Kojima Productions' dropped project, P.T., only gave players a small glimpse into what the game could have been - but in a way, its unfinished state makes it a more effective horror game. This Silent Hill sequel, which was to be titled Silent Hills, released as a free-to-play demo in August 2014. Shortly after Silent Hills was canceled, it was removed from the PlayStation Store, leaving numerous fans disappointed - yet this might actually be why P.T. is so unforgettable.
The short demo was surprisingly immersive for its length. Ominous atmosphere, masterful sound design, and various other gameplay elements managed to draw in many players and wrap them up in the dark, tense energy that many Silent Hill titles choose over heavy gore. What some might consider one of its weaker features, though - its obscure and incomplete story - might have actually been its most powerful, playing into players' psychology more than they may have realized.
Lack Of Closure Made P.T. Feel Psychologically Threatening
P.T. didn't offer any form of context upon loading into the game. A familiar, seemingly normal environment may have fooled players into feeling safe for the time being, but they were instead instantly thrown into a delirious, disorienting time loop. As they made their way through the hallway time and time again, they were only fed tidbits of information, which were cryptic at best: a crying fetus in the sink, creepy messages on the radio, an abnormally tall ghost, and even a talking paper bag. These vague clues made the story almost indecipherable to many players, but themes of psychological distress, familial murder, and liminal spaces as confusing as The Stanley Parable's were clear enough to leave them unsettled.
However, when the game abruptly ended, players weren't given any closure. All that they had seen and experienced during the course of the short demo was left to simmer as quickly as it had been introduced. Suddenly, events like the distorted voice repeating "204863," the fake game crash, and the strange, sped-up sequence complete with moving eyeball paintings became significantly more terrifying. Because players couldn't - and won't ever be able to - fully understand these occurrences, they directly played into a fear of the unknown. Kojima Productions planted a seed in their heads, stemming feelings of deep anxiety and dread, and then left them completely in the dark.
So while the game's story was likely kept open-ended to generate excitement for Silent Hills - a sentiment some seem to lack when it comes to the , reportedly authentic Silent Hill 2 remake - it unintentionally created one of modern horror's most infamous titles to date. Many players want more, and have since been urging Kojima Productions to pick the project back up again. This would be delightful news for fans, but the game might actually be better off without closure. P.T.'s legacy, though in part accidental, teaches an unconventional truth in video games: that less can often be more.