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Way to go Konami!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I own this game and even though I haven't beat it yet, I must say that I'm having a lot of fun playing it. I'm sure you know the story of James Sunderland getting a letter from his wife who had been dead for 3 years telling him to meet her in Silent Hill. The sound is SUPERB and the graphics are very good. The only pullback for me was some of the voice acting, but other than that I love the game. Some people think that the gameplay could use some work, but I think it's fine and has improved on the genre if anything. Please note though that this is NOT some pull-out-your-guns action game, it's an adventure game with fighting incorporated. I do like the fighting I do because of the realistic effect. I also like the fighting because you get scared sometimes to enter a room just because you hear strange noises there. There are plenty of times when this game genuinely scares you unlike the jumpiness of Resident Evil (which never really freaked me out or intrigued me). The story is gripping and the characters are well done, I highly reccomend this game. You make want to try out this game to see on your own whether you like it because there is a lot of deviation of opinion.

There are things worse than Death.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 06, 2002
Author: Amazon User

When the original Silent Hill was released for the PSX, critics and gamers alike dismissed it as yet another "mindless" Resident Evil clone. (The why RE was not dismissed as an Alone in the Dark clone is beyond me) Needless to say the game went by underrated. For the ones of use who were lucky enough to play it before it was given any publicity, Silent Hill offered an intoxicating alternative to the cheap "experiment-gone-wrong" formula of the RE games. Its mixture of dark spiritual terror and arcane metaphysics was more than enough to give a few people enough nightmares to wonder about the intensity of the game and go on a joy ride trying to figure out the obscure and convoluted plot.

Silent Hill 2 is more of the same, only that the formula is being used on the inverse. There are not too many jumps "to the other side", and the few ones that there are aren't as rusted and blood filled as in the previous game. Instead, we are greeted with darkened streets covered in sheets, all in an aura of silence and mystery. This has been the complain of some gamers of the first title, but for some gamers (myself included) this did more to the series than before. This time we are assured that the danger does not lay in a blood spilled hallway; it is there, in an ordinary darkened street.

The story is set in a different area of the same town and has no relationship with the previous game. It tells the story of James Sunderland, a man chattered by the tragic death of his wife three years ago, but when he receives a letter by his wife summoning him to their "special place" in Silent Hill he is set to find out the truth behind this letter and behind himself.

The story line is filled with the typical cryptic icons of Japanese pop-culture; psychedelic sequences, gore and violence, symbolism, a good dose of moral philosophy, a complex plot, mysticism, occultism, etc. The game centers more upon the dark side of the human mind, instead of devil worshiping, (like in the original SH) giving the game a darker feel than the previous chapter. The enemies are modeled after truly bizarre creatures; some of them, like the nurses, although not of a terrifying nature are capable of making you jump out of your skin by the tortuous screams those faceless heads spit out of somewhere. Others, like the infamous Pyramid Heads will hunt your waking hours. The two sexual-like sequences early during the game are of the most disturbing things I have seen in recent next-gen video gaming.

This game is really worth the buy. Do not expect a diabolical ride like the previous game; this game is a ride to the darkest reaches of the Soul.

Gave me nightmares

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I don't understand why in the world the first one got a slightly better rating than this one, obviously Silent Hill 2 is way better. I am so glad I own this game, it's one of the scariest and most disturbing games out there. In fact it has been the only one to give me nightmares, yes I know it's pathetic when you hear that but if you play the game you would not blame me. The graphics in this game of course are way better than those in the first one, and it's not as cheesy either. In fact the dialogue in this game is pretty decent, it doesn't sound as if the characters learned English from a cereal box. Also if you are looking for long replayability, this will satisfy that need fully. I must have played this game at least 10 times, and it was entertaining every time. I can't wait till the third game comes out...getting very impatient indeed. So ignore everyone who disses on this game, (...) because they don't know what a good game is, and this is a VERY GOOD GAME. ... BUY IT. ...

Extreme! A must buy!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I loved Silent Hill because the monsters didn't originate from a viral outbreak or means of man, but from truly disturbing evil! I was impressed, but then Silent Hill 2 was born and I was speechless! The music was one of my favorite qualities because it kept me on the edge during the whole game. However, music would be meaningless if it wasn't for the deeply insane story behind the game. It was sad, demented, and very primal. I felt the story was deep and reached inside of me and kept me glued to the end and forced me to play over and over again to find all of the endings. This game is one that every true gamer must play!!

Hell yeah!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Wow! You asked for a great sequel? You got it! I definiet;y could put this game down until it was through. It was the kind of game you wish took weeks to finish. It had the same crazy camera angles and slow, clumsy character issues, but that's part of the game. So dark and morbid. You couldn't ask for a creepier game. Can't wait to get Silent Hill 3.

Scarriest video game I have ever played, PERIOD.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Not even the legendary Resident Evil series comes close to the level of uneasiness and fear I experienced while playing Silent Hill 2.

You are James, a man who heads to Silent Hill to search for his wife, who supposedly died years ago. As he enters the town, shrouded in eternal fog, he enters a nightmarish, surreal purgatory, with demons from his life, and the lives of others, tormenting him.

The atmosphere is what makes this game work. The settings are all plagued by either fog or darkness, which creates a terrifying sense of clausterphobia. The buildings are run down, and every location looks like its owner is neglectful, psychotic, or both. The depraved state of the town is horrifying.

Very rarely does something jump out at you to give you a scare. This consistent lull in action keeps you on the edge of your seat every moment you play the game. Do not, under any circumstances, play this game alone or in the dark--You may have nightmares for weeks.

Having beaten this game, I didn't touch it for months. I recently worked up the courage to play it, thinking I would be less scared because I had already played through once. On the contrary, I was even more terrified when I started to play the second time through.

Many other reviews can give more detailed descriptions of the gameplay dynamics, weapons, puzzles, and story. My review is to state the most important feature: You WILL be scared. If this game does not cause fear, no other video game or movie will.

Silent Hill is such a treat

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

A scary, delightful treat. I never would have guessed a video game would be able to bring such uncontrollable fear over me. I can't control myself after I play this game. I'm so obsessed with my love of horror stories and fear of dying that it's not really surprising how much I happen to love Silent Hill. I'm just surprised I can't keep myself from shaking during and after I play the game.

If you can't control your fears and emotions when you see a horror movie you will NEVER be able to play this game. I hope to God you are aware of the dangers this game may bring to your head.

Silent Hill 2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: January 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Rating-- 99 out of 100--

While Silent Hill is truly one of the only series' that can truly compete with Resident Evil in terms of the best horror series in videogames, this is the closest that Silent Hill ever got to utter and complete perfection, as this game is truly the pinnacle title that will keep you up into the wee hours of the night wondering just what in the hell that noise was at the other end of your house. While Resident Evil has always relied more on scare tactics, such as dogs jumping through windows, elaborate and methodical pacing, and an emphasis on conserving your ammo, Silent Hill has always focused on the more elaborate ideas that are associated with the storyline and the importance of the characters that you meet, and how they relate to the storyline. You see each character that is brought to Silent Hill is here for a reason, and it is here in this second part of Silent Hill that we find some of the best characterization of any videogame ever, as each character (with the exception of Laura) sees the monsters in the game in a different perspective, as it relates to a certain psychological disorder, and pertains to the reason that their souls were brought to this town in the first place.
The storyline revolves around James Sunderland, and his arrival on the outskirts of Silent Hill. James has received a letter from his wife asking him to come back to this town and meet her in "their special place". James recalls that they had several special places and wonders just which one it could be, as truly they spent so much time here together that it is hard to pinpoint exactly what his wife means, as to where he should meet her. However, there is one slight problem, as we are notified at the beginning of the game that James' wife Mary, had died of a disease three years earlier. As James traverses through this living Hell, we find the pieces of this puzzle falling together in such a strange manner, that the drive to find out what exactly happened here drives the player towards five different endings. This game showcases some of the finest monsters ever created in a videogame, as each character is unique and portrays a different aspect of James personality and way of thinking. For example, without spoiling too much, the mannequins that James fights early in the game which he encounters, (at the two hotels a couple hours into the game), are supposed to symbolize, how James wife had become a sexual object to him, as all he sees is a body with legs attached where the arms should be located. This is a subtle reference to the underlying themes of sexuality that permeate the game, and showcase the evolving talents of the developers and creators of this game, as they portray and exhibit things which no game had ever done to the degree that Silent Hill 2 did.
Some might argue about the high score I gave this game, but let me explain briefly, as Silent Hill 2 borders on perfection not in terms of the action or fighting (this has always been secondary, as Silent Hill is about the storyline, and delving into the characters, moreso than just running around and killing things) but in terms of writing, characterization, atmosphere, sound design, and graphics Silent Hill 2 trampled over everyones expectations of what could be expected from this series after the very well done Silent Hill on Playstation 1. The talent and direction of this game never falls short, as camera angles tilt and sway, distorting your conception of reality, much in the same way that Jacobs Ladder did all those years ago when it was first released. This game borrows heavily from that movie in terms of not being aware of being in a dream or in a true reality, as the game jumps back and forth between scenes and events, transpiring you, the player to look deeper than just accepting the game for what it is, and it is in this regard that I believe Silent Hill triumphs over just about any other game in the horror genre (with the exception of Resident Evil 4, and the RE1 remake) to stand at the top of the hill and stand with the best in the genre.
If you don't like the fighting style or pacing of the game, then you are playing this game for the wrong reasons, and you might not understand the angle that I am coming from. But if what I am saying peaks your interest, beat this game, then shoot over to gamefaqs.com and check out the storyline, and plot analysis of this game to understand the level of effort that went into the development and creation of this unmissable journey through the town of Silent Hill. I give this game my highest regards, and always recommend this game as a starting point to the series to friends and family alike, as this is a game that must be witnessed to be believed. Sorry if I did not go into as much detail about the monsters and story as I could have, but i don't wnt to ruin much, and you must try the game for yourself as you will find yourself absorbed into this amazing world; just make sure you play it in the dead of night...

A striking milestone of a game (with spoilers)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

When I first played the original Silent Hill for PS one, I thought that it was a very engrossing and scary game, and overall, very well made. At that point in my life I was in high school, and while I enjoyed it I didn't appreciate then as much as I do now; you might notice that my old Silent Hill (PSone) review was cheesy. I agree, because while it is a very f'ed up game, it also has a lot of heart and symbolic meaning behind it. In other words, it's also a work of art, not just a game to blow your mind away and eat your soul. When Silent Hill 2 came out, I have to admit that I was met with some rejection feelings because it didn't really connect with the first game... I've noticed this among many of my friends, however, I had to give this game a chance. And after all was said and done, this remains so far as my favorite Silent Hill game.

This game stars James Sunderland, who returns to Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his already deceased wife Mary to "return to their special place." Through the course of the story, he meets other strange characters: Angela, who's returned to find her family and has an unfortunate past in regards to her father; Eddie, who only says that he was called there but soon turns insane and realizes he has the right to kill people; Laura, a girl who apparently was close to Mary in the hospital; and finally, Maria, a carbon-copy of his late wife Mary, only Maria is dressed provocatively different.

We are introduced to new monsters in the game; the nurses look ten times freakier with bandages over their faces and creepy noises (unlike the silly groans and the humps in the first game). There are patient demons that run around like they're totally restrained and spit acid blood. Mannequins run around with legs for arms and attempt to bash them against you. And of course, I cannot mention this game without the infamous Pyramid Head, in which there are actually two that are after you.

While Silent Hill's story centered on a demigod coming back to life using a child's power and lifeforce, Silent Hill 2 is all centered around redemption and the history of the town itself; We learn that the town was ALREADY screwed up before Dahlia and the cult decided to play god and bring about the darkness in the first game. During the civil war, they had imprisoned soldiers and tortured them to death. There were witch trials. There was lots of crime, including the character of Walter Sullivan killing children (sound familiar? He's the main villain in Silent Hill 4!). Now the once-used prison is the historical society. Pyramid Head apparently was around during that time, or at least is a representation of the two cloaked executioners who supervised the deaths.

And the reason I point out "Redemption" is because all of the characters---including the main character---have committed some awful sin and have been called back to Silent Hill to pay for their sins. Eddie was a fat guy that was made fun of all the time, and instead of moving on with life, he gets called back to Silent Hill and develops the desire and the thrill of killing. Angela's family past has come back to haunt her and instead of reconciling with her family (or moving on), she decides to kill herself. James, the main character, killed his wife (or did he?) and thus returned for judgment, and depending on what ending you get, he either leaves with the innocent Laura (who doesn't see monsters at all) and takes care of her as Mary requested or else faces the consequences by either going through that again with the Maria character or also committing suicide (we are also left with the indication that it was 3 days or 3 weeks as opposed to 3 years since Mary's passing). There are other endings as well, which I'll leave you to find out what.

A very atmospheric game with the most human story of the Silent Hill series; With smoother gameplay, better graphics (thereby allowing for more scary aesthetics), and an engrossing story, this game paved the way for Silent Hill 4's creepy tale as well. Out of all the Silent Hill games, this one captivated me the most and made me want to play it over and over again. I read an article once that said that the creators' favorite one was this one... I can see why, because despite all of the aberrations and hellish environments, this one's a human game at its core.

Its Just A Game.....Its just a game...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Well, let me start off by saying, this is a scary game. You walk into that silent hallway, pitch black, with no light except you flashlight, ( that can only see 2 ft ahead of you. ) I often times, just stopped and was to scared to go. So I put on some happy music. I would rather hear Britney Spears, Lenny Kravit, and Korn put together than listen to dead silence in a pitch black hallway. Than I start to move and I hear his radio get louder and louder. I put down the controller and had to go to the bathroom. SCARY!!!!

This game is fun, i guess. You will want to play it till its done. Then you will feel a great accomplishment. Its fun, only when you take the last breath away of a zombie with a wooden plank.

The sound in this game are crazy. I just had dinner, and went back to play the game, and I meet a guy named eddie. Hes throwing up in the scene, And It sounded so real, I was going to throw up with him. everything about the sound is perfect.

Of course the controls are allitle messed up, but they are in every horror game. Utherwise, this game is a classic....

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