Silent Hill: Downpour

Name: Silent Hill: Downpour
Item: Silent Hill: Downpour
Rating: 3
Author: Marc Saltzman

Game review by

Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 18+

(i)

Survival horror game filled with blood, gore, and fright.

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
$59.99
2012

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Parents say

age 18+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 4 reviews

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Positive Messages

No positive message for its players. It's a cinematic "survival horror" adventure game that has you take on hoards of creepy creatures.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Little is known about what the protagonist, Murphy Pendleton, did to become incarcerated before he escapes outside the mysterious town of Silent Hill. At times, the player will have to make moral choices, such as rescuing someone or leaving them to die; in some cases the game changes, but in others, the same cut-scene sequence plays out regardless of the decision you made.

Ease of Play

While the main character is a little stiff to move during combat (as with past games in the series), controlling the game overall is fairly straightforward. When the protagonist escapes a freak accident at the start of the game, you'll learn the mechanics needed to play the game. At any time you can pause the action and review the controls.

Violence

Players will use melee weapons (knives, axes, pipes, etc.) as well as shotguns and pistols, to take down demonic creatures. Bloody corpses can be seen, along with body parts and other disturbing sounds and images. Some cut-scenes show brutal deaths, such as police officers and criminals killed violently. One off-camera scene has sounds of a child's neck snapping.

Sex

There isn't any nudity or revealing clothing but some of the dialogue sequences with onscreen text refer to sex-related crimes. One example: "... including third-degree murder and sexual assault of a child below the age of 14."

Language

It's not often, but the game has some strong profanity, such as "f--k" and "s--t," as well as other potentially offensive words like "ass," "damn," "bitch," and "hell."

Consumerism

The game's score was composed by award-winning Daniel Licht (best known for his work on Dexter), and with a title track sung by Jonathan Davis from the rock band Korn.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know Silent Hill: Downpour is a very violent and gory "survival horror" game for mature players. You play as a prison inmate escapee who winds up in the creepy town of Silent Hill, and must fend for himself with all kinds of weapons. You can shoot, stab, and slash demonic creatures. Blood and body parts can be seen during combat and cut-scene sequences. Some of the non-interactive movie sequences are also violent, gory, and disturbing. The game also has strong profanity and sexual references.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byGamerGirl36 April 8, 2012

age 18+

Good Game for Older Players

For those of you unfamiliar with Silent Hill, let me tell you that the series is not your average survive-the-zombie-apocalypse horror game. It is a gaming exp... Continue reading

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Teen, 13 years old Written bycerealkiller189 March 14, 2012

age 13+

Having an awesome time,people?

Lately,I've been really banging it up on Amazon for the awesome deals they give and this was no exception too.Pre ordered it and got it today with the conf... Continue reading

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Teen, 16 years old Written bycookiemonster7532159 November 17, 2013

age 14+

fun and scary

its a great game love it been a silent hill fan for a long time first i think commonsense over rated this title. first of all there is not as much blood as you... Continue reading

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What's it about?

SILENT HILL: DOWNPOUR follows Murphy Pendleton, a convicted felon, who has been incarcerated for several years. While being transferred from Ryall State Prison to the nearby Wayside Maximum Security Penitentiary, a freak bus accident cuts the journey short. Pendleton comes to in a forest next to the accident, and takes advantage of the situation to escape to the sleepy town of Silent Hill. But as he soon discovers, something isn't quite right here. This third-person adventure in the longstanding series combines combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration.

Is it any good?

While not as good as some previous Silent Hill games, this new adventure -- from first-time developer Vatra Games -- has a few things going for it. This includes bigger set pieces with more freedom to explore, side-missions that add to the gameplay, and solid voice acting that helps with the chilling narrative. But shortcomings can hamper the experience, such as some stiff combat that takes away from the immersion and a choppy frame rate when there's a lot of action onscreen at the same time. Overall, however, Silent Hill: Downpour is a decent and more action-heavy Silent Hill offering with some memorable moments. Note: The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game are the same.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about whether Silent Hill: Downpour pushes the envelope in violence, blood, and gore. Does this really add to the scariness of the game? Or is the darkness, suspenseful music and creatures that jump out at you really what makes this game creepy?
What is it about this survival horror genre that you like? It is better or worse than watching a horror movie?

Game details

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Price: $59.99
Available online? Not available online
Developer: Konami
Release date: March 13, 2012
Genre: Survival Horror
Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language