Silent Hill 3

PlayStation 2 (Konami 2003)

The big G-S-G-S-G

General opinion: Superb horror adventure
Story: Not bad
Graphics: Great
Sound: Awesome
Gameplay: Good

Total:

The Review

Silent Hill brought the survival horror genre to a whole new level with sophisticated, atmospheric horror unlike any seen in a video game. Silent Hill 2 brought the game into the PlayStation 2 era with improved graphics and an even more disturbing and mysterious, as well as emotional, story. The third game in the series, then, has large boots to fill... And, while it doesn't actually bring anything new to the series, it doesn't pale in comparison.

Heather is an ordinary teenager. One day she falls asleep at the mall, and wakes up to find something has gone very wrong. The place is deserted, and grotesque monsters lurk in the shadows. And then there's a private detective looking for her, and a creepy woman who demands her to remember her past... Eventually Heather finds herself on a nightmarish quest to the small town of Silent Hill to find out about her origin, and the cause of what's happening to her... Unlike Silent Hill 2, which was a completely independent story, this game is a direct sequel to the original Silent Hill, and delves deeper into the mysteries of the cult of Silent Hill and Alessa Gillespie, the girl intended to be the mother of god. There are many references to the first game, and there will be some spoilers for those that haven't played it yet. That didn't disturb me too much, though, although I think I could appreciate it more when I replayed it after playing the original.

The narrative doesn't seem to move along quite as well, and disturbingly, as in the original, nor are the characters quite as deep and intriguing as in the second. Also, the game feels a little more linear than its predecessors, largely because there's less exploration of the town of Silent Hill, and many locations seem somewhat detached from one another. However, these are minor issues, and don't stop the game from being a very enjoyable horror adventure.

Gameplay has remained virtually unchanged since the first two games. You'll need to solve puzzles (which usually just involve finding the right item to use, but occasionally require some logic as well) in order to proceed, and kill or avoid the monsters. Controls have remained unchanged. Like in Silent Hill 2, you have a choice between the traditional, character relative survival horror movement or the (in my opinion easier) screen relative movement. Fighting has always felt somewhat clumsy in the series, but the protagonists of the games are, after all, regular people, not trained warriors. One virtue of the series is its multiple difficulty levels, which make the games approachable even for those not very keen on action games. On easier levels you can sit back and soak in the atmosphere, while in normal mode you'll need to worry more about those monsters, and conserve your supplies. Like its predecessors, this game is hardly long, clocking in at some 6+ hours (although I think cutscenes weren't included in the playtime). There are a couple of different endings, and a good few replay bonuses, like weird extra weapons.

The atmosphere is a major component of this game, as it has been of all the games in the series. The visual imagery of the game ranges from eerie, dark and derelict interiors to truly grotesque, nightmarish visions. Graphics have improved since the previous game. The buildings you explore feel quite lifelike, and the monsters, including the bosses, are some of the freakiest in the series. As always, Akira Yamaoka's awesome ambient soundtrack (and sound effects) accounts for much of the feel of the game. (The melodic tunes that accompany cutscenes, though, aren't quite as good as in Silent Hill 2, in my opinion.)

Even though none of the sequels have really brought anything new to the series, each of the first three games still feels like an independent and unique game, while being very familiar at the same time, if you catch my drift. Since the games are quite short, their superficial similarity isn't necessarily a bad thing. Not to one who enjoyed the format, anyway. All of the Silent Hill games (yes, even the fourth one) are among the best horror games ever made, in my opinion, and worth a try to fans of the genre. Silent Hill 3 is no exception, and (at least visually) perhaps the most impressive of the series, although it's plot connections with the first game might not make it the best introduction to the series.

Ben B. Bainton, 24 August 2006