Bloober’s Latest Title Is A Work Of Art, But It Too Could Learn From Its Mistakes

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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.

While there’s no question about Silent Hill 2’s quality, I feel it’s worth discussing some areas where the game could have been improved, based on my personal experience as a dedicated fan of the series. This isn’t meant to criticize or review Bloober Team’s work; rather, it’s a reflection from someone who has invested over 100 hours into the survival horror game post its release.

Bravo to the Polish developer for managing the significant burden exceptionally well. There were many who expressed concerns about the remake after its announcement, and indeed they had valid reasons to do so. However, now that it’s been released, it’s clear that Bloober has not fallen short in delivering a quality product.

On a different note, let me share some aspects I believe should have been included in the Silent Hill 2 remake. Moving forward, it’s quite likely that these features might be incorporated into future Silent Hill remakes, given the game’s impressive early performance and its potential for further development.

Where’s James’ Inner Monologue As He Takes A Look At In-Game Items?

One aspect that stands out as missing in the modern take on the 2001 classic is James’ inner dialogue as he interacts with objects within the game environment. Somehow, those brief snippets of text enriched the gameplay significantly by offering a glimpse into the protagonist’s thoughts and reflections, enhancing our immersion in the haunting world of Silent Hill.

As a gamer, I found it intriguing when Bloober opted to omit the complex object interaction system from the remake. It’s simpler now, but I can’t help but miss those immersive internal monologues displayed as text. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that a gifted modder out there will pick up this challenge on NexusMods and breathe life back into this engaging feature.

If it’s not already included, I can only hope that Bloober Team recognizes the omission and incorporates it for the next Silent Hill remake. The game could potentially be based on the initial franchise installment, although this is still merely speculation. Konami does have plans for the franchise, and given the early success of Silent Hill 2, which sold over a million copies in less than a month, it seems that the idea is definitely being considered.

The Silent Hill 2 Remake Discourages Running Away From Combat Situations

One factor that contributed to the original Silent Hill becoming so well-known was its ability to stay true to its essence. Unlike many other games, the protagonist isn’t a former military member or similar character with combat skills. Instead, he is just an ordinary man searching for his lost wife. Consequently, the first version of the game didn’t focus on combat, but the remake does.

As a gamer immersed in the survival horror genre, I can’t help but voice a concern that I believe many others share: the remake seems to limit my freedom to navigate the environment at times, often leading to inevitable confrontations and combat. This lack of choice becomes particularly frustrating on higher difficulty settings.

When open confrontation is unavoidable, you’ll have to engage in a battle. If you attempt to flee from the conflict, your adversaries will persistently pursue you, even into designated safe zones. This seems rather extreme.

Brilliant Game. Too many Mannequins (SH2 remake) byu/ManyMannequins insilenthill

By the way, let me tell you about the overwhelming presence of mannequins in the Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober. Each time you attempt to collect an item, it seems as if a horde of them emerge from the darkness, reaching a point where the confrontations become repetitive. This is quite different from your initial encounters with these mannequins, where their appearance would always strike fear into your heart.

As time goes by during the game, the sense of apprehension doesn’t stay consistent, and you gradually grow accustomed to the repeated encounters with creatures in each battle sequence.

The Amount Of Unlockables In The Game Leave More To Be Desired

Additionally, I found that Silent Hill 2 seemed to be lacking sufficient unlockables when I aimed for the coveted Platinum trophy. If you’re looking for replay value, there’s not much incentive to continue playing through the entire campaign as there aren’t many rewards to unlock from a New Game+ perspective beyond a chainsaw. I had hoped that Bloober Team would include classic outfits for both James and Maria, but alas, one can’t always get everything they desire in life.

The Rundown

Instead of pointing out my smaller issues with the Silent Hill 2 remake, let me emphasize that these concerns pale in comparison to the extraordinary work carried out by Bloober Team when revamping this timeless classic.

If you’ve got some thoughts or feedback on the game, don’t hesitate to express them by leaving a comment below.

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2025-06-16 21:12