Silver Chains
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
You're the prey in adventure's haunting hunt for truth.
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Silver Chains
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Based on 2 parent reviews
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Just another generic walking+jump scare (TM) game
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What’s It About?
SILVER CHAINS takes players on a disturbing supernatural mystery and challenges them to survive the experience. The story begins with the protagonist, Peter, regaining consciousness after slamming his car into a tree on a storm-filled night. With no memory of where he was going or how he ended up here, Peter struggles to make his way to a nearby mansion for help before passing out at its front door. Waking once more, Peter discovers he's been brought inside the mansion, though he seems to be the only living soul inside the house. But being the only "living" soul doesn't necessarily mean Peter is alone here. In fact, this "abandoned" mansion is filled with supernatural presences, as ghosts lurk behind the doors and sinister forces stalk the hallways. If Peter has any hope of escaping to see the sun rise, he'll need to explore the house and discover what dark secrets it holds. But as Peter begins to learn that this might not be his first time in these haunted hallways, he can't help but wonder if some secrets are best left hidden and undisturbed.
Is It Any Good?
Instead of tilting the odds in your favor with loads of weapons to fend off evil, this game leans towards the "fight or flight" spectrum, forcing players to run and hide from what's lurking in the shadows. Silver Chains is about more than just hiding in closets and cabinets. To survive, you'll need to piece together its mysterious past and the role you might have played in it. You've got to explore every nook and cranny of this creepy old house, searching out diary pages, photographs, and other clues while solving various puzzles to access new areas and fill in more holes to the underlying story. This element makes the game feel more like a classic mystery than a horror story … right up until you hear that music that sends goosebumps up and down your spine. And when the ghost of a dead child starts pointing for you to hide, you should probably listen. That's your cue that Mother is coming.
Silver Chains does a phenomenal job of building its atmosphere. You never quite know what to expect or what's lurking around the corner. It's not just a series of jump scares strung together, but it's a truly chilling build up. The mansion has an amazing level of detail and feels like it has a life of its own. If you weren't constantly in fear for your life, you could easily get lost in admiration for this house of horrors. Admittedly, there are some times that level of detail gets glossed over, such as those fleeting moments when you catch a glimpse of Mother searching the halls for your presence. Though the creature itself is straight out of your nightmares, it moves with all the grace of a wooden puppet. The animations are stiff and almost comedic, more like a cheap Halloween prop than a supernatural boogeyman. Of course, that doesn't make it any less scary when you're hiding out, listening to its haunting voice and heavy footsteps, just waiting for the coast to finally be clear. Silver Chains sets itself apart from the B-movie feel of many survival horror games with a mystery that you can't help but want to solve while set in a terrifying house you can't wait to escape.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in gaming. Is the impact of the violence in Silver Chains affected by the fact that players can't take an active role in the violence that occurs in the game? Is the intensity of the violence affected by the fact that players run and hide from the events happening around them?
What is it about horror movies, games, etc. that makes them popular? Why do we like to be scared (in controlled environments)?
Game Details
- Platform: Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Headup Games
- Release date: August 6, 2019
- Genre: Survival Horror
- Topics: Adventures , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: August 9, 2019
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