Silent Hill 2 is a difficult game to review, as it already stands atop many lists of the best horror games of all time. In sharp contrast to other survival horror titles of its era that tended to show a penchant for action more than scares, Silent Hill 2 was intensely cerebral. It focused less on jump scares and more on atmosphere, making it stand out from its contemporaries.
When Konami announced a remake of Silent Hill 2, fans were understandably concerned—Konami’s track record with the IP has disappointed the fandom of late. Cash-grab titles such as Silent Hill Ascension further incensed fans of the original games. Even so, Bloober Team remained staunchly dedicated to paying homage to the classic.
To the surprise of many, the Silent Hill 2 remake delivers on that promise, and our review explores how and why.
The Good:
- The Silent Hill 2 Remake remains faithful to the original story while refreshing its execution.
- Combat and visuals are both vastly improved.
The Bad:
- The Silent Hill 2 remake is poorly optimized for mid-range PCs.
- Some of the expanded sessions can feel less interesting and more bloated.
Review Details:
- Platforms available: PlayStation 5, PC
- Reviewed on: PC
- Official release date: October 8, 2024
In my restless dreams, I see that town
Before anything else, it’s important to establish that directly comparing the original Silent Hill 2 to the remake does a disservice to both. After a few hours of playing the remake, the performances, gameplay, and visual direction are so different that they should really be taken on their own merits. In that respect, the remake succeeds in bringing its version of the Silent Hill 2 story to life distinctly.
James Sunderland feels far more human than the cold and distant original. That is not a bad thing, as it simply focuses on two different aspects of the same character. The original James is a man so robbed of his emotions that he comes off as alien and unnerving. Meanwhile, the remake’s James wants to seem personable to people, only for his experiences to make him progressively colder as the town manifests more of his guilt.
Bloober Team beautifully recreates the sleepy town of Silent Hill for modern times in the remake. Although the details slightly detract from the otherwordly quality of the PS2’s limited textures, it goes a long way towards making Silent Hill feel like a once-bustling town. In addition, the overhauled combat feels weighty and satisfying without making the player feel too powerful. James’ unsteady aim and slow swings mean players have to be tactical in their approach to fighting enemies.
Overall, our review found that Bloober Team did a fantastic homage to what made Silent Hill 2 so great while clearly establishing its own take. Expanded sections, fresh performances, more aggressive combat, and a host of new puzzles give the remake an altogether different vibe from the original, despite presenting the same story.
A bumpy redemption for Bloober Team
After the critical backlash against The Medium, many fans worried about how the studio would handle the portrayal of mental health struggles here. Thankfully, the Silent Hill 2 remake avoids the pitfalls of changing the original’s narrative. All of its changes come from its revised execution, giving Bloober a chance to flex its creative vision without stepping on the original’s toes.
That said, the game itself has a few significant flaws. The remake’s visual flourishes will tax most machines, especially in intense sequences and dynamic cutscenes. The game may crash, especially during longer sessions. Thankfully, Silent Hill 2 is generous with its save points, minimizing the impact of a crash on progress.
Some of the game’s expanded sections do seem bloated, especially in locations like Brookhaven Hospital. Having to backtrack through the hospital so many times eventually robbed it of its atmosphere, and beating nurses down became a chore rather than a fight for survival. Even so, the expansions work more often than not.
Bottom line: The Silent Hill 2 remake sticks to the story that made the original so beloved while differing in its execution, making it a unique and generally improved modern experience.