5. Silent Hill
The 1999 launch of Silent Hill signified a title that could legitimately go head to head with Resident Evil in the Survival Horror stakes. Creepy as heck with an 'every man' hero called Harry Mason entering the famous town of doom in the hunt for his adopted daughter. The game was dark and foggy - a conscious effort by developers as they couldn't develop the game as far as they would like due to the technical limitations of the PSX. Silent Hill was very well received by critics and fans alike. The game shifted the focus of the Survival Horror genre onto a slightly more psychological bent. Resident Evil was a more action filled game than Silent Hill. This first effort on the PSX relied upon creating a terrifying atmosphere but it also had protagonist Harry killing monsters, solving puzzles and exploring - familiar motifs of the Survival Horror genre. However the game's environment was 3D interactive - a change from prior survival horror games in which the graphics were static and pre rendered. A radio with static alerts Harry to monsters in the vicinity which he can fight with melee weapons or shoot with firearms. He is not trained in combat and tires easily. The game has several different endings, which increase its playability. I found it a harder game to play than the Resident Evil franchise because the controls are pretty difficult to master. But the game stands the test of time, the freaky touches are genuinely scary and the story draws you in. It is as enjoyable to play today as it was 15 years ago. There is a reason why it spawned a franchise - it is absolutely terrific.