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 (Dear makers of Quarantine, this is how you do a scary poster without spoiling the fucking movie that's not even fucking yours)
Silent Hill 2
Developer: Team SILENT
Publisher: Konami
Year: 2001
Genre: Horror
System: PS2/Xbox/PC
None of us are truly innocent. And at this time of the year where our darkest selves awaken that can certainly be true. Whether it be a silly scary prank to prey on another's fear, or something worse. But at least your soul is not black as coal enough to be lured into that venus flytrap of the soul that is Silent Hill. Unlike some. Step into the fog with me, dear readers. Here lies a story for you.
Story - James Sunderland, a clerk with little origin that we know of behind him, other than having a loving wife. She is also the reason he is in this town, for he receives a letter from her, despite her death three years ago. Upon his somewhat unconscious descent into the fog-ridden town he encounters various other characters just as confused as him. Eddie the slovenly touchy somewhat childish man, Angela the panicky suspicious woman, Maria the surprisingly familiar-looking stripper, and Laura the innocent bratty child.
But within this town lurk monsters that fester at the subconscious of James, lurching towards him with the intent to only harm him. It is up to you to find out what his reward is for the suffering he shall endure upon this soul-struggling journey.
 (Protesting against Obama's healthcare plans, or another typical day at the NHS?)
Gameplay - Silent Hill 2 has two facets of its gameplay. The combat and the puzzles. First we get the combat out of the way. Combat has, by and large, never been good in Silent Hill. In fact the first four games do it pretty much the same. You can either call it stupidly simple and stunted, or you can call it a clever note on the fact the protagonists of the first four are inexperienced at combat. Whatever the case, it's not very easy.
With a melee weapon you either tap the attack button softly to whack out a small combo, or slam down on the button hard to bring out a heavy attack, usually for killing a downed enemy. With a gun it's all a matter of aiming and shooting, as well as making sure of your ammo that lies scattered around the town.
Other than that you only have to worry about the enemies who will attack you, with your health only represented in the inventory screen as a picture going from clear green to crippling red, which can be restored by health drinks, first aid kits and ampoules.
Like most Silent Hill games you possess a radio and a flashlight, one for alerting you to enemies, the other to alert enemies to you (and help you find your way). Monsters react to the light of your flashlight but not the static of your radio which is a blessing because you never want to turn the radio off.
 (Carry On Screaming Too: Attack of the Luvverly Legs)
Puzzles however are the main part of the game other than wandering around the fog. Thankfully if you're not the thinking type so much, the combat and the puzzle difficulties are made separate so you can have the most difficult enemies but the easiest puzzles or whatever suits you.
The puzzles in themselves range from the simplest of math to the most frustratingly cryptic, the worst being when you know WHAT the solution is but you don't know the right sequence or so. It all depends on your mind here, when you have six endings, two of which are secret, giving you ample opportunity to replay the mistifying experience.
Graphics - Even from 8 years ago, the graphics look astounding. From the opening cutscene which was jaw-dropping for 2001 and still looks damn competitive and very smooth against today's graphics, to the final battle. Cutscenes are the winner here, with smooth motion capturing, wonderful lighting and so on.
The in-game graphics however are different. Naturally they cannot dare to compete against today but they still look very good for back then, largely due to the lack of visibility thanks to the fog and the poor lighting only adding to the fear of that which you cannot see becoming the scariest thing of all.
 (I'd make a witty joke about Turner going dark but I know fuck all about painters that aren't Salvador Dali)
Music/Sound - Silent Hill is all about atmosphere, and without the right audio, the atmosphere can be lost. The series has always been about a frightening set of atmospheric sounds from the strangest of shaking breaths to the saddest of piano themes. Silent Hill 2 has arguably the best soundtrack of the series with its amazingly unnerving sound effects that send shivers up the spine of any player, and the music that can bring about the fury and sorrow of many.
The voice acting is also tremendous, a vast improvement from the predecessor's more wooden cast. With only five characters in the story, each one of them has a unique personality brought by their wonderful casting from the most unlikely places (for example, the voice of James Sunderland is from the voice of a businessman who apparently does risk assessment). Regardless, it can be said the cast of this game is the best in terms of acting for the pain they give.
 (Everyone knows this picture. Because it STILL looks fucking amazing for 2001)
Almost every Silent Hill fan can tout this game as the greatest in the series for one simple reason. Mindfuckery. It's not always about how gruesome the mutilation can be, but how twisted your own perception can be. A scar on your body will heal, but a scar on your mind is much harder to heal.
It is the most complex of the series, the most open to interpretation, has the most iconic of monsters who reaches into the subconscious of many in various ways (some more disturbing than others), has the best soundtrack and is considered one of the greatest games ever made for its depth of so many scarring layers of the human soul.
When you come to Silent Hill, it is not because you want to. But because you must, if you ever wish to live a life without your soul as empty as a moonless night.
Fun and Innovation - 4
Replayability - 4
Gameplay - 3
Presentation - 5"Videogames are bad for you? That's what they said about rock 'n' roll." - Shigeru Miyamoto  Hail Slither, The Eternal Champion!
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The irony in this game being reviewed right now... I've been bugged by so many people, so damn much to play this game lately. Obviously, I have no choice but to give in. "Fine", I say! I'll play Silent Hill 2 since, apparently, it's so badass to the point where my own perception of gaming will be wrapped in ways only therapy can fix. Clearly, I'm missing out on something. DredNaught wrote:In regard to the ladies... or lack thereof: Just remember that it's about quality, not quantity. And when you do meet a lucky lady, don't be a fool, wrap your tool!
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