The History of Silent Hill (eBook)

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An informative, nostalgic deep dive into the lore of the silent hill game franchise, this book made for an insightful and reflective read.

NetGalley, Jenny McGregor

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

One of my favourite memories from childhood is playing the Resident Evil and Silent Hill games on the PS1, a lot earlier than we should have done, and despite the pixelated graphics jumping and getting scared. Replaying them now, it always brings back a sense of nostalgia and enjoyment and a little embarrassment as well! Needless to say I was so excited to see this book available. While it may be unofficial, the wealth of knowledge in this book is a must for fans of the franchise. It brought back memories and even offered some insights that I didn’t know or had forgotten. For a gamer this is the perfect gift and I most definitely will be getting a physical copy for myself.

NetGalley, Siobhain McCormick

I'm a BIG Silent Hill fan (it's actually my favourite horror game franchise of all), so as soon as I saw this book I had to give it a try! The author is clearly a big fan of the series also and she creates a wonderfully in depth exploration of the main games in the series franchise. I also appreciated the inclusion of pictures from the games throughout and that they went into the remake of Silent Hill 2. It's also written in an engaging style that makes it very accessible to someone who maybe doesn't regularly read non-fiction. Hopefully, they may add an additional section in future editions for Silent Hill F!... this is a great book for fans and newbies to the game franchise and I found out so much info I never knew!

NetGalley, Kila Panaretou

This was a very intriguing book about the history of the Silent Hill game franchise. The discussions brought up were really interesting, especially in regards to trauma, girlhood, religion, and other intense topics. I enjoyed how in-depth the author went into the characters, enemies, plot, and endings. It highlights how Silent Hill truly affected the horror franchise as a whole from its earliest rendition to the future of the series.

NetGalley, Donna Robinson

This was well written, and the passion the author has for the Silent Hill series is obvious. As a Silent Hill fan myself, I definitely enjoyed this.

NetGalley, Mercy Fowler

Hold onto your darkest fears and prepare to walk through the fog to explore the history of the Silent Hill franchise. Since 1999 when the first video game was released, Silent Hill has been a cult icon in the horror world - its games and subsequent movies crafting a terrifying, complex lore that I’ve been obsessed with since I first discovered it.

After starting off with a little reflection on the psychology of fear and why we love all things terrifying, this bible explores the six games in detail, delving into the characters and their journeys, the different stories players can discover — everything is laid out in a clear structure, full of amazing stories not only about the rich lore, but interesting insights into game design and development from behind the scenes too...

If you also become instantly melancholic every time you hear an E minor chord and have a questionable response to nurse costumes, you’re going to love this book.

NetGalley, Bee Casey

The History of Silent Hill was such a fun throwback for me. I have deep nostalgia for this game, though I could never play it myself because it creeped me out way too much, but I was obsessed with watching other people play. Samantha Morris dives into all the fog soaked weirdness and behind the scenes history that made the series so iconic, and she does it in a way that feels super accessible. It’s packed with cool details without ever feeling heavy or overly technical. The screenshots added to the whole experience as well.

What I loved most is how she captures the spirit of Silent Hill through its creative evolution; the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It reminded me why the series sticks with so many fans, even decades later. By the end, I was itching to revisit the games I was too scared to touch myself. If you’re into horror, gaming history, or just love a good behind the curtain look at a cult classic, this is absolutely worth the read.

NetGalley, Kristin Banning

As someone who played the first few games as they came out this book is an absolute gem. History, storylines, character bios as well as a deep dive into the meanings and symbolism surrounding the games.

NetGalley, andy angel

This was a good throwback to the games and makes you feel like you're talking to that one friend (you know you more than likely had a Silent Hill buddy lol) again and reliving the things that you loved about the games. It includes pictures throughout the book as well to bring you back to crucial spots in the game and I honestly loved that, especially for the first Silent Hill which I have not played since I was a kid. Great book!

NetGalley, Kristi Stoneking

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Silent Hill is, by far, one of my favorite video game series and it was awesome to check out this book that shares the story of how it began! As someone who still plays the games from time to time, this was a great companion to the series!

If you're also a fan of the series, I highly recommend this book! For me, this was a must read!

NetGalley, Megan Beech

I have played the games and seen the films so it was great to read a comprehensive history, well worth the deep dive if you are a fan.

NetGalley, Paul Sparks

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Wow! I'm a huge Silent Hill fan and absolutely loved this nostalgic and informative look at the history of the games. It brought back so many memories, especially with the pictures included, and I also learned many new facts. A must for any fan!

NetGalley, Emma Byrne

I’ve just started getting into the Silent Hill franchise so I found this book so interesting and informative. Really loved everything about it and it made me want to dive deeper into the games.

NetGalley, Lucy Murphy