Nightmarish Beauty

How many games/movies out there make me squirm? Nowadays, not many at all. So far, the only thing that managed to bring horror back to its true roots was Silent Hill. Well, to me anyways. The limited vision, the eerie sounds, the haunting music... the fact that you're constantly terrified at something you hear, but cannot see. All of these are high strengths in the series, and in Silent Hill 3, they literally shine.

You step into the shoes of a young girl named Heather, who awakens from a brief nightmare inside the Central Square shopping mall. Slightly disoriented and confused, she begins to make her way home, when she's confronted by a stranger in a trenchcoat, (Douglas) claiming to be a detective. Reacting like any other young woman would, she runs off to the ladies' room and sneaks out the window to escape, eventually finding herself trapped in an alleyway. Her only way to proceed without encountering the stranger is to go in through a back door. Once inside, she notices something... Where is everyone? The place is now filled with hideous creatures from God-knows-where and she realizes she's trapped inside, with no way to get out but through the subway below. Halfway there she runs into a strange pale-skinned woman who calls herself Claudia, claiming that Heather has a mysterious power deep inside. Frustrated at these possible hallucinations and haunting questions about her past, she must travel to Silent Hill in order to find out the answers... and also find out who she really is.

The really cool thing about this story, is that it links almost directly to the first game, while giving small nods to the events in part two. You even get to revisit Brookhaven Hospital, which is the exact same place James Sunderland was lured into in the second game. Returning to these locales helped make the town feel that much more real to me. The monsters are much less humanoid this time around, ranging from small, waist-high deformities to snarling ten-foot giants.

Graphics, hands down, are probably the best I've ever seen on the PlayStation 2 this year. The biggest effect they enhanced this time is the lighting. The way shadows are cast and how they bounce off is literally stunning. Not quite as strong as how "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" used them, but it's pretty dang close. The detail has greatly increased, and you can tell the developers were really showing off their stuff when you visit the "dark" Brookhaven Hospital. The walls literally writhe and pulsate in some rooms, giving the location a really creepy, organic look. There's one scene involving a bleeding bathtub that will definitely make anyone squeal like a little girl. Also, during the cinematics, they've added imperfections to the characters' skin (wrinkles, moles, scars), making them even more realistic than ever.

If you've played the first two, you'll immediately recognize Akira Yamaoka's style when it comes to the music and sound effects. Well, to be honest, there isn't much music during the game, since it mostly consists of ambient wails and howls, accompanied by steady low-bass hums. Pretty typical for the series, since it's not really anything new, but it works extremely well regardless. There are things you will hear that'll toy with your head, making you wonder if it was from the game or from something in your room. Voice-work is better than part two, but a couple of characters still sound like they're reading cue-cards, they're so bland. Thankfully, Heather's voice isn't that bad. The nifty thing about this game is that the soundtrack is bundled with it! I thought this was a fantastic idea, especially for avid fans of the series like myself. Sure it's nothing you want to pop into the car while driving down the freeway or anything, but it's a great treat nonetheless.

The controls, thankfully, are exactly the same as part 2, with the given option to switch between the desired styles. This is a big plus, especially for those who cannot stand the tank-like controls that Resident Evil traps you with. I personally don't mind them, but I do know that they aren't for everybody. There are some other small gripes. The camera, for one thing, likes to hop around at times, making it extremely difficult to see what you're attacking. Same thing goes for turning down sharp corners in narrow hallways. There's one bit late in the game where you must run as fast as you can through winding halls, and with the camera constantly switching your view unexpectedly, you're guaranteed to die a few times before you finally get through it alive. One thing they did, which surprised the hell out of me, was that they seriously tapered down the amount of long distance walking. A big plus for those who found wandering the same streets, and backtracking over and over, to be insanely tedious. Some of the weapons are extremely slow, but then again as realistic as this game is supposed to feel, it basically adds to the effect. One weapon, which you find in the office building, is the katana. This is literally the best melee weapon in the entire series. Out of ammo? No problem! You have a nice sharp sword to come to the rescue. The sub-machine gun is also a great addition to the arsenal.

Sadly, like the first two games, you'll most likely finish it within about three days. Sure there's plenty of replay value, with the multiple endings and special weapons (like the beam saber) available, but those looking for a longer experience might be disappointed. Still, it's well-worth the forty bucks if you're looking for a good scare. The story ties up many loose ends left from the first game, and may actually drive some to replay the entire series. The game definitely isn't for weak stomachs, and can be extremely unpleasant for some folks, but isn't that what horror is supposed to be?

Please play this game alone at night with the lights off. The effect is definitely intensified and will make your heart pound through your chest. It's graphic, it's gory... it's a damn good time.