LogFAQs > #940284226

65 Points
9 Supporters

I don't think any video game is as definitive to its genre as Silent Hill 2 is to the horror game genre. The moment one tries to create a horror game with a plot beyond 'roar spooky monster', you're inviting Silent Hill 2 comparisons. Which is funny, because Silent Hill 2 (while well-received) wasn't considered at that level when it came out, but its reputation has aged like fine wine. The game defines what it means to be a psychological horror. There's so much nuance going on with every character in every scene of Silent Hill 2 that I'm still learning details despite playing the game and watching 3+ playthroughs over the years. The town of Silent Hill itself is just a phenomenal setting for telling stories of mental trauma, and it's a shame that the setting was only used to that full potential once before the series got canned.

That's not to say that Silent Hill 2 is perfect - I would struggle to recommend it to modern games who aren't used to as much jank as we old fogeys are - but even its imperfections seem important. When you've got a fanbase that defends poor tank controls and the occasional stilted dialogue performance because it 'adds to the atmosphere', then you know you've got...well, a crazy fanbase, but also a story that is special to people and is greater than the sum of its parts. I know so, because I'm part of that crazy fanbase. It's a game you just keep coming back to, in your restless dreams or otherwise.

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It's Reyn Time.