and prequel to - the previous titles in the series. Akira Yamaoka has returned to compose an original score for the title. Unlike its predecessor titles, Team Silent will have no involvement in the game's development. The game is being developed by UK developer Climax Development Ltd.

1 Known information
2 Production history
- 2.1 Silent Hill: Original Sin
3 Notes
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Known information

Plot

Travis O'Grady is a solitary truck driver who becomes trapped in the terrifying town of Silent Hill while making a routine delivery. He quickly discovers the town and its inhabitants are not entirely normal. To complicate matters further, Grady is confronted by crippling memories from his troubled past. He must escape from Silent Hill while resolving the memories that have plagued him since childhood. 0rigins is to be prequel to the series and the game's narrative is to reveal the backstory behind the transformation of Silent Hill. The title will also introduce several new characters into the franchise.

Gameplay

Silent Hill: 0rigins will feature fresh elements, such as an enhanced third-person camera system, designed to add a sense of isolation and anxiety to gameplay. It was inspired by the gameplay of Resident Evil 4 although, according to the producer of the game, "we're not going FPS." Konami has supposedly stated that familiar characters, such as Dahlia and Alessa Gillespie and Dr. Michael Kaufmann, among others from later chronological installments, will return.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, a magazine scan from silenthillorigins.com features Alchemilla Hospital, suggesting that the title, or at least part of it, will take place in the same region featured in the original Silent Hill title. An interview with the game's producer, William Oertel, at Eurogamer.net, has revealed additional information regarding the forthcoming title. He elaborates on the type of game fans of the series can expect, stating: "We recognised that Silent Hill 2 was great in going into the psychological aspects, and we really want to imbue that in 0rigins too." Silent Hill: 0rigins is expected to tie together several of the series' more obscure plot elements and bring the bigger picture into perspective, but by no means will it answer every question and solve every mystery. It was estimated by the producer that a third of the game would be spent in familiar locations, with two thirds in new locations, such as an asylum and butcher's store. However, Oertel stated that it is also "too early for estimates" on the length of the title.

Source: Eurogamer interview with William Oertel

[edit] Production history

Prior to the theatrical release of the movie adaptation based on the first installment of the series, an interview with Christophe Gans in Fangoria magazine revealed that Team Silent was apparently planning to remake the first Silent Hill release "for the near future" on the PlayStation Portable system. It would apparently feature the film's main character and protagonist, Rose DaSilva, in the lead role, replacing Harry Mason from the original 1999 PlayStation title. It was then unclear if other elements appearing in the film would be featured in the remake, and speculation suggested that monsters unique to the film would also be utilised. However, following E3 2006, the interview has since been confirmed as rumour, with Team Silent having no plans for remaking the original title with or without Rose assuming the leading role.

During the later half of 2006 the US based team working on Silent Hill Origins was sacked, and the future of Origins left in jeopardy. The team involved blamed this on various setbacks, and unrealistic deadlines. The project was then moved from the US to the UK where it was hoped the game could be finished off. Since then little has been reported on the state of Silent Hill Origins.

Amazon has a release date on Silent Hill: 0rigins for June 30, 2007. Release date could now be Q4 2007.

[edit] Silent Hill: Original Sin

However, the title's apparent existence and Team Silent's denials were once again questioned when a game release schedule from Konami was leaked over the Internet prior to E3 '06. According to this information, the game would be titled Silent Hill: Original Sin and would be scheduled for release on the PlayStation Portable on October 18, 2006^[1]. It would apparently have counted as a true title in the official series canon, and would feature the same style of gameplay for which the series has become famous. Around this time, the title was still labelled as a remake of the original Silent Hill^[2]

[edit] Notes

An interview with William Oertel^[3] has revealed the following game features:

The original idea was to remake the first Silent Hill, but a decision was made to make a prequel instead. There will be a connection between the end of Origins and the beginning of the first game.
Abandoned ideas include a weapon laser sight and a barricade system.
The classic flashlight and radio elements will once again be featured, with some emerging changes.
The inventory system will always ensure players have access to all their items throughought the game, rather than a 'chest' system.
The game locations will mostly be in Old Silent Hill as opposed to the Toluca Lake district, along with new adjacent areas. Locations will include Alchemilla Hospital, a hotel, a theater, a meat-packing plant and a mental institution.
Composer Akira Yamaoka has written fifteen new tracks for the game soundtrack.