Enemies

Air Screamer

Strategy:
These dinosaur-type birds are found everywhere throughout Silent Hill's streets and are among the most annoying enemy types due to their aggressive behaviour and ability to quickly swoop in and attack. When being chased, take a hard turn to get them off your tail since slight adjustments won't make much of a difference. While they're mostly found flying, some will be found standing before taking off. Consider killing them before they get a chance to get away.

To kill them, turn to the Handgun whenever they're within range and pop them until they they drop. The Rifle isn't acquired until fairly late, but despite the limited ammo it makes killing Air Screamers a breeze as it extends your range significantly, dropping them in a shot or two. Follow up with either a kick or an additional shot or two to kill.

Groaner

Strategy:
Groaners are simple to deal with but can catch you off guard quite easily with their aggressive and relentless lunges. Quickly use the Handgun to put them out of their misery, or just sprint past them. Running is often the best strategy, especially when they're in packs.

To save the ammo, the Steel Pipe works fairly well but you need to be quick and catch them at the right time, either as you run up to them or after an attack lunge. The Axe and Hammer also work well when you get them.

Grey Child

Strategy:
Perhaps one of the more disturbing enemies of the game due to their childlike figures, Grey Children move slowly but are supremely dangerous, especially with the surprisingly long range they can perform their main attack from. Turning off your Flashlight may help slipping by them in dark hallways, while there may often be space to do so either way. But sometimes you won't have an escape path or will be ambushed from multiple sides. Always try to get to a safe spot and then take them out one by one as they approach you.

One trick is to lure them towards you and just as they're about to dive, perform a backwards hop (Down + Square). Then either run past or take them out. Due to their knives, melee weapons are not recommended unless you can make effective work of the above trick. Otherwise, always use the Handgun to defeat them, while the Shotgun can make quicker work of them if cornered.

Creeper

Strategy:
Creepers are mostly just annoying creatures and aren't much of a threat at all. Usually they can just be run past, but they also do come in groups and may try to gang up on you. In these cases, quickly take them out one by one with a Handgun shot, followed by a kick or another shot.

Larval Stalker

Strategy:
These shadow figures never try to attack you nor pose a threat. They have enough trouble even staying on two feet and thus have more pressing issues than to attack you. You'll often hear sharp high-pitched sounds indicating their presence, but they're not to be feared in any way. They also cannot be attacked anyway. But keep an eye out for their adult form which actually is lethal later on...

Romper

Strategy:
A very quick creature that is extremely hard to run away from once it's spotted you, since it'll hop right on over and jump Harry. Instead, it's important to get the jump on them with quick Shotgun or Handgun blasts. With the Handgun, begin firing from a farther distance to ensure you won't get bowled over, but it won't take more than a few shots to down one. The Shotgun will only take 1-2 blasts if you have the ammo.

Puppet Nurse

Strategy:
Due to their knives, Nurses are important to eliminate before they get too close. Use the Handgun if you have the time in space, while the Shotgun makes quick work if them when in groups or up close.

Melee weapons are difficult due to their knives, but the Hammer can work extremely well. Performing the double swing not only keeps a Nurse from getting to you from the front, but knocks them down rather quickly as well. In a Next Fear game, the Rock Drill is also fantastic. Simply raise it in the air with R2 to get it running, then just let Nurses run up to you and kill themselves.

Puppet Doctor

Strategy:
Treat Doctors the same way as Nurses by killing them before they can get too close. Keep in mind Doctors are slightly stronger and more aggressive, so perhaps the Shotgun is wise at least when in close. They usually appear solo and thus the Handgun is suitable to take them down with enough space. There are only a handful of them found in the game.

If daring enough to use the Hammer, it also works effectively on them if you can attack first, while the same Rock Drill trick works on Doctors just as well as Nurses.

Night Flutter

Strategy:
This creature has the same characteristics of the Air Screamer, although taking its place in the alternate world. These creatures are also stronger and hit harder so do your best to deal with them appropriately. Usually the best strategy in all these nightmare areas is just to run, but if you wish to kill them, the Handgun is still pretty good, the Shotgun is best at very close range, and the Rifle is probably the best all around with its long range and consistent power, dropping them in 1-2 hits. Follow up with a kick or another shot.

Wormhead

Strategy:
Wormheads have identical attacks to Groaners, but they do more damage and are stronger. Nightmare areas are often best traversed by running past everything, but if you do wish to fight them the Handgun works well as usual. When a quick kill is needed, turn to the Shotgun. Melee weapons are often not a good idea in the areas that contain them due to enemy frequency, but if you do have the space then the Steel Pipe, Hammer and Axe are all fairly good when used properly.

Hanged Scratcher

Strategy:
Scratchers are only found in the Sewers but are deadly creatures, capable of sneaking up on you despite their clicking legs, or ambushing in groups. One on one, take them out with the Handgun, while when quicker kills are needed due to multiple Scratchers, turn to the Shotgun. Melee requires more skill, but the Hammer can handle them well one on one.

Scratchers take a while to fall down after dying, so save your ammo when you see them beginning to fall. Also keep an eye out for them on the roof where they hang while waiting for you, sometimes hoping for an ambush if you don't notice them. When ambushed by several of them, it's often the best idea to just run away.

Mumbler

Strategy:
Perhaps even more disturbing than Grey Children, Mumblers take a quite frankly terrifying form with their short size and menacing claws. They are however fairly easy to kill with the Handgun or run past if you have the time and space. If quick kills are needed when being chased or encountering them in groups, turn to the Rifle or Shotgun.

Normally only found in the Sewers in the North American and Japanese versions, these creatures are much more abundant in the PAL version, replacing all Grey Children in the school and elsewhere.

Stalker

Strategy:
Although they behave just like Grey Children, they are more dangerous since they're harder to spot with their shadowy figures. Therefore it may be a good idea to use the Shotgun to kill them more quickly, despite the Handgun still working fairly well if you have the time, space and vision to spot them. The Rifle will handle them quickly from a longer range to eliminate the threat before they get close.

Pay attention to the radio static in case one may be patrolling nearby. Despite melee being a bit trickier due to being harder to see, the Hammer can be effective on them one by one.