Not a bad entry, just far from the best in the series.
First off the visuals are genuinely beautiful and crystal clear with some hard work gone into creating an eerie and disgusting atmosphere. The game does seem reminiscent of older Silent Hills according to graphics so thumbs-up for that.
The controls of Alex we're at first quite awkward to get to grips with. The idea of moving him with one stick, then the camera with the other is a concept i'm never comfortable with. The same awkwardness was with 'Driver 3'!
The story is amicable and although does provide mystery at first. After the first hour, the plot was genuinely lost to me. For most of the time, I was running round in the fog searching for clues, finding drawings, talking to people and not getting anything back, and fighting skinless dogs. Then more walking around.
Which brings me to combat. It appears the new developers spent most of their time trying to figure out some good concepts for fighting, dodging and avoiding some hefty damage. But to me the combat in Homecoming is more confusing and tricky than it ever was. The dodge button is useful at times but more often just drags me toward danger rather than away from it. And considering the game is more combat-heavy, the weapons are dull, clunky and just plain-Jane. I spent most of the time using the weapon you find from the moment you start, the old kitchen knife!
Homecoming is a well tried attempt to familiarise itself and find homage to previous Silent Hill titles, but seems to make itself set-out from the rest in a negative sense due to poor and awkward combat and simple health system which gives no sense of strategy. A plot which drags on for a good few hours and to be honest, uninteresting and boring characters. Still worth a play though.