Now, I'm a fan of horror. I love old horror flicks, campy horror flicks - but I'm not that big into the horror game genre. That's because I find that most games that belong to the genre aren't really scary at all. Doom 3, F.E.A.R, Resident Evil - they have plenty of things that jump out and shout "Boo!" but then again, so does the Haunted House at the carnival. Silent Hill is one of the only series - if not the only - that actually makes me scared. The games are a little difficult to explain and tend to have a lot of parts open to interpretation. Which is why I'm going to say screw it, and go with a fan favorite, (as well as my personal favorite from the series)Silent Hill 2.

In Silent Hill 2, you play as the protagonist, James Sunderland. James has recently received a letter from his wife asking him to meet her at their "special place" in Silent Hill. He's understandably confused, since his wife died three years ago. However, he decides to go anyway, and once he's in Silent Hill, he actually stays there, trying to find his wife, even with hideous monstrosities trying to kill him. That's not even the scary part - it's that the monsters are all symbolic, James' adventure based around him and his psychological problems. A neat technique, and the game manages to show the few other normal people in the town are facing their own demons.

For starters, an enemy called the Numb Body symbolizes James' detachment and lack of emotion after his wife's death. The large bosomed, bubble-headed nurses symbolizing both James' sexual frustration and his idea of the hospital, and subsequently its staff, as a source of torture every time he went to see his wife before she died. Pyramid Head, who you may know from anything Silent Hill related ever, the unofficial mascot for the games, first appeared in this game both as James' subconscious need to be punished. But, the great thing is that it's open to interpretation, so that it's whatever you feel it is.

The series started with the debut of the town of Silent Hill and the local cult. The cult believes in a female God who will create Paradise. The game revolves around a writer named Harry Mason. The second game is detailed above, and deals with James Sunderland. The third game continues the plot from the first, and focuses around a girl named Heather Mason. These are all great additions to any game collectors library. They've got great writing, atmosphere and plot - though the combat is a bit stiff.

Where the series starts to go downhill is in Silent Hill 4, and it continues to descend with the release of the Silent Hill movie, Silent Hill Origins and Silent Hill Homecoming. In other words, the Americans screwed everything up. Silent Hill 4 was not a radical departure from the series, but began to waver with the addition of the "Hole" mechanic, as well as a few aesthetic departures. It still retains the originality of the series, but Origins really starts to rock the boat with the addition of breakable weapons, a dispassionate lead and a story that seemed to get lost halfway through the first area. Silent Hill 5, named Silent Hill Homecoming, is in no uncertain terms Silent Hill: The Movie: The Game.

Now, two new Silent Hill games are scheduled for release: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a "re-imagining" of the first game, [link] , and Silent Hill Escape, [link] . Now, these games arguably look alright, in keeping in with the whole idea of Silent Hill - but keep in mind, these are the trailers. The Silent Hill movie trailer looked good when we first saw it, as did Origins and Homecoming.

What I'm suggesting is not a boycott, a petition, or a march. All I wanna say is please, Japan? Take back the franchise. At least we've still got Metal Gear Solid.