Silent Hill 4: The Room (PS2)

Perhaps the biggest departure from previous versions in the series, is that the game is very loosely divided into a series of connected "missions". The main character, Henry Townsend, returns to "the room" afterward to save and refresh his health. Henry is trapped in his apartment, and a strange hole appears in his bathroom, which forms a tunnel into other "dimensions". It is through this hole that most of the game takes place, and were the typical Silent Hill monsters are waiting for Henry. Gone are the endless referencing to maps, checking locked doors, getting lost, getting lost again, and there is more emphasis on progression in the game, which I think is a welcome change.

There is however, still plenty of scope for discovery in each "level" - the usual looking for ammo, and searching for clues to unravel the overall plot, which in true unfathomable Silent Hill fashion seems to be connected with a strange cult, a very big stone, and an orphanage in the town of Silent Hill.

There are also some strong references to previous Silent Hill games, most notably the return of the Subway station level, and even a glimpse of the pink bunny rabbit soft toys from SH3. Fans of the series will love it, and I'd say it's a return to the "wet the bed scary" heights of SH2. A must purchase.

The game contains more terrifying creatures than ever before, such as spirits that can attack through walls, individuals in wheelchairs (kitted out in bondage attire), deformed spectres, slug-like beasts, demonic wolves and misshapen torsos with two squealing baby heads. Whilst the three previous Silent Hill games tied in with each other and shared similar characters, there is a whole new set this time around, with relatively few links with its predecessors. Similarly, there will be new areas to explore, such as a hotel, prison and forest.

One scene from the preview shows an elegant Gothic-inspired room with a stylish chandelier and then, in complete contrast, decomposing bodies bursting through the walls. There is also the mist that seems to seep into every available area – enough to let the game player know that something terrifying is about to happen. It is not unusual either, for Henry to be strolling down a seemingly normal pathway only to discover a levitating body waiting to greet him at the other end.

The duration of the game will be divided between the apartment and the worlds on the other side of the portal. Whilst once again there will be a select few individuals that are able to help the hero on his quest for the sunny world he once knew, there is an overwhelming force of evil wishing him harm. With that in mind, the producers have attempted to put more emphasis on action, and there is a great variety of weapons to choose from, which are easier to access from the menu than the system of previous games. Gameplay is much more like the original Silent Hill than games two and three, with a more puzzle-orientated feel; codes to decipher and riddles to solve, that sort of thing.

The distorted, grainy black and white footage of the trailer was particularly disturbing, reminiscent of Japanese horror film Ring. The haunting lullaby-type song that is part of the soundtrack also serves to scare the gamer witless and complements the game down to a tee. The ethereal compositions, songs layered with piercing screams and pathetic whimpering (courtesy of producer and composer Akira Yamaoka) are also suitably frightening. Another point of interest is the perspective from which the game-player views the surroundings. In parts of the game where Henry is in his apartment, there is a first-person viewpoint, designed to make the player feel claustrophobic. In the worlds beyond the portal however, the viewpoint changes to a third-person perspective. Regarding the graphics however, whilst impressive, they have not improved a great deal since Silent Hill 3; most of the characters still possess the paddle-like hands and relatively simple skeletal structures. In general however, it is a hugely impressive game, and fans of the franchise will not be at all disappointed. Just remember not to play it whilst home alone - especially if you live in an apartment.