Silent Hill series

So as noted in another topic, I got Silent Hill 2 for my birthday a month ago, was a pretty big surprise gift. I played through SH2 once and liked it so much I bought SH3 immediately after, playing both on the PS2 on my CRT.

Silent Hill 2 is one of those games where every critisim I have can easily be countered by "that's the point". Yeah the voice acting is weird, but that's probably the point. The combat and camera are disorienting and wack, at times even unresponsive, but in the whole spiritual drama setting it almost feels like it ... is allowed to be that way? Generally speaking the gameplay is incredibily simple. You go from A to B, at B you get an item to open door C, behind which is another set of rooms with locked doors, which have keys behind them for other locked doors. Sometimes there's a puzzle.

Combat is super simple too, enemies die pretty fast, but they can revive if you're unlucky. Bosses are just ammo-drains and the protagonist isn't very skilled at using weapons, so not a lot comes of it.

Yet as a whole, the game really gripped me from start to finish. The story, how it unfolds, the atmosphere, the excellent music, it was a really solid title. Generally I'm a big wuss when it comes to horror, but this game wasn't at all scary to me which was nice. It was just very intense. There weren't any jumpscares, just tension, wacky animations and a really interesting story that is expressed in a lot of little gameplay things.

SH3 was...a bit of a letdown for me. It didn't have the immediate hook I had with SH2, which starts with "My wife died 3 years ago, she just sent me a letter she's in Silent Hill" which immediately grabbed me since it's interesting. SH3 you're just in a mall, then there's demons, and literal hel and cults and I really don't care. The combat took a pretty big hit too imo by making enemies insanely tanky, with even common mooks tanking 10-20 pistol shots or 3-5 shotgun shots to the face, and still they can revive if you're unlucky. The final boss took more than 150 handgun shots..on Normal. Pretty bizarre.

I'm going to buy SH4 soon, depending on how my new school goes and if I have some gaming time then. Very interested in that one, despite SH3 disappointing me so.

What are your guy's experiences with the series?

Not gonna play 1? I am so anal about starting with the first game in every series, no matter how jank. Love PSX games too, they look so rad.

Never played the series but from what I remember everyone LOVES 3, interesting you didn't like it.
Final boss sounds wack and it makes me wonder if you missed something? A stronger weapon or a weakness?

From what I could research, SH3 was a pretty rushed game, cobbled together since Konami wanted it to be a lightgun game (what the fuck) until the directors of SH2 got so angry they managed to shift it back into this formula. A lot of changes were also made to respond to the critisms of the mixed reception of the second game - interesting since SH2 is pretty much the most beloved game now, showing you sometimes really need to let a game age a bit.

> not start with the first one
I wanted to play it after SH2, since that was the gift I got. But I'm super anal about emulation, I just don't enjoy playing that way for some reason. I want the disc, on my machine, on my tv, on my memory card. And SH1 is pretty much impossible to find sadly, at least for me. I found a lot of scams for it too, people claiming to sell 'just the disc' only for it to be the demo-disc upon closer inspection.

> final boss
Did some digging, sadly I didn't miss anything. A lot of players use an exploit apparently to kill her (stand in a specific spot where she cannot hit you and just melee her for 10~ minutes). Read a lot of reports of players just outright not being able to beat Hard Mode due to her massive HP-pool. Massive HP seems to be a bit of a trend in this game.

I do recommend the series man, it's fucking fantastic. I didn't enjoy SH3 as much, or nearly as much, as SH2, but both are still standup PS2 games. SH2 is always on my mind since beating it. Looks gorgeous on CRTs too.

>And SH1 is pretty much impossible to find sadly
I gave the Japanese version to my friend recently.

Silent Hill, a quiet little lakeside resort town. We're happy to have you.

Take some time out your busy schedules and enjoy a nice restful vacation here. Row after row of quaint old houses, a gorgeous mountain landscape, and a lake which shows different sides of its beauty with the passing of the day, from sunrise to late afternoons to sunset.

Silent Hill will move you and fill you with a feeling of deep peace.

I hope your time here will be pleasant and your memories will last forever.

Editor: Roger Widmark

Played Silent Hill 4 for fifteen minutes at a friend's house. What I recall from this experience was that it was a bizarre one walking down steps in a grungy-looking environment wailing on a slow-roaming undead creature (dog?) with a rusty crowbar (?) in order to save ammo. That's my total playtime with the series. Been stuck on the outskirts of Silent Hill (saw the movie in theaters twice, have all the original soundtracks on CD, have a poster in my eBay giftlist).

I think I would start with original game first as well (but I am toying with a descending order playthrough: SH4 to SH; SH3 to SH, then SH4).

Played through all 4 original games recently. Challenged myself only for The Room, since there is a new, more challenging game mode for an (almost) perfect 100 points score at the end. Took some streamlining and optimizing, but some memories won't go away. Yielded the One Weapon Only Mode. Clearing that on hard unlocks the Super Easy Mode. Nightmare logic, it seems. Anyway, The Room breaks the established SH mold, and I dig it for that alone.

Played and beat SH1 and 2 (including Born From a Wish) this past week.

I really enjoyed their stories, music (especially 2) and atmosphere, and also the puzzles and level design for the most part. The exploration IMO was good and fell in line with what I expect from the genre, finding items and unlocking doors. Exploring the streets in SH1 can be a bit tiresome at times IMO, probably due to PS1 limitations I always had to use the map for navigation but could also be just me.

The combat is kinda meh but didn't ruin the game, even if bosses are essentially run around in circles and shoot. I do wish they would have done more with the combat and enemies, would have also made it more fun to replay to get the additional items endings, but I loved both regardless.

I have to say I thought the voice acting of SH2 was spot on, especially in the final scene. Gonna play 3 and 4 next, and maybe Origins as well.

Just beat the classic series (barring SH1, since it's just too expensive atm) myself. The combat isn't great, but I wouldn't change it either. Especially in SH2 and SH4 it has this oppressive feeling. There's some fights where the camera angle is really difficult and enemies are everywhere and the aiming is horrid and you feel so, so depressed and vulnerable - which I think is what they were going for. This is honestly one of those games where the "it's bad on purpose" quote might ring true.

Personally SH2 and 4 are the best. SH3 is too 'gamey' strangely enough for me, so your mileage may vary. SH2's VA is definently a highpoint, it's so dreamy and otherworldly. But Mary's letter near the end is so emotional.

SH4 is definitely a trip, let me know when you play that one.

I know you don't like emulation and stuff but AFAIK you can get SH1 from the PS3 PSN store to avoid piracy, and Duckstation can really make it shine (Modded PS3 will allow you to transfer it to your PC AFAIK). Some old games are too expensive to own sadly. SH1 is really worth playing IMO, great first entry.

I don't think the combat is bad, and I never had troubles with the camera or aiming either (2 in particular has lots of ammo to find), I just think it could have been better without making you feel any less vulnerable but perhaps it's easier said than done. FWIW, I played both 1 and 2 on normal, and when I'll replay them I might do so on hard.

Completely agreed on 2's VA, based on your first post I thought you didn't like it so much.

I actually heard great things about 3, so I'll see how it is. I really liked how gamey Fatal Frame and Haunting Ground are while still having unnerving atmosphere and a vulnerable protagonist.

I heard 4 has its issues including an infamous escort mission, but that it's also very memorable and tries to change things so I'm definitely interested. Will update once I beat 3 and 4.

> aiming/combat
It's more directed towards SH4. Combat can get very, very tense there with multiple targets (up to 10+) with slow aiming and stuff. It really adds to the chaos of the combat, that game also has some very, very intense camera angles that leave you disoriented (which is great).

> SH3
Yeah I went in it with those expectations. I think you'll like it since it's a direct continuation of SH1 in terms of plot, so for me it was all a bit more vague. It was also a bit too gamey in the whole 'every area is now hell' shtick.

> SH2 voices
Yeah it's mostly just how dreamy it is, you can call it 'bad' which it might be, but it really is memorable. James cannot be replaced, he feels like he's constantly sleepwalking the way he talks, like it's all one big hazy memory he's reliving, while Angela's weird voice really fits the music and feels like this mix of a child and an adult. That flaming-staircase scene is super, super intense as a result.
I absolutely *HATED* the remake as a result, I watched some clips but those new voices holy shit...

> SH2
I really love the insane amount of little details the game has. Like did you know all the dead bodies in the game, are James? Even the corpse that has the pistol that you get, that's also James. Super creepy.

> SH4
The Escort Mission is overhated imo, it's probably the best 'twist and turn' a game has done for me around the midpoint. It's also not too difficult since she cannot die. I'll put the following in spoilertags but it's not a real story related spoiler but mechanical, which I thought was super well done:

Spoiler:

SH4 was also by far the hardest for me, while SH3 was the hardest in terms of damage-values (very, very spongey enemies). SH4 really drained me also mentally, it's clearly a lowbudget game though but as a result really is very unique too.

Interesting breakdown of an interesting game, really curious what I'll think about SH4 given the conflicted opinions on it but I'm optimistic as overall I do hear it's good and also does new things. I also heard the hauntings are terrific.

SH2 voice acting - I never thought it's bad or anything like that, perhaps I just misunderstood your original post. Agree it's very memorable and unreplaceable.

The flaming staircase scene and Mary's letter were so emotionally charged scenes (as are many other scenes), and the phenomenal soundtrack only makes it better (I purchased the OST CD yesterday). It really is a special game that grips you from start to finish. Which ending did you get?

I got the Water ending, of which I'm pretty happy - felt it was a really strong one (like all of them). I especially liked it since it's hinted at that Mary's dead body is in his trunk. Which ending did you get?

> SH4 hauntings
They sure are...something haha. I think it's a very experimental game, I can see why people didn't jibe with it but it really flips the script in many ways to be new and refreshing. I always love a 7/10 that does a million of unique things over a 9/10 that takes zero risks if you get me.

I also got the in water ending. Can't comment yet on the other endings as I haven't checked them out yet, but I also feel it was a very fitting ending to a James' story and his way of dealing with what he did.

SH4 - Yes I definitely get the point (NG2 comes to mind haha), will be nice seeing a refreshing take on the series once I'll finish 3.

Anyone played Shattered Memories?

Only played 1 and 2 thus far (started the series last week). Shattered Memories is a reimagination of 1 from what I know. Have you played any of the games?

Played through SH3 many years ago. Played a little of SH1 when it first came out.

3 made me feel sick though and I couldn't bring myself to play the others.

SH3 is definitely the most 'gorey' of the series and more traditional visual horror. If you can, give SH2 a try of 4. It's still definitely horror, but less in your face about it and more mentally.

They give me nightmares though. For real.

I just watched an analysis of Shattered Memories.

Assuming everything said was accurate, this game's existence has to be trolling.

It said it has no combat. Instead are sections where you get chased by monsters and can only run. I saw the video. It looked like some kind of on rails game. I couldn't believe it when they showed you can look over your shoulder while running and the view completely switches so you can see behind. Like the rear view in a racing game. Wtf?

How did this game get authorisation?

The psychologist segments aren't my thing but it was a cool idea that characters and locations looked different depending on your answers.

I mean, not everything needs to have combat. From what I heard the 'chase' sections were pretty cool. Silent Hill was never about the combat anyway. Always thought it looked pretty cool, especially with how it used the wii-mote.

>not everything needs to have combat
True. Just expected it would be present since it's in all the others.

>SH was never about combat
I wouldn't know. I only played throught SH3 and watched a friend play The Room. What is it about? Combat must play a huge part even if not the main focus seeing as in both of those (and I assume the others) you have to fight your way through. There are bosses.

>chase scenes
Look ok at first but seem really repetitive since that's all there is. Only going by what the video claimed.

>wiimote
Didn't know it was on the Wii too.

> what is it about
It's mostly just an 'experience' if I had to give it a word. It's more about the mood, atmosphere and general feeling of dread. There's combat and puzzles for sure, but that's more there to enhance that feeling of dread or fear than anything else.

> Wii version
That's the original release of Shattered IIRC, it got a port later-on.

>It's more about the mood, atmosphere and general feeling of dread.
That's true. SH3 sickened me to such an extent I could never touch the series. It may have done its job too well.

I don't recall any huge issues with the combat. Is it considered bad? If so, why? Bad collision like Rule Of Rose and Kuon? I just recall swinging a pipe, and I had a shotgun that functioned as you'd expect.

Finished Silent Hill 3, IMO it's the best one out of the original trilogy.

While Silent Hill 2 has a better story and a somewhat better OST as a whole (the best tracks of SH3 are at least as good as SH2's best though, and both have awesome music), I feel Silent Hill 3 is the one that has the best atmosphere, the enemy designs were better and much more threatening than before, which contributes to both the horror atmosphere and gameplay.

The gameplay additions like the new weapons, some melee weapons having 3 attacks, the ability to block and beef jerky, especially when combined with the better enemies also make it more fun to play (and probably replay as well).

This was the first time in the series where I actually had to learn enemy patterns and think about strategies on how to deal with them, as well as when to engage in combat and when to avoid it.

On top of that, I feel like the mall and subway at the start were the best areas in the series when it comes to exploration.

I also liked the characters and there were some emotional scenes that I enjoyed, which also leads me to this: SH3 has a great ending to the story arc of 1 and 3, and due to it being a direct sequel to SH1 (which also spoils its story), I really think it should only be played after 1 to fully appreciate.

A fantastic horror game, hopefully I'll start 4 soon.

Royta/Raeng wrote: It's also not too difficult since she cannot die.

Huh? You mean Eileen, right?

You're wrong here. She can very much die, indeed. What else would be the point of protection?

Same as Maria in SH2 (try Action Hard for manly protection from the red pyramid thing in the hospital basement, and YOU'LL KNOW the pain of saving another live).

You're either a strong protector on Norm or, well, should consider Hard Mode 4The Room.  

The spooky season is coming... (Super Mild Castlevania IV is not enough!!)

She can't, not really. She's pretty programmed to get fucked regardless and you can just candle her before the final encounter. She can't "die" because of enemy damage. You can just let her be fucked up by enemies for hours on end and she won't die.

> play on Hard
I did afaik.

> SH3
Yeah I can fully see it, just wasn't my experience at all though. For me the areas, while better designed, felt really "now we're in here, now this area is "corrupted", now we're in a corrupted construction building" - there was just no rhym or reason to it for me. Mechanically it's definitely the best, for sure.

Really curious what you'll think of SH4 now, since it's a lot different I feel.

I'll say that I also found 3 to have better atmosphere than 2, and I also liked the story and characters, it's really full of heart beyond the hellish environments.

If you ask me, I would have liked to see a recreation of SH1 areas rather than reusing SH2 areas, would have made more sense but I liked what they did with it regardless.

I started 4 and finished the subway and forest worlds. I haven't seen any of the hauntings yet, but the game nails the desolate and helpless atmosphere.

While in the apartment I always feel like I'm not there alone, and being able to see the outside world, and how Eileen and Frank try to check on Henry but can't hear when he speaks or knocks on the door, this really makes me feel like I'm physically there but in another dimension.

It would have been nice if they kept the gameplay improvements of 3 (even with those 3 was harder than 1 and 2 due to more aggressive enemies) alongside the dodging and charge attacks, but being able to fend off ghosts but not killing them also contributes to the feeling of helplessness. Will update again when I'm done.

Yeah the way you 'interact' with the rest of your appartment complex is really well done, from peaking in the hole in the wall to the spyglass, to looking outside your window - it really builds a world that you feel an outsider in and honestly also a bit of a creep.

Curious to hear your full opinion, especially once you reach the mid-point where the game flips the script somewhat.

Royta/Raeng wrote: She can't "die" because of enemy damage. You can just let her be fucked up by enemies for hours on end and she won't die.

I remember it happen. She crouches down, and after she is mobile again she dies with the next hit. Forget stupid enemies, the "stalker" (spoiler-free you-know-who) is the executioner, I mean obviously.

As ever, the Interlist backs you up:

the wiki wrote:Eileen cannot die while she is with Henry, although as she takes damage she succumbs to possession.

Don't get too comfortable, now!

Interesting, or should I say how typical of human memory to falsify emotional content (SH2 theme). Maybe it got interchangeable with Maria and the basement corridor (Action-Hard edit), the image of failing to protect "the woman".

Tell you what: To settle this I need my own experience. I'll replay (topic got me deeply in the mood for it) and I'll put her in situations of heavy abuse to get her killed, which I never attempted before! Sounds good?

You made me do it! But we'll call it: FOR SCIENCE!! (notice the gray matter)


About SH3: Funny how I find very little said in general about the bosses, if one could call them that. Very oversimplefied in modus. They attack. After that, they flee. Which is bare bones structure. The designs are incredible, it's the behavior that makes it a dumb, daft snooze. They can't live up to the imagery. It's a pity, really.

I got to the start of the escort mission of SH4 and so far there weren't any bosses, but what you said about SH3's bosses also applies to 1 and 2, although I still think 3 was an improvement in that regard.

The missionary and Alessa are my favorite bosses in 1-3. They don't play too differently from other bosses in the series, but they add some nice twists that make them more engaging, and the ability to block attacks is a great one IMO.

Strange how I think not of bosses in OG and 2. Emotionally I mean.

In OG, they are clearly there: Monsters, in the sense of "You Shall Not Pass!". In 2 only two remind me of bosses: Eddie and the final one.
The red, pyramid thing is an obstacle. I never felt I could defeat it. Like a form of guilt concept.

4 has a final boss, that's all. Sure, the ghosts are stronger enemies, but can't be defeated. Again with the guilt.
So, I only think of 3 as the one with stage bosses, to defeat to proceed.

I have an open save game with 3: after clearing Hard, it get's Extreme and then to Extreme2, Extreme3 and so on up to 10. I'm on 3 or 4, I think? I'll do my best to reach 10, and getting a feeling it'll be very painful in the end in damage. Thinking finally about strats, by not fall to temptation to use the extra weaponry.

Another thing bubbles up: I never felt anything atypical about the way the voices in SH2 sound. I read now that people find it strange but in synergy to the atmosphere. Never thought of it that way. The OG sometimes, OK, but that's honestly a plus, and hey, when you come from RE to SH it's royal, really.
But not 2. It always was a fit for me.

Yeah she can get possessed, which means she'll start damaging you while you're nearby (like a Ghost). She'll start quoting the executioner's lines and also do weird things (like talk to her arm). But she doesn't "die" i.e. is removed from the game entirely.

@GN: SH4 doesn't have any bosses, unless you count the final encounter and some of the 'special ghosts', but nothing in the traditional sense if you get me.

What's your opinion on the game so far now that you've got to the escort bit?

So far I finished the 2nd visits of the subway and forest worlds. FWIW, I'm playing on normal

My main issues with SH4 are worse mechanics than 3 (3's mechanics plus the charge attacks and dodging of SH4 would have been neat), and the level design is the worst of the original games due to its linearity, there are less puzzles and exploration.

Having said that, I can't help but love the game. Escorting Eileen is never an issue, she can fight and defend herself and she runs fast enough when unequipped, so in that regard it's much better than I heard and expected.

It took me a few tries (not a bad thing imo) to learn how to deal with Walter, and I enjoy the tension that he brings when he stalks you, it does a great job making the game more stressful. When I saw him with the chainsaw I just ran.

I also really enjoyed the hauntings ("I'm always watching you") and how the apartment becomes darker with progress. Even before the hauntings, Team Silent simply nailed the atmosphere there. Peeping outside and seeing Walter looking directly at me with his dead eyes (after the apartment world) was chilling.

On top of that, I really enjoy the mystery and unraveling it, the more dots I connect and progress I make, the more questions I have. It does an excellent job at creating suspense and it stays intriguing all throughout the game.

For all of its issues (which sadly also hurt the replay value), SH4 is a brilliant and unforgettable experience, and that includes what the 2nd half brings to the table (pressure from Walter and changes to the apartment).

Yeah the hauntings are very special, especially when they start to ramp up in crazyness. Walter standing in front of your door is absolutely fightening, and there's a few more that absolutely traumatized me. As you note, gameplay-wise it's not too deep or intense, though I do like how the Ghosts play into it and you pinning them with the swords. You can really fuck yourself up, since some ghosts will later haunt you again if you don't pin them originally, giving a nice 'consistency' to the game.

But yeah it's really insanely good at the atmosphere side, even now weeks later I'm still often thinking of the game, of Walter's tale, the ending that I got, the music, Eileen, Henry, just everything. It's not a game I think I'll ever touch again, but one I'll probably remember still in 40 years.

Let me know when you finish it!

Finished Silent Hill 4 now. my opinion on it hasn't really changed so there's not much to add - It has an incredible horror atmosphere in the apartment (the levels aren't as atmospheric imo), great story that was fun to unveil and Walter was a tragic villain and his story also connected nicely to the cult and how it effects people.

My ranking of the series is 3>2>4>1, but I'll say that 4 could have been the best if it didn't lack in the gameplay and level design departments. A mediocre game but a wonderful, intriguing and unique horror experience. Definitely unforgettable.

>You made me do it! But we'll call it: FOR SCIENCE!!
Happened to me a few times in the past and I'm currently working on two games to confirm things for others. Usually ends up quite fun. Sometimes I even made new discoveries.

Started playing SH2 again with the wife for spooky season. Unfortunately, I'm playing this shitass PS3 version, where some areas look completely off and the game is a stuttering mess, but the atmosphere is really in its own league. I've never played a game that gives the same sense of dread as SH2.

I do wish there was something to the game mechanically, because every time I see an enemy, I basically just turn my brain off.

Doesn't the SH2 have totally new (shitty) voices in the PS3 version?

I think SH2 on PS3 should have both the OG voices and the new ones, and that SH3 only has the new ones.

Infinity, I'd also recommend playing SH1 and then SH3 if you haven't done it yet. 3 also has better mechanics and enemies than 1 and 2.

Yeah, SH2 on PS3 has the option for original voices.

>SH1 and 3
I’ve played them but it’s been years(literally 20 years in the case of SH1). Always been interested in 4 but I never got my hands on it.