Silent Hill 2 is one of the most influential pieces of horror media but it’s also one of the most frustrating to play today. 2012’s Silent Hill HD collection was far from the ideal modernization of the games and aside from the ill-fated Silent Hills from Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro, the franchise has had less than stellar entries over the years. When it was announced that Konami was bringing back the second game in the form of a full-on remake developed by Bloober Team, there was doubt due to the studios’ previous works. But after sitting down with the Silent Hill 2 Remake for this review, I’m here to tell you that horror is back, and it is hauntingly beautiful with the way they were able to pull it off.
More than just having modern graphics slapped on the original game, Silent Hill 2 Remake features a ton of expanded gameplay mechanics that entirely recontextualizes the way you’re able to explore the infamous fog town. With an entirely different gameplay perspective and re-recorded voice lines and performance captures, the remake is a striking new look into the horror game that has long lingered in the minds of fans and the industry, decades after it was first released.
Welcome back to Silent Hill
By now, you’ve probably seen or read through a ton of Silent Hill 2 analyses. It’s one of the most talked about games in the horror genre and for good reason. The story is a poignant look into the effects of grief, regret, and mental instabilities. Silent Hill is more than just a foggy town with grotesque creatures, it’s a place that haunts you, in and out. If you’re lucky enough to not know much about what happens, I suggest you keep it there because Silent Hill 2’s story deserves to be experienced blind.
Bloomberg Team kept the core narrative intact, not changing much in terms of the script. The biggest changes are brought by the fact that they’re not using full on performance captures for the cutscenes and gameplay. Voice performances from the new actors are incredibly at what they do. The original had some campy acting—which was a product of its time, but now, the new performers convey so much emotion with every line they say, and it is helped by incredible facial animations.
The story of Silent Hill 2 that we all know, and love is fully intact here. Untouched but repackaged in a way that makes the emotional beats hit so much stronger than ever before. And yes, all the alternate endings are also here in the remake with some new surprises that can only be found in new game plus.
Oh, the horror
The Silent Hill 2 Remake looks incredible. The atmosphere is on point with long stretches of dark corridors, dilapidated buildings, and foggy streets. They all look for horrifically fantastic here. The lighting, what little there is, is suffocating in the way it holds back showing you the full picture, until it slowly creeps upon you that maybe that slight figure in the corner of your screen is not just some random thing you should ignore but run from.
I can’t emphasize enough how visually strong the remake is. What wonders Team Silent was able to pull back in 2001, is perfectly translated to modern standards.
The new over-the-shoulder camera perspective brings the nightmare much closer to the screen. While it does eliminate some of the cleverer angles the original games were known for, I never felt like having the ability to control the camera myself hindered the way the game creeped me out. This is of course helped by the fact that the sound design (with incredible PS5 3D audio integration) and environmental aesthetics work so well together to scare the sh*t out of you.
Major shoutout to the fact that they also kept the original soundtrack, while only adding some minor adjustments that made them just as impactful to listen to.
Combat feels lose, clunky, and slightly awkward. But it is done so in a way that’s in service to James’ character more than just for the sake of being janky. Our protagonist here is no Leon Kennedy. He’s a regular Joe that, like the players, is also freaking out about what he’s experiencing. Yes, there is a dodge mechanic and a shooting reticle, but the developers made it a point that there’s always something slightly off with the way James executes his moves. Almost as if he’s doubting himself or is shaking in the horror of it all. This is not a combat-centric game but when it’s here, you feel just as helpless as you should be in the shoes of someone who doesn’t shoot zombies and save the president’s daughter for a living.
Silent Hill 2 Remake Review Final Verdict – 9.5/10
It was amazing to be horrified by what I was seeing on screen. Bloober Team knocked it right out of the fog with this one. Every doubt, fear, and concern I had about them being able to pull it off was immediately silenced within just the first hour. And since then, has had its grip on me all the way to the end.
Playing on performance mode on the PS5, I did notice some frame drops, especially when trying to sprint through the fog streets, but I imagine that it’s nothing that a patch or two can’t fix.
One of the most iconic horror games is in good hands here. Silent Hill 2 Remake is simply incredible and just like the original, it is absolutely a must-play for anyone who is a fan of the horror genre.
This review was made using a game code for the PS5 provided by the publisher.