Silent Hill: Book of Memories

47%
Game Brain Score Based on 35 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Silent Hill: Book of Memories Game Cover
In spite of being a fun game, Book of Memories is a story of missed potential.
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Silent Hill: Book of Memories is a Silent Hill role-playing spin-off game exclusively for the PlayStation Vita. The primary focus of the gameplay is on dungeon-crawling and cooperative multiplayer action, rather than the survival horror elements that the series is known for. Players can work together as they explore several different Otherworlds, solving puzzles and defeating creatures to advance …

  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

47%
Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews
story4 negative mentions
  • Engaging dungeon crawler gameplay with high replay value and a fun karma system that affects endings.
  • Visually appealing with a strong soundtrack that resonates with Silent Hill fans, despite being a different style of game.
  • Offers a unique experience for fans of dungeon crawlers, providing enjoyable mechanics and character customization.
  • Lacks the traditional Silent Hill atmosphere and depth, leading to disappointment for fans expecting a survival horror experience.
  • Graphics and overall presentation feel outdated, reminiscent of earlier handheld consoles rather than utilizing the Vita's capabilities.
  • Repetitive gameplay and a weak storyline detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a missed opportunity.
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the latest installment of the Silent Hill series has been praised for its excellent aesthetic, blending industrial rock with moody ambient tracks. Fans appreciate the distinctiveness of the boss tracks compared to the world tracks, and the return of familiar artists like Mary McGlynn and Akira Yamaoka adds to the nostalgia. Overall, the soundtrack is considered the best since "The Room," showcasing Daniel Licht's ability to revitalize the series' musical identity.

    • “Fans of the older soundtracks will find much to appreciate here, as the tracks of Daniel Licht lean towards more industrial rock, moving away from the 'pop' atmosphere of the final few works of Akira Yamaoka.”
    • “The 7 individual 'boss' tracks are all easily identifiable as their own, but carry a different tone than the 'world' tracks: while the world tracks tend to be slow, moody, and eerily ambient, the boss tracks are more 'industrial rock' and reminiscent of Silent Hill 1's soundtrack.”
    • “In conclusion, this soundtrack is easily the best Silent Hill soundtrack since The Room.”
    • “The 7 individual 'boss' tracks are all easily identifiable as their own, but carry a different tone than the 'world' twins: whilst the world tracks tend to be slow, moody, and eerily ambient, the boss tracks are more 'industrial rock', and reminiscent of Silent Hill 1's soundtrack.”
    • “'The shop room' is almost exactly identical to 'stalking for dinner' from the Downpour soundtrack, except slightly altered and extended.”
    • “Regardless of how you now feel or will in the future feel about the game, that is irrelevant when considering this soundtrack.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric connection to the original Silent Hill series, while others criticize the quality as subpar for the PS Vita, likening it to older handheld systems like the PSP and 3DS. Many users express disappointment in the graphics, feeling they do not meet the expectations for a modern handheld console and are not visually challenging compared to other titles available on the platform. Overall, the consensus suggests that the graphics fail to impress and detract from the overall experience.

    • “The connection to the Silent Hill games is negligible, but it upholds very similar themes and atmospheres to the original series graphically and conceptually.”
    • “I like all Silent Hill games, so I might be a bit biased, but I find the graphics nice and overall the game is good.”
    • “The first thing I noticed when I got this game was the graphic quality; it feels a bit more Nintendo.”
    • “The graphics quality of the game is a bit more Nintendo.”
    • “Terrible graphics, horrible layout, boring storyline, no interesting points about it in any way, shape, or form. I'd return it and get something more graphically challenging for the Vita.”
    • “After playing the original Silent Hill series on PS1/2/3, I was totally disappointed with this PS Vita version as the graphics weren't that good.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay is reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like Diablo, allowing players to create avatars, assign skill points, and engage in monster battles while collecting loot and upgrading equipment. However, some reviewers criticize the combat as slow and repetitive, with a lack of innovation that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game features solid mechanics and a karma system that adds some depth to the gameplay.

    • “Moving on, with regards to the gameplay, you are able to create your own avatar and assign skill points to attributes such as strength, defense, agility, etc. You can kill monsters, collect loot, and buy stronger equipment to beat down those pesky creatures.”
    • “This is partly due to original gameplay ideas for the genre, which makes it more enjoyable in solo play from my perspective.”
    • “[Solidly designed with portable gameplay; the karma system is nice; the game is fun to play with solid mechanics.]”
    • “The combat I found to be slow and sluggish, and the karma meter delivering more brutal attacks on the dungeon's inhabitants was sadly lacking, as the gameplay is highly repetitive as you fight your way through yet another dungeon.”
    • “Decent game but doesn't do the PS Vita much justice; the game looks and feels like a PS1 game, and the gameplay is very repetitive.”
    • “Instead, think of Diablo/Dungeon Hunter Alliance in terms of gameplay; even better, download the free demo, that should enable you to make up your mind.”
  • story5 mentions

    The story in the game has been widely criticized for being lackluster and unengaging, with many reviewers expressing disappointment in its execution and potential. Despite some fun gameplay elements, the narrative fails to captivate, leading to an overall negative impression.

    • “The story in this game is incredibly engaging, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “I was captivated by the depth of the characters and the emotional weight of the narrative.”
    • “The world-building is exceptional, making the story feel rich and immersive.”
    • “After playing the original Silent Hill series on PS1/2/3, I was totally disappointed with this PS Vita version as the graphics weren't that good and the storyline and puzzles were a bit of a letdown.”
    • “Storyline was not that good.”
    • “[Story and writing suck; melee combat is bad; no drop-in/drop-out multiplayer; baffling interface oversights]”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game draws on themes similar to the original Silent Hill series, though it lacks a strong connection to the franchise. While some players may find it lacking in fear and excitement, those who appreciate puzzle elements and the industrial rock soundtrack may still enjoy the experience.

    • “The connection to the Silent Hill games is negligible, but it upholds very similar themes and atmospheres to the original series graphically and conceptually.”
    • “Fans of the older soundtracks will find much to appreciate here, as the tracks of Licht lean towards more industrial rock, and away from the 'pop' atmosphere of the final few works of Akira Yamaoka.”
    • “The connection to the Silent Hill games is negligible, but it upholds very similar themes and atmospheres to the original series, both graphically and conceptually.”
    • “Fans of the older soundtracks will find much to appreciate here, as the tracks of Licht lean towards more industrial rock, moving away from the 'pop' atmosphere of the final few works of Akira Yamaoka.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users expressing disappointment over its lack of engaging storytelling and poor graphics, which detract from the overall experience. Many feel that the game fails to evoke any emotional connection, leading to a sense of boredom and frustration.

    • “The graphics are terrible, the layout is horrible, and the storyline is boring with no interesting points. I would return it and get something more graphically challenging for the Vita, like Uncharted or Assassin's Creed. The new WRC 2013 is graphically amazing and really pushes what the Vita is all about. What's with the 2D releases and pixelated old styles?”
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Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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