Silent Hill 2 is a legendary survival horror game and although many games in the genre have come and gone, none of them have reached the exceptional storytelling accomplishments the 2001 title managed to achieve. So, when Konami announced that they were remaking the game in a partnership with Bloober Team, a studio that is best known for technically sound but ultimately middling horror experiences, I was more than a bit uncomfortable.
I mean, why Konami would choose Bloober Team to helm a remake of a game that is held so highly by the most passionate fans of the franchise? It felt a strange decision back then. However, after experiencing the game myself, all my concerns have been laid to rest.
“The entire cast of characters has been expertly portrayed by their talented actors, bringing depth and nuance to each role and enhancing the emotional impact of the story.”
So, what happens in Silent Hill 2? You take on the role of James Sunderland, who comes to the dreaded town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his wife Mary. “What’s the big deal?” one may ask. Well, his wife died from an illness three years ago. Out of intrigue and curiosity, James makes his way to Silent Hill, only to find that it has been overrun by grotesque monsters that can only be described as a nightmarish blend of human and horror.
But wait, he is not alone. Along the way he meets a diverse cast of characters, each haunted by their own traumas of the past. Angela Orosco, for example, has a painful past of abuse and is often shown to have confused emotions ranging from being tense to getting angry. Eddie Dombrowski, on the other hand, tends to live in isolation after suffering years of bullying. Then there is Maria, who resembles James’ dead wife. She is shown to be captivating and much more astute than Mary, but let’s refrain from delving deeper into her character to avoid spoilers for any newcomers.
The original Silent Hill 2 was known for its exceptional voice acting, and I am glad to report that the remake elevates that experience even further. The entire cast of characters has been expertly portrayed by their talented actors, bringing depth and nuance to each role and enhancing the emotional impact of the story.
I was particularly impressed with Gianna Kiehl’s portrayal of Angela; her range of emotions while expressing the character’s deep-seated trauma was performed with excruciating detail. Luke Roberts and Salóme Gunnarsdóttir, portraying James and Mary/Maria respectively, also deliver outstanding performances that deeply enrich the story.
“What drives this story forward, besides the stunning cutscenes and performances of its characters, is the absolutely brilliant music by Akira Yamaoka.”
Silent Hill 2 was a bold game for its time and, in more ways than one, was a commentary on how people suffer and struggle from various forms of trauma and abuse. Thanks to expertly directed cutscenes and stunning facial animations, the remake captures the essence of the original’s themes, delivering the kind of emotional impact that hits all the right notes. The story remains faithful to the original and in many ways I am happy that Bloober didn’t modify it. If you have played the original, you will appreciate that all of the narrative elements are intact, while newcomers will be enthralled and shocked with the game’s bold storytelling.
What drives this story forward, besides the stunning cutscenes and performances of its characters, is the absolutely brilliant music by Akira Yamaoka. A lot of old tracks have been remade and new ones have been added, which helps in further immersing the player into the experience. There is no denying that the original soundtrack remains outstanding till date but the new mixes will undoubtedly have their own fans. It is difficult to determine which is better. Personally, I still prefer the original. That said, this is in no way a shot against the enhanced tracks for the remake.
On the gameplay front, the original Silent Hill 2 used a fixed camera perspective, however, the remake features an over-the-shoulder perspective. I loved how the original used its fixed camera angles to highlight critical moments in the story, but after experiencing the remake, I find myself preferring the new camera system. The new angle allows for more engaging exploration of the environments, making the experience feel fresh.
“James can also break through glass frames to discover new areas, which may lead to extra items like syringes and ammo.”
It also helped me appreciate the finer details that Bloober Team has littered across the game’s various environments. You can, for instance, also pick up objects of interest and examine them from different angles, and the attention to detail here is outstanding. Running on Unreal Engine 5, Silent Hill 2 Remake is nothing short of a graphical powerhouse and a true current-gen visual showcase. Covered in a thick mist of fog, the game’s setting immerses you in its dilapidated buildings, interiors that are filled with grotesque imagery and unsettling sounds, and dark hallways that will scare the living daylights out of you. To see the original adapted to such an intense level of attention to detail is an astonishing experience.
Silent Hill 2 Remake also retains its excellent level design and challenging puzzles. Staying true to its roots, much of its gameplay revolves around exploring the eerie corridors, finding items, fighting monsters, and uncovering the story. This makes Silent Hill 2 a slow-paced horror experience that will test your patience, especially when compared to other franchises that bombard you with guns. Given the complex level design, exploration becomes an engaging experience, especially with the noticeable expansions in several locations compared to the original.
James can also break through glass frames to discover new areas, which may lead to extra items like syringes and ammo. The expanded locations and the increased focus on exploration contribute to a longer running time for the remake when compared to the original. The 2001 version clocked in at around 8 to 10 hours; however the remake will take you around 20 hours. Fortunately, the remake maintains the original’s tight pacing in spite of its longer runtime, and no sequence feels like a drag to play through.
“Whether you’re swinging a wooden plank or stomping on a monster, melee combat feels incredibly satisfying.”
The original Silent Hill 2 wasn’t really appreciated for its combat, and to be brutally honest, it has now aged poorly. The remake, however, makes some noticeable improvements in this department. The very first thing you will notice is that James can now dodge. His melee attacks feel impactful as you smack the hell out of the town’s grotesque monsters, which can also cleverly hide themselves in the environment, almost like they’re camouflaged.
Whether you’re swinging a wooden plank or stomping on a monster, melee combat feels incredibly satisfying. Gun combat, however, seems a tad underwhelming. I didn’t experience the impact that usually comes along with such weaponry. The guns do their job and that’s about it.
In addition to the changes in combat and expanded areas, Bloober Team has also revamped the boss fights. While I won’t go into much detail, I can say that they are a marked improvement over the straightforward fights of the original. The enhanced boss fights now incorporate a layer of strategy, instead of the original’s approach of mindlessly running around in a small room and taking shots whenever possible.
“Silent Hill 2 Remake is a shockingly amazing remake.”
Silent Hill 2 Remake on the PS5 offers two graphical modes, with Quality and Performance. I experienced the game on Quality mode, which increases visual fidelity and runs the game at 30 frames per second. For the most part, performance was fine, although I did witness some frame rate drops, but thankfully they were extremely rare. Meanwhile, another point to note is that the game doesn’t seamlessly transition from cutscenes to gameplay. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s a tad surprising that Bloober Team overlooked what’s a pretty commonplace technique, especially given how they nailed the remake’s immersion factor in other areas.
Silent Hill 2 Remake is a shockingly amazing remake. I will be honest, my expectations were pretty low, given the developer’s track record and how Konami has literally done nothing with IP in the last decade. The remake sticks very close to its source material, but it also adapts itself for a modern audience, thanks to its attention to detail, acting performances, expanded areas, and stellar storytelling. It also manages to look absolutely stunning.
Silent Hill 2 was a triumph for the survival horror genre in 2001. Twenty-three years later, Bloober Team’s remake is a triumph again. Silent Hill is back, and I can’t wait to see what direction the next potential remake will take.
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
