Siren

"Silent Hill+Splinter Cell=Siren"

When I first heard about Siren I was extremely excited. I heard it was from the guy who created the first Silent Hill, and I knew this game would be something special. My first impression of this game however was disappointment, but after an hour of playing the game I started to love it.

~Graphics~

The graphics in this game, while not the greatest ever, fit the mood perfectly. They lend themselves to the image that the characters are in a dark desolate place alone with no one to help them. The graphics in the game really lend themselves to the atmosphere to create an amazing experience.

8/10

~Sound~

The sound in this game is hauntingly beautiful. The music really helps the atmosphere of the game by keeping you on the edge. There are moments when the music is slow and soft, and then there are times when the music is hard and loud. The sound effects in this game are also top notch. I love listening to the Shibito's moan as they walk towards you.

10/10

~Story~

0:00. Midnight. A Siren calls and a sea of red water mysteriously surrounds the mountain village of Hanuda. Slowly, a terrible force transforms the inhabitants into Shibido, undead husks of their old selves, fueled by evil and hate.

You have 3 days to figure out what is going on.

This is the description of the story taken from the back of the case and it beautifully sums up what the game is about. The plot in Siren is one of the better plots in any of the survival Horror games I have played.

10/10

~Gameplay~

The gameplay in this game is fresh. It's a new take on a genre that was beginning to get a little stale. The basic idea behind the gameplay is that you have to sneak around from the shibido to complete your objectives. To help you, you have an ability called sight jacking that lets you see through the eyes of the Shibido. This feature works perfectly, and you really have to use it to survive.

Most of the time in the game you don't have a weapon, but when you do ammo is extremely limited forcing you to outwit the Shibido

There are ten playable characters in the game and each have their own story. You have to complete every characters scenario's to complete the game. The only complaint I have with the gameplay is sometimes it's a little too hard

9/10

~Replay value~

This game doesn't have too much replay value unless you like going back and collecting things you may have missed the first time around, and re experiencing the story.

6/10

~Conclusion~

This is one of my more favorite Survival horror games. I think it ranks up there with the likes of Silent Hill 1 and 2 as one of the best Survival Horror game ever. The game is scary, has an awesome atmosphere, and has fun gameplay. What more could you want. The game is awesome and I give it a 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/12/04