Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and Silent Hill: Homecoming: Difference between pages
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox VG |title = Silent Hill Homecoming |
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|image = [[Image:Silent Hill Homecoming.jpg]] |
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|name = Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway |
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|caption = [[Video game packaging#Box art|Boxart]] for Silent Hill Homecoming |
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|color = |
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|developer = [[Konami Digital Entertainment]]<br />[[Double Helix Games]] |
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|logo = |
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|publisher = [[Konami]] <!-- No need to add Warner Bros. Games, because the games of the series are always published only by Konami. --> |
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|logo_width = |
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|distributor = <!-- No need to add anything here, because the games of the series are always published by Konami. --> |
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|image = P9300406.JPG |
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|designer = |
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|image_width = 300px |
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|series = ''[[Silent Hill]]'' |
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|caption = 'Northern Chief' at New Romney |
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|engine = <!-- Do Not Add an engine here without a valid reference --> |
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|type = [[Light railway]] |
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|released = {{vgrelease|NA=[[September 30]], [[2008]]<ref name="konami_pressrelease">{{cite press release |title=KONAMI ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE LINE-UP FOR 2008 AT GAMER’S NIGHT|url=http://www.konami.com/ctlimg/konami/pressrelease/2008_05_15_GamersNightPR.pdf|publisher=Konami|date=2008-05-14|accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref>|EU=[[October 30]], [[2008]]}} |
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|system = |
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|genre = [[Survival horror]]<br />[[Psychological horror]] |
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|status = |
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|modes = [[Single-player]] |
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|ratings = {{vgratings|ESRB=M|BBFC=18|USK=rejected (uncut)}} |
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|start = |
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|platforms = [[PlayStation 3]]<br />[[Xbox 360]]<br />[[Microsoft Windows]]<ref name="steam_delay" /> |
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|end = |
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|media = [[Blu-ray Disc]] (PS3)<br />[[DVD-DL]] (Xbox 360)<br />[[Steam (content delivery)|Steam]]<ref name="steam_delay" /> |
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|stations = |
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|requirements = <!-- Do Not Add anything here without a valid reference --> |
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|routes = |
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|input = [[Gamepad]]<br />[[Computer Keyboard|Keyboard]], [[Computer Mouse|Mouse]] (PC) |
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|ridership = |
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|open = 1927 |
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|close = |
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|owner = |
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|operator = Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway Co. |
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|character = |
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|depot = |
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|stock = |
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|linelength = 13½ miles |
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|tracklength = |
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|notrack = |
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|gauge = 15 inch |
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|el = |
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|speed = |
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|elevation = |
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|map = |
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|map_state = collapsed |
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}} |
}} |
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{{RHDR RDT}} |
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The '''Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway''' is a {{RailGauge|15}} gauge [[light railway]] in [[Kent]], [[England]]. The 13½ mile (23 km) line runs from the [[Cinque Port]] of [[Hythe, Kent|Hythe]] via [[Dymchurch]], [[St Mary's Bay, Kent|St. Mary's Bay]], [[New Romney]] and Romney Sands to [[Dungeness]], close to [[Dungeness power station]] and Dungeness lighthouse. |
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'''''Silent Hill Homecoming''''' is the sixth installment in the ''[[Silent Hill]]'' [[survival horror]] [[List of computer and video game franchises|video game series]], developed by [[Foundation 9 Entertainment|Foundation 9 studio]], [[Double Helix Games]].<ref name="gs_harker" /> The game was announced on July 11, 2007 by Konami at their E3 press conference, and was originally entitled '''''Silent Hill V'''''.<ref name="GameSpotannounce">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6174357.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0|title=Konami's 15-Minute Press Event Raises Eyebrows|publisher=GameSpot|date=2007-07-11|accessdate=2007-11-11|first=Brad|last=Shoemaker}}</ref> This entry in the horror series follows the journey of protagonist Alex Shepherd, a soldier returning from war, to his hometown of Shepherd's Glen, where he finds the town in disarray, and his younger brother missing. As he continues on his search to find his younger brother, he discovers more about the Order – the cult of Silent Hill – as well as the town's history, and his own past. |
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==Description== |
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Constructed during the 1920s and opened on 16 July 1927, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway was the dream of millionaire racing drivers Captain J.E.P. Howey and [[Louis Zborowski|Count Louis Zborowski]]. Zborowski was killed in a motor racing accident at Monza before the Romney Marsh site was chosen, and Howey continued the project alone. |
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The game was released on September 30, 2008 in North America for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, whilst the Microsoft Windows version will be distributed exclusively through [[Valve Software|Valve]]'s [[Steam_(content_delivery)|Steam]] digital content delivery service.<ref name="steam_delay" /> The game has been banned in [[Australia]] by the [[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|OFLC]]. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with positive reaction to the graphics, audio and environments, and less favorable reaction to the game's plot and scenario, and some of the gameplay and horror elements; however, overall, reviewers were largely appreciative of the development of a main, home console installment of the franchise by an external Western developer. |
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[[4-8-2|Mountain Class]] 'Hercules' hauled the inaugural train from Hythe to New Romney with guests including the mayors of the two towns, and General Sir Ivor Maxse. |
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==Gameplay== |
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Howey was not happy with just eight miles from New Romney to Hythe and he extended 5½ miles from New Romney to Dungeness. This section was originally double track, but is now single due to damage during [[World War II]], when the line was taken over by the military. After the war the line re-opened between Hythe and New Romney in 1946, with the singled New Romney to Dungeness section reopened in 1947 by [[Stan Laurel]] and [[Oliver Hardy]]. |
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[[Image:Sh homecoming gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|Alex attacking a monster with a knife, showing on-screen health meter.]] |
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The player assumes the role of the protagonist, Alex Shepherd, a [[Special Forces]] soldier who returns home from an overseas tour of duty to find that his father and younger brother are missing,<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> and that his mother has gone into [[catatonia]].<ref name="review_xplay" /> Alex begins to search for his brother, leading him to Silent Hill after searching his hometown of Shepherd's Glen.<ref name="review_xplay" /> |
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Overall gameplay is similar to past entries in the series. The player, as Alex, explores the various environments and locales, searching for clues to advance the plot, such as photographs, drawings and other items which are placed inside Alex's journal, which the player may read at any time.<ref name="review_1up" /> To assist the player, Alex will turn his head towards items and clues to inform the player that the object may be picked up;<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> other recurring items include weapons and ammunition, which give off a glow as a visual cue to the player, and health drinks.<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> Puzzle elements also play a part in the game, and Alex's journal may be used to refer back to photographs and other items that can help the player decipher such puzzles as keypad entries.<ref name="review_1up" /> For the first time in the series, the player may select responses when engaging in dialogue with other characters he encounters in the game, which in turn may affect how the player sees the plot unfold.<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> |
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As well as a tourist attraction, this railway is a service between the small towns and villages between Hythe and Dungeness and is under contract to the local council to transport children to and from Marsh Academy in New Romney. |
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In addition to exploration, combat is another major element to the gameplay, and the player must fight the various monsters that appear. In contrast to the more naive protagonists of previous games, combat in ''Homecoming'' takes into account Alex's experience as a soldier.<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> The player is able to perform light and heavy attacks, or mix them to perform combinations,<ref name="review_cc">{{cite web|url=http://cheatcc.com/xbox360/rev/silenthillhomecomingreview.html|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming Review|accessdate=2008-10-09|publisher=Cheat Code Central|first=Matthew|last=Walker}}</ref> and may also perform a variety of finishing moves to ensure that the monsters are dead.<ref name="review_cc" /> Attacking enemies also leaves wounds in them that match the motion carried out by Alex in inflicting the attack.<ref name="handson" /> In terms of controlling Alex, the player may also perform new maneuvers such as targeting the enemy before attacking them, dodging enemy attacks, and performing counter-attacks.<ref name="review_xplay" /> As well as melee weapons, pistols, rifles and shotguns are available as firearms, which can be upgraded to stronger versions later in the game.<ref name="review_1up" /> In addition to the changes in combat, and unlike previous entries in the series, the player is also able to fully control and rotate the camera as they choose;<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> one analog stick controls player movement, and the other controls the camera.<ref name="review_gamerev" /> |
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[[Image:Kent Railways.svg|thumb|left|The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, 1927 and 1928 sections, showing the location within Kent, and proximity to other railways.]] |
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All 10 original locomotives remain in service, covering thousands of miles each year. The fleet, already one of the largest of any 15-inch railway in Britain, was expanded in 1976 with German-built locomotive no.11 'Black Prince' (formerly 'Fleißiges Lieschen' = 'Busy Lizzy'). The RH&DR is still the only user of the [[4-8-2]] "Mountain" locomotive in the UK, with No. 6 'Samson' and No. 5 'Hercules' in regular service. Two diesels, No. 12 'John Southland' and No. 14 (Nameless - later 'Captain Howey'), were constructed in the 1980s. |
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==Plot== |
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The line carries 100,000 passengers each year. |
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{{Vg-in-universe}} |
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[[Image:Alex Shepherd.jpg|thumb|left|Alex Shepherd, the protagonist of ''Silent Hill Homecoming''.]] |
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''Silent Hill Homecoming'' follows 22-year-old Alex Shepherd, a soldier wounded in combat and recently released from hospital. At the start of the game, Alex has a nightmare concerning his younger brother, Josh; he wakes up to find himself traveling to Shepherd's Glen, hitching a ride in a truck driven by [[Travis Grady]].<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> The town is covered in fog and deserted, with several roads having fallen into disrepair or simply collapsed into nothingness. At home, he finds his mother in a near catatonic state, murmuring about his father leaving to find Josh,<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> as well as a Lurker creature terrorizing the waterlogged basement. Alex leaves, promising to find Josh. |
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He soon discovers that many more people have gone missing in Shepherd's Glen since he left, and finds childhood friend Elle Holloway still pinning "missing" signs to a board outside the police department. As Alex explores the town, he finds himself teleported to Silent Hill, where he encounters "the Bogeyman" – familiar to players of ''Silent Hill 2'' as [[Pyramid Head]] – and Mayor Bartlett in the Grand Hotel. His son Joey is also missing, but after speaking with Alex he is crushed by Sepulcher, a giant subterranean monster. After Alex defeats it, he is returned to Shepherd's Glen, where he allies himself with Deputy Wheeler in the police department. After they are separated, Alex finds a Dr. Fitch back in the hellish Otherworld, who has also lost his daughter Scarlet, and has been cutting himself to "repent for his sins". Soon after discovering him, Fitch begins to bleed from every pore, and his head is devoured by another giant monster, the stocky doll-like Scarlett. Alex eventually learns that the town's four founding families – Shepherd, Fitch, Bartlett and Holloway – are connected to the horrific events taking place, and after visiting home once again, soldiers from the Order (the cult which worships Silent Hill's god) attack Alex and kidnap his mother. |
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The railway celebrated its 80th birthday in 2007 with a week of celebrations including reconstructions of scenes on the railway over the previous eight decades. |
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Alex, Elle and Wheeler chase after the soldiers across Toluca Lake, but are intercepted by the Order before they can reach Silent Hill. Elle and Wheeler are taken to Silent Hill's [[penitentiary]] while Alex falls into the water and wakes upon the coast of Silent Hill, Alex then attempts to rescue Elle and Wheeler. In the Otherworld version of the prison, he finds his mother, Lillian, strapped to a stretching rack by the Order; here, the player make a decision regarding whether to kill her out of mercy, which will affect the outcome of the game. Alex rescues Wheeler, who is later captured again by Asphyxia, a long caterpillar-like monster composed of many arms and torsos. After defeating Asphyxia, Alex finds the Order's church, where his father is imprisoned. Alex's father reveals that Alex was never a soldier, and has been in a mental hospital since "the accident", before he is skewered and cut in half by the Bogeyman. Alex continues on to find the Order's underground facility, where they have taken and murdered most of the population of Shepherd's Glen. |
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===Smallest public railway in the world=== |
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In the facility, Alex is captured by Elle's mother, Judge Holloway, who reveals that everything that has happened is due to a broken pact. One hundred and fifty years ago, the four founding families broke away from Silent Hill's Order to move to Shepherd's Glen. They were allowed to do so on the condition that once every fifty years, they would sacrifice one of their children in a pre-ordained fashion. On this occasion, while Joey Bartlett, Scarlett Fitch and Nora Holloway were successfully sacrificed by their parents, the Shepherd sacrifice was botched. Thus, the Order had been reformed to try to appease the gods of Silent Hill. Judge Holloway tries to kill Alex, who gains the upper hand and lodges a power drill through her skull. Alex rescues Elle from the facility and after finding Wheeler gravely injured, continues on alone to find Josh. He eventually finds the sacrificial chamber with each families' sacrifices inscribed. His name is listed, confirming Alex as the intended sacrifice for the Shepherd family. |
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From 1926 to 1978, the RH&DR held the title of the "Smallest public railway in the world" (in terms of track gauge). The title was lost to the 12¼-inch (311mm) gauge [[Réseau Guerlédan]] in [[France]] in 1978<ref name=World>{{cite book | first = Brian| last = Hollingsworth| year = 1982| title = Railways of the World| pages = p54, p79| publisher = W H Smith| location = London| id = ISBN 0 86124 023 5}}</ref> and regained from 1979, when the Réseau Guerlédan closed, until 1982, when the 10¼ inch (260mm) gauge [[Wells and Walsingham Light Railway]] opened. |
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As Shepherd enters the final chamber, he experiences a flashback showing Josh's true fate. When Alex was younger, he had taken Josh rowing out on the lake, jealous of the attention he was receiving from his parents. He gave his brother a hard time, they struggled momentarily and Josh accidentally slipped, breaking his neck and falling into the lake. Unable to accept Josh's death, he was sent to a mental hospital, making the sacrifice impossible and breaking the Order's pact. Alex fights Amnion, a giant and bloated spider-like monstrosity, and upon defeating it is faced with Josh's corpse. Alex is given one final chance to face reality and say goodbye to Josh for the last time, before leaving his brother and the facility. |
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The railway was featured in an episode of the [[BBC]] series [[The Inspector Lynley Mysteries]]. |
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There are Five endings available, which depend on the player's actions during the game, including whether the player saves Alex's mother, forgives Alex's father, and saves Deputy Wheeler. These range from the single positive ending to the game – the ''Good'' ending, where Alex comes to terms with his past actions and reunites with Elle to leave Shepherd's Glen – to four endings where Alex's fate is negative. In addition, the tradition of a UFO ending also returns, where both Alex and Elle are abducted by a UFO. An additional ending scene is available, if certain requirements are met. It shows Alex coming home to find a puddle of water with tracks leading up to his and Josh's room. As he enters he finds Josh sitting on his bed. Josh then takes a picture of the shocked Alex, a picture that can be found in-game. |
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==Stations== |
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=== Stations currently open === |
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''Stations in full or limited use'' |
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==Development and release== |
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*[[Hythe railway station (RHDR)|Hythe]] |
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[[Image:SHHfan.jpg|thumb|right|Alex Shepherd, exploring the Otherworld.]] |
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*[[Burmarsh Road railway station|Burmarsh Road]] ''(Limited Use)'' |
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Planning for a fifth ''Silent Hill'' title was underway by Konami as early as 2004, when producer Masashi Tsuboyama disclosed to [[Eurogamer]] that the rumored title of ''"Shadows"'' was false and that the game was being produced for the unreleased [[History of video game consoles (seventh generation)|"next gen" consoles]].<ref name="interview_eurog">{{cite web|url=http://eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=56340|title=Silent Hill 5 coming to next gen|date=2004-08-17|accessdate=2004-08-18|first=Tom|last=Bramwell|publisher=Eurogamer}}</ref> Around two years later, an interview with composer/producer [[Akira Yamaoka]] revealed more information; he hinted that they had hoped to carry on "plans of the earlier Silent Hill platforms", and that the team were creating a title with the idea of "fear in daylight", with similar psychological roots to ''[[Silent Hill 2]]''.<ref name="famitsu_kotaku">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/konami/akira-yamaoka-talks-silent-hill-5-223716.php|title=Akira Yamaoka Talks Silent Hill 5|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|date=2006-12-21|accessdate=2008-10-08|publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> The suggestion that the story and gameplay would be more like that of the second entry in the series in the way the player is directed, and in the character's behaviour, was reaffirmed in a later interview, along with the idea of creating the game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.<ref name="cvg_details">{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=162394|title=Silent Hill 5 details emerge|date=2007-04-20|accessdate=2008-10-08|first=Gavin|last=Ogden|publisher=CVG}}</ref> |
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*[[Dymchurch railway station|Dymchurch]] |
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*[[St Mary's Bay railway station|St Mary's Bay]] |
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*[[New Romney railway station|New Romney]] |
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*[[Romney Sands railway station|Romney Sands]] |
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*[[Dungeness railway station|Dungeness]] |
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However, most of the ideas previously hinted at were not found in subsequent information releases. At [[E3]] 2007, a new teaser trailer was displayed by Konami that revealed the title of the game to be ''Silent Hill V'', and that the game would be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.<ref name="kotaku_details">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/e307/silent-hill-v-first-screens-developer-named-277532.php|title=Silent Hill V First Screens, Developer Named|publisher=Kotaku|accessdate=2008-10-08|date=2007-07-11|first=Michael|last=McWhertor}}</ref> Further to this trailer, Konami executives also revealed that the developer would not infact be Team Silent as in previous iterations, but that, like [[Silent Hill: Origins]], it would be developed by a Western developer, [[The Collective, Inc.|The Collective]].<ref name="kotaku_details" /> The Collective had merged with [[Backbone Entertainment]] in 2005 to form [[Foundation 9 Entertainment]], and Foundation 9 then merged The Collective with Shiny Entertainment to create Double Helix Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doublehelixgames.com/studio.html|title=doublehelixgames.com|quote=Double Helix Games was formed in 2007 from the combination of veteran game developers Shiny Entertainment and The Collective.|accessdate=2008-10-08}}</ref> The team had been working on the production of ''[[Harker (video game)|Harker]]'', another survival horror title, but this was placed on indefinite hiatus during ''Homecoming'''s production.<ref name="gs_harker">{{cite web|title=Foundation 9 buries Harker|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6189687.html|accessdate=2008-10-08|date=2008-04-22|first=Tom|last=Magrino|publisher=GameSpot}}</ref> |
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=== Stations closed === |
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''Those shown as 'halt' never had a higher status; some full stations below became halts prior to closure.'' |
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Double Helix drew inspiration not only from past instalments in the game series, but also from the first ''[[Silent Hill (film)|Silent Hill]]'' movie adaptation; this is most evident in the transition from the normal world to the Otherworld, whose "ripping" effect almost matches that found in the movie.<ref name="handson" /> Other similarities from the same source includes the reaction of nurses to light, and the bug-like creatures seen in the movie.<ref name="handson">{{cite web|url=http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/874/874245p2.html|title=Silent Hill Homecoming Hands-on|first=Jeff|last=Haynes|accessdate=2008-10-09|date=2008-05-15|publisher=IGN}}</ref> Homages to previous games in the series include a reference to the long-running joke of the lead character placing their hand in a toilet bowl to retrieve items.<ref name="handson" /> Despite the change in development team, Akira Yamaoka returned from past instalments in the series to be the game's producer, as well as to create both music and sound effects for the game.<ref name="osv_interview">{{cite interview |last=Yamaoka |first=Akira |subjectlink=Akira Yamaoka |interviewer=Jayson Napolitano |title=A New Kind of Fear: Silent Hill Homecoming Interview with Akira Yamaoka |callsign = Original Sound Version (OSV) |date=2008-09-26 |accessdate=2008-10-09 |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=562}}</ref> Yamaoka wrote 70 minutes of music for the game, and insisted on working with [[Mary Elizabeth McGlynn]] to provide vocals, as fan reaction to her voice on previous Silent Hill titles has been favourable.<ref name="osv_interview" /> |
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*[[Prince of Wales Halt railway station|Prince of Wales Halt]] (closed 1928) |
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*[[Botolph's Bridge Halt railway station|Botolph's Bridge Halt]] (closed 1939) |
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*[[Golden Sands Halt railway station|Golden Sands Halt]] (closed 1990s) |
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*[[Warren Halt railway station|Warren Halt]] (closed 1927; briefly re-opened 1946) |
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*[[Greatstone Dunes railway station|Greatstone Dunes]] (closed 1983) |
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*[[War Department Halt railway station|War Department Halt]] (closed 1945) |
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*[[Lade railway station|Lade]] (closed 1977) |
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*[[The Pilot Inn railway station|The Pilot Inn]] (closed 1977) |
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*[[Britannia Points Halt railway station|Britannia Points Halt]] |
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The game had difficulties in passing censors in some countries before it could go on sale. The Australian classification board, the [[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|OFLC]], refused to classify the game, due to "impact violence and excessive blood effects".<ref name="oz_censors">{{cite web|url=http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/914/914566p1.html|title=Silent Hill Aussie Ban Update|first=Narayan|last=Pattison|date=2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-10-08|publisher=IGN}}</ref> The objectionable scenes included various body parts being drilled into, as well as the [[bisection]] of the lead character by an enemy.<ref name="oz_censors" /> This had the effect of banning the game for sale in the country, and representatives for publisher Atari mentioned that they would be asking Konami to tone down the violence to allow the game to receive the needed MA15+ rating for its sale to be permitted in early 2009.<ref name="oz_censors" /> The German version of the game was also postponed to 2009 in order for cuts to be made to pass the German censors.<ref name="germany_censors">{{cite web|url=http://silenthill5.net/2008/09/22/silent-hill-homecoming-delayed-until-q2-2009-for-germany.html|title= Silent Hill: Homecoming delayed until Q2 2009 for Germany|author=Furin|date=2008-09-22|accessdate=2008-10-08|publisher=silenthill5.net}}</ref> |
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=== Stations proposed === |
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''These stations have never existed but were at one time proposed by the directors.'' |
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''Homecoming'' was released in North America on September 30, 2008 for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. The PC version, which is only available via the [[Steam]] content delivery network and was intended to launch on the same date as the console versions, was delayed.<ref name="steam_delay">{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55073|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming PC Delayed|publisher=Shacknews|accessdate=2008-10-09|date=2008-10-02|first=Blake|last=Ellison}}</ref> |
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*Sandling Junction - in the late 1920s and again in the late 1980s plans existed to to meet with the main line at Sandling. |
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*Sandling Park - a proposal for a station to serve this estate at [[Pedlinge]] on the Sandling extension. |
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==Trivia== |
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{{RHDR Stations}} |
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* Their are numerous references to the previous games: Cybil Bennet, by Deputy Wheeler is mentioned as having disappeared and never returned. This story is used to justify his fear of Silent Hill. The hospital in the first level takes place is Alchemilla Hospital (Shown by the map). Travis Grady makes an appears as the truck driver who drops Alex off in Shepherd's Glen. The Pyramid Head/Boogyman appears in a similar role as in Silent Hill 2 however you do not fight him. When Alex looks at one of the paintings on the first floor his house he will say "There was a picture here, It's gone now" a reference to the famous line from SH2 "There was a hole here. It's Gone now." Their are several dog house's Alex can find although he doesn't find anything in them although his dog is a Shiba Inu. Robbie the Rabbit appears and plays a main role in the first level. A book found in the Silent Hill Layer level reveales that the Order was recently exposed by Douglas Cartland. Their are numerous SH Movie references mainly the flaking affect when shifting to Otherworld and the Order members wearing Miner uniforms. The grand Hotel level is another example of a reference to the movie and the references go on. |
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==Locomotives== |
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* The American Flag on Alex's Jacket is actually backwards, although it actually the proper way to apply it. |
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=== Locomotives in Service === |
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* The beginning scene is a direct reference to the Movie Jacob's Ladder. |
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* The cut scene which depitcts the founders decendents attacking their children are their actual deaths. Joey is being burried alive, Scarlet is being dismembered and Nora is being strangeled. |
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* Alex's dog tags sometimes reads "Shepard, Adam" and others "Shepherd, A" |
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* The running joke of the character reaching his/her hand into toilet's continues as a health drink can be found in the toilet in cell A6 in the prison level. |
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* If you walk up to the Bathtub in the Shepherd home Alex remarks that it was "Always a struggle to get him into the tub." This makes more since if you get the In Water Ending. |
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* The viviceted body in the first level greatly resembels Alex's father and creapily forshadow's his death. |
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* If you achive the Hospital Ending the irritated orderly sound like Deputy Wheeler |
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* The majority of the X-box Achivements for the game are references to the previous games, ie: Eddie's Legacy: Kill one feral. This refers to Eddie Dombrowski from SH2 who went insane due the effects of the town. His first act of murder was a dog. |
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* If you decide to kill your mother you hesitate and she says "it's ok" and forgives you and then you shoot. If you chose not to she glares violently at you as she is pulled apart. Alex's father accept forgiveness or rejects with the same reply however Alex's tone is noticably harsher if you chose not to forgive him (This is another reference to Silent Hill 3.) |
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* Judge Holloway unlike the other parents shows absolutly no remorse over killing her daughter Nora. This is because of her devotion to her religion and her firm beleif that her death would protect her. Moreover she is perfectly willing to do anything for the sake of her religion. In this sence the character is very similar to Dahlia Gillespie. |
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* The parents sacrificed their children as part of a pact with their god. However when Adam fails to kill Alex nothing happens. This lack of actions may have lead the parent to realise that they sacrificed their children for no reason and may have contributed to their decline into insanity. It should be noted that Judge Holloway belives that all can be restored simply by killing Alex. |
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* It is unclear exactlly what causes fog and the Otherworld in this game. In Silent Hill 1, 3 and Origins it's caused by Alessa, who cuts off the town to reek her vengence. in Silent Hill 4 it is created by Walter via the 21 sacrements. The fog and otherworld could be a product of Alessa as it has been proven she can survive death and regenerate from a memory. So it is possible that she is still alive and probably cut off the town as a result of them returning to The Order. |
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* This is the first game which shows that the Order has the ability to travel to otherworld and back at will. They appear to be using this as a prison system as them dump Alex and his father there to die. Also the fact that you never see an Order member in Otherworld implying their suits give them a form of protection. |
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* A book can be discovered in the final level, which states that Douglas Cartland sucssecded in exposing the Order. A similar book can be found about someone who spend two years in Silent Hill reading his book to examine Silent Hill. This puts Silent Hill: Homecoming at least three to four years after Silent Hill 3. |
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''Including engines serviceable, under overhaul, awaiting overhaul, or reserved to shunting or engineering duties.''<ref>Crowhurst and Scarth (2004)</ref> |
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<gallery> |
|||
Image:P9300425.JPG|No 5 'Hercules' at New Romney |
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Image:DSCN0325.JPG|No 14 'Captain Howey' at New Romney |
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Image:greengoddesshythe.JPG|No 1 'Green Goddess' passes Hythe signal box with an evening departure for New Romney. |
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Image:S3700391.JPG|No 7 'Typhoon' at Saint Mary's Bay station. |
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</gallery> |
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{| class="sort wikitable sortable" |
|||
!No. |
|||
!Name |
|||
!Livery |
|||
!Locomotive type |
|||
!Wheel <br>arr. |
|||
!Builder |
|||
!Year built |
|||
!Whistle |
|||
!In Traffic? |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|1 |
|||
|align=center|''Green Goddess'' |
|||
|align=center|[[London and North Eastern Railway|LNER Apple Green]] |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]] |
|||
|align=center|1925 |
|||
|align=center|Small Chime |
|||
|align=center|Undergoing Heavy Overhaul |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|2 |
|||
|align=center|''Northern Chief'' |
|||
|align=center|[[Brunswick Green]] |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]] |
|||
|align=center|1925 |
|||
|align=center|Bulleid |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|3 |
|||
|align=center|''Southern Maid'' |
|||
|align=center|RH&DR Green |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]] |
|||
|align=center|1926 |
|||
|align=center|Ex Isle of Wight Hooter |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|4 |
|||
|align=center|''The Bug'' |
|||
|align=center|[[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway|Brighton Umber]] |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[0-4-0]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Krauss-Maffei|Krauss]], [[Munich]] |
|||
|align=center|1926 |
|||
|align=center|RHDR |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|5 |
|||
|align=center|''Hercules'' |
|||
|align=center|[[Midland Railway|Midland Rly Maroon]] |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-8-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]] |
|||
|align=center|1927 |
|||
|align=center|GWR Hall |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|6 |
|||
|align=center|''Samson'' |
|||
|align=center|[[Great Eastern Railway|Great Eastern Blue]] |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-8-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]] |
|||
|align=center|1927 |
|||
|align=center|US Crosby |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|7 |
|||
|align=center|''Typhoon'' |
|||
|align=center|British Racing Green |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]] |
|||
|align=center|1927 |
|||
|align=center|BR Duke of Gloucester |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|8 |
|||
|align=center|''Hurricane'' |
|||
|align=center|LNER Garter Blue |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]] |
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|align=center|1927 |
|||
|align=center|Chrome LNER A4 |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|9 |
|||
|align=center|''Winston Churchill'' |
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|align=center|Maroon |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
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|align=center|[[Yorkshire Engine Company]] |
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|align=center|1931 |
|||
|align=center|Crosby |
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|align=center|Limited Mileage |
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|- |
|||
|align=center|10 |
|||
|align=center|''Dr Syn'' |
|||
|align=center|Black, White Detailing |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Yorkshire Engine Company]] |
|||
|align=center|1931 |
|||
|align=center|LNER Commonwealth of Australia |
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|align=center|Undergoing Overhaul |
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|- |
|||
|align=center|11 |
|||
|align=center|''Black Prince'' |
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|align=center|DB Black/Red |
|||
|align=center|Steam |
|||
|align=center|[[4-6-2]] |
|||
|align=center|[[Krupp]], [[Essen]] |
|||
|align=center|1937 |
|||
|align=center|South African Chime |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|12 |
|||
|align=center|''John Southland'' |
|||
|align=center|Black/Yellow |
|||
|align=center|Diesel-Mechanical |
|||
|align=center|[[Bo-Bo]] |
|||
|align=center|[[TMA Engineering]] |
|||
|align=center|1983 |
|||
|align=center|2-Tone Horn (AirChime, Ltd) |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|14 |
|||
|align=center|''Captain Howey'' |
|||
|align=center|Blue/Silver |
|||
|align=center|Diesel-Mechanical |
|||
|align=center|[[Bo-Bo]] |
|||
|align=center|[[TMA Engineering]] |
|||
|align=center|1989 |
|||
|align=center|2-Tone Horn (AirChime, Ltd) |
|||
|align=center|Yes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|PW1 |
|||
|align=center|''Simplex'' |
|||
|align=center|Green |
|||
|align=center|Diesel-Mechanical |
|||
|align=center|0-4-0 |
|||
|align=center|[[Motor Rail]] Ltd. (Simplex Wks) |
|||
|align=center|1938 |
|||
|align=center|None |
|||
|align=center|Shunting |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|PW2 |
|||
|align=center|''Scooter'' |
|||
|align=center|Yellow |
|||
|align=center|Petrol-Mechanical |
|||
|align=center|[[0-4-0]] |
|||
|align=center|[[RHDR]] |
|||
|align=center|1949 |
|||
|align=center|Ex Fire Engine |
|||
|align=center|Shunting |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|PW3 |
|||
|align=center|''Red Gauntlet'' |
|||
|align=center|Red |
|||
|align=center|Petrol-Mechanical |
|||
|align=center|[[0-4-0]] |
|||
|align=center|Jacot / Keef |
|||
|align=center|1975 |
|||
|align=center|Halfords |
|||
|align=center|Shunting |
|||
|- |
|||
|} |
|||
'''Notes on Locomotive Names:''' |
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* No 1 was named 'Green Goddess' after the 1921 [[The Green Goddess (stage play)|stage play]] by [[William Archer]], which Capt Howey had enjoyed. |
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* Nos 2 & 3 were to be called 'Northern Chief' and 'Southern Chief' and these nameplates were fitted at the works; however No 3's name was changed to 'Southern Maid' before delivery. |
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* No 4 left the railway after construction and ran in Belfast with the new name "Jean". This engine regained its original name on return to the RHDR and restoration in the 1970s. It bears the colloquial name "Basil the Bug" in its role as mascot of the railway's children's supporter group. |
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* Nos 5 & 6 were to be called 'Man of Kent' and 'Maid of Kent', but due to their tractive power (having an extra driving wheel) the names '[[Hercules]]' and '[[Samson]]' (for strength) were substituted during construction. [[Henry Greenly]], the designer, was involved in construction of a locomotive on the nearby [[Saltwood Miniature Railway]] a decade later, and this engine took the 'Maid of Kent' name. |
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* Nos 7 & 8 were constructed for express passenger services, and had an extra cylinder (3 instead of 2), hence their names 'Typhoon' and 'Hurricane' for speed. The third cylinder was removed from each due to unreliability. According to an original order, these locomotives were going to carry 'Samson' and 'Hercules' nameplates, however Howey gave the mountain classes these nameplates before the 3 cylinder locomotives had arrived. |
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* Following a mishap when Howey was at the controls, No 8 was renamed 'Bluebottle' between 1938 and 1946, apparently as a punishment! |
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* No 9 was originally '[[Doctor Syn]]', but its name became '[[Winston Churchill]]' in 1948 for its tour of Canada, and afterwards stuck. |
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* No 10 was originally '[[Edward, the Black Prince|Black Prince]]', but took the 'Doctor Syn' name in 1949 to maintain the link with local history and legend. |
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* No 11 took over the redundant 'Black Prince' name upon transfer to the RH&DR in 1976, in place of its German name 'Fleißiges Lieschen', meaning 'Busy Lizzy' in English. |
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* No 12 is named after the founder of the local secondary school in New Romney. |
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* No 13 was never assigned. Although this was due to superstition, another engine of the same class as 12 and 14 was built between them and exported to Japan; this locomotive carried the "John Southland" name, like No 12. |
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* No 14 ran nameless for 12 years until it was named after Howey. |
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==Reception== |
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=== Locomotives Withdrawn from Service === |
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{{VG Reviews |
|||
|1UP=B<ref name="review_1up">{{cite web| title=1Up Reviews Silent Hill Homecoming| publisher=1Up | url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3170245&p=4&sec=REVIEWS=| date=| accessdate=2008-10-01}} </ref> |
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|GameRev=B<ref name="review_gamerev">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ps3/silent_hill_5|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming - Xbox360 Review|date=2008-10-03|accessdate=2008-10-09|publisher=GameRevolution}}</ref> |
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|XPlay=4/5<ref name="review_xplay">{{cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1845/Silent_Hill_Homecoming.html|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming|accessdate=2008-10-09|first=Jason|last=D'Aprile|publisher=X-Play}}</ref> |
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|TX=8.4/10<ref name="review_teamxbox">{{cite web|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming Review (Xbox 360)|publisher=TeamXbox|url=http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1584/Silent-Hill-Homecoming/p1/=|date=|accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref> |
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|GamePro=3/5<ref name="review_gamepro">{{cite web|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming (360)|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/207292/silent-hill-homecoming-360/|first=Cameron|last=Lewis|date=2008-09-30|accessdate=2008-10-09|publisher=GamePro}}</ref> |
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|GI=6.5/10<ref name="review_gi">{{cite web|url=http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/05D21ADD-8DCC-482C-BB88-3F2C1BD1F73D.htm|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming|first=Ben|last=Reeves|accessdate=2008-10-09|publisher=Game Informer}}</ref> |
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|IGN=6.7/10<ref name="review_ign">{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/915/915002p1.html|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming Review|first=Jeff|last=Haynes|accessdate=2008-10-09|date=2008-09-30|publisher=IGN}}</ref> |
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|GSpy=3.5/5<ref name="review_gspy">{{cite web|url=http://ps3.gamespy.com/playstation-3/silent-hill-5-working-title-rumor/916309p1.html?RSSwhen2008-10-03_165700&RSSid=916309|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming (PS3)|publisher=GameSpy|accessdate=2008-10-09|date=2008-10-3|first=Gabe|last=Graziani}}</ref> |
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|MC=72/100 (XBox 360)<ref name="agg_meta360">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/silenthill5|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming (xbox360: 2008): Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref><br />72/100 (PS3)<ref name="agg_metaps3">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/silenthill5|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming (ps3: 2008): Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref> |
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|GR=76% (Xbox 360)<ref name="agg_gr360">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/942060.asp|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming - X360|publisher=GameRankings|accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref><br />75% (PS3)<ref name="agg_grps3">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/942059.asp|title=Silent Hill: Homecoming - PS3|publisher=GameRankings|accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref>}} |
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Critical response for ''Homecoming'' has been mixed, with a "mixed or average" reception of 72 out of 100 at Metacritic for both console versions,<ref name="agg_meta360" /><ref name="agg_metaps3" /> and a 76% and 75% aggregate score for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions respectively at aggregate site [[Game Rankings]].<ref name="agg_gr360" /><ref name="agg_grps3" /> As the second external developer working on a Silent Hill entry, and the first for a home console iteration, Double Helix were under scrutiny from reviewers and Silent Hill fans to see how a Western developer would handle the franchise;<ref name="review_gamerev" /> many reviewers found the change in developer to be a positive move overall,<ref name="review_teamxbox" /><ref name="review_xplay" /> whilst some, acknowledging faults in the final product, expressed interest in seeing further Silent Hill games from the same developer.<ref name="review_1up" /> |
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''Including engines sold, scrapped, failed in trials, or otherwise withdrawn.'' |
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<br>ALL were internal combustion locomotives. |
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Positive reviews were given to the graphics and the environments in the game, described as "fantastic", with Shepherd's Glen in particular being "rendered brilliantly",<ref name="review_gspy" /> and "the upgraded visuals bestow a filmic quality to everything and the world's eerie transformations look better than ever".<ref name="review_gamepro" /> Some surprise was expressed at the darkness of the game, with the flashlight seemingly having less effect than in previous games, and making some markers, such as doors, hard to spot.<ref name="review_ign" /><ref name="review_gi" /> |
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{| class="sort wikitable sortable" |
|||
!'Name' or designation |
|||
!Wheel <br>arrangement |
|||
!Builder |
|||
!Year built |
|||
!Year withdrawn |
|||
!Notes |
|||
|- |
|||
|align=center|[[Ford Motor Company|Theakston Fordson]] |
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|align=center|Bo'2' |
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|align=center|Theakston |
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|align=center|1928 |
|||
|align=center|c1935 |
|||
|Very early experiment with internal combustion. Large passenger locomotive with fully enclosed 2-seater cab. Operated on winter passenger services. Judged too slow, and ugly in appearance. |
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|- |
|||
|align=center|Super-Scooter ([[JA Prestwich Industries Ltd|JAP]] Scooter) |
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|align=center|Ultra-light <br>4-wheel scooter |
|||
|align=center|[[RHDR]] |
|||
|align=center|c1929 |
|||
|align=center|c1945 |
|||
|Light, open-cabbed, track inspection scooter, powered by 6hp JAP motorcycle engine. Capt Howey recorded New Romney to Hythe in 8 minutes, light engine.<ref>Snell (1993), p. 54</ref> |
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|- |
|||
|align=center|[[War Department (United Kingdom)|War Department]] Locomotive |
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|align=center|4-wheel scooter |
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|align=center|[[War Office|War Department]] |
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|align=center|1929 |
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|align=center|c1950 |
|||
|The only privately-owned locomotive to have seen long-term service on the RHDR. Stabled at Hythe engine shed, worked the [[Romney Sands railway station|War Department branch line]]. Remained in RHDR service briefly after the branch line closed. |
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|- |
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|align=center|[[Bentley Motors Limited|Rolls Royce]] Locomotive |
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|align=center|Bo'2' |
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|align=center|RHDR |
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|align=center|c1932 |
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|align=center|1961 |
|||
|Built out of Capt Howey's [[Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost]] motor car. Large, fully-enclosed cab, 2-seater, express passenger engine. Fully rebuilt in 1946 with sleek body-work. Re-engined (with Ford engine) in 1947. Tested at 60mph with empty coaches. |
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|- |
|||
|align=center|Motor Cycle Scooter |
|||
|align=center|Ultra-light <br>4-wheel scooter |
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|align=center|[[RHDR]] |
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|align=center|c1949 |
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|align=center|c1952 |
|||
|Light, open-cabbed, track inspection scooter, powered by motorcycle engine. The only RHDR locomotive ever built of which no known photograph exists. It's existence is attested by former railway staff. |
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|- |
|||
|align=center|'Royal Anchor' |
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|align=center|B-B |
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|align=center|Charles Lane of [[Liphook]] |
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|align=center|1956 |
|||
|align=center|1956 |
|||
|Diesel Hydraulic double-ended (two cabs) locomotive, built for RHDR service (as the Rolls Royce locomotive was near withdrawal). Royal Anchor failed trials due to lack of power. The project was abandoned and the locomotive returned to Liphook. It operated on the [[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway|R&ER]] 1960-1977, and then at [[Carnforth]] 1977–2000. It is now operating privately in the [[United States of America|USA]]. |
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|- |
|||
|} |
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Also adding to the atmosphere is the audio, with music written by series regular Akira Yamaoka. Yamaoka's music and ambient audio was received well, being "atmospheric, moody and beautifully presented";<ref name="review_ign" /> combined with "an amazing score",<ref name="review_cc" /> the audio goes "a long way toward establishing the expected Silent Hill mood",<ref name="review_gamerev" /> though some concern was expressed that the music was "somewhat misplaced" with the game and did not fit in so well.<ref name="review_ign" /> Voice acting, which has traditionally been seen as one of the series' weaker points,<ref name="review_gamerev" /><ref name="review_cc" /> was reviewed as better than the series' usual attempts, but occasionally "flat" when more emotion was needed.<ref name="review_ign" /><ref name="review_teamxbox" /> |
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Green Goddess' bogie tender was designed and built at [[Oliver Bulleid|Bulleid's]] suggestion at the Southern Railway's Ashford works in 1947. |
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The game's plot received a largely mixed reception. Whilst some reviewers graded it positively, describing it as "intriguing and disturbing",<ref name="review_teamxbox" /> it was also noted that it "isn't particularly original, and there are no great surprises", even though it "still makes for a very involving journey into the macabre".<ref name="review_xplay" /> Several reviewers likened the story to a subplot of the main Silent Hill mythos<ref name="review_ign" /><ref name="review_gamerev" /> which, whilst able to "stand on its own", "barely mentions certain characters which fairly dominate the backstory of previous SH games".<ref name="review_gamerev" /> Further to the mixed reception of the plot, some critics expressed disappointment at the predictability of the main twist in the story regarding Alex's predicament,<ref name="review_ign" /> whilst others found it "genuinely shocking".<ref name="review_gspy" /> |
|||
==Passenger Traffic== |
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===Passenger Services=== |
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==References== |
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The railway was conceived and constructed as a public service, not as a tourist attraction. The railway now relies on tourist trade, but it is ''not'' a 'tourist railway' or a 'preserved railway', in the sense that it was built to provide public transport and has continued to do so. |
|||
{{Reflist|2}} |
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{{Silent Hill}} |
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School children are transported under contract to [[Kent County Council]] to [http://www.marshacademy.org.uk The Marsh Academy] (known as ''Southlands Comprehensive School'' until 2007); this service is provided all year during term. Local residents are transported to shopping centres and the railway has operated 'shoppers specials'. Holiday camp trains have operated with camps at Romney Sands and St Mary's Bay. Charters are operated. During the [[World War II|second world war]] the railway was operated by [[Somerset Light Infantry]] as a military railway and there was extensive transport of soldiers on troop trains. |
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== |
==External links== |
||
*[http://online.konamimobile.com/KDEOnline/SilentHill_Widget/index.html Official site (English)] |
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*[http://konami.jp/gs/game/sh5/ Official site (Japanese)] |
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[[Category:2008 video games]] |
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The RH&DR operates 20-seat and 16-seat open and closed coaches. Over 80 years the coach livery changed from green and cream to brown and cream in the 1970s and 1980s, then red and cream in the late 1980s for 15 years. From 2000, a new policy has rakes of coaches (trains of around a dozen coaches) have been painted in individual liveries. Hence there are now green, blue, crimson and preserved teak coaches. |
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[[Category:Xbox 360 games]] |
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[[Category:PlayStation 3 games]] |
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[[Category:Windows games]] |
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[[Category:Silent Hill games]] |
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[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] |
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[[es:Silent Hill Homecoming]] |
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In addition to the main stock, the heritage set is made up of the preserved Clayton Pullman (the last remaining example of a set of 1930s vehicles of superior comfort and design), a preserved 1950s 12-seat coach named 'Ruth', the driving control trailer 'Majorie', the Royal Saloon (used by Queen Elizabeth II and members of her family), and the licensed bar car (an observation coach with a bar) named 'Gladys'. There is also the disabled access vehicle, 601 'Elsie'. This has been supplemented by two disabled access vehicles, 602 ('Winn') in blue and 603 ('May') in green. |
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[[fr:Silent Hill: Homecoming]] |
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[[it:Silent Hill: Homecoming]] |
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== Freight Traffic == |
|||
[[pt:Silent Hill: Homecoming]] |
|||
=== Freight Services === |
|||
[[ru:Silent Hill: Homecoming]] |
|||
From the outset, the railway's owners and designers envisaged freight services. Two of the original locomotives (No 5 'Hercules' and No 6 'Samson') were built to the 'mountain' wheel arrangement ([[4-8-2]]), of which they are believed to be unique in British history, because this type despite lacking speed can haul heavy freight. In practice the freight services never arose, although freight service has featured in the railway's history. |
|||
==== Dungeness Beach Fish Trade ==== |
|||
In 1937 a short branch line was laid to the east of the mainline near Dungeness, running for over a quarter of a mile to the beach. Platform 1 at Hythe was extended beside the station buildings and out to the front of the station. This joint provision was to allow transport of fish from Dungeness to Hythe and there to transfer it to road. The company had four-wheel fish wagons, stencilled "Fish Only", but the service was developed from 1937 following closure of the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]]'s Dungeness line that year. The fish trade developed in a small way and was withdrawn. Parts of the fish branch line are still in place on Dungeness beach, in use by fishermen to transport fish many years after the service was withdrawn. |
|||
==== Uncrushed Shingle Transport ==== |
|||
The most successful freight service was the uncrushed ballast service. Following withdrawal of [[War Office]] operations on the War Department Branch Line, the railway utilised the infrastructure to operate ballast trains. In 1937 a subsidiary ballast company was formed. Tipper wagons were loaded with shingle and transported along the branch line, and then up the main line to Hythe, often lying over in the sidings at Dymchurch to prevent delay to passenger trains using the same tracks. At Hythe the wagons were hauled mechanically up a ramp built on concrete pillars, and their contents tipped into lorries. In 1951, after 14 years, the subsidiary company switched to entirely road transport and the company closed both the branch and the freight incline at Hythe; the concrete pillars were still visible at Hythe until the early 1980s. |
|||
==== Postal Service ==== |
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The railway is licensed by the Post Office for rail postal services, and is entitled to issue postage stamps. A number of first day covers have been issued. A four-wheel secure postage wagon was constructed. |
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==== Parcels Service ==== |
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The railway operates a casual parcels service. Parcels handed in to one station will be delivered to another for collection. This is the only remnant of freight service, although from time to time the railway has a temporary freight contract, such as that in 1975 for transport of drainage pipes |
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The railway operates its own engineering and permanent way trains, which form the majority of non-passenger services. |
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[[Image:100 1588 (Medium).JPG|thumb|right|Some of the freight wagons behind No.2]] |
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=== Freight Vehicles === |
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The railway has permanent way stock, examples of which include the platelayers' mess coach, assorted tipper wagons (largely left over from ballast operations), secure tool trucks, and flat wagons. There are also four-wheel wagons, both box vans and open trucks, including vehicles surviving from the fish trains. There are also tank wagons, used primarily for spraying weed killer on tracks. |
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== Proposed extension to Sandling == |
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In the late 1920s, shortly after the line opened, there were proposals for an extension from Hythe to [[Sandling]] (2 miles away) to meet mainline services at [[Sandling railway station|Sandling Junction]]. It was with this idea that the [[4-8-2]] locomotives ''Hercules'' and ''Samson'' were ordered.<ref>See [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=I5E9AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA4-PA158-IA3&lpg=RA4-PA158-IA3&dq=sandling+extension+romney+hythe&source=web&ots=YCewOdne8Z&sig=0VfVMYb8B1U6gPgHXEhg-Mckjcc&hl=en this on-line text] reproduced from page 158 of '''Steam Nostalgia: Locomotive and Railway Preservation in Great Britain''' by Gerald Nabarro, published Routledge 1972, ISBN 0710073917.</ref> The project, which involved steep inclines, was abandoned. |
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In the 1980s, the directors returned to the proposals and had detailed surveys drawn. Again, consideration was given to motive power, with new locomotives discussed. Although still called the "Sandling Extension", the 1980s plan was for a line from the Willop, 2 miles short of Hythe, to provide a more gentle route to Sandling Park and on to Sandling Junction. Once again, the project was abandoned. |
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== New Tenders == |
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[[Image:Samson tender Dunge.JPG|thumb|right|The tender from ''Hurricane'' behind ''Samson'' at Dungeness.]] |
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In 2003, the small, unbraked, original Greenly tenders were withdrawn from mainline service due to concerns over safety and coal/water capacity. They were the only two of this design running. Both were pulled behind the two mountain locomotives, one of which was out of service after the Burmarsh Road level crossing incident; the other soon to be withdrawn from service for an intermediate overhaul. Once both locomotives were back in service, the railway was faced with a tender shortage and 'Samson' was kept from mainline service while 'Hercules' has been running with the tender from 'Green Goddess' during its storage for overhaul. 'Samson' has now been fitted with one of the new tenders finished in her Great Eastern livery, as 'Hurricane' has now returned to service, requiring the return of her tender. The tender for Hercules is at Crowhurst Engineering at Hythe and to be painted in to Hercules maroon livery. |
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In 2008, the tender of Black Prince was made redundant due to its low coal/water capacity and the fact that it was not braked. The new tender has extra capacity for coal and water and has kept the original bogies but have been modifided to accept vacuum brakes. The new tender was tested at New Romney on the 27th of September and on the 4th of October, Black Prince completed a 28 mile non-stop without the aid of another tender, a first for this Locomotive. |
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== Safety == |
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[[Image:BotolphsLC.JPG|thumb|right|The level crossing at Botolph's Bridge with the newly installed half-barriers.]] |
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[[Image:DSCF1021 (Small).JPG|thumb|right|A level crossing just west of Romney Sands yet to be fitted with barriers.]] |
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A serious accident occurred on [[August 3]], [[2003]], when a car drove into a locomotive at an ungated level crossing.<ref>Information based on news reports in the [[Daily Express]] and [[The Daily Mirror]], [[August 4]], [[2003]].</ref> The train driver, 31-year-old Kevin Crouch, died. Some passengers were treated for shock and minor injuries. The car driver, a woman with a baby, had ignored or failed to see the warning lights. The woman and her baby were taken to hospital but were not badly hurt. The owners of the line and the [[Health and Safety Executive]] promised an investigation. The woman was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, but was found guilty on a lesser charge of careless driving.<ref>Sapsted (2004)</ref> |
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Another crash between a train and a car at a level crossing occurred on [[10 July]] [[2005]]. The driver of the train, Suzanne Martin, wife of the railway's general manager, Danny Martin, was killed.<ref name="bbc2005">BBC News (2005)</ref> The car driver, a 20-year-old man, had ignored or failed to see warning lights. The two crossings, at Burmarsh Road and Battery Road - and a third at Botolph's Bridge Road - have been fitted with lifting half-barriers, each costing around £90,000.<ref name="bbc2005"/> The remaining 10 crossings may also be fitted with barriers. As of August 2007, the two crossings involved in the two accidents, and a third at Botolphs Bridge Road have now been fitted with the new barriers. |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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== References == |
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* Anon. (1926) "[http://www.ukrailarchive.org/ngr/rm09-1926-213.PDF Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway]", ''Railway Magazine'', '''59''' (September), p. 213–218 |
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* BBC News (2005) "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4672231.stm Train crash killed manager's wife]", ''BBC Online'', accessed [[7 October]] 2007 |
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* Crowhurst, A.R.W. and Scarth R.N. (2004) ''Locomotives of the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway'', Workshop Press, 36 p. |
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* Sapsted, D. (2004) "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/30/nscra30.xml Woman in fatal train crash fined]", ''The Daily Telegraph'', Online news, accessed [[7 October]] 2007 |
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* Snell, J. B. (1993) ''One man's railway'', Rev. ed., Nairn : David St John Thomas, ISBN 0-946537-80-1 |
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== External links == |
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* [http://www.rhdr.org.uk/ Official site] |
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* [http://www.kevincrouch.co.uk/ Kevin Crouch memorial] |
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* [http://www.newromney.net/ NewRomney.net Tourist information about New Romney. ] |
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* [http://www.movietone-portraits.com/POPUP_mtPlayer.cfm?ActionFlag=FromList&AssetID=81377&CatNo=1&WantBandWidth=HI&WantMediaPlayer=WM Movietone newsreel footage of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy reopening the railway in 1947] |
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* [http://jrsrailwayphotography.fotopic.net James Reeves' Railway Gallery, RH&DR features heavily ] |
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* [http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?t=61486&start=0&sid=d1c646e657091fff3a77c0019f64c345 UK TrainSim forum thread about the attempt to reproduce the railway in Microsoft Train Simulator] |
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{{Heritage railways in England}} |
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[[Category:Heritage railways in England]] |
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[[Category:Visitor attractions in Kent]] |
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[[Category:Minimum gauge railways]] |
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[[Category:Transport in Shepway]] |
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[[Category:Rail transport in Kent]] |
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[[cs:Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway]] |
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[[ja:ロムニー・ハイス&ディムチャーチ鉄道]] |
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[[fi:Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway]] |
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Revision as of 08:57, 13 October 2008
| Silent Hill Homecoming | |
|---|---|
 Boxart for Silent Hill Homecoming | |
| Developer(s) | Konami Digital Entertainment Double Helix Games |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Series | Silent Hill |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows[2] |
| Genre(s) | Survival horror Psychological horror |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Silent Hill Homecoming is the sixth installment in the Silent Hill survival horror video game series, developed by Foundation 9 studio, Double Helix Games.[3] The game was announced on July 11, 2007 by Konami at their E3 press conference, and was originally entitled Silent Hill V.[4] This entry in the horror series follows the journey of protagonist Alex Shepherd, a soldier returning from war, to his hometown of Shepherd's Glen, where he finds the town in disarray, and his younger brother missing. As he continues on his search to find his younger brother, he discovers more about the Order – the cult of Silent Hill – as well as the town's history, and his own past.
The game was released on September 30, 2008 in North America for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, whilst the Microsoft Windows version will be distributed exclusively through Valve's Steam digital content delivery service.[2] The game has been banned in Australia by the OFLC. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with positive reaction to the graphics, audio and environments, and less favorable reaction to the game's plot and scenario, and some of the gameplay and horror elements; however, overall, reviewers were largely appreciative of the development of a main, home console installment of the franchise by an external Western developer.
Gameplay
The player assumes the role of the protagonist, Alex Shepherd, a Special Forces soldier who returns home from an overseas tour of duty to find that his father and younger brother are missing,[5] and that his mother has gone into catatonia.[6] Alex begins to search for his brother, leading him to Silent Hill after searching his hometown of Shepherd's Glen.[6]
Overall gameplay is similar to past entries in the series. The player, as Alex, explores the various environments and locales, searching for clues to advance the plot, such as photographs, drawings and other items which are placed inside Alex's journal, which the player may read at any time.[7] To assist the player, Alex will turn his head towards items and clues to inform the player that the object may be picked up;[5] other recurring items include weapons and ammunition, which give off a glow as a visual cue to the player, and health drinks.[5] Puzzle elements also play a part in the game, and Alex's journal may be used to refer back to photographs and other items that can help the player decipher such puzzles as keypad entries.[7] For the first time in the series, the player may select responses when engaging in dialogue with other characters he encounters in the game, which in turn may affect how the player sees the plot unfold.[5]
In addition to exploration, combat is another major element to the gameplay, and the player must fight the various monsters that appear. In contrast to the more naive protagonists of previous games, combat in Homecoming takes into account Alex's experience as a soldier.[5] The player is able to perform light and heavy attacks, or mix them to perform combinations,[8] and may also perform a variety of finishing moves to ensure that the monsters are dead.[8] Attacking enemies also leaves wounds in them that match the motion carried out by Alex in inflicting the attack.[9] In terms of controlling Alex, the player may also perform new maneuvers such as targeting the enemy before attacking them, dodging enemy attacks, and performing counter-attacks.[6] As well as melee weapons, pistols, rifles and shotguns are available as firearms, which can be upgraded to stronger versions later in the game.[7] In addition to the changes in combat, and unlike previous entries in the series, the player is also able to fully control and rotate the camera as they choose;[5] one analog stick controls player movement, and the other controls the camera.[10]
Plot
Silent Hill Homecoming follows 22-year-old Alex Shepherd, a soldier wounded in combat and recently released from hospital. At the start of the game, Alex has a nightmare concerning his younger brother, Josh; he wakes up to find himself traveling to Shepherd's Glen, hitching a ride in a truck driven by Travis Grady.[5] The town is covered in fog and deserted, with several roads having fallen into disrepair or simply collapsed into nothingness. At home, he finds his mother in a near catatonic state, murmuring about his father leaving to find Josh,[5] as well as a Lurker creature terrorizing the waterlogged basement. Alex leaves, promising to find Josh.
He soon discovers that many more people have gone missing in Shepherd's Glen since he left, and finds childhood friend Elle Holloway still pinning "missing" signs to a board outside the police department. As Alex explores the town, he finds himself teleported to Silent Hill, where he encounters "the Bogeyman" – familiar to players of Silent Hill 2 as Pyramid Head – and Mayor Bartlett in the Grand Hotel. His son Joey is also missing, but after speaking with Alex he is crushed by Sepulcher, a giant subterranean monster. After Alex defeats it, he is returned to Shepherd's Glen, where he allies himself with Deputy Wheeler in the police department. After they are separated, Alex finds a Dr. Fitch back in the hellish Otherworld, who has also lost his daughter Scarlet, and has been cutting himself to "repent for his sins". Soon after discovering him, Fitch begins to bleed from every pore, and his head is devoured by another giant monster, the stocky doll-like Scarlett. Alex eventually learns that the town's four founding families – Shepherd, Fitch, Bartlett and Holloway – are connected to the horrific events taking place, and after visiting home once again, soldiers from the Order (the cult which worships Silent Hill's god) attack Alex and kidnap his mother.
Alex, Elle and Wheeler chase after the soldiers across Toluca Lake, but are intercepted by the Order before they can reach Silent Hill. Elle and Wheeler are taken to Silent Hill's penitentiary while Alex falls into the water and wakes upon the coast of Silent Hill, Alex then attempts to rescue Elle and Wheeler. In the Otherworld version of the prison, he finds his mother, Lillian, strapped to a stretching rack by the Order; here, the player make a decision regarding whether to kill her out of mercy, which will affect the outcome of the game. Alex rescues Wheeler, who is later captured again by Asphyxia, a long caterpillar-like monster composed of many arms and torsos. After defeating Asphyxia, Alex finds the Order's church, where his father is imprisoned. Alex's father reveals that Alex was never a soldier, and has been in a mental hospital since "the accident", before he is skewered and cut in half by the Bogeyman. Alex continues on to find the Order's underground facility, where they have taken and murdered most of the population of Shepherd's Glen.
In the facility, Alex is captured by Elle's mother, Judge Holloway, who reveals that everything that has happened is due to a broken pact. One hundred and fifty years ago, the four founding families broke away from Silent Hill's Order to move to Shepherd's Glen. They were allowed to do so on the condition that once every fifty years, they would sacrifice one of their children in a pre-ordained fashion. On this occasion, while Joey Bartlett, Scarlett Fitch and Nora Holloway were successfully sacrificed by their parents, the Shepherd sacrifice was botched. Thus, the Order had been reformed to try to appease the gods of Silent Hill. Judge Holloway tries to kill Alex, who gains the upper hand and lodges a power drill through her skull. Alex rescues Elle from the facility and after finding Wheeler gravely injured, continues on alone to find Josh. He eventually finds the sacrificial chamber with each families' sacrifices inscribed. His name is listed, confirming Alex as the intended sacrifice for the Shepherd family.
As Shepherd enters the final chamber, he experiences a flashback showing Josh's true fate. When Alex was younger, he had taken Josh rowing out on the lake, jealous of the attention he was receiving from his parents. He gave his brother a hard time, they struggled momentarily and Josh accidentally slipped, breaking his neck and falling into the lake. Unable to accept Josh's death, he was sent to a mental hospital, making the sacrifice impossible and breaking the Order's pact. Alex fights Amnion, a giant and bloated spider-like monstrosity, and upon defeating it is faced with Josh's corpse. Alex is given one final chance to face reality and say goodbye to Josh for the last time, before leaving his brother and the facility.
There are Five endings available, which depend on the player's actions during the game, including whether the player saves Alex's mother, forgives Alex's father, and saves Deputy Wheeler. These range from the single positive ending to the game – the Good ending, where Alex comes to terms with his past actions and reunites with Elle to leave Shepherd's Glen – to four endings where Alex's fate is negative. In addition, the tradition of a UFO ending also returns, where both Alex and Elle are abducted by a UFO. An additional ending scene is available, if certain requirements are met. It shows Alex coming home to find a puddle of water with tracks leading up to his and Josh's room. As he enters he finds Josh sitting on his bed. Josh then takes a picture of the shocked Alex, a picture that can be found in-game.
Development and release
Planning for a fifth Silent Hill title was underway by Konami as early as 2004, when producer Masashi Tsuboyama disclosed to Eurogamer that the rumored title of "Shadows" was false and that the game was being produced for the unreleased "next gen" consoles.[11] Around two years later, an interview with composer/producer Akira Yamaoka revealed more information; he hinted that they had hoped to carry on "plans of the earlier Silent Hill platforms", and that the team were creating a title with the idea of "fear in daylight", with similar psychological roots to Silent Hill 2.[12] The suggestion that the story and gameplay would be more like that of the second entry in the series in the way the player is directed, and in the character's behaviour, was reaffirmed in a later interview, along with the idea of creating the game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.[13]
However, most of the ideas previously hinted at were not found in subsequent information releases. At E3 2007, a new teaser trailer was displayed by Konami that revealed the title of the game to be Silent Hill V, and that the game would be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[14] Further to this trailer, Konami executives also revealed that the developer would not infact be Team Silent as in previous iterations, but that, like Silent Hill: Origins, it would be developed by a Western developer, The Collective.[14] The Collective had merged with Backbone Entertainment in 2005 to form Foundation 9 Entertainment, and Foundation 9 then merged The Collective with Shiny Entertainment to create Double Helix Games.[15] The team had been working on the production of Harker, another survival horror title, but this was placed on indefinite hiatus during Homecoming's production.[3]
Double Helix drew inspiration not only from past instalments in the game series, but also from the first Silent Hill movie adaptation; this is most evident in the transition from the normal world to the Otherworld, whose "ripping" effect almost matches that found in the movie.[9] Other similarities from the same source includes the reaction of nurses to light, and the bug-like creatures seen in the movie.[9] Homages to previous games in the series include a reference to the long-running joke of the lead character placing their hand in a toilet bowl to retrieve items.[9] Despite the change in development team, Akira Yamaoka returned from past instalments in the series to be the game's producer, as well as to create both music and sound effects for the game.[16] Yamaoka wrote 70 minutes of music for the game, and insisted on working with Mary Elizabeth McGlynn to provide vocals, as fan reaction to her voice on previous Silent Hill titles has been favourable.[16]
The game had difficulties in passing censors in some countries before it could go on sale. The Australian classification board, the OFLC, refused to classify the game, due to "impact violence and excessive blood effects".[17] The objectionable scenes included various body parts being drilled into, as well as the bisection of the lead character by an enemy.[17] This had the effect of banning the game for sale in the country, and representatives for publisher Atari mentioned that they would be asking Konami to tone down the violence to allow the game to receive the needed MA15+ rating for its sale to be permitted in early 2009.[17] The German version of the game was also postponed to 2009 in order for cuts to be made to pass the German censors.[18]
Homecoming was released in North America on September 30, 2008 for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. The PC version, which is only available via the Steam content delivery network and was intended to launch on the same date as the console versions, was delayed.[2]
Trivia
- Their are numerous references to the previous games: Cybil Bennet, by Deputy Wheeler is mentioned as having disappeared and never returned. This story is used to justify his fear of Silent Hill. The hospital in the first level takes place is Alchemilla Hospital (Shown by the map). Travis Grady makes an appears as the truck driver who drops Alex off in Shepherd's Glen. The Pyramid Head/Boogyman appears in a similar role as in Silent Hill 2 however you do not fight him. When Alex looks at one of the paintings on the first floor his house he will say "There was a picture here, It's gone now" a reference to the famous line from SH2 "There was a hole here. It's Gone now." Their are several dog house's Alex can find although he doesn't find anything in them although his dog is a Shiba Inu. Robbie the Rabbit appears and plays a main role in the first level. A book found in the Silent Hill Layer level reveales that the Order was recently exposed by Douglas Cartland. Their are numerous SH Movie references mainly the flaking affect when shifting to Otherworld and the Order members wearing Miner uniforms. The grand Hotel level is another example of a reference to the movie and the references go on.
- The American Flag on Alex's Jacket is actually backwards, although it actually the proper way to apply it.
- The beginning scene is a direct reference to the Movie Jacob's Ladder.
- The cut scene which depitcts the founders decendents attacking their children are their actual deaths. Joey is being burried alive, Scarlet is being dismembered and Nora is being strangeled.
- Alex's dog tags sometimes reads "Shepard, Adam" and others "Shepherd, A"
- The running joke of the character reaching his/her hand into toilet's continues as a health drink can be found in the toilet in cell A6 in the prison level.
- If you walk up to the Bathtub in the Shepherd home Alex remarks that it was "Always a struggle to get him into the tub." This makes more since if you get the In Water Ending.
- The viviceted body in the first level greatly resembels Alex's father and creapily forshadow's his death.
- If you achive the Hospital Ending the irritated orderly sound like Deputy Wheeler
- The majority of the X-box Achivements for the game are references to the previous games, ie: Eddie's Legacy: Kill one feral. This refers to Eddie Dombrowski from SH2 who went insane due the effects of the town. His first act of murder was a dog.
- If you decide to kill your mother you hesitate and she says "it's ok" and forgives you and then you shoot. If you chose not to she glares violently at you as she is pulled apart. Alex's father accept forgiveness or rejects with the same reply however Alex's tone is noticably harsher if you chose not to forgive him (This is another reference to Silent Hill 3.)
- Judge Holloway unlike the other parents shows absolutly no remorse over killing her daughter Nora. This is because of her devotion to her religion and her firm beleif that her death would protect her. Moreover she is perfectly willing to do anything for the sake of her religion. In this sence the character is very similar to Dahlia Gillespie.
- The parents sacrificed their children as part of a pact with their god. However when Adam fails to kill Alex nothing happens. This lack of actions may have lead the parent to realise that they sacrificed their children for no reason and may have contributed to their decline into insanity. It should be noted that Judge Holloway belives that all can be restored simply by killing Alex.
- It is unclear exactlly what causes fog and the Otherworld in this game. In Silent Hill 1, 3 and Origins it's caused by Alessa, who cuts off the town to reek her vengence. in Silent Hill 4 it is created by Walter via the 21 sacrements. The fog and otherworld could be a product of Alessa as it has been proven she can survive death and regenerate from a memory. So it is possible that she is still alive and probably cut off the town as a result of them returning to The Order.
- This is the first game which shows that the Order has the ability to travel to otherworld and back at will. They appear to be using this as a prison system as them dump Alex and his father there to die. Also the fact that you never see an Order member in Otherworld implying their suits give them a form of protection.
- A book can be discovered in the final level, which states that Douglas Cartland sucssecded in exposing the Order. A similar book can be found about someone who spend two years in Silent Hill reading his book to examine Silent Hill. This puts Silent Hill: Homecoming at least three to four years after Silent Hill 3.
Reception
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 76% (Xbox 360)[25] 75% (PS3)[26] |
| Metacritic | 72/100 (XBox 360)[23] 72/100 (PS3)[24] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| 1Up.com | B[7] |
| Game Informer | 6.5/10[20] |
| GamePro | 3/5[19] |
| GameRevolution | B[10] |
| GameSpy | 3.5/5[22] |
| IGN | 6.7/10[21] |
| TeamXbox | 8.4/10[5] |
| X-Play | 4/5[6] |
Critical response for Homecoming has been mixed, with a "mixed or average" reception of 72 out of 100 at Metacritic for both console versions,[23][24] and a 76% and 75% aggregate score for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions respectively at aggregate site Game Rankings.[25][26] As the second external developer working on a Silent Hill entry, and the first for a home console iteration, Double Helix were under scrutiny from reviewers and Silent Hill fans to see how a Western developer would handle the franchise;[10] many reviewers found the change in developer to be a positive move overall,[5][6] whilst some, acknowledging faults in the final product, expressed interest in seeing further Silent Hill games from the same developer.[7]
Positive reviews were given to the graphics and the environments in the game, described as "fantastic", with Shepherd's Glen in particular being "rendered brilliantly",[22] and "the upgraded visuals bestow a filmic quality to everything and the world's eerie transformations look better than ever".[19] Some surprise was expressed at the darkness of the game, with the flashlight seemingly having less effect than in previous games, and making some markers, such as doors, hard to spot.[21][20]
Also adding to the atmosphere is the audio, with music written by series regular Akira Yamaoka. Yamaoka's music and ambient audio was received well, being "atmospheric, moody and beautifully presented";[21] combined with "an amazing score",[8] the audio goes "a long way toward establishing the expected Silent Hill mood",[10] though some concern was expressed that the music was "somewhat misplaced" with the game and did not fit in so well.[21] Voice acting, which has traditionally been seen as one of the series' weaker points,[10][8] was reviewed as better than the series' usual attempts, but occasionally "flat" when more emotion was needed.[21][5]
The game's plot received a largely mixed reception. Whilst some reviewers graded it positively, describing it as "intriguing and disturbing",[5] it was also noted that it "isn't particularly original, and there are no great surprises", even though it "still makes for a very involving journey into the macabre".[6] Several reviewers likened the story to a subplot of the main Silent Hill mythos[21][10] which, whilst able to "stand on its own", "barely mentions certain characters which fairly dominate the backstory of previous SH games".[10] Further to the mixed reception of the plot, some critics expressed disappointment at the predictability of the main twist in the story regarding Alex's predicament,[21] whilst others found it "genuinely shocking".[22]
References
- ^ "KONAMI ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE LINE-UP FOR 2008 AT GAMER'S NIGHT" (PDF) (Press release). Konami. 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b c d Ellison, Blake (2008-10-02). "Silent Hill: Homecoming PC Delayed". Shacknews. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b Magrino, Tom (2008-04-22). "Foundation 9 buries Harker". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ Shoemaker, Brad (2007-07-11). "Konami's 15-Minute Press Event Raises Eyebrows". GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Silent Hill: Homecoming Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e f D'Aprile, Jason. "Silent Hill: Homecoming". X-Play. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b c d e "1Up Reviews Silent Hill Homecoming". 1Up. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ a b c d Walker, Matthew. "Silent Hill: Homecoming Review". Cheat Code Central. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b c d Haynes, Jeff (2008-05-15). "Silent Hill Homecoming Hands-on". IGN. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Silent Hill: Homecoming - Xbox360 Review". GameRevolution. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (2004-08-17). "Silent Hill 5 coming to next gen". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2004-08-18.
- ^ McWhertor, Michael (2006-12-21). "Akira Yamaoka Talks Silent Hill 5". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ Ogden, Gavin (2007-04-20). "Silent Hill 5 details emerge". CVG. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ a b McWhertor, Michael (2007-07-11). "Silent Hill V First Screens, Developer Named". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "doublehelixgames.com". Retrieved 2008-10-08.
Double Helix Games was formed in 2007 from the combination of veteran game developers Shiny Entertainment and The Collective.
- ^ a b Yamaoka, Akira (2008-09-26). "A New Kind of Fear: Silent Hill Homecoming Interview with Akira Yamaoka" (Interview). Interviewed by Jayson Napolitano. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
{{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter|callsign=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|subjectlink=ignored (|subject-link=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Pattison, Narayan (2008-09-29). "Silent Hill Aussie Ban Update". IGN. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ Furin (2008-09-22). "Silent Hill: Homecoming delayed until Q2 2009 for Germany". silenthill5.net. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ a b Lewis, Cameron (2008-09-30). "Silent Hill: Homecoming (360)". GamePro. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b Reeves, Ben. "Silent Hill: Homecoming". Game Informer. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g Haynes, Jeff (2008-09-30). "Silent Hill: Homecoming Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b c Graziani, Gabe (2008-10-3). "Silent Hill: Homecoming (PS3)". GameSpy. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Silent Hill: Homecoming (xbox360: 2008): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b "Silent Hill: Homecoming (ps3: 2008): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b "Silent Hill: Homecoming - X360". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b "Silent Hill: Homecoming - PS3". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
| Games |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characters | |||||
| Media | |||||
