James Sunderland pops into my mind all the time, along with the setting of Silent Hill itself. After playing this game, you'll never look at fog or emotional loss the same ever again. Does the gameplay itself hold up after 19 years? Maybe not, but the quality of the story will remain as strong now as it did back then, and will only continue to get better with age due to how many lackluster stories there are in video games these days. Simply put: They don't make 'em like this anymore, folks, so there ain't no reason to sleep on it any further.
It goes without saying that the story in Silent Hill 2 has remained unmatched, but an overlooked part of this game--arguably just as important--is the atmosphere. While I don't play video games as much as I used to, I've never seen or played anything that came close to the dread this game so effortlessly radiates. With the lights off, you feel like you're standing right next to James on his journey through the peculiar, decrepit town of Silent Hill.
The side characters are also typically neglected when people praise this game. They're all just as interesting to learn about as James; especially Eddie. You connect with them in different ways, depending on the events that have happened in your own life, and I believe this was intentional and an integral part of why they wrote them to be so believable and realistic.
All in all, I think this is by far the best video game ever created--especially if you're into horror. Psychological horror in both film and literature can easily pale in comparison.
It goes without saying that the story in Silent Hill 2 has remained unmatched, but an overlooked part of this game--arguably just as important--is the atmosphere. While I don't play video games as much as I used to, I've never seen or played anything that came close to the dread this game so effortlessly radiates. With the lights off, you feel like you're standing right next to James on his journey through the peculiar, decrepit town of Silent Hill.
The side characters are also typically neglected when people praise this game. They're all just as interesting to learn about as James; especially Eddie. You connect with them in different ways, depending on the events that have happened in your own life, and I believe this was intentional and an integral part of why they wrote them to be so believable and realistic.
All in all, I think this is by far the best video game ever created--especially if you're into horror. Psychological horror in both film and literature can easily pale in comparison.