Silent Hill 2: Web Wombat: Games

Well, you'd better put on your brown undies when you play this new release because you're gonna soil your pants several times before you're through with Silent Hill 2, and we don't want any unsightly marks showing...

Oh.... and for those of you who have played Silent Hill on the PlayStation and think you can handle the sequel, well, I wish you luck.

However, take my advice, because with the all new mutant/human type enemies, and the brilliant life like graphics that the PS2 provides, nothing is going to prepare you for Silent Hill 2.

The game starts off with another normal, decent, upstanding American citizen, caught up in various events, which somehow leave him at the mercy of the corrupt town, Silent Hill.

The story focuses on the widower James Sunderland, whose wife, Mary, died three years ago from a severe illness, leaving James in with nothing but a case of deep, lifeless depression. One morning, James receives a mysterious letter, signed "Mary" in the same handwriting of his late wife.

"Dead people can't write letters...." He tells himself, but unable to overcome his loss, part of him believes that Mary is still alive. So, following the cryptic clues in the letter, James sets off for Silent Hill to uncover the truth, and hopefully reunite with Mary in their "special place".

There's nothing worse than crude toilet humour...

In the typical nature of one of the best survival/horror games, you are armed with only a wooden plank spouting some four inch nails from one end. I mean, without the nails, you just can't deal out as much hurt!

More weapons, such as the handgun and shotgun, can be accessed later in the game, but depending on the difficulty setting, you will either have enough ammunition to take down every enemy in the game ten times over (and then some) or you will be scarcely low and have to consistently savour every shot you have.

On the beginner setting, your freakish enemies will kindly go down with one blow across the head. Then, they proceed in a rather unorthodox form of running on their stomach, horizontally, which looks really funny... er... scary.

They are then put to rest with one more thump. But, if you want to raise the stakes a little, including the difficulty, chuck it on hard, and you can smack a few litres of blood out of them before they even go down, then just wait for the suckers to get back up, and you can do it all again! The joys of videogaming. This also adds to the eerie effect of the blood covered streets, cars, buildings, floors, walls, apartments, etc.

The basic gameplay of SH2 is very similar to its predecessor, for example running around in pitch-black environments, such as apartment buildings, hospitals and the like. And in these situations, your only friend is not your steel pipe, not your hand gun, and not the impressive shotgun (ok... maybe the shotgun), but your torch. Without it, you are lost. Literally.

Are you a banker? Never heard of sharing?

In dark areas, James can't search for any necessary items, clues, or even the ocasional bloody graffity, nor can you look at the map. This makes it really challenging, as in all areas the map is always a good resource.

Not only can you use it to guide yourself through buildings, or navigate a course through the streets, but whenever James comes to a dead end, or a locked or broken door in a hallway, he is clever enough to squiggle a red line on the map, so you don't find yourself backtracking.

Key items or puzzles yet to be solved are also recorded on the map. Although similar to the original Silent Hill in gameplay, SH2 has many improved and enhanced aspects.

As mentioned above, the graphics in Silent Hill 2 are unbelievable. In fact, it is the graphics, more than anything, gives the game such a daunting atmosphere. Naturally, there is a thick fog throughout the town, so James' vision is very limited. This makes running around the town simply amazing, due to the movement of the fog around the gameworld.

All the buildings hold brilliant detail, along with the parked cars, benches and even little details, like street lights. When approching your enemies (who can be heard thanks to the hideous noises they make), it's very hard to see them unless they're right in your face, adding to the tension.

Also, when inside buildings, some idiot went around and nailed shut all the window shutters, so conveniently, every room is pitch-black! The lighting effects of your torch, however, are very impressive.

With the combination of all the new and improved features, such as graphics, sound, and plot, the game comes together very well, making it perhaps the best survival/horror game yet. If you're looking for a game that will supply an ample amount of horror, tension and of course scare the living crap out of you, Silent Hill 2 will deliver in spades.

Game: Silent Hill 2
System: Playstation 2
Players: 1
Memory Card: Yes
Developer: Konami
Distributor: Sony

Rating: 90%

(Ratings Key/Explantion)

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