Can't Keep Quiet About 'Silent Hill'

Game: ''Silent Hill Origins''

Publisher: Konami

System: Sony PSP

Price: $30

ESRB Rating: Mature

Review Rating: 3 stars



The Silent Hill series has always been as creepy as it is scary, and the latest installment, "Silent Hill Origins" neatly packages these emotions onto the PSP so they can be experienced practically anywhere. Sure, it might seem scary to play this game at home in the dark, but are you brave enough to tackle the new adventure in a deserted area illuminated only by the moon?

Travis Grady is a solitary trucker who prefers spending time with his thoughts to spending time with other people. When he detours past the town of Silent Hill, supernatural events unfold that drag him into the demonic environs. Now he must fight freakish monsters as he becomes part of Silent Hill's dark history.

Past versions of the series forced players to take on the role of ordinary people with ordinary abilities, but Travis is especially deadly with his fists. He can also use various objects as melee weapons as well as toss TVs and other objects to inflict damage. But don't get too comfortable using a particular melee weapon because they eventually break with constant use.

Various guns are also available to Travis, and there is much more ammunition available in this game than past versions. This means that players can use them much more often. In addition, the handy lock-on function makes blasting monsters a bit easier, especially since the finicky camera often doesn't show attacking enemies.

Despite a few minor flaws, "Silent Hill Origins" proves that fear can truly come in small packages.

"MX vs. ATV: Untamed"

Publisher: THQ

System: Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS2, PS3,Wii)

Price: $60

ESRB Rating: Everyone

Review Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Rainbow Studios' MX off-road series has undergone many changes throughout the years, but one thing has remained the same - every version soars high above the competition. As the second iteration of their new franchise, "ATV vs. MX: Untamed" blends the mud-grubbin' racing of "MX Unleashed" with the high-flying, stunt-laden action found in "ATV: Off-Road Fury" to create the ultimate off-road game!

Budding gear heads can get their hands dirty with a whopping nine different modes, which is enough to satisfy even the shortest attention span. Six modes return from the previous incarnation, with Endurocross, Minimoto and Opencross rounding out the new offerings. Endurocross puts players in a chaotic race littered with tight corners and various obstacles such as logs, rocks, spare tires and pools of water, while Minimoto crams racers onto miniature motorcycles for a hilarious romp through the dirt. If motorcycles and ATVs aren't your thing, then try Opencross. This fun mode lets players race dune buggies, monster trucks, trophy trucks, and more!

When the advanced A.I. is no longer a challenge, it's time to face up to 11 other players online. Every single player mode is also playable online, even Free Ride! Now players from around the world can form an off-road 'posse' and tear up the terrain, create their own competitions and games, or just explore the countryside.

Additional new features include stylizing tricks in mid-air with a stunt modifier as well as the ability to perform ground stunts that link tricks together. In addition, a new first-person cam adds an incredibly realistic feel to each race because it reacts to every bump and displays the player's appropriate body movements during tricks.

While "ATV vs. MX: Untamed" may not be quite as visually detailed as Sony's "Motorstorm," it does sport an extremely long view distance and offers a much wider variety of game play.