Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams

by Xbox Platinum Hits Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams

Product Features

• Xbox Extras:
• Additional playable character; More secrets revealed; New areas, weapons and items
• Enhanced graphics and lighting effects
• Awesome surround sound that shift and change with each terrifying turn
• Dynamic camera angles, beautifully depicted environments and real-time weather effects

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005RKO7
• Item Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: December 19, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,281 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With its Poe-like atmosphere, dense fog, pitch-black hallways, and a cryptic letter from a dead wife, Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams promises to surpass the paranoia created by its predecessor, Silent Hill. The sequel opens with James Sunderland, the series' average joe protagonist, reading a mysterious message that says, "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.

Note: This product description refers to the PlayStation2 version.

Product Description

Three years after his wife's death, James must go back to the dark realm of Silent Hill after he receives a mysterious letter from Mary. That special place holds many secrets and James must uncover the truth, unaware that the answers he seeks may require the ultimate sacrifice.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Immersive and unsettling...gotta love it., January 9, 2002

By 

"tongandeathgrip" (MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams (Video Game)

Most video games, especially those of the action/adventure genre, have you playing as some larger than life character. Some sort of secret-agent-ninja-commando-death-squad-special-forces-assassin type thing. Not Silent Hill 2. In this one, you are James Sunderland, an average person without special skills or training.

And you know what? It's a really welcome change from the norm, and it really helps the atmosphere of the game to not have that kind of action-movie nonsense infiltrating what it supposed to be a horror experience.

It begins with our protaganist inside a rest-stop on the outskirts of Silent Hill. He's contemplating the letter that he just received from Mary, his wife who he'd thought was dead for the past three years. He must venture into Silent Hill to get the answers behind that letter.

Not a bad opening storyline, and games like this rely most heavily upon story. Actually, calling this one a "game" is perhaps a bit of a misnomer--it feels more like an interactive experience. You *experience* Silent Hill 2 more than play it.

But, the gameplay aspect is there as well, in the form of monster battles and puzzles. One of the greatest things about this title is that it allows you to vary the difficulty of either of these aspects. You can set the puzzles from ultra-easy to ultra hard, and you can set the monster battles in the same way, or even set it so that you won't get attacked at all--just enjoy the atmosphere and storyline. You can really customize the game to your tastes this way.

The atmosphere is great. I like to play it at night, or on a gloomy winter day, with all of the lights off. Just make sure that nobody can sneak up on you, or you'll likely have a heart attack! Games like this are actually perhaps scarier than a horror movie or novel; the interactive aspect making immersion more of a factor.

This game actually isn't perfect. The interface is a bit clunky and, on normal setting, at least, the puzzles can be rather obscure. This can lead to puzzle-frustration, the Achille's heel of adventure games. You'll likely find yourself wandering around the same places over and over again, saying "what the hell?" when you have no idea what you're looking for or are supposed to do. But, when you finally do figure it out, it's a satisfying experience. Also, combat is pretty awkward, but, like I said, James Sunderland is just an average guy, so this makes some sense.

With these minor flaws, my real score is about a 4.5, so it gets five stars by default.

This game is available for both PS2 and Xbox. Either version is worth playing, but the Xbox version has slightly enhanced graphics and a side quest, which adds some game time and makes it the better version.

Silent Hill 2 is highly recommended to anyone age seventeen or older.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best game I ever played, April 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams (Video Game)

Silent Hill is the BEST!!!! First of all you get sucked into the story, you want to find out what is going on.Why does this James dude want to find his wife when he knows his wife is dead? Is his wife really dead? Why did all the people in the town turn into monsters? Once you start picking up clues, keys, cracking up codes you hesitate to move on because you don't know what is waiting for you in the next corner or in the next room, everytime you hear the static from the monsters you get scared out of your wits because you don't know in what direction their coming from, everything is dark and foggy and there's something in your surroundings that tells you that evil is constantly watching your every move.
Don't listen to people who say this game is boring, they say its boring because they can't crack the riddles and move on. If you are good at solving puzzles and you're interested in mysteries then this is the game for you.
I didn't get around in playing the game more than once to see the different endings but my ending just blew me out of my seat. As I was going through the game I had an idea of what the ending was going to be like and when I got to the end my jaw dropped to the floor.
I caught a glimse of the PS2 version but to me the movements of the main character did not seem too lifelike, it was more like a puppet kind of movement. PLUS you can't play that chick character, whatever her name is, in the PS2 version WHICH WOULD ... because its pretty comforting having a little helper around when you're all alone, surrounded by monsters and psycho people.
My advice for people who are thinking of buying it: read everything you can get your hands on, if you have some objects but don't know how to use them then read the articles you picked up they might help you. If you get stuck somewhere and logic does not get you out of the situation then try some illogical things. DO NEVER EVER EVER cheat because it takes the fun away and it also takes away your sense of accomplishment when you finish it. If you have previous experience with role-playing games and know how puzzles work then you will definately have fun.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars XBox proves how great a game can be, this is a SCARY ONE!, February 15, 2002

By 

forrie (Nashua, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams (Video Game)

The XBox Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams is an awesome game for several reasons.

1.) The graphics, playabilty & sound are awesome!

NOTE: If you have Surround Sound and you play this in the dark I guarantee you will get a real thrill.

2.) The game allows you to choose difficulty levels from Easy to Hard.

3.) There are multiple endings so your game actions and paths taken effect your journey to the end.

4.) Puzzles are abundant, need to be solved to complete the unfolding storyline. (Learn as you go why you are here & what you are trying to accomplish).

Summary: You are James Sunderland returning to Silent Hill three years after your wife died. Why? Because you received a letter recently from your dead wife asking you to meet her at your special place in Silent Hill!! Upon your arrival in Silent Hill there is a heavy eerie fog allowing you a very limited visibilty. The sounds are strange & provoking. Mysterious characters & undead are about. You mission is to unravel the mysteries of your dead wife Mary & you with all the mysteries of Silent Hill.

This is a game which is a challenging problem solving adventure which at times can scare the dickens out of you. Beautifully done. Enjoy.