Silent Hill dev refutes Alan Wake likeness

By Fred Dutton Published 20 April, 2011

Downpour will have "way more variety".

The producer of Silent Hill: Downpour has dismissed claims that the forthcoming sequel looks remarkably similar to recent Xbox 360 survival horror Alan Wake.

A number of observers were quick to point out a clear likeness between the two games when a new set of screenshots for the impending Silent Hill sequel were revealed last week.

Developer Vatra Games' Devin Shatsky insists that's just not the case though.

"I think it's a bit odd for anyone who hasn't even seen the game to be drawing comparisons to any other games. They can only judge from the screenshots they've seen, so I don't blame them," he told HellsDescent.

"If they think we are looking 'Alan Wake-ish' just because we have a forest area in part of the game, then so be it. But it could easily be said that Alan Wake ripped off SH in a number of ways with the look and feel of their entire game.

"Granted, all games evolve from each other in some capacity, so I think its narrow minded to think like that."

He then went on to insist that Downpour would offer a much greater mix of backdrops than Alan Wake did.

"I would like to point out we have WAY more variety of environments in Downpour than Alan Wake does, so I feel very comfortable that the comparisons will end at these forest shots.

"There are a multitude of other environments in Downpour that people will be hard-pressed to compare to ANY other games, we have a very unique variety of landscapes and interiors, and I think the fans will be very pleased with the job Vatra is doing on our environments.

"The forest is just a drop in the bucket (pun intended) of where we take the player in this game."

You can find out for yourself when Konami's long-running Silent Hill franchise returns on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this Autumn.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (15) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Phishfood #1 1 year ago

    Well I just got an AlanWake vibe is all, not to say its bad. Though playing 2 games in such a similar setting does give one a sense of deja vu.

  • ubergine #2 1 year ago

    "it's Alan Wake, with variety" should be on the box cover! 10/10!

  • Silent-Hal #3 1 year ago

    The forests around the town's lake have already been explored in the series before (specifically as a level in Silent Hill 4) so I'd say the comparison is quite unfounded. If anything it's more that Alan Wake was inspired by the Silent Hill series than the other way around. It has been going since 1999 after all...

  • Bogie19th #4 1 year ago

    Comparison is founded, there is no reason not to compare them. That said, not sure why the dev is so butt hurt over it. He should be flattered honestly, and hope that his game is half as good as Alan Wake.

  • Mr_Brown #5 1 year ago

    The fact that the 8th iteration of this series is being compared and accused of taking influence from Alan Wake, which is the first of that series says it all about Silent Hill right now. I wish they would stop milking the name of series. In my eyes the Silent Hill series finished at Silent Hill 4. Nothing about the latest game convinces me otherwise and I'm sure it will follow Homecoming in the Bargin bins in 6 months.

  • Inmediasress #6 1 year ago

    I think there must be some truth to it that the devs feel they have to defend something.
    It is like the Bioware DA2 interview was where they refused that it is not a rushed massfantasy effect game.
    Amusing really I do not expect too much of this SH game anyway tough it can be only better than homecoming.

  • captainCandy #7 1 year ago

    Alan Wake looked a lot like older Silent Hill games...

  • Harmonica #8 1 year ago

    Where did calling Alan Wake a rip-off and this one up manship suddenly come from? Fairly obvious the two games look similar from the shots THEY released (in their package). Someone is right up themselves!

    If he knew his stuff it would be obvious that Alan Wake's inspiration can be traced directly back to Twin Peaks and late night US weirdo/horror B-shows (which they homage frequently in the game).

    It's basically the same thing again with Alan Wake being a game about a hack, and Silent Hill series (these days) being games made by hacks. If you can tell the difference, then the former game is worth getting, otherwise...
    Edited by Harmonica at 20/04/11 @ 22:29

  • bemaniac #9 1 year ago

    Silent hill has always been more frightening and graphically diverse than Alan Wake. I enjoy Alan Wake but there's way to large spaces in it to truly feel trapped.

  • coomber #10 1 year ago

    The forest is just a drop in the bucket (pun intended)

    Why would you admit that?

  • Bulbatron #11 1 year ago

    I don't think it matters if it looks a bit like Alan Wake. Alan Wake was a fantastic looking game!

    As long as it doesn't play like Alan Wake, which I foumd quite tedious.

  • Quixz #12 1 year ago

    He should not have let those Alan Wake-ish screenshots get to the public.
    Edited by Quixz at 21/04/11 @ 06:12

  • sakealex #13 1 year ago

    the soundtrack matters the most in these type of games. Just look at the good silent hill games.

  • Silvergun-Blue #14 1 year ago

    They act like Silent Hill is a new franchise.

  • Gizzle #15 1 year ago

    If it is ANYTHING like Alan Wake, I will take a butter knife to my wrists.