If you've played Resident Evil, you'll find Silent Hill a different kettle of spook. The intensity of the game never lets up. Because it's a mystery, there's no release. You don't get the luxury of understanding. Resi's characters filled you in on the story, but Silent Hill's keep you guessing, from the doctor who mumbles about waking up and having to kill a bat-thing, to the loony woman in the church who tells you she (erk) knew you were coming to the town. Each encounter adds more confusion to the storyline. Every time you think you've clicked to the style and sussed the plot, you're treated to another sadistic little twist.

(The motorbike cop does eventually reappear for example. But not with the promised back-up. And in an odd sort of... But no. That would be telling. You should go into Silent Hill knowing as few specifics as possible.)

Silent Hill may be a tad short for canny gamers - we're talking Metal Gear Solid rather than Final Fantasy VII, although there's the by-now standard replay-to-earn-special-items feature - but then a 70-hour horror movie would be a bit much. (You'd wouldn't be able to stand it. You really wouldn't.)

Remember when you played Tetris for so long that you dreamt about the pieces? Or when you walked into a pub after an epic Doom session and found yourself mentally quartering the patrons into rocketable groups? Silent Hill slots right in with that illustrious mind-mess company. You will become scared, and you will lie awake in the dark thinking about those interesting new house creaks. It's a shiveringly enjoyable experience of a game.