Sexy like a chocolate strawberry

At one point I bought into the Apple-caliber hype machine that Nintendo has built. I spouted off all kinds of things like "I am going to buy this day one." Of course I later realized that I was simply lying to myself. I haven't owned a handheld from Nintendo since the DS "Fat" launch (I later sold the device...six months later). The fact is, I don't really like any of the software offerings on the DS. I never have and I probably never will. Now before you write me off, it really comes down to a matter of preference. I prefer the PSP over the DS, but I now no longer own either.

Nintendo dominates the handheld market in a way Sony can only dream of. I respect everything they do, but as I've aged and matured (sort of), so have my tastes in what I play. When the 3DS launched I got wrapped in what I like to call "Word of Mouth Syndrome". This is when people verbally masturbate to said product at such an absurd level that you can't help but acknowledge it. This is usually on major social networking sites within the first week of the products launch. This can pretty much apply to anything, this isn't exclusive to Nintendo. So now that things have calmed down, let me ask you a valid question: Why should I buy a 3DS? What does it offer me that an iPhone 4 or PSP doesn't(obvious hardware differences aside).

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Wow.  Where do we begin?  How about final thoughts on Dead Space 2, Chad loves to hate Test Drive Unlimited 2, Jon loves the grindhouse violence in Dead to Rights: Retribution, an extensive conversation on Sony's NGP, and we answer your awesome questions.  We searched for reasons not to listen to this episode and found it was scientifically impossible to do so.  Listen now, your ears are beckoning.

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Some would argue that Resident Evil is the Godfather of the survival horror sub-genre.  You could definitely make a strong case for that, however, Resident Evil never really terrified me. But it would be foolish of me to ignore it.  After all, it is because of Shinji Mikami that we now have so many other great survival horror games to play.  There is one game that could be considered the best video game horror franchise period.  That honor would go to Silent Hill.

Fresh off the success of 1998’s blockbuster Metal Gear Solid, Konami decided to release a psychological horror title named Silent Hill in 1999.  There was nothing like it at the time. “Silent Hill's creators remarked that one of their main goals with the game was to frighten people on an instinctive level, and that's something that, in my mind, they've clearly succeeded at doing.”(Gamespot review Feb. 1999).  I love that.  The creators wanted to terrify you like no game before it. 

Silent Hill is frightening on a very different level.  Akira Yamaoka’s haunting soundtrack plays an enormous factor in this.  Using ambient industrial music and guttural sounds, the music is a character within itself.  When you aren’t being attacked by skinned dogs, demonic midgets or flying aberrations, the music is always there to remind you that you’re never safe.  While games like Resident Evil relied heavily on cheap scares, Silent Hill toyed with your head.

The game preys on our fear of the unknown.  For instance, Harry Mason is drawn to this town called Silent Hill to find his adopted daughter.  Why this town?  Why does the town seem abandoned?  Why is there a cop in an abandoned town?  Why are things getting so weird?  What are these creatures?  Why does the town turn into Hell at night?  These are all the questions to the player and to Harry, and while you may be completely taken aback by what’s occurring, the only way to find out is to go forth.

That’s what makes Silent Hill so…Silent Hill.  While playing the game I noticed myself remembering the first time I played it, and how I found myself in positions where I didn’t want to go any further because I was afraid of what was behind the door.  What other unknown and shocking surprises could there possibly be?  I was afraid, but I had to know.   I wanted to be scared because that’s what makes the experience so damn fun. 

The game does an excellent job of making you feel conflicted all the time.  You’re scared to go any further, yet you have the inexplicable desire to keep going.   Silent Hill may have lived in the shadow of the more popular Resident Evil, but manages to create its own legacy in the process.  Silent Hill is a hell of a game.  You can scoop it up on PSN for a mere $5.99.

October is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the fall weather, great seasonal brews, good food, and of course there is Halloween.  Every Friday for the rest of October we will be putting up a post and video describing some of the games that effected us the most. We had a huge list of potential games (13 to be exact), but we managed to cut it down to four games that genuinely terrified us.   In Week 1 we will cover Visceral Games Dead Space.  A master of atmosphere and mood, Dead Space would make John Carpenter quite proud.  Post will be up this Friday with Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Siren Blood Curse to follow.  Trick or treat yo.

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In this monstrously huge episode we have a special guest joining the fray...Captain Sean Mcspatrick. We talk Monday Night Combat, more Limbo, Castlevania HD, bargain bin gems Saboteur and Dark Void, and our whole new episode segment called Topic of Discussion. We discuss "How much is too much?" for downloadable games. This episode is stacked so enjoy. Oh and watch out for the money balls. Thanks for listening.

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Welcome to our second E3 special where we discuss Nintendo's surprising presentation, Sony's Kevin Butler show, and all the games that swooned us.  Download. Listen. Enjoy.



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