I recently bought this game and the original Silent Hill to start my collection of SH games. However, I found myself playing SH1 more than SH2, because SH1 had more..."zazz"...to the game (despite the dated graphics and low resolution).
When I first heard SH2 was on the verge of release, I was both happy and saddened...I was happy because, well, this is Silent Hill! The first one practically blew Resident Evil out of the water. I was saddened because...it was being released for PS2, and I didn't have that yet. So, after a couple years of kicking and pouting at my PS1, I ordered the PS2, rented, and played SH2 for the first time. Believe me, this game may be an improvement, but it's still not the whole show as much as SH1 was. Now it's time for the breakdown (if you've seen my reviews, you know this is coming):
GRAPHICS: HIGHLY improved from the original SH, and still hold up as the best-looking graphics compared to any other PS2 game (some complained that the graphics were still bland and ugly. Shows how much they know). The lighting was a definite touch-up (with real-time shadows and darkness casting), and realisitic reflections. This time, the game has a Noise Effect...it supposedly makes the picture fuzzy and distorted by making it seem like a classic horror movie. I personally find the Noise Effect a bother with the brilliant graphics, so I just shut the Noise Effect option off.
SOUND: Konami's still using small voice actors, but no bother...they get the job done. However, my first impression of James was that he had a Prince-like voice. You'll get used to it, though. The music is also drab and bleak, which is actually appropriate in a game like this. Only in most areas will you trigger some more decent music. There's just one sound that I don't like...the Handgun gunshot. Seriously, I thought I was going to go Scarface all over Silent Hill with that gun, but the first time I fired the gun...all I heard was a "pop" noise and the nozzle flash. I thought it was silenced, but I saw there was no silencer. So, I stood there for a moment and wondered "what kind of gun is THIS?!"
GAMEPLAY: The controls are pretty much the same as the last entry in the series, except "Pause" is the Select button, and the "Item" Window is the Start button. If you have any health equipment leftover, and your health is down, you can press "R3" (right analog stick) to restore some of your health without opening the inventory. Also, shooting things are no longer a serious problem...although the manual says that James does a better job at close-range, he can still hit targets dead-on from across the room. This is unlike Harry Mason's misfortune, as you can miss shots even when the nozzle is pointing dead at an enemy. Speaking of targets, the monster variations have been downsized...remember that quick dogs, flying creatures, and demon children from the original SH? They made the game challenging to actually fight a monster. You also had to fight multiple bosses at certain points in the game. In SH2, there are not very many variations in monsters...most enemies are the same size and identical make-ups, forcing them to shuffle after you...slowly. Not much challenge there. The only challenging enemy is the Doorman, who is the biggest monster you'll have to fight. In SH2, boss fights are barely existent. Your main nemesis is the Pyramid Head, a guy (or monster) in a dirty beige suit and an enormous red cone on his head (or that may BE his head). You only confront Pyramid Head certain times throughout the game, but don't worry too much about him. He doesn't run very fast (but he ran the speed limit in the Hospital), and attacking him enough times will slow him down. I didn't say let your guard down, though...he carries a huge knife that can kill you in one swipe. The other boss is the final boss who is a creature in a bed that can strangle you are shoot killer butterflies at you. It's not a challenging boss on any other mode outside of "Hard" mode. If you fight it on "Hard" mode, and you don't have more than 20 Health Drinks, 10 First-Aid Kits, and 7 Ampoules, be prepared to hit the Power switch on your PS2. So, the only real complaint here is the downsize in variation of enemies. This game also takes place on another end of Silent Hill, not the same end Harry Mason had to explore. This end is smaller and less sophisticated, although the game relies on backtracking just to do one task...you have to run all over town just to find a key.
STORY: It's a simple story, but it's told in a complicated way. James Sunderland lost his wife to an illness 3 years ago, and he receives a letter saying that she's waiting for him at Silent Hill. However, it gets deeper than that...James finds out the truth before the game ends. While he's exploring, he runs into the Pyramid Head (personally, I like the name "Judgment." "Pyramid Head" sounds like something a kid came up with), who is actually sent to Silent Hill in order to punish James for...what he did (I'm not spoiling it. You'll have to find out for yourself). At first it is not known what the P.H.'s purpose is, but it becomes apparent later on. James also meets his wife's opposite likeness during his adventure, but her purpose is more defined than you think. Sorry, but you'll have to check in on a plot guide to find out what that is.
BOTTOM LINE: Although I did buy this game and play it (for the simple fact it's Silent Hill), it did not live up to the standards of the original. If you liked how the first one worked out, you might be a little disappointed at what you'll find in the second entry. Most fans of the genre will still enjoy it, though.
FINAL SCORE: 7/10
When I first heard SH2 was on the verge of release, I was both happy and saddened...I was happy because, well, this is Silent Hill! The first one practically blew Resident Evil out of the water. I was saddened because...it was being released for PS2, and I didn't have that yet. So, after a couple years of kicking and pouting at my PS1, I ordered the PS2, rented, and played SH2 for the first time. Believe me, this game may be an improvement, but it's still not the whole show as much as SH1 was. Now it's time for the breakdown (if you've seen my reviews, you know this is coming):
GRAPHICS: HIGHLY improved from the original SH, and still hold up as the best-looking graphics compared to any other PS2 game (some complained that the graphics were still bland and ugly. Shows how much they know). The lighting was a definite touch-up (with real-time shadows and darkness casting), and realisitic reflections. This time, the game has a Noise Effect...it supposedly makes the picture fuzzy and distorted by making it seem like a classic horror movie. I personally find the Noise Effect a bother with the brilliant graphics, so I just shut the Noise Effect option off.
SOUND: Konami's still using small voice actors, but no bother...they get the job done. However, my first impression of James was that he had a Prince-like voice. You'll get used to it, though. The music is also drab and bleak, which is actually appropriate in a game like this. Only in most areas will you trigger some more decent music. There's just one sound that I don't like...the Handgun gunshot. Seriously, I thought I was going to go Scarface all over Silent Hill with that gun, but the first time I fired the gun...all I heard was a "pop" noise and the nozzle flash. I thought it was silenced, but I saw there was no silencer. So, I stood there for a moment and wondered "what kind of gun is THIS?!"
GAMEPLAY: The controls are pretty much the same as the last entry in the series, except "Pause" is the Select button, and the "Item" Window is the Start button. If you have any health equipment leftover, and your health is down, you can press "R3" (right analog stick) to restore some of your health without opening the inventory. Also, shooting things are no longer a serious problem...although the manual says that James does a better job at close-range, he can still hit targets dead-on from across the room. This is unlike Harry Mason's misfortune, as you can miss shots even when the nozzle is pointing dead at an enemy. Speaking of targets, the monster variations have been downsized...remember that quick dogs, flying creatures, and demon children from the original SH? They made the game challenging to actually fight a monster. You also had to fight multiple bosses at certain points in the game. In SH2, there are not very many variations in monsters...most enemies are the same size and identical make-ups, forcing them to shuffle after you...slowly. Not much challenge there. The only challenging enemy is the Doorman, who is the biggest monster you'll have to fight. In SH2, boss fights are barely existent. Your main nemesis is the Pyramid Head, a guy (or monster) in a dirty beige suit and an enormous red cone on his head (or that may BE his head). You only confront Pyramid Head certain times throughout the game, but don't worry too much about him. He doesn't run very fast (but he ran the speed limit in the Hospital), and attacking him enough times will slow him down. I didn't say let your guard down, though...he carries a huge knife that can kill you in one swipe. The other boss is the final boss who is a creature in a bed that can strangle you are shoot killer butterflies at you. It's not a challenging boss on any other mode outside of "Hard" mode. If you fight it on "Hard" mode, and you don't have more than 20 Health Drinks, 10 First-Aid Kits, and 7 Ampoules, be prepared to hit the Power switch on your PS2. So, the only real complaint here is the downsize in variation of enemies. This game also takes place on another end of Silent Hill, not the same end Harry Mason had to explore. This end is smaller and less sophisticated, although the game relies on backtracking just to do one task...you have to run all over town just to find a key.
STORY: It's a simple story, but it's told in a complicated way. James Sunderland lost his wife to an illness 3 years ago, and he receives a letter saying that she's waiting for him at Silent Hill. However, it gets deeper than that...James finds out the truth before the game ends. While he's exploring, he runs into the Pyramid Head (personally, I like the name "Judgment." "Pyramid Head" sounds like something a kid came up with), who is actually sent to Silent Hill in order to punish James for...what he did (I'm not spoiling it. You'll have to find out for yourself). At first it is not known what the P.H.'s purpose is, but it becomes apparent later on. James also meets his wife's opposite likeness during his adventure, but her purpose is more defined than you think. Sorry, but you'll have to check in on a plot guide to find out what that is.
BOTTOM LINE: Although I did buy this game and play it (for the simple fact it's Silent Hill), it did not live up to the standards of the original. If you liked how the first one worked out, you might be a little disappointed at what you'll find in the second entry. Most fans of the genre will still enjoy it, though.
FINAL SCORE: 7/10