So I got it on PS2, started it earlier. Just thought I'd talk a bit about it, and why I think it's such a good game.
So the game starts off with a short cutscene, James looking at himself in a mirror. This may not seem like much right now, but as you learn more about him over the course of the game, it begins to make sense. In case of spoilers for an early PS2 game, I won't say just what.
The game's terror begins right off the bat. You must walk along a winding forest path to get to the town itself. While you are walking, you hear strange, odd sounds in the background. Unearthly growls, scraping sounds. Further on, another sound begins to occur: footsteps. First time I played I felt VERY scared because I thought something was chasing me. It's not helped by the fact that the camera is positioned in front of James, something usually reserved for chase sequences in games. Of course there is nothing behind you, but the feeling of dread is still ever present. It's effective because the extra footsteps are only present when you are moving. If you stop, they stop too a few seconds later.
The game does a great job of building the horrific atmosphere within the first few minutes. And it only gets better from there...
So have you played it? Do you like atmospheric horror games, or games with a great story? I'd say give it a shot. The HD 'remaster' was fucking terrible though.