Silent Hill 2

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1661 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,417 out of 1661
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 1661
  3. Negative: 204 out of 1661
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  1. wesker2012
    May 28, 2012
    7
    One of the scariest psychological thrillers of all time. This game was a masterpiece except for the control.
  2. JustinW.
    Jan 4, 2002
    7
    Very good, but I was expecting a lot more from this game. I have a feeling they rushed a map and series together to make this game. If this game had been SH part one and SH 1 had been part 2 this series would have been spectacular.
  3. Speed4Runs
    Nov 24, 2012
    7
    Mind-blowing story and almost excellent graphics. The only bad point is the longevity, which is a problem of many other games.
    Overall, this is an optimal game.
  4. Inlikeflynn
    Feb 1, 2014
    6
    Silent Hill 2 is overrated; I'm not saying is bad but I don't think is the best survival horror ever or the best Silent Hill game to that matter. The story of James Sunderland's quest for the truth about his wife has heart, but is not has touching has Harry's search for his daughter, not the mention the passing is unfocused and characters that, while interesting, play no importance to ourSilent Hill 2 is overrated; I'm not saying is bad but I don't think is the best survival horror ever or the best Silent Hill game to that matter. The story of James Sunderland's quest for the truth about his wife has heart, but is not has touching has Harry's search for his daughter, not the mention the passing is unfocused and characters that, while interesting, play no importance to our protagonist's journey, is very distracting. Art direction is phenomenal, music is excellent and gameplay is well incorporated for a survival horror. Silent Hill 2 is a good fallow up and I'm glad I played it but is not the best game in the series and the praise it gets makes me call it one of the most overrated titles of all time...… Expand
  5. Joeshadowman
    Jul 22, 2015
    5
    Silent Hill 2 has the best story a game has ever offered. I can honestly say that I have never cared as much about a games story as I have for Silent Hill 2's story. And I'm not much of a survivor horror fan, but this game knows how to make use the gameplay to perfection. Though, at times, I feel that the gameplay is the reason for why you will die, and that is my biggest problem with theSilent Hill 2 has the best story a game has ever offered. I can honestly say that I have never cared as much about a games story as I have for Silent Hill 2's story. And I'm not much of a survivor horror fan, but this game knows how to make use the gameplay to perfection. Though, at times, I feel that the gameplay is the reason for why you will die, and that is my biggest problem with the game. Look, the game is worth playing though once for it's story. But I can't go back to it. It is the right way to do a survival horror game, but the gameplay will keep me from playing it ever again. 5/10… Expand
  6. Maneinarr
    Oct 26, 2015
    6
    I've enjoyed all Silent Hills to a degree. This is the one I enjoyed the less.

    As usual, because this is an old era game I will not discuss graphics. Gameplay is as good as any silent hill out there, except it is too easy... I never got scared of dying... yeap, not once (I always set games to maximum difficulty from the start to get the full experience) Story is good, but not    I've enjoyed all Silent Hills to a degree. This is the one I enjoyed the less.

    As usual, because this is an old era game I will not discuss graphics.

    Gameplay is as good as any silent hill out there, except it is too easy... I never got scared of dying... yeap, not once (I always set games to maximum difficulty from the start to get the full experience)

    Story is good, but not amazing. Also, it unfolds too late so you get the feeling of an "outstretched story".
    Also the game does little effort to inmerse you in silent hill... a thing that, done properly, it really gets your "what da **** is happening... I need more" mojo going, you know? After all Silent Hill is what horror games should be more about: atmosphere, fear factor, twisted psyques, suspense, mysteries. SH2 fails at creating suspense, the atmosphere is strong at first but loses intensity fast, there are no jump scares to trigger fear, but given there is no suspense you wouldn't jump even if there were some. The "crazyness" is well described of course... it's silent hill... even by mistake they would do it right anyway.

    Characters are bland as fu**, it's hard to relate with anyone there... from the bad guys to the good guys to anyone... I mean, to know what actually happens in James head is interesting, but the character himself is not... the secondary characters are totally whimsical and also seem to wander around silent hill almost unscathed, which, in my case, increases my disbilief and makes SH just a lonely town insted of hell's gate.

    Oh, and monster design. Most monsters were ugly, yes, but not scary ugly, but "weird" ugly, the only exception being of course Pyramid Head... Without pyramid head the game would go as down as 4 maybe...

    A mediocre SH in my opinion, but still a good horror game. You can never fail with SH    … Expand
  7. HerrT
    Mar 15, 2008
    6
    Most reviews of this game totally ignore the fact that the story is so obnoxiously poor that you lose interest in completing it. The first game took place in an actual town overrun by sinister forces; this game takes place in a guy's psyche, as he deals with his guilt for euthanizing his wife. You watch your sidekick in this adventure die a few times, each time she returns acting as Most reviews of this game totally ignore the fact that the story is so obnoxiously poor that you lose interest in completing it. The first game took place in an actual town overrun by sinister forces; this game takes place in a guy's psyche, as he deals with his guilt for euthanizing his wife. You watch your sidekick in this adventure die a few times, each time she returns acting as if nothing's wrong, and the game goes on, because it adds to the "dreamlike" setting. From this point on, the games don't really correlate to each other. I don't want to play some guy's dream. I don't want to make it to the end to find out it wasn't real, that it was all a dream, or that the protagonist is schizophrenic or whatever. It's stupid storytelling and Team Silent basically screwed up their chance of making the series remarkable starting with this entry.… Expand
  8. LamL
    Mar 8, 2009
    7
    The date is 2009. I have heard so many awesome things about this game. XPLAY and others have called it the #1 scary game of all time. I still try and go in with an open mind and self awareness. Months earlier I played SH: Homecoming and liked it enough callin it good but not really a next gen experience. Of course my 1st exposeure to SH was the 2006 film, which I think is brilliant. The The date is 2009. I have heard so many awesome things about this game. XPLAY and others have called it the #1 scary game of all time. I still try and go in with an open mind and self awareness. Months earlier I played SH: Homecoming and liked it enough callin it good but not really a next gen experience. Of course my 1st exposeure to SH was the 2006 film, which I think is brilliant. The fact is I was a little disappointed in this last gen game. It played exactly like SH: H except the controls were more clunky. I thought the fog was better, and the town seemed more believable than in SH:H. Really, this makes SH:H look worse in my eyes. But the experience never raised itself to something sublime. I'm aware if I played it in 2001 when it was released I probably would have given it at least a full point higher. But still, to a new gamer coming it to it for the first time today it kinda delivers underwhelmingly. Next Gen horror games I like are "F.E.A.R.," "The Darkness" (my favorite, and a review here on metacritic actually described it as a next gen 1st person SH- I agree), "Condemned 2," "Dead Space." I realized there is a lot of shooting in my favorites. Somebody, please make a horror game that's really really good but the emphasis is not on shooting. I'd be the 1st in line.… Expand
  9. actinium
    Jul 19, 2021
    6
    / /
  10. MarcL.
    Sep 30, 2001
    7
    This is a good game. The graphics, sound and atmosphere are great. But I feel the first Silent Hill did a better job of conveying the feeling of fear. The characters and story were far more interesting in the first one. Still if you?re a fan of these types of games, then this is a must have.
  11. AndrewJ.
    Aug 1, 2003
    7
    This game has great improvement with graphics, but sems to lack the atmosphere that the first "Silent Hill" had.
  12. Joellemm
    Jul 18, 2020
    7
    The horror in Silent Hill 2 still, sort of, holds up. The brooding atmosphere, brilliant enemy design and labyrinthine level design come together, alongside the off-kilter cut-scenes, to create a quality horror game. The story is especially unnerving and is the biggest reason why i'd recommend the game to any horror fan even now.

    Much about Silent Hill 2 doesn't hold up however. The    The horror in Silent Hill 2 still, sort of, holds up. The brooding atmosphere, brilliant enemy design and labyrinthine level design come together, alongside the off-kilter cut-scenes, to create a quality horror game. The story is especially unnerving and is the biggest reason why i'd recommend the game to any horror fan even now.

    Much about Silent Hill 2 doesn't hold up however. The gameplay, excluding the puzzles (which are actually pretty good), is awful - combat, navigation, boss fights. Although i'd praise the atmosphere, this is mostly due to the visuals and setting, the sound design appears to just be a series of random uncoordinated sounds, that are so out of place, its not scary, but often confusing. The writing and voice acting is maybe worse - laughably bad most of the time. This is a big shame that distracts from could have been a far more compelling narrative.

    I enjoyed playing Silent Hill 2 for the first time, nearly 20 years after release, because of how different it feels to games today, but honestly, the game's quality (beyond the obvious for a game so old at this point) is far below what i'd expected for a game still so revered. Its a horror game though, and in fairness, it still does horror very well.    … Expand
  13. Sacatuki
    Feb 7, 2017
    7
    I enjoyed my time with this game but it's definitely overrated as the best horror game. It's not a sequel to the original but rather a spin off with a new character named James Sutherland who is in a grieving state due to the loss of his wife named Mary. But, for some odd and unknown reason, he receives a note from his deceased wife reading to come to Silent Hill. You basically have toI enjoyed my time with this game but it's definitely overrated as the best horror game. It's not a sequel to the original but rather a spin off with a new character named James Sutherland who is in a grieving state due to the loss of his wife named Mary. But, for some odd and unknown reason, he receives a note from his deceased wife reading to come to Silent Hill. You basically have to look for her and to unravel your past little by little throughout the game to help better understand why you're even in Silent Hill in the first place. The controls are like the first one, meaning you control like a tank. That, to me, is the biggest downside to the game. A game should feel fluid. To me that blows but the story is superb. Too bad it isn't complimented with smoother controls.… Expand
  14. Razzee
    Jun 1, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I didn't like Silent Hill 2 as much as the first game, mostly due to its depiction of the city. One of the possible interpretations of Silent Hill is that it manifests the inner desire of everyone summoned there to be punished for their sins. It goes against what the previous game established, since Harry and Cybil, who had nothing to repent for, were still able to see the monsters, unlike Laura. Maria's presence makes no sense either. In order to cause confusion and impact on the viewer, the game allowed several inconsistencies to exist. It's common to forget all the flaws of a game once you find yourself appalled by its final moments but, sorry, that does not work on me. It reminded me of Rule of Rose, although RoR is fairly superior in executing a convoluted storytelling that is up to interpretation while leaving no room for inconsistencies. As far as OST goes, the first game sounded a thousand times scarier to me... despite the same person working as composer on both. Overrated.… Expand
  15. toto07
    Jan 9, 2022
    7
    !!! Real french review here !!! Please stay away from me.

    J'en attendais peut-être trop d'un jeu Silent Hill, c'était dans mon esprit une licence vraiment horrifique, je n'ai connu que grâce à P.T qui lui été horrifique. Mais finalement ca a très peu avoir avec P.T. Certains le considère comme le meilleurs survival horror de sa generation, pas moi. Pour faire un bon survival horror, il    !!! Real french review here !!! Please stay away from me.

    J'en attendais peut-être trop d'un jeu Silent Hill, c'était dans mon esprit une licence vraiment horrifique, je n'ai connu que grâce à P.T qui lui été horrifique. Mais finalement ca a très peu avoir avec P.T. Certains le considère comme le meilleurs survival horror de sa generation, pas moi. Pour faire un bon survival horror, il faut un gameplay qui fait mouche, des éléments horrifique et une ambiance opressante, avec en chantillly une histoire intéressante. SH2 a certains de ces éléments : L'ambiance est opressante, les musiques d'embiances sont réussies (l'ost de "under water" est chelou). Les éléments horrifiques sont présents aussi, avec zéro jumpscares, ce sont juste les enemis qui roam, qui m'ont fait parfois bien flipper. Leur gueule est quasi indescriptible, c'est tellement chelou mais j'adhère. Quand à la narration, c'est bien et pas bien, le perso se croit à Disneyland Parc, il est naïf et presque sans émotion. L'histoire des persos à côté sont ok. Fin je veux dire, Billy il a buté quelqu'un, il se fait torturer par la ville parce qu'il se croit innocent. C'est la même chose pour l'histoire principal. Le perso bute sa meuf, il se fait torturer par la ville parce qu'il ne veut pas se l'avouer. C'est juste ok pour moi. Le gameplay ne vaut pas grand chose, c'est ma première impression, et c'est resté jusqu'à la fin, je contrôle un gars de 30 ans ou un handicapé ? L'aspect survie est très limitée, c'est pour ça que j'ai dû mal à le qualifier de survival horror. Ensuite les puzzles consiste en fait à aller chercher dans toute la map un objet, puis l'activer, il y a eu trois puzzles de réflexions. Les lieux sont tous construits de la même manière, mais les dernières zones de jeux sont sympas. 13.5/20    … Expand
  16. zach_grech
    May 3, 2022
    7
    This games story is remarkable. A deep and amazingly well constructed story. Great environments and puzzles. However, the enemy design is lacking which ruins some of the game for me. The controls are also a major flaw.
  17. draemato
    Nov 13, 2022
    5
    Disappointment. Original Silent Hill is arguably better and much scarier. I never felt really nor interested not scared. Boring.
  18. Crimson9
    Dec 24, 2022
    7
    I get that its the first game to do true psychological horror, so I'll give it credit for that. But it has to lose points for the twilight zone dialogue, mediocre level design and horrific controls. Even the story, I have to say, was rather predictable. The enemy design and how it ties into your guilt is definitely a really good concept, and revolutionary for the genre.

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best PS2 Game of 2001
3
#3 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2001
6
#6 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Core Magazine
    100
    While Silent Hill 2 retains the same basic format of the original, the story is decidedly more coherent and the graphics have been upgraded immeasurably.
    Read full review
  2. Playboy
    85
    Quite simply, mature PS2 owners craving a creepy game that's perfect for playing with the lights out and speakers cranked, pick up a copy of Silent Hill 2 and you will not be disappointed. Clean underwear not included.
    Read full review
  3. GamerWeb Sony
    90
    The game is one of the longer offerings Konami has offered on PS2 to date...[but] you'll still be left wanting more when the game is over.
    Read full review
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