Silent Hill

[Dr Channard]

Here is my power ranking of the Silent Hill games I’ve played, because I’m bored, and there’s nothing else to do right now.

1. Silent Hill 2 with the Born from a Wish scenario.

2. Silent Hill 4: The Room. - This one isn’t often a fan favorite with the ghosts and the second half repeating levels and Henry, but I love the story and the sheer bizarre factor.

3. Silent Hill.

4. Silent Hill 3. - This one started slow, but became great in the second half.

5. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. - This one had some great elements going for it, but the chase sequences were terrible and the monster design was just bad.

6. Silent Hill: Origins. - Overall, this game proved better than I expected going in.

7. Silent Hill: Downpour.

8. Silent Hill: Homecoming. - To date, the only Silent Hill game I got rid of after beating it.

[WorzelG]

...

2. Silent Hill 4: The Room. - This one isn’t often a fan favorite with the ghosts and the second half repeating levels and Henry, but I love the story and the sheer bizarre factor.
it.

Yeah SH4 is probably my least favourite because it was just TOO difficult for combat, those fucking ghosts constantly regenerating! I play silent hill for atmosphere and story mainly. Homecoming was a bit too difficult for me as well, those blade headed creatures were impossible especially when low on ammo which was always the case. Downpour I found really returned to being based more on story, particularly the side quests - the ribbons story made me cry actually as I have an autistic son.

My list would be :
1 silent hill 2 - can't recommend this game enough, sound, music, gameplay, enemy design excellent, really sad story, they got the voice acting right as compared to how stilted it was in SH1
2 silent hill (looks dated now but I remember this back from the demo in the late 90s as part of mgs1, alley scene scared the crap out of me, scariest game experience ever)
3 silent hill 3 (although the bit with the horses towards the end is horrible and unnecessary)
4 silent hill downpour - thought Murphy seemed familiar, then hearing the character say 'God why are you doing this to me' while going through a window confirmed to me that he is based on Trent was just the icing on the cake to me
5 silent hill homecoming
6 silent hill 4 the room (lots of weird bits to recommend it, but too difficult in the end, don't think I even managed to finish it)

Haven't played shattered memories or origins so not included. I still have my PS2 in the garage though so I'm partially tempted to get it out and replay the Room and get those two, it still irks me that you can play all PS1 games on the PS3 but not ps2 ones

[Dr Channard]

Yeah SH4 is probably my least favourite because it was just TOO difficult for combat, those fucking ghosts constantly regenerating! I play silent hill for atmosphere and story mainly.

SH4 definitely has a few issues. It is in level design half a game that attempts to be a full game by making you play the same levels twice. Second half escort mission . A few bad monster designs (escalator wall men, and the burping patients…made from giant Claudia no less). Stiff controls, and odd inventory and save systems. A story that’s disjointed and convoluted even by silent hill standards. As the main character Henry Townshend is essentially as interesting as a bowl of oatmeal. Oh, and it’s not even in Silent Hill.

But even with the problems, the game clicks for me. The levels that they did design and the story constructed are just so fucking bizarre and different that it all works pretty damn well. Even some of the games above noted issues manage to somehow lend themselves to the bizarre factor. And those ghosts also play well into the story of Walter and the 21 sacraments. From start to finish the game had me intrigued. Of the original 4 games, SH4 still strikes me as the most unique. If that’s a good or bad thing is up to each player to decide.

Downpour I found really returned to being based more on story, particularly the side quests - the ribbons story made me cry actually as I have an autistic son.

Downpour had some poignant moments, and it kept me playing, twice. It had some really interesting level designs like crossing into the black and white film world, or the Hansel and Gretel theatrical set come to life.

Haven't played shattered memories or origins so not included

Shattered Memories was oooooh sooooo sloooooow, with a dialog or chase sequence strategically placed throughout, but it still managed to do some unique and interesting things. And Origins feels like a throwback to the first game, just a bit undercooked in places.