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Title: Silent Hill Genre: Adventure Number of players: 1 Memory space: 1 block Release date: 2/24/99 Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Compatible peripherals: Standard controller, Vibration, Analog

        This is an outstanding addition to the "Survival Horror" game genre. Before its release, it was feared that Silent Hill was merely a Resident Evil clone. In some ways the game does resemble Capcom's well received horror games. However, Silent Hill has enough differences to set it apart from the rest, and it has enough originality to justify purchasing the game.
    Plot wise, the game can be regarded as the one the darkest and most disturbing among the entire PSX gamut. Konami has created a world which shifts between a somewhat "normal" (but gloomy) reality, and nightmarish, dark and gory world filled with demons and other twisted images. Imagine yourself as the main character, Harry Mason. You've been knocked unconscious in a car accident, but when you wake up you find that your 7 year old daughter is missing. Your task becomes clear: find her any way you can, but as you begin your search, you find that this small town called Silent Hill has many secrets which appear more and more to involve your lost little girl

    As you make your way through the game, you are constantly being attacked by everything from flying demons and demon dogs, to reanimated nurses and small (very spooky) demon children. You also will see the world change into a terrible place which looks like something straight out of the Hellraiser movies. Where there was once a floor of linoleum, now there is steel grating that looks stained with blood and chunks of skin.  Below the grate is blackness. Where there was once walls painted and clean, now there is what looks like steel plates with eerie patterns on them. All this is accented by chains hanging from the ceiling and the occasional "thump" from behind you.
    In other words, the game is stunning graphically. Unlike the Resident Evil series, Silent Hill's backgrounds are polygonal, with a free roaming camera. This helps to create a "feeling of being watched" which enhances the whole experience. Among the games many merits also is the lighting effects used. Often the only lighting available is Harry'sflashlight, which requires you to do a quick 180` to see what just giggle at you from behind.

    Another feature of considerable note is the BGM and in game sounds. Much of Silent Hill's intensity is enhanced with the creepy BGMs. (My personal favorite is the point where you must enter the basement of the hospital.) The BGMs sound very good with a techno-industrial sound which coincide well with what happening in the game. One may feel as if he/she is walking through a large factory with huge machine running all around them. Often, you will enter an empty room to explore when suddenly you'll hear a large crash, or thump. One of the best in game sounds you'll hear is in the bathroom in the school.
    Lastly, is game play. Silent Hill's controls are a little sloppy,with the slow draw of weaponry being the most aggravating. There's nothing more upsetting than when a child is biting your knee caps and you can't shoot it because your weapon draw is too slow! For the most part though, the game controls are very manageable and simply to learn.
    As to the rating, I give Silent Hill an B+, for slightly sloppy controls and short length (12-15 hours), but overall a very well done game! Not for the faint of heart, but for the horror fan this game is an absolute must!

Check out www.SilentHill.com

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