Easy 10. A grim and uncomfortable descent through one man's nightmare. Still one of the best horror games ever.
Bar none, still reigning king of Survival horror. This game cannot be really even described, you have to play it...somehow, thanks to konami being not great about porting it properly. DO NOT PLAY SILENT HILL HD COLLECTION version, its, technically, not the same game. Konami straight lost the Silent Hill 2 dev build(YKNOW, WHY KEEP IMPORTANT THINGS, F&$% IT MAN JUST THROW IT AWAY) and the SIlent hill 3 one. So the games 1.incomplete 2.missing vital things part of the experience (fog, proper fitting voice actor) 3.its crash heavy(if your xbox 360 game is crashing, man have you meshed something up somewhere)
while not exactly terrifyingly scary, it trades actively trying to scare you, for this tone that is not even describable. A depression with a side of fear i guess for the unknown. Im going to cut this gush piece of a comment now, just please play this game
while not exactly terrifyingly scary, it trades actively trying to scare you, for this tone that is not even describable. A depression with a side of fear i guess for the unknown. Im going to cut this gush piece of a comment now, just please play this game
It's amazing how immersive this game is and holds you in the story from beginning to end, everything is very perfect and well done, graphics, characters, enemies, music, atmosphere ... it's really a masterpiece.
Fricking epic!! Best game I ever played, the symbolism and mythology in this game is so good.
The other game with the really cool foggy town (Pathologic 2 is the other one)
They don't make video games like Silent Hill 2 anymore
Worried it was going to be an overrated or overhyped classic at first but wow… can’t remember the last time a game hit me that hard! Deserves all the praise it gets and more
I just don't know how its possible for a video game to make me just so extremely miserable....
I've been holding off from writing a review for months since I finished the game, but I think I can finally sit down now and gather some of my thoughts.
I think even now, Silent Hill 2 holds up for being an incredible narrative with a wonderful atmosphere and soundtrack. I wouldn't change a single thing about this game.
The voice acting in this game is just so amazingly awkward in the best way possible. Guy Cihi may not be a great guy but he's the best voice for James Sunderland and I'll die on that hill (haha get it.....)
From the very beginning of Silent Hill 2 to the very end I was immersed in it's atmosphere. The ambient noises are so so eerie, and some of the storytelling through actions and interacting with items was very fun. The only gripe I really had with the gameplay was the camera angle, but I quickly got used to it after 30 minutes or so.
The best thing about this game, however, by far is the main protagonist James Sunderland. He just feels so real... his actions and thoughts and his inner turmoil as he tries to find his wife in Silent Hill is so gut wrenching. I felt like I was watching this dude go through a mental illness simulator and all I could do was sit back and feel awful.
I remember for MONTHS after finishing Silent Hill 2 I literally couldn't listen to the soundtrack or think about any of the characters without tearing up... Which is a problem especially if you're walking around in public.
I know a lot of people may find this game overrated, but I don't think I'll ever find a video game that tackles serious subjects in such and interesting and heartbreaking way again.
I'd do anything to replay this game completely blind.
I've been holding off from writing a review for months since I finished the game, but I think I can finally sit down now and gather some of my thoughts.
I think even now, Silent Hill 2 holds up for being an incredible narrative with a wonderful atmosphere and soundtrack. I wouldn't change a single thing about this game.
The voice acting in this game is just so amazingly awkward in the best way possible. Guy Cihi may not be a great guy but he's the best voice for James Sunderland and I'll die on that hill (haha get it.....)
From the very beginning of Silent Hill 2 to the very end I was immersed in it's atmosphere. The ambient noises are so so eerie, and some of the storytelling through actions and interacting with items was very fun. The only gripe I really had with the gameplay was the camera angle, but I quickly got used to it after 30 minutes or so.
The best thing about this game, however, by far is the main protagonist James Sunderland. He just feels so real... his actions and thoughts and his inner turmoil as he tries to find his wife in Silent Hill is so gut wrenching. I felt like I was watching this dude go through a mental illness simulator and all I could do was sit back and feel awful.
I remember for MONTHS after finishing Silent Hill 2 I literally couldn't listen to the soundtrack or think about any of the characters without tearing up... Which is a problem especially if you're walking around in public.
I know a lot of people may find this game overrated, but I don't think I'll ever find a video game that tackles serious subjects in such and interesting and heartbreaking way again.
I'd do anything to replay this game completely blind.
Perfect storytelling, perfect soundtrack, perfect writing and atmosphere and overall just perfect. I can’t begin to express how much i love this game
Got the PAL Director's Cut on PS2 which I've read is just the European 'Restless Dreams' version.
I was looking forward to playing this but at the same time massively dreading it because most highly-rated stuff (no matter the medium) is always overhyped by some sort of mob mentality and didn't want to be crucified for not adding to that. These fears came true in the first hour or two with the clunky movement, "meh" combat and poor voice acting but I quickly got used to it and really got into it.
Is this the greatest game ever made? Fuck off. Is it one very spectacular one that I thoroughly enjoyed? Fuck yes!
This game is clearly very special due to the incredible amount of detail put into it. The sound design is easily the best aspect but every aspect of this game works so well together to truly make you feel horrified.
Lots of people seem to have had a severe emotional reaction (other than "ooh, spooky") to this game and that's fine. I'm not trying to discredit that but this game did not do that for me. I already had my eye-opening therapeutic experience this year so that's all used up for the next five I'd say. But I can see why it could cause such a reaction in some. James' own guilt and trauma could act as a reflection to some, I suppose, even if it's for something different. Which I think was the intention given the save screen of James looking back at you looking at him on your TV -- like a mirror to indicate you're the same person.
Anyway, I'm sure I'm not bringing anything new to the table so I'll stop here:
Silent Hill 2 is a mesmerizing experience carefully crafted by some very passionate people. While I don't think it fully takes advantage of the video game medium, it truly is something special in this medium. There's a reason why people still talk about it today and that's because the story and symbolism are almost perfectly executed from a writing standpoint.
Worth paying £46 for a copy off eBay even 21 years after it came out. And that will stay in my collection until I die.
Also, I got the 'Leave' ending which I was very satisfied with in the moment and even more proud of myself after watching what the other endings are. I think it's the best ending.
I would like to add that I really don't understand the hype for "Born from a Wish", though. Perhaps, it's just cos it kinda fucks with my interpretation of the main scenario.
I was looking forward to playing this but at the same time massively dreading it because most highly-rated stuff (no matter the medium) is always overhyped by some sort of mob mentality and didn't want to be crucified for not adding to that. These fears came true in the first hour or two with the clunky movement, "meh" combat and poor voice acting but I quickly got used to it and really got into it.
Is this the greatest game ever made? Fuck off. Is it one very spectacular one that I thoroughly enjoyed? Fuck yes!
This game is clearly very special due to the incredible amount of detail put into it. The sound design is easily the best aspect but every aspect of this game works so well together to truly make you feel horrified.
Lots of people seem to have had a severe emotional reaction (other than "ooh, spooky") to this game and that's fine. I'm not trying to discredit that but this game did not do that for me. I already had my eye-opening therapeutic experience this year so that's all used up for the next five I'd say. But I can see why it could cause such a reaction in some. James' own guilt and trauma could act as a reflection to some, I suppose, even if it's for something different. Which I think was the intention given the save screen of James looking back at you looking at him on your TV -- like a mirror to indicate you're the same person.
Anyway, I'm sure I'm not bringing anything new to the table so I'll stop here:
Silent Hill 2 is a mesmerizing experience carefully crafted by some very passionate people. While I don't think it fully takes advantage of the video game medium, it truly is something special in this medium. There's a reason why people still talk about it today and that's because the story and symbolism are almost perfectly executed from a writing standpoint.
Worth paying £46 for a copy off eBay even 21 years after it came out. And that will stay in my collection until I die.
Also, I got the 'Leave' ending which I was very satisfied with in the moment and even more proud of myself after watching what the other endings are. I think it's the best ending.
I would like to add that I really don't understand the hype for "Born from a Wish", though. Perhaps, it's just cos it kinda fucks with my interpretation of the main scenario.
My first time playing this gem and 20 years later Silent Hill 2 is still a masterpiece in storytelling and atmospheric environment. Silent Hill 2 is never cheap, there are no jump scares in this game and it still manages to be terrifying. The fog is a great way to create a creepy atmosphere. I also like that it is a far more personal story overall and that the endings are all determined by how you’ve chosen to naturally play the game.
While Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams isn't nearly as scary as Silent Hill 1, it's still a blast to play. The characters are great, and this makes for a very well-written side story for Silent Hill, that focuses more on the characters, and not on the cult plotline that the 1st and 3rd game follow. The puzzles here are amazing, and quite possibly the best in the series. My only big complaint is that the game is generally too easy, but it feels like that was done on purpose. Just like the 1st game, I highly recommend this one.
After dropping the first Silent Hill, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this one very much, but I'm glad to be wrong. This is an absolutely fantastic videogame. I absolutely love the dreary, eerie atmosphere; the lighting effects especially are fantastic, and they looked even better running this with the Enhanced Edition patch. The story had me hooked from the first minute, and the uncanniness of the characters' acting was always unsettling, which was great. By the end, after everything was laid out, I was nearly in tears. This is some actual peak fiction.
I played through the main game, getting the In Water ending, and then I played through Born From A Wish (which...well, it sure does exist I guess).
Minor gripe, but the Action "Normal" difficulty was way easier than I ever imagined it would've been; my inventory was always chock-full of ammo and healing items. Not once did I die. If I replay this in the future, you can bet it'll be on Action "Hard."
I played through the main game, getting the In Water ending, and then I played through Born From A Wish (which...well, it sure does exist I guess).
Minor gripe, but the Action "Normal" difficulty was way easier than I ever imagined it would've been; my inventory was always chock-full of ammo and healing items. Not once did I die. If I replay this in the future, you can bet it'll be on Action "Hard."
This game really was as good as everyone says it is. It was even better than I expected it to be. I found the gameplay loop to be addictive and fun, and the story has really crept into my mind in a way that not much else has. The ending made me SOB
The Silent Hill series' masterpiece. It's passé to say at this point, but this is the best game in the series, no doubt. It takes on things such as suicide, CSA and various other mental health topics with absolute tact and grace. The gameplay is standard for this kind of game, but it's really bolstered by the imagery and atmosphere on display here. Its uncanny acting which adds to the disturbing vibe is just another cherry on top of this already delicious cake.
logging this because i played the born from a wish scenario for the first time! [SPOILERS] interesting to basically watch the town manifest and basically develop maria up to the point she meets james. a cool addition to my favorite game of all time
Born From A Dream is a perfect little bitesized chunk of survival horror.
Going to mark this version as completed since it's the only one containing "Born From a Wish," which is pretty great for the less than 1-hour experience it is.
This review contains spoilers
Full disclosure: I knew the twist going into this, I had it spoiled for me years ago. Given that, I thought some of the impact of the game's storytelling would be lost on me, but I think it's a testament to the genuinely solid writing of Silent Hill 2 that knowing that going in absolutely did not ruin the emotional weight the story carried for me. There are just so many wonderful little moments of surreal, disturbing tension; almost every scene with Eddie and Angela demonstrates this, but that scene with Maria in the prison? "You were always so forgetful! Remember that time in the hotel?... You said you took everything, but you forgot that videotape we made!" Just, ugh, chills. It understands what can be done with its setting perfectly, and I think it manages to make the town a much more interesting, sinisterly alive creature than it was in 1.
Edit: That last part was wrong as fuck. Wrote this over a year ago and 1 understands how to use the setting so well that even though I don't think 1 is strictly better at this than 2 I do think it has a very different but entirely strong appeal.
Edit: That last part was wrong as fuck. Wrote this over a year ago and 1 understands how to use the setting so well that even though I don't think 1 is strictly better at this than 2 I do think it has a very different but entirely strong appeal.
Silent hill coulda been a rlly cool anthology series but nah
Heres my horror hot take. SH2 is overrated. Im sorry. Its not a bad game but id tried playing it twice and both times i didnt care for it. I was kinda happy it was over when i beat it. Much prefer SH1 and SH3.
Honestly, as much as I love Silent Hill 2, I find it to be overrated among the Big Three Silent Hill games, since it feels like the weakest of them all. As my score indicates, however, I still adore Silent Hill 2! It destructively deconstructs the male ego and its institutions of power, noting the irony of a religion (Christianity) based on mercy being so punitive in practice. Through destruction and reconstruction (the latter being the Silent Hill franchise's secret sauce), Silent Hill 2 creates compassion from the thin air of nihilism boastfully masquerading as realism.
This rating is just for Born From A Wish, not the full game.
Nota do Born from a wish, não o jogo em si
This review contains spoilers
Review of "Born from a Wish" Sub-Scenario:
A neat addition to the main game, laden with implications about the nature of Maria and the forces that inhabit Silent Hill.
I wonder how somebody would experience this side-story and its place in the larger plot, if on their first playthrough of the main campaign they played up to the part where you meet Maria, saved at the next occasion, and then played this, before returning back to the main game.
I find this version of Maria interesting, because we get a glimpse at her inner workings, in contrast to the main game where she just seems like a manifestation of the town meant to torture James emotionally, and here she seems rather willing to help and with defined agency.
I think it's kinda weird that some of the writing and item descriptions makes it seem like there's another puzzle coming, but then it just ends.
Combat is still clunky (the Meat Cleaver was beyond useless) and I'm still not a fan of the stilted dialogue and voice-acting. I want to see it, like all the artsy-fartsy critics, as an extra layer of uncanniness, but in practice it just sets my teeth on edge and disengages me from the plot events. Like c'mon, guy that plays Ernest, you sound straight out of the English dub of Resident Evil 1.
Oh, but speaking of that, the mansion feels like a loving homage to that especially with that one stair room towards the beginning, and the turning of corners being made quite uncomfortable by the fixed camera, which is also pretty neat.
A neat addition to the main game, laden with implications about the nature of Maria and the forces that inhabit Silent Hill.
I wonder how somebody would experience this side-story and its place in the larger plot, if on their first playthrough of the main campaign they played up to the part where you meet Maria, saved at the next occasion, and then played this, before returning back to the main game.
I find this version of Maria interesting, because we get a glimpse at her inner workings, in contrast to the main game where she just seems like a manifestation of the town meant to torture James emotionally, and here she seems rather willing to help and with defined agency.
I think it's kinda weird that some of the writing and item descriptions makes it seem like there's another puzzle coming, but then it just ends.
Combat is still clunky (the Meat Cleaver was beyond useless) and I'm still not a fan of the stilted dialogue and voice-acting. I want to see it, like all the artsy-fartsy critics, as an extra layer of uncanniness, but in practice it just sets my teeth on edge and disengages me from the plot events. Like c'mon, guy that plays Ernest, you sound straight out of the English dub of Resident Evil 1.
Oh, but speaking of that, the mansion feels like a loving homage to that especially with that one stair room towards the beginning, and the turning of corners being made quite uncomfortable by the fixed camera, which is also pretty neat.
Terrible combat. Awful controls. Horrible camera.
And yet 10 minutes in you will never notice. Silent Hill 2 remains a pinnacle of survival horror games, the greatest Silent Hill game, and possibly the crowning achievement of the golden age of survival horror. The game still manages to be incredibly immersive with its environments and disturbing ambient music. The plot still resonates long after its emotional twist has become part of the gaming unconscious.
And yet 10 minutes in you will never notice. Silent Hill 2 remains a pinnacle of survival horror games, the greatest Silent Hill game, and possibly the crowning achievement of the golden age of survival horror. The game still manages to be incredibly immersive with its environments and disturbing ambient music. The plot still resonates long after its emotional twist has become part of the gaming unconscious.
Good atmosphere but that ends up wasted as its not particularly scary. Tank controls are shit and combat is shit. Boss fights are so bad it kills any tension they should have. Story is interesting but gets undermined by atrocious voice acting.
Can see why people who played this at release loved it but playing this in 2022 does make it harder to enjoy. The atmosphere of the game is fantastic with the fog and the sound design making it a very tense game. However the tank controls take awhile to get a hang of and often I would try interact with an object only for the game to not allow it until moving back and forth and the boss fights felt incredibly clunky feeling more frustrating than scary. The story was enjoyable to go through however I do see why this game is getting a remake as the gameplay has not aged well
i'm a sucker for this game's flavor of aged janky controls but the 1990s sierra adventure game bullshit level of the puzzles really grated on my nerves. it's a good thing the narrative and atmosphere more than make up for whatever shortcomings rest in the gameplay, angela's story especially.
This review contains spoilers
i be imagining the hoes too i get it james