My first memory of Silent Hill 2 dates back to when I was just 7 years old. At that time, my older brother and cousin rented the game from Blockbuster. None of us really knew what we were getting into.
I was no stranger to horror games, having watched my older brother play Resident Evil 2. While that game was terrifying in its own right, I could always pinpoint the source of my fear. Silent Hill 2, however, was an entirely different beast. I can still recall that moment when we first started down that foggy trail, a feeling of unease settling deep within me. It was a unique kind of fear - one that I couldn't quite define. It was, in essence, my first taste of true anxiety, the sensation of not knowing what lurked in the darkness.
Our gaming session lasted only about an hour, but that night has stayed with me throughout the years. Gone are the days when you could simply pick a game off the shelf and dive into an unforgettable experience. It's almost ironic that the game we stumbled upon that evening would later be hailed as a cult classic and regarded by many as the pinnacle of psychological horror in the world of entertainment.
My brother, Evan, and cousin Michael are no longer with us. They, like the game's protagonist James, battled their own inner demons. I miss them dearly, but I will forever hold onto that night we spent together, facing the unknown horrors of Silent Hill 2. It was a shared experience that connected us and is a major factor in why this game holds so much value to me now as an adult.
While I had intended to write a more comprehensive review, life's challenges have made it difficult at the moment. Nevertheless, I wanted to share this tribute, if only to honor the memory of the family I've lost along the way. Silent Hill 2 will forever hold a special place in my heart, serving as a testament to the power of shared experiences, even in the face of life's difficulties and losses, but honestly, fuck that. I can't let it win, I won't. This review is me attempting moving past all that shit and doing something I want to, even if it's simply some text on someone else's screen.
I was no stranger to horror games, having watched my older brother play Resident Evil 2. While that game was terrifying in its own right, I could always pinpoint the source of my fear. Silent Hill 2, however, was an entirely different beast. I can still recall that moment when we first started down that foggy trail, a feeling of unease settling deep within me. It was a unique kind of fear - one that I couldn't quite define. It was, in essence, my first taste of true anxiety, the sensation of not knowing what lurked in the darkness.
Our gaming session lasted only about an hour, but that night has stayed with me throughout the years. Gone are the days when you could simply pick a game off the shelf and dive into an unforgettable experience. It's almost ironic that the game we stumbled upon that evening would later be hailed as a cult classic and regarded by many as the pinnacle of psychological horror in the world of entertainment.
My brother, Evan, and cousin Michael are no longer with us. They, like the game's protagonist James, battled their own inner demons. I miss them dearly, but I will forever hold onto that night we spent together, facing the unknown horrors of Silent Hill 2. It was a shared experience that connected us and is a major factor in why this game holds so much value to me now as an adult.
While I had intended to write a more comprehensive review, life's challenges have made it difficult at the moment. Nevertheless, I wanted to share this tribute, if only to honor the memory of the family I've lost along the way. Silent Hill 2 will forever hold a special place in my heart, serving as a testament to the power of shared experiences, even in the face of life's difficulties and losses, but honestly, fuck that. I can't let it win, I won't. This review is me attempting moving past all that shit and doing something I want to, even if it's simply some text on someone else's screen.