Summary
Silent Hillis a universally praised game series for the most part, taking gamers on a tour of terror through the eponymous town populated by monsters that have come to be icons in the world of horror. Of course, not even thebest monster designcould save a game if it failed in other areas, such as atmosphere, location, or music.
Akira Yamaoka acted as the main composer for theSilent Hillseries, with a unique approach to creating music. Some tracks are little more than overlapping sound effects that perfectly heighten horror, improving ambiance or eluding to a monster that may be lurking around the next corner. With him lending his brilliance to a large portion of the games, as well as other excellent musicians such as singer Mary E. McGlynn, this series features some of thebest music in gaming history, but there are some titles that trump others.
Silent Hill 4: The Roomremains one of the most popular and fondly rememberedSilent Hillgames, despite false rumors floating around that it was originally intended to be an original game and that the name"Silent Hill"title was only tacked on to generate interest. Protagonist Henry is a bit of a shut-in, as his door is literally chained closed on the inside. He manages to escape through a hole in his bathroom wall, which takes him to other dimensions where he meets soon-to-be victims of murder.
Akira Yamaoka is once more at the helm for this entry, backed by vocals to create tracks, some of which are surprisingly tranquil, such as “Your Rain.” While there are songs that can indeed ratchet up terror, Akira Yamaoka was kind enough to include songsplayers could relaxto duringSilent Hill 4’s less horrifying moments.
4Silent Hill: Homecoming
Many Fans Consider The Soundtrack Of This Silent Hill Title To Be The Best Part
Silent Hill: Homecomingwasn’t the favorite among fans, with its predictable plot, flat line delivery, and bizarre inclusion of Pyramid Head, which doesn’t fit the narrative considering his role in James Sunderland’s story. It may be because adifferent developer was behind the productionof this game, as those handled directly by Konami are always touted as the best way to experienceSilent Hill.
One of the few saving graces of the game was the soundtrack, including more of the brilliant vocals featured in the previous two mainline games. Songs such as “Elle’s Theme” and “One More Soul to the Call” are as chilling as they are excellent. While they may sound out of place for a survival horror game, there is no denying that the soundtrack here is excellent. Even fans who haven’t dared playHomecomingcan agree the music featured in the title is truly something else.
The very firstSilent Hillgame is one that is still remembered fondly, and many fans hope to see it remade, as its age means it’s not as accessible as it once was. It marks the beginning of the story of the damned town Silent Hill, centering around Harry Mason, a man who ventures to said town in the hope of locating his missing daughter, Cheryl.
If Konami ever decides to give the originalSilent HilltheSilent Hill 2treatment witha full remake, getting the soundtrack right will be a must, as Akira Yamaoka provided a masterpiece. Though he perfected his craft with the second game, the first game cemented his unique music style of using horrifying sound effects and music, as well as creating that iconicSilent Hilltheme that is echoed in later games, such asSilent Hill 3. Taking into consideration the age of this game as well, it is astounding that Akira Yamaoka managed to create such clean sounds.
Picking up the plot line laid out in the original game,Silent Hill 3starsa teen protagonistfull of attitude, Heather Mason (aka Cheryl Mason), who is the daughter of the firstSilent Hillprotagonist, Harry. She finds herself in the crosshairs of a cult known as The Order, a group that heralds her as the mother of God.
The somber tones ofSilent Hill 2are not as present here, with the game instead favoring themes of religion, motherhood, and family. The soundtrack perfectly embodies this, mixing together music and voice lines that sound like they have been taken directly from a twisted version of a biblical text. Not only that, but this was the firstSilent Hillgame to introduce vocalists Mary E. McGlynn and Joe Romersa, adding vocals to elevate the soundtrack even further. The voices featured fit the songs and lyrics perfectly, ensuring that players will want to listen to this soundtrack on repeat even after the story has concluded.
Silent Hill 2is often cited as the best in the series, breaking away from the tale of the eponymous town laid down in the first game for a more personal tale of tragedy, loss, and guilt. James Sunderland is summoned to the town after receiving a letter from his wife Mary, who passed away years prior.
The entire game istinged with the tragedyof her loss and the weight it has on James. The score perfectly suits the haunting and melancholic narrative, plucking the player’s heartstrings when it needs to with tunes like “Magdalene” or instilling stomach-dropping dread with tracks like “The Darkness That Lurks in Our Mind.” Screeching metal and strange creature groans are commonly used as musical instruments, perfectly encapsulating the town of Silent Hill and what it represents.
