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[synchronicity]

Agree 100%. I never say it because I get tired just thinking about how I'll defend that statement, so thanks for falling on the sword. Good luck to you and your family for the duration of the thread.

Why would you have to defend it at all? It's just your preference.

I love all Team Silent entries. I won't choose. You can't make me.

 

[Reon]

All of them are good in their own rights and you could make arguments that Silent Hill 1, 2, 3 or 4 are all the best in the series.

Nobody talks about Downpour though, Downpour has flaws but it's still really good. It's no Silent Hill 1-4 but it's pretty solid in its own right.

 

[Jtibh]

Hill 2 then hill 3 then everything else then room.
I hated hated hated room.
3 was good but too clean looking and more arcade like.

But 2 had so much going on. I finished it several times . It felt personal belivable and mystical

 

[kingbean]

I think 3 is scarier than 2.

I can't really say if I like the story of 3 better than 2 though.

 

[The_Observer]

They're both in my top 10 games of all time, but I do slightly prefer 3. James is more complex, sure, but I just like following Heather more. And yeah, in terms of horror, 3 scares me far more than 2. Christ, the fucking ambience through just the audio is on a whole other level with the music and horrifying sounds you hear as you explore the areas.

Also, I didn't find the hotel in 2 scary at all, so that was kind of a let down compared to the 3 big areas before it(apartments, hospital, and the Historical Society). Hearing Mary's voice whisper "James" was creepy (and interesting how it only happens sometimes, I'm curious if it's truly random or if some of your actions up to that point affect it) but that was about it.

I think the hotel in 2 was supposed to be depressing rather than scary, and I think it perfectly achieved it.

 

[KOMANI]

 

[Shakka43]

No. SH1 is though.

 

[Dada55000]

SH2's story about euthanasia/mercy killing and the meaning of that loss was amazing and it was essentially a well written character story. Everything in that game has a psychological meaning from James' perspective and possibly exists mostly in his mind (something the game enforces in character interactions). In comparison, SH3 was full of occultist mumbo jumbo and the story was pretty conventional IMHO.

It's not in his head. It is influenced by his psyche though. The entire deal with Silent Hill is explained in detail in the first game. 'A persons nightmarish delusions come to life'. SH makes reality maleable and dreamlike, influenced by the mind of people teetering on the edge of insanity. Reality pretty much works like a dream at that point for people that are affected by SH, hence 'nightmare' sequences. Note: operates like a dream, not literally a dream.

Otherwise it's normal town with normal people living in it, the only way people not fucked in the head get affected by SH is if they get dragged into it by people that are. The town isn't willing or evil or anything, it just latches onto people like that due to the events of SH1 with Alessa, she basically corrupted the nondescript power that was in the town. Hence why having prequels and mythology prior to SH1 is a complete story annihilating fuck up made by the western developers who it seems like don't even know the basic plot of the first damn game.

Now with this groundwork laid, you should take another look at SH3. The occultist shit, that's the drapes, which is to be fair a lot of neat detail put into the religous sect and themes, but the primary driving force of SH3 is Claudia. She's a crazed religious zealot, and the town latched onto her insanity, but this resulted in her being empowered by the town, and it made her interpretation of her own religion manifest in reality. Meaning the occult stuff is not real in SH. It only exists due to Claudia's belief in it. Hence why Vincent's plan failed. She doesn't believe in that part, so it doesn't have power. How's that for a twist? Btw, this is almost the exact same case with Walter in 4, only that takes it even further, in that he believes this religious sacrament will get him what he wants, with no real belief in the religion itself, and that's the only reason why it works. Hell, he kills himself in prison, but because he believes that he will continue to exist, he continues to exist thanks to the power of SH. Alessa is much the same in SH1, she believes wholeheartedly in the religion as dictated by her mother. It's why Dahlia is able to get away with so much.

The games with the cult are a lot closer to SH2 than people give them credit for. Or rather, all the games made by Team Silent operate on the same basic understanding of how SH works, as laid down by the first game.

 

[peronmls]

Atmosphere, music (or sound effects), tension, fear, etc are all better in 2.
Enemies are better in 2 too because they make you tense to the point to fear to encounter them.

That is what matters for a horror game and why 2 is ahead others games of the same genre.

That said 3 is not bad... the opposite it is great... it just fall below (and perhaps disappointing) when compared with the previous game.

But hey the OP did made a question... and the answer is "nope".

Walking mush isn't scary. The music is the same in both games. 2 just sounds like old recorded vinyl music. Enemies are much more detailed in 3 and have all sorts of limbs. The mannequin is a good example of bad design. Looks like a walking Barbie doll that someone fused together. 3 did it right with the pendulum Design.

 

[Consumer]

my first/only experience was the Ps3 HD collection, and i couldn't disagree more. managed to 100% both games in 2-3 days each, and considering how absurdly difficult SH2's achievements are (and how easy SH3's are), that should be a testament to just how much i despised SH3

-protagonist is melodramatic unlikable cunt
-setting feels like a child's lame nightmare with exaggerated monsters that make it feel like a circus
-no challenging/engaging achievements. just grindy ones
-very shallow narrative with no substance. SH2 had me Googling the abstract symbolism & implicit meaning of the plot; SH3 just had me glad it was over

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[ShadowNate]

I liked The Room. And it would be great if not for the second part that sucked hard.

SH3 had really good music though -- and arguably better gameplay than most SH titles.

I did like that they did something different with SH2 than continuing the story of the original. And the story itself was great, but the characters were all hate-able or obnoxious.

 

[PooBone]

So I've been replaying Silent Hill 1-3 every year and I've come to the consensus that I like Silent Hill 3 more than 2, reasons why:

- 3 is what I expected from Silent Hill: disturbing, dark, bloody, scary
- For some reason, I like the environment of 3 more than 2. 2 feels sad and gloomy but 3 is more disturbing due to the unknown cult-like environments.
- The lore of 3 is interesting since it discusses the religion of Silent Hill much more (basically expands more from the first Silent Hill)
- Lots of random scare stuff found here moreso than 2
- I love Claudia

So anyone here prefer 3 over 2?

I understand the personal preferences, but I believe Silent Hill 2 is a better written, more well-rounded story in all of its main ending's incarnations. They're both amazing games but personally speaking, SH2 represents what I wish the franchise had stayed with: an anthology of characters who show up, divorced from the cult/Claudia/Alyssa backstories. If Silent Hill had been the same game without the ties to the first game, I think that would have been amazing and potentially better for the franchise longterm, which went down the rabbit hole of Zero/Origins and Shattered Memories to mitigated success. EDIT: I do think Silent Hill 3 has the best and most listenable soundtrack of the series.

Good discussion, OP!

 

[scalman]

i was blown away how much visualy they upgraded between games on same console. it was just looking amazing by that time and even now ...

 

[PooBone]

I should play this game. I bought the HD Collection only for 2 so never bothered with the third game.

What's the best way to play? PS Now?

The HD collection version of 3 isn't bad. Most of the complaints about the HD collection revolved around 2, and those issues were never wholly resolved, even though they did patch in an option for the original voices.

Check 3 out, it's backwards compatible on Xbox Series X/S and Xbone, if that's where you own it.

 

[Barry Burton]

SH3 is scarier and does play much better than SH2. The underground subway area is maybe the scariest section in the whole series.

But I still prefer SH2's unique atmosphere and mood. There's really nothing else like it.

Nothing at all wrong with preferring SH3, though.

 

[Clear]

Silent Hill 2 just works so much better as a story than 3 does. 3's plot is lumpy and leads to a reveal that I always felt was kinda flat. I liked the return to the more aggresively scary approach of the first game but I don't think it came close to the intensity of the original.

Definitely the technical and artistic highlight of Team Silent's run, but I'd never put it above 2.

 

[johntown]

I like 3 better. I think it is scarier and the music is better.

 

[Keihart]

I agree with you OP and my favorite it's 1, as good as 2 is i never got the hype. I mean, compared to the first one it felt like a step back to me at the time but the third one even if not recapturing the exact same atmosphere of the first one it does ties itself by being a direct sequel and making the narrative a little more engaing for me. 3 it's also a really good looking game for it's time and cut-scenes still look pretty good.

I expect a lot of backlash to your opinion OP, the game has a cult like status and somehow manages to justify everything in some kind of metaphor which i'm pretty sure some things are and other aren't but the over analyzing of it over the years created a "meaning" for everything and thus like a criticism shield of sorts too.

 

[Tiamat2san]

Me too!
3 is more disturbing and dark.
But still the first game is the best in the series for me.

i really hope that someday we'll get a remake.

 

[sublimit]

The only thing SH3 wins over SH2 are its graphics.

 

[Dr Bass]

SH2 is the best character study I've ever seen in a video game. It's maybe the one game I've ever played that I would use as an example of what a video game can be to people who are not normally into the medium.

SH3 by contrast is a typical event based plot seen in almost every video game ever made.

I like both games but SH3 is typical, whereas SH2 is, IMO, in the pantheon of gaming greatness.

 

[Relativ9]

Yeah 3 always had a special place in my heart, something about the story was just more relatable and at the same time strange and interesting, which just made it more tense. The Room is also very underrated in that sense.

 

[Dacon]

Threads like this always annoy me when posters inevitably show up saying dumb shit like "your opinion is wrong" as if theirs is law.

SH3 is my favorite Silent Hill when it comes to horror and atmosphere. The confessional scene is one of the best in gaming in my opinion.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Gfx of 3 are amazing, even today

 

[Emet_bp]

I also prefer SH3 to the SH2, mainly due the climate made by more "beautiful" envirioment. Graphics were also top tier back then... and even today look quite good.

 

[GymWolf]

And sh1 is better than both.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

I basically like SH2 and SH3 equally for their own distinct reasons. I think I might give the slight edge to SH3 because it has better graphics, even better music(imo), more enemy variety, slightly improved controls and imo the game was more creepier. I think SH2 edges out SH3 in the story though.

 

[ROMhack]

The HD collection version of 3 isn't bad. Most of the complaints about the HD collection revolved around 2, and those issues were never wholly resolved, even though they did patch in an option for the original voices.

Check 3 out, it's backwards compatible on Xbox Series X/S and Xbone, if that's where you own it.

DAMN SON that's an old bump.

But you're right - it's on the Xbox. £20 so I think I'll keep my eyes out for a sale.

 

[Altares13th]

Agree to disagree.
But I got to say that I have better memories of SH1, probably being nostalgic on that one.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

I'll never get the fascination with SH2 to the point of awarding it the title of "best horror game of all time".

The Freudian elements of James's story are so blatantly in-you-face that there's very little left to the players' musings (SH1 had some very solid mystery elements in it by comparison), and while Angela's story is well told, the other guy felt completely random to me when I played the game. And I'll never stop talking about how I saw the "twist" of James's story coming from a mile away.

SH2 also integrates gameplay in the story even more poorly than SH1, which was already janky (there's barely a boss fight in SH2 that isn't a pain in the ass because of camera, controls and aiming, you'd expect this jank on PS1 but on PS2?). And there's just too little about the town itself in the game. The town was a presence and a character in itself in SH1, but in 2, it's barely a corridor between one uninspired location and the other.

 

[Senua]

Gfx of 3 are amazing, even today

Same with 2 tbh

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

When I was younger I preferred Silent Hill 3's more in your face approach to horror but now that I'm older Silent Hill 2's slow burn horror resonates a little more with me.

Silent Hill 3 throws lot of blood, loud noises and over the top Hellish imagery at you, Silent Hill 2 is more about that seeping, crawling fear slowly oozing it's way into your mind, it's the more subtle approach that has the more lasting impact in my opinion.

I love Silent Hill 3 too though don't me wrong, I really love it, but that's how I feel at the moment.

The town was a presence and a character in itself in SH1, but in 2, it's barely a corridor between one uninspired location and the other.

How can you have a take this bad? In Silent Hill 1 there's no real indication that there's anything supernatural about the town itself, for all you know it all revolves around Alessa and the cult, Silent Hill is just where all this happens to go down.

It was Silent Hill 2 that put forth the idea that no, there's something supernatural about the land the town is built on itself, it's Silent Hill 2 that gives the town a much richer backstory, the town itself is a character in 1 yes, but it's even more so in 2, you're flat out wrong if you think otherwise.

 

[SkylineRKR]

I love 3 because in a way its the true sequel to 1.

I think 2 is better. It has less action but the action in SH never was that great.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

I love 3 because in a way its the true sequel to 1.

I love the way the series handles connections between 1, 2 and 3 though despite 2 being a separate story.

There's some subtle references to the first game in 2 and some subtle references to the second game in 3, it's fun when you are able to recognize them.

 

[MDSLKTR]

Story arc of SH1&3 > SH2, for me at least.

 

[Rickyiez]

One thing for sure is SH3 is scarier and more disturbing than SH2. The bloody mirror room for an example. I'm having nightmares from the final boss too.

 

[JimmyRustler]

I like them both almost equally. SH2 perhaps a bit more just because of how mindblowing it was when they released it. Graphics were just insane.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

Gfx of 3 are amazing, even today

It looks absolutely incredible for a game that is the better part of 20 years old.

Silent Hill 2 is no slouch either for a game that is even closer to 20, although the faces are better in 3.

 

[SpongebobSquaredance]

Gfx of 3 are amazing, even today

game is definitely a looker. good art direction does wonders...

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[Darkmakaimura]

game is definitely a looker. good art direction does wonders...

Wtf is that on the right? Makes me want to throw up a fetus.

 

[Collin]

while i wouldn't say 3 is definitely better than 2, they're pretty close in my mind and 3 is certainly underrated

 

[lunnuyu]

Honestly, I do prefer 3 more to 2
2 has a really good sorry and OST but gameplay wise... I get quite bored by it, whereas while 3's story is subpar compared to the 2nd game, the gameplay is better imo and has more replayability

 

[SuperGooey]

I'm in the middle of a SH3 playthrough right now, and I'm enjoying it far more than SH2. When I complete it, I'll try and put together my thoughts and post them here.

 

[Warablo]

Silent Hill 2 is too good with the music, characters and mysterious atmosphere.

 

[ULTROS!]

Silent Hill 3 has some of the best horror cutscenes:

 

[ljazzyl]

SH2 is one of the greatest game of all time, but i agree, Silent Hill 3 is the peak of the franchise.

I similar thing happens with Resident Evil: RE4 is considered to be one of the GOAT, but as a RE Fan i think REmake is the best game.

 

[ULTROS!]

SH2 is one of the greatest game of all time, but i agree, Silent Hill 3 is the peak of the franchise.

I similar thing happens with Resident Evil: RE4 is considered to be one of the GOAT, but as a RE Fan i think REmake is the best game.

Yeah my mentality is something like this. SH2 may be a game changer, but SH3 is the peak of SH horror.

Like how RE4 is a game changer, I think Remake is the peak RE game because it is what embodies RE.

 

[nkarafo]

SH3 is more grotesque with more blood and impressive scary set pieces.

SH2 is more subtle but ends up being as scary because ot the atmosphere.

I prefer SH2 because it allows for some explorarion while SH3 was more linear.