Silent Hill Gamer

Horror games have never been so scary; even though Silent Hill 2 was released in late 2001, it is still one of the best physiological horrors known to the gaming world. Developed by Konami and made originally for the PS2, Silent Hill 2 was the first true, in depth horror game that left you feeling alone. The game doesn’t have huge boss fights that would leave you hammering the controller until it was a pile of dust in your hand, it would leave you to run around on your own accord. This might not sound like an effective way of engrossing you into the game, but it really does. The ‘monsters’ in the game seem too busy attacking each other, most of the time, to even care you exist. This puts you in a solid state of being, well and truly, alone.

During the game, you will encounter a large number of strange but beautiful monsters. By far the most disturbing is Pyramid Head. Although his name might make you snigger, in game he will have to hiding behind your chair. Standing much taller than you, with a sword to make a Final Fantasy character blush, he can have you sprinting in the other direction in a second.

The game-play isn’t Silent Hill 2’s strongest point. The camera feels like it is being controlled by a drunken person, who has no concept of how a camera actually works, which can get very annoying at times. The combat system feels like you are pulling teeth at times, but this only adds to the story. The main character, James Sunderland, is simply a clerk, receives a letter of his wife to come and find him, which is a little confusing, as she has been dead for years. This only starts the thick sheet of atmosphere from the moment you press ‘start’.

Silent Hill 2 is, by far, one of the greatest horror games ever made. Although it might not feel as smooth as some other horror survival games, there is one thing makes it stand out from the pack; the atmosphere. No game, that I have played, has ever made me relive that feeling before.

by William Lucas

1. Silent Hill [Playstation] (2000)
2. Silent Hill 2 [PS2] (2001)
3. Silent Hill 2 Inner Fears [Xbox] (2002)
4. Silent Hill 3 [PS2] (2003)
5. Silent Hill 4 [PS2] (2004)
6. Silent Hill 4 The Room [PS2] (2004)
7. Silent Hill 5 Homecoming [Xbox 360, PS3] (2009)
8. Silent Hill Origins [PS2/PSP] (2007/2008)
9. Silent Hill Shattered Memories [Wii] (2010)