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An Epitome Of Video Game Horror, Awe, Tragedy And Mystery

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Possibly the 'just-plain-freakiest' game to come out of the video game field's horror contributions, often called the 'horror/survival' genre. This label can be quite misleading because it implies that all you're trying to do in a game is stay alive with no other goals, and no rhyme or reason or story. That may be the case in some titles, but it's certainly not here. Along the way of all the aforementioned freakiness, there's a labyrinth of mystery to unravel and understand (and as always in these kind of games, it's so much better if you actually take the time to enjoy and Experience the
revelations and the turning points, as you would with a book or movie, instead of just blazing through to try and finish in record time. At least the first time you go through it - I guess later on it might be fun to go for some kind of speed record, but the first playthrough you've just got to take it all in as you play) and a cast of characters to try and help and save, and in some cases rely on for help yourself, instead of just trying to keep your single character alive. I think this aspect of the game is going to appeal to those who, like me, like the teamwork thing in "Resident Evil: Outbreak", although it's not developed to that point here - this is more story-oriented while Outbreak is more team tactics/team strategy oriented.

There's so much more to this story than having your character try to find your way out of a mysteriously locked room, which is what some early reports seemed to suggest. That's just the beginning of a more complex game that seems to run longer than a lot of its peers in playing time. It's a great opening, the seeming irrationality of the character's situation (locked in a room where time seems to have stopped despite the fact that it's still moving on the outside world as seen through the windows, the occasionally operational radio, etc.; the way you can hear sounds outside your door but people out there can't hear you no matter what; and so on) working to the game's advantage rather than hindering it by serving as a harbinger of how completely bizarre and mindbending things are going to get later.

A high point is the characters. The lead character, Henry, is admittedly a rather blank slate but this works very well in video games (in my opinion) because it allows the player to insert themself into the lead role more easily. Eileen Galvin, sort of the game's secondary protagonist is, despite her non-lead role, one of my favorite heroines in the video game field, and has a personality that is developed more through subtle implications - the way she reacts to the things in the graveyard and other places through body language and subtle changes in the tone of her voice (she's got a great actress doing her lines by the way) than in immediately obvious ways. I found the parts of the game where she's in danger to much more frightful than when you're playing Henry alone; I guess she's a character I became attached to, like so many of the cast of "Clock Tower 3". And then there's Walter Sullivan.

Not to give too much way, but "Silent Hill: The Room" manages a feat that would be difficult in Any medium, by taking Walter (who many fans will remember had a brief mention earlier in the series) and creating this unmitigatedly evil, uncomfortably 'real-life/out-of-the-headlines' feeling character (at least in the game's early rounds) and then adding in these empathisable and understanding traits Without derailing how monstrous he was portrayed to be from the get go.
That's all I'm going to say on that front.

There are other characters involved too, but these are the three where you know enough about them in the fairly early going to really talk about without giving away the game's twists. Other random points: great graphics highlight some of the most darkly imaginative and disturbing imagery of any medium - some of the seemingly less horrific things are the most unnerving, like when you're moving through this big factory-like boiler room where everything's run down and dark and broken but not unnatural and then you suddenly come to this Massive door (right
where a regular-sized door would normally be) where the huge handle is like eight feet off the ground. Just sitting there like it was the most natural thing on Earth that you'd find in any building. That is so eerie and so cool. And the monsters - unbelievable and disturbing, twenty times more disturbing once you begin to gather clues as to their origins.

Oh, and by the way, they've found a nifty little solution to the question of how DO the characters carry so many weapons and equipment without falling over, without severely limiting all the stuff you can gather and have access to. Requires a bit of suspension of disbelief when you've got more than one of the few large, heavy items but that's about it. An innovative and workable solution.

I've only reached the first ending and am taking some time off to make it fresh again before plunging back in and going for the other endings indepth (I have played some, and it seems harder the second time around) but the first one is one of the most dramatic and nerve-wracking I've ever seen. Amazing.

If you can imagine the feels of movies like "The Eye" and "In The Mouth Of Madness" flawlessly wed to the more direct/action-intensive likes of "From Dusk Til Dawn" and the new "Dawn Of The Dead" with plenty of "Hellraiser" thrown in, you may have an idea of where this game is going to take you. Is as much one of the toppers of horror games as the above are of horror movies, recommended for those who've enjoyed game series like "Clock Tower", "Fatal Frame" and "Resident Evil". One of the best.

Odd??...thats the only thing that states this game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Well as being a huge fan as the next person. Silent Hill 4 : The Room brings one word...ODD!. The story line stinks, it could have been better, but, however, it was decent enough to understand and it somewhat ties in with PT.3 of Silent Hill.
The only thing that i didnt like is their "on again", "off again" story line with "Harry". I say, if you are going to use a "main charater"..then use that person. Silent Hill fans shouldn't see this "on and off" thing with the game. The 2nd reason about the game i didnt like was that there were not enough puzzles to solve in the game...more fighting and searching than anything, i think, they should even it out a bit.
The good things about the game good game controls (with most fans know the history of Silent Hill since it first started was that it always had very poor controls). However, the "first veiw" thing should have been left out in my view.
Anyways, a good game, dumb story line, good controls...only rent first and then if you like, buy it.

The Horror Still Lives

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: November 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

As a long-time fan of the Silent Hill series, I've been anticipating the release of Silent Hill 4 for some time now. I've followed it for months with screenshots, teasers, and even a short preview movie. Finally, when it was released, I bought a copy and set foot once again into the horror that is Silent Hill.

You play as Henry, a loner who lives in room 302 of an apartment complex, and for the past several days has been unable to leave. His front door is securely chained up from the inside by sources unknown. As you walk into your living room area, a horrific scene plays as a ghost crawls through your wall and begins to approach you. Then, you seem to black out and awaken with everything back to normal.

After walking into your bathroom, you notice a hole in the wall. You pry a steel pipe from in front of it (your first weapon), and crawl down a long corridor, eventually ending up on a down escalator into the subway system. From here, the plot thickens as you combat vicious monsters, explore the twisted environment, and meet up with an assortment of different people who are either there to help you, or to destroy you.

The storyline is very strange and complex, but at the same time intriguing. Henry has the ability to return to his apartment at any time by using special "portals" drawn with a red symbol (called "The Mark of Samael") where he can store excess items from his inventory, and towards the beginning of the game recover his health. The puzzles are usually not that hard to solve, though there may be times when you get stumped on how to get through a certain one. A bit of advice I can offer is that if you can't seem to solve it, try returning to your apartment and find something to interact with there. This was one of the more clever elements to the game, and I thought it very innovative.

Just like any game, Silent Hill 4 is not without its drawbacks. You will encounter certain enemies in the game that are literally unkillable. You simply have to put up with them, and it can get very irritating. Also, the actual control system is a lot different from the other Silent Hill games, and it may take a while to get used to it. Once you do, however, it actually will feel a lot better using it. Last but not least, the non-linear elements of the original Silent Hill and Silent Hill 2 are completely gone. Now the story is a straight-and-narrow journey as opposed to letting you wander around the town, looking for hidden loot, or just trying to pick a fight with random baddies.

Overall, a 9 of 10 for Silent Hill 4. I recommend a rental to anyone who's interested in playing it, but if you're familiar with the ones before it, it's a definite buy. The terrifying universe of the town of Silent Hill will have your mind bending and will haunt your dreams for years to come.

Silent Hill goes downhill

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: December 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The graphics haven't changed but the deal of been stuck in the same room gets boring afterwards. and is not a room is a hole in the wall that takes you to other places, they should call it The Hole or The Portal instead, well anyways i'm playing the game right now and it gets so anoying after a while, been in the same places over and over again gets sooo booooring and you just want new places new things. they have resident evil it!
grr is not bad but they should of tried something else for the 4th series. i was expecting something bigger and frightening ...this uh..no

A new theme to the game!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is the fourth installment of the popular 'Silent Hill' series.

Having played all the series, it is quite interesting to see that the develepers have made this game different from the previous three. This means there is no more 'flashlight' in the dark.

However, this game still delivers a good storyline and a high 'thrill factor'. It also introduces the new 'first person' view within the game.

Unfortunately this game has it 'pros and cons'. Silent hill 4 may have problems with the camera angles and the graphics. But overall, for those who are familiar with the 'silent hill' series, will enjoy this game as it still offers the 'Psychological horror' theme.

For those who are NOT familiar with the 'silent hill' series may want to buy 'silent hill 3' first. For some reason, 'silent hill 3' had been 'over-rated' by those who are new to the game.

My own personal opinion: After the release of Silent Hill on the Playstation, fans of the game believe that there is no other horror game which can match up to the original. But for those who are interested, this is my ratings of the 'silent hill' series as i have played them all:

1st - Silent Hill
2nd - Silent Hill 2
3rd - Silent Hill 4
4th - Silent Hill 3

A bit different, a bit of the same

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

For diehard Silent Hill fans, Silent Hill 4 is a hard game to get into. When I started playing, I really didn't like it much. The first-person camera view in the apartment central to the story was annoying, the inventory system was hard to get used to, and I was wondering where the heck Silent Hill was. I got over the other things eventually, but I'm still wondering about that last one.

Once the story got moving and I got used to how the game mechanics worked, I started to really enjoy it. Though this game is very different from previous installments, it does have a lot going for it. The graphics, for example, are top-notch, raising the bar even a little higher from the high standard set in Silent Hill 3. The textures of gore-clotted walls and the grey skin of ghosts that float above the ground eerily, the stark lighting effects and ultra-realistic character models, all these add to the strange surrealism of the game, and are beautifully (if disturbingly-so) rendered. The graphics are a big part of what makes this game interesting.

The music, also, is pure Silent Hill. Akira Yamaoka returns to the series as sound designer, music composer, and producer, so his unique style of ambient sound and chilling music is heard throughout the game. Yamaoka adopts a style which sets a subtle mood of unease, sudden sound effects which hint at danger. When you hear soft padding you know that something nasty is nearby hunting for you, and the use of music is understated but very effective. I do have one quibble with the sound effects in this installment of the series, a particular creature's sound when struck, but I'll get to that shortly.

The gameplay, while a significant change from the previous Silent Hill games and difficult to adjust to, really does work a little better once you've gotten used to it. The limited inventory system can be frustrating, but I'd have to say that it's more realistic (just where did Heather, from Silent Hill 3, put all those big weapons, anyway?) and actually allows for faster access to the items you need. Also, while you're getting to what you need in inventory, unlike previous SH games, you can still be attacked. Again, frustrating at first, but it's more realistic and really adds to the panic factor, which is what a good survival horror game is all about.

The story is what I play any game for. If it doesn't have a decent story behind it, I'm sure to give up on it pretty fast. And one of the things I love about the Silent Hill series, especially Silent Hill 2, is the strength of the storytelling. This fourth installment tells a different kind of story, and starts out a bit slow, but once you're into it, it is absolutely enthralling. The premise is strong, starting out with you playing as Henry Townshend, trapped in your apartment in Room 302 in South Ashfield, near the town of Silent Hill. You can look into the hallway, through the peephole in the door, and see your neighbors walking by. You can look out the windows to see what's going on outside. You can even, a little later, look in on someone else's apartment. But you can't get out...that is, until a big hole crumbles open in your bathroom wall and you find yourself in another world. In this world, you meet various characters and you learn of a serial killer who carves numbers into each of his victims. As you progress through different worlds, all linked to your apartment and the widening hole in the wall, you're only a step behind this killer and each person you meet falls victim to his work...and then you meet their ghosts, which aren't happy with you at all...

Silent Hill 4 isn't a perfect game, though, and in some ways falls short of its predecessors, Silent Hill 2 and 3 especially. The biggest frustration was that you never get to Silent Hill. You hear about it throughout the game, and the observant will note that the serial killer is actually someone mentioned (briefly) in Silent Hill 2, and the building Superintendent is also connected to one of the previous game's characters. You even see Toluca Lake at one point, but that's about as close as you get to the spooky town. Silent Hill 3, which started out in a different place, at least eventually got you to Silent Hill...I wish Silent Hill 4 had done the same. It would have been nice to see those familiar, evil streets again, since it's in the name and all. Also, the sound quibble I mentioned earlier. One of the monsters, which first appears in the hospital, makes a burping sound when struck. At first I thought it was a bad joke or a glitch, but every time this creature is hit with anything it...belches. It's a creepy-looking thing, big and scary and dangerous. But when it burps as you hit it, it ruins the effect a bit.

Still, despite these weaknesses (one major, one minor), Silent Hill 4 is still a solid game, better than most of the Resident Evil games and scarier than any other game I've ever played. The recurrent theme of watching other people, and perhaps of being watched in return, arches over the whole game and lends another dimension to the story. So, while I hope the the fifth installment of the series they return us to the town of Silent Hill, I can still say that for the most part, Silent Hill 4 is just as enjoyable, just as original, and just as scary as any other game in the series. And taken on its own merits, separate from the overall series, its creepier and more compelling than most games. Reason enough to give it a fair shot, at least.

Suffering from post-possessed-traumatic stress

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: December 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Henry Townshend is the current occupant of room 302 in South Ashfield Heights, an apartment building in the mid-sized city of Ashfield. After two years of adjusting and enjoying his new life there, Henry realizes he has a problem. He can't leave his room.

Henry screams when his apartment turns into a nightmare, blood and rust staining the walls and furniture, mysterious faces manifesting within the sheet rock. This is just the beginning of his True Nightmare. He wakes up suddenly, discovering a myriad of locks and chains shutting him out from the rest of the world. Then a hole in the wall appears, and he crawls through, discovering and exploring new worlds in hope of salvation...

This game is smart. In fact, it's brilliant, and unique. No, I'm not talking about stepping on monsters or thwacking them with an axe (although they're quite fun to do), I speak of plot, art, music and even video editing. All of these things come together sublimely in Silent Hill 4, Konami's latest installment to their groundbreaking series. I will admit, that while Silent Hill 2 had better characters by far, this game's plot will make you tremble with fear. If it doesn't, see a therapist. And some may argue with me on this, but I enjoy stories where the villain is not just a villain, but yet another character which the viewer may sympathize with. This is exactly what Silent Hill 4 delivers, as the villain is not only mental in the worst way, he has many, many legitimate reasons why this is the case.

But don't forget, these games are still intended to get your heart jumping. They're not always intended to possess involving stories and characters like Silent Hill 2. This is why I love this game-it's intense.

Technical notes

Graphics are superb all around, especially for a PSX 2 title, with its limited and inferior hardware. Lighting and atmosphere work in the most effective ways. Both characters and enemies are without noticeable follies, and my only complaint is that some of their eyes are too large, reminding me of the anime-cute look that rots suspension of disbelief.

The sound-I'm not very technical on sound, but for the most part there are your typical haunting melodies; some adrenaline pumping tunes; great, appropriate, and original lyrical songs that fit into their scenes; and even a peaceful harmony or two.

Overall audiovisual experience:

The editing is so well done, at the height of some very emotional climatic scenes, the music cuts short, allowing the event in progress to seep in and impact the viewer deeper.

Controls and gameplay:

They're nothing new, but they're still fun, especially now that the capability of video game manufacturers to produce such photorealistic images has reached an all time high. Use everyday items as melee weapons to stomp and crush your enemies, shoot them with a pistol or revolver, click and heal. Pretty simple.

The true strength in this game lies in the story it weaves, and the psychological factors it presents, although I can understand why this series is not as popular as some others. It's disturbing. Definitely not recommended for the weak of heart or the superstitious among us.

Uh, why can't I kill or harm my enemies?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 12
Date: March 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

GHOSTS FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE, impending your movement and investigation of the environment. Just annoying. This game is definitely the weakest in the series and, frankly, a waste of your money. I stopped playing mine relatively soon after I bought it. Shame.
If you're looking for a GOOD survival horror game, I recommend Resident Evil (any of them, but I am currently enjoying #4), Silent Hill 2, Fatal Frame 2 or 3. I highly recommend Indigo Propehcy as well. Though technically not 'survival horror' in nature, I think its elements will appeal to many survival horror fans. Check it out.

Don't buy it!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: June 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Do not listen to postive reviews about this game EVEN ... perhaps ESPECIALLY ... if you're a Silent Hill fan. I bought this game and Resident Evil 4 at the same time. Perhaps, I should have played this one before I played Resident Evil, but after finishing Silent Hill 3, I wanted to changed it up a little bit. I certainly did that. Resident Evil is in fact a 10/10 game. Perfect in every way. But since this is a review on SH4 and not RE4, I'll stick to the subject and say that even if you love the SH series, you WILL be disappointed and perhaps kick yourself for wasting your money. I am. I could have bought Tombraider: Anniversary instead.

Graphis: Good, but nothing new. Nothing special. Not great.
Sound Effects: Repetitive
Story: Lame so far. I don't see it getting any better.
Scare factor: NONE. The monsters are LAME. The dogs with their tongues hanging down to the floor? Laughable. The ghosts floating around with their legs bent? Both lame and annoying in the sense that you can't kill them, only avoid, and will almost always lose health because you get a headache when they get too close! There are some monsters that hang out of the wall and throw you down. Just cheesy.
Controls and Camera Angle: Almost unplayable. I don't know what the hell they were thinking! I mean, if it ain't broke, please don't try to fix it!
You can read what I mean about this from other reviewers, I'm sure, but I want to make it clear that the controls are almost unplayable. I can't see what is behind me or in front of me unless I am forever tweaking the right analog stick and I always feel like I'm going to miss my mark and the whole power up thing is just stupid. Also, sometimes you have a birds eye view of Henry and that's just stupid and unnecessary. I don't at all like the first person view in the apartment. I wouldn't mind it so much if the third person camera view of Henry was better, but you go from being disappointed to being outraged pretty fast.

People, this game SUCKS! I am not even going to finish it unless my husband refuses to buy me Tombraider: Anniversay or until I get extremely desperate to kill something even if it's a lame monster dog, even then I'll probably just finish assignment Ada in RE4 instead.

I adored SH2 and even SH3, but SH4 is nothing more than a waste of my money and yours too if you buy. Buy Resident Evil 4 instead. I promise you hours and hours of pure enjoyment. Beautiful graphics, great story, excellent controls and camera angle, spooky monsters, and fantastic replay value. You will even get to play a female lead in Separate Ways and Assignment Ada.

Skip over SH4 and buy RE4 instead.

Well now...thats weird...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: November 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I always enjoy a good creepy game with the lights off. Games like these are ment to be played like that. SO...this is the first "silent hill" game I have played all the way through. I didn't buy it but rent it. Anyways, I like a game not only with tight control, but with a good story as well. I don't want to spoil the story, but it is very...unique. The creatures are great. The sound is the best you'll find for creepy games. The new first person view is added, and works like a charm. Controll is a bit clunky, but managable. All in all, it's a fun one that you need to check out. Creepy damn dogs!

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