I’ve been being a surly gal the past couple days, pouting stiffly at all the preview hysteria and the barrage of announcements out of E3. That’s mostly because I’m jealous I’m stuck here in New York with no air conditioning, but it’s also because I don’t like to get too excited about stuff I’m not going to actually be able to play until God-knows-when. I hate teaser-trailers.
Unless said teaser trailer features a red cult seal and the words “Silent Hill V.” A transcription of the voice-over:
“They say war is hell, but there are worse things. War changes a man, and nobody back home could ever understand. They never understood me. They say you can’t go home again, but they’re wrong. I just don’t want to.”
Now, I’m way-too-excited to bring you more info about the latest white-fog-shrouded, static-haunted, psychologically disturbed installment in the Silent Hill series. All we know now is that it’s the story of Alex Shepherd, a war vet recently returned from overseas, investigating the disappearance of his younger brother Joshua. Gameplay follows Alex through the town of Shepherd’s Glen (this guy gets towns named after him?) and of course, to the empty, eerie streets of Silent Hill.
Konami says the combat system’s enhanced, and that it’ll feature puzzles based in environmental cues. Fabulous Akira Yamaoka is doing a complete OST, too– which is awesome news to those who’d agree with me that the Silent Hill series has one of the raddest soundtracks of any franchise.
Silent Hill V is the “working title,” and is slated for Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2008, though no more specifics are available yet. Got two screenshots, though– check them out!
[UPDATE: It’s The Collective to whom Konami will be outsourcing SH5’s development– the guys behind Mark Ecko’s Getting Up and the first Buffy the Vampire Slayer game. Thanks, Dave! ]