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Pentimento (WIP)

Overview

Silent Hill inspired psychological horror level.​​​​​

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Theme​

Pentimento:  "The presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been changed and painted over.”

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Player Objective​​​​​

Discover the hidden past of the Historical Society, and escape.​​​​

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Mechanics​​​​​​​​​​​​​

-Manipulate artwork to solve puzzles.

-Run/hide from 'Curator' boss.

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​​Made in Unreal Engine.​​​​​

Level Plan

Overall Concept

The Silent Hill Historical Society, decades after it is seen in Silent Hill 2, is remade into a much larger structure by a new owner, The Curator, as an attempt to hide its past and draw in unsuspecting newcomers to the town of Silent Hill. ​

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Pentimento (Hidden paintings)

Players can discover paintings from the original Historical Society level by shining a special light on certain paintings.​​

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​Glass Floors (Vertical Doors)

I found walkable glass floor references that could be shattered in order for the player to progress - similar to how the ice shatters under Harry's feet in Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. 

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The Curator​

For The Curator's design, I referenced the Mystery Man from Lost Highway.

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In the film, the Mystery Man uses a video camera to reveal traumatic memories the protagonist is repressing, similar to Pyramid Head's role in Silent Hill 2.

Basic 2D Layout + Level Flow

1st Floor (Entrance):​

  • 1. Start outside in a forest. Your character's car just crashed and you're disoriented.

  • 2. Find a path in the forest that leads inside the main Historical Society entrance.

  • ​3. Explore the art in the galleries.​

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Shift to "Otherworld" and Discovery of the Past

  • 1. Interact with a cube sculpture to trigger the level to shift to its "Otherworld" (darker/more sinister) version.

    • - A second cube sculpture rises from the floor.

    • - A new light source appears.

  • 2. Reveal original versions of Historical Society paintings by shining the new light source on paintings.​

  • 3. Once all paintings are discovered, a hidden entrance is revealed that takes the player inside the original Historical Society rooms seen in Silent Hill 2. This triggers The Curator to appear.​

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Chase with The Curator

   1. Run and hide from The Curator.

   2. Escape by shattering the glass floor beneath you, which takes you to the basement level below, which provides an exit out of the Historical Society. 

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Scripting/Implementation

Part 1: The Curator Encounter

Started with a simplified blockout focusing on scripting the ending Curator encounter. This included creating:

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  • ​A third person character with a follow camera that matched the basic feel of Harry in Shattered Memories.

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  • The Curator's AI behavio​r, including a red light that shines from the camera and hurts the player.

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  • TV screens that display the POV of The Curator's video camera held in his hand.

Part 2: Cube and Light Puzzles

Next focused on blocking out the Historical Society main entrance area, and focusing on the mechanics of the puzzles, which included creating:​​

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  • A rotating cube sculpture that would impact the level.​

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  • A controllable light that can be controlled by the cube puzzle to reveal older versions of paintings.​

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  • A short cutscene displaying the level changing and shifting into its "Otherworld" version.

Going Forward

Conducted playtesting on segments mentioned above. Next stage will be incorporating feedback, adjusting mechanics, and assembling a full playable level for further testing.

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