Silent Hill HD Collection

The Silent Hill series may have taken a dip in narrative quality since its heyday on the PlayStation 2, but fans of Konami's early survival horror efforts can relive those glory days with the $39.99 Silent Hill Collection, which brings Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 into the high-definition era. These two genre classics (available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360) receive the 720p treatment, but do the games in this mini-compilation hold up after a decade of gameplay innovation? In some areas, yes; in others, no.

Entering Town
It wouldn't be wise to spoil these games, so I will not. After all, the Silent Hill games?the early ones, at least?are known for their dark, mysterious tales. But it's worth giving a general overview of the storylines so you can roughly understand what the games are about. Silent Hill 2 focuses on James Sunderland, a man who ventures into the mysterious town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his wife?his dead wife?asking him to meet her there in their "special place." Silent Hill 3 follows Heather, a teenage girl pulled into the town's madness. Both stories serve up some genuinely creepy moments that will stick with you long after you've powered down your consoles.

As these games are HD (720p) upgrades and not full-on remakes, Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 feature the original games' positive and negative elements. The titles feature the rich, psychological (and psycho-sexual) horror that defined the series, as well as slow, clunky combat and an overreliance on fog in outdoor areas to mask the game engine's slow building, car, and creature rendering.

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Something's Amiss
Even if you can go along heavy fog effect as creating atmosphere, there's no excuse for the slowdown that occurs when multiple monsters appear on screen. Silent Hill 2's more claustrophobic locales make this less of an issue as there are fewer characters on screen, but Silent Hill 3's more open environments allow for more simultaneous enemies?and more slowdown.

On a positive note, the re-recorded voice work is light years better than the original's, but purists have the option of going without the original voice tracks. Speaking of audio, both games feature outstanding moody music that assists in setting the fright-filled mood. You will, however, have to learn to ignore James Sunderland's heavy breathing, which occurs when he tuckers himself out after strenuous activity. It sounds like a monster breathing down your neck, so it may prove distracting when you first venture into town. Heather, thankfully, doesn't have this issue.

Peering Through The Fog
Silent Hill HD Collection is, naturally, a package for series diehards, but also for gamers who want to experience a side of the survival horror genre that doesn't involve armed-to-the-teeth agents who can lay waste to zombies with military-grade weaponry (I'm looking at you, Resident Evil). Silent Hill HD Collection has its issues, but they aren't ones that will stave off anyone who loved the games the first time around. Newcomers may want to try the Silent Hill HD Collection before buying.

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