Rating:   65 Ratings     12345  

     Silent Hill 3 continues the series’ theme of psychological horror and generally fearful, disturbing moments. When you begin the game a warning flashes saying that the game may contain violence or cruelty. This should be taken seriously for what unfolds is a very dark game that takes its mature rating to the extreme. Like most horror games, Silent Hill 3’s game-play is a combination of combat, exploration, and puzzle solving, structured around a mysterious, horrifying plot. The game features enhanced graphical detail, a more complex story line, and creepier monsters than previous installments.

     When beginning the game you are put in control of a teenage girl named Heather, who must explore and unravel the mysterious connection between the god-forsaken town and her inner fears. She finds herself in an abandoned shopping mall after waking up from a frightening nightmare filled with monsters, centered in a dilapidated amusement park. Next the story introduces you to two prominent characters, a detective named Douglas and a fanatical religious woman named Claudia, who both suggest that there may be more to Heather’s childhood than she has come to understand. Soon after this Heather is transported into a macabre world of blood-soaked rooms and hideous monstrosities. As you play you’ll frequently visit the monstrous other side, a twisted reflection of the areas you have previously visited, however the walls move and bleed, the floors are replaced by rusty metal grating and the monsters are tougher than ever before. While there are some moments meant to give you a cheap thrill, the game series has always relied on a combination of horrifying environments, a truly creepy soundtrack, and great audio cues to create a feeling of persistent dread.

     People either love or hate the way survival horror games are controlled, with some loathing the fixed cameras and extremely slow reactions. However you customize the controls allowing you to modify almost everything. You can choose 2D or 3D movement, swing the camera around to look down hallways and see what is coming at you, or even use the undocumented zoom feature. With a little practice anyone can become accustomed to the controls, and the sheer depth to the hellish story line make it worth the extra inconvenience. There is no remarkable new game play to speak of, so the game is clearly intended for fans of the series, who’ve been impressed over the years by Silent Hills unusually dark and psychological style. Like most strongly story driven games, this is not a long game, and most will finish in a time between 7 and 10 hours. However, the game also has far more rewards for completing the game and restarting than you usually find in this genre. Heather has several un-lockable outfits, weapons, and modes that become available if you complete the game again and again.

     All in all, Silent hill 3 is an excellent addition to the series. Its story is tied into the first game and keeps a number of themes and locales from the second game well in focus. This game is intended for the hordes of followers who’ve been impressed by the unusually disturbing style of the series. For old tried and true fans this game will be familiar to them in many ways, staying close to its predecessors in story, characters, and visuals, which makes Silent Hill 3 a worthy successor.

-Christine Beals 10/25/03