Good night...sleep tight...see you in my nightmare.
Silent Hill 4 is probably the most unique of the series. Die hard fans will no doubt pick this one up and likely complain that it is not as good as its predecessors. I admire game developers who risk trying new things to a game that is already a success. People say don't fix it if it ain't broken. While some may regard SH2 as the best that doesn't mean that the SH games afterward should be more of the same. I have played all the SH games excluding Origins because I do not have a PSP. While I like other SH games more than this one, I do enjoy SH4 for its unique turn in the series.
If you are a fan of the series then you all probably have a general idea of what I would say. You either like the game or you don't. SH has it's own unique feel. It's not so much an exploratory fighting game nor is it a standard adventure. The intangible force of SH is to constantly make the player uncomfortable. Either by unexplained events or psychological experiences. Maybe during a break from the game you'll still be thinking about it.
That is the design of Silent Hill and SH4 takes it a little in a different direction. You are locked in room 302 and there is no "logical" reasoning behind it. You will enter into a "world" of doubt and uneasiness while things appear to be manifested in absolute horror. If you see a zombie or an alien it's one thing but the creatures in all the SH games appear to resemble something. Remember Silent Hill 2? Nearly all the enemies resemble Jame's twisted image of his dead wife. The environment resembles this to. We are, in fact, stumbling around in the very pain and suffering of one's mind. Can there be a scarier place?
With Silent Hill 4 we share Walter Sullivan's memories and some background to shed light on the story. Ever see the movie "The Cell"? There are some similarities alright. With each chapter unfolding and fading to light, James, our protagonist, seems to awake in his room time and time again. Clues to the player? You betcha!
Graphics - Great. SH dwells in the horrors and uneasiness of the mind. No need for an apartment or forest to flawlessly resemble how "we" would view them. The abstracts are great and really push you through the game. Even the presence of enemies and the specifics that relate to each monster. With the near invincible victims the player is forced to run away most of the time. It is when you feel helpless in this game that the fear element really hits home. Along the way there are pictures, memos, and even graffiti to help stir your mind a little as you journey through the fog and into the subconscious.
Sound - Excellent. While some of the music track is just industrial noises and such it is fine for this game. SH games don't really need a lot of themes. We had a few character specific ones for the roles in the past SH games and they work fine. Having dripping, clanking, grunts, howls, scratching, and even phantom footstep sounds just help the game. I remember in SH2 that there is a rare area of the game where you can hear a whisper. I have played the game more than 10 times and have only encountered this once. A user at another forum posted the mp3 if anyone is interested google "apartment whispers in room 202" or PM me for a copy.
Pace - Long and boring to some but very interesting to those who like checking every door and corner on the maps. In fact there are some things that you may only witness during several play throughs. This randomness really helps add the fear factor to these games. All silent hill games encourage exploring and that is why the phrase "the lock is broken (jammed); you cannot enter" are seared into your mind whether you like it or not. Why do key items show up in the most absurd places? Because we are on a one-way tour through someone's mind. And who else would control the doorways in this world?
In SH4 I think the path is more linear than before. There is backtracking but it's a little more constricted this time. You go from home to each of the four worlds and back again for the second part of the game. For a first play through, you probably won't realize it at first because there is a lot of ground to cover. If you're going for just a speed guide then most of the fun is removed already. Silent Hill is all about exploring and feeling "naked" or "helpless" in a world of someone's nightmares.
Easter Eggs - There are several things that act as clues and "added confusion / uneasiness" in this game. Ever read the graffiti you see in the SH games? Some of this is just to make you uncomfortable and some can act as clues to the underlying story of the game. The backgrounds are carefully designed to act as clues, though indirect at times, and again to just plain freak you out. This has been true in all of the SH games.
Replay - One weapon mode, all weapons mode, and a sub-machine gun for Eileen (though it seems to damage her when she fires it) give incentive to not only finish the game but to try and get a 10 star rank. There are 4 endings and a skimpy outfit to unlock for both Eileen and Cynthia. Is it worth 4 or more play throughs to see pixel-ated women in lingerie? You have to answer that question yourself.
Difficulty - Aside from a few annoying parts of the game the enemies aren't too tough. You just need to remember that not all enemies need to be killed and that Eileen has a harder running with you past enemies when she is equipped with a weapon. While inventory is much different this time around your trusty pistol won't be your bread and butter. That will greatly influence just what and when you choose to kill.
Animation - Walking and fighting look alright but they still could improve. As far as script goes if I was Henry I would have a lot more to say than just "what the heck" every other cut scene.
Fun Factor - With over 10 different weapons and weapon specific kills, this game is fun for a few play throughs. Learning more about Walter and unlocking endings sheds more light to the story. And for some gamers, speed runs and boss strategy will keep them replaying to fine tune their skills.
Graphics - 8/10
Sound - 9.5/10 (the purpose of the music isn't designed to be enjoyed)
Pace - 7/10 (stuck-fast doors indirectly steer you in the direction to go)
Replay - 5/10 (Its fun to unlock things but the majority don't want to do this game over)
Difficulty - 6/10 (there are some parts that can really screw you over if you're not careful)
Fun factor - 6/10
With rates like these it looks like I hate the game doesn't it. I like the game but I know that most SH players treat this one as the black sheep of the family. If you really like SH games then at least try this one out. To me it is the second best in story-line, second only to SH2 - The bittersweet tragedy of James and Mary.