User Reviews

I played this game waaaaaay back when it was first released, in 1999. And it still scares the crap out of me when I play it (yes I still have it, its that good). In my opinion the original Silent Hill is very underrated, so I thought I take the time to give it a truly honest review. First things first this game is not for the faint of heart. It has very graphic and disturbing scenes and themes. One of the main story points is a mother burns her daughter alive and offers her up as a sacrifice.

Story.

The story of the game is exceptionally done. The developers do a fantastic job of telling you an emotionally disturbing story without really telling you anything. A lot is left to speculation and near microscopic hints and references. And may require many years of true deciphering. I'm still debating on some of the key story points. this is one of the only games I know where the story itself adds replay value, just to fully understand it all.

Its also to me the very first game with truly mature related themes (besides the original Metal Gear for the MSX). Silent Hills story is very dark and mature. Tellings of child abuse, loss of child and exploring death itself. Silent Hill helps to blur the lines between video games and movies.

Gameplay.

Much like the story, nothing short of brilliant. In too many horror games do we play as a cop or a government agent. In Silent Hill you play as a mere writer, with no special skills, no training only the love and determination for his child to push him forward. The game play for the original Silent Hill beat Resident Evil at that time. It had way better control, your actually able to walk and shoot at the same time, which adds more comfortable and realistic feel than Resident Evils stand in one spot and shoot routine. The puzzles were waaaaaaay more challenging than Resident Evils add this to this, combine that to make what ever.

Silent Hills puzzles actually require a lot of thought, some containing cryptic poems and riddles that require you to have a pen and pad handy to help decipher the meaning. The combat is also nicely done, though kind of clunky, key word "Kind of". Again your not playing as a soldier, just a normal guy with no combat skill. Thus the fighting feels more realistic. Theirs more movement than other SH games at that time. You can run to the side to evade attacks, walk back and shoot at the same time etc.

Theirs also a nicely done user camera which sometimes helps to get a better view of the situation but can sometimes create some minor problems as well. But never the less it helps to add a cinematic feel to the game play. This is not an action game. More tension than Resident Evil. Thus their are only 4 firearms in the game, but thats all you need. All the rest are fun to use mêlée weapons, the katana is my personal favorite weapon in the game.

Graphics.

The graphics are impressive to say the least, even by todays standards. The game has wonderful lighting affects, and the FMV sequences in the game are unbelievable. The fog in the game does a good job of adding to the atmosphere, and giving a feeling of isolation.

Sound.

The sound is also very well done. The presence of the monsters is noted by a small radio that emits static when they are near. When far away their sounds are distant and muted, and slowly get louder has they near providing an unsettling feeling. The music also adds to the creepy factor. More post industrial noise than actual music. Their are tons of screeches and screams in the music. And also in the game itself. You'll be walking down the hallway and out from nowhere you hear the sound of a baby crying, or someone or something violently banging on the wall. Its just creepy!! Bottomline.

Silent Hill is a great achievement in video game presentation. And as I said before, the game still remains vastly underrated. I recommend this game to anyone who has seen a good horror movie and is still wanting more. If you can find it buy Silent Hill, its just that good.

The story line of Silent Hill begins believably, which to me was a welcome change from the being thrown into zombies and various monster plots that were prevalent in horror games at the time. Harry Mason is an everyman type of character, an ordinary citizen lead into Silent Hill by the mysterious disappearance of his daughter Cheryl. Dream sequences are relied on a bit too heavily, especially near the end where Harry keeps waking up from one nightmare after another. But in the beginning the story is a tightly woven tale about Harry exploring the eerie atmosphere of thick fog with falling snow, abandoned cars, and vacant buildings that make everything just seem a little too quiet.

The first character he meets, Cybil, is a police officer who is subtle and surprisingly calm about where she is. With the exception of a possession that turns her against Harry in the latter half of the game, she is his strongest ally. Dahlia is the town looney who he comes across in the Balkan church. She speaks in riddles which for the most part sound nuts until later on when the pieces of the story fit together. The game doesn't really get spooky until the sun eclipses and Harry faces the dark side of Silent Hill. Pint sized demon children with knives are the most common enemy, and like zombies, they can only do severe damage if they gang up on you. What's more unsettling is the ghastly appearance of the halls and rooms Harry goes through. Rust, blood colored fungus, and no light except for the one he's carrying.

Dr. Mason is antagonistic towards Harry, especially when he finds him holding a red bottle of strange fluid in a garage. The last main character he meets is Lisa Garland, a terrified nurse who is trapped in the dark side of Silent Hill in a hospital. Harry offers to take her along with him, but for some strange reason she refuses, thinking that she belongs in this hospital from hell alone. When they meet later, Lisa hemorrhages into a sorrowful death. It would have been better if Harry was able to save her because there were so many interesting dynamics to their relationship that could've been explored. How would she/they have worked together to survive in Silent Hill? What would have become of them after the demon was defeated? She was way to good a character to leave sitting in a hospital just waiting to die more or less. The final battle is good and playing to see all the different endings made the game a true winner. The best weapon Harry can obtain is a laser like gun that can hit targets at long distances. And I was so curious to find out what was behind that locked door on the right side of the hall in the house where the three keys worked that it was kind of disappointing when all that was inside there was a samurai sword. I think other Silent Hill versions after this one were scarier, but this first installment was a strong effort from Konami.

Silent Hill is not a resident evil rip off. Silent Hill plays nothing like resident evil. Silent Hill is a much more raw game than Resident Evil. Resident Evil was a terrifying experience for it's time- but it was more gore and jumps that highlighted it's fear. Silent Hill takes your mind into a dark universe that is inescapable, activates every phobia and then executes every disturbing and depraved act imaginable- all in the name of fun scares. Silent Hill is the kind of game that one might play alone in the dark and even grow a real life fear. The graphics are dated by todays standards, but still have an eerie toll on you as fog and mist enshroud you. You are Harry Mason. You're on a trip with your daughter Cheryl. It opens simple enough. But then a young woman runs in front of your car. The car falls off the road and drops you right in Silent Hill. You wake up only to be alone. Fog and snow nearly blind you. Off in the distance a small form is running from you. Could it be Cheryl? This hope of finding your daughter leads you into Silent Hill. Every clue leading in a dead end- every sound alerting you to the horrors in the depths of the fog. Yet you persist. Apparently this town was once a resort. You meet up with a cop named Cybil who will help you in parts of the game, but prepare to fight her too. Silent Hill isn't a highly gory game, while it is bloody and does warrant the 16+ rating, it stays low on gratuitous gore and high on fear. Silent Hill is not for the weak of heart- while it may not have monster closets it can stress your emotions, weaken you and then bring you down very quickly. The music is amazing, you don't hear much like it now adays. The story is intriguing and always has new turns, and has many endings depending on how you fight your way to rescue your daughter. Silent Hill is a classic in the horror genre- it uses fear in a way no other does and remains an extremely fun game at the same time with a great story, great characters, bizarre and creepy monsters and an ambiance that will keep you playing till you see everything there is to see.