Silent Hill 2 to offer variable combat, puzzle difficulty levels

[09.19.01] » Combat can be turned off entirely; difficulty selections won't affect ending.

   Konami recently revealed that its soon-to-be-released survival horror Silent Hill 2 will feature both variable combat and puzzle difficulty levels.

   Combat can be set to "Hard," "Normal," "Easy," or "Beginner" settings. "Hard" mode gives the monsters a speed and strength boost, while "Easy" slows them down and simplifies the player's controls. In the "Beginner" mode, enemies are removed from the game entirely, allowing the player to experience the story and puzzles without dealing with combat.

   While puzzles cannot be removed entirely, they can be set to the same selection of four levels offered for Combat. In the "Easy" and "Beginner" levels, additional hints will be provided for the player.

   Unlike many other games, Silent Hill 2 will not withhold better endings from players who choose an easier difficulty level. While the game does feature multiple endings and story paths, which one the player receives will be determined solely by her or his actions within the adventure and not the difficulty levels chosen.