Gamers looking for intellectual horror will find it in Silent Hill 2. As the story opens, James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife telling him to meet her in the town of Silent Hill. The only problem is that she's been dead for three years. In hopes of being reunited with her, he explores the haunted town, and has many terrifying and unexpected encounters. While the brilliantly designed monsters are indeed scary, it's the complex twists and turns of the plot that really produce the game's terror.

Gameplay is largely puzzle-based. Much of it involves gathering clues and items to solve each puzzle. There are a few fights thrown in, but these are quite easy, and mostly used to show off the developers' bizarre creations. The level of both puzzles and fighting can be adjusted to match each player's skill level. Although its mechanics are rudimentary, the game's presentation is anything but. A heavy use of fog is the game's hallmark effect, greatly adding to the mood. Sound--both effects and music--alternates between eerie silence and sudden, shocking crescendos.

Although the graphics and sound are both top-notch, the real star of this game is the story. It's very rich and intricate--a sharp contrast to the banal scenarios that frame most games. The game is short (around 10 hours), but you'll want to give it another go to discover its multiple endings and secret items. Despite basic gameplay, Silent Hill 2 is an excellent choice for gamers looking for cerebral thrills. Parents should note that in addition to violence and gore, this game deals with topics like suicide, murder, and euthanasia. --Raymond M. Padilla

I've lost count how many times I've played this,well okay maybe eight times but I can't say for definite how many times I've completed the extra 'Born from a wish' scenario,
Simply put this is one disturbing game and the revelations still send shivers down my spine,the graphics have obviously been surpassed by the likes of 3,The Room and games like the Project Zero franchise but they're still creepy and atmospheric,Eddie puking in the toilet is so convincing I had to take my headphones off to make sure it wasn't real.
Multiple playthroughs reveal new things and like Deus Ex I'm still finding new things,The twists are really unexpected and the ultimate outcome is fantastic.
I still play this,even over the much hyped,but devoid of tension,Resident Evil 4.

the town that all survival horror fans are too familiar with, silent hill. i remember the first game, and i thought resident evil was scary when i was a kid so this pretty much haunted me. silent hill 2 takes upon the role of James Sunderland, who has returned to silent hill to find his wife, that died due to a terminal illness.

however James only returns because of a letter that he received from his dead wife. so if you have played the first game you can expect the plot twists now. but i wont give anymore than that away.

gameplay - the tank like movement is still there from silent hill, but the camera has been altered and to be honest it works fine. although there is the odd occasion were you will run into a wall because of a blind corner.

graphics - very good considering this was on the PS2, the town again is covered with fog and gives you that nostalgic feeling yet again. the buildings are also quite dark inside and create a sense of panic and urgency to want you to find the escape fast.

story - very mind blowing, because you can get into the shoes of the characters very easy and become attached quickly. full of twists and turns for each character and some of the enemies you will encounter will demonstrate the feelings wanting to be expressed by James.

overall - fantastic game, even if you only play through a few times it is definitely worth a buy.

It is almost impossible not to love this game.
It is more than a game, it is a work of art! The storyline is so mature and well written, with such an amazing plotwist at the end that no one will remain indiferent to it.

If David Lynch direct a game this would be it.

Silent Hill 2 is the most disturbing, harrowing and genuinely sad tale ever told in the game. James Sunderland arrives in Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his dead wife, Mary telling him to meet her in their "special place".

Torn between disbelief and a desire to learn more, James walks the terrible path into Silent Hill. It is a credit to the creators that there is a sense of fear built up from the beginning with hideous sounds and the infamous oppressive fog of this wretched town.

James is told by a strange woman (Angela) in a grave yard that there is "something wrong" with the town and indeed there is. And so begins James' quest to get to the bottom of the mystery of Mary's letter.

Along the way, James must visit a series of chilling locations: an apartment block, a hospital, a prison and an abandoned hotel. The monsters that James encounters are very disturbing. They have human characterstics but are buckled and distorted: the faceless bubble nurses who click and twitch as they shuffle towards you, a toxic spitting creature with no arms that crawls with alarming speed when knocked to the ground and James' nemesis Pyramid Head who torments James throughout the game. The latter being perhaps the most terrifying monster ever created.

It is not just the environments and enemies that are disturbing. The story itself still haunts me to this day. James is in Silent Hill for a purpose and that purpose is to explore his darkest secrets and fears. The sounds, sights and deeply distressing story all contribute to the psychological impact of the game.

I have played through Silent Hill 2, three or four times and experienced different endings. The braver you are, the more you will discover. There are various diocuments, letters, riddles and clues that James will discover. Some are essential to progress but others give you more information about the history of the town.

In the end, you discover the truth about James' story and his purpose in Silent Hill. The bleak ending is perhaps inevitable as James edges his way up the groaning staircase to the "special place" that Mary mentions in her letter. What will James discover about himself, about Mary and what will he do?

Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror that does not rely on cheap tricks and pointless gore. The Japanese developers were serious about unsettling and disturbing the player and believe me, this is not a game for the feint of heart. If you are a fan of survival horror and enjoy Japanese films like Ring and Grudge that rely on pyschological shock, then you could do worse than visit Silent Hill. Graphically, it is showing its age but this in no way detracts from the impact in what has to be my favourite game.

this game is without a doubt the most disturbing game you can buy.unlike resident evil games which focus on making you jump. silent hill is more about phsycological horror. there are places in this game that you know have nothing that can hurt you but some of those are the most scary places. the downside of this game is that it can be slow going sometimes. leaving you to wander about by chance until you happen to stumble upon a key which is why it took me two weeks to even get anywhere in the game. definitely worth a try if you are intrested in the series since this is the high point of the series.