Best way to play Silent Hill games today

[Deleted member 1726]

So I've never played a silent Hill game and I want to change that, what's the best way of playing them now?

I don't have an original PS1 but i wouldn't be against buying the games and ripping them to put on my PS1 classic or using an emulator on my Pc if that gives better results. Or is there another way to play them today?

 

[Acquiescence]

If you have a PS3 then you can buy Silent Hill from PSN and play it that way. Otherwise yeah, your best bet is to play it on a hacked PS Classic.

Got a Wii hanging about? It's the only way to play Shattered Memories. Don't consider the PS2 or PSP version.

 

[J3nga]

PC with mods.

SH2: http://www.enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/

Not sure about 3, but I think there's something for it too. Don't think there's something for OG Silent Hill as engine itself is just so dated.

 

[CaVaYeRo]

Shattered Memories on Wii U is perhaps the best way to start :)

 

[Punished Dan]

Similar boat to you OP, never played any of the Silent Hill games.

Apparently the HD Remasters or 2 & 3 on PS3 are trash, even though they're conveniently included with PS Now :(

 

[RadioHeadAche]

Silent Hill is on US PSN for $6. Silent Hill 4 is on some asian PSN stores, like Japan, but it has some audio sync issues.

Silent Hill 2 has been getting a lot of dedicated support lately through the Enhanced Efition, so look into that first. Otherwise it's probably PS2. I'm not sure if the Xbox version runs on current hardware. The PS3 version of the HD collection is passable for 2 if that's your only option.

Silent Hill 3 is trickier. The PC version has issues running on more modern Windows and hasn't received the enhancements that SH2 received. Avoid the HD version because it's total garbage. PS2 is probably the best.

Silent Hill 4 is likely the same. The PC version is missing some hauntings and cutscenes are locked at 15fps for some reason. You can buy it on JPSN, but be aware of the aforementioned sync issues. Not sure if the Xbox port has received BC support.

PC with mods.

SH2: http://www.enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/

Not sure about 3, but I think there's something for it too. Don't think there's something for OG Silent Hill as engine itself is just so dated.

Click to shrink...

There's a mod that fixes some of the issues and gives widescreen support, but nothing as detailed as SH2 EE.

 

[Bishop89]

I only have the first via ps3.

2 and 3 have a hd collection don't they?

 

[Patitoloco]

SH1 is best played on PS1/PS3 or emulated on PC.

SH2, 3 and 4 are best on PC with mods.

SH Homecoming is on Steam! It also has mods to make it better.

SH Downpour, sadly, is unavailable anywhere except PS3.

2 and 3 have a hd collection don't they?

Click to shrink...

Yes, they have the absolute worst HD Collection ever made. It should be, by far, the last version anyone should play of those games.

 

[Bradford]

PC with mods.

SH2: http://www.enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/

Not sure about 3, but I think there's something for it too. Don't think there's something for OG Silent Hill as engine itself is just so dated.

Click to shrink...

This post is correct. 2, 3, and 4 all run beautifully on PC with well maintained fan patches. Absolutely the best way to play 2 and 3 at this point. I replayed both literally this year on PC with no issues an all.

I only have the first via ps3.

2 and 3 have a hd collection don't they?

Click to shrink...

The HD collection is the worst way to of these games. It is comically botched.

 

[Javier23]

I'm just going to mention that I played SH3 on PC years ago and it looks far better than the PS2 version. I say, go with that one if you can make it work, over emulation. SH4 is better on PS2 though.

SH2 has a pretty great enhancement mod on PC. 1 you gotta emulate or play on PS1.

 

[Bishop89]

Yes, they have the absolute worst HD Collection ever made. It should be, by far, the last version anyone should play of those games.

Click to shrink...

Damn, that sucks. What exactly was wrong with it? Was it just a performance thing?
Where are they available on pc? Steam?

 

[Deleted member 1726]

Excellent, thanks for all the information.

i will source a PS1 disc from eBay and then loom to buy the others on PC and get some mods going.

 

[Andalusia]

I have a Sony PVM and an original PS1 with Silent Hill and I'll tell you that Silent Hill on the PS Vita is probably the best way to play it.

 

[Team_Feisar]

has the Comic Sans ever been patched out of the HD Collection?

 

[Patitoloco]

Damn, that sucks. What exactly was wrong with it? Was it just a performance thing?
Where are they available on pc? Steam?

Click to shrink...

It was heavily rushed, and apparently they used an old source code version of the game as their base, not the launch PS2 version. Also, a loooooooot of graphical issues that make the game look worse than the original versions, plus a redone voice acting gig that is worse than the original (for example, take a look at the post above me, they used MOTHERFUCKING COMIC SANS to HD-fy the Silent Hill billboard). It's just a mess.

That's the short version, if you have time I would take a look at this video, which explains what happened in great detail.


Luckily they're on PC (retail only, no digital), but they're pretty bad on vanilla. But there are fantastic mods for SH2, 3 and 4 that make them the best versions by far.

 

[daninthemix]

SH1 is best played on PS1/PS3 or emulated on PC.

SH2, 3 and 4 are best on PC with mods.

SH Homecoming is on Steam! It also has mods to make it better.

SH Downpour, sadly, is unavailable anywhere except PS3.


Yes, they have the absolute worst HD Collection ever made. It should be, by far, the last version anyone should play of those games.

Click to shrink...

Downpour runs fine at 4K in RCPS3.

 

[Patitoloco]

Downpour runs fine at 4K in RCPS3.

Click to shrink...

Oh man, good to know, because I have a copy and I've been wanted to try more games on RPCS3, thank you!

 

[Bishop89]

It was heavily rushed, and apparently they used an old source code version of the game as their base, not the launch PS2 version. Also, a loooooooot of graphical issues that make the game look worse than the original versions, plus a redone voice acting gig that is worse than the original (for example, take a look at the post above me, they used MOTHERFUCKING COMIC SANS to HD-fy the Silent Hill billboard). It's just a mess.

That's the short version, if you have time I would take a look at this video, which explains what happened in great detail.


Luckily they're on PC (retail only, no digital), but they're pretty bad on vanilla. But there are fantastic mods for SH2, 3 and 4 that make them the best versions by far.

Click to shrink...

Damn.
How could they mess up so much lol.

No digital? Really?
Come on Konami! What the hell.

 

[Deleted member 1726]

Wow....silent hill prices on eBay are whack....

Even cex has it listed as £40, what's with the popularity of this game at the minute? Is it the reboot talk?

 

[Necron]

The sad thing is the HD Collection is on PS Now to "experience".

 

[Deleted member 419]

I posted this recently in another thread but, for 2-4 it's definitely the PC versions and I think you only really need 1 mod for each (well, arguably the 1 "mod" for SH2 is several mods rolled into one):

By far the best way to play 2-4 is on PC with mods, and I say this as someone who just went through this entire ordeal of figuring out how to play them within the past couple months.

Use this for SH2, this for SH3, and this for SH4.

Click to shrink...

For SH1 it is emulating it through Retroarch.

The hardest part for 2-4 on PC is just getting copies that work properly, after that the mods for the most part are drag and drop, or at most following a few basic steps in a clear set of instructions. The games are abandonware so you have a few options for sourcing them.

Also, if you run into any issues or want to just familiarize yourself with the technical aspects of the PC versions, all of them have great articles on PCGamingWiki. Just search by "Silent Hill."

 

[daninthemix]

Also if emulating within Retroarch, be aware that PGXP causes a softlock in the first church cut scene.

 

[HStallion]

has the Comic Sans ever been patched out of the HD Collection?

Click to shrink...

This is more terrifying than the original if you ask me.

 

[Chibs]

I'm just playing the PS2 versions myself, but if you can get your hands on PC versions I'd go with that.

 

[Peter Ian Staker]

Wow....silent hill prices on eBay are whack....

Even cex has it listed as £40, what's with the popularity of this game at the minute? Is it the reboot talk?

Click to shrink...

This has been going for a while before the reboot talk.
I think the lack of a good widely available modern port is more to blame here.
SH2 PC in particular is stupid expensive.

 

[JigglesBunny]

Close your eyes, imagine the game playing in your mind. It can run at any resolution you want, controls are intuitive and you can enable cheats and mods at will.

 

[Deleted member 1726]

Silent Hill 2 received critical acclaim. Within the month of its release in North America, Japan, and Europe, over one million copies were sold, with the greatest number of sales in North America. It is often considered to be one of the greatest horror games ever made and among the greatest video games of all time, praised for its story, use of metaphors, symbolism, psychological horror and taboo topics, soundtrack, atmosphere, graphics, monster designs, and sound design.

Click to shrink...

I had no idea it was so good!

 

[Bomi-Chan]

if possible get them on ps3.
1 as a psn game
if possible get the sh collection on ps2 for some money and play them on your bc ps3.

 

[starbuck2907]

iSH Downpour, sadly, is unavailable anywhere except PS3.

Click to shrink...

Not true. It was released for Xbox 360 as well.

I would play the ones I could on pc with mods. Otherwise, I'd try a Retropie and play the ones I could through emulation on PS1 PS2. Then modern consoles or pc. I guess you could also play the old ones on oo...

Silent Hill Homecoming and Downpour for Xbox 360 are backwards compatible with Xbox One. So is the HD collection, but it is a garbage remaster that badly hurts the atmosphere of the games so I would avoid it.

Downpour is probably my least favorite. But even it is cool in some ways.

 

[Patitoloco]

Not true. It was released for Xbox 360 as well.

Click to shrink...

You're 100% right

 

[We_care_a_lot]

Since Konami has decided to treat the series with disrespect and disregard, I have no problem stating that Piracy and emulation is the definitive, best way to play the series.