Why Silent Hill 4 Is A Masterpiece Of Subverting Expectations

[@henrytownshed5304]

I like all the Silent Hill games even the "bad ones" , but two and four are my favorite. They are direct sequels to each other, just like how One and Three complemented each other. Probably James lived with Mary in that apartment building.

[@Sputnik34]

they very likely did! it makes the story in 4 that much sadder since James' dad is the landlord of the complex ): thank you for watching :)

[@liammcnulty1987]

They're all linked in a way, like Walter was meant to be the original child host for the "God" and to bring about god through the 21 Sacraments, he was at one point raised by Dahlia but instead she chose another method and had her own child, so Walter was abandoned and he went his own way. He was raised by the Cult.

[@liammcnulty1987]

@James Sunderland that's a lot if head cannon there, dude. You can re read the notes, or play the game.

[@gRinchY-op5vr]

Pretty sure you mean 1 and 3 are direct sequels and 2 and 4 complimented each other...

[@AriaMohtadiHaghighi]

You perfectly explained why this game works brilliantly as a horror game, and how subverting its own established mechanics, and those of the previous 3 games, manages to mess up with the player in a way that few games have (another one is the Penumbra series imo. ) And those are pretty much the reasons I'm too scared to re-play Silent Hill 4....the hauntings in the 2nd half, Walter chasing you, having to heal Eileen with candles and the limited supplies....not to mention the ghosts. They're just too much. I mean that as a compliment to how disturbing the game is. Thank you for this awesome video, and best new year wishes from Iran.

[@WildWolf5896]

0:19 the cough petrified me for a sec tho.

[@Sputnik34]

I'm much better at recording now I wouldn't let something that loud and distorted crunch through the mix :P

[@WildWolf5896]

@@Sputnik34 good to know :)

[@БогданКрименюк]

@@WildWolf5896 Same I was startled from it 😨

[@bigpeepee6067]

Despite how "self-contained" the story of SH4 is, I think it's best experienced after playing the previous entries for the reasons you listed. I love how the theme (is that the word?) of the game is about subversion of expectations and "breaking the cycle" of sorts. I love this video props man!

[@Sputnik34]

Thanks!! Glad you liked the video. SH4 def does have a lot going for it :)

[@danilotaboada3447]

I love SH4. I’m glad you finally played and liked the unique style the of room. Team silent were just way ahead of time when you realize that the classic formula without any innovations wouldn’t work like it happened to the American studios that changed some lore recycled formula and even enemies that shouldn’t appear. That is why Silent Hills by Hideo Kojima was a breeze of fresh air when he released PT that took so many influences from SH4. Team silent probably realized that years ago. Nice video!

[@radRadiolarian]

silent hill 4 is the ARTPOP of the silent hill series

[@Monstert_]

That refrence!!!

[@masterzombie161]

This game along with Silent hill 3 gave me the most nightmares of my life. When I was a kid I rented them from Blockbuster (I know right) and everytime I got home no one is home and I can’t get inside cause my Key is missing.

[@jerrym1218]

Silent Hill 4 has such a great soundtrack. It can creep you out, chill you out, or hype you up.

[@SladeSnakeissad]

A great breakdown. I recently made a video on the game but felt I was missing things in my video overall but watching this video made me realize a couple of different ways to approach topics like this. Really good video, keep it up!

[@powerbelly211]

This was my first silent hill game. Genuinely scared the life out of me. It is definitely the game kojima was getting most of his inspiration from aswel.

[@prpledough]

Love the detail you put into this vid man, it took a while to find it but I'm glad I did. This game really does do so many good things and I'm honeslty happy that people are starting to look at it for what it is and not hate it because of the stigma surrounding it. Such a banger everyone should play. Love the vid!!!

[@Sputnik34]

thanks for watching! i'm glad you liked it. :) this video is old by now and it's wild to hear my old recordings and see my old editing process hahaha

[@halloch6193]

Excellent vid man. I can tell how much you care, and it makes this a treat to watch. I haven't completed SH4, but I feel like I really should now lol

[@Sputnik34]

thank you so much :) it may take a few times but SH4 will sink it's teeth into you!

[@1che3mau]

Great video! I'm not sure if this is intentional but for the 2nd hole that opens up in the apt, I think that in a way it's the impetus (or at least a large part) for your home/apt becoming haunted. The 1st hole opened without you/Henry doing anything, it was there on its own and kinda deceives you. It's helpful, it's your only way out of the apt (albeit into a twisted outside), and so you also become comfortable with traversing back and forth through it even with how bizarre it is. The 2nd hole though, you/Henry are the one that finishes the ritual (so to speak) so you've invited the horrors into your safe space in a way. You make the choice and you're the one who opens the door (and therefore the apt) for the evils to enter/take root.

[@Sputnik34]

That's an interesting point! I hadn't thought about that :0

[@1stRateSerrvice]

This game conveys to me a sense of loneliness and isolation that seens so hard to escape from. Glad I've left that lonely place behind.

[@thebagyocastle3927]

Excelente vídeo hermano!. My favourite Silent Hill game.

[@Sputnik34]

thanks!! i'm glad i finally came around to it :)

[@moxiemaxie3543]

People: Nothing is original. Repeating the story is lazy writing. Same people: How DARE YOU try something new? I need to know what to expect

[@brandon-xk4rk]

This is a very well structured video. Well done bro

[@Sputnik34]

thanks! :)

[@liammcnulty1987]

4 is my favourite SH game

[@Sputnik34]

i am glad that i finally came around to enjoying SH 4. i don't know if i would rank it as #2 or #3 in terms of my favorite in the series, but it is very very good. :) thanks for watchin!

[@haniasiri8624]

It took me 10 years to get to an agreement with myself that I can play the game without getting scared of the game ghosts. Why SH4 is one of the best: 1- Game Ghosts are real ghosts and they cannot be killed at all. 2- They will hunt you down till the very end. 3- In the early beginning ghosts enemies are heartless as Walter Sullivan ripped there hearts off when he murdered them so they are weak. 4- After you relate to Cynthia and care for her, she hunts you down later on. The idea of friend and foe is greatly demonstrated in this game. 5- At the end when the story unfold you start to sympathise with all the enemies. As all of them are victims. 6 - Walter Sullivan is a victim and a product of a bad society - irresponsible father - after hearing his voice while Walter was in his mother whomp and this shed the light that Walter is a unique human being. Young Walter was actually a great character and that is clearly demonstrated as he saves Eileen and tryies to save the victims of adult Walter. Young Walter was striving with his primitiveness to find his mother. While a lady that visted the orphanage actually lied to young Walter and gave the information that his mother is "still" in room 302?? Even while he was held in wishe house with all the dread he still foucsing on reaching out. 7- Henry, you can feel a relationship between him and Walter even the blurred picture in his living room somehow looks like young Walter. Even towards the end you don't sense hate towards eachother. 8- NO UFO ending which indicates how serious the game is. It also illustrates how far can things go wrong and this is actually true.

[@SeiyaDLuffy]

I really like the lack of U.F.O ending seriously, it makes the game the most serious one on the franquice, i like it on SH2 and 3 due that was very funny, but i like how the Team Silent didn't put any U.F.O ending

[@master_mind95]

I think sh4 is unpolished as a final product but it tried to change the formula in the right time , sure it did change couple of things and didn’t execute some thing perfectly but it also brings some of the best mechanics I saw ever in survival horror video games Which makes it the scariest silent hill,and in addition to that it had the best story and villain ever, And i think we can’t deny that pt took a lot of inspiration from sh4 like ghost victims , the atmosphere of narrow hallways ,peephole and radio .

[@Sputnik34]

I think 3 is the scariest but i fully acknowledge that 4 might he the most unsettling Thanks for the comment! Im happy you watched :)

[@coureurdesbois6754]

First time I played this game, Eileen killed herself at the speed of sound during the last boss.

[@Sputnik34]

She died on my run through too. I couldve prevented it but i wasnt sure how to fight the last boss

[@liammcnulty1987]

😂 😂 😂

[@ShehuStebe]

1,000 views doesn't do this video the justice it deserves

[@Sputnik34]

Aw thank you!!

[@soulreaver1983]

Awesome video dude!😎👍

[@Sputnik34]

Thanks!!

[@soulreaver1983]

@@Sputnik34 No problem dude excellent video! 😎👍

[@SeiyaDLuffy]

You forgot to talk about the endings, SH4 is the only SH game, aside of Downpour, that lacks an U.F.O ending, is other thing that was on all SH games made by Team Silent, except for SH2 the original PS2 version, i like the idea of lack that U.F.O Ending due that how different the game was from their previous titles

[@Sputnik34]

Dang I didn't even think about that lmao. Thanks for watching!

[@SeiyaDLuffy]

@@Sputnik34 your welcome, i like your video so much :)

[@SeiyaDLuffy]

​@@Sputnik34hi bro, good afternoon. I come here to ask you if i could translate your video for my channel? Your video is very good and since i watched it 2 years ago i can't stop watching it and now i got the idea of inspired to make a video of this topic

[@gerardorodriguez7244]

That was a good video, great job man 😊

[@Sputnik34]

Thanks so much!

[@rvnycl]

2:25 I NEED to know what the beautifully haunting song is playing in the background!!!

[@Sputnik34]

Two Evils! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIClaKecg7-ieqs

[@rvnycl]

Thank you so much Sputnik34!!

[@Sputnik34]

You are welcome :)

[@hewhoshallnotbenamed8228]

I love Silent Hill. Where the ethereal realm is right their. But we as human beings are blind to it.

[@NihilisticIdealist]

Unpopular opinion: Silent Hill 4 > Silent Hill 3

[@Sputnik34]

definitely unpopular but i don't think it's an unreasonable opinion to have! :) thanks for watching :D

[@archherobain3934]

I agree fully

[@henrytownshed5304]

I like it better than Silent Hill 3 but you know I think it's just personal preference. I can understand why some people don't like this game

[@БогданКрименюк]

More like Silent Hill 4 = Silent Hill 3

[@emilyb5762]

i think it’s an increasingly popular opinion. 3 is more polished and extremely scary but it doesn’t have much to say… at all. story-wise, or metanarratively.. it’s a fun game, but not an important one, and easily the least transformative of the original four. whereas silent hill 4 is-as sputnik24 did a great job explaining-a bizarre masterclass of telling you to go fuck yourself

[@cappedminer369]

1:41 the post team silent games can't be that bad. are there any that are at least alright ?

[@Sputnik34]

i think origins is the best post-team silent game for sure. i made a video on it! but if you want no spoilers i recommend you just play it. it captures the mood and ambiance of the series very well. :) (with a few hiccups)

[@cappedminer369]

@@Sputnik34 cool, can I see have a link to the video if possible ? Thx

[@Sputnik34]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKGWgIina750lbs :)

[@Lethal_Equo]

You can actually heal Eileen with a candle right before the final boss. So she is actually invincible.

[@Sputnik34]

00f wish i wouldve known that hahaha Thanks for watching!

[@ezroarfanworks2049]

Great video!!!

[@MarinaAndTheDevil]

My fav Silent Hill game 🥵

[@Sputnik34]

Nothing will beat 2 for me but i have a genuine new found love for The Room :)

[@southernhillscreative1920]

Chris Ramsey..... nice

[@TheOfficialTrollTeam]

0:19 *COUGH* the original games Had me dying

[@pikminologueraisin2139]

18:08 that's great

[@sumdude132]

how can i play this game?

[@Sputnik34]

Its on GOG.com!

[@sumdude132]

@@Sputnik34 thanks guy

[@nolives]

Silent hill 3 felt like they were tired of their own tropes they created. Even expressing it audibly from dialogue from the main protaganist cheryl. So I think silent hill 4 was basically them leaving all the staples of the series behind more out of bordedom than subversion, but because those staples were so iconic it came as a subversion to the players which is why i think this game got more hate than it deserved.

[@Johnnybomb1]

Pretty sure SH4 was developed around the gameplay and enemy types first, because the devs left at team silent wanted to work on something completely different in horror genre. However, the story was probably written half way through, and haphazardly had a few plot points and characters to link the previous Silent Hill games and slap that title on the game in order to sell. Probably Konami execs pressured the director/producer.

[@spaghetticondo.m9116]

Also imo its one of the hardest silent hills and also fuck hard mode

[@Sputnik34]

i definitely played on normal. I have to agree with you i was kinda shocked how many times i died. But at least they have sort of a checkpoint system with the CONTINUE option. Next time i might try hard mode! thanks for watching :)

[@spaghetticondo.m9116]

@@Sputnik34 I think you did a great job im sure your vid will blow up.

[@Sputnik34]

@@spaghetticondo.m9116 I hope so!

[@kamionero]

While i agree with what you’re saying… the mouth noises are really distracting! Hahaha

[@Sputnik34]

This video is a year old and I have gotten a lot better at keeping the mouth noises out of my voice overs! :) thank you for watching

[@kamionero]

@@Sputnik34 Im just being facetious. Its a fantastic video!!!

[@slayerac3057]

interesting video I got more Ideas for a SH4 video, btw you can check my sh2 video

[@samdiego1965]

Your title of this video is the same excuse that Rian Johnson used to justify his disaster of a sequel

[@Sputnik34]

I'm definitely not talking about star wars

[@samdiego1965]

@@Sputnik34 yet that the excuse was the same. He thought that subverting all expectations would somehow make the movie good yet it was the most hated movie because of it. In the same way, SH4 was the most hated of the original 4 games