Customer Reviews

Silent Hill V.2

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THE SHORT: Great music from a great game, it covers the main themes and more recognizable stuff but doesn't have a lot of the more atmospheric, less musical tracks present in the game.

THE LONG: Along with great presentation and what I believe to be one of the finest overall stories in gaming, Silent Hill 2 is also memorable due to its music. This stands true to the series entire, as all those aspects make it what it is. But after the PS2 allowed for richer sound and before everything in the series began to stray just a bit with part 3, SH2 nailed the ambient tunes most proficiently.

The only problem is, not all of the music from the game is on this disc. It couldn't be, it would take at least two discs. I know because I burned the rest onto a cd and there were still some tracks left behind (more on that in a minute). But the important thing is, most of the music you'll remember from the game is on here: The gorgeous and haunting mandolin-rich opening theme, the tunes to some of the more tense and dramatic moments, and all of the ending credit themes are accounted for here (except for the Dog ending). It's the most accessible way to present the game's music to the mainstream public.

But that's where the one complaint comes in- so much of what makes these games unique is their gorgeous, purely ambient mood music. You know the stuff- most of it doesn't have a beat and it's the quiet but building stuff that you hear in the background as you explore. When James goes deep into Silent Hill's historical society, and its holes and underground prison, you're treated to a slightly melodic bit of sound that appears to be a man droning away in the darkness, his voice distorted as if just letting sound come out of his throat as he slowly contorts his yawning mouth. And there's more percussive stuff, the likes of which were expertly described as (and I paraphrase from memory) "a rumbling machine, similar to that of a washer and deep in an empty factory somewhere, which starts emitting a gravelly alarm until some creature comes by to apparently turn it off". This is the kind of rattling, distant distress noise that provides an undercurrent to the action in the game, and since it's designed to occur while James explores (or flees), some of it doesn't even turn into recognizable music until halfway through a twelve-minute piece. I'm guessing that this is why it wasn't included on the soundtrack.

But the good thing is, these tunes are available In mp3 format on at least one very helpful site that I ran across. While it wouldn't be right to list the name, the site owner was very responsible: He offered the tracks for others' enjoyment simply because they aren't commercially available, and refused to provide the ones that are, because he doesn't want to risk infringement or impede on the success of others' work. Because of this site (and there may be others but I didn't need to continue looking), the ambient score of the game is available as well.

It's hard to say which is better, since both the ambient score and commercial soundtrack each have several choice cuts on them. While I have more favorites on the score, it's music that is best listened to loud and alone or outside at night, preferably in uncertain territory. Trust me, it really causes anxiety. But then this soundtrack itself is a worthy purchase, since it is some good and recognizable music from a game full of good stuff. For example "Promise" is a sad tune of defeat and longing (which plays over one of the more dark endings) whereas "Black Fairy" captures the woozy, confused mix of emotions that main character James feels at the end of the game. Most of the pieces on this soundtrack, not the score, are more listenable or definable tunes. If you're interested, buy the one and download the other- they make a great set (I dubbed the second cd "Deeper Into Silent Hill"). Either way, you'll get a fix of some good old-fashioned music for the dark, and put together, you have pretty much all the music from the game- recognizable and ambient.

(On a side note, the Silent Hill film is currently being developed and the team is so far planning to use the game's original music from the score. Being that writer Roger Avery prefers Silent Hill 2, this soundtrack may be some of what is heard onscreen. We'll see!)

I know you...you're hunting around for a film soundtrack to a great horror film you'd like to own. However, no such cd exists and you are relegated to wondering if you can find a bootleg of something..anything..to please your ears. Here it is. If you'd like to hear some of the classic themes to this awesome series you need to buy this cd. Almost all of the tracks featured in the film are found on this. If you are wanting ones with more lyrics I suggest you pick up the 3rd which came with the game. That one is just as good. However this is the cd that has the songs that started it all. This has the music to take you into the world of Silent Hill.

There is no easy way for me to say this, but this is one of the most beautiful soundtracks for a game ever. In fact, it's hard to believe that a game has a soundtrack of this quality. This is the second greatest game soundtrack, after Metal Gear Solid.
Silent Hill 2 is a psychological horror game, but to me it is more sad than scary. The story is sad and there is one character you will feel really sorry for. The saddest track is "Theme of Laura Reprise." Many tracks sound scary and really creep you out while others are gentle, sad and sometimes even soothing.
I LOVE this soundtrack so much.

There are only 6 songs on the entire CD that is turely MUSIC. 1: Silent Hill, 38: Tears of..., 39: killing time, 40: She, 41: Esperadonte and 42: Silent Hill (Otherside).
The rest are just scary sounds/noises from the game. Most of it is ambient/industral noise; though it's intresting to listen to. If you only want to listen to those six musical tracks, I wouldn't recomand buying the entire CD. But if you truely enjoy the frighting sounds of the game, this CD is for you.

Silent Hill 2's soundtrack is no doubt to me the best of them all, though the first installment's comes close. When the music for a game (movie, or whatever else) is able to put you in the exact mood as the game does when you play it, then a soundtrack has done it's job and more. The first installment's soundtrack succeeded just as perfectly. However my personal preference for the etheral/ambient music leads me to claim this one as my favorite, with songs like White Noiz, Heaven's Night, and Pianissimo Epilogue to name a few.
If Konami continues the Silent Hill series (which I'd very much like considering it's my favorite videogame series) I hope Yamaoka aims as high as he did with this one. Yamaoka's music is always excellent, but the trend of the soundtracks' of the third and fourth installment's have been a little disappointing, as they seem to be focusing more on rock beats than reflecting the mood and feelings of their respective installment. Silent Hill 4's soundtrack being the prime example, while Silent Hill 3's to a less extent. I just hope Yamaoka hasn't changed his focus due to reviews (though maybe not at Amazon) from people who probably say to themselves "I just want a kewl beat!", rather than those of us who actually respect a soundtrack reflecting it's source as I believe it should. But nonetheless, Yamaoka's a wonderful music writer/composer so I'm alright with whatever he chooses to dish out.
Just as Silent Hill 1's soundtrack excellently offered us the moodiness of crazy-scariness, madness, and fear, Silent Hill 2's soundtrack gives us the moodiness of loneliness, sadness, and depression. And it does it perfectly. Keep up the good work Yamaoka!

Silent Hill is one of those games that comes along every once and a a while that takes a genre and twists the ideas and preconceived notions of what a game can be and bends them in its own favor. This is due in no small part to some of the most amazing and unique music to ever grace a video game console, thanks to Akira Yamaoka, one of the finest composers in the video game industry. His credits include games such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, to a game you might've heard of, Hideo Kojima's Snatcher. However, Silent Hill is really the series where Akira is able to show his raw talent and combine it with one of the most delusional and awe-inspiring horror series' ever made, namely Silent Hill. This games soundtrack has an almost industrial sound to it, sounding like a bloodied battle between Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, dragged through razors and barbed wire fence and then applied to a disc. Although this album was only released in Japan, thus slipping under most of our noses, it is still one of the game soundtracks that I suggest importing no matter the price, as this is really in my opinion one of the best game soundtracks out there that your money can buy. However do be warned that the music is just like waht you heard in the game, so if the games music frightened you before, then it is going to do the same thing now. Silent Hill is one of the most accomplished video game series out there and although I still consider this to be not only the best Silent Hill out there, but having the best music in a horror game as well, ( the later Silent Hills music is great but not up to the overall caliber that this game has, this album has a lot more stand out tracks, and more industrial paced music, compard to Silent Hill 3 and 4 which seems to be foccusing more on some of the vocal oriented songs, than the excrutiatingly violent sounds that silent Hill has become known for). An excellent soundtrack to an amazing game, onew that transcends the ages and makes you realize just what the hell psychological-horror is all about.

I am a huge fan of good music, mainly piano and orchestras and the like. and when the theme of laura started in on my speakers, i was blown away. i mean, the song is on the game, which i am a big fan of, but during the game you have all kinds of things going on onscreen that distract you. so when i finally got to hear the music all by itself, i fell in love. the soundtrack has 30 tracks that range from great rock ensembles to moody white noise. the best track, in my opinion, is the theme of laura (reprised). it's a beautiful little track that seduces the ears, yet still gives me the eerie fealing the game did. atleast it didn't scare the crap out of me, though. Silent Hill 2, the game is amazing, full of scary moments and some of the best graphics around. Silent Hill 2: Heaven's Night, the game's soundtrack, is the best videogame soundtrack on the market and is well worth the price.
Trust me, buy this soundtrack, sit back, and absorb it's wonderous melodies.

This is not only an album for SH2 video game fans. This amazing album, created by Akira Yamaoka, is an incredible instrumental album.

Some of the songs are only simple atmospheric sounds, but there is a lot of melodic music. Silent Hill 2 soundtrack could perfecly fit on a movie. There are some dark songs, surrealistic songs, songs with an excellent guitar playing...
Some of the best songs here are "Love Psalm", "Promise", "Theme of Laura", "True" and the surrealistic, sad "Betrayal".

This is, by far, the best soundtrack that a video game is able to have. Akira Yamaoka is an artist. Even my father, a The Beatles/Oasis/Smashing Pumpkins/Radiohead/REM/etc. fan, was surprised with this.

This is awesome. You only have to download the mentioned 5 songs to realize it.

The difference between the soundtrack for Silent hill and the soundtrack for Silent hill 2 is that this new version isn't half as scary as the first one. The others who reviewed this soundtrack were negative towards "The parts with just scary sounds". Pay them no attention. To me, these parts are just as much music as the more melodic tracks. Perhaps even more. This is what sets the ambience and atmosphere for the entire game, and frankly, the only reason I'm not rating the soundtrack a full 5 stars, is because of the lack of ambient noises. This is some great stuff, but check out the soundtrack for the first game. play it in the dark, with your headphones set on max - it'll scare the wet stuff out of you...

Silent Hill 2 is one of the best video game soundtracks ever made. The atmosphere, tone, and sound is eerie, dreamy, and melodic. Compared to the first soundtrack (which was mostly quick and made up of mostly haunting melodies), this soundtrack contains longer tracks and is more in depth. Mostly everything from the game is included on this track (battles, cutscenes, and endings). Only downside to this album is that many of the tracks are short and should've been given a minute more of play. Here's a breakdown of the eerie, rock, and harmonious tracks:

The eerie tracks- Ashes And Ghost, The Darkness That Lurks In Our Mind, Block Mind, Fermata in Mistic Air, Betrayal, and Black Fairy. Try listening to them in the dark by yourself it can be a true scare...

Rock tracks- Theme of Laura (both versions), Angel's Thanatos, Silent Heaven, The Reverse Will, Overdose Delusion, and Promise. A first in the Silent Hill series, you can't go wrong with these tracks. Check Angel's Thanatos, my favorite song from the CD.

Harmonious tracks- White Noiz, Forest, A World Of Madness, Ordinary Vanity, Promise(Reprise), The Day Of Night, Love Psalm, Prisonic Fairytale Noone Loves You, Magdalene, Laura Plays The Piano, True, and Pianissimo Epilogue. Their atmosphereic sound, and mood makes all these favorites and memorable. Many of these tracks carry on the beautiful melody of piano. Simply beautiful. Pianissimo Epilogue, White Noiz, and The Day of Night sound like something straight from a dream! Check them out!

The other tracks- Null Moon, Heaven's Night, Alone in the town, and Terror In The Depths Of The Fog are all worth checking out, all have a little "beat" and are exactly from the game.

You can't go wrong with this soundtrack. Highly recommended if you're a fan a video game soundtracks or nightmare-ish music. Even if you haven't played the game, it's definately one score worth listening to.