It’s the time of the year for spooky stuff. And what’s spookier than a dead body? Let’s take a look at Silent Hill. So good of Konami to just leave this out.
In all seriousness, Silent Hill 2 is renowned as one of the scariest and most well-crafted horror experiences ever. The series may be experiencing a bit of a depression in recent years, but the classic initial entries still resonate with gamers the world over. In these times especially, we have to remember what’s truly scary. Like Silent Hill. And skeletons. *shiver*
In My Restless Dreams…
Silent Hill 2 is a horror title. It’s weird to hear about just straight horror video games nowadays. Everything is survival-horror, like you’re building campfires to sing kumbaya with the demons. But Team Silent were very attuned to what would scare players. Silent Hill 2 knew what it was and put everything into realizing that goal. It didn’t need to overextend itself to other genres needlessly just to keep players engaged just because the horror isn’t that strong. This is a spooky game.
In this title, you play as James Sutherland and you receive a letter from your wife Mary to meet up in the town of Silent Hill. Problem is, Mary has been dead for years now and she can’t send letters because her hands are probably worm excrement by now. That’s it. That’s the whole story. Silent Hill 2 is incredibly simple, but the game gives you the tools to fill in background information without ever giving the whole story away. This keeps players engaged throughout the title until they can find the next scrap of information and slip deeper into James’ twisted world.
The Stage Is Set, The Players Abound
James finds a few people drifting through the fog to keep him company. There’s Angela, a clearly-damaged woman, Eddie, a clearly-damaged container of Pillsbury, Laura, a creepy little kid, and Maria, who symbolism. These people give James something to bounce off of and their actions prompt James to do much-needed soul-searching and really understand his own humanity. While we’re on the subject, it’s not entirely true to say that only Maria is symbolism because that doesn’t even cover half of it. The characters, the enemies, the environments, they’re all symbolism. This is Symbolism: The Game. Even the apartment section’s shitty backtracking probably has something to do with James burning ants as a kid or something.
Character interactions in Silent Hill 2 are all a little “off.” You’ve probably heard much made of the strange delivery of lines and the awkward dialogue. But in this case, I think that only heightens the feeling of loneliness in this game. Hearing characters talk and emote in ways that players can’t relate to is the ultimate tease. You’ve finally found another soul in the darkness but they end up being just as strange as the rest of the things around you. Eddie’s a freak who says crazy stuff and can somehow get fresh pizza delivered to a haunted, isolated town, but he was your only hope for normalcy. Even James, as the “straight man,” is an enigma most of the time. Just as it is in that one scene in Final Fantasy X, not all “bad” voice acting is bad for the tone it’s going for.
A Bump In The Night
Gameplay in this title is par for the time. James moves about in a bit of Bathory-esque torture known as “tank controls.” The benefit of this is that you can walk forward through camera changes, which there are quite a few of in this game. The downside is that you must give up your first-born. Turning can be a chore until you get the quick turn down and even then you oftentimes end up running into walls when you’re under duress. Combat is clunky and heavily incentivizes you to run from enemies rather than engage. Aside from combat, you also have to solve puzzles that are quite a few degrees more difficult than Resident Evil‘s colored medallion fare.
There aren’t many enemy types in Silent Hill 2 but you can tell that a lot of thought went into every single one. You’ll run into quite a few mannequin legs and sexy nurses as fodder creatures. The bigger monsters get ample time to shine and as I mentioned before, every single one of them has some relation to James and his psychological state. It’s hard to discuss why the monsters tie back to James without getting into spoilers, but they’re all devilishly creative. An armless figure that walks about and sprays something through a hole in his chest, a straight-jacket wearing woman climbing around with her freakishly large arms and something at the ends of them; it’s all great fun. Even if you don’t want to sit down and think about them, they’re just as easily enjoyed if you shut off your brain and just take them as spooky movie monsters.
No Violins Needed
But this title wouldn’t be half of what it is without its diverse environments. Silent Hill 2 doesn’t feel like a haunted house. Things aren’t propped around the corner ready to jump out and spook you. These places feel like real buildings that just so happen to be the worst places in the world. You’ll explore apartment complexes complete with unsavory tenants. You’ll make your way through the hotel, with plenty to explore from the grounds to the buffet area. From the hospital to the prison, they’re all different enough to introduce their own unique puzzles, but they all share the same rust and grime that keeps everything together.
I would be absolutely remiss if I didn’t mention the soundscape of Silent Hill 2. Sound design is the real standout star. Akira Yamaoka considered himself the only person who could do the tone of Silent Hill justice and it’s hard to argue with the results. Aside from the handful of brilliantly composed tracks that play throughout the title, there’s also every other sound you’ll be hearing. It’s not just that the sounds in this game are creepy. They are, but it’s the fact that the sounds are foreign. They just hit the ear in a way that makes it seem like Silent Hill is a place that humankind is not meant to tread into. Monsters groan and squeal and floorboards creak. There’s also this white noise and ambiance that coats your entire playthrough. It usually doesn’t mean anything. Usually. This game knows how to put you on edge and keep you there.
For Me, it’s Always Like This
Silent Hill 2 is not a perfect title though. It’s not really challenging. The enemy AI can be baited so you take very minimal damage. There are a few bosses but combat in this title isn’t refined and doesn’t engage much with players. The only reason that a player should get stumped is if they encounter a tough puzzle. But in the age of internet guides and GameFAQs, these shouldn’t be too much of a hindrance. The actual gameplay part of Silent Hill 2 isn’t anything special by itself; it’s only there as a way for you to interact with the world around you which is far more interesting. There’s a strange balance of unfun gameplay paired with engrossing atmosphere. It’s also not too long a ride. A casual playthrough can last you about six or seven hours.
The short length of the title is in some ways a benefit though. The game is clearly geared towards multiple playthroughs, with plenty of different endings and secret weapons available for dedicated players. These weapons, like main baddie Pyramid Head’s trademark giant knife, don’t really shake up combat in any meaningful way, but it’s kind of fun to use nonetheless. The story is compelling enough that going through the game again will often reveal new pieces of the puzzle you missed before or some hidden subtext. The strange atmosphere and layers of psycholigical horror are why you’re here, not to “play” the game.
Not a Great Suggestion to Gramma, Is What I’m Saying
The Silent Hill franchise deserves its accolade as one of the greatest horror series in gaming history. And Silent Hill 2 deserves its accolade of being stupid scary. Not only is the title a masterclass while it’s turned on, but the themes and imagery also have a habit of following you around long after you power down your console. Team Silent realized that jumping out of a closet can only scare someone for the moment. To really stick with players, you need to get underneath their skin. Like, their skeleton. Oh fuck, now I’m thinking about skeletons oh fuck
If you’re looking for a good scare, here’s the PS2 version to try out: Silent Hill 2
P.S. Don’t get the HD collection.