Ok, i'm gonna start off by saying that this game, however
scary like Resident Evil, is a whole different kind of
terror. Resident Evil was more of a "Boo!" type of horror
where something would jump out at you. Let me tell you now
that this type of thing doesn't happen at all in Silent
Hill. It only does this once, and it's in a cinema. The thing
that adds to the horror dramatically to this game is the lighting, the concept
and the sound. This game delivers more of an instinctual fright.
The lighting is creepy because all you can see most of the
time is the small area that your flashlight illuminates. The sound
adapts to your current position. It uses some of the most
twisted and eerie sound effects ever in a game. The whole concept
of the game constantly makes you feel disoriented and nervous.
This is because the town of Silent Hill really exists in two
dimensions. This is strange becuase at first, you know when
you are shifting dimensions, but then you can't even tell
what is reality or fantasy by the end of the game. Very effective.
Imagine that you are in a hospital and you get in an elevator, everything is
normal when you get in, but when you exit, the walls are all
chainlink, and blood and corpses are everywhere. Did i mention you
can't get back to normal at any time. This is what a dimensional shift
in the game is like. This easily serves to warp and twist
a familiar and safe place into a practical pit of hell.
It is this feeling that makes you feel frantic and terrified.
Now that I listed a lot of good points about the game, let me get to the
bad points. There are some pretty big ones. First of all, since this game
is in full 3D, there are some bad camera angles, but that isn't so bad.
Also, the control seems a little delayed at times. But perhaps the one
think that pissed me off the most was the story development. I mean
the story is supposed to be shrouded in mystery, but not
after you beat the friggin thing!! It is possible to go through the game
missing all if not most of the pivital plot points of the game. I did. A lot of stuff
will happen and you will be like "Why is this happening?". I just don't understand
why Konami would set up such an awesome initial story and ruin it with utter
confusion. I just don't understand. All in all, this is the most disturbing game I have EVER seen.
PERIOD. One last flaw/strong point, it messed with my head worst than anything
else in my life ;-). Overall the game is fun when you play it, but the ending
leaves for a large dissapointment. A sure-fire rental, however, kinda iffy in the buying department. Not
much staying power.
Cloud's Score: 7.0
