I thought Silent Hill was supposed to be scary (no spoilers)

[skaar]

It's like japanese horror. It's about building tension and atmosphere more than "OMG GORY" horror.

I got totally creeped out once I started the school bit.

[Zing]

I was pleasantly surprised at how many replies this received. I expected maybe two. Anyway, I am happy to see that my impression is just due to not being very far into the game. As I said, I have only played for a couple hours and am not even at the school yet.

I guess I was just expecting a more intense, high-level form of horror. The daughter disappearing and the following chase after her represented that. Then I run into "zombies with knives" in the alley and I felt let down. Since then I have been running/creeping around avoiding/shooting bats and dogs while being presented with artificial path blocking in the form of destroyed roads.

I guess it just felt more "gamey" than I expected. I wonder if watching the initial scenes for Heavy Rain raised my expectations.

And no, I never said the game "sucks" and likely never will. I am going to have a lot of time in the house alone tonight so I will load this game up and see where it takes me.

Thank you all for your comments!

[Zing]

I'll chime in as well about the game being creepy, not so much scary.

It's always been psychological.

This is what I was hoping for from this game. I am relieved that the game isn't about "jump" scares like Resident Evil. I guess I just haven't reached that part of the game. It looks like the school is the turning point?

[Steven]

You know in the beginning those garage doors in that alley with the rabid dogs early on? It helps that I know a neighborhood that looks just like that alley. It was therefore very easy for me to "feel" the game right away... as I could imagine what it'd be like to be Harry since I knew that "place" very well in my mind.

And yes, the school is where the game hits its stride.

[mobiusclimber]

I think it happens before you get to the school, but I don't want to spoil it.

[duffmanth]

I think the reason you're not finding Silent Hill very scary is maybe because of the limitations of PS1 when it comes to producing realistic graphics, sound effects, and the just overall atmosphere. I never found Silent Hill overly scary when I played it. However when I played Silent Hill 2, 3, 4, Origins, and Homecoming, I found them to be creepier games simply because the graphics, sound effects, and everything in general was more realistic.

[Haoie]

Maybe you'd like Clock Tower more?