replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Heather finds out why it's true that you shouldn't talk to strangers. Or look in mirrors, quite honestly.

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Doo-glas
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replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by Doo-glas »

the game is a lot harder than I remembered, the reason is because when playing I always used the special weapons and looking through my old saves I realized I had only played on easy, Silent Hill 2 on normal is a bit too easy whereas Silent Hill 3 on normal without any special weapons hits the sweet spot and offers a decent challenge, I had to run away from most of the enemies

the graphics in Silent Hill 3 are still amazing, if Silent Hill 2's graphics still hold up, 3's graphics hold up even better, the character models can give many modern character models a run for their money and the graphics overall absolutely shit all over anything in Homecoming

now that I'm older and wiser, the story in the game seems to be a statement on Religion as a whole, Claudia seems to represent the dark side of Religion, that is to say she has the best intentions, but is willing to do terrible things for "the greater good", Vincent represents the other side, the non-fanatical side (which is ironic because he comes of as pretty insane himself) and Leonard represents the worst, those who are simply insane and use Religion as an excuse for violence (Fred Phelps anyone?), did anyone else notice that subtext?

lastly if there's one complaint I do have with Silent Hill 3 it's that I can't help but wish it was longer and a little more epic in scale, namely I'm referring to the lack of wandering the foggy streets of Silent Hill, how cool would it have been if you had revisited parts of Silent Hill from the first game with updated graphics instead of just one tiny part of South Vale copy pasted from the second game? I love the Brookhaven level as much as the next guy, but thematically it would have made more sense to revisit areas from the first game as opposed to the second, I predict however that would've taken a lot more time and money and thus that's why it didn't happen

on a side note, there was one quote from Vincent that I found unintentionally funny, in reference to Leonard he says "the memory of his cruelty is forever BUUUUUUUURNED INTO MY MIIIIIIND!!!", it made me laugh :P
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by Loonwolf »

You really want to play on the hard level and beyond, and definitely don't get the unlimited submachine gun if it's available. It's much better when you are afraid to go near the monsters too much, and you've got to be really careful.

My only disappointment with the game was also the lack of Silent Hill available to be explored. But I loved those dogs in the fog, and the pendulums walking through it reminded me of the great film 'The Mist'.

See 1:20-2:00 of this scene for what I mean...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaesVuYTUfU
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KageReneko
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by KageReneko »

SH3 was the hardest Silent Hill game until Homecoming arrived to my life, I couldn`t fight most of the enemies with melee weapons since they can be very tricky (I used a lot of beef in order to distract the dogs and the slurpers)...

The insane cancers always kicked my ass without the shotgun, I developed a phobia against the pendulums because I always met them when I was out of bullets and the damn cultists in the last levels make a lot of damage... Maybe I should try to pass the game again if I get some time; I just played them like 3 or 4 times in order to get a savefile for every ending...
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by Tillerman »

In terms of gameplay and challenge, Silent Hill 3 is probably the best in the series. It's the most balanced, it offers a good challenge without feeling too hard, and it actually has a little bit of depth to it's gameplay without going too far and feeling like an action game, as Homecoming did. The level of challenge is perfectly balanced, unlike the other games in the series which either have game-breaking elements like the ER hammer in SH1, or are way too easy like SH2, or are hindered by annoying enemies and escort stuff like SH4.

In my opinion, SH3 is a bit unfairly maligned by some people who consider SH2 the pinnacle of the series... SH3 does have some psychological stuff going on, it's just more subtle than SH2. Of course the game itself is about as subtle as a brick, it's relentless and in your face, so perhaps the themes of the game aren't subtle so much as just drowned out. The ideas of fear of religion and female body horror are really strong ones for horror, but I think the problem is that SH3 just doesn't spend enough time developing it's story and focuses too much on throwing horrifying images at the screen.

It's still a damn fine game though, and although it has different strengths from 1 and 2, it's very nearly as good as those games IMO. It also has the most sympathetic main character in the series by a LANDSLIDE.
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NeoAquarius12
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by NeoAquarius12 »

SH3 is my favorite for some of the reasons you had stated above. I do think in terms of game development, this one really had a lot to offer. The developers understood where to balance story with gameplay and how difficult to be in what stages of the game. Each part gets increasingly more challenging, until the Church which can be brutal because of the spacing in that place. This is true especially when it comes to the bosses. I feel like the final bosses for 1 and 2 were quite easy in comparison to the boss from SH3. I actually died during this battle, which had never happened in the earlier games or any SH since.

I feel like one or two more characters could have helped... idk. When Eddie from 2 gets as much face time as Claudia in 3, there could be a balancing issue.

The environments in 3 were the best designed in my opinion as well. By far the creepiest.
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Post by MariaRising »

I thought this game was a fair challenge, not too hard and not too easy... My only problem with it was it seemed short lol
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by NeoAquarius12 »

Yeah. There wasn't a whole lot to explore in this one compared to the first two. There is much more linear direction to it... I think it's due to the fact that you spend a lot of time in enclosed spaces. So it feels shorter, but arent the locations as numerous as other installations? I'm not counting them up in my head right now... haha.
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by Loonwolf »

The insane cancers are easy to fight with a katana. Just give them a good slicing then block their attacks. Got to be careful though, if they manage to hit you it can be VERY painful. On the harder levels getting knocked to the floor can be fatal. I'm currently playing on an extreme level. I've just arrived at the hospital, and I'm dreading the end of it when the floor is surely going to be alive with crawling things ready to drag me down. I'm going to have to use a lot of beef jerky and see if I can distract them while I either run away or manage to get rid of them. I've only just started and already I'm feeling desperate enough to risk going into those rooms full of crazy nurses to collect the health supplies.

What I love is the monsters actually fight back. In Silent Hill 2 once you start hitting them they just stand there and get beaten to death, and once they are on the floor you only have to step on them once. In Silent Hill 3 you have to kick and stamp away, and they might play dead and then suddenly jump up and attack you. I also like the simplicity of what you have to do; there's not much going backwards and forwards doing lots of tedious things while nothing much is happening, or having to run for long distances, then finding your way is blocked and you've got to go all the way back, with no real danger, which can be quite boring. The only times you've got to go on a long run through Silent Hill you've got dogs chasing you most of the way. It's constant entertainment.
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by nothingbut3% »

The insane cancers scared me the most. Especially when you get cornered by one in a small room. Sometimes this game can evoke the strongest sense of claustrophobia. I wish I could play it again, but my ps2 died on me...

I had a question about when Heather talks to Vincent. What I didn't understand is that Vincent said something to her like"I don't have powers like you do." The characters seem to think she is supernatural like Alessa, but she appears to be just like an ordinary girl. (Except with the God fetus and everything in the end)
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by PIE!!! »

I think Heather has some of Alessa's powers, just as she kept some of her memories, but she has not awakened them deep within herself. Nor do I think Heather even WANTS to awaken them. That, or Vincent only THINKS she has Alessa's powers, based on his own precognition.
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by nothingbut3% »

I would probably go with your last explanation. Something else I didn't get as well: where do you see Valtiel and the Incubus picture in the church I've been hearing about ?

In the church I did see what looked like a monster strangling another one outside, when looked at from the right angle through a window. Do you guys know what I'm talking about? My memory is so foggy on this.

Nevermind. I don't even know what I'm talking about. I've already played through and seen all this stuff before, and just forgot about it. Not like anyoe was going to reply but whatever.
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NeoAquarius12
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by NeoAquarius12 »

I would have replied, but you already answered yourself. So, I guess I wont.

I need to play through again, but my game freezes in the mall. Maybe I need to wait until after the mall to use my Heather Beam. haha. It just freezes in the same place over and over!
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by Loonwolf »

Ordinary girls don't shoot laser beams from their eyes, which go around corners!
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PIE!!!
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by PIE!!! »

Vincent: Heather. Go ahead and kill this crazy bitch!

Heather: HEZZAH BEAAM

Claudia: What. The. f- *gets hit* Alessa, how could you?! OOOOOOH- *explodes*

Vincent: Now your stupid dream is over! *beam turns around and gets hit by it*

Ouch! I'm bleeding. God, is this your way of telling me I should have brushed my teeth?!

Heather: BRUSH your stinking MOUTH! BITCH!

Vincent: Don't stand there looking so smug- *explodes*
Wolfwood: Oh yeah, I almost forgot. "Go with the grace and protection of the Lord." It's the usual mantra for the big hero.
Vash the Stampede: Does it work?
Wolfwood: That depends entirely on you.
Vash the Stampede: Some mantra...

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NeoAquarius12
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by NeoAquarius12 »

Pie, what do you do with your life? haha. Some of those were just random, but still, I enjoyed it.

Speaking of Leonard (refer back to first post), I was kind of dissappointed in the overall design of the character. I loved the story line at that point of the game, and the boss battle is actually quite painful because of the claustrophic feel to it, but he just was like a diving dude. He didn't look that special.
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by Xev »

I thought he looked freaky, and the water made it that much more creepy!
I need to play through again, but my game freezes in the mall. Maybe I need to wait until after the mall to use my Heather Beam. haha. It just freezes in the same place over and over!
Mine did this too on the doorway to the worm/hairdryer section. I had to play through it all over again and it worked the second time. Frustrating!

3 seems to have the longest cut scenes and of course that is awesome. Also, while you cant go everywhere in SH, you can walk much of what James does...and yes I would agree they should have revisited Alchemilla rather than Brookhaven but that is still my favorite level in the game.
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nothingbut3%
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by nothingbut3% »

NeoAquarius12 wrote:Pie, what do you do with your life? haha. Some of those were just random, but still, I enjoyed it.

Speaking of Leonard (refer back to first post), I was kind of dissappointed in the overall design of the character. I loved the story line at that point of the game, and the boss battle is actually quite painful because of the claustrophic feel to it, but he just was like a diving dude. He didn't look that special.
I thought he was pretty scary. He's the only monster that can talk and make those monster gutteral sounds at the sound time. I thought was pretty freakin bizzare. He does seem pretty humanish though. It also looks like there are worms or leeches crawling out of his face. I don't think there were really many (if it all) aquatic monsters.
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by The Adversary »

>where do you see Valtiel and the Incubus picture in the church I've been hearing about ?<
In the giant mural about seven feet up.
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by nothingbut3% »

Yeah I know that now. The game didn't like my television that I used at the time, and when I tried to look up it, it cut off the in game view and wouldn't let me see everything. So frustrating!
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NeoAquarius12
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Re: replaying Silent Hill 3, thoughts and things I noticed

Post by NeoAquarius12 »

I despise it when TVs won't show everything. I had to use a tiny TV to play my way through RE3 my first time, and it was just... TEH FRUSTRATION. lol.

I tried SH3 again, but it still freezes. I tried toothpasting it, but it didn't do much. anyone else have any other suggestions?
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