★ ⁺.

I love this game. It did what it set out to do I think. It's an alternate version of sh1. I don't know all the production backstory behind it, but I do see it more as the 'Bad Ending' of sh1. Alternate universe, alternate ending. The twist, which I will not spoil, was amazing. Warning, there will be other spoilers in my review.

The whole game definitely had that Silent Hill sense of being in a dream, unsure of your surroundings and trying to piece things together, albeit more lonely than scary. Though I did feel dread my first time because I did not know what to expect. Even late game when I felt slightly more confident that there weren't any roaming creatures in the world, couldn't help being on edge. The soundtrack helped a lot.

I probably should mention that I couldn't resist from playing Shattered Memories after sh1 because I really wanted more of Harry and Cheryl. I love the first Silent Hill. So good, the atmosphere was so tense. Shattered Memories has such a different atmosphere which it does a great job of (Creeping Distress beloved). It feels sad, and cold. Sh1 with its eerie mechanical tracks really emphasized that dread, which SM also had at times. Devil's Laughter along with the otherworld maze fuckery I think did what it was supposed to, make you feel trapped. God, even the monsters not even hurting you really is so significant.. love when everything has a meaning, when things can have multiple meanings.