While theSilent Hillfranchise isn’t particularly infamous for its combat mechanics, there are a few entries that defy expectations. The primary appeal ofSilent Hilllies in its aesthetics; the sound design, atmosphere, and extensive lore all culminate in one truly unnerving experience. TheSilent Hillcombat system may not be as fast-paced as theResident Evilfranchise, for example, but fans have grown to appreciateSilent Hill’s rather unique approach to taking down enemies.
However, not everySilent Hilltitlehas a particularly engaging combat system. In fact, fans have more favorably compared the original games to the newer spin-offs and remakes. Whether it’s James Sunderland cornered by a Nurse or Alex Shepherd taking on Pyramid Head himself,Silent Hillhas some truly immersive fight sequences, though some are far superior to others.Here are theSilent Hillgames with the best combat mechanics.
Silent Hill:Originsserves as a prequel to the firstSilent Hillgame from 1999 and follows a man named Travis Grady as he searches the town of Silent Hill for clues about an elusive young girl. InSilent Hill: Origins, unarmed combat was made possible for the first time in the franchise, allowing Travis to fight with his fists as well as firearms, melee weapons, and one-shot items.
WhileOrigins’combat scores points for originalityand possesses the most unusual combat capabilities, it failed to resonate with fans as significantly as some of its predecessors. ButSilent Hill: Originsstill made a valiant attempt to switch up a tired routine, resulting in one-of-a-kind gameplay forSilent Hillbuffs. Not to mention, Travis stood out as a rather unlikely hero, serving as a welcome addition toSilent Hill’s endearing protagonist pool.
Generally speaking, there aren’t many stand-out adjustments that differentiate the combat system of the first fourSilent Hillgames.Silent Hill,Silent Hill 2,Silent Hill 3,andSilent Hill 4are all very similar in their approach, but while each successor follows a set pattern, they all add their own key differences. InSilent Hill 4, Henry Townshend has access to many melee weapons — some of which are breakable — but only two firearms.
Perhaps the most significant change toSilent Hill 4’s combat comes in the form of immortal ghosts, each representing a victim of Walter Sullivan, an infamous serial killer and the game’s main antagonist.Silent Hill 4takes the edge overOriginsby presenting an additional challengein that the ghosts cannot be killed (hence ‘immortal’ ghosts) andranking as one of the hardest-to-beat titles in the series. However, they can be immobilized with the Sword Of Obedience, illuminated with Holy Candles, or temporarily paralyzed with Silver Bullets.
4Silent Hill: Homecoming
Alex’s Soldier Experience Is Taken Into Account
WhileSilent Hill: Homecomingmay not be a conventional choice for the majority ofSilent Hillfans, it does have its perks aboveOriginsandSilent Hill 4. In addition to exploration (as with manySilent Hilltitles),Silent Hill: Homecomingprioritizes combat as a fundamental component of the game’s story. Alex Shepherd is a Special Forces soldier, so engaging combat mechanics is a given forHomecoming, which takes into account Alex’s first-hand combat experience as opposed to the other, unseasoned protagonists.These techniques would be perfected bySilent Hill: Downpourin the form of ex-con Murphy Pendleton.
Silent Hill: Homecomingbuilds upon the concept of finishing moves, first introduced inOrigins, by combining light and heavy attacks to combo enemies and eventually build to an instant kill. Unlike previous entries in the franchise,Homecomingalso allows for a full range of camera movement to suit the player’s preferences. LikeOrigins, the combat system is still flawed and oftentimes repetitive, but it remains fun and fascinating all the same.
WhenSilent Hillwas released in 1999,Team Silent were hoping to capture lightning in a bottleby introducing a franchise that — unbeknownst to them — would hold up 25 years later. The originalSilent Hillisn’t the best, nor is it the worst, but it served as a necessary stepping stone to bigger, better things. In other words,Silent Hillacted as a prototype for Team Silent to fine-tune the sequels. Harry Mason is an everyman protagonist, unremarkable and painfully mortal. He cannot sustain a lot of damage from enemies, plus he pants furiously after a long sprint.
Henry’s mortality groundsSilent Hillin realism, which, in turn, makes the combat more believable. Henry isn’t superhuman, so players are forced to make every hit count and dodge enemies as skillfully as possible to keep him alive. Henry is inexperienced with firearms, making for a more lifelike period of adjustment as Henry adapts to handling guns. While the sequels would perfect the art of counter-attacks and parrying, Silent Hill set the standard for authentic combat gameplay.
Whilethe upcomingSilent Hill 2remakehas stirred some controversy surrounding its combat mechanics, that doesn’t reflect badly on the originalSilent Hill 2, which greatly improves uponSilent Hill’s formula. The second installment focused on James Sunderland, a widower traveling to Silent Hill in search of his deceased wife.Silent Hill 2focuses less on combat than some of the later installments, instead prioritizing puzzle-solving segments and overall navigation of the monster-ridden town.
But that isn’t to say thatSilent Hill 2doesn’t make combat intensely enjoyable.Not only is James Sunderland a loveable protagonist, but he can find a total of six weapons — three firearms and three melee — throughout the game (excluding two more melee weapons found during replays), thereby offering the player plenty of variety when confronting Silent Hill’s monstrous inhabitants. There were some drawbacks to James' mobility, such as his inability to move while aiming a shotgun or rifle, butSilent Hill 2’s combat was overall more memorable and invigoratingthan some of the other entries.
After four years of calibration, Team Silent struck gold withSilent Hill 3’s combat mechanics. The game follows teenager Heather Mason, who awakens from a nightmare and strives to return home to reunite with her father. Heather can detect monsters using a flashlight and radio, but she also collects a range of weapons throughout the game to fend off monsters. She also has the ability to side-step and avoid enemies, as well as block incoming attacks.
For someone inexperienced with tank controls, the gameplay may feel clunky at times, but whatSilent Hill 3lacks in a dated control method, it makes up for with harsher, more demanding confrontations.The monsters are more challenging inSilent Hill 3and harder to defeat, which only makes it all the more satisfying to master the delicate cycle of blocking, hitting, dodging, and hitting again.Silent Hill 3managed to come out on top by maintainingthe franchise’s staple concept of a reluctant hero, all while adding intriguing strategy and more varied and adaptable enemies.
