Let me tell you something about gaming that I've learned over years of playing survival horror titles - when a remake gets the combat system right, you can feel it in your bones. I still remember booting up the Jili Try Out for the first time, that familiar tension creeping up my spine as I stepped into James's worn-out shoes. What struck me immediately was how the developers completely reimagined the melee combat system, transforming what was once a clunky afterthought into the absolute centerpiece of the survival experience.
The moment an enemy first lunged at me in that foggy corridor, I realized this wasn't the Silent Hill I remembered from 2001. These creatures don't just attack - they invade your personal space with relentless determination, closing distances that would feel safe in other games. I found myself backed against walls more times than I'd care to admit during those first few hours. My initial weapon, that trusty slab of lumber, felt satisfyingly weighty in my virtual hands, but I quickly learned it was more than just a temporary tool - it was my introduction to a completely new rhythm of combat.
Here's what most guides won't tell you - that lumber weapon actually has about 15-20 solid hits before it starts to seriously degrade, though I've never actually counted because who has time for that when a nurse is charging at you? The transition to the metal pipe later feels like upgrading from a bicycle to a motorcycle - suddenly you're dealing approximately 40% more damage while maintaining better durability, though these are just my rough estimates from playing through the game three times.
The real game-changer, the mechanic that completely transformed how I approach combat, was the dodge ability. I can't stress enough how revolutionary this feels for veterans of the original. Remember how we used to just back away awkwardly from enemies? Those days are gone. The dodge pairs perfectly with the aggressive enemy AI that constantly pushes forward. I've developed this almost dance-like rhythm now - wait for the attack, recognize the tell, dodge at the precise moment, then counter. It took me dying 23 times to the first major boss before this rhythm truly clicked, but once it did, combat transformed from terrifying to thrilling.
What I absolutely love about this system is how it demands your full attention to enemy behavior. Each creature has distinct physical tells that you need to learn through painful repetition. The nurses tilt their heads at about a 45-degree angle before striking, while the abstract daddy creatures emit this subtle clicking noise that precedes their lunge by about half a second. These might seem like small details, but they make the difference between surviving an encounter and reloading your last save.
My personal preference leans heavily toward the metal pipe over the lumber, not just for the increased damage, but for the satisfying audio feedback - that metallic clang when you connect with an enemy's skull just feels more visceral. Though I'll admit, there's something nostalgically satisfying about the thud of wood against flesh that occasionally makes me reluctant to upgrade.
The learning curve is steep - I'd estimate it takes most players about 4-6 hours to truly master the dodge timing against the game's diverse enemy types. But once it clicks, you start feeling like a survival horror virtuoso. I've reached this point where I can navigate rooms filled with multiple enemy types without firing a single bullet, just using well-timed dodges and strategic pipe swings. It's in these moments that Jili Try Out transcends being just another remake and becomes something genuinely special.
What surprised me most was how the dodge mechanic doesn't make the game easier - it makes it more demanding. You can't just spam the dodge button and hope for the best. The timing has to be precise, and the game punishes mistimed dodges more severely than it ever did in the original. I've found myself actually missing the simplicity of the old combat system during particularly tense moments, only to realize that this new complexity is what makes the experience so rewarding.
The way enemies constantly encroach on your space creates this brilliant tension that never lets up. I've developed this habit of constantly checking my surroundings, my thumb always hovering near the dodge button. It's created some genuinely cinematic moments - like the time I dodged three consecutive attacks from different enemies in a single fluid motion that felt more like choreography than combat.
After completing the game multiple times, I'm convinced this combat system represents the future of survival horror. It maintains the genre's signature tension while giving players tools that feel empowering without breaking the horror atmosphere. The marriage of aggressive enemy design with responsive defensive options creates this perfect balance that other developers should study closely.
Looking back at my 38 hours with Jili Try Out, what stands out most aren't the jump scares or the story revelations, but those heart-pounding combat encounters where I barely survived through skill and timing. The system rewards patience and observation in ways that few modern games do, and while it has a steep learning curve, the mastery it offers feels genuinely earned. This isn't just another remake - it's a thoughtful reimagining that understands what made the original special while having the courage to improve upon it.