Silent Hill 2: what I don't understand...

[Traveler]

How can anybody like this game? 

I recently got it from a bargain bin because I saw so many good reviews on it. So far I installed it already 3 times but I've yet to get through the first level of the apartment. The problem is not "story"-wise, but simply this game is so mind-bogglingly boring that it's hard to describe. The only reason I tried it again is because of the good reviews, but now (after the 3rd try) I question those.

The endless wandering around in a totally non-interactive environment and sometimes slashing a monster is just numb. The graphics is all right but the rest is just... trash.

Am I the only one who doesn't like it? Based on reviews, it seems so, as everybody praises the deep and intriguing storyline, but I've yet to see something interesting.

I'm not really into FPS/shooter games, so I didn't expect a lot of action but even in the most amateurish adventures one can interact with more things on a single screen than in this game after 3 hours of playing.

[LGM]

It takes awhile to get into. The apartment is amazing, I don't know what you're not seeing! I think the appeal is the cinematic feel to it. The atmosphere is so detailed and creepy, and the story IS intriguing. YOu DO have to play a bit before it kicks in. THough it's not for everyone, I understand.

They are making a movie version! There are some awesome pics up on Yahoo Movies:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills

I'd say this may have the chance to be the most faithful, set wise, video game adaptation. I can't wait.

[Traveler]

[lgm],

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure if I like it. I already uninstalled it twice and tried to give it another chance - a LOT of people seem to like it - but I still don't. I guess I just don't get it. 

Never mind, though, I just wanted to rant a bit about it.

[esper]

You should try Silent Hill 4: The Room. With the exception of Call of Cthulhu, it's the best horror game I've ever played.

[Kinoko]

You guys might like this: http://www.pbfcomics.com/temporary/PBF075ADZuthulu.jpg

I don't know, Zuluthu, Cthulhu... they're somewhat similar.

[skw]

Hmm... you played it on PC, didn't you? Well... it was originally designed for PS2 and PS2 version is a way better than PC. It has the atmosphere when you play home alone and with all light turned off. And if you are still disappointed, try the first piece, original "Silent Hill" on PSX. Brilliant!

[2ma2]

trav: Well, yeah, the whole deal is just the creepy atmosphere. And that may get lost if playing on a computer. Something about console games and horror that works better (apart from AvP.. yikes!) I didn't play that much out of the second but seeing those abominations crawl along the street sent a shiver down my spine.

esper: GASP SHOCK HORROR?! You praise no. 4? I found that to be a huge dissapointment. They gave up all the lovable subtle horror for a surreal freakshow extravaganza.

[Helm]

two women cut in half and joined at the wound is subtle horror now?

the silent hill games up to 3 have no gameplay of note. They get to you via repetition of the same themes and things to do. The boring things is PART of how the atmosphere gets to you. I don't like playing these games. I enjoy watching a friend of mine play them, and we just discuss them as they progress. Might want to consider doing that.

[Gord10]

Silent Hill 2 is one of my favourite games. But I must admit that the gameplay isn't enjoyable; I love SH 2 because of its atmosphere and story. I think SH 2's gameplay should have been like Fahrenheit (a.k.a. Indigo Prophecy), then SH 2 would be a perfect game. 

[Pet Terry]

I enjoy watching a friend of mine play them, and we just discuss them as they progress. Might want to consider doing that.

Yes, that's great. One of the best things to do when hanging out with friends.

[Haddas]

Yeah. I used to do that with Resident Evil. let the friend play :S we also did that with metal gear solid, but why I do not know.

[Helm]

because the gameplay suffers a lot there as well and it's quite the game to play for the story only too?

[Meowster]

I also found 4 to be a disappointment... as well as that, Call of Cthulu was incredibly disappointing for me. WTF, it's meant to be so scary that the guy is having a fucking panic attack and trying to kill himself because he can't walk another step forward... and then he says, "Hm, the heart has stopped moving!" in a most jovial voice. That was the first game ever that made me turn off the voices and turn on subtitles... and I played FFX.

That said, I adored Silent Hill 2. I tried to go into town to get Silent Hill 3 today, which I heard is also pretty good... unfortunately, not ONE STORE in the ENTIRE OF BRIGHTON had it in stock.



Yeah, give 2 some time. It gets so good. Arghargh I want to play it now.

[Helm]

3 has quite awful, but me and my friend seem to be the only two people in the world to think so, so go ahead and play.

[Domino]

I own and have played all 4 Silent Hill games (PS1 & PS2). I have beaten the first three and have yet to finish the 4th.

In my opinion, Silent Hill 2 was the best of the series, while 4 was the worst. From the moment i started playing SH2 i loved it. It was probably the scariest of them all.

C'mon i mean Pyramid Head, the most freaked out and perverted demon SOB there ever was. That dude scared the piss out of me.  Give it a chance, and it may grow on you.  If not, you could always try playing the first silent hill on the PS1 and then play SH2.

In order of my favorite SH games

1. Silent Hill 2
2. Silent Hill 1
3. Silent Hill 3
4. Silent Hill 4

Shawn

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

1 was 'different'... Coming from Resident Evil 1 and 2, it was an interesting twist on the horror game, though it didn't always succeed.  The overly grainy textures, for example, got annoying after awhile.

2 had an interesting story up to a point, then it fell apart and turned into a mash of other horror themes.

3 I didn't play.

4 bored me to tears, and aside from that, the floating invincible ghouls annoyed me.

[Domino]

4 bored me to tears, and aside from that, the floating invincible ghouls annoyed me.

That is one reason i quit playing SH4, i had no health, and you couldn't kill those suckers. Hopefully there will be a SH5 which will revive the aging series.

[InCreator]

Played SH2 and SH3.
Hated, yes, seriously hated both. Awful control & cameras, no clue what the hell is going on, occasional stupidity masked as "horror".

For me It's like Alone In the Dark games minus interesting locations & story and/or puzzling.

No, don't get it neither.

[Adamski]

I kinda feel bad adding to the negativity already present, but I really didn't enjoy Silent Hill 2 or 4 (the only ones I've played) at all. I found SH2 very tedious to play indeed - after I made it to the bowling alley I just stopped playing and looked at an online FAQ to find out the story instead. I'm kinda glad I did otherwise I would have felt like I had wasted my time playing

SH4 was interesting up to a point, but the terrible gameplay and design of the whole thing turned me off completely... especially when I got up to the 'Alternative Apartment' level and had to go looking for notes. Ugh.

It's a shame as there's not a lot of games that take their inspiration from Jacob's Ladder, which is a fave film of mine.

[2ma2]

two women cut in half and joined at the wound is subtle horror now?

"I didn't play that much out of the second but seeing those abominations crawl along the street sent a shiver down my spine."
Well, in case there were women cut in half and joined at the wound in the second game, then thank god I didn't play more than an hour :p

Anyone played Project Zero/Fatal Frame/Whatever it's called in your country? I know FruitTree mentioned it, praisingly if I recall. I played abit of the first and are playing the second now. It's quite good in delivering the spooky atmosphere, but has equalent gameplay quirks which makes it best in low doses of an hour each or so.. still, so far, no batshit loco stuff, just ghosts and people breaking (mentally mind you.. well ok.. perhaps physically to an textent). Sadly they also assume the player to be a complete tool, since they repeat every piece of information to boredom. But I keep playing it, and it aint the story I care much about really, so I guess it must be entertaining.