My very own Zelda game

[Weltall]

I have to insist you give SH2 a second chance. It's the least-frightening of the series... most boring, gameplay-wise, but the story is very, very good. James Sunderland is probably one of the most genuinely tragic videogame characters ever. The complexity of his character, and how practically everyone and everything he sees is a reflection of his character is a mark of genius on the part of the creators. In my opinion, the mental experience is worth the lackluster gameplay.

I had to play it a second time before I began to really appreciate it.

In regards to the other two, you should definitely play the first before you play the third, as the third game is a direct sequel to the first. The other two Silent Hill games don't have the storyline complexity that 2 has, but they are more fun to play, both scarier and faster-paced. If you can overlook the very aged look of the first (and the crummy voice acting), play it with the lights out and the sound cranked, and before you leave the first area, you'll likely make mumbly in your trousers. SH1's the scariest in the series, and that's due much to the sound. 1 and 3 focus on the cult that is presumed responsible for Silent Hill being as screwy as it is, and I don't like that angle as much as I like the introspection of the second game, but it's done quite well, and even at it's worst moments, it's better than any Resident Evil game.

As I said, SH3 continues the story arc of the first game. It's probably the most action-oriented of the series, and the monsters are the most dangerous. It's a dark story and it's well told, but as I said, don't play it without finishing SH1, otherwise the main twists of the story won't have the same impact on you.