First off special thanks go to Simon Berggren who worked together with me to invent new ways to shave off time.

This run is a start to finish play-through of Silent Hill 2 on Normal Action/Normal Riddle with a finishing time of 50 minutes and 25 seconds done in a single segment; no special weapons or endings are allowed. Though I'm not entirely satisfied with this run I do not have any intentions of playing through this game again anytime soon so I figured it would be best for me to submit the work I have done thus far. In multi-segmented test runs I've gotten a time of 49 minutes and 44 seconds so I know that under 50 minutes is definitely possible (though it requires a lot of luck; something I don't have the patience for at this point in time). As with all of the Silent Hill games the loading times between rooms is not factored into the final time (this is why the movie playtime and the actual game time differ; this is true on all versions of the game for all games in the series).

There are no real individual parts I dislike it's just that things, as a whole, could have been run through better. Regardless it's still an excellent run. Boss strategies for Eddie and Abstract Daddy are unique to me; I have no knowledge of anyone before me playing through them in that way. Healing items were kept to a minimum; however the times I did heal were necessary. In this particular game your current level of health has an effect on how long you can sprint for (i.e. you'll run faster for longer periods of time at full health). Due to this fact it is important to maintain full health through any areas of the game that require a lot of sprinting. The main section of the game where this holds true is right after the hospital. The events in the game in the hospital cause you to lose most of your health anyways (the scene were you meet pyramid head on the roof; it takes most of your health down automatically) so it's important to make sure you have full health before you leave the hospital (I heal using the R3 button in case you didn't know; it's a quick restore key for those unfamiliar with the button configuration in this game).

I'd also like to make note of one particular trick utilized in this run that I learned from Simon Berggren. When I leave the hospital you'll notice I have my flashlight off and ever so often a message that "it's too dark to read the map" is displayed quite often. The reason for this is that when you're running along the open streets and you run out of stamina (causing you to jog rather than sprint) doing that trick fills it up again. It's a neat little trick that saves around 30 or so seconds from the total time in the run. There are many little things scattered throughout the game that shave off seconds that you may not be able to pick up on; I won't discuss them all here though so if you find them then good for you.

Though I have my grips with this run it's still the current best in the world and, though I know I can shave off around 30-45 seconds, until someone beats me I doubt I'll play it again. I estimate that the best possible time for this game, under the Normal/Normal settings, assuming there are no more time saving tricks to be found is approximately between 49:15-49:30 (and it would require an insane amount of luck for certain parts of the game).

I hope you enjoy watching this video and if you have any questions/comments/suggestions etc... please e-mail them to me: 19duke84@gmail.com

This run is for Maria's quest (Born from a wish) on the Greatest Hits (ps2) and Xbox versions of Silent Hill 2. This is a start to finish single-segmented run done on Hard mode in a time of 6 minutes and 32 seconds. For those not familiar with the series none of the Silent Hill games count load times and cutscenes into the final time calculation (if you weren't aware of this before then now you are).

Overall this was a decent run (I'm never really satisfied with anything I do) completed with no health, weapons used or needless item pickups (the 8 items I pickup over the course of the run are all necessary). The damage I took was what makes this particular run frustrating as all heck to speedrun. Essentially all damage taken, from what I've learned, is unavoidable when taking the fastest route. I take two hits on the way to the roach corridor (the worst part of this mini-game) which normally wouldn't have been taken; I just got unlucky. The problem is that lack of luck was made up for in the roach corridor where I got very lucky in taken minimal damage (by minimal I mean less than normal; it's not uncommon to take 8 hits in that corridor as you have to pass through it twice and all hits taken are apparently random on hard mode).

Anyone who wishes to challenge this run will soon learn how much of a pain it really can be.:-)

If anyone has any suggestions, comments or questions you can e-mail them to me.

It's my last work connected with "Silent Hill 2", so I wanted to give the best effect for this is specific category which is:

This specific run is a start to finish play-through of Silent Hill 2 on Normal Action/Normal Riddle with a finishing time of 45 minutes and 37 done in a MULTI mode; no special weapons or endings are allowed (still you can use the knowledge of the upcoming puzzles as it would be just silly not to make use of it - it means skipping some rooms or places where you don't have to go - if you weren't aware of this before then now you are - as far as SDA board has accepted such a solution everyone can do so).

So, it will be much shorter now. I've just optimized my run, to make it look enjoyable. I'm sure there are still small details that could be done in a faster way (mainly the way of movement in some places) but still it is nice piece of work and I'm quite satisfied with this run.

I now focus on the main differencies between this run and 47:54 attempt.

As you probably know the MULTI let us gamers do some things quicker which wouldn't be possible to make in a SINGLE run. Talking about this specific title there are "shortcuts" which appear from knowing the puzzle, combinations, "passwords". I won't speak about them, as you can easily find them in the game, although give you some suggestions about speedrunning this title:

I believe that thanx to the "shortcuts" I've used I was able to "shave off" about 50 seconds (which wouldn't be possible in SINGLE - off course you can try playing gamble - like skipping the "prisoners' chamber" - but still you have less than 20% that you will succeed ;):p - which would give you some extra seconds (not so many as you can think of :p - as this room is located on your way and it doesn't take more than 10 s. to check all prisoners) BUT if you fail you will have nice company in the corridor :p). Also you can try to guess a combination to the suitcase without visiting the hotel's BASEMENT and taking felt-tip pen BUT still you ought to be INSANELY LUCKY to go through this 2 places correctly. Still if you feel eager and have more time to spend on this title or simply want it go for it and good luck :):p;). Bud sadly for those who will try - there is no pattern here either, so hope that it is your lucky day and see what you've got.

I won't discuss boss fights once more as it would me more like repetition, so I skip it.

Final words:

I estimate that the best possible time for this game, under the Normal/Normal settings (for MULTI mode), is approximately 45:10 - 45:20.

I'm up to every possible competition. This would be a great opportunity for me to upgrade to a higher levels of playing. Where there are no other competitors, there's no motivation of getting better.

Feel free to e-mail me but I can't assure that I will know the answer as the last time I've played this title was months ago :p: introverder667@wp.pl.

Well, it's been a while since I've finished my adventure with this incredible title. I personally recognize the second part of the series as the best one from all. The original plot, creepy atmosphere (for which big influence has got a SOUNDTRACK attached to the game which makes this game even more scary :p;)) connected with the deserted town in the middle of nowhere, many myths, interesting characters, great design, ocult stuff, alternate words - it all makes it worth playing again and again in a place about which God seemed to forget and everybody who wants stay alive just keep himself in a distance from this place.. For me it is more like a metaphor/state of mind which drags you into hell like a drug (it's just comparison, so don't quote me on that :p;).

The reason of making this run and spending so many hours with it is cause I simply love this game, so this is a tribute to this title which you're able to watch know.

First of all, Iwant to thank here all the guys which have influence in developing speedrunning for this particular game (which has appeared so great to me) who let my run be so good and makes any things much easier. Good work fellow gamers! Especially Duke/Ekudeht (Brandon S. Armstrong) has appeared to give a lot of his time, work, heart and attachment incorporating many great ideas (the best of which I can speak is using GREAT KNIFE for the second part of the game which makes life a lot easier :p;)) to this game which I have investigated further - still I was working on my own but after some time I've realized that more flawless run which introduces more efficient/faster boss fights, are the key-goals of this run, as Duke (at least in my opinion has chosen the shortest paths to go with, except the moment when he uses "map trick" - when James goes under the prison using this trick isn't any longer beneficial!, so it costs "unnecessary" extra second! - just for your knowledge ;)). I'll speak about boss fights in a minute..

This run is a start to finish play-through of Silent Hill 2 on Normal Action/Normal Riddle with a finishing time of 47 minutes and 54 seconds done in a single segment (which is the best time of completing the game I'm aware of); no special weapons or endings are allowed.

This is also how I've heard of speedrunning stuff itself. The previous record of completing "Silent Hill 2" was 50:25 (there is also one difference between the PS2 and PC versions: on PS2 you have to equip/unequip/change the weapons on your menu-inventory screen, so it takes some additional time which I've counted as ca. 26 seconds. ) which is a GREAT result, almost perfect but I've thought there was still tiny space which could be explored further (mainly it is connected with boss fights which could have been made simply quickier/more efficient - which I did). I'll try to get to the details in a while. Still there can be some little details/ differences which makes Duke's time a bit worse than it could be for PC version (I know that he has got 47:49 for MULTI but haven't played long for which I encourage him :p;), so I estimate that the time difference (according to his best MULTI times from "SH2"/ps2 nad "SH2"/PC) is ca. 2 minutes. Getting my time better by 2:31 let me believe that I didn't screw up my run too much :p, although I'm a little bit confused that I've made one easy mistake which has costed me about 4 or even 5 sec. - you can't miss it, as I screw it up at all making myself silly. Also some little mistakes have occurred but I've felt to burned out with this title to go through this game once more.

Also there is an element of luck here which actually wasn't working for me too much ( I just hate cockroach room when it happens then you lose even 20 s. (and it has happened in that specific run making you able even to get 20s. just here! - still no one has beaten it yet :p) and it appears that the combination code has no pattern attached :/ and makes the run pain in the ass if it comes to this (it is simply a bit shame when you're doing well and then you have to wait for luck or misfortune :p which ruins all the time you have gained :p;) and that's not the only puzzle in the game (by "puzzle" I mean a place when you have some things/tasks and so on not depended from player's behaviour but on the luck only). Thankfully in the next puzzle the first man has appeared to be the right guy :p, also the "clock-puzzle" went well but with optimized level of luck 22s. can be gained here.

Without this all run is fine to me.

The same is if it comes about the damage - all the wounds I've taken were considered by me as an "necessary" (as I remember I was hit only twice, all 2 times during my boss fights and all predicted, involved in my strategy of fights, so it's ok with me though I could've been more lucky at all but I've felt burned out, so I've left it).

So now let's go down to the BOSS-FIGHTS from which I'm kind of proud of :p;):

• PH - 1:01 - 1:02, this specific fight is the easiest one from all in the game. Nothing else to mention; I've just checked out if it is possible to get rid of PH shooting him from one corner, so be it.;
• 3 Hanging Men - 32s/9 shots, now this fight went really good, killing them almost as fast as possible. I've involved 9-shots strategy here to gain a few "extra" seconds, although it is important to notice that it is based on risk, so if you don't have patience to repeat your fights one by one, you can simply do it in a safely way ;):), using more shots, losing more time but being sure that this battle will go fine anyways. ;
• AD - the same as Duke did - you can also kill AD with 3 slashes standing in front of him (using off course "Great knife") but I've found out it isn't beneficial at all, so I've used Duke's tactics. This fight is basically based on feeling the right moment to use your "GK" on enemy, all went fine but I've almost never had any problems here, as it is easy fight cause AD moves really slowly giving you much time to smash him using "GK", fine fight nothing else to mention. ;
• Eddie - the same, everything went fine - you can also use rifle instead of killing him with "GK" in the first part of the fight BUT for speedrunning purposes I've skipped it. And here also appears an element of luck. Being punched by Eddie in the first part costs you a little bit of health and some fractions of the seconds (it has been happening to me in 50% of my fights, so you've got fair chance to survive this part of the game intact) but thankfully I didn't have to use 6 bullets to kill the sucker :p, as it occures also once in a while for which it can be called as "unusual" behaviour of your opponent. This is also a reason why I don't shoot "Lying Creature" in the labyrinth (it doesn't make things faster either), so thanx to that I always save/have one extra bullet which will be needed to shorten the misery of "MARIA DAEMON" - killing her with "GK" in PC verion is longer, as long as you can switch "GK" quickly without going to the inventory and finishing her with the last shotgun shell. ;
• 2PH - 24 s. - my fight is the improved version of the Duke's tactics - watching the problems which Duke had during his run I've decided to find a better way to get rid of these reptiles, so basically it can be considered as a new one I can say. For this moment I think it is the fastest (and also the safest) way of killing them, as I've shortened battle-time twice. I've found out the weakness of these two and took advantage of that. I've called it my "secret weapon", as I'm kinda proud of which I have discovered. Again, I wasn't lucky at all :(, forced to fight 24 s. instead of 20 (there is a fair chance here to get untouched from this fight but again I had no luck), though it's a decent fight ;
• MARIA DAEMON - at the beginning I've just hated this battle, getting caught by Maria one by one, trying to incorporate Duke's method. Then I've found out that the bed would be a great cover, so I did. It usually - if everything goes fine (like with this time) - takes me 4 hits but in spite of that the time of battle is even better than using Duke's strategy! Additionally, it's from my experience much more safe strategy. Again, I've screwed up killing her with "GK", as I've should have used shotgun but pressing wrong button and it was too late to correct that. But it happens that only 3 hits made her dead once and for all (excluding the "final" shot) but also (and it is highly more probable) occures that she moves in unpredictable directions, leaving bed and making James vulnerable for her attacks and that just means that you're fucked :p:D and you have to start your attempt from the beginning :].

Final words:

I estimate that the best possible time for this game, under the Normal/Normal settings (for SINGLE mode), is approximately 47 minutes which means under 47 run is possible but would require an insane amount of luck for certain parts of the game.

I'm up to every possible competition. This would be a great opportunity for me to upgrade to a higher levels of playing. Where there are no other competitors, there's no motivation of getting better.

Feel free to e-mail me but I can't assure that I will know the answer as the last time I've played this title was months ago :p: introverder667@wp.pl.

This run is "Maria's Quest" ("Born From A Wish") done for the PC version of "Silent Hill 2". This is a start to finish single-segmented run done on Hard mode in a time of 6 minutes and 23 seconds.

I feel really satisfied with this run as I've done just one mistake which costed me 1-1,5 s. Otherwise everything was optimized to the maximum.

Although, I estimate that the best possible time to get is ca. 6:16 but it would require a massive amount of luck in the "cockroach corridor" which is the most annoying place in this minigame, as the bites seems to be "generated" randomly (through my next trials passing this place I was bitten consecutively: 3, 7 , 4, 11 (DEATH), 9, 12 or 13 (DEATH), 4, 7, 8, 3, 6, 8 or 9, 6, 8, 6, 4, 7, 4, 4, 7, 10 times!

All my "stops" were taken to avoid contacts with a wall/door which would cost me much more!

FINAL WORDS:

I would like to thank my colleague R4Zi3L (always thinking how to write it down correctly, I'm sure he forgive me that;):)) who was helping me during this short journey.

We represent our country - POLAND and we just wanted to show that in my native land are many great players.

If anyone has any suggestions, comments or questions just let me know: introverder667@wp.pl.