Silent Hill 4: The Room is a survival horror game developed by Team Silent, and published by Konami. It is the fourth installment in the Silent Hill series.
The game was released on September 7, 2004 for the PlayStation 2, with the PC port coming out 2 days later on September 9, 2004.
The PC port included a handful of configurable visual options not available in the PlayStation 2 release, However suffered from several inconsistencies, such as a lack of soft shadows, Absence of some of the "hauntings" from the PlayStation 2 version,[2] and some missing post-processing effects.
In 2020, the game was re-released on GOG, marking the first time the game made an appearance on a digital storefront. Many improvements were included in the release, such as anisotropic filtering, native widescreen support, and fixed controller support. While the port did plenty to enhance the shortcomings of the title, the lack of hauntings and soft shadows still are present in the re-release.
Modders have made an effort over the years to help restore and correct missing and inconsistent features, as well as updating compatibility for the title to more modern standards. The GOG version with Steam006's fix is recommended due to how much it covers across improving many aspects over the game.
General information
- Silent Hill Memories - Informative site
- GOG.com Community Discussions
- GOG.com Support Page
Availability
Version differences
- The GOG Re-release comes with a plethora of improvements, including native widescreen resolutions and FOV, restored post processing effects, improved controller support, more language options, and more.
- In addition, It also includes a DirectX wrapper and configuration tool, which allows for Gamma control, Windowed Mode, Antialiasing, V-sync, and Anisotropic Filtering.
Essential improvements
- Adds new features such as:
- Proper Widescreen Resolution support
- HOR+ Scaled FOV
- Cutscene FPS increased from 15 to 30 in Retail copies
- Default brightness/gamma settings closer to PS2
- Restored missing hauntings from the PS2 and/or Xbox versions
- Minor bug fixes
- Many features are already present in the GOG version, although this fix still should be used in order to fix missing content.
Instructions
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- Download the ZIP file and copy the contents to
<path-to-game> .
- Configure options in
Silent_Hill_4_PC_Fix.ini (Optional).
- Run the game from
SILENT HILL 4.exe .
Notes
- Password:
pcgw
- It should be noted that when using this fix with the GOG version, the pre-existing
d3d8.dll found in <path-to-game> should be renamed to d3d8R.dll in order to prevent GOG's DirectX wrapper from being overwritten and to properly use the GOG's DirectX configuration tool alongside the fix.
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Silent Hill 4: The Room 16:9 FMV Pack by CataBridge
- A modified in-game video pack that lets you watch the FMVs in 16:9 Widescreen without the 2Dfix option of the ThirteenAG patch.
- Without the 2Dfix option you can now view the FMVs in 16:9 Widescreen without losing any effects.
- Recommended to be used with Steam006's Fix.
Instructions
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- Download the archive here.
- Copy the contents to the game directory and overwrite files when prompted.
Notes
- Compatible with the GOG version.
- Converted from the PS2 version.
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GOG DirectX Configuration tool
- Owners of the GOG version can access a configuration tool and modify multiple video settings.
- Lets users tweak various settings not tweakable on the Retail release.
Run the tool
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- Next to the play button in GOG Galaxy, press the settings icon.
- Hover over
Additional executables and press DirectX Settings .
- Configure the tool to your liking.
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Skip intro splash screens
- Should not be combined with Steam006's Fix.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
Video
- For a more visually accurate experience to the PS2s graphics, it's recommended to set all three gamma values to
1.0
.
- Most of these fixes are included in Steam006's Fix.
- A mod with the goal of correcting the game for modern displays, as well as some extras. Such as:
- Widescreen support.
- Disabling cutscene/FMV letterboxing.
- Increasing cutscene FPS from 15 to 30.
- Disabling hardware check before launching.
- Corrected Menus and FOV for widescreen.
- Fixing the Menus/HUD unfortunately comes at the cost of disabling some post processing due to not being scaled properly when enabled.
- A wrapper for the North American version which adds some fixes and new features, such as:
- Ability to change the resolution.
- FOV correction in widescreen.
- Disabling cutscenes letterboxing.
- Cutscenes at 30 FPS instead of 15 FPS.
- Disabling blur in cutscenes (change all values to 0).
- Pause background will render at native resolution.
- 60 FPS support. Experimental; Has serious issues.
- Not compatible with the GOG release.
Use DxWnd
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- Download and run DxWnd as administrator.
- Click on Edit, then Add.
- Set name and executable path.
- Set Acquire admin caps.
- Set Desktop for borderless fullscreen windowed.
- Click on Mouse tab, set Mouse Clipper to On.
- Click OK, then File and Save.
- Run the game directly from DxWnd.
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Enable 60 FPS support
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- Download Silent Hill 4 Wrapper by Nemesis.
- Open the 7z file and go to
Nemesis 60FPS .
- Copy the contents to the game directory.
Notes
- Causes Henry to be unable to move in attack stance.
- Cannot finish the game because of a game-breaking bug during the final boss.
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Disable blur in cutscenes
Install Silent Hill 4 PC Fix by Steam006
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Notes
- By default, the patch sets all blur values to
0.0 and can be reverted to their original values in Silent_Hill_4_PC_Fix.ini if needed.
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Input
- Controller support was fixed in the GOG version.[4]
- For retail copies, a fix is required for the game to properly recognize XInput triggers and right analog stick when assigning controls.
Fix button assignment[citation needed]
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- Download and run XInput Plus.
- Set Target Program to
SILENT HILL 4.exe .
- Go to the DirectInput tab and check Enable DirectInput Output.
- Assign LT/RT to
Button11/12 .
- Assign Right Stick to
Z Rot/Z Axis .
- Click Apply and a DLL file will be added to the game directory.
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Use XInput Plus and Wrapper by Nemesis
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- Go to the game directory and delete all DLLs besides
checkdx.dll ,drc.dll and dsetup.dll .
- Download the Wrapper by Nemesis.
- Extract the
Nemesis 60FPS or Nemesis Wrapper folder to the game directory and rename it to scripts .
- In the
scripts folder, delete dinput8.dll and rename sh4w.dll to sh4w.asi .
- Download the latest Ultimate ASI Loader.
- Extract
dinput8.dll , then rename it to d3d8.dll and move it to the game directory.
- Install and use XInput Plus as described above in "Fix button assignment".
Notes
- XInput Plus replaces the
dinput8.dll included in the Wrapper by Nemesis.
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Use Steam Input[5]
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- Add the game to Steam as a non-Steam game. Path to executable is
<path-to-game>\SILENT HILL 4.exe .
- Launch through Big Picture mode.
- Check the community-made configurations for an applicable set of bindings.
Notes
- Alternatively, the GOG version can be launched through Steam as a non-Steam game.
Thereafter, Steam Input's community controller configurations can be used.
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Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
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BGM and SE |
Surround sound |
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Dolby Digital 5.1. May get up to 7.0 output with DirectSound3D restoration software. |
Subtitles |
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Closed captions |
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Mute on focus lost |
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EAX support |
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Set Dolby Digital in-game and use DSOAL to get HRTF.[6] |
Royalty free audio |
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An optional scene, when the player is looking through the door viewer, features a copyrighted sound effect of "Spanish or Italian Couple Yelling at Each Other, Through Thick Wall Perspective". It is part of the Hollywood Edge Sound Effects Library and gets flagged on Twitch.[7] |
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
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Simplified Chinese |
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Fan translation. Download. |
French |
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European retail and GOG only |
German |
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European retail and GOG only |
Italian |
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|
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European retail and GOG only |
Japanese |
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Polish |
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Fan translation by grajpopolsku (no diacritics). Download. A version with diacritics made by different authors is available here. |
Brazilian Portuguese |
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Fan translation. Download. |
Russian |
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Retail only. Patch for digital release here. |
Spanish |
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European retail and GOG only |
Turkish |
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Fan translation. Download. |
Turkish |
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Newest Fan translation. Download. |
Issues fixed
The game closes itself immediately after launching
- White screen shows up twice, but no logos are visible when they should be. The game closes itself immediately after.
Install the game on the Local Disk (C:)[8][9]
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Missing Hauntings
{{fixbox|description=Use Steam006's Silent Hill 4 PC Fix
- Optionally can use the SH4 Randomizer.
The game fails to run
- Some systems that meet the technical requirements may still fail to run the game.
Bypass initial check[10]
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- Go to the game directory.
- Delete or rename
CheckSpec.dll .
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Screen flickering on Windows 8/8.1
Use d3d8to9
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- Download d3d8to9.
- Copy
d3d8.dll to the game directory.
Notes
- It breaks FMVs and shows a black screen when they're triggered.[11]
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Audio does not correctly pan between channels on "Stereo"
- The regular stereo mode, by default, does not seem to properly pan sounds between both stereo channels.
This results in incorrect mixing between the two channels when the camera moves.
Switch audio mode to Dolby Digital in the game settings
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Notes
- The option for Dolby Digital seems to be mislabeled. When enabled, audio is properly panned between both channels.
Among other things, audio is properly filtered when looking up or down due to the object-based 3D audio.
- The overall sound volume seems to be lowered when this option is enabled.
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Error: "The game is not installed properly"
Edit Windows Registry[12]
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- Run Notepad.
- Copy and paste the following code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\KONAMI]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\KONAMI\Silent Hill 4]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\KONAMI\Silent Hill 4\1.00.000]
- Save as
sh4.reg wherever you wish.
- Double-click on the newly saved file, and apply the changes.
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Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
8.1 |
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Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
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|
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Modifications
Silent Hill 4 Randomizer
Instructions
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- Download Ultimate ASI Loader and extract its contents.
- Rename
dinput8.dll to dsound.dll and move it to the game directory.
- Download Silent Hill 4 randomizer and extract its contents.
- Move
data and scripts folders to the game directory.
- Go to the
scripts folder, open randomizer.ini and set RestoreHauntings to 0 if using Steam006's fix.
Notes
- Not compatible with retail copies.
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System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
98, ME, 2000, XP | |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium III 1.0 GHz or AMD Athlon
| Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or AMD Athlon |
System memory (RAM) |
256 MB |
512 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
3 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 3 Ti ATI Radeon 8500 32 MB of VRAM DirectX 8.1b compatible
| Nvidia GeForce 4 Ti 64 MB of VRAM |
Sound (audio device) |
DirectX compatible | |
Notes
References