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Nothing Compares...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I played the first Silent Hill when I was 10. It was horrifying to me at that age. I could not play it alone, I thought it would make me go crazy. So years passed, and I noticed the sequel had come out. I rented it knowing if it was anything like the other game, I should be thouroughly freaked out.

And guess what? I was.

Silent Hill 2 was a very scary game, but it was different from the first. The first kept barraging you with a constant feeling of insanity, and never let go for a minute. I am glad it never relied on BOO! scary techniques, like resident evil always does. The second was more eeri and the monsters more disturbing, and was much more atmospheric.

The third brings back the insanity that the first had, along with the erriness and atmosphere of the second. This game is THE SCARIEST GAME EVER MADE. Sound is used masterfully used, as in all the games, the lighting is absolutly genius, the monsters are just disturbing (the best in all the games I think), and all this together plus a few more things, makes for a truly terrifying, and moody, and atmospheric game. Even comparing it to anything else in any of these categories, is an insult to this game. This game is not for people who are expecting something that is anything remotley like RE, aside from the difficulty of the puzzles. This game will bore anyone with a short attention span, who is only looking for lots of action and blood.

This game is perfect for anyone who wants a horror game with substance, and is tired of Resident Evil getting extremely repetitive and boring.

The most disturbing one yet...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Here's an excerpt from my full review of the game:

"(STORY)The events of this game take place seventeen years after Silent Hill. You are Heather Mason, and you wake up in a shopping mall diner only to be accosted by a detective named Douglas Cartland. He is supposed to bring you to meet someone, but your spunky character doesn't trust him and runs off to a bathroom. From there, you escape him and enter an empty mall. Of course the game would be too easy if that was the end of it. You start to encounter strange monsters before meeting Claudia Wolf, a strange woman who claims that Heather "will lead us to Paradise with blood stained hands."

Similar to previous installments, this game focuses on a few important characters, but I won't go into many details so as not to spoil anything. I think the characters present themselves rather well, and the development is interesting. The interactions are really solid and clearly present to you what their inner workings are really like. Unfortunately, I think the game takes a little too long to really get you into the story. Once you find yourself, as the commercials have hinted at, it gets increasingly scary. From there, the storyline pulls you in deeper and deeper. And even though more is made clear in this game than the previous games bothered with, the plot leaves much to question. I like that about the game and that there's no true answer to it all. Essentially, the story itself is a puzzle. When you read notes, you're able to infer much about the characters and the storyline. In the end, it was all very enjoyable and handled very well. The buildup was nice and they really delivered on giving you something freaky.

(GAMEPLAY)A combination of the eye candy and the sheer fear of it kept me interested in it. This is NOT an action game. You're not meant to go in with guns blazing. Even more so than Silent Hill 2, Konami has emphasized the survival aspect of this game. There are certain monsters you'll have to kill in addition to the bosses, but there are others that you can just let alone. The key to the game is conserving ammo and health supplies. This means you'll use your melee weapons quite a bit and try to run a lot also. I really thought that this was all fun though. It required some actual strategy to get past certain monsters and surviving was really a challenge. This was meant to be an adventure game, and it really did accomplish this.

There are plenty of puzzles to boot. And almost all of these puzzles make total sense. It really isn't hard in most places to put two and two together and figure out a solution. In other parts you'll have to take clues into consideration when trying to figure out something, and they may not always be crystal clear. You should be able to beat the whole game without having to refer to a strategy guide though, unless you're playing on the hard riddle level.

I do have one gripe about gameplay though, and that would be the camera. There were a few parts where a monster hit me merely because it was hard for me to maneuver with the angle the camera was in. You can use L2 to control the camera view, but you don't always have time for this. The problem wasn't very extensive though, and was mainly a problem in the hospital. The controls were good for the most part, but the main character was purposefully rather clunky. You're not controlling a spry action hero, you're controlling a confused teenage girl. She can only move so fast, and the game really strives for this kind of realism.

The arsenal you have at your disposal includes a knife, a steel pipe, a maul, a kitana (very very cool), a stun gun, a shotgun, a handgun, and a submachine gun. So while action isn't really emphasized, you have some great ways to get the job done. Don't fret though, when you unlock some of the secret weapons by beating the game, you will have much fun taking revenge on these monsters. I, for one, have begun replaying the game for the sheer joy of slaughtering these monsters who I had to previously run away from. The hidden weapons are very cool and worthwhile.

(SOUND)There's not a whole lot to say about sound except that I loved it. The soundtrack was very interesting and some of the rock ballads really fit. Of course most of the game is filled with strange sounds, from a screaming woman to a moaning nurse. You'll think you heard something you really didn't hear, or you may not trust your ears like me at some points and get mauled by a twisted creature. If the environments don't keep you on your feet, the sounds definitely will. It's hard to describe how crazy the sounds are, but they really do start to get to you after a while. The only real gripe I have when it comes to the audio is that at a few parts the quality of the voices in the dialogue is diminished. The voice acting overall though has taken a pretty big leap since Silent Hill 2, especially the main character. You really believe their emotions, and I think that's important to truly understand the main points of this game."

Additionally, the monster and character design and detail is indescribable. A must buy for prior fans, and warrants a hard look from newcomers to the series. Its style of psychological horror will keep you on the edge until you finally beat it. There are 3 endings in all to the game. You can see my full review at gamefaqs.com.

SCARIEST GAME EVER!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: February 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Let's be honest. Resident Evil is not the least bit scary, just fun. Hmmm, I want to get a scary game. The reviews on the internet point all fingers to the Silent Hill series. I guess I'll find a copy of #1. Ok, that was the scariest game I've ever played, even with bad graphics. I'll pick up a copy of #2!
Not as scary, but an unbelievably awesome storyline with an ending that was so emotional, I almost cried. heh heh. Now SIlent Hill 3.....

Silent Hill 3 blends together what made the first and the 2nd games great. It uses the buildup of fear and horrible creatures like in SIlent Hill 1, which #2 lacked. And it uses an awesome story line from #2 but definitely not as epic as SH2.

The things that happen in this game are extremely, and thoroughly disturbing!!! ( some spoilers) Like in the alternate hospital, that was the first time in a silent hill game where an alternate place actually seems like a real nightmare. The blurry, blood-red squirming walls, which seemed to made out of bloody maggots. That sent shivers down my spine. Then when you walk into that room with the mirror, that made me have a heart attack!(You know what I'm talking about) THen that haunted house, was pretty gruesome but freaky. (What was that red light anyway?) I like how the first level is a foreshadowing of events to come like in SH.

Fantastic game. I honestly belive it's the best of the 3.

Fantastic, Scary and addicting!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Silent Hill 3 was the game that go me addicted. I loved this game so much i went out and bought a PS2 of my own! ( i was playing a friends at the time) I may not have played SH 1 and 2 however i believe i know something thats good when i see it.
Graphics: AWSOME! The monsters were scary and unique, i loved that fat man and the dogs! Each monster has its own personality.I dont know how anyone could say that the graphics were lacking in this game. it may have been repetitive that the walls were covered in blood and bugs but it was NEVER boring! Every time i turned the corner there was a new image or scene that creeped me out! look for the wheel chair and cute pink bunnies! Very creative and kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the whole game! The only thing that was alittle dishearting was the camera, it does get alittle frustrating to not see where your going at some times but i felt that after playing the game alittle i was able to pretty much master the tehcnique. I believe that the camera adds to the suspense when walking into a room...may have been done on purpose.

Sound: It made me pee alittle! it was scary! Beware when you hear heavy breathing in the subway! The howling dogs and monsters lurking around the corners was enofe to send your mind into a panic! I loved the Music and am going to get the CD for the sounds track. Look for it here on amamzon.

Story line: Im still confused. I got the gist if the story line but i felt that the complexity took away from enjoying the game.

Overall: i would give it 5 stars but the story line dropped it to 4

Best Part : Haunted house in carnival

Stay away from this game, I'm serious

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 18
Date: February 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Silent Hill 3 is not a game, it's not a story, I just don't know what it is. Sure, I chose to play it so I can't "blame" anyone. But who made this? And what is it? If you play it all the way through, you'll know what I'm talking about. I do not need to watch violent movies after playing this. This "game" is not for people who are already suffering from depression or any mental disorder. I seriously considered taking the CD into the back yard and burning it to ashes after playing, and it wasn't even my game. If you can play this game alone, in the dark, then you are mentally sick. Not meaning to sound harsh, but I believe it's the truth. The human mind was just not made to see, hear, and experience the things in this game. I do not want to meet anyone who "enjoyed" playing through this game, as I believe they might kill me. I never want to see blood again after this game. After each level I said, "It cannot possibly get worse than this..." Worse, as in, bleeding walls, moaning lumps of flesh having a seizure on the ground, monsters that make the devil look like santa claus, and the like. But it got worse, and worse, and worse. I'd rather go to hell than to the last level again.

Not for the weak at heart.....

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: November 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Ok. I just wanna start by saying I am a die hard resident evil fan and have played and beat every resident evil game ever made.But since palying this game I've decided to start a new series.Thats one half the reason I decided to check this game out.the other is cause I saw the commercial for it and it looked cool.So I went to the rental store and rented it.The only thing that had me worried was that I hadn't played the first or second silent hill, and was starting on the third.I want to say that this game surpasses every resident evil game out there.This is the only game ive ever played that made me jump and made me feel sick.I always thought that video games had certain limits to them, but I was scared to death when I saw how gorey this game is and how much I realized why this is rated mature.I don't know whats freakier,the monsters or the people you meet.Just about every person you meet is a crazed,pshycotic,maniac.I am now proud to say I own this game and if your looking for a 5 star game this is for you.

Another hellish visit to Silent Hill.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: August 07, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I must say as a dedicated fan of this series, I was completely blown away by this game. Graphically, it stands above almost every other title currently available on the PS2, with unbelievably realistic character animations, incredible (see Splinter Cell quality) lighting effects, and some VERY disturbing locales. Sonically, this is the most advanced game on the market. Truth be told most of the horror that you experience when playing these titles comes from the sound, and SH3 delivers in spades. Just try playing this thing at night, with the lights off and the surround sound cranked up. Be prepared for a few sleepless nights if you chose to try it. Now for the story. While not as emotionally wrenching as the psychological drama that unfolded for James in Silent Hill 2, this title still packs a wallop. Fans of the first game will be thrilled to see some momentous plot holes filled, while newcomers will find that this story stands very much on its own. Only a couple of things keep Silent Hill 3 from becoming a masterpiece. The game is light on puzzles, and only one or two are really complex enough to make you work for the solution, but the games length is a real let down. On my first play through I was able to finish in a little under 6 hours. I have yet to play it again, but I can conceivably make it through the entire game in 2 and a half to 3 hours now that I am familiar with it. With three endings however, and a ton of secret items, weapons, and costumes, it does have substantial replay value. Still, these two minor quibbles aside, Silent Hill 3 is the finest example of survival horror on any platform. A MUST HAVE for fans of the series, and highly recommended for fans of survival horror games.

A ''Must Have'' Flawed Masterpiece.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

While Silent Hill 2 was a ghost story that had a creepy feeling, Silent Hill 3 is a horror story that is designed to scare with Blair Witch type undertones and some fantastic set pieces to boot, however the story is certainly very different and in this reviewers opinion - not quite as good as Silent Hill 2 but it is a lot more frightening. The atmosphere in Silent Hill 3 is undoubtedly better and the game makers have certainly done more to make the game more direct from stage to stage and less repetitive in parts (less running back across half the game to retrieve an object) by dividing the game into two discreet locations for a two part game (on one DVD). The first part of the game mostly takes place in a shopping mall and the second part in Silent Hill. The game is much shorter than Silent Hill 2 - the game play is something like 10 hours from start to finish, but you will undoubtedly spend a few days working at it. The questions you would likely be asking are: Is it worth the money? Is it worth adding to my PS2 collection? Both answers are a resounding yes. It is certainly one of the best survival games you can buy on the PS2.

The game makers have proved some of the most sophisticated graphics ever seen on the PS2 with outstanding cut scene realism and possibly the best game for sound yet on the PS2. Some parts of this game will freak you out. I defy you to play this game at night on your own and not go to bed an insomniac. There are rooms and places that will blow your mind (The mirror room with creeping blood is one of the best scenes in a game ever!). The monster battles are well designed and do not impede the game play too much and in most cases are set in a way that actually adds to the game play.

There are lots of weapons to use but there seems to be less puzzles and items than in Silent Hill 2. The game has lots of reading but after awhile this gets less interesting and you will skip a lot of it. The camera angles can be dodgy at times but overall this game is very easy to control and manage. It certainly ranks up there with the best of the horror survival genre and if that is your bread and butter then you will lap up Silent Hill 3.

Overall this is scariest game available and certainly an unforgettable game play experience but it is flawed by a story that is sometimes too convoluted for its good and has left the original Silent Hill premise of a creepy haunted storyline for a more scary supernatural horror, blood and guts one. Not a bad change - but a flawed one that may leave many game players uncertain about the Silent Hill series. Anyhow get this game at all costs. You will not be disappointed and it stiffs most other survival horror games out there.

Pros:
Atmosphere, Locations, Blood, Guts and scares a plenty.
Staggering amounts of attention paid to detail and groundbreaking sound techniques.
Never boring.
Bloody Scary!

Cons:
Story is too convoluted and not as good as Silent Hill 2.
Too dark overall. Needs some scenic backgrounds and more daytime play like in Silent Hill 2.
Not as long as Silent Hill 2.

Playable, but not its best

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game intrigued me because of its name. I had played the sequal first because I heard that if you play the first one it will ruin the second. The second game was by far the best. The story took this series into a phsycological aspect rarely done in video games. Of course, playing this one before the first, I may be a little bias. Then I played the first one and thought it was a great beginning to the series. Then I played the third installment.

I had heard the game was only six hours long, but what I didn't hear was that the game doesn't really start until about two and a half hours into it. The first half of the game was mainly hack and slash with no true story to follow. Then when you finally get to Silent Hill (that's right, you don't see the town till your about half way through the game) the story is tossed out in pieces. There was no true mystery to the game anymore, which is something I enjoyed from the first two. I ended up finishing the game in five hours and was rewarded with a lame ending. I did not even bother with the other two endings because they're even worst then the normal ending.

I was glad I only rented this game and did not buy it. Don't get me wrong, the graphics alone in this game were great. Heather's voice acting was excellently done (nevermind that she looks strikingly similar to one of the Olsen twins). The other voice actors could have had a bit more feeling, with the exception of Claudia. Also, Heather was a weak protagonist. She reacted nonchalantly in situations where a normal 17 year old girl would have died of fright. Also, she wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.

I am aware that they are in the works for the Silent Hill movie. I hope they decide to give the story some more depth then the third game. My advice, rent the game and see if you like it.

more excitement

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Silent Hill 3 is where the amount of fear REALLY goes up a few notches. Encountering a monster in this game will probably scare the crap out of you, thanks to the graphics being a big improvement this time around.

The music isn't quite as good as the original Silent Hill, but in this case, the music doesn't really hurt the gameplay at all. You will be scared regardless of what tune happens to be playing. The sound effects alone can make you afraid. Playing as Heather is a really nice twist, also. As you play the game, imagine what she must be feeling.

I would recommend this game to anyone who has a strong enough mind to handle this kind of psychological horror. Remember, it may be a video game, but the violence and fear may be too much for many folks to handle. I recommend NOT buying this game for your children.

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