The story and concept is great, transcending that of normal games. However, similar to the first Silent Hill, it is extremely repetitive and every new location does not add anything new to the table or experience, save for more interesting enemies and a different view. The gameplay and everything else remain the same, almost to the point of stagnation. Needless to say, the "Born From a Wish" sub-scenario is one of the most redundant extra gameplays ever created. I think this whole thing would have worked much better as a film or series rather than a game.

Silent Hill 2 is a game focused around regrets and how to confront them in order to move on. Whilst it may not be the smoothest experience in its gameplay mechanics, with stiff tank controls, rough combat sequences and awkward boss fights, it clearly wasn't the main focus so much as the story, music, atmosphere and art direction was, which are all executed so flawlessly that it makes you forget any of the tiny problems it has.

It’s clear from the start that SH2 wants to treat it's stories topics with the care and respect they deserve. When I think back to my favourite parts, I think about how well this game is able to represent different aspects of trauma and the effects it can have on people. I think the voice acting strengthens each of the characters' personalities, making them come off as these uncomfortable adults who feel just as isolated and lost as you do, not knowing who to trust. Each person has their own story and journey in Silent Hill 2, and seeing how characters such as James (the main protagonist), Eddie and Angela end up ‘dealing’ with their baggage is captivating enough to see your way through the whole game.

I think where the game peaks for me personally is when you arrive at the Lake View Hotel. I won’t get into events, but the embodiment of emotions mixed into the level design, the final interactions with each of the characters, alongside the final goodbye was gut-wrenching. It’s moments like these that prove that games can be the most human form of media and don’t have to be all 'spectacle' to keep you engaged.

One of my favourite inclusions has to be the dynamic endings depending on how you play the game, which was quite innovative considering the game was released back in 2001. Playing as James, if you heal after battles and make sure he has a fair amount of health, you’ll get the more bittersweet ending, ‘Leave’. But leave James always on low health or let companions get hurt more often and you’ll get the more unpleasant ‘In Water’ ending. This makes the game have some replay value, seeing where different playstyles will get you, whilst also including secret endings once you get all the mainline ones (woof woof).

You can't discuss SH2 without also mentioning its sound design. Each individual sound feels like it has some sort of purpose in making you feel something, fleshing out the world and expanding your imagination on what sort of horrors could be out there, especially when combined with the level design that becomes more of a map for James’ torment, all connecting back to the stories’ themes.

And my god, the brilliant soundtrack composed by Akira Yamaoka is equally beautiful & horrifying. It's the perfect blend of sorrow, despair & hope that you'd imagine from a game such as SH2, strengthening each scene when used and helping push its ideas & emotions to the forefront. This game truly wouldn’t have the impact it did if it wasn’t for its music.

Whilst I have a lot of praise for SH2, I do think there are areas of the game that could’ve been improved. I think more enemy variety would’ve been nice alongside different ways to fight instead of just hitting the same button over and over again because it made the boss battles not as intense as they should’ve been… and don’t even get me started on the dreaded row boat section where I got stuck for half an hour.

Overall, SH2 is a game I’d highly recommend anyone to play. I can understand why it gets all the acclaim it does because put simply, it's human. I don’t think it's a perfect game, but the few issues it does have are very easy to neglect when you look at the bigger picture. Play this game yourself and go in with your eyes closed, because you’ll be in for one of the best psychological horror games of all time.

As an extra mention, I also want to appreciate the fantastic work done by the Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition Team to make sure it retains the same feeling as the original whilst making improvements to make it more accessible. I think its the best way to experience the game, especially when you compare it to how much it was butchered with the re-release on PS3.

Em quesito de gameplay, Silent Hill 2 se assemelha bastante ao seu antecessor, mantendo a qualidade, principalmente em relação aos puzzes.
Os destaques aqui vão pros gráficos e pra trilha sonora que são ambos maravilhosos. Vale ressaltar também que os inimigos tem designs bem marcantes, e os cenários e os efeitos sonoros realmente te deixam desconfortável.
Outro ponto é a história, que tem uma premissa bem interessante, e com uma execução que apesar de um pouco tosca às vezes, ainda é bem interessante de se ver.
Minha maior reclamação com certeza é sobre o combate, que apesar de achar melhor que o do primeiro jogo, às vezes se torna um pouco chato, tendo algumas lutas bem cansativas.
De qualquer jeito, Silent Hill 2 é uma obra-prima que merece ser jogada, espero que o remake mantenha o nível de qualidade.

O melhor jogo da franquia até agora. Desculpa, mas mesmo amando Silent Hill 3 de todas as formas o 2 me cativou e me fez amar a franquia de vez. Tudo nesse jogo é um aprimoramento no 1, exploração, combate, controles e até mesmo a história é igualmente interessante como a do 1. A cidade é muito boa de se explorar, a cada canto você acha uma munição ou item de cura pro seu inventário e o James abaixa a cabeça na direção do item quando está perto do mesmo, ajudando ainda mais na exploração. Por mais que certos puzzles e a área do labirinto não me agradarem muito, não acho que eles estragaram minha experiência com o jogo. Não vou dar spoilers da história, mesmo o jogo sendo de 20 anos atrás, eu acho que todo mundo deveria joga-lo e aproveitar o máximo que esse jogo tem pra oferecer. Inclusive, a enhanced edition é maravilhosa e tiro meu chapéu pros fãs que se esforçaram pra deixar esse jogo o mais polido e otimazado o máximo que conseguiram, definitivamente, até o momento, é a versão definitiva do SH2.

i love the idea of Silent Hill, but the hype for second entrance to the series' story was too colossal. maybe if i didn't watch any movies, read any books, or never thought while studying a piece of art i would be shocked about the notorious ending, but personally i kinda like original's finish more.

non the less, it's a great survival horror and classic for a reason. everything is great about it prior to last half an hour of game: setting, puzzles, exploration and even combat, including great replayability with -- what? -- four endings.

the only thing that kills the game for me is how ridiculous is hard difficulty; if it's your first run you won't finished the game (same thirty minutes) without cheese and annoyance.

Enhanced Edition is probably the best way to experience SH2 (unless you're a collector or you're really set on playing the PS2 original).

The game looks really good (on top of how great the PS2 original still looks) and enhanced edition fixes all the issues with the buggy original PC release.

Don't buy a physical PS2 copy from a scalper when this exists and is just as good!

This is a split rating. Almost everything about the game is a solid 3. Graphics and art are decent, but the game doesn't have the same atmosphere that Silent Hill 1 has. The combat and enemy variety is a downgrade from Silent Hill 1--there are only a few zombie-type enemies, none of whom pose a threat. In comparison, the enemies in Silent Hill were quite varied (dogs, pterodactyls, evil nurses, monkeys) and were all rather difficult to avoid or fight. I stomped all over every single enemy in Silent Hill 2's Normal mode, including the bosses (in Silent Hill 1, I had to savescum to beat the final boss), and I ended the game with so many medkits and bullets that the police in the next town over thought I was a morphine dealer. The puzzles in this game were not particularly memorable; a few of them are enjoyable, but I found them a downgrade from Silent Hill 1 (though I liked the fact that the puzzles change in each difficulty. And the voice acting, boy, is it terrible. There is no excuse for it. It is just bad. The awkward, wooden delivery, combined with the sometimes risque and sexually-themed dialogue, made me feel like I was watching an adult film that never got to the goods, so to speak. The scariest thing about this game was not the monsters or the atmosphere, but the fear that someone would walk in during one of the cutscenes and think I was watching a porno.
The second-scariest thing about this game is the sound design. Now, as a fan of dark and weird music, I was not particularly scared or weirded out by this sound design, but I can appreciate the fact that it was top notch. I don't think I've ever played a game that used sounds quite so well.
The other great thing about the game is the story. The story is amazing; I do not exaggerate when I say that the story has layers and depth. In fact, I've never played another game that has such a deep and insightful storyline. The problem with the storyline is two-fold. First, it's told in a very subtle fashion. In order to be able to pick up the clues, you have to pay very close attention to everything happening in the game, especially the cutscenes. This isn't really a problem per se; the issue is that the acting in the cutscenes is so horrid, and some of the cutscenes are so corny, that you don't pay attention to them or feel the impact of what is occurring. It reminds me of the Matrix sequels--they have a very deep and complicated story that is ruined by terrible presentation. If you have played the game, do yourself a favor, go to the Silent Hill Memories website, and read the plot analysis of Silent Hill 2. It will change how you view the story and will help you appreciate how deep the story actually is.
In conclusion, this game is a 3 in terms of gameplay, a 5 in terms of sound design, a 6 in terms of story, and a 1 in terms of presentation. Hopefully the upcoming remake will preserve the great elements of the original while improving the voice-acting, combat, and puzzles.

I like Silent Hill 2's story and especially it's incredible atmosphere. Although, I had trouble getting attached to the characters due to the voice acting. I was laughing a bit too much at some of the scenes when they're supposed to be serious. It's not out of place for the time it was released in though.

The gameplay is very stagnant. There is not a lot of combat variety as you will be fighting the same 2 zombies over and over again with the same strategy every time. Item distribution feels very unbalanced as well. I had way too much ammo and health pickups by the end of the game while I had used them carelessly whenever I needed. I was disappointed by this because I enjoy when survival horror games have emphasis on resource management and having to make decisions to preserve your inventory without wasting it all. I was playing on normal mode, but it felt like it was on very easy mode or something. I did enjoy the games puzzles for what they were though, along with the excellent soundtrack.

As far as this remaster though? Really good. I'm glad Silent Hill 2 is now properly playable on something that isn't the PS2. I remember it having some glitchy shadows at a part near the end, but other than that, it ran great and looked great.

I can say that I liked what the game was going for.
If Resident Evil is a holywood blockbuster with a coherent storyline and a narrative you can follow from start to finish and not be confused, Silent Hill is more akin to a David Lynch film, an arthouse piece, with a narrative that is scattered all across the medium and is never 100% clear with what it's doing. You always have to finish picking up what it's trying to put down.
I'd say this is probably the strongest part of the whole package here - the story, the dreamlike way of it's storytelling and the ambience of Silent Hill. The enemy designs are great, and the music really makes you feel unwell in the more suspensful parts of the game.
However, as much as I like the ideas of the game, it's "gameplay" part leaves me wishing for more. This was my first playthrough of it ever, I never had the chance to play it when it was more relevant, so I come with some of the modern ideas about gameplay design in the genre, and I am just not a fan. Sometimes it's the janky camera, sometimes it's the hitboxes, sometimes it's just the encounter design in general. None of the bosses were memorable (except maybe for Eddie, but that's a maybe), and they are most often just damage sponges that test your patience.
I can sense some artistic statement in the way the gameplay works, but I just honestly did not find it that fun or helping the other parts of the game (I'd say even the puzzles are somewhat better).
One metaphor that I noticed was that when you first start going to Silent Hill on the beach, the camera actually shows you the face of the protagonist, and does not show you the way forward, almost as if it wanted to say "Turn Back". There are many cool camera tricks in the game, but that maybe stuck with me the most.
I feel that it aged, and a newer coat of paint would do it good, but boy i am not sure if Bloober team is going to hit the ball.
We can only hope.