Silent Hill 4: The Room

4K resolution & 16:9 aspect ratio without the annoying black bars

I'm probably biased because it was the first one I ever played. There are certainly major flaws in the game: the icky combat system, the deemphasis on puzzles in favor of fighting, the invincible ghosts that start scary but gradually become annoying, the repetition of levels without enough changes to make playing them a 2nd time fun, some level of backtracking, and of course the mandatory escort quest that could easily have been fixed with a "wait here/follow me" button. That said, what there is to appreciate about the game is probably the best out of all the Silent Hills. The writing is great, as is the atmosphere, which is something that can really only be done in the medium of video game. It probably has the scariest monster design in the entire series, and it's not even a boss enemy. And of course, the concept is fantastic, providing a sense of claustraphobia in what is ostensibly your safest environment balanced with the danger of actually being in the other world, and is very imaginative and imaginable. There was clearly rampant talent involved, but the gameplay missteps really hard; so the question of if this and other games are worthwhile then, at least for me, hinges on whether or not the highs are high enough that it draws me in and makes me forget (or at least overlook) the lows. For me, that answer is yes, but for other people, perhaps not. Either way, it's certainly a worthwhile game, and if the alternative is to spend another 12 hours in Destiny, then it'll be worth the detour.

Finally we can have it in a legal way, thank you so much Konami/GOG. Now I'll be waiting for SH2 and SH3. c'mon konami just do it already.

Fantastic game, maybe the 2nd part of the game isn't as catchy as the first but amazing game

One of the most divisive entries in the series, often overshadowed by its predecessors due to its departure from the traditional structure of previous games and alienated most fans. However, it deserves recognition for its distinctive approach, haunting and claustrophobic atmosphere, narrative depth, and, notably, its closer adherence to the original vision of the first game. Some may take issue with that last assertion, but hear me out: while SH4 was originally conceived as a spin-off (contrary to the common misconception that it was shoehorned into the series), this does not diminish its legitimacy as a SH entry. As stated, I'd argue that it aligns more closely with the foundational framework of SH1. How so? In the first game, the narrative was not centered on the protagonist, Harry, but rather on Alessa. Harry functioned as an outsider caught within her nightmarish reality, with the plot deeply interwoven with the machinations of a cult. Similarly, SH4 revolves around its antagonist, Walter, while the player assumes the role of Henry, a character unwittingly entangled in Walter’s nightmarish psyche—one that was shaped and corrupted by the cult that raised him. Much like Alessa, Walter was also a victim here. The game is not without its flaws, and there are evident indications that it was rushed in development. However, some of the criticisms it receives are inconsistent. Complaints about 'janky' combat, for example, overlook the fact that the previous two entries utilized the same engine and exhibited similar mechanical quirks. Ultimately, SH was never intended to follow a rigid formula like SH2 or SH3. It was envisioned as an anthological horror series, and SH4 effectively embraces that concept. Go in blind, ignore everything you've heard. If nothing else, it delivers a genuinely unsettling experience, and at best, it may foster a newfound appreciation for SH as anthological horror series.