Zero Punctuation: Silent Hill 2

[Artemus_Cain]

Wai-wai-wai-wai-wai-wai-wait.

Shattered memories is gonna have a quiz or something? So it'll have my dead relatives come and say how dissapointed in me they are because of my porn collection?

 

[jarowdowsky]

Great to see this review of the game. Still one of my favourites and hands down the most disturbing and thralling story I've played - especially as it dawns on you what's going on as it comes to a conclusion.

As to people wondering why it's worth covering - isn't that like asking why critics still talking about Citizen Kane or Raging Bull? When something it truly classic and important in the development of an art form or as a piece of entertainment it's worth remembering it and discussing it's values. Especially when they have been forgotten by so much that has followed.

 

[Jay Cee]

Ben's trips down nostalgia avenue always provide hilarity.

Few games have shown such an innovative way of telling a story without coming across as laborious to wade through.

 

[Cavouku]

I was wondering if he'd ever review another old game.

When can we expect a Fantasy World Dizzy review?

 

[greywolfsage]

"Leaves you emotionally drained and satisfied like fucking a burning dolphin"

0.o > .....?

I don't think you can say ANYTHING about that. Except wonder about the reference point of course.

 

[rtidb126]

I'm so glad he did this, it's nice to see what makes a good game to him.

 

[historybuff]

Why are you guys whining about what games he chooses to review? It's his segment.


I, for one, flippin loved Silent Hill 2. So I had a laugh while I watched this.

 

[Triple G]

Nice review. This game seems to have a really nice atmosphere.

 

[Seekster]

F*cking a burning dolphin...WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN *ROFL* Nice.

 

[SantoUno]

Wow I loved this review!!! Silent Hill 2 is one of my favorite games of all time too, playing to get all 6 endings as well as Maria's side story was so great.

He's right about everything, James is actually a very interesting character and really fits well with the game, Pyramid Head truly was terrifying and at his best in this game only, and the atmosphere of all the settings was truly something.

Now I miss this game, I wish I still had it, now I want it, I had the original case and everything...

Today's my birthday and obviously Yahtzee doesn't know me but I'm going to pretend this review is a birthday present to me ^^ lol

Great review, really enjoyed it

EDIT!!!: Anyone who actually played SH2 should recognize his reference at the end. At the beginning of SH2 you find a bar with a map pointing out a location for you to visit and on the wall there is some writing in red (blood?) that says "THERE WAS A HOLE HERE. IT'S GONE NOW."

Damn nice one Yahtzee, good reference, now I wanna get this game again once I get a 360.

 

[HardRockSamurai]

This was a nice review, and it actually made me realize something. I want to see Yahtzee do more reviews of games he actually likes! Think about it; his negative reviews are good for a laugh, but reviews like this could really open up some eyes in the gaming industry (because apparently they listen to him.)

And yes, I know everyone hated his Psychonauts review for such reasons.

 

[Raijinken]

Great review like always "fucking a burning dolphin" OMG i almost fell from my chair from laughing so hard

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

One of my favorite aspects of this title is how literally EVERYTHING in the game ties in with James's twisted psychological baggage, even the other "human" characters might be bizarre manifestations of his screwed up mental state rather than real people. As well the fact that the entire thing could be taking place inside the main characters head is very interesting, though that aspect isn't clarified in any of the endings I got.

 

[esperandote]

yay my favorite game.

i couldnt believe when i read "Zero punctuation: silent hill 2"

i didnt laugh though

 

[Kilgorn]

I knew this weeks had to be a retrospective review because there aren't any new games out! But the summer games drought is almost over with Halo:ODST the first major title and i can't wait for the review of that or if he just skips it because its halo

 

[Thoma]

While I am happy that Yahtzee too considers Silent Hill 2 as a best game ever (although regarding The Witcher we would be on the opposite sides) I have a few points that I disagree on with him.

Firstly, the combat. Although he recognises that all the characters are regular people and not trained soldiers or superheroes I think that the "dodgy" combat is a vital part of the game's suspense. I think that being clumsy (although shooting is always 100% accurate) adds to the tension that should be a part of a survival horror game, therefore sticky combat is used as an advantage in these kinds of games, so not just SH2.

Secondly, the camera controlling and its movement. I have to state here that I played the PC version of the game and from those who have played the console version I heard that it was more fluid (I mean the console version). So even though I was in an even worse position regarding the camera I still thought (not always of course) that this disadvantage of the game is actually the opposite. Yahtzee also mentioned that it would have worked better as a movie and I'm pretty sure that he knows that unusual and different camera positions can create a sense of confinement better than just a setting. For sake of example 12 Angry Men come to my mind as a more popular movie that uses the camera movement throughout the film to create and deepen the feeling of confinement. Or in the game think of the apartments when the camera is directly above James. Again I mention that it doesn't work always in the game, and yes, there are parts when it is simply frustrating but yet again on the whole it is for the game's advantage.

 

[clank1013]

i was wondering if you were ever goign to rewiew this game, since all the times that u mention it, lol. i liked the ending animation as well... =p

 

[xavierxenon]

I got silent hill 2 a while ago after hearing many good things about, but I can't really agree with yahtzee on this one. I personally preferred Homecoming but thats just my opinion. Maybe one day i'll be motivated to try and carry on with 2, but I don't think that will happen any time soon.

 

[blacklab]

Good one! I played SH2 on Xbox and it really freaked me out.

 

[Stabby Joe]

i was wondering if you were ever goign to rewiew this game, since all the times that u mention it, lol. i liked the ending animation as well... =p

Well there was the Prince of Persia retrospective and since its bland old summer time for game releases this seems like a perfect time to finally vent some... well not anger but love in Yahtzee's case.