It was about time I got around to revisiting this. Props to Microsoft and their Xbox backwards compatibility. Not sure when I would've gotten around to it again otherwise.

Just wanted to begin by praising the otherworld design in this game. It felt truly inspired in places and is probably my favorite in the series after the first two games.

Really enjoyed the open world lite version of Silent Hill this works with. Exploration had been sorely missing for a few games in the series by this point and the side quests were something completely new to top it off. Not all of them are great but when they hit, they really hit. (The general gameplay loop here feels like something of a spiritual precursor to The Evil Within 2 but I'll pop off about that another day...)

Sure the performance problems are a massive bummer (not a lot to be done with these since its confined to PS3/360) and the monster design leaves a lot to be desired but I can deal. Homecoming had stellar monster design but everything else was in shambles so I know how it could've been. The rest of what this has going for it just hits the right notes for me.

The only game in the series post-The Room worth a shit on any substantial level.