There’s a post at 4 color rebellion about Konami’s new artwork for Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. This is a game that I’ve written quite a bit about this year. To recap, SH:SM is the Wii remake of the first Silent Hill game. Rather than simply update the graphics, the folks at Climax Studios have completely revised the plot, turning the cursed town into an icy hell, and framing the story as a counseling session for protagonist Harry Mason to recover repressed memories.
The new artwork is interesting. But as you’ve seen in screenshots and YouTube videos, the characters’ appearance changes based on the Harry’s answers in the psychological evaluation at the start of the game. For example, tough cop Cybil Bennett might be a warm, homely brunette in a brown jacket or a stone cold bitch in a navy blue uniform. The artwork released are likely just one of many possible incarnations of each character.
With that in mind, here are some observations (after the jump):
First, here’s Cheryl on a swing set. The image is unsettling because the girl’s face looks far more mature for her age. Her brows and eyes make her look devious, like she’s planning your demise. Interestingly enough, this image has been shopped with icicles to comprise the game’s cover art. Also, I’m not sure what to make of the psychedelic headband and bracelets.
The second image is Cybil. Or rather, this is the nice, homely Cybil. Interestingly enough, her resemblance to Cheryl is uncanny, particularly the eyes, hair, and face shape. My theory is that if you answer the psych test in a way that suggests you’re very devoted father, the characters will all resemble Cheryl a little bit. Then again, maybe the character artist doesn’t have much range (see: Nomura, zippers).
Dahlia has been reimagined quite a bit. Okay, that’s an understatement. She has been transformed from an old crone to an 80s street walker. Maybe if you answer the psych test in a way that makes you an unfaithful husband, the characters will all look ‘sexy.’ For example, GameInformer has an image of the ‘sexy’ Cybil. Her shirt is unbuttoned and she has enormous cleavage.
We haven’t seen any other incarnations of Dahlia yet. But if they’re sticking to the original plot where Dahlia is the leader of The Order, it stands to reason there’s more to this hooker than meets the eye. Interestingly enough, her short blond hair makes her look a little like Heather from Silent Hill 3. Of course, Heather is technically Dahlia’s daughter, so… that makes sense. I guess.
The doctor looks incredibly evil. He has a frown. His picture is filled with shadows. There’s a hellish red glow in the background. His fingers are pressed against one another, suggesting an evil scheme. The dilapidated background brings me hope that the hellish, rusty Otherworld will return in some fashion. However, I’m confused. Is this supposed to be Dr. Kaufmann or the psychiatrist who attempts to help Harry recover his memories? Or are they the same character? His official name is Dr. K.
Harry looks pretty hopeless. Moving on.
The new Lisa Garland wears scrubs rather than a traditional nurse’s outfit. She also has red hair now. I’m curious what her new role in the game will be.
The last image is of Michelle, a new character. Her red dress suggests seduction and kind of reminds me of the images of ‘God’ in the Silent Hill 3 church. The hellish opening in the curtain behind her is also rather foreboding. According to Worthplaying, Michelle meets Harry at her high school reunion and decides to aid him in finding Cheryl. A sexy and mysterious woman tagging along? Shades of Maria from Silent Hill 2, perhaps? Or perhaps there are also homely versions of Michelle in the game that appear if you answer the psych test differently.
So what do I make of all this? How will the game fit in with the overall story established in the other Silent Hill games? My theory is that The Order is messing with Harry’s mind. There will likely be a major twist somewhere down the road where Harry starts to see ‘the truth’ or the doctor outs himself as one of the bad guys. I find it interesting that the majority of the game that we’ve seen takes place on the icy streets. As fans of the original know, walking the streets is a relatively small segment of the actual game. What information has been revealed about the plot is likely just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Links:
Full site images at 4 color rebellion
