Restless dreams
Mobile-based interactive dramaSilent Hill: Ascensionis quite the thing, and is getting quite the reception.
Viewers can vote on major plot choices from episode to episode using a currency called Influence.
Or you’re able to buy Influence with cold hard cash, much as in reality.
Influence points can also be spent to type your player avatar into a cameo contest.
The winner of this contest will guest-star in the subsequent episode, custom haircut and all.
Can’t abide predatory monetisation?
Like your horror game UIs nice and minimal, for maximum atmosphere?
Ascension’s frontend appears to have been designed by the US Air Force.
Miss the intricate psychological dynamics ofSilent Hill 2?
in rainbow comicbook font.
Dislike classic survival horror tank controls?
Rejoice, for they have now been replaced by crowd-sourced QTEs.
The thing is, I think Ascension is onto the germ of a good thing.
The game’s character fates follow three colour-coded paths, determined by player-voting - Redemption, Suffering and Damnation.
If Ascension itself were a character, its Redemption arc would basically be “MMO Until Dawn”.
It would look at how horror streamers play along with their audiences, becoming characters within the experience.
But any promise is being suffocated.
What I’ve seen and heard of the actual writing is nothing remarkable, but these are early days.
That mess isn’t of Ascension’s making, but Ascension is certainly adding to it.
Fingers crossed thatthe other Silent Hill reboot projectscan pick up the pieces.
