Silver Pines: A Gorgeous 2D Metroidvania with a Resident Evil Vibe
Silver Pines is a 2D metroidvania that draws heavily from the Resident Evil legacy, while also weaving in a Twin Peaks-like atmosphere. Set in a small, rain-soaked town, it's a place where the familiar feels just a little off. You play as Red Walker, a private investigator searching for a missing musician named Eddie Velvet. But the real threat comes from the grotesque monsters that now roam the streets, eager to tear you apart. The setting is atmospheric, eerie, and definitely not a place you’d want to be during a storm.
The game’s core gameplay mirrors classic survival horror, with limited resources, a small inventory, and a variety of locked doors that require clever puzzle-solving to open. This is where Silver Pines feels most like a love letter to the genre, offering mechanics that harken back to the days of Resident Evil and Silent Hill. You can collect healing herbs, combine items in your inventory, and even find weapons to defend yourself. However, the experience isn’t without its frustrations, especially early on.
A Strategy of Shin-Stabbing
Early in my time with Silver Pines, I found myself facing off against shadowy creatures that seemed impossible to kill with the meager tools I had. My first weapon was a boxcutter, a puny tool that was surprisingly ineffective against the grotesque enemies that roam the town. The combat felt slow and clunky, leaving me vulnerable to constant attacks.
Faced with a dwindling supply of healing herbs and a sluggish character, I had to think of a new strategy. I started targeting the shins of monsters, a method that, while tedious and somewhat absurd, kept me alive long enough to progress. It was not a glamorous way to play, but it worked. The monsters seemed to be unable to retaliate while I was attacking their legs, giving me a temporary reprieve from death.
As the game progresses, you’ll eventually gain access to firearms, but the majority of combat will still take place in close quarters, regardless of the weapon you choose. This means that even with more powerful gear, you’ll still be spending a lot of time dodging and weaving, making every encounter a test of patience and reflexes.
A Gorgeous but Familiar Experience
Visually, Silver Pines is a treat. The characters and enemies are rendered in a rotoscope aesthetic, giving the game a unique and stylized look. The animation is smooth and impressive, especially during combat sequences. However, despite the game’s visual appeal, I found myself feeling a bit bored after just one hour of gameplay.
The issue with love letters to the past is that they often feel derivative. While Resident Evil was able to revitalize the genre with a bold shift to first-person gameplay, Silver Pines takes a different route by going 2D, which feels more limiting than innovative. The metroidvania elements are present, but they don’t quite elevate the experience in a way that feels fresh or groundbreaking.
In the end, Silver Pines is a game that looks great and plays with a familiar set of mechanics. It’s a gorgeous 2D Resident Evil-inspired metroidvania that will keep you entertained, but it might not leave a lasting impression. If you're a fan of the genre, it’s worth a look—but don’t expect to be blown away.
