When most people think about survival horror, they initially think about Resident Evil, or (for you old school gamers out there) Alone In The Dark. Typically, players become intrepid adventurers skilled in numerous weapons facing zombies and other monsters in deserted cities, houses or countrysides. But not everyone is a special ops commando or treasure hunter. Horde of possessed dogs in the way? Hand me my grenade launcher and let me clear the way. Out of bullets again? All I need is my trusty combat knife, and I’ll turn that walking corpse into julienne fries. What about the poor schmucks caught in-between these heroes and these beasts? Not everyone is a hero, equipped with guns or unphased by terrifying creatures. Nor would the average Joe wander boldly through constantly well-lit areas, because monsters could lurk behind any corner, door or shadow. These are merely two reasons why Silent Hill has been so successful, spawning two sequels. Focusing a majority of its attention on psychological scares, the series engages players with plots featuring normal people trapped in nightmarish situations. Silent Hill 3 appears to make two definite departures from the typical formula that its predecessors featured. The most immediate distinction is the choice of a teenage heroine for the game’s protagonist instead of the two older men in the previous titles. It may not seem immediately apparent, but this shift has a definite impact on how the plots play out. There was a familial connection that dragged both Harry and James into their adventures in the first two titles; each searching for their daughter and dead wife, respectively. SH3’s main character, Heather, doesn’t appear to be looking for anyone in particular; instead, she only appears to be trying to keep herself alive against massive odds. The other distinction is that SH3 doesn’t appear to actually take place in the town of Silent Hill itself like the other titles in the series. Instead, it seems like the creatures and disorienting fog have managed to invade outside cities and places. This sounds pretty weird, so allow me to explain. The demo started off in a very odd place: an amusement park at night. Without explanation, Heather finds herself walking through the fog-filled park, flashlight clipped to her vest and knife in hand. This park is definitely not in the best shape, with precariously hung signs in disarray and large gaping holes hidden by shadows. Potentially more disturbing are mainstays of amusement parks that have been defiled, such as ticket booths that appear to have been turned into torture chambers or bunny mascots strewn akimbo covered in blood. As she continues through the park, she runs into what could only be described as monsters. Severely bandaged dogs whose heads are split, large fleshy beings with massive mallets for arms, and mutated mosquitoes start slithering and running out of the shadows. While items like the knife and a steel pipe were available to dispatch these things, Heather also had a submachine gun and handgun available to her, albeit with a limited number of bullets. Whether she fought or ran from these creatures, Heather would inevitably wind up getting killed, which, needless to say, is a little shocking. Fortunately, she wakes up at a restaurant table inside a mall, having suffered a vivid nightmare. Once she collects herself and heads outside, she finds herself repeatedly accosted by a strange man who says he has information about her. Running away from him into a bathroom, she quickly escapes through a small window into an alley. Unfortunately, both sides of the alleyway are blocked off, forcing her to break back into the shopping center. Yet when she gets back into the center, she winds up encountering some of the monsters from her dreams. Graphically, Silent Hill 3 looks like it should impress fans of the series, with improved attention to the cutscenes and the backgrounds to make shadows seem even thicker that previous titles. The fog also feels more claustrophobic as well because it actually matches the color of the surrounding backgrounds, which manages to obscure moving enemies more. Sound is very sweet (or should I say scary?) with noises leaping out from all directions. It should be amazing if Dolby Support is included for those of us with surround sound systems, because you’ll hear screams, growls, and wet slithery noises (among other freaky sounds). This is one title PS2 owners will definitely want to check out when it comes out in August, if they can stand being scared. Questions or comments about the upcoming release of Silent Hill 3 for the PS2? Talk to us! [ E-Mail Jeff 'Linkphreak' Haynes ] [ Comment in our Forums ]

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