Best Silent Hill Games For Newcomers

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Key Takeaways

  • The Silent Hill 2 remake is the best starting point for newcomers to the series with its unique storytelling and impactful themes.
  • Silent Hill: Origins offers a solid entry point, establishing lore without requiring prior knowledge of the franchise.
  • Silent Hill 4: The Room serves as a standalone title independent of the series, making it an excellent place to start exploring the franchise.

As someone who’s spent countless hours navigating the twisted corridors of Silent Hill over the years, I can confidently say that the remake of Silent Hill 2 is the perfect gateway for newcomers to this haunting series. The game masterfully combines a gripping narrative with atmospheric horror, making it an immersive experience that will leave you questioning your sanity and the nature of reality itself.

After being frozen in development for about ten years since the 2012 release of “Downpour,” Konami’s psychological horror franchise is poised for a comeback following the launch of a remake of “Silent Hill 2” and hints at future projects. With seven main series games and numerous spin-offs, diving into this franchise can feel intimidating due to its vastness, especially when trying to decide where to start.

In some titles, the narrative connects to the broader tale about The Order and the town’s formation, while others focus on delving into the intricate, dark facets of human nature. Finding a suitable entry point can be challenging, but fortunately, the Silent Hill franchise offers various viable starting points. Due to the series’ distinctive approach to storytelling that merges standalone tales with a more interconnected narrative, experiencing Silent Hill for the first time presents several excellent options.

1 Silent Hill: Origins

Prequel Title For PSP Establishes The Lore Of Silent Hill

Following the dissolution of Team Silent in 2004, who had been responsible for the initial four games in the series, Konami decided to shift the development of the franchise to the United States. They selected Climax Studios to work on it, leading to the creation of “Silent Hill: Origins” in 2007 for the PSP.

Silent Hill: Origins is a prequel to the original Silent Hill, taking place seven years prior. In this capacity, it serves as an ideal starting point for the series, providing necessary background on characters and events that unfold in the first game. Without requiring any prior knowledge of the franchise, it seamlessly leads players towards playing the first installment of Silent Hill, continuing the storyline directly.

2 Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Wii-Exclusive Horror Game Is A Fantastic Remake Of First Entry

As far back as 2006, Konami was contemplating a remake of the initial game in the series, which ultimately led to the release of “Silent Hill: Shattered Memories” in 2009. Originally exclusive to the Wii console, it was later adapted for the PS2 and PSP. “Shattered Memories” is a fresh take on the original storyline and brings back Harry Mason as the main character.

As a revamped version of Silent Hill 1, Shattered Memories offers a distinctive gaming experience with intriguing modifications to the original game and innovative methods for exploration. The Psych Profile system adapts to the player, altering how it delivers information, and uses an in-game cell phone to create a chilling atmosphere through its content. It serves as an ideal entry point for newcomers, given that this remake is the franchise’s debut, making it straightforward to dive into.

3 Silent Hill 4: The Room

Final Team Silent Game Operates Independently Of Series

In contrast to previous games in the series developed by Team Silent, Silent Hill 4: The Room deviates significantly from the norm as it’s not set within the titular town. Instead, the chilling events occur in Ashfield, a location that is geographically closer to Silent Hill.

Exploring the chilling tale of Henry Townsend, the self-contained game titled “The Room” offers a compelling experience that can be fully appreciated without prior knowledge of the initial three installments. Being self-sufficient, it presents an ideal entry point for newcomers to immerse themselves in its captivating gameplay. Even today, this exceptional game remains available on GOG.

4 Silent Hill

Franchise Debut From 1999 Is Still A Terrific Horror Experience

The initial installment in the prolonged horror series known as Silent Hill, offers an exceptional introduction to the franchise’s haunting examination of human psychology. Despite being exclusive to the PlayStation 1 since 1999 and yet to receive a re-release, it continues to be an outstanding game that is well worth experiencing.

Exploring Harry Mason’s harrowing quest to locate his lost daughter Cheryl, Silent Hill offers an exhilarating plunge into shadows and the extremes a parent might endure for their child’s safety. The narrative centers significantly on The Order’s saga and the town’s intricate mechanisms, but playing the first installment of Silent Hill 1 provides an excellent foundation for delving deeper into the series’ rich tapestry.

5 Silent Hill 2 Remake

Full Remake Of Iconic PS2 Game Is The Best Way To Start With Silent Hill

Originally, “Silent Hill 2” was launched on PlayStation 2 back in 2001, standing out as one of the best horror games ever produced, and among the console’s top-tier games. Now, after two decades, Bloober Team has reimagined this classic for the PS5, aiming to modernize and reinvigorate this horror masterpiece for a new audience and its devoted followers.

In a nutshell, Silent Hill 2 isn’t deeply connected to the main series except for some vague allusions. However, the exceptional PS5 remake serves as an ideal starting point for this acclaimed horror franchise, often referred to as a quasi-reboot due to its profound exploration of grief that significantly shaped the series later on. The psychological horror portrayed in Silent Hill 2, focusing on guilt and trauma, has been instrumental in shaping various games within the series, making it an excellent point of entry.

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2024-10-08 06:04