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Video Games have grown up. And they are scary.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: June 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

To keep this review rather simpleton, this game is eerie, spooky, morbid and malevolent. With that said it should also be noted that this game is very fun and dare I say intelligent. There are many different puzzles that need to be solved in order to advance to other levels. Now the story line to this game is great too. A man receives a letter from his wife, several years after she has died. The letter leads him to Silent Hill, where he meets a dead ringer of his departed wife.

The graphics are good, the music is wonderful, the video is great and the game play is good. I must confess I am of the Atari generation, so it took me a bit to get use to the controls on this game. However, after some practice I adjusted well. A final note to parents, THIS GAME IS FOR ADULTS ONLY!!!!! SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THIS GAME FREAKED ME OUT!!! THEREFORE, IT MIGHT SCARE THE OATMEAL OUT OF YOUR LITTLE JIMMY OR DEBBIE!!!! Many times people don't read disclaimers and end up blaming video game companies to stop production on a game, because it is damaging their children. This would all be avoided if people/parents review the product before they buy it. Would you eat something if you didn't know what was in it?

I'm off the soap box, this is a great game.

The Silence Is Broken.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

When I first saw this game, I veiwed it as another stupid horror game with bad voice acting, annoying characters, and a bad plot.

Boy was I wrong.

Silent Hill 2 has to be one of the darkest, most horrifying games I've ever played.
Half of this has to do with the creepily-realistic rendering of the environment and most noticabally, the monsters, varying from things that look like they just walked out of a insane asylum, put in a straight jacket, wrapped in cellophane, and burned to death, then reborn, to a towering humanoid beast with a pyramid shaped helmet on its head that stalks you around everywhere. The other half has to do with the beautifull and deep plot the story provides.

The game begins with the main character, James Sunderland, talking about how he recieved a letter from his wife who died 3 years ago due to "That Damn Desiese" telling him to return to their special place, Silent Hill, and meet her there.
On his way, James runs into Angela, a suicidal girl whos looking for her mother, Eddie, a murderer who ran to the town as a flee attempt, Laura, a little girl who was friends with Mary in the hospital, and Maria, a woman that looks exactly like Mary besides her hair, clothes, and personality.
As well, James runs into various monsters; Patient Demons, Mannequins, Mandarins, Bubble headed nurses, weird cockroachy things, Doormen, and one of the most frightening, Pyramid Head.

I can't say much more without ruining the game, other then its a game that you need to play.

The best Silent Hill game, the best game period.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was a huge Resident Evil fan before I got this game, so when I heard about Silent Hill I just had to play it. What I experienced with this game though was a more mature and complex storyline, accompanied by visually pleasing graphics,and both a haunting and beautiful soundtrack composed by Akira Yamaoka. Overall it is an interactive psychological thriller that will change your view on what a game should be. I will say this, if you are the type that does not like games like Resident Evil, or the type that will scream during a horror movie, then you would probably quit playing after seeing some of the freaky stuff in this game. If you do not have the patience to explore a world full of captivating mystery and intrigue and are a wuss, like my older brother is, then don't play it. But if you enjoy giving yourself a challenge with survival horror, then you'd better get this game. Like others have commented in the reviews, this game reads like a movie, the plot thickens and it just gets creepier and creepier. Buy this game, and if you like it get Silent Hill 3, to understand that game though you must play Silent Hill 1,since it is really the sequel to Silent Hill 1. Yet it is probably too late since it was released on the PS1 and the graphics on it are ancient, but that did not stop me from playing it after SH's 2 & 3.
Okay I'll rate them on a scale of 1-5 stars
*Silent Hill 1- great game, the original which introduces the main story of the town and its inhabitants. 4 stars, 1 star off because of the PS1 graphics.
*Silent Hill 2- goes in a different direction and introduces the story of James Sunderland. 5 stars, best game in my opinion
*Silent Hill 3- follows up on Silent Hill 1 story. Awesome game 5 stars
*Silent Hill 4- again goes in a different direction and introduces the story of Henry Townsend. 3.75 stars because they sacrifices some elements of the original games and quite frankly the graphics did not get better as I expected, i'm sure the next generation Silent Hill will have better graphics than all of the previous ones, but this one did not do it for me like the others did. BUT, it was definitely still CREEPY!
Get the @&%$#*! game if you feel like turning off all the lights,turning up the surround sound, and experiencing a great survival horror game that's good from start to finish!

The Truth about Silent Hill 2...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'll be honest straight up front as I am with all of my reviews, Silent Hill 2 is better than the original in every way. With that being said lets get on with the review at hand.

First off I am in no way slamming Silent Hill but there is no way it was better or could even hold up court next to Silent Hill 2. Graphics, music, ambience and gameplay all greatly improved. Of course this is because we went from PSX 1 to PSX 2 and that would of course leave room for a better game.

To make this quick, the reason I gave this title a rating of 4 is because it still held alot of which the first game ran dry on. I understand how sequels are supposed to make you remember the past yet embrace the future. I just didn't get as "Spooked" or "Disturbed" with some of the things that took place in this game.

Trust me I take nothing away from Pyramid Head... he and Nemesis will always stay in that dark area of my mind. As far as story goes, this game is far better not only does it make sense in the end but you understand what the directors are trying to get at. So I'd guess that pretty much means... buy the game... go on stop reading this and buy it. Use that Instant Click and buy... your wasting time and Mary needs your help! Ha Ha :)

Awesome game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: December 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game seriously freaked me out. Controlling James takes a little getting used to, but Konami certainly makes up for it with the environment and storyline. If you like survival-horror games, this should definately be on your list!

The Silence Is Broken

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Guess WHAT, boys and girls? Remember that little town of Silent Hill, the place you see in your worst nightmares? Well, BACK WE GO! Return to Hell as James Sunderland in an all-new and terrifying adventure in the abandoned town of Silent Hill.

STORY- 9/10
The story of the sequel is just as good as the original (althoguh they are very different), but it is better rated for not being quite as hard to understand.

James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife begging him to come to Silent Hill. But Mary Sunderland has been dead for three years! Not really daring to believe it, James goes to Silent Hill to search for Mary and maybe ease his tormented soul.

A moving tale of hope and despair among creatures of nightmate set the scene for some of the most disturbing revelations ever seen late in the game. Sheer brilliance.

GRAPHICS- 10/10
Wow. An incredible graphic leap occurs between the first game and the second, with characters now moving and speaking much more fluidly, and backgrounds even MORE breathtaking.

Enemies are not quite as diverse, but their design more than makes up for this. The roaches and zombies return, along with newcomers like straighjackets, mannequins, and doormen. Also included is one of the best villains ever made, a bizarre creature known only as Pyramid Head. Picture a cross between Tyrant ("Resident Evil"), Cloud Strife ("Final Fantasy VII"), and Satan. You have Pyramid Head. Enjoy.

MOOD/ATMOSPHERE- 9/10
Radio, flashlight, impenetrable mist, and skinless monsters. Sound familiar?

Yes, the formula is pretty much the same. But hey, it still works. However, if you've played through the first game (whaddaya mean, you haven't? DO IT!), you already know how to keep your cool in the face of static. You know when and when not to fight. In short, you're a bit more trained in Silent Hill's dark methods than James himself is. This isn't always the case (coughPyramidHeadcough), but the monsters don't usually terrify the wits out of you: they terrify you into routine demon-disposal method.

In short, the instinct to fear the dark is no longer omnipresent. Is it still there? Hell, yes. Hust not as much.

PLAYABILITY- 7.5/10
Personally, I had no problem with the controls. If you played the first game, you've already adapted to survival/horror control style. Although melee combat attacks are random (or at least, they seem that way), melee combat is easier and faster the higher you set the difficulty (probably to offset the monsters' increased stamina).

James is also much more accurate with guns than Harry was. It's possible that James is in the army, as his clothes do look a little military-style, and his profession isn't known. Guns are also much more realistic-sounding in the second game (a shotgun is quieter than a pistol? I think not).

OVERALL- 9/10
Again: Wow. Konami has done it to use again with the second chapter of the "Silent Hill" series. A landmark horror game, which should be bought by any means possible.

THE BEST SILENT HILL EVER !!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is the best Silent Hill, as to yet. I have played them ALL, the first one with "bad" graphics (I personally think they should remake the game with better graphics, so people can enjoy it more), The third one with the girl and the ROOM. But Silent Hill 2 just has the right amount of horror and twist and images and puzzles, that makes it the BEST (for me) of the series !!!

Silent Hill 2 for PC is a good game.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: January 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Silent Hill is a leader amongst few others in the "Eeerie Games"
as it offers a lot of desolation and a feel of helplessness,which
is what some of us want,(maybe we're sick or something, I don't know).But still, there is a market for us. The graphics being very good, especially those of the characters themselves, recognition has to be given to Akira Yamaoka for the awesome music in these games. He is to me (being a musician myself) a leader, amongst few others again, in the videogame soundtrack business. He obviously knows all about desolation and helplessness. Now, about the game plot in SH2, I have to say that I am a little dissapointed with it as it is somewhat less scary than the first one. Then again, I usually am dissapointed about plots in videogames.
But I overlook it because I know that the game creators are not story writers nor are they movie directors,...they make games! Still, it isn't a bad one...just not a excellent one. The gameplay itself is identical to the first "Playstation" SH game. The challenge and various alternative routes towards success is well worth the play if not the purchase itself. I personally encountered setbacks only when it came to the "FMV's", as the sound always came long before the animation. Making the FMV's a real drag. Maybe it works best with a Pentium 4 as opposed to a 3, I really don't know. To those that the same problem occurs, after enduring the scene once ('cause you want to see it at least one time, right) if you have to replay the level, just press on "escape" when you initiate the FMV scene. This will spare you from the ordeal,...so to speak.

Review for those like me...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: September 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

...a light gamer, a newbie to "survival horror". I don't play much, and I think I have about 8 PS2 games. I mostly play sports and classic arcade games, but after I saw Silent Hill the film (a frustrating experience, but I'm not reviewing that right now), I was nonetheless intrigued enough by some of the concepts in the film to dive into the games the film was based on. I started off with Silent Hill 2, because it was the best reviewed, and the least expensive on ebay. Since finishing this game, I've also finished Silent Hill 4 and started on 3, and I'm waiting for find a good deal for the first PSX version. A quick summary--you're Frank Sunderland, widower of three years, and you've recieved a letter from your deceased wife. The letter brings you to Silent Hill, a town that you quickly find out is haunted, or worse, a portal to the netherworld.

Well, this "game" is certainly a mindbender. So many of the reviews comment on the strengths of the game, but I will reinforce some of those from my own "newbie" perspective: The atmosphere is suffocating. The fog, the use of darkness, the use of radio static to beckon a nearby threat, is near flawless and the ideal in horror, in any medium. This is an interactive Horror Thriller, and not the slasher or post-modern "Scream" type either. This puts you there, on the streets of this hellish town, where either the fog or the darkness denies you the eyesight to see what's ten feet in front of you until some freaky thing, trying to break out of its own flesh, is there on top of you. This is not really a game of "jump scares", it's a game of a ever-heightening tension, until you run into a disturbing entity or location (such as Pyramid Head or the extremely unnerving prison) that you never wish to see again. Inoccuous sequences, such as descending a long dark stairwell with a tiny flashlight as pounding sounds, like the machines of hell churning, throb your speakers, are more intense than a barrage of zombies in a Doom type of game. Comparing the monsters in this to what I saw in SH4 and what I'm seeing in SH3, there's no comparison. The aforementioned "Big Boss" Pyramid Head is an icon unto itself, and the nurses and straightjacket zombies are freakier than 90% of the things seen in good horror films. This "film", seems to be heavily influenced by Asian horror, Lovecraft, HR Giger, and Tool--both the music and the videos. Throw those things in a blender, and you get the Silent Hill mythos...

As for the story, look, the story's solid, but this game was released back in mid-2001. If you're just playing it now...it might actually feel cliched, because the "twist(s)" have been done before, in recent horror/thriller films--you may see connections to The Others, Identity, and the Machinist, but keep in mind, this came first. Because of that, I was actually a bit disappointed with the story, thinking, "Come on, I could see that coming a mile away!", but it's my fault, for playing it now, and not when it was first released. The music is also very effective, at times intense to match the action, at other times, soft and melodic in a minor key, to reflect the tragedy behind the tale.

When you finish the game, its the overall atmosphere that you will remember the most, and the fun--if we call it that--from being scared by what's implied in the distance but we can't see it before it's too late. I watch a good amount of horror films, but 99% of them are [...], reliant on pop-up boos to get a rise out of the audience. This...this sticks with you.

Silent Hill was better

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: March 12, 2003
Author: Amazon User

There was a more detailed storyline with Silent Hill than with SH2. SH had more secrets, plus I got really annoyed with the whiney female characters in SH2. It also seemed to end quicker. Still, it was at least as scarey as SH, with the accustomed graphic gore and tense background sounds. Don't play it alone at night! I look forward to SH3....I hope the female lead has more "guts"!

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