Graphics: 10 Sound: 10 Gameplay: 8 Replay Value: 8 Reviewer's Tilt: 10 Overall: 9.0
	Silent Hill 2
		Silent Hill 2 is so scary, I almost guarentee you will scream a couple of times. I know I did. This scariness is what make it so great, and at times it gets so bad that you are in pain at the end of the game from all the scares. As you play, you have that feeling in your gut. It's hard to describe, but if you have ever gotten so frightened at something that it hurt, you know what I'm talking about. Silent Hill 2 grabs its players by surprise, and beckons them to proceed further in the game. The truly scary moments are when you are indoors in the game. You are in a confined place with nothing but a gun and your flashlight. If something dashes by the screen, you point and aim. You start shooting in instinct. The game is successful in making the player feel like he or she is actually in the game. The graphics have been put through a filter to give it a grainy, noisy appearance. It works. It reminds me of some old horror flick, and that aspect gives Silent Hill 2 some very good asthetics when compared to other games. Another thing is the monsters. They're downright disturbing, and highly creepy. Some of them are mannequin legs sewn together, others are weird, slimy creatures in a skin straightjacket. Then there are freaky nurses. And the graphics have a very grimy, dirty feel to them. This is terrific, and Konami has truly captured the moment. Gameplay is once again terrific. The Dualshock 2 is put through excellent use in Silent Hill 2. Hold down Square hard to run faster. Holding down X hard will make James (the main character) frantically fire the weapon. The controls are easy to get used to, and really shine. Sound plays a major role this time around. The guns sound cool, and the voice acting is top notch, but the thing that really got to me was the excellent sounding radio. When there is an enemy nearby, the radio will sound very loudly. If it is far away you hear a gentle hum, and the sound gets louder as the monster gets near. Boss fights are sensational, too. Pyramid Head (the equivalent to Resident Evil 3's Nemesis) appears throughout the game, and he is one tough boss. He is one of the many cool characters of Silent Hill 2. Buy this game, please. If you need a cheap scare, SH2 can be found most places for $30 or less. This is cheap entertainment! This game is worth every penny. The replayability is through the roof thanks to 4 multiple endings (!). A must-buy, an instant classic, and a breakthrough in gaming.