PlayStation 2

Silent Hill 2

Horror is one form of video game that peaks into our minds. Konami's Silent Hill 2 is just the one that does this best. If I wasn't recommending the sequel as one of the scariest games of the year, I'd be suggesting that Silent Hill 2 rather would fit into the category of the scariest game ever. It's not often that monsters of many types can freak you out. It's not likely you'll find a plot as sickening or bent as the one in this game. And never will it come across you that hearing can be as scary (or scarier) as seeing. Luckily, Konami mixes in a lot of the bad (which makes the game so good) to bring you the scariest game (I might as well say it...I mean, can you think of a game more terrifying?) ever! All you need is a brain and a lot of money for therapy if the need arises to play Silent Hill 2...

Wer ein Spiel sucht, das die Grenzen zwischen virtueller Realität und Fiktion verschwimmen lässt, ist bei Silent Hill genau so gut aufgehoben wie all die Spieler, denen die ewigen Zombie-Jagden in und um Raccoon City schon lange keinen Schreck mehr eingejagt haben. Auch wenn es in Silent Hill 2 nur wenig Neuerungen gibt, stellt Konamis Tour de Force mit einer überzeugenden Mischung aus Rätseln, Spannung, Action und viel viel Gänsehaut die neue Referenz dar. Also los: Kaufen, Vorhänge zu, Lichter verdunkeln und dann ab nach Silent Hill. Hoffentlich kommt Ihr zurück...

When all is said and done, Silent Hill 2 is beautifully crafted. The story-driven gameplay is compelling and the atmosphere is a visual and aural masterpiece. If you enjoyed the original Silent Hill, or you're a fan of survival-horror games in general, Silent Hill 2 is not to be missed.

You MUST play this game if you like being scared. It will scare the F*** out of you, and that’s no joke. You might be thinking the same thing I did, "I’m jaded, nothing scares me" but trust me, you will go to bed with the lights on after playing this. Oh, and don’t play this game if your squeamish or get scared easily.

Still, for all its style, Silent Hill 2's gameplay mechanics are no different than those of any other game ever slapped with the survival-horror tag. You'll whack legions of the same four or so enemy types, using the same familiar array of blunt objects, pistols, and shotguns; get Medallions A, B, and C; put them in Statue D, which opens Door E; walk through Door E; repeat until numb. You'll fight awkward camera angles as much as freaky bad things (though the real-time engine certainly helps).

As a PlayStation 2 game overall, Silent Hill 2 is graphically stunning, while providing a full production package of surround sound techniques and good voice acting to boot. Konami's survival-horror game doesn't break the genre's mold so much as it modifies and eases up the rigid boundaries set early in the genre's early games.

Like the first game, Silent Hill 2's audio effects are effectively unnerving and occasionally alarming. Control is decent but feels sluggish when it comes to bludgeoning creatures. The worst aspect of the game is the fact that it's very easy to get stuck and not know what to do next. Otherwise Silent Hill 2 is a seriously creepy game that lives up to the lofty standards set by the original.

Att recensera Silent Hill 2 är bland det svåraste jag har gojrt under min sju år långa karriär som spelredaktör. Det är svårt att inte bli alltför subjektiv. Silent Hill 2 har många inslag som är så pass kontroversiella att de är omöjliga att blunda för. Handlingen är psykologiskt obehaglig och tar upp ett ämne som är så motbjudande att ingen som upplever hela äventyret kommer att känna en tillfredsställelse av att klara spelet. Trots det tar jag mer hänsyn till hantverket, och där har Konami och producenten Akihiro Imamura lyckats över all förväntan.

On top of this, most of the environments are blanketed in complete darkness with the only source of light coming from your tiny flashlight. It looks phenomenal and adds to the horror at hand, but makes exploration even more bothersome, especially if your TV’s brightness isn’t the best.

So, whats the final verdict? Well, thats tricky. I feel divided on how to rate this game. In terms of pure gameplay, it has room for improvement. The pacing can be a little languid at times, and the combat and movement controls could use some tweaking. Also, this game feels a little linear and lacking in extras when compared to the original. As a pure game, Silent Hill 2 probably deserves a 7, but Im giving it an 8 because I think what it represents in terms of a thoughtful horror experience is too precious not to recommend wholeheartedly. I support this game and I support this series even in its experimental fumblings because I think it is exactly what this industry needs.

Silent Hill 2 is a much prettier, somewhat smarter but less-compelling game than the original. Those who had hopes that the sequel would improve upon every aspect of Silent Hill will be disappointed, because it doesn't. But high expectations aside, you're still left with a sturdy game.

When GI reviewed the first Silent Hill, we took a lot of abuse from some of our readers for the substandard score we gave it. I wasn't around for that era, but the Miss Cleo in me says history will repeat itself. While there are many cool things about Silent Hill 2, the wide array of annoyances will prevent most gamers, including myself, from really enjoying it.