It's been two decades since Konami and Team Silent released one of the best survival horror entries in Silent Hill 2 - a sequel that enhances everything that its predecessor laid out by giving us a much more terrifying experience into the cursed town that the game derives its name from. Released on this day in 2001 for the Sony PlayStation 2, the game introduces us to widower James Sunderland - who is drawn into the mysterious town of Silent Hill due to a letter sent by his wife Mary... Who died three years prior to the events of the game. Exploring the town to find answers, he is instead drawn to the mystery of his surroundings - encountering people with their own problems as well as creatures that are demonic manifestations of a person's own dark nature.
The backstory of Silent Hill is a convoluted case - which is built on the notes and mysterious letters that center on a town that had a cult worshipping a demon and unleashing dark energies that have remained a part of it even after the events of the first game. Silent Hill 2 and the other sequels explore in great detail other aspects of the town and expand on its lore - as well as the poor unfortunate souls like James who are drawn to go there and their "skeletons in the closet" are brought to life because of the dark energies that still reside inside the haunted town.
Gameplay of course is typical Survival Horror fare - you guide the character through a town and explore collecting items, solving puzzles, and defeating enemies to progress through the story. There are multiple endings for this entry as well - the most out of any installment, and one that is dependent on the choices you make and conditions you set about completing the game. It's this attention to detail and these design choices that among the great aspects of the games Team Silent made, and why this sequel is beloved by many fans to this day.
Happy 20th Anniversary, Silent Hill 2.
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