SH3 NG EASY/EASY SPEEDRUN

SILENT HILL 3 ANY% NG EASY/EASY NOTES:

NOTE: This guide may be way out of date by the time you read it, it's not very likely there will be huge route changes, but there may be a few small changes, it's worth asking about in a PM/twitch chat of people who run this game if you notice anything different.

These are the methods that work best for me and appear to be the fastest/most preferable, you may wish to differ on your choice of some of them if they aren't working for you or you dislike them.

This guide/notes/whatever is based on the NEW GAME, Easy Action, Easy Riddle run of the game. NG+ is for big cheaters. I've opted to cover some of the less obvious things rather than giving a complete guide for each and every door to enter.

UPDATE: February 11th 2014
- SMG no longer picked up after being informed that it costs too much time to be considered viable.
  (Thanks to M1 for testing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ-cmIW4G3Q)
- Added new Alessa strategy

UPDATE: February 20th 2014
- Added info about movement to General Tips
- Added some memorisation info to Brookhaven

UPDATE: June 20th 2014
Been meaning to update this for a while with new info:
- Health drinks no longer picked up, swapped for ampoule in the souvenir shop (amusement park)
- Manipulation strategy for the key drop in the souvenir shop added

UPDATE: Feb 1st 2015

- Animation Skip info added
- Fast horses info added
- Faster Leonard info added

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RESOURCES:
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Useful info on items and weapons:
http://www.silenthillmemories.net/sh3/items_en.htm
http://www.silenthillmemories.net/sh3/weapons_en.htm

IGT explanation: (Good read if you want to understand why IGT is used over real time)
http://pastebin.com/R8zKKCd9

My control bindings for PC (Thanks to M1 for help with this)
http://puu.sh/8omNg.jpg

In Game Time splits program for SH2/3
http://puu.sh/eeVh9.rar

Don't ever use this site:
http://silenthill.wikia.com

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GENERAL TIPS:
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Running this game on PC is recommended, it allows for greater control during points where you have to use the ingame cursor, generally more accurate controls, less loading times and overall it looks prettier.
(You will have faster times on PC due to the cursor points counting towards IGT)

If you choose to play on PC, there are sometimes performance issues that arise with modern machines, which can be for the most part amended by following these steps every time you launch:

- Open up Windows Task Manager
- Go to processes
- Find "sh3.exe"
- Right-click, select 'Set Affinity...'
- Untick all options except 'CPU 0', and click OK

If you are streaming:

- Carry out the previous steps
- Now find OBS/Xsplit etc. in task manager
- Set affinity and untick CPU 0, click OK
- Make sure Multithreaded optimizations is turned on in your corresponding streaming application

Running forwards is the fastest way to move, strafing is considerably slower, and running at an angle is somewhere in between. Running forwards is around 20% faster than strafing, but the speed difference is directly proportional to the length of the room, meaning the longer the room, the more time lost from strafing. Strafing is also faster in some situations where hard turning would cost more time. (Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nogv-sk2oY&hd=1 Thanks again M1)

Holding down the fire button will automatically fire your weapon at the fastest speed possible, so you don't need to worry about mashing the fire button.

Aiming animations can be skipped via pressing block (also your sprint/walk key) immediately as you start to pull up your gun, and then pressing fire. See here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMWXzAqQytc

Tapping/holding the 'Search View' button (default: TAB) will center your camera behind you, this can help for some rooms where the camera is in an awkward position. However it can also cause even more camera issues so be wary when using it.

Turning off the flashlight can help avoid autotargetting enemies when trying to use doors/pick up items. It also lowers enemies' sight ranges.

Also remember to turn ON the flashlight when trying to pick up items, as a light source is needed to pick up items in Silent Hill 3.

There are two useful options in the "Extra Options" section:

- Low Health Indicator will show when you are low on health in the form of a blinking red cross when switched on.

- Walk/Run control when set to "Reverse" will automatically act as if you are holding the sprint button, and the sprint button will make you walk.




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TUTORIAL:
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Because you cannot force yourself to fall down one of the endless holes on easy, the fastest current way to complete the tutorial is by allowing the Closer in the third section of the amusement park to kill you.

It can be quite difficult to do this at first, and there is also a lot of randomness associated with the attack cycle the Closer uses. This video helps to explain a lot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBX0xT8uVvs.

In short, the ideal cycle you want from him is 2 strong attacks (see the annotated video above for explanation) in a row and then a weak attack

Because of the way health works (might be just on Easy difficulty) you cannot be one hit killed by regular enemy attacks while health remains in your health bar, i.e. you can only die after being hit while your health bar is on theoretical "0". Strong attacks damage you by over half of your HP, meaning if you dont get a strong hit immediately after, and get it later in the cycle, it's a waste of time because it can never one hit kill you.


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MALL:
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Don't pick up the handgun ammo or health drinks in the room with the tongs anymore (see next).

In the bookstore, simply pick up the books and then examine the bookshelf, as doing the latter costs no IGT, then guess the code from what you can see. It should be easy enough but if you have trouble distinguishing between 8 and 3, the top part of an 8 is bigger than the bottom part, and the bottom part of a 3 is bigger than the top part. Example: http://puu.sh/6Omhi.jpg.

When you run over to the door in the bookstore, pick up one of the boxes of handgun ammo on the side here. (saves time seeing as we no longer need to pick up health drinks)

Ignore the pipe, it's no longer necessary.

Remember to go back through the door you can unlock next to the room where you crack the walnut after cracking it.

No other optional items are needed from this area (health drinks etc.).


BOSS: Splitworm

The fastest way to beat this boss is to use the handgun, it has a faster rate of firing and with good boss health luck can save 2 seconds on the actual boss fight and even more time from not having to pick up the pipe or equip it.

There comes with this weapon a tactic to ensure success however. Because of the way Splitworm's AI works, it is possible you may not kill the splitworm on its first cycle by just auto firing, and it will close its mouth and crawl away, losing you heaps of time. HOWEVER, this is where a workaround comes in.

See this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_opCbxutP30

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SUBWAY:
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Pick up the shotgun and the 2 shell boxes in the same carriage.

Turning off your flashlight sometimes helps you not auto target the dogs on the traintrack, but not all the time.

Ignore all other optional items.

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SEWERS:
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This place can seem like a maze sometimes, so here is the door order after entering the door at the bottom of the first stairs on the right:
First door on right, first door on right, first door on left, straight forwards, first door on right, grab bottle and exit, as soon as you leave door through the passageway on your left, first door on left.

You should be able to understand the rest of the way after that.

Pick up the ampoule in the same room as the hairdryer.

Ignore all other optional items.

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HILLTOP NORMAL:
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Floor 5 first staircase.

Floor 3 when in the hilltop building, get the rope in Monica's dance studio (pink door).

Go to floor 5, go through blue door, get the jack, exit through the door immediately opposite as you leave the room with the jack in.

Go back down to floor 3, use items on elevator.

Nothing optional needed to be picked up here

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HILLTOP OTHERWORLD:
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First go and pick up everything in the medicine cabinet after speaking to Vincent.

Go to floor 1

Pick up the two shotgun shell boxes in the room where you pickup the pork liver.

Go to floor 5 and pick up the matchbox, continue as normal. Try to avoid the gators that will attempt to knock you down and charge at you throughout these hallways.

No other optional items needed.


BOSS: Missionary

Immediately as the cutscene ends go into your inventory and equip first the 2 ampoules you should now have, and then the shotgun.

There's not much of a complex strategy for this boss other than trying to get behind him and then immediately shooting at his back with the shotgun.

Having the flashlight off sometimes helps with getting in position behind the Missionary, as can baiting him into attacking you by walking in front of him, and then dodging and going around him.

If you successfully shot him in the right place, he will fall down to the floor. Now shoot aiming down at his back with the shotgun while he's on the ground and make sure you remain behind him and aiming at him.

As he starts to get up, watch for the frame he starts to run again and instantly fire as soon as he starts moving. If you do this too early you will hit invincibility frames and deal no damage.

If you hit the second shot correctly, he will now be ready to just kick while on the floor, ending the fight.

In some cases, you will be able to finish him after the first time you knock him down. Look to see if he stops moving while on the ground. When this happens it means you can kick/shoot him to end the fight.

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SILENT HILL I:
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It's at this point where the ampoules you picked up earlier will really come into use. An unobvious side effect of these in Silent Hill 3 is that they give temporary unlimited stamina. This is very useful for the long outdoor area of Silent Hill as Heather will tire out very quickly and start to move at a much slower move speed.

Simply press supplies* as soon as you enter Silent Hill, and it will give you unlimited stamina throughout the whole way. (It lasts ~5 minutes)

(*pressing whatever you have binded to 'Supplies' will use the supply you have equipped without having to go into the inventory menu)


Not easy to explain the route to the hospital, it's better to get a good idea by watching a few runs of the game, just don't walk into cars and try to remember the way. :)

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BROOKHAVEN NORMAL:
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Immediately head into the elevator on the left side and take it up to the second floor.

Grab the nail polish remover and shotgun shell box in the same room.

Go through the keypad door (Code: 4639), then grab the camera in the alarm clock room.
(The way to remember where to go in a lot of these hallways is that it will always be the door after the first Nurse enemy.)

Take the elevator back down to the first floor and go to the room with the key stuck to the wall.

Open your inventory, equip the shotgun before using the nail polish on the wall.

Go to the stairwell, head down a floor, then go in the room where you must use the camera and obtain the code.

Up to third floor, answer phone.

Back to second floor go through hallway.

No other optional items are needed from this area.

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BROOKHAVEN OTHERWORLD:
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Go down to B3 in the elevator, grab the key and leave.

Go up to floor 2 in the elevator, grab the blood bag in the room on the right and leave.

Go up to floor 3 in the elevator, exit through the grey double doors at the end of the corridor on your right, then use the blood bag in the first room on the right.

Go down to floor 1 in the elevator, use the key on the door, carry on straight until the end of the hallway, exit through the left door, use blood bag.

No optional items needed from this area.

BOSS: Leonard Wolf

This is probably the most difficult and potentially time-wasting boss in the game, due to the crucial timing based event at the start, and a huge varying health pool.

He is very framerate based, so if you have framerate drops during the fight, you might fuck up the timing. I suggest pausing and unpausing to clear up any lag before you begin shooting. If you have stable framerate, you should be able to just hold fire for the stunlocking.

After firing six shots, you want to lower your weapon and then refire using the animation skip. This skips the reload animation saving a lot of time.

See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF_qlww_Cls

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SILENT HILL II:
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Same as Silent Hill I but in reverse. Use the ampoule pretty much immediately after you leave.

Head back to the motel and try to cut corners where possible, then head straight to the Amusement Park after skipping the cutscene.

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AMUSEMENT PARK:
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There is a new strategy to make the key spawn more conveniently. Watch this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_-63N4sNU4
(Also note from this video that the ampoule is now grabbed. This saves a lot more time over grabbing the health drinks like we used to as the ampoule stays equipped from previously having been used in the Silent Hill areas, meaning you can press the supply button in the God boss fight without having to equip the ampoule)

when you leave the key room and head towards the next area, the Closer can often block you. If it looks like you wont be able to get past him, shoot him with the shotgun and it'll allow you to run past without getting harmed, albeit slower.

Borley Maze route: Left, right, left, right, right, left, right, left
(This repeats for both rooms)

In the area where you get the shoe and chain, pick up 2 shotgun shells.

Nothing else optional needed to be picked up in this area of the game.

The horses on the carousel will die in one hit to the shotgun, provided they aren't too high for the shotgun to deal full damage.

The key is to try and time as they get within range to be instantly killed to shoot. Animation skip is very time saving.

The "best" route can be seen in my PB videos. Here is some information about the horses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMI12SNriFc

BOSS: Memory of Alessa

This boss is another really random varying fight, and can cost a ton of time if you have really bad luck.

Watch this video for strategy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BHkTKSiR3c

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CHAPEL/CHURCH:
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Not too much to say about this area, learn the route to each of the tarot cards, don't forget the one in the very first area.

Pick up all the shotgun shells in the room with the bodybags and a tarot card.

When going through the hall with the Insane Cancer (big bulky enemy) to get the last tarot card, going through the Classroom next to it rather than trying to walk through it is often more preferable.

Before using the tarot cards in your inventory to solve the puzzle, equip your shotgun and the health drinks you've collected so far.

BOSS: God

This boss is fairly simple but can cost you time if you mess up some of your actions.

Simply run straight up to her, aim with the shotgun (it should aim upwards automatically if you are in the right position) and fire.

Keep aiming, she will fall down and you will automatically be pushed back. When she finally stops on the ground fire again.

She will attack you after and go back up to her upright position, rinse and repeat this pattern.

Use your 'Supplies' key to consume your equipped ampoule when you get to the second level of flashing health. (Low Health Indicator)

It's all about keeping a steady rhythm and timing on when she is able to be hit.

After just over a dozen shots she will eventually be beaten.

Game complete. You will now receive the ending and a credits screen before being presented with your stats, including the all important game time.

Make sure to note what game time you receive as this is the time used to compare runs. (See IGT Explanation at top for more info)