Silent Hill 3 (PC)

Something wicked this way comes...back.


Games don't come much darker than this, in both the figurative and literal sense. Set in one of the bleakest, most hopeless, sunless, soul-destroying settings ever conceived for a videogame, it's time to ask the question, Are Silent Hill games actually fun?

The quality is undeniable, for sure. Silent Hill 3 is, at times, almost excruciatingly frightening to play through. With malevolent creatures lurking just out of sight at any given corner and with a deliberately uncooperative camera, you really never know what's coming. Playing on people's fear of the unknown is used to great effect in Fatal Frame, but in the case of SH3, this basic tenet is set for maximum impact. The game, despite the helpful mapping system, is superlinear. Maneuvering through each area usually consists of running down a dark, unlit hallway (Heather uses one of the most ineffective flashlights in the history of flashlights) and trying every door until one of them opens. An open door merely signifies that the items within are up for the grabbing, and away you go. It limits exploration but creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that more action-oriented games like Resident Evil fail to muster.

Combat is weak as usual and, for the most part, is actually best avoided when possible. Since there is no reward for actually defeating enemies, ammo and supplies are better saved for boss battles. The game's biggest weakness is its lack of any levity or humor to counterpoint the story's overwhelmingly serious tone.

Ultimately, it's the well-directed story and its stunning conclusion that provides the much-needed payoff and motivation to finish the game. With a slew of secrets designed to encourage repeat visits, SH3 may not be "fun," but it certainly is compelling.


Here
1 Up