Silent Hill 2 is One of the Greatest Games of All Time

Where do I even begin with this one?

I play a lot of games. Action games, puzzle games, hard games, easy games. Sometimes they’re just plain fun and that is more than enough. Sometimes they’re something more. Sometimes they’re something so special that they’ll stick with me for my whole life.

Silent Hill 2 is one of those games. Not just for me, either. Countless people have been impacted by this game. As such, it’s the centerpiece of countless analytical pieces. Everything that could be said about this game has been.

But that’s never stopped me before. So, just in case you’ve been living under a rock, let me explain why you need to play Silent Hill 2.

Three years after the death of his wife Mary, James Sunderland receives a letter from her. It claims that she’s waiting for him in Silent Hill. But there is no safety to be found in that town. Could Mary really be waiting for James there? Or does something more sinister await him in the fog?

This is a game about trauma and guilt. Every single character wandering nightmarish streets of Silent Hill are haunted by the nightmares of their past. From Angela’s childhood sexual abuse to Eddie’s psychotic self-esteem issues, this is a grim story. But in an odd way, it can also be uplifting. It’s not a story about wallowing in guilt and misery, but about confronting it, overcoming from it, and healing.

At least, if you go for a good ending. It could be a story about finding a dog controlling the town behind the scenes if you know where to look.

Few games are better at messing with your head like this one. Nothing is ever as it seems. It puts you right into James’ shoes, feeling like you’re losing your mind the further you delve into the story. It isn’t until the very end that everything comes together and the horrifying reality becomes clear.

This effect is further sold by the voice acting. Everyone sounds dazed and confused almost all the time. A lot of people will write it off as bad performing or directing, but I disagree. I think it was 100% intentional. Especially because the voice acting at the end of the game is genuinely jaw-dropping, especially from Mary’s voice actress, Monica Horgan.

On that subject: let’s talk about the visuals. For a PS2 game, Silent Hill 2 still looks surprisingly good. It definitely shows its age, but it’s still fairly impressive. The CG cutscenes look decent even today, all the monsters are horrifyingly designed and disgustingly animated, and the environments are detailed and unsettling.

What this game really excels at is atmosphere. It masterfully uses darkness, silence, and limited sounds to create a feeling of tension. Every step through Silent Hill makes you feel more uneasy than the last, even if sometimes you can’t quite put your hand on why.

Quick note: the easiest way to play SH2 today is with the Enhanced Edition mod. This mod smooths out a lot of the issues with the original PC release. It’s an independent passion project that’s frequently updated, and the developers deserve all the praise and support they can get. Check it out in the link here.

Then there’s the music. Holy fuck, this OST is incredible! It’s the perfect blend of exciting and dreadful, creepy and melancholy. Akira Yamaoka is a genius of his craft! This is one of the greatest scores in video game history, beyond a shadow of a doubt!

Finally, we come to the meat and potatoes. How’s the actual game?

Silent Hill 2 can best be described as a survival puzzle game. You’ll need to search for all kinds of items and solve bizarre logic questions in your search for Mary. All the while, you’ll be hounded by all kinds of creepy monsters. When your radio crackles to life, beware, for there is danger near.

Some of these puzzles can require some leaps in logic. Need to find a vintage coin? Not to worry. Just find the six-pack of juice, throw it down the garbage chute to dislodge the contents, then head outside to the dumping ground, and presto! There’s your prize. Don’t even get me started on the hair and the hook or the wax puzzle.

Combat is present in this game. However, James is not a badass. He’s a loser with depression, not an elite cop like Jill Valentine or Leon Kennedy. His melee attacks are slow and clunky and his gunplay is stiff if effective. It’s not particularly fun, but it isn’t so bad as to be a deal-breaker. Fighting really isn’t at the forefront of the gameplay, after all.

Unless it’s a boss fight. Which are not good, by the way. Like… not any of them. They’re the worst part of the game by far.

Well, them and the camera.

Honestly, Silent Hill 2 is more remarkable for its story, atmosphere, and presentation than it is its gameplay. It isn’t the worst gameplay experience in a horror game, but you can definitely feel its age. Hopefully the remake will be able to capture a balance between fun gameplay and the aforementioned strengths that made the original amazing.

Please, God, don’t let them screw that one up. I don’t want the most accessible version of SH2 to miss the point.

Silent Hill 2 is one of the most incredible gaming experiences you could ever have. Its story, atmosphere, music, voice performances, all of it adds up to create one of the most compelling horror stories I’ve ever experienced. It can be janky and the gameplay isn’t especially impressive, but it gets the job done. In the face of everything it does right, that’s hardly an issue at all.

If you’ve never played it, I would highly recommend giving it a shot. Setup the Enhanced Edition (finding the necessary ROMS is only a Google search away), take a night or two and play through it. Trust me, you won’t regret it. It’s a must-play to any video game fan.

Oh, and maybe play Silent Hill 1 or 3 while you’re at it.