Silent Hill...
WARNING: Silent Hill contains scenes of violence and gore not suitable for young students. Discretion is advised.
Silent Hill tells the story of Harry Mason who frantically searches for his daughter, Cheryl. Within the fog of the town, monsters and various deformities attack him. While in town, he meets the townsfolk who are trying to figure out what is going on and how to stop the otherworldly menace. Whether its policewoman Cybil Bennett, crazed lady Dahlia Gillespie, the callous Michael Kaufman, or scared nurse Lisa Garland, you need these people if you're going to make it out alive.
Taking a radically different approach than the Resident Evil series, Silent Hill utilizes a moving camera and relies more on suspense than “boo” scares. When the only light is a flashlight and a pocket radio signals incoming monsters plays into the worst fears of the player. In addition to fending off monsters with numerous weapons (chainsaws, guns, pipes, etc.), he must solve puzzles and reach other sections of the town.
Teachers can use this game as a study in building suspense. In addition to Stephen King, teachers can point to similar writers like Edgar Allan Poe, HP Lovecraft, and Richard Matheson who utilize suspense in their writings. How does the game use the environment and sound to build tension?
Stephen King's "The Mist"...
“The Mist” concerns the survival of citizens of the town, Bridgton in Maine. The town is engulfed in a mysterious fog. Within the fog are deadly, surreal creatures. Their origins are unknown. Not far from the town is a military base. Rumors are abound that they're experimenting with multiple dimensions.
The situation causes a rift among the people trapped in a supermarket. You have the “flat-earthers” who are in denial of the situation, represented by Brent Norton. There are the religious fanatics who believe its doomsday, led by Mrs. Carmody. Then, there is the simple group of people just wanting to survive, headed by David Drayton.
“The Mist” could be seen as the precursor to a game like Silent Hill. You have the horrifying monsters. There is Mrs. Carmody, who would likely influence the character of Dahlia Gillespie. The main character of David Drayton is in a similar predicament as Harry Mason in that the safety of his son is his biggest priority. The mist and the fog serve the same purpose of obscuring the ominous threats that endanger the characters.
Teachers can use this story as a means of study how people hand times of crisis. As society as shown, when there is a tragic event, people often react in a diversity of ways. As seen in the films of directors like George Romero and John Carpenter, it is not the event that can cause our downfall, but man's inability to work together to overcome the situation.
As a side note, actress Laurie Holden plays Amanda Dumfries in the film version of “The Mist” as well as Cybil Bennett in the film adaptation of Silent Hill.
Why gamers would love this story: It's short. It's Stephen King. It practically provided the blueprint for the Silent Hill video game.
Why readers should play this game:Konami littered the game with various literary references, using the names of authors as street names and integrating classic stories into the puzzles. It can match the suspense of the story. The opening sequence is one of the most jarring in console gaming.
While I don't have the next installment set, keep an eye out for future segments linking literature with video games.
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