(big thanks to Angie22 for the custom graphic)
Welcome to Silent Hill ERA! The official (RESURRECTED!) Silent Hill community of ResetERA! Unload some psychological baggage, relax, have a slice of pizza or a Queen Burger, and share your thoughts, dreams, or fears regarding the series. Although the series began 21 years ago, many are still finding their way to the old foggy town for the first time, so please be considerate with spoilers should a newcomer join the community. With that said- enjoy your time here!
-INTRO TO THE TOWN-
(credit to artist Amy Balot)
What is Silent Hill?
Silent Hill is a survival-horror video game series by Konami set in the titular fictitious American resort town of Silent Hill (and, in a few instances, its neighboring towns). The series is heavily influenced by the genre of psychological horror, specifically pulling from writers such as Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, H.P. Lovecraft, as well as filmmakers including David Lynch, Adrian Lyne, David Cronenberg, and John Carpenter. At the heart of each story is generally an average person that finds themselves trapped in the town, falling into the nightmarish horrors manifested by the town itself... and even occasionally manifested from within the protagonist's own mind.
Although the town's supernatural origins & machinations remain open to interpretation, it's clear from the stories from within the foggy hamlet that the manifestations can be at both times punishing and, depending on the sins acknowledged or the darkness embraced, rewarding for those that find themselves lost among the lonely streets and dark interiors.
One way or another, a trip to Silent Hill is sure to be a life-changing experience for all who visit! But hey- at least there is a beautiful lake to admire. And an amusement park!
-THE GAMES-
(game descriptions from The Silent Hill Wikipedia page )
Silent Hill
(1999)
"The fear of blood tends to create fear for the flesh."
The game that started it all- The first installment in the series follows Harry Mason as he searches for his missing adopted daughter in the mysterious town of Silent Hill. Stumbling upon a cult conducting a ritual to revive a deity it worships, Harry discovers his daughter's true origin. Multiple game endings are possible, depending on in-game actions taken by the player. It was released in 1999 for the PlayStation. In 2009, the game became available for download from the European PlayStation Network store for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable and later, in the same year, from the North American PlayStation Network store.
Dir. Keiichiro Toyama
Opening
Silent Hill 2
(2001)
"In my restless dreams, I see that town- Silent Hill. You promised you'd take me there again someday... but you never did..."
The second installment in the series follows James Sunderland searching for his deceased wife in Silent Hill after having received a letter from her informing him that she is waiting for him there. After searching in and exploring the mysterious town, he ultimately realizes her death's true nature. It was released in September 2001 for the PlayStation 2. An extended version of the game was released for the Xbox in December of the same year as Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams in North America and Silent Hill 2: Inner Fears in Europe, and for the PlayStation 2 in 2002 as Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut, with a port of the Director's Cut to Microsoft Windows released in December 2002.
Dir. Masashi Tsuboyama
Opening
Silent Hill 3
(2003)
"Remember me, and your true self as well, also that which you must become. The one who will lead us to paradise with blood stained hands."
The third installment in the series follows a teenage girl named Heather as she becomes caught in a conflict within Silent Hill's cult and discovers her true origin. It was released in May 2003 for the PlayStation 2, with a port to Microsoft Windows released in October of the same year. Silent Hill 3 is a direct sequel to the first installment in the series.
Dir. Kazuhide Nakazawa
Opening
Silent Hill 4: The Room
(2004)
"Five days ago... that's when I first had the nightmare. I haven't been able to get out of my room since then."
The fourth installment in the series follows Henry Townshend, who finds himself locked in his apartment as strange phenomena begin to unfold around him and other residents of the building. It was released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows and it also marked the end of Team Silent's contributions to the series.
Dir. Suguru Murakoshi
Opening
Silent Hill Origins
(2007)
"The lonely moon... You've always been there for me, haven't you?"
The fifth installment in the series is a prequel that follows trucker Travis Grady, who becomes trapped in Silent Hill after rescuing a girl from a burning house. During his quest to find the fate of the burned girl, he encounters characters from previous installments and is forced to face his past. It was developed by Climax Studios and released in 2007 for the PlayStation Portable, with a port for the PlayStation 2 released in 2008 and was also the first Silent Hill title developed outside Japan. It is known as Silent Hill Zero in Japan.
Dir. Mark Simmons
Silent Hill: Homecoming
(2008)
"This place has a bad history. Always has."
The sixth installment in the series follows Alex Shepherd, a soldier who has returned from a war overseas. Alex discovers upon his arrival that his father has gone missing, his mother has become catatonic, and no one can provide the whereabouts of his younger brother, Joshua. The game chronicles Alex's search to find his missing brother. It was developed by Double Helix Games and released in 2008 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and in 2009 for Microsoft Windows.
Dir. ???
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
(2009)
"You were always on my mind..."
The seventh installment in the series is a reimagining of the first installment. Shattered Memories retains the premise of the original game—Harry Mason's quest to find his missing daughter in the American town of Silent Hill—but is set in what appears to be a different fictional universe, following a different plot, with characters from the first game appearing altered alongside new ones. Gameplay takes place in two parts: a framing, first-person psychotherapy session with an unseen patient, and an over-the-shoulder perspective of Harry's journey through Silent Hill, periodically interrupted by the occurrence of a shift to an alternate dimension where he is pursued by monsters. Developed by Climax Studios for the Wii in December 2009, with ports for the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation Portable released in January 2010.
Dir. Mark Simmons
Silent Hill: Downpour
(2012)
" You might not guess by looking at it, but this place used to be filled with all kinds of visitors. Moms and dads and little kids and... Yeah, it was a really nice place."
The eighth installment in the series follows Murphy Pendleton, a prisoner who is stranded in Silent Hill after his prison transport vehicle crashes. It was announced in April 2010 and developed by Vatra Games for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 13, 2012.
Dir. Manny Ayala
Silent Hill: Book of Memories
(2012)
"Press X to SMASH the Great Knife!"
The PlayStation Vita entry, Silent Hill: Book of Memories, was released in October 2012. The RPG, also serving as a spin-off, was developed by WayForward Technologies. Book of Memories utilizes an overhead isometric view, follows a new storyline and features returning creatures from the series' fictional universe, as well as cooperative gameplay; the game is the first installment in the series to feature multiplayer gameplay. According to series producer Tomm Hulett, Book of Memories' gameplay "will be largely different from the one established in previous installments in the series, focusing on cooperative multiplayer action rather than traditional psychological horror."
Dir. Adam Tierney
Silent Hill HD Colle....no....just NO!
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-CREATORS/DESIGNERS TO KNOW-
Keiichiro Toyama
-Director, Writer, & Background Design-Silent Hill 1; currently a lead director and designer at Sony's SIE Japan Studio. (2021 Edit: Toyama left SIE Japan Studio in the autumn of 2020 and has opened his new studio: Bokeh Game Studio)
Masahiro Ito
-Creature Design, Art Design, & Background Design - SH1, SH2, SH3.
Akira Yamaoka
-Composer, Sound Design - SH1, SH2, SH3, SH4, SH Origins, SH Homecoming, SH Shattered Memories.
Hiroyuki Owaku
-Event Programmer - SH1; Scenario Writer - SH2, SH3.
Akihiro Imamura
-Game Programmer - SH1; Producer - SH2, SH4.
Takayoshi Sato
-Character Design/CG Design/Story/Scenario Design - SH1, SH2; currently a Visual Producer at Nintendo Co. Ltd.
-The Future of Silent Hill (?)-
Although the game series has been dormant since the release of October 2012's Silent Hill Book of Memories for the Playstation Vita, in 2014 new life was injected into the series with the release of the mysterious PS4 digital P.T. (Playable Teaser) demo. It turned out to be a playable announcement for a new game in the series, Silent Hills, as a creative collaboration between Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear series) and Guillermo del Toro (Oscar winning director of The Shape of Water). In 2015, the project had been announced as cancelled... and the rest is history.
Or is it?
The series is seemingly stirring back to life. In 2020, rumors have whirled around the fanbase involving Sony's Japan Studio rebooting Silent Hill for the PS5, some new Silent Hill merchandise has popped up in Japan, the multiplayer survival game Dead by Daylight has added a Silent Hill add-on, and a new Silent Hill Twitter account has appeared. Could we be in store for a new Silent Hill game in the near future? Nothing is absolutely confirmed, but the Magic Flauros is pointing to a hopeful, optimistic yes!
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