When the remake for Silent Hill 2 was first announced, I wasn’t sure how to feel. Silent Hill 2 is possibly the most influential and beloved horror game of all time, and with Bloober Team’s spotty track record, coupled with a number of underwhelming trailers for the remake, I was cynical about this decision, to say the least. But to my pleasant surprise, they delivered. The remake doesn’t just recreate the original masterpiece perfectly but elevates it into something significantly scarier, immersive, and enjoyable.
The first thing you’ll notice about this game is the over-the-shoulder camera replacing the fixed-camera angles of the original. While some may lament the precise framing of the original, this new update allows for greater fluidity and control when exploring Silent Hill – and trust me, this exploration is something you’ll absolutely want to do at your own pace.
The titular town of Silent Hill has been brought to life with meticulous recreations of the original’s locales. The deeply detailed and breathtaking graphics make the places feel real and true to the spirit of Silent Hill.
Every location you visit feels like something that once could have been bustling with life but is now caught in the throes of decay and abandonment. I frequently found myself mesmerized, walking slowly along the desolate streets, stopping now and then to take in all the details. The new locations are a joy to explore as well; aside from being well-designed additions, they offer something fresh for older fans to enjoy.
Of course, the perspective and graphical quality aren’t the only things that have been updated. The combat mechanics have been significantly overhauled. The gunplay ditches auto-aim and tedious inventory management in favor of manual aiming and quick-swapping weapons. Our protagonist, James Sunderland, can also perform a dodge that grants a brief period of invincibility. This pairs nicely with the updated monsters, which have not only received visual updates to make them scarier but also improvements to the AI.
The monsters in Silent Hill 2 Remake are perhaps some of the most terrifying I’ve encountered in a survival horror game. They’re far more aggressive and intelligent than their original counterparts, and there’s much more variety to them as well.
This remake is also far darker, with certain locations having almost impenetrable darkness, and enemies will certainly use these spots to their advantage. Many will quickly hide in blind spots or crawl up walls with the sole purpose of ambushing you.
The updated monsters and combat mechanics make the overall combat loop of the remake surprisingly satisfying: learning how to efficiently spot and deal with the different monsters in Silent Hill was one of the most enjoyable parts of the game for me. The excellence of the new combat system particularly shines in the boss battles. While somewhat underwhelming in the original game, the boss fights in the remake are terrifying, resulting in intense battles that require both strategy and mastery of the mechanics.
Beyond combat, the game excels at exploration and puzzle gameplay. The maps are elaborately designed and highly rewarding to explore thoroughly, often resulting in obtaining valuable items or intriguing new lore tidbits. Using the map, which James updates every time you find a new puzzle or door, no longer pauses the game, adding extra tension during stressful moments.
The puzzles are also fun to solve. Many of the original puzzles have been updated to require more thought, and the new puzzles fit seamlessly into the game’s style.
However, what ties every element of this game together is the absolutely unparalleled atmosphere. From the somber, melancholic streets of the town to the unsettling corridors of the Otherworld, I found myself constantly immersed in Silent Hill.
The phenomenal sound design plays a massive role here. Loud winds blow into ransacked rooms, doors creak ominously, and pained whispers ring out through desolate hallways, simultaneously immersing you and keeping you on edge.
Silent Hill 2 Remake keeps the story largely the same as the original, a wise decision considering its acclaimed storyline. There are a few minor changes in lines and scene settings, but these do not detract from the narrative. The animation is phenomenal, maintaining the original’s dream-like, Lynchian tone while bringing the game to life in ways that simply weren’t possible before. Luke Roberts (James Sunderland) and Gianna Kiehl (Angela Orosco) are particular standouts among an already stellar cast, delivering incredible voice acting.
Though Silent Hill 2 Remake was largely enjoyable, it had some flaws. Occasionally, I encountered micro-stutters despite playing on a high-end machine, which thankfully improved the more I played. Some poorly implemented invisible walls also broke immersion; there’s even a section where your progress is blocked by a simple milk crate. The camera occasionally fails during boss fights, sometimes making it difficult to claim critical items. The game also feels too easy: in normal mode, you’re flooded with items, making Silent Hill feel more like a relaxing getaway than a survival horror experience. Switching to hard mode provided a more standard survival horror experience.
Flaws aside, Silent Hill 2 Remake is survival horror perfection. There’s nothing quite like running through a beautifully realized Silent Hill, immersing yourself in James’ emotionally charged journey, pausing only to dispatch a few enemies or solve a puzzle.
To some, it may not reach the originality and legacy left by the original, but it’s far from a soulless cash grab. It’s the best kind of remake – one that keeps the core essence and substance of the original while elevating it. Bloober Team’s love for the original is apparent through careful recreation, modernized gameplay, and added content that almost doubles the game’s runtime. Even a year ago, this might have sounded like a wish, but Silent Hill 2 Remake has indeed delivered, and it’s a game worth our time.