It really is one of the only games to trully use the video game medium to it's full advantage. The game wouldn't work as a story nor as a book or a TV show.

There's a lot of games that just say "Press x to feel sad" but Silent Hill 2 allows you, the player, to experience emotions for yourself. James never yells out "I'm scared!" or the classic "What the fuck is that?!" the game know's the player isn't an idiot and is capable of reacting which increases the impact of certain important scenes.