Silent Hill 2 - Inner Fears

Gamers looking for intellectual horror will find it in Silent Hill 2: Inner Fears on the Xbox. As the story opens, James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife telling him to meet her in the town of Silent Hill. The only problem is that she's been dead for three years. In hopes of being reunited with her, he explores the haunted town, and has many terrifying and unexpected encounters. While the brilliantly designed monsters are indeed scary, it's the complex twists and turns of the plot that really produce the game's terror.

Gameplay is largely puzzle-based. Much of it involves gathering clues and items to solve each puzzle. There are a few fights thrown in, but these are quite easy, and mostly used to show off the developers' bizarre creations. The level of both puzzles and fighting can be adjusted to match each player's skill level. Although its mechanics are rudimentary, the game's presentation is anything but. A heavy use of fog is the game's hallmark effect, greatly adding to the mood. Sound--both effects and music--alternates between eerie silence and sudden, shocking crescendos.

Although the graphics and sound are both top-notch they aren't massively different from the PS2 version, in fact none of the game has really evolved from the PS2 version except for the addition of a new playable mission. Although it is comparatively short you do get to play as a new character: deranged, confusing psycho-chick Maria, whom you encounter throughout the game as James. The real star of this game is the story. It's very rich and intricate--a sharp contrast to the banal scenarios that frame most games. The game is short, but you'll want to give it another go to discover its multiple endings and secret items. Despite basic gameplay, Silent Hill 2: Inner Fears is an excellent choice for gamers looking for cerebral thrills. Parents should note that in addition to violence and gore, this game deals with topics like suicide, murder, and euthanasia. --Raymond M Padilla

With its Poe-like atmosphere--dense fog, pitch-black hallways and a cryptic letter from a dead wife--Silent Hill 2 promises to surpass the paranoia created by its predecessor Silent Hill.

The sequel opens with James Sunderland, the series' average-Joe protagonist, and a mysterious message that reads, "Silent Hill, our sanctuary of memories. I'll be waiting for you there". More puzzling is that the note is signed by Mary, his deceased wife.

James sets out for Silent Hill hopeful that he'll find a trace of Mary. After an aborted attempt by car, James plunges into the dank fog and embarks on his quest by foot. Enter Angela, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Mary, and who also beckons him with another curious message. It seems James can't go back; strange things are happening in Silent Hill.

Silent Hill 2 offers 10 new formidable foes, plenty of puzzles and bone-chilling gameplay. The sequel's new story and characters promise to thrill and terrify. The visual and sound effects are amazingly detailed and macabre, and, if you're playing on a system with surround sound, you may find yourself keeping the lights on.

Return to the eerie town of Silent Hill in an all-new story with all new characters. Players assume the role of James, who receives a cryptic letter from his wife who has been dead for three years beckoning him to meet her in Silent Hill, a place that holds great meaning for the couple. The mystery of the letter frightens and confuses James, compelling him to investigate the surreal horror and all-too-real danger that awaits him.