@pyratrum:

I honestly haven't played all the newer Silent Hill games.....I stopped after Shattered Memories...and like I said, for me, the true Silent Hill series was Silent Hill 1, Silent Hill 2, and Silent Hill 3 - with SH3 concluding the core original encompassing series story arc.

But that said....Shattered Memories is the best "new" Silent Hill game....what's also good is you can enjoy the game completely on it's own, since it is a re-imagined story that is literally disconnected from the rest of the series cannon.

Shattered Memories is literally a total re-imagining of the first game and takes place in what is essentially a completely different universe with the characters filling very different roles from their original counter-parts and with very different events happening, even the portrayal of the town and monsters is completely different. Like I said, Shattered Memories is it's own re-imagined story based off the basic elements of the first game's plot, but is completely disconnected from the rest of the series....it literally could have been it's own original ip.

That said, the story in Shattered Memories is very good, as is the psychological design....and it's got a really great twist at the end. It's definitely the best game out of the "new" post-Team Silent developed games....and like I said, even if you were a big fan of the original Team Silent developed games, you don't have to worry about Shattered Memories treading on or ruining the legacy of those games, since, like I said, with it being a re-imagined story taking place in a different game universe, it's basically disconnected from the core series and is it's own self contained narrative.

I would say Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is better overall then Silent Hill 4.....but imo not as good as the original three games. But it's honestly not a very good comparison since Shattered Memories feels like a very different game with a very different look and style, more so then SH4 did in comparison to the games that came before it....like I said, it can essentially be it's own original ip.

The rest of the "new" Silent Hill games that were developed from 2007 onward range from mediocre meh to downright bad....and don't even get me started on the horrible handling of the HD collection. The series certainly isn't anywhere near what it used to be.

All I want for the series right now is for them to properly preserve the original three games, like give the original versions a GoG release or a proper HD release with the original content intact...and then let the series rest in peace.

@Lucianu:

Cool, as a bonus, here are the steps to unlock the Easter Eggs in the PC version of Silent Hill 3 that make joke references to SH2. You'll fist need a completed SH2 PC save file, and then follow these steps to unlock the easter eggs in the PC version.

• You first need to have some completed SH2 PC save and copy it to your SH3 save directory which should normally be located in "C:\Program Files\Konami\SILENT HILL 3\savedata" (of course, replace C with your drive letter on your machine if it's not C drive).
• Then enter the registry (Start -> Run -> "regedit")
• Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE -> Konami.
• Then right click on that Konami folder on the left and choose New -> Key. A new folder will appear below Konami, name it "Silent Hill2" (without the quotation marks, and make sure there is no space between "Hill" and "2")
• In that new "Silent Hill2" folder you created in the registry, you must add an additional key named "INSTALLDIR" . To add it, in the "Silent Hill2" folder you created right click on the right side of the screen, then choose New -> String value, and name it "INSTALLDIR" (again, without quotation marks).
• Then right click on it, choose Modify, and type "C:\Program Files\KONAMI\Silent Hill2" (no quotations), again replacing that "C" with your drive if it isn't C drive.

There are 4 easter egg reference to SH2 in Silent Hill 3 if you do the steps above. One is a cut-scene, the other three are just text comments.

1. if you check the toilet in the dark mall, make sure your flashlight is on, you'll get an amusing cut-scene.

2. If you stop over at Heaven's Night on your way to Brookhaven Hospital, there is a poster referencing Maria that Heather will comment on.

3. Heather makes a joke comment if you examine the fence the first time on the hospital roof.

There is also a 4th reference, where Heather makes a comment when you check a mailbox in here apartment, but this one doesn't happen on the first play-through and only happens in Extra New Game.

If you don't have a completed SH2 PC save, I can try to send one.

@Lucianu:

Out of curiosity, what platform do you plan to play Silent Hill 3 on?

If you're gonna play Silent Hill 3....do either the PC version or PS2 version.....whatever you do, stay away from the HD collection.

The PC version gives the best visual experience, that is if you're willing to do tweaking to get it running well on modern systems and in proper widescreen. This neogaf thread guide will give you everything you need to know if you want to get the best experience of a true HD version on PC:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=41496607#post41496607

Playing the PC version with setting all settings maxed, it's hard to believe that it's a game that was released back in 2003. The graphics looked so good for it's time they didn't even need CGI cutscenes, the cutscenes use the in-game models and in-game graphics renderer (a big plus for running the game nowadays on widescreen monitors). In fact, the character models look better then the later games that came years later. See the screens below, those aren't bull-shots, the game really looked like that on PC back in 2003....and with simple tweaks today it looks even better.

The PS2 version doesn't look as good as the PC version....but I can tell you it looks and plays a hell of a lot better then the HD collection (no joke, the HD collection is performance issues and bugs), so if you're going to console route for SH3, stick with the PS2 version - especially since you'll want the original voice acting.

Cool. Yeah, Silent Hill 3 is an awesome follow-up to Silent Hill 1.

As for Silent Hill 1....here are non-spoilers on how to get either one of the two endings that leads into Silent Hill 3 and allows it's story to make the most sense (and most enjoyable).

In Silent Hill 1....the biggest thing that is a must is you at least need to do the motorcycle puzzle when you get to the resort area:

• When you get to the resort area, go straight to Annie's Bar (you'll get a cutscene involving a character). Pickup the envelop the character leaves behind on the floor. Examine everything in the bar and solve all the puzzles in Annie's Bar, if you do everything right, you should get a rear entrance code to open the side-street door of the Motel (the door should be located on "Weaver St").
• Go into motel through the side door using the key code. With the clues you have you should be led to a Room No. 3 at the Motel. Solve the puzzle in this room, which should get you a motorcycle key.
• Use the Motorcycle Key on the Motorcycle in the Motel, this should make Harry open the gas tank of the Motorcycle and find something - you'll get a cut-scene where you're interrupted by a character. As long as you open the motorcycle gas tank and get the brief cutscene with the character, you're pretty much in the clear. **Just don't go down Sanford Street until after you've opened the motorcycle gas tank and saw what's in it, because once you go half-way down Sanford Street, something happens and you won't be able to go back.

The second part is optional, since either the "Good" or "Good+" ending works with connecting with Silent Hill 3's story. The "Good+" ending is the "happier" of the two....The Good+ one also gives the player the most back-story as to what's happening.

In order to get Good+, do the following (most of these steps come before the Resort area and Motorcycle puzzle listed above):

• Step 1 - In the Hospital, obtain the plastic bottle in Kitchen 1F.
• Step 2 - Use the plastic bottle to pick up the Unknown Liquid on the ground from the smashed vial at the back of the Director's Office 1F in the Hospital.
• Step 3 - (This part comes after the motorcycle puzzle in the resort area), use unknown liquid in the bottle to save a certain character in the Amusement Park. In order to be able to use it on them, you have to evade them until they use up all their weapon and drop their weapon. Once they drop their weapon, run up and use the unknown liquid in the plastic bottle on them.

I suggest you do at least step 1 and 2 for the Good+ ending, then when you get to the Amusement Park, you can decide if you want to save a certain character and get the Good+ ending.

I should let you know there is debate amongst the Silent Hill fandom on which of the Good endings is the "canon" one that leads into SH3 - like I said, either one of the two Good endings works with the story of SH3, but it's been a long time argument among fans which one is more "true".

The director / creator of the original game recently said that it's the "Good+" ending that is the true one....an analysis guide for SH3 and the previous two games published by Konami says it's the "Good" ending....and Hiroyuki Owaku, who was the co-writer of SH1 and main writer of SH2 & SH3, said it's up to the player.

If you like happier endings, as well as want to be filled in on the most backstory, then go for the Good+ ending and save the character at the amusement park.....otherwise all you need to do is the Motorcycle Puzzle.

If you hate backtracking issues and it's a real turn-off for you, then you probably won't like Silent Hill 4. One of the biggest complaints against SH4 was the backtracking (as well as needing to constantly babysit one of it's characters)....SH4 has way more backtracking then the previous games and on top of it the backtracking felt forced, frustrating and annoying.

My opinion..

Silent Hill 2 ≥ Silent Hill 3 > Silent Hill 1

....the games that came after these three just weren't in the same caliber imo.

Silent Hill 2 is the most highly regarded overall, but then again, that's because much more people have played SH2 in comparison to SH1 or SH3, mainly because SH2 is it's own self contained story, while SH1 and SH3 are directly connected. Also, SH2 was more widely available on a greater variety of platforms - SH1 and SH3 never came to the original Xbox.

A little advice....if you plan on playing SH3, you'll want to get the either the Good or Good+ ending in SH1 in order for SH3 to make sense.....since SH3 continues off either of the "Good" branch of endings. You can find out how to get the Good+ or Good ending on the web, it involves using a bottle to get a liquid at the hospital and most importantly, finding a secret in a motorcycle at the hotel in the Resort area.

Anyway, Silent Hill 2 is regarded as having the best story, but again, that's because it is it's own self contained story and like I said, more people seem to have only played that one. The overall story in SH1 and SH3 is just as good as SH2, that is, when you take into account that SH3 is a really great continuation of the storyline of the original.

Silent Hill 2 is the smarter game in terms of using mature themes......but it loses to Silent Hill 1 and Silent Hill 3 in terms of being scary. Silent Hill 2 was more disturbing or creepy rather then being actually scary the way SH1 and SH3 was, mainly because SH2 didn't have the dark other-world featured in SH1 and SH3.

Silent Hill 3 has hands down the best graphics and visual presentation of the series, It also has hands down the best protagonist in the series, made even better cause there is a cool twist on her real identity, which you discover mid-way through the game which was a great service to fans. I would also definitely say SH3 has the better voice acting out of the original Team Silent developed titles (I hope you're playing the original versions and not the horribly botched HD Collection).

Anyway, here's my personal breakdown:

Scariest: Silent Hill 1 - with SH3 as a 2nd place runner-up.

Best Story: Silent Hill 2 - with SH3 as a 2nd place runner-up (considering you got the Good+ / Good ending in SH1).

Favorite Protagonist: Silent Hill 3

Best Antagonist: Silent Hill 2's Pyramid Head.

Best Graphics and Sound: Silent Hill 3 - Hands down.

Best Voice Acting: Silent Hill 3

I should also note that some fans consider SH1 - SH3 to be the true Silent Hill series. The first three games had consistent positive acclaim, going by Metacritic the first three games score in the mid-to-upper 80's range.

http://www.metacritic.com/search/all/silent+hill/results?sort=score

After the first three games, the series had a noticeable drop in critical reception, and the series just kept going down.

But also, mainly because Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 are the only games that Hiroyuki Owaku and Masahiro Ito worked directly on, who are considered the two most important people throughout Team Silent's existence. Owaku was the co-writer of SH1 and the main writer of the story of SH2 and SH3. Masahiro Ito designed the series signature look and signature monsters, such as Pyramid head, pretty much the whole visual style of the original games - they both left after Silent Hill 3. So even though "Team Silent" is credited with SH4, the two of it's most important members weren't involved with SH4's development. Also, the ending of Silent Hill 3 can pretty much be seen as a proper conclusion to the core original Silent Hill storyline that encompassed SH1, SH2 and SH3.