As a long-time aficionado of the Silent Hill series, I can confidently say that the remake of Silent Hill 2 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride of emotions. On one hand, it’s an incredible homage to a game that shaped my adolescence and, on the other, it’s a modern take that leaves me yearning for just a touch more.
Story Highlights
- The Silent Hill 2 remake is one of the best releases of the year, setting itself up as a GOTY contender.
- The game, while fantastic on many levels, has a few areas where it could’ve been improved.
- The shortcomings do not take anything away from the greatness of the remake and come from a fan’s perspective.
I may be nitpicking here because Silent Hill 2’s quality is something you just can’t doubt. However, after pouring a little over 100 hours into the survival horror following its release, I wanted to share some of the game’s shortcomings from a player’s perspective purely. No, this is not a review nor a critical take on Bloober’s masterpiece—it’s an opinion from someone who’s been a long-time Silent Hill fan.
credit goes to the Polish developer for managing the significant weight of expectations impressively. There were many who voiced their worries regarding the recently released remake after its announcement, and indeed, their concerns were valid. However, now that it’s been launched, we can see that Bloober has delivered a product that leaves little room for disappointment.
On the flip side, here are some of the things that I think should’ve been a part of the Silent Hill 2 remake. Going forward, we may very well see these getting added to the next Silent Hill remake, which is a clear possibility, considering the title’s rampant early success.
Where’s James’ Inner Monologue As He Takes A Look At In-Game Items?
One aspect that I deeply miss in the modern interpretation of the 2001 classic icon is James’ internal dialogue as he engaged with the surrounding objects. Somehow, those brief snippets of text enriched the gameplay experience significantly, offering insights into the protagonist’s thoughts, making our journey through Silent Hill, with its chilling atmosphere, more immersive and personal.
In the new version of the game, Bloober opted to exclude that particular feature, simplifying object interactions as they no longer display an internal dialogue in text format. It would be fantastic if a skilled modder could develop a modification for NexusMods that restores this functionality.
As a dedicated gamer, I can only express my hope that Bloober Team recognizes the potential gap and decides to address it for the upcoming Silent Hill remake. While I can’t say for certain if this will happen, it’s just speculation at this point. Konami does seem to have plans for the franchise, and with the incredible early success of Silent Hill 2, which surpassed a million copies sold in less than a month, it seems that the vision is definitely taking shape.
The Silent Hill 2 Remake Discourages Running Away From Combat Situations
One factor that contributed to the success of the original Silent Hill is that it accurately captured its unique essence. Unlike many similar games, the main character isn’t a former soldier or someone with military training, but rather a simple man, searching for his lost wife. Consequently, the initial game did not focus on combat, while the remake does.
Many players experiencing the survival horror remake might share this complaint, as it’s a matter of personal opinion. I can’t help but feel that the new version sometimes limits your ability to explore and navigate the environment freely, leading to more frequent encounters with enemies. This is particularly noticeable when playing on higher difficulty settings.
When open confrontation is unavoidable, you’ll have to engage in a battle. Attempting to flee the conflict may lead your adversaries to pursue you, and they might even track you down into designated safe areas. That seems rather excessive.
Brilliant Game. Too many Mannequins (SH2 remake) byu/ManyMannequins insilenthill
By the way, let me tell you about something else that’s been bothering me in the Silent Hill 2 remake – there are a lot of mannequins! Whenever you pick up an item, it seems like at least five more pop out from the dark corners, making the encounters feel repetitive after a while. But, during your initial meetings with these mannequins, they’re so startling that you can’t help but be terrified each time one appears.
As I advance through the game’s storyline, the initial pulse-pounding tension gradually transforms. I find myself growing numb to the endless waves of enemies in each battle sequence.
The Amount Of Unlockables In The Game Leave More To Be Desired
Additionally, I observed that Silent Hill 2 seemed to have insufficient unlockables as I aimed for the coveted Platinum trophy. If you’re looking for reasons to replay the game, there isn’t much incentive to continue a full playthrough, as there’s scarcely anything new to unlock from a New Game+ perspective beyond a chainsaw. I had hoped that Bloober Team would include classic costumes for both James and Maria, but alas, not everything is obtainable in life.
The Rundown
I’ve shared a few small issues I’ve noticed in the Silent Hill 2 remake, but these concerns pale in comparison to the sheer greatness demonstrated by Bloober Team as they breathe new life into this timeless masterpiece.
If you’d like to share any thoughts or critiques about the game, please don’t hesitate to express them in the comments section below.
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2024-10-22 10:42