Silent Hill 3

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Aug 6, 2003
  • Also On: PC
Silent Hill 3 Image
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 614 Ratings

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  • Summary: Silent Hill 3 continues the series' trademark brand of psychological horror and terrifying gameplay. As a teenage girl named Heather, players must explore and unravel the mysterious connection between the god-forsaken town and her inner fears. With enhanced graphical detail, a more complexSilent Hill 3 continues the series' trademark brand of psychological horror and terrifying gameplay. As a teenage girl named Heather, players must explore and unravel the mysterious connection between the god-forsaken town and her inner fears. With enhanced graphical detail, a more complex storyline, and even more grotesque monsters than the previous games, Silent Hill 3 promises to be the best horror adventure ever. Features new monsters, items and weapons, including a submachine gun. [Konami]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. Playboy
    100
    Grainy video filters, swirling cameras and intense action put it severed head and shoulders above the rest of the horror-game competition - the best installment yet of a great series. [Aug 2003, p.32]
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  2. GameReviewer
    92
    The single, most atmospheric survival horror game around. It goes so far beyond the greatness achieved in the 2nd installment that one must wonder, where will it all go from here?
  3. eToychest
    90
    This game also has quite a bit of replay ability to, with 3 different endings to see, and additional scenes to be seen on replay. My only qualm with this game is that it’s too short, at only 5 hours on your first play through and maybe half that each additional time.
  4. GameSpy
    85
    Don't expect to find radical gameplay changes or innovative open-ended mechanics here. Instead, come armed with a belly full of courage and a clean change of underwear, because I can't even remember when a video game has shoved this much grotesque evil down my throat in one serving.
  5. Game Informer
    83
    Silent Hill 3 embodies the true essence of horror and never once gives the player a moment to relax or breathe. [Aug 2003, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. GMR Magazine
    80
    The game's biggest weakness is the lack of any levity or humor to counterpoint the story's overwhelmingly serious tone. [Sept 2003, p.68]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. All Game Guide
    50
    Combat is more tedious than fun, though players can now wield more powerful weapons such as the katana blade. Most often players can get by simply running past many of the enemies -- not necessarily out of fear, but in a noble attempt to relieve boredom.

See all 41 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 93 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 103
  3. Negative: 0 out of 103
  1. lelefoxx00
    Sep 25, 2013
    10
    This was definitely the best of the Silent Hill games made. It had such a great storyline and just an all around great horror game. It neverThis was definitely the best of the Silent Hill games made. It had such a great storyline and just an all around great horror game. It never gets old and it has some of the most creepiest levels and monsters than some of these new horror games have. It can be a bit challenging at times, even on easy, and you need to conserve every item you find but that's what a real horror game is made of!… Expand
  2. iddqd4
    Feb 11, 2018
    10
    Еще более мрачная и тяжелая, шедевр жанра хорроров.
  4. Arr
    May 26, 2003
    10
    This game is awesome 60 fps with gorgeous graphics o_o.
  5. RandyM
    Aug 19, 2008
    9
    Five years later, it's still one of the most frightening and chilling gaming experiences you'll lay your hands on.
  6. TheLivingVirus
    Aug 11, 2012
    9
    One of the best games of it's genre. Silent Hill 3 is a mind-blending and unique experience every horror fan should have gotten through! TheOne of the best games of it's genre. Silent Hill 3 is a mind-blending and unique experience every horror fan should have gotten through! The puzzles are challenging and the combat is fine. The only bad things are that there are only three achievable endings and the time you need to finish the game. My first playthrough took me about 6-7 hours. My third only 1:58 hours - without the UFO-Ending.… Expand
  7. guiletheguiles
    Feb 7, 2022
    8
    The second best Silent Hill game I've ever played and probably the most challenging one!
    Silent Hill 3 is probably everything I wanted the    The second best Silent Hill game I've ever played and probably the most challenging one!
    Silent Hill 3 is probably everything I wanted the first one to be and an amazing sequel. While it does fail to live up to my expectations after SH2, it is surprisingly well done and still relevant.

    Out of the three first SH games, this one is probably the most intense.
    It does deliver some very scary and eery moments, but its focus is in how heavy, dense and hellish the atmosphere can be. It takes a lot of cues from the first one, ramps it up and makes it better. Some areas are quite insane for the eyes.
    The soundtrack and usage of sound also work hand in hand with how tense the game is. It's no secret to anyone that Akira Yamaoka is a GOD and, while I do think think that he did a better work in SH2, there's no denying that the songs in SH3 hold a much heavier tone. Also, the use of noises/silences are just perfectly implemented.

    To help creating this unique atmosphere and feeling that only Silent Hill manages to deliver, I also have to say how well the graphics hold up. For a PS2 game, it works amazingly well. Better than its two predecessors and much better than many games of its generation.
    Thanks to the quick evolution from one game to another, it's clear to see how well it reflects in the story and characters. Heather is probably the most charismatic protagonist in the series and every single character in the game manages to shine, even for a little while. Enemy variety also improved and their designs are scarier as hell!

    Which leads me to the story. SH3 is the perfect follow up to the first game in the series. It just does everything right in moving the story forward. The whole story and lore is expanded. You get to know more about Harry, his daughter and about the town and its folk. And while yes, it's not as deep and nuanced as SH2, it's still a hell of a time. Almost quite literally. Silent Hill 3 is probably the most devilish game I've every played when it comes to story and design. A well-written journey and a love letter to the first game.

    Now where does it hurt? Well... the gameplay!
    Silent Hill 3 feels like a step back in when it comes to gameplay. After you go through a very slow start, the game starts to pick its pacing up, but it never quite hits the mark!
    There are enemies EVERYWHERE and I felt like the the combat was even WORSE than previous games! Movement might be a little easier to pick up and camera didn't bother me as much, but battling normal enemies and bosses is a huge hassle! Enemy placement is just very bad. It increases difficulty, causes an excess of item usage (which I don't encourage) and the worst thing of all - breaks the immersion! Even the puzzles felt a little off.
    It may not seem like a big thing, but it's a very visible problem and it badly hurts how the game flows. The hospital is probably the best example on how this design philosophy didn't work out well for the entire game.

    Silent Hill 3 is an incredible game!
    A fantastic horror game and an incredible sequel to the first one. It's a game that I can't recommend enough.
    The way it stands the test of time, while still managing to mess with your fear and challenge you is diamond.    … Expand
  8. Carlitoxic
    Jun 19, 2014
    6
    El primer pinchazo de la franquicia (luego vendrían mas y peores). Demasiada acción y poco guión, que arranca de forma lenta y tardía, y unEl primer pinchazo de la franquicia (luego vendrían mas y peores). Demasiada acción y poco guión, que arranca de forma lenta y tardía, y un tanto estrambótico. Su único punto positivo reside en recoger la historia de un capítulo anterior y sus bestiales gráficos para la época. Pero está muy lejos de la excelencia de las dos primeras partes.… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best PS2 Game of 2003
4
#4 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
11
#11 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003