homecoming homecoming survival horror video game sixth installment silent hill series developed double games homecoming follows journey soldier returning war hometown shepherd finds town disarray younger brother missing continues search find younger brother discovers order cult town history past game released september north_america playstation xbox microsoft windows version released november exclusively digital content delivery service versions simultaneously released europe including retail microsoft windows version february japanese version cancelled gameplay player assumes role soldier returns home overseas tour duty find father younger brother missing mother gone alex begins search brother leading searching hometown shepherd overall gameplay similar past entries series player alex explores environments searching clues advance plot photographs drawings items placed inside alex journal player read time assist player alex turn head items clues inform player object picked recurring items include weapons ammunition glow visual cue player health drinks puzzle elements play game alex journal refer photographs items help player puzzles entries time series player select responses engaging dialogue characters encountered game turn affect player sees plot addition exploration combat major element gameplay player fight monsters appear contrast protagonists previous games combat homecoming takes account alex experience soldier player able perform light heavy attacks mix perform combinations perform variety finishing moves ensure monsters dead gameplay mechanic featured rudimentary form origins attacking enemies leaves wounds match motion carried alex inflicting attack terms controlling alex player perform new maneuvers targeting enemy attacking enemy attacks performing counter attacks melee weapons pistols rifles available firearms upgraded stronger versions later game handling rendered realistic manner alex having shoulder long guns suffering aim effects like addition changes combat unlike previous entries series player able fully control rotate camera choose analog stick controls player movement controls camera plot start game player controls alex nightmare concerning younger brother alex wakes cab truck driven protagonist origins gives ride hometown shepherd town named distant ancestor helped found covered fog deserted home finds mother state father leaving find promising find alex leaves alex soon discovers people gone missing shepherd left finds childhood friend pinning missing signs board outside police department alex explores town witnesses separate deaths mayor monsters child missing shepherd alex allies deputy police department alex eventually learns father involved secrets town left attempt resolve town problems able answers mother home knocked unconscious order religious cult taking people town kidnaps mother boat find alex father intercepted order taken alex attempts rescue finds mother bound player decision kill mercy affect outcome game rescuing mother judge separating alex finds order church father player choose forgive affecting outcome game alex later runs father reveals alex soldier mental hospital accident occurred begs forgiveness killed monster called pyramid head continuing order underground facility alex captured judge reveals happened broken pact years ago founding families broke away order shepherd allowed condition years sacrifice children fashion occasion successfully sacrificed parents shepherd sacrifice failed result order reformed try god judge tries kill alex kills self defense alex rescues facility finding injured allowing player choose save affecting game ending continues find realizing intended sacrifice alex experiences flashback showing true fate alex younger taken rowing lake showed alex ring father chosen instead alex jealousy alex struggled try ring fought accidentally fell lake drowned father retrieved body explained alex ruined chosen alex unable accept death alex sent mental hospital instead alex sacrificed order pact broken fighting final boss manifestation spirit alex finally chance apologize states wanted death alex leaves family ring father angle head army body exits chamber endings available depend player actions game including player kills alex mother alex father saves deputy range single positive ending game alex comes terms past actions reunites leave shepherd endings alex getting drowned father waking hospital receiving shock treatment turned joke ending abducted ufo witnesses addition endings player collects pictures game hard difficulty person post credits scene played alex finds sitting bed takes picture alex camera development chief designer homecoming announced game development interview eurogamer previous internet rumors called shadows past information initially platform game appear appearing generation consoles released years later interview composer revealed information hinted hoped carry plans earlier silent hill platforms team creating title idea fear daylight similar psychological roots silent hill suggestion story gameplay like second entry series way player directed character behavior reaffirmed later interview idea creating game playstation xbox platforms ideas previously hinted found subsequent information releases new teaser trailer displayed revealed title game game released playstation xbox trailer executives revealed developer fact team silent previous like silent hill origins developed western developer collective collective merged form foundation merged collective shiny entertainment create double games team working production survival horror title placed indefinite hiatus homecoming production double drew inspiration past installments game series silent hill movie adaptation evident transition normal world effect matches found movie similarities source includes reaction nurses light bug like creatures seen movie rendition known game previous games series include reference long running joke lead character placing hand toilet bowl retrieve items lead designer described intentions development team maintain depth storytelling atmosphere series whilst making combat intuitive frustrating script game journal entries instruction manual written based story summary events provided lead designer lead artist lead level designer despite change development team returned past installments series create music sound effects game game series use surround sound wrote minutes music game insisted working provide vocals fan reaction voice previous titles favorable homecoming soundtrack released november provided vocals tracks censorship homecoming difficulties passing countries sale australian classification board refused classify game impact violence excessive blood effects scenes included body parts character enemy effect banning game sale country representatives publisher mentioned asking tone violence allow game receive needed rating sale permitted early german version game postponed cuts pass german version rejected game submitted altered way australian version received highest rating possible result meaning november main confiscated xbox versions imported violation representation violence effectively banning sale germany release homecoming released north_america september playstation xbox consoles version north_america central_america south_america available steam content delivery network intended launch date console versions delayed finally available steam november european release platforms intended month title delayed region february contrast american regions retail release dvd available europe reception homecoming average metacritic version xbox version aggregate site gave aggregate score xbox version version second external developer working entry home console iteration double scrutiny reviewers fans western developer handle franchise reviewers found change developer positive overall acknowledging faults final product expressed interest seeing games developer contrast commented game example japanese franchises downgraded particularly different approaches taken induce fear player praise given graphics environments described fantastic shepherd particular rendered brilliantly upgraded visuals quality world eerie look better surprise expressed darkness game seemingly having effect previous games making markers doors hard spot music written series regular ambient audio received atmospheric moody beautifully presented combined amazing score audio goes long way establishing expected silent hill mood concern expressed music somewhat fit voice acting traditionally seen series weaker points evaluated better series usual attempts occasionally flat emotion needed game plot received largely mixed reception reviewers graded positively describing intriguing disturbing noted isn particularly original great surprises makes involving journey reviewers likened story subplot main able stand barely mentions certain characters fairly dominate backstory previous games critics expressed disappointment main twist story alex found genuinely shocking zero review generally negative stating level design story combat competent game little liked series better served completely different franchise
Silent Hill: Homecoming