Rants and Raves about Silent Hill (PlayStation)

[@TheDylanCharles]

I agree with pretty much every single point you made about how frustrating, tedious and dumb this game can be and somehow still loved it. The same way I deeply love Showgirls.

[@StephenWilds]

Hell yeah, Showgirls gets too much hate. Excellent comparison.

[@Reginmund]

Showgirls is a good movie. I feel like a lot of people can't see the movie for the boobs, in the sense of not seeing the forest for the trees.

[@SuperLex2012]

That game is fun

[@maboroshi1986]

The only thing I’d really say is that the reason the town doesn’t reflect Harry is because the town isn’t reflecting Harry. It reflects Alessa. He’s just wandering through her nightmare. Most of the references relate to things a little girl might be familiar with. Easy example is the first set of keys. They relate to the main characters (less Dorothy) from the wizard of oz.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Oooh, cool. Thanks for explaining.

[@maboroshi1986]

@ yeah. Tbh the first game is the least cohesive of the classic games IMO and it suffers for it in terms of basic comprehension of the plot and themes. 2 and 3 in particular are far better at including dialogue and notes that connect to the themes and ideas of the story whilst not necessarily telling you everything.

[@JoeCool7835]

Silent Hill 1 is actually my favorite horror game. It's the closest I ever found to being a playable horror movie. Harry sucks at combat intentionally to add to the tension. The views and tank controls were standard at the time; I have no problem with them. The most important thing the game got right was the atmosphere which means everything for horror. I acknowledge I may have rose-tinted nostalgia goggles on, but I still love this one.

[@AlastorChannel]

I disagree with you but respect your opinion. I think SH1 is one of the best horror game ever made.

[@EricM-112]

I agree to SH is an iconic game and alternative to RE

[@andresavendano9266]

I think it's the purest and most terrifying game of the whole series

[@turismofoegaming8806]

100% I have beat this game sooo many times!! Both PAL & US version!! It definitely should've got the remake treatment... but I absolutely love SH2 the Original, also!! Not yet played the Remake..

[@JewTube001]

@@EricM-112 Honestly RE and SH have nothing to do with one another. One is psychological horror other is military action zombie blaster games

[@orinanime]

I never had a problem with tank controls. And it's one of the few outdated things about older games that I can go back to and still have no trouble navigating. I love the first Silent Hill. It's My favorite entry in the franchise.

[@JoeBob189]

Silent hill 3 is a direct sequel to the first game, and is an absolute gem. Silent hill 2 remake blew expectations out of the water, and has fixed just about every complaint you mentioned. Hoping they give the same remake treatment to 1 and 3.

[@dudeseriously79]

I rented this when it first came out and it took about 5 minutes to figure the controls out but after that it was fine. I beat the game shortly after, returned it and liked the overall experience.

[@ScottMakesGames]

I still love old school survival horror. Definitely dated by today's standards but there's something special about them and the atmosphere is unmatched.

[@MissiGNO000]

Im really sick of people saying its dated, the tank controls are a deliberate choice, its not like its not possible to make fluid 3d movement on the ps1

[@ScottMakesGames]

@MissiGNO000 Don't get me wrong I love them!

[@mrmagoo-i2l]

@@MissiGNO000 Maybe, but it was a while until the PS1 controller got analogue sticks. Plus Mario 64 is commonly stated as the moment 3D camera controls became a feature and not a hindrance. Tank controls are made to add suspense sounds a bit like marketing fluff to me.

[@VerdeAntico]

​@@mrmagoo-i2l Tank control were not just for suspense.. They were useful because of the fixed camera.. When the camera is fixed and your character change screen north, south, east and west can change.. so tank-control are absolute and not relative to the context and kept your character from changing direction while maybe escaping from enemies. They also avoid you from entering and immediately quitting an area because of the camera (an hateful thing that sometimes happens with fixed camera and modern controls)

[@MrDeadstu]

A lot of your complaints arise from the limitations of the PS1 at the time so I understand them. Also remember they had no blueprint, they were one of the first horror survival games.

[@xCupressocyparis]

Absolutely agree. The sequels came out on PS2 and the developers had more experience with 3D survival horror game design by then so they were pretty awesome. Actually I reckon SH2 is the single biggest reason the series is still so highly regarded today.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

They were an early surival horror, sure, but Sweet Home, Alone in the Dark, Resident Evil, Clock Tower, even Parasite Eve came first.

[@Josh-fp2qn]

@@Cannotbetamed1 Nightmare Creatures is a great ps1 game to play if you haven't already.

[@thunderwarriorprods]

I still love this game and liked the ending with your beau coming in to defend it. Good man!

[@DerekBarns]

Ragnor rox did a series of vids explaining the lore of Silent Hill much clearly than I could ever hope to. Also, Silent Hill 3 (the direct follow-up; 2 is a side story) has an option for actual 360° controls and much-improved melee combat, so I would highly recommend giving that a shot.

[@KenPurchase]

I think the one time I had fun in combat was unlocking the Hyperblaster weapon, and then just going on a murder rampage through town annihilating everything, it was extremely cathartic!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Ha, that does sound fun.

[@drewfromyay882]

Definitely check out the second one. No tank controls.

[@ChrisPTenders]

I adore the initial trilogy of Silent Hill games, but I'm a filthy tank controls lover. I did suffer through a years long phase of really hating it before it clicked, so I can't blame anyone for really not clicking with it. I'll defend the honor of tank controls, but I won't preach it on anyone. I believe the PS2 games give you the option to pick between tank controls and full range 3D, if I'm not mistaken. But if the one-button swinging camera really bothers you, maybe consider going with the remake. Coming from a years long SH2 fanatic, the remake is faithful yet modernized in very good balance. Original first or no, either way, the remake is worthwhile.

[@StephenWilds]

I'm with Dylan, I love this game and if this isn't my favorite in the series then it'd be Downpour (an unpopular opinion), but I completely understand and in many cases even agree with most of your points. This is probably the first game I've ever referred to as a 'flawed masterpiece' and although that isn't exactly right, I still cherish it. I too have always thought the music was very NIN inspired. Many of us have fallen victim to the refrigerator before, I get it. Honestly, I like that you guys didn't agree about it. My wife and I usually have similar thoughts on games, but it's the ones that we don't share those views that inspire the best conversations. Appreciate the guest Dylan narration. Would love to see you guys play more Silent Hill. "Harry the Hammer," not his stage name, strangely.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

We'll almost certainly play some more, and it is nice to not agree fully on a game, it gave us a lot to talk about. And riff on, which was fun.

[@electricb1]

I do agree on the pick ax, first time I played SH,it was my melee weapon of choice. If you guys are going to play through this again I recommend two things: go for the alien ending and if you’ve beaten the game twice on the same save file (one has to be the good ending the other the bad one) get the katana sword near the beginning; in my experience it was sweet revenge for the frustration I went through playing the first couple of times.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I don't see myself every revisiting it. Once was enough.

[@Josh-fp2qn]

I'm 36 and played this game for the first time last January. Great game. Now I know what all the hype was back in 1999! I found the puzzles incredibly difficult and I never would have figured them out if I bought this game when it first came out. Lisa Garland's story is so tragic and I love her theme music. Graphics and gameplay are very dated though.

[@zooropa04]

I still think the Silent Hill games and Deadly Premonition could all be packaged together as "The Closest Thing to David Lynch You'll Get In Video Gaming."

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

Harvester and Dark Seed 2 should be included in the Twin Peaks inspired set.

[@zooropa04]

@@noneofyourbusiness4616 Harvester, YESSSSSS.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I know Lynch was an influence, but I felt very little Lynch vibes.

[@greenhowie]

Mizzurna Falls got a fan translation as well, pretty much as close as a Japanese dev team could get to directly ripping off Twin Peaks in the 90s. It's not "good" but it's weird as hell.

[@mrmagoo-i2l]

@@greenhowiesome stuff is just too out there, I didn’t like Frame it sounds like a good concept it’s just a load of guff though.

[@snowday2100]

i played sh1 for the first time recently, i actually found the clunkiness a part of its charm, and like sh2 which i played a few months before earlier it totally gets in your head as few other games can.

[@Krokodilius]

fair play to the fridge for re-stocking its supply.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

lol

[@chowdown]

21:09 when Garfield plays Silent Hill.

[@sierrakobold6896]

when I first played this after watching my cousin play it when i was 12 yo, about a year after it came out in spring of 2000, I restarted the game about 5 or 6 times after venturing through the alley and getting attacked by the grey children cuz I didn't realize it was scripted for you to be overcome by them

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Ha, the games where failure is inescapable do take you off guard.

[@boblabinette]

Is Pam the Canadian Sphere Hunter? Or is Suzi the American Cannot be Tamed?

[@KenPurchase]

The control complaints are definitely valid, I've really struggled playing it with anything other than an original PS1 controller, not the analogue stick controls which were absolutely godawful for some reason, but the D-Pad makes it manageable.The absence of flavour text is definitely something I picked up on during replays as well, especially in comparison to later games in the series. Harry's really not interested in a lot of stuff, huh. Storywise, I do like the idea that you are not actually the one playing the game, the actual players are Dalia and Alessa who control you as their avatar in order to fight a proxy battle between them, by leaving clues, weapons, items etc. to lead you to your eventual destination. In that way it makes sense that Harry is a bit of a bland everyman character, he's a puppet who's being manipulated as part of someone else'e story.

[@joshuaweston6531]

Ah yes, the refrigerator newb trap! As someone who is also very late to the SH party, (survival horror in general) I had almost all the exact same criticisms as you on my first playthrough. The tank controls, which I still don't like. The level design, the puzzles, the combat, the sewers, the story (kinda)...etc. Having replayed the game multiple times since, I have only grown in appreciation of it. Some things I initially found annoying, eventually became addictive. Specifically the interior sections of the school and hospital. I grew to love the backtracking and hunting for keys and items. Then again, as someone who loves the 3D Zelda games, this is right up my alley! Some things about it will always be frustrating, however, like the doggos and air screamers that make actually exploring the town an absolute pain in the arse. I hope you do continue with the series. I think you'll find SH2 much more tolerable. Most people, myself included, consider it not only the best in the series, but one of the very best survival horror games period. It's story is much more grounded and tank controls are optional. Exploring the town is also a far more leisurely experience by comparison. SH2 ditches most of the occult stuff in favor of character studies of it's cast. It's also where Akira Yamaoka's music becomes equal parts melodic zen as it is industrial horror. All in all, I think that even if you don't end up loving actually playing it, you'll almost certainly appreciate it!

[@st.anselmsfire3547]

Silent Hill 2 is much, much better and it's the one that redefined the series and the whole survival horror genre. It's also a one-off and none of the other games are really tied in with it. Which is probably for the best. James's story ends pretty definitively at the end of that game no matter which ending you actually get. Silent Hill 3 is about the consequences of Harry taking a Silent Hill baby with him. He named said Silent Hill baby Heather, and, yes, she is still the avatar of Alessa. Silent Hill 4: The Room, is about a really terrible day in the life of Johnny, who ends up being torn apart by Lisa. He did not hit her. It is bullshit. He did not hit her. He did not. Oh, hi Mark. Silent Hill: Homecoming is definitely a game in the same way that Morbius is totally a movie. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is actually really good if you know how to play it properly. It has a really interesting mechanic where things change depending on how you choose to play it. It's also a classic case of ambition exceeding talent, but, hey, you win some, you lose some. I think we'd all rather play a game that aimed for the stars and landed on the Moon than a game that aimed for the front yard and ended up in the street. There are a million other Silent Hill games but, like Star Wars media, they quickly ran afoul of the law of diminishing returns.

[@ourosys9257]

Forgot about that quote, at the start of the idle play, "The fear of blood tends to create fear for the flesh." goes way harder than it has any right to. lol Always enjoy your stuff. Thank ya for bringing back some old gaming memories, from when I was a kid

[@crithon]

LMAO! It's worth waiting till the end. Great review

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Thanks!

[@JewTube001]

I'm very interested to see what Blooper will do with SH1. I'm thinking they'll take more liberties at reworking things compared to SH2re

[@MichaelButlerC]

I was totally the same way, I could not play Silent Hill alone but I was lucky enough to have some great roommates in college, and we played through Silent Hill 1 around 2003. That ending sure is strange!

[@qqq1701]

I've mostly only played the original Silent Hill 2 and I loved that one.

[@architeuthis3476]

OG _Silent Hill 2_ is the greatest survival horror game ever made! I'm sure the remake is very good, but it still isn't going to beat the original

[@JessesAuditorium]

21:10 - 22:00 = My 20's

[@Kevdawg207]

Many of these old survival horrors excel in ambiance and have decayed in how entertaining their often lumbering and cumbersome their designs have become. It's even evident in classics like Resident Evil, but when you're not nostalgic (i.e. having played it in your youth) even familiar entities expose how archaic their structure has become. The biggest defense I always hear for SH, RE and others is "the controls intentionally suck to add to horror" which is completely outlandish to say. Almost backhandedly disparaging to the devs. No one makes a bad controlling game in the AAA industry on purpose even in 1999. This isnt some art house $3 game on Steam. It was Konami combating Capcom. The real reason they suck is that the tank formula worked once. Companies jumped on not knowing another way to innovate yet and captialize on the popularity. Companies make products, and innovation has to come when they think they can profit. Whether or not bad controls amplify anxiety means nothing, there's a reason scarier games have still managed to like.. control well. This is a shame because often their ambiance is nailed. For example I'd love to bask in the haunting aura of Fatal Frame but watching my protagonist waddle in mud for hours, with sloshy camera controls, is more irritating than anything. It's just a product of the time and crawling before you can walk. Silent Hill was even the most esoteric and un-even of those IPs even in 1999. It just succeeded in it's psychological horror in ways the others couldnt. Ambiance and horror = Silent Hill Me having an actual good time = Shattered Memories reboot

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I have no problem with the Fatal Frame controls - they're not super snappy but they're functional. I do completely agree that everyone arguing 'the controls are bad on purpose so it's scary' are full of it.

[@Kevdawg207]

@@Cannotbetamed1 Oh yeah, I don't mean to place everything into the Silent Hill box; it was arguably the most clunky by a mile in my opinion. I'd love to say it's because it's an early title like everyone else being that Fatal Frame improved in the PS2 generation, REmakes were better than PS1 for example. But.. nah. SH3 and 4 are also downright terrible. I'm mostly critiquing that not all devs had a clear cut idea of what they wanted to do with this genre as it was so infantile and niche. That it was in no way a design decision to go "lol let's make it play bad!" The original RE2 can give you so much ammo you'll just stand in a hallway and mow down enemies for like a minute and a half. It certainly wasn't always enhancing dread xD. Anyway, tangent aside gotta say I loved this video. First time I've seen someone else kinda spoke life to my feelings on the OG Silent Hill with plenty of evidence to back it up.

[@viddysgamingviddyos4710]

I can understand that SH1 has not aged well or is clunky or whatever, however it is a testament to its quality and legacy that I enjoyed playing it for the first time in the 2010s and I still enjoy it to this day. Then again, maybe it is because it is somehow one of those games that keeps drawing me back in like the town does. I get better at completing it in shorter times, and I kind of like how the puzzles are one difficulty only in contrast to later entries. I do have to address the 'Nothing special' thing and couldn't help wondering: doesn't the Res Evil series [least of all the earlier games] do this a lot? Jill, Chris, Leon, Claire etc look at an item and react in a similar way. Also, the dialogue delivery and pauses bothered me a little for years until I just accepted that not only was it a hardware limitation or poor direction for the voice acting, but also a surreal David Lynch dream vibe which is understandably not relatable to everyone. Finally, as much as I like it, SH2 is prob my favourite in the series. It is more sad than it is scary [though it can be scary, SH1 freaked me out at times especially with Lisa's final scene], but it is more memorable.

[@DaveWasThereMan]

Being able to click on anything was awesome.

[@tarnetskygge]

SH3 handles those "nothing special" object interactions perfectly: instead of a dry description you get a little snippet of Heather's thoughts about whatever it is (there's a bit of this in SH2 too, but SH3 does it with everything and it makes examining even the most mundane objects rewarding and interesting.)

[@RedLion_52]

Harry takes a second Silent Hill baby home cuz he's just that good a guy!

[@TimelordUK]

Absolutely outstanding review!! I'm 56 and played this and the 2nd and 3rd when they first came out. I was so blown away by the graphics at the time and the fear element. I also struggled with the controls in any combat situation, the same struggles in the resident evil games. To this day I am still dreadful in any combat situation. I loved the games eerie theme, I loved the puzzles, but I never ever understood the plot, and I still don't! The cut scenes never made any sense to me, I didn't understand the intro either. Maybe I'm just stupid. I just played this game for the puzzle solving in a creepy environment, but never understood what the story was. Try Haunting Ground PS2!!!!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Thanks!

[@mrmagoo-i2l]

Crow Country is pretty good, looks like a PS1 game but plays well.

[@doctor_foobario]

Missed opportunity at the end. Should have told Dylan the game was ... nothing special

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Darn

[@TheJofurr]

The weak combat and tank controls were creative decisions meant to immerse you in the game's survival-horror element by making you feel as helpless as Harry would have felt in that environment. Frankly, it's something I wish more games would do today because there's nothing less horrifying than being able to effortlessly splatter all the monsters like you're in, well, Splatterhouse. I definitely agree that Harry was a bit of a bore though. Oh, one last thing... I love the Mary cosplay!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Who's Mary?

[@TheJofurr]

@@Cannotbetamed1 You're really not Mary. Sorry, I was... confused...

[@EugeneYunak]

sh otherworld does indeed reflect the personality of the “protagonist”, even in the first game. it’s much better spelled out in the later games. but in the first game real protagonist is Alessa, it’s her monsters and her hell we get to experience, Harry is just an accidental witness. which is also why he has limited personality. definitely play sh2 remake! it’s an amazing modern remake of the most popular game in the series. then sh3 is also worth a play through - much better controls and more coherent and better presented female-centered story.

[@MoltenNut]

I loved this game as a kid and went back to play it again for Halloween and gave up because I couldn’t adapt to its age like I’d hoped.

[@urabusxrw04]

I remember beating this game and getting the bad ending and then immediately listing the ps1 game on ebay. Freaked me out.

[@Houldey]

I've always felt the OG Silent Hill was something that is greater than the sum of its parts. As for your mention of the town/series and it being more a reflection of a character's psyche - no spoilers here, but that is much more valid in the series going forward after SH1. The SH2 remake seems to be largely considered a success, and it had a very high bar to clear - plus you have modern controls, so you'll hopefully have a much better time going forward.

[@fardinhasan2947]

About the atmosphere you are spot on. I tried to play this a few times but every time I reach the school and i quit because it scares me so much.

[@troposphincter]

I finished the game for the first time like two days ago, and am going through n°2 at the moment. I couldn't gather enough will to play through any episode in my youth. I am playing through the series now, well past thirty, and fighting against depression. It seems to help, kinda. Though I liked the school part, I pretty much agree with all your pros and cons. Still loved the game anyway. Silent Hill 2 is more like the psychological horror the series is known for, you may give it a try.

[@MODDED7]

I respectfully disagree with most things you said but I get it. It's not a masterpiece imo but I do think for the time, it was incredible for psychological horror games. If you haven't played SH2 tho please do it's way better & much improved from the OG.

[@robmoye7373]

It was a cool game at the time, but yeah, hasn't aged well. The thing I always think of from this game are the the little creatures with knives in the school. Never really revisited it again.

[@GrahamScottSmith]

Highly recommend jumping into the Silent Hill 2 remake. No tank controls, and more personal psychological horror.

[@TheDylanCharles]

We're definitely planning on playing the remake, though I'm thinking Pam might need a small vacation from Silent Hill before we revisit it.

[@xCupressocyparis]

​@@TheDylanCharlesMight be cool to try the original SH2 before the remake. Still old, but I think probably less clunky than SH1.

[@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898]

Inferior version. Go for the original game, it has 3D controls as well, in the Options.

[@CladeryHeart]

@@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898 Absolutely, do not play the remake before the original, also you opt out of tank controls! No one needs to play the remake.

[@NoHiro-qc4dv]

... Only SH2 remake does have tank controls (you push forward to walk your character forward in their direction, left and right to turn, back to back up) it just has an over the shoulder camera which makes tank controls more obvious. People who claim third person horror games don't have tank controls clearly don't understand what tank controls even are lol

[@MotherHen2012]

Was waiting for you to mention the bloody piano puzzle.

[@macplatypus]

I can totally understand your take on the game. It is certainly a product of its time, and a clear first attempt. Having now completed it, I HIGHLY suggest playing Silent Hill 3 next. Trust me. 😊

[@starhew2868]

My first silent hill was SH2 and it's my favorite by a lot. That is where the more personal psychological hell aspect comes from. I think ignoring the whole cult/ancient God storyline from SH1 was super smart of them to do. Kind of think the SH2 version of Silent Hill would make a good base for a horror anthology series like American Horror Story or something

[@gilgamesh310]

That Silent Hill baby he takes home, ends up being one of the best characters in the series, so it was probably a good thing. Though, bad shit certainly comes Harry’s way later, lol. I didn’t have most of the issues you had with the game, but you’d probably enjoy Silent Hill 3 more than a lot of others, as that’s when the controls became improved. I don’t think they’re much better in 2 to 1. A lot of people even regard the combat as being worse.

[@SnakeX2X]

Love your videos, nice review!🤗

[@AvoCamilo]

Yeah, survival horror might not be for you, none of these games hold your hand or have action controls, it's the whole point. The game's events and monsters are indeed all psychological, but not out of Harry's mind, they're out of Alessa's mind, her fear of dogs, the books she read (dinosaurs and fairy tales), her collection of bugs, her fear of the kids that bullied her because of her powers, calling her a witch. The darkest monster being the hunched down, adult-like ones that tackle you, i don't think i need to say what i think they symbolize... You visit the school, the hospital, the churches of the cult, the mall, the amusement park, all places related to Alessa. I could write a bible about this, but that's enough, i don't feel like it, haha

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I'm a decently big fan of survival horror.

[@AvoCamilo]

@@Cannotbetamed1 That's cool, too bad you found this one frustrating, i know people preffer games like Resident evil, even if they give you less control

[@joshuatheargonaut4412]

I remember renting it from blockbuster when I was a kid. I always got stuck in the school. I never knew how to get out of there. To this day that is as far as I ever got. I didn’t get back into the series until 3. Which is by far my favorite.

[@xsouldriverx]

Goated JAAAASSON clip. I always say my friend Jason's name in that deadpan.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I reference that part of that game so often.

[@tarnetskygge]

Tank controls (i.e. controls relative to the player character, not the camera) are the price we have to pay for a non-player-controlled camera system such as RE's fixed angles or SH's film-like camerawork. It's what's missing from modern horror games and the reason why they often just feel like any other third person action/stealth/shooting game, imo at least.

[@rkornilo]

One thing that was common in this era was making game puzzles so difficult and illogical you almost (and sometimes did) NEEDED a book to get past them - which were available for a price where you bought your game! How incredibly convenient. "Fuck you, game" Yeah I can relate to that...

[@torment4723]

Guess not every game around the corner can be as deep as Planescape

[@UnknownXero]

The original game is rough but alot of the games back then especially on PS1 were rough but it is a very good game as well. But ugh those damn tank controls

[@ChodeEllis]

"When are sewers ever fun anyway?!" ... (Shaking my head derisively while playing Sewer Shark) Ghost, Catfish, I don't know if we can be friends with Applehead anymore.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Alright, you got me there.

[@ChodeEllis]

@Cannotbetamed1 Turn and burn babe.

[@Citizen-Gamer]

Dylan's voice over for "nothin special" was great!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I knew he'd do a great job.

[@retluoc]

Long ago, I mentioned that I was 22 when I first played it, so I toughed it out. I mentioned that my favorite weapon was the hunting rifle, but I was wrong. After watching some videos of the game, my favorite weapon was the pipe. (I like melee weapons) 😄

[@evanjman]

"why wouldn't I want to pick up the fucking shotgun" lol

[@xCupressocyparis]

A holdover from Resident Evil 1? 😅

[@HANBAGA-BACH]

Seems there's like 5 of us who think critically about games, like horror, but also dislike Silent Hill. I pretty much agree with you 100% here. Played a bit of Silent Hill 2 and found it even more annoying. Would love to see how you feel about it!

[@johnpettigrew3056]

I didn't play it because I stayed drunk from around 99-2003. I liked the movie okay and I think that since I missed out on it when it was new, that I missed the mark. It's a horror survival game and by Konami so that's two pluses.

[@jucksalbe]

Not sure why people have such a problem with tank controls, this game would have been a mess without them. But I think from SH2 onwards they offer alternative controls (make sure to check the options menu if you play them). What you'd heard before about the story of Silent Hill games mostly concerns SH2 (and later games that try to imitate it), but as others have pointed out, this game has it too, but not as overtly. I'm surprised you didn't mention the puzzle design of the game all that much. It really stood out to me back then, especially compared to the very simple puzzles in Resident Evil. Some of the "bigger" puzzles require you to get a pen and paper and actually think about them for a while, which I loved. Later games offer a separate "puzzle difficulty" setting if that's not your thing. Also Harry might say "nothing special" a lot, but at least in your examples they bothered to write a specific message for almost every item. Some adventure games could learn from that.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I did think the puzzles were good, for the most part, and more involved than RE. The piano was the only one that made us scratch our heads for a bit.

[@Lippeth]

I'm coming to realize that tank controls are either intuitive for you, or you just never get the hang of them, like the way cilantro tastes like soap to some people. Some players couldn't adapt then, just like some new players can't seem to adapt now, but they've always felt as comfortable and as responsive as anything else (assuming you're using the d-pad and not the left analog stick like an animal). Silent Hill also lets you quick turn by pressing L1 and R1 at the same time, pressing X while holding the down directional button will let you jump back out of harms way with a fabulous animation and holding L2 keeps the camera behind Harry. I won't lie and say the criticisms in this video aren't a little frustrating to listen to, but I appreciate your perspective and respect that you gave it a full playthrough despite the aggravation!

[@MissiGNO000]

Amen brother, some people just dont get tank controls is something to be learned and mastered, not something made to be easy to use

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Yep, I know how the camera worked in the game.

[@Lippeth]

@Cannotbetamed1 alright, no need to be condescending, I'm trying to understand why some people vibe with tank controls and some don't.

[@johnfoglia3782]

“…and they’re kinda making eyes at each other, which, eeeh.” 😂😂😂. A comment on Silent Hill I never knew I needed! Thank you! 😂😂😂

[@CassiusZedaker-pr7kc]

Every single time I play this game, I get stuck at the piano puzzle. One of these days I'll just look up a walkthrough.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

It stumped us for a while, I thought it was a pretty dumb puzzle.

[@Tm-uv4tw]

Tank controls in Silent Hill 1 are anxiety amplifiers disguised as a control scheme. They create a constant sense of unease, adding a discomfort that modern control simply can't replicate. They put you at a disadvantage, forcing you to struggle with both the environment and your own reactions. This design choice ensures you never feel fully in control, which is perfect for a survival horror game. The discomfort is an essential part of the experience. Imagine hearing a creature’s growls in the distance. With tank controls you have to stop, turn your character in place, and face the direction you want to go before you can even think about moving. That slight delay (the gap between decision and action) builds rising panic, especially when the sound of footsteps or static grows louder, closing in faster than you can react. The feeling of barely escaping danger, of being on the edge of death, is the heart of survival horror. Just like scarce ammo and limited save points amplify the tension, tank controls do the same in their own way.

[@DaveWasThereMan]

32 bit tank controls were revenge for 8-16 bit slow down.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Yeeeah, there needs to be a balance between gameplay that isn't super frustrating and discomfort.

[@mrmagoo-i2l]

@@Cannotbetamed1Yoko Taro is a bit of an acquired taste because of that design philosophy. One you are not a fan of. It’s the same thinking behind lots of JRPGS, loads of grind so you appreciate the good bits. I’m not 100% convinced. It does feel a lot more rewarding to be over powered because you played the game rather than just modded it though. Just bought Black Myth Wukong, the story is up there with Afterimage for an incomprehensible mess of weird. It’s good though, Chinese developers are really getting there. Impressive stuff.

[@chrisr024]

Your opinion is wrong. This game is a classic . Fun review though, thanks

[@JustinWO-31]

It needs a remake in my opinion. But also I think you would like Silent Hill 3. It's a direct sequel to this one and the combat is much improved by that game. It also has a pretty interesting story

[@waynetemplar2183]

Tank controls are the most horrific thing about many of those PS1 games

[@rMachete]

I liked hearing your thoughts on the game, is a very old game (I was like 12 when it released) and it looks clunky as hell, but I'll take your boyfriend's word for it and play it for the first time soon 😆

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Ha, have fun!

[@jikissgamer]

I'm a huge fan of Silent Hill but even I did not enjoy that first game. The next two sequels on the PS2 are the reason I love the franchise.

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodGeek99]

The OG game came out the same year i was born lol so far its the only one i beat😄

[@Jedah86]

This game is awesome.

[@RetroGamesNow86]

I've loved this game since day 1, actually did play it in 1999 after having become a RE fan when I got RE2 earlier that year, I presume back in those days when that is what was leading edge in game development the public reception to it was very expected, no other game from that year was like it. I feel like it actually was a lot creepier and more anxiety inducing than RE in so many different departments. back in 2013 I managed to buy me a copy of it for cheap, way before it shot up in price years later. my girlfriend and I played it and we were still fascinated by how a very ugly looking game by 2013 standards was so creepy, we played it with the lights off and everything to set the mood right and we enjoyed it. It made me realize how even as a tween I played it and had no idea what was going on. Playing it again as an adult in 2013 was like wooaah I played this when I was 13?!?! lol I hope you continue to look into the SH franchise and check out SH2Remake because it is my favorite game of 2024 and it makes me real happy to see the franchise return and not die in the annals of video game history. to me the creepiest of them all is SH4 The Room, that game raises the hairs on my forearms every time!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I agree that SH is definitely creepier and more atmospheric than RE. I'm looking forward to eventually playing some more of the series.

[@Brentm13]

Play Silent Hill 2 remake! I'd be curious your thoughts on it. I really loved it.

[@redmenace6671]

So when Pam plays SH1 she returns to Dark Pam? Dark Pam is the best!

[@respergu13]

I’m on the same boat, never had the courage to play it back then!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

It was so scary!

[@greenhowie]

A good comparison for Silent Hill would be a movie like Psycho - fantastic for the time and very important to filmmaking as an industry but most modern horror fans will find it very slow and boring compared to current day titles. Tank controls have always been an issue for some people though, apparently it has to do with spacial perception and being able to visualise yourself as the character. For what it's worth - I played an NTSC copy on a chipped PAL Playstation as a kid so the whole game was black and white. I still don't blame anyone for just watching a playthrough.

[@retrokeyif]

omg my favorite grandma

[@MotherKojiro]

I'm totally with you on tank controls: can't stand 'em. I've heard all the arguments in favor of them, but on a fundamental level, you want me to run away more and fight less, so why is it the *movement* that's broken? That and you still have to beat the game. I did try to play Silent Hill 3 a bit, but couldn't really get into that either, though I honestly don't remember if that had tank controls or not.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Yeah, I don't buy the whole 'it's supposed to feel bad to control to make it scarier and give you more anxiety'.

[@ThootenTootinTabootin]

The second one is pretty well known as "the good one"

[@robt.v.8688]

Silent Hill Babies should be a Saturday morning cartoon

[@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898]

Back at the time, and even earlier, since the SNES days, I learned to wait for an attract mode (then called demo) to start. I picked the habit very early on (1992 or 93). I understand why this can be seen as a flaw now, after all a game should start only when you press start, but for me it's natural to wait, even to wait for a few minutes. Silent Hill 2's demo didn't start until after a long wait. I like tank controls, and having played Silent Hill Origins, which doesn't have tank controls, made me not only like tank controls more, but also understand the usefulness of tank controls in a game with limited camera movement and fixed camera angles. The assumption about SH reflecting the protagonist's guilt is only in SH2; in other games, the monsters and stuff are a reflection of Cheryl's fears: she was harmed and visited the hospital a lot, so she is afraid of nurses and doctors, who made her feel pain. She's afraid of dogs and pterodactyls, then dogs and pterodactyls roam the streets trying to cause harm, but it's not psychological horror. SH2 and SH3 now they are psychological horror. I won't spoil them to you but SH2 is its own story, and SH3 is a sequel to SH1. Both are a lot more playable than the first, and they, in my opinion, aren't outdated. I can play the first only because I played in the year 2000 or 2001. You think taking a SH baby with you again will not end well? Go play SH3 and find out! Oh, and if you can play it again, go for the Bad Minus ending (kill both Sybil and Kaufman) and get the most amazing song ever made for a video game. Absolute bonkers. Or just watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH-lhKmYitieZ7M

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I always watch the attract mode too, but complaint is that it combines the attract mode with the actual game intro content and it's not clear which is which until after you've finished the game.

[@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898]

@Cannotbetamed1 Oh, I get it. You're right, it can be an inconvenience.

[@steelcurtain187]

Thank goodness your partner was around to set things straight 😂 😜

[@battlepants5818]

I agree with you. This is why I have a problem with the older horror game. But I do recomend the remake of Silent Hill 2. That was a nice experiance.

[@Reginmund]

Yeah this is one of those games I'd like to have finished before playing the SH2 remake but that I also know is going to be an absolute chore to get through. I did play it back when it came out and remember loving the atmosphere but hating the gameplay and dropping it as soon as I was murdered by a group of babies.

[@epicjuicebox]

This game is ripe for a remake. I've tried to go back to it many times, but just can't with the way it plays. A remake could fix so much!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

A remake would be great.

[@philmccrack698]

I couldn't find the original Silent Hill to play anywhere.

[@Victor____S]

Great game

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

As far as the question of whether or not the series gets better, my personal reaction was that 2 is the best. I didn't care as much for how 3 focuses on the mythology of the town of Silent Hill itself, as I preferred the psychological aspect of 2 more. 4 is interesting, but a pain in the ass.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I'm looking forward to trying 2, after a bit of a break.

[@gonzaloNMF]

Nice video, but have you seen a little girl? Just turned 7 last month... Short, black hair...

[@Cannotbetamed1]

No, but here, take this gun.

[@TheIndieOcean]

I'm fond of Silent Hill but your criticisms are entirely valid. I replayed it recently for the first time in 20+ years, and I think it's a game that was best played when it was new. There was nothing like it then, so the weak parts of the game were more easily excused. Now, they really stand out. That sewer section is just awful, and the number of times Harry was aiming right at an enemy but somehow missed was infuriating. The thing about the horrors of the town reflecting the protagonist doesn't turn up until Silent Hill 2 so it's kind of unfortunate that the series as a whole is known for it.

[@civilwarfare101]

I found Nowhere to be worse than the Sewer.

[@TheIndieOcean]

@civilwarfare101 I didn't mind Nowhere that much. The lack of a map in Nowhere is annoying, but the sewer has no atmosphere, no thematic link to Alessa (unlike the hospital and the school), no puzzles - it's just the shittest aspects of the game (combat and identical corridors) without any of the better aspects to balance them out.

[@civilwarfare101]

@@TheIndieOcean Fair enough, the Sewer is just over so quickly that I didn't really care that much. It's pretty much over in 15 minutes if not quicker than that.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I really hated those sewer enemies that hung from the ceiling.

[@plaidchuck]

Surprised you never played it when it came out if we're around the same age(40s)? But yeah it was produced to jump on RE's success but I agree the pre-rendered backgrounds in the polygon 3D era have definitely aged better, which is what RE had

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I did play it when it came out(ish), just not for long.

[@InnocentSoul0283]

Honestly I think that Silent Hill is great, I'm pretty good with tank controls and they handle it better than Resident Evil. Though I will agree on the minor nitpicks such as the asking if you will take the item or with the nothing special bits. I do recommend Silent Hill 2 & 3 though, however you might want to play the remake of 2 instead of the original due to the QoL improvements.

[@TripleThreatDX]

Silent Hill: Nothing Special edition.