The best in survival horror
Gameplay:
The controls of the game are fairly simple and easy to get used too. Movement and attacking are pretty easy and this installment in the series allows you to strafe which is a major help. The camera angle varies between a cinematic camera angle which is good when you find yourself in the building and passageways, however, you will find yourself holding L2 a lot while walking the street to get a good third person camera angle out in the open. Combat with the creatures of Silent Hill is typically challenging without being frustrating. Usually combat consists of melee attacks against the creepy monsters that roam the streets and lurk within the buildings of the town. In most situations, melee combat is sufficient in dealing with anything you encounter but when you are confronted with some of the game's bosses it's typically best to use one of the guns that you pick up on your way (usually the shotgun). There are various items that you find that can be used to heal your injuries (nutrition drink, first-aid kit, ampoule). Other items that you find are usually needed to complete certain tasks needed to gain access to other areas or to reveal more of the story (keys to unlock doors, notes describing the events that have occurred in the town). Retrieving these items helps to add a bit more depth to the game as you have to search areas and figure out what to do next instead of simply running around and fighting perpetually. The inventory system is perfect, you can take any number of items with you at any given time so there is no limit to what you can take. As you venture through Silent Hill, you will explore many locations such as apartments and the hospital which have been transformed into eerie shelters for the monsters that linger within. Things take a turn for the worst as James is pulled into the alternate world, an even more heavily possessed reality that can be described as nothing other than a nightmare. One of the best things about this game is the fact that it is extremely polished in terms of bugs and glitches. The entire time that I played it I did not once encounter any form of bug at any time.
Graphics:
Graphically, almost everything looks superb in every aspect, especially the polished creature and character models. Furthermore, the coloring and lighting are just right, all of the environments have a dark and sinister look while the creatures look their part as well.
The frame rate is a non-issue in this game, it runs smooth and without a hitch on the PS2's hardware. Finally, the game's movie sequences are perfect, it's hard to tell that this game was made in 2001 as everything looks good.
Sound:
The sound effects are great, from the ambient noises to the sound of the radio as you get closer to each creature everything sounds great and really helps to keep things creepy.
All of the music in the game sounds good, it always fits the mood and helps to create suspense, tension, or whatever is appropriate for the situation. The voice acting is generally well done, some of it is a touch over the top though but still pretty good overall.
Value:
For a single play through the game, it does not take very long to finish the game, often less than 5 hours. What really helps the game in this category is replaying it to get all of the endings, including the two secret endings. Also, the second time through the game you can get secret items such as the chainsaw to further enjoy the game past the first time playing it. The additional scenario, Born of a Wish, is pretty short as it takes about an hour to complete but it is worth playing nonetheless.
Tilt:
The story is involving and well written and is one of the best aspects of the game. Even though it does not relate directly to the first Silent Hill it still has an interesting plot and all of the multiple ending are great. Also, the additional scenario helps us to understand the character Maria and how she fits into the story. Overall, Silent Hill 2 is a good mix of action and horror that should have no problem entertaining anybody with a love of the genre.