Critics enjoyed the level of realistic detail given to the characters of "Silent Hill 2" and Konami's ability to transition between CG and in-game scenes. Game Revolution liked that James was an everyman character instead of a highly trained professional. GameZone praised James' sympathetic character, and found the voice acting improved, though not flawless, as compared to "Silent Hill 2"s predecessor. Another reviewer considered the voice acting and script superior to the survival horror video game series "Resident Evil", while GameSpot criticized the script for hampering the voice acting. IGN's Emma Boyes praised the relationship between James and Mary, listing it as one of "The Greatest Video Game Couples".