Below are user reviews of Silent Hill 2 and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
The summary of review scores shows the distribution of scores given by the professional reviewers for Silent Hill 2.
Column height indicates the number of reviews with a score within the range shown at the bottom of the column.
Higher scores (columns further towards the right) are better.
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User Reviews (211 - 220 of 220)
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FREAKY!!!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User
Ok. I dropped a crab cake in my shorts during this game. ITS FREAKY! I love how Konami has brought us back to the odd town of Silent Hill in this sequel. Lots of atmosphere and serious scares in this one! The sound, the graphics, the music...FREAKY! I think Konami has GAMING GOLD here and I anticipate what the future holds! Gonna need to purchase more boxers...
I look like a monster....
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User
This game was the best survival horror game I've ever played. Better than the first, Silent Hill 2 (for playstation 2 only) was a game both disturbing and horrifying.
Your name is James Summerland, who has recieved a letter from your wife saying that she's waiting for you in Silent Hill. But something is terribly wrong with this picture: Your wife has been dead for years.
As you visit Silent Hill, unbelieving that you actually took the action to leave your home, your work, and previous life to search for a person you know is dead, you find that the town is absolutly deserted. There is no people, every road in and out of town is blocked, there's blood on the streets, and there's screams coming from the surrounding woods. What's a TOURIST town doing in this ghostly condiction? There should be people about, hotels filled with occupants, people fishing at the lake. But instead, what you find there is your own personel Hell that goes much deeper than the DEMONS that dominate this town.
The game makes you start to wonder why your supposedly dead wife said in her letter, "lets meet" instead of, "COME SAVE ME!"??? PERHAPS, your wife is dead, and the town is just using a lonely man's desperation to draw him to his own demise. That wouldn't be a far off speculation, since the other people (like you) that have been drawn to the town, are also lonely and desperate people, all of them being easy victims of psychological torture.
A VERY DISTURBING GAME!!!
You can set PUZZEL and ACTION difficulty to a easy, mediem, or hard level before starting the game. Save spots throughout the game are right where they are suppose to be, and you're not going to find yourself dying and replaying over and over again. Your heart-rate will go up during gameplay, espeacially if your alone in the dark (You might even ask yourself why you're putting yourself through this, as you step down into basements, or run from the heavy beast right behind you). It has the same controlling configration as the Resident Evil games, where UP ALWAYS means foward no matter what way your character is facing, except it's easier than Resident Evil, in my opinion. The graphics are the best I've ever seen in any game. The sound is FLAWLESS! The music gives you that sense of hopelessness and doom. Storyline is so complex and obscure, you're not going to understand it 100%, even AFTER beating the game. It is most difinitly a game to play a second time. It has severl different endings, depending upon how you played. And it could last you for 12 hours.
Well, that's how long it lasted for me--as soon as I put the game in, I played nonstop, from the time of waking up, until the time I had to sleep. I even skipped meals.
Scary But Confusing
3
Rating: 3,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 12, 2001
Author: Amazon User
I played the first game, if you expect Silent Hill 2 to be very similar, think again. First of all let me tell you what is wrong with this game. There is no introduction to the characters, who cares if your hero lives or dies? Why care if his dead wife is really alive? The enemies are repetitive and easy to kill. The story really does not make sense and the voice acting suffers from poor writing. TOO much FOG!
Now let me tell you about all the good things about this game. Silent Hill 2 will entertain you. The graphics and sound together will send chills up your spine. There is replay value because of multiple endings and addtional weapons. Play this game with the lights off and the surround sound on. It IS worth your money if you can handle the puzzles and item fetching. Try it.
Good Lord
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: September 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User
I bought this game on a whim. I never had a PSone therefore I never played the original. I had heard it's good for a scare so I picked it up... and boy is it ever. It starts off slow and just a bit creepy. Nothing more than what you've seen in countless games before. Running around the town at first lacks any real horror, but as the game progresses you can feel your skin begin to crawl. I assure you that the part of the game in the Sanitarium is without a doubt the most horrifying piece of video gaming ever created. That's where I currently am and still much lies ahead so that statement may be premature, but I can't see it being freakier. But, this game has suprised me many times already so one can definately hope.
Psycological Terror...Whoaa
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User
I rented Silent Hill this past saturday, and boy its a thriller. The graphics and sound in this game is so amazing. They really add to the "scare" affect. Its like, I'll be walking down a hallway and see a monster walkin around, and it just gives me so much relief and pleasure to shoot it with my trusty shotgun. It gives me goosebumps every time a monster gets close. The story never seems to go your way, why doesn't the main character (James) just forget about is wife and ditch the messed up town. This game really plays with your mind. But there is one thing, it leaves you hanging, I mean I'm not completely sastisfied. There's something missing...
GREAT PS2 TITLE but....
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 23, 2001
Author: Amazon User
This is one of the best (...) PS2's games I have played but, there are a couple things I don't understand, like how long after does Silent Hill 2 take place after the first one? Or does it take place before? and also aquiring all endings are extremly difficult and requires strict guidelines, one simple small mistake could lead you to an ending you have aquired already, it's a pain (...) and can get very frustrating after putting an X amount of hours into one gameplay mode just to get an ending you already seen, and not to mention the flashlight isn't as bright as it should be, this version seemed like James was carrying a cheap wax candle around, but overall the game was great, it's 50x scarier than it's predecesor, and bigger and badder monsters, and cut scenes were done and placed perfectly, anyway, hope this helps someone!
Great Game! Freaky!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User
If you like games where you can turn the lights off at night, turn on the surround sound, and get freaked... then this is the game for you. I loved Silent Hill for the PS1 and Silent Hill 2 for the PS2 delivers once again! The music is creepy, the gameplay is scary (especially when your life is low and the analog controller shakes with your heartbeat), and the nightmares from playing it are unbelievable! The one drawback is the angles they give you during gameplay can get annoying. However, it adds to the gameplay because you can't always see what's coming at you ahead of time. Either way, it is still a great game! Now, I just can't wait until Silent Hill 3!
A must!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: September 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User
If you own a PS2, you should add this to your collection. Even if you are not into this genre of gaming, give it a shot, rent it, that is if you will be able to find a copy of it available at you local Blockbuster. This really is another show stopper for Sony's powerful "T.V. Console". It shows that realism in graphics using a new method of called, or what I've heard is called, filming. It gives the game a grainy look, but don't be so quick to judge by pictures on the website or magazines, it's truly something you have to see for your self. Everything else, the story, charcters, movement....it's all there, and then some. Trust me, if you like Code:Veronica X, you will love Silent Hill's newest addition to what looks like an ongoing series of the newest genre. So, you just have to ask yourself one question...why are you reading this stup review, when you should be playing it?
Silent Hill 2
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 06, 2008
Author: Amazon User
When the playstation began to rise in popularity, it released a game known as Silent Hill. This game impacted many with its disturbing sense of horror. Silent Hill 2 was then released for the PS2 with amazing graphics and great replay value. This game is barely tolerable to play in alone in a dark room, but it is possible. I recommend this game for anyone who wants a horrific threal and great gameplay included.
Great game if its' unique flavor is indeed your cup of tea.
3
Rating: 3,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 06, 2008
Author: Amazon User
I got SH 2 years ago. For its' time the graphics were great and the story was definetly something original no other game developer team had tried before. If you were to ask which I found more scary..being attacked by flesh eating mutants or receiving a genuine letter from a deceased loved one written AFTER they had died I'd be inclined to say the later.
Regardless that is the Dilehma James is faced with. His dead wife has lured him back to Silent-hill and you know THAT is not going to be a happy walk in the park.
First of all let me say I think this game really made people "re-think" the survival horror genre. It tried being witty, intelligent, and chalked with macabre symbolism as opposed to zombie arms that broke through windows. Even the side characters were more than simply devices to move the plot along. Eddie and Angela have their own interesting inner demons too and Maria looks just like James's deceased wife though her personality is drastically different. If that is not enough to sell you on this premise I could simply say "Oh yeah this game introduces Pyramid-Head". That alone will have people lining up in droves.
Now putting everything good about the game aside I'm going to be brave and talk about why I think while it deserves "praise" it still is not all that and a side order of extra big fries. Yes, I know this is the game the elite Silent Snoots put on a pedestal. The one game no other SH can compare to. The Holy Grail of team silent. Is it that earth shattering? For me anyway it was not.
As with the other games there is a suspenseful build up. First it is sounds. Then it is fleeting shadows. Finally it is full blown creatures. The only problem is often there are not enough monsters and instead you are forced to aimlessly wander around trying to collect keys or pieces of an obscure puzzle. Now I admit sometimes its' fun to run around an enviorment without fear of dying to see those little details. However in a survival horror game you should never begin lulling into a calm sense of security and that's the biggest flaw of the game. In most areas I felt "safe" and that the monsters were easy to manuever around. Every once in awhile an eager lurching Pyramid-Head made my heart race a bit but besides for the beloved apron adorned big guy no other creatures instilled in me any amount of dread.
The true disturbing factor comes from interacting with Eddie and Angela. I will not divulge why they are so psychologically unstable but talking with them alone requires a few steel nerves. These are normal people that "snapped" and you get the feeling you are a participant in their horrorifying delusions. Things get stranger when you meet Maria, the sultry Dopple-ganger of Mary who embodies all Jame's sexual fantasies given flesh. Is she Jame's wife's ghost? Sadly Silent Hill never makes an explaination that easy so you have to keep playing to find out.
As the game slowly drags on it picks up when we find out James has his own dark secret. When you finally get that revelation everything comes together and you know why Silent Hill's foggy streets beckoned to him.
Now there is one thing I like to make clear to the fans. Pyramid Head pursued James because James subconciously wanted to be punished for his past misdeeds however a few references from the other games prove the executioner has been apart of the town history for a long time. PH was not manifested from James, he was merely drawn to James. This is why it is OK PH was in the movie and ok he is in SH V.
Examples
1. In origins the gillespie house had a picture of PH. Origins took place way before Jame's arrival.
2. The Room talked about "the red devil" and Jimmy stone. This story ties into PH if you read it carefully.
3. Another document in Origins talked about "the executioner" as well.
4. In SH 3 there is a picture of one of Alessa's past goddess incarnations with PH in the background amongst a few other people. You can view it in the cathedral.
I just wanted to clear that up because there is a HUGE DEBATE raging PH should be confined to only this game which I find to be a waste of breath.
As you can expect the music in this game is haunting and very befitting of Jame's sad tale and descent into madness to find his redemption. If there is one thing SH 2 gets right it is estabalishing a powerful thought provoking mood.
Combat is what you expect from SH. You are not going to be able to fight like a marine. A plank with nails in it is your first weapon. That should tell you something right there. Eventually you get a few guns and a few other melee weapons besides your buddy "Plank-zorz". Aside from stomping on monsters when they're down you are not a golden glove brawling champion. Perhaps it is for this reason it is good why most of the monsters are so gosh darn pathetic. Besides for the acid spewing of the patient monsters and the sheer size of the abstract daddies nothing made me feel over-whelmed that often.
So in the end I'll say this game is great for atmosphere and a brilliant story. If you can stomach a horror game with more emphasis placed on wandering around, solving puzles, and talking to crazy lunatics to glean disturbing revelations you can likely over look the fact the combat engine is uninspired and the monsters are more scarce than the items in your inventory.
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